Today’s teaching with Pastor Mark is one that will touch every one of us. It’s one that we probably won’t want to hear. James will tell us to “Be quick to listen, slow to speak.” We will be told to be good listeners. Be slow talkers. Count to ten before we speak, and that will slow you down in the way to anger. Ouch! That hits us right where we live! If only it was that easy…just do it! So, open your heart and let the Holy Spirit SPEAK to you and DON’T talk! What kind of impact would this make on our everyday life if we all would just follow this principal.

The best gift that God gives to us is the gift of spiritual birth…our salvation. Pastor Mark will challenge us to accept this gift but then, once we do accept it, to take it a step further. Pass that gift onto someone else. This is a wonderful gift and Romans tells us that Jesus died for the world…that’s every person…not just for one person. He will challenge us to stop right now and pray for that one person or several people who has not received the gift of salvation. And then pray for an opportunity to share this wonderful gift with them.

1 Pastor Mark will talk about gifts that we can receive from the Holy Spirit on today’s teaching in the Book of James. He will remind us that God loves to give us gifts. He is a generous God. We have an opportunity to receive His gifts. One of His gifts He gives to us is forgiveness. He gives us this gift through His Son, Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. He stands waiting with His arms spread out wide waiting for us to take this gift. We just have to say yes and receive it freely from Him. Are you ready to receive this gift?

There are so many choices in the world. What flavor of ice cream should I get? What kind of phone should I get? It’s easy to become confused when making a decision. Pastor Mark will tell us that 2000 years ago people were confused about God. There were many religions and they represented so many different Gods. Like today, people didn’t know what to think about God. But God promised that He would make Himself be known to man. And He did! In a real way. Jesus came to earth to allow us know and have a relationship with God.

God didn’t send His Son to earth so we can put up a tree and give each other gifts. Pastor Mark told us that Jesus was “God with skin on.” God so desired a relationship with us that He knew this would be the only way to do it. He had to send His One and Only Son to earth, make Himself known to the world and then die on the cross for us so that our sins can be forgiven. When we believe this and receive this, then we can become a Christ-follower.

“Together, let's do life right!” This is the theme for Lessons for Living. And doing life right is understood through studying the Word of God. Pastor Mark is currently taking us through a series entitled Y Church. In this series we'll learn a great deal about where the church came from, what's it all about, and what your part is, in it.

The biggest temptation in anyones life isn't what they're being tempted to do, it's to doubt God's word. Today Pastor Mark points out that when Eve was enticed in the Garden, it wasn't the tree, the fruit on it, or the bite that sealed her fate. It was the seed of doubt she allowed to grow in her mind, causing her to question God's simple command. There was freedom within God's design. She new the boundaries and she new the consequence, yet she did the wrong thing. We're susceptible to the same situation so listen in to find out what to do not if, but when you hear...did God really say?

Temptations are used to lead us into sin and away from God's Will. On the other hand, the power to resist temptation is directly connected to God's Word. Today Pastor Mark teaches us that each time Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by the devil, He shot him down with truths found in scripture. He says that our weapon, our defense in defeating temptation is the Word of God. When you're trying to do life right and satan's trying to get you to do it wrong, keep these things in mind. Submit to God, obey what He say's and live by His plan. Resist the devil by saying, NO! And stand firm on God's Word.

Life's all about the choices we make. These decisions help shape who you become and determine what 's going to happen tomorrow. There's always an outcome. It's either going to be good or bad and it'll happen immediately, or in sometime in the future. With this in mind, listen as Pastor Mark teaches that one of the greatest things God's given us, is the freedom to choose. He warns though that without proper instruction and self control, this privilege can turn from a divine blessing, to a self induced curse. How can you avoid the fallout and do life right? You must read and follow His Word.

What temptations would keep you from changing and following Jesus twenty four seven, so you could change your world? It's a good question and today Pastor Mark helps us pin point the answer. He teaches that when Jesus says to come and follow Him, it's not only a command, it's an offer. God never forces anyone to do the right thing, it's a choice. Most times the biggest temptation in persons life isn't to do the wrong thing, it's to not do the right thing. Not doing the most obvious things will send people to hell. What are the right things? Listen in to find out.