Lessons for Living (Audio)

You hear or see stories about a charismatic leader who leads his or her followers to a tragic end. What’s generally left unsaid in such instances is not the deception of the leader but of the self-deception of those who bought into the leader’s lies. That’s why God says He judges the leader more harshly than the follower; they’re responsible for the lives of many others so it’s incumbent on them to keep themselves in line. Pastor Mark will be teaching about King Saul’s self-deception. His ability to claim compliance while simultaneously being in clear violation of God’s command is breathtaking.

Were you aware that studies have consistently shown that only five percent of Christians regularly tithe? The Bible says that God loves and blesses a cheerful giver. Do you give? If and when you do, do you give generously and without regret? Are you aware that when God tells you to give, that He is not just talking about money? Pastor Mark will be teaching about God’s principles of giving. They might pinch you a little bit but it’s important to understand that when you give, you’re only giving back to God what He first gave you. Grasping the idea that everything you have comes from God will help you view all of your life in a different way.

King David’s story begins with his predecessor, Saul. While Saul began his kingship well, his character flaws were revealed in times of stress – he wasn’t patient and he avoided personal responsibility for his wrongdoings. When he was given specific directions by the prophet Samuel, he allowed his personal standing in front of his soldiers to cause him to disobey Samuel’s instructions, costing Saul the kingdom. Pastor Mark will be teaching about the characteristics that God is looking for in a king in Israel but this applies to your life as well. Listen closely and learn what God wants you to be.

Everywhere around us the concept of the “self-made man or woman” is extolled. Stories of how someone “pulled themselves up by their bootstraps” abound. As a follower of Jesus, however, your instruction manual, the Bible, tells a different tale. It says that everything on the earth, including the people, belong to God, and it’s He Who gives you what you have. Pastor Mark will be emphasizing God’s ownership of your talents and resources. You need to be aware of what God wants you to do with them, and you need to learn to be willing to share everything you have to advance God’s kingdom.

Everywhere around us the concept of the “self-made man or woman” is extolled. Stories of how someone “pulled themselves up by their bootstraps” abound. As a follower of Jesus, however, your instruction manual, the Bible, tells a different tale. It says that everything on the earth, including the people, belong to God, and it’s He Who gives you what you have. Pastor Mark will be emphasizing God’s ownership of your talents and resources. You need to be aware of what God wants you to do with them, and you need to learn to be willing to share everything you have to advance God’s kingdom.

Surely you’ve heard the TV preachers asking for you to send them money, claiming that your giving will trigger blessings from God? The usual first response is to say “Yeah, right.” Understandably, they cause you to be wary. Pastor Mark will be teaching what God actually thinks about giving and receiving and it’s deceptively simple: Give, and God will give back to you. Before you turn away, understand that the Bible is talking about giving to further God, not a man. When you begin to realize that giving is only a means to an end – more people coming to know Christ – it becomes easier to share what you have with others.

You’ve probably heard the saying about there never being a U-Haul following a hearse, referring to the fact that when you die, your stuff stays here. Did you know that for the Christ follower that statement’s not exactly true? Jesus taught a lot about heavenly treasures and He gave instructions on how to earn them. Pastor Mark will be teaching the same principle, using the writings of the apostle Paul to the church in Philippi. The kindnesses you show to others on Christ’s behalf will accumulate in your eternal bank account, to be given to you when you get to heaven.

Many people are “takers” by nature – you see the worst of that in crimes like robbery, shoplifting and identity theft. It’s more uncommon to see those who give without getting something in return. Most people have both giving and taking characteristics displayed in their lives. The follower of Jesus, however, is to be a giver, not expecting to receive in return. Pastor Mark will be teaching about the apostle Paul’s life – how he gave for the sake of the Gospel over and over again, not expecting those he helped to give back in response. You will find out how God used those “receivers” to give back to Paul.

In this country there’s a premium given to people who can do things without anyone else’s help. The problem with that is that God intended for us to do many things together. Do you have a problem asking others, even God, for help with tasks that need to get done or issues that overwhelm you? Pastor Mark will be showing how even the apostle Paul needed help at times and wasn’t afraid to ask for it. He even mentioned his need and thanked the Philippians for their help. You’ll be learning the importance of asking for help and offering your time, talents and treasure to others for their benefit.

How often have you felt the Holy Spirit prompting you to do something – speak to a neighbor or coworker, stop and pick up a hitchhiker, or another act that was out of character for you – and failed to obey that prompting? Sure, God understands your fear and hesitation to do stuff like that. But as Pastor Mark will be teaching, you’re going to have to give an accounting for those things you failed to act upon. Although it’s hard to act outside of your comfort zone, you need to remember that people’s eternal destinies are what’s at stake. You need to overcome your discomfort to benefit the kingdom of God.