Lessons for Living (Audio)

Have you ever looked at an apple tree, expecting to see grapes? Of course not. The fruit has to match the essence of the tree. Jesus says that in the same way, what we display is the outgrowth of what is in our heart. Pastor Mark will be teaching what Jesus said a Christ follower should look like. They have to be different from both the religious and the irreligious. We will be reminded of our need to have our hearts remade in the image of Jesus, and we will be shown in passages from both the Old Testament and the New how our natural heart is inherently wicked, and must be replaced by God through the Holy Spirit.

Children were precious to Jesus. He warned against causing one of them to stumble in their relationship with God. Pastor Mark will continue to teach from the book of Luke, and he will be addressing parents, particularly in regards to their providing a Godly example to their children. We will also be learning that as followers of Christ we need to keep watch over ourselves, so that we don’t end up going down the wrong path. We will also hear Jesus speak about being honest with ourselves and being careful not to enter into hypocrisy, but humbly examine our own lives before criticizing someone else.

Children were precious to Jesus. He warned against causing one of them to stumble in their relationship with God. Pastor Mark will continue to teach from the book of Luke, and he will be addressing parents, particularly in regards to their providing a Godly example to their children. We will also be learning that as followers of Christ we need to keep watch over ourselves, so that we don’t end up going down the wrong path. We will also hear Jesus speak about being honest with ourselves and being careful not to enter into hypocrisy, but humbly examine our own lives before criticizing someone else.

In the Old Testament, particularly in the Psalms, there are songs exalting the God of Israel and at times mocking the idols of the Gentiles around them, pointing out their futility and lack of power. The same warning, of worshipping created things, can certainly apply to us today. Pastor Mark will be teaching us from the book of Luke where Jesus warned the people against following either false teachers, religious traditions, or their own ideas. Jesus declares He is the only way to God, and states that we must follow Him to be pleasing to God the Father.

In the Old Testament, particularly in the Psalms, there are songs exalting the God of Israel and at times mocking the idols of the Gentiles around them, pointing out their futility and lack of power. The same warning, of worshipping created things, can certainly apply to us today. Pastor Mark will be teaching us from the book of Luke where Jesus warned the people against following either false teachers, religious traditions, or their own ideas. Jesus declares He is the only way to God, and states that we must follow Him to be pleasing to God the Father.

Throughout the Old Testament there are stories of times when Israel went off track from following God, and the disasters that resulted. The New Testament is full of warnings from Jesus and the writers of the epistles about straying from the true Path. Pastor Mark will be teaching from Luke 6 where Jesus taught the parable of the blind leaders. We know that God calls leaders and equips them to lead His people into the Truth, and that there are also false teachers who will lead us astray. Jesus called them “blind leaders” and Pastor Mark will be teaching us how to avoid them as well as self-deception.

Throughout the Old Testament there are stories of times when Israel went off track from following God, and the disasters that resulted. The New Testament is full of warnings from Jesus and the writers of the epistles about straying from the true Path. Pastor Mark will be teaching from Luke 6 where Jesus taught the parable of the blind leaders. We know that God calls leaders and equips them to lead His people into the Truth, and that there are also false teachers who will lead us astray. Jesus called them “blind leaders” and Pastor Mark will be teaching us how to avoid them as well as self-deception.

In this message, we’ll come across another Bible passage that it seems everybody knows – “judge not lest you be judged”. People that may have never darkened the doorway of a church know this one, because they use it to stop people from assessing their wrongdoing. Pastor Mark will be teaching us the Biblical context of the passage as well as what Jesus actually intended for us to get out of it. We’ll also be learning how to properly give to God through our giving to the church, and be reminded of God’s law of sowing and reaping. We’ll also be reminded of the great gifts God has given us.

In this message, we’ll come across another Bible passage that it seems everybody knows – “judge not lest you be judged”. People that may have never darkened the doorway of a church know this one, because they use it to stop people from assessing their wrongdoing. Pastor Mark will be teaching us the Biblical context of the passage as well as what Jesus actually intended for us to get out of it. We’ll also be learning how to properly give to God through our giving to the church, and be reminded of God’s law of sowing and reaping. We’ll also be reminded of the great gifts God has given us.

The Golden Rule! We’ve heard this most all of our lives, even before we became Christians. There is a good chance that we haven’t heard it in the full context of Jesus’ messages, though. Pastor Mark will be getting into the nitty-gritty of the heart attitude that is required to successfully follow this Rule. We’ll also be learning about the concepts of reaping and sowing, and about how God views mercy. As we continue through the book of Luke, Pastor Mark will be sharing Jesus’ warning about judging others, condemning others, and using holy discernment in judging doctrinal truth from error.