Life in Relationship

ILMS 39 – The Best Christmas Gift for Your Marriage

• CPH article

https://blog.cph.org/family/marriage/the-best-christmas-gift-for-your-marriage/

http://ilovemyshepherd.com/marriage-family/

Top 3 Reasons I hear for not getting presents for your spouse:

Money

No need

Not their love language, they don’t care about gifts

Intentional messages v. unintentional

1 Corinthians 11:1-2

Remembering your spouse

Mark 10:9

Closing the space in our marriage

Focusing on the rule, not the exception

Other things we learn by gifting:

Slowing down to remember someone

Stewardship of money in giving

            Dave Ramsey “name your money”

https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/zero-based-budget-what-why

Balancing expectations

Gift IDEAS:

Cookbook marked with dates you’ll make stuff

http://www.allprodad.com/5-inexpensive-christmas-gifts-for-your-wife/

Date night with babysitting and planning done

Splurgy groceries

Better toiletries

A haircut

Man party

Target dollar spot

Encouragement in a box/jar

Starbucks for One, Taco for One, Lunch for One

Extra resource:

John Gottman – And Baby Makes Three

https://www.gottman.com/blog/dating-your-wife-with-kids-under-five/

• “the greatest gift you can give your baby is a happy and strong relationship between the two of you.”

ESV Bible translation - Copyright © 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

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ILMS 38 – Written in Iron Ink: Entrepreneurial Ministry

Acts 18:1-4

• Paul as entrepreneur

Colossians 4:2-4

            Opening doors 

            Declaring the mystery of Christ

Basque country and culture

• Reaching out to Western Europe
• 100 out of 3 million believing Christians
• Basque language– not principally Spanish, but Euskara
• History of oppression under dictatorship

What is entrepreneurial ministry?

Paul and Tent making –

https://www.theologyofwork.org/new-testament/acts/a-clash-of-kingdoms-community-and-powerbrokers-acts-13-19/tent-making-and-christian-life-acts-181-4

Secular, sacred, or both?

“Allow the relationship to do the heavy lifting.”

• A natural outpouring of who we are and what we believe

Resource list –

Total Church

https://www.amazon.com/Total-Church-Radical-Reshaping-Community/dp/1433502089

Simple Church

https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Church-Returning-Process-Disciples/dp/0805447997

Never Eat Alone

https://www.amazon.com/Never-Eat-Alone-Expanded-Updated/dp/0385346654

Timothy Keller article – https://relevantmagazine.com/feature/empire-state-of-change/

Links to Nate and Courtney

http://www.merakischools.com

https://www.facebook.com/merakiexchangepoint/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD1LkHcUW4Q

@merakiexchangepoint on Instagram

@Mexchangepoint on Twitter

ESV Bible translation - Copyright © 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

ilovemyshepherd.com

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd0fe9BbadMkIZwWx-esd-g

Facebook - @ilovemyshepherd

Twitter -  @ilovemyshepherd

Instagram - @ilovemyshepherdministries

ESV Bible translation - Copyright © 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

ILMS 37 – Above All Names – NT

Alpha and Omega

            Revelation 22:8-13

Great High Priest

            Hebrews 4:12-16

            http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/high-priests-purpose/

King of Kings

            Revelation 17:8-14

            1 Samuel 8 – Israel asks for a king

http://ilovemyshepherd.com/2017/11/looking-to-advent/

ESV Bible translation - Copyright © 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

ilovemyshepherd.com

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd0fe9BbadMkIZwWx-esd-g

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ILMS 36 – Above All Names - OT

Wonderful Counselor

            Isaiah 9:6-7

            God is wonderful!

            God counsels – John 14:26

            God comforts – Isaiah 40:1

Peace

            Prince as second member of the Trinity

            Peace that passes all understanding – Philippians 4:7

            Unlike the world gives – John 14:27

            Ephesians 2:14 – God’s forgiveness brings personal peace

Prophet

            Role of prophet in the Old Testament

            The foundation of prophecy = the Word of God

            Jesus as Prophet – fulfillment, but God’s Word in flesh

            Mark 6:3-4 – Jesus as prophet rejected

http://ilovemyshepherd.com/2017/11/looking-to-advent/

ESV Bible translation - Copyright © 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

ilovemyshepherd.com

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd0fe9BbadMkIZwWx-esd-g

Facebook - @ilovemyshepherd

Twitter -  @ilovemyshepherd

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ILMS 35 – Jesus in Everything: Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays v. Merry Christmas

Does it really matter what Christmas greeting we use?

Do businesses have a responsibility to use the language we prefer?

Christmas doesn’t cease to be about Jesus just because we say Happy Holidays.

Jesus is the reason, even when we fail to acknowledge it.

Should we acknowledge it? Yes.

Saying Merry Christmas isn’t exactly sharing the Gospel every time either.

Isaiah 9:6-7

Happy Holidays = Happy Holy Days

*No corporations were meant to be harmed in this podcast. We have no opinions directed at any specific corporation mentioned and only positive things to say from our own experiences as customers.

ESV Bible translation - Copyright © 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

ilovemyshepherd.com

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd0fe9BbadMkIZwWx-esd-g

Facebook - @ilovemyshepherd

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I Love My Shepherd 34 – Written in Iron Ink: Love the Sojourner

Deut. 10:17-22

What does it mean to love the sojourner?

Deaconess Kim Bueltmann – missionary to refugees in Leipseig

• God is our praise, King of Kings, Lord of Lords
• When we have concerns/fears we look to Christ for care, not stuff around us, not national security, or any other thing
• Psalm 46, we have a refuge in Him

Refugee crisis or God at work?

• The church as an open place - https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/in-germany-churches-offer-unofficial-asylum-for-muslim-refugees/2017/09/05/1c068b68-88e6-11e7-96a7-d178cf3524eb_story.html?utm_term=.29b84d90a5a3
• Hospitality and relational ministry around the Word

Challenges/joys of ministry to refugees

• Meeting people where we are
• God uses simple kindness

Connect with Kim -

https://www.lcms.org/bueltmann

ESV Bible translation - Copyright © 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

ilovemyshepherd.com

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd0fe9BbadMkIZwWx-esd-g

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I Love My Shepherd 33 – Chasing Freedom YA Bonus 6: Be gone Backpack: Old Yokes, New Yokes, No Yokes

How do you feel about backpacks? What kind of bag do you carry around? What is in it?

Galatians 5:1

• Cover some old yokes we make important
• Cover some new yokes we turn to as we mature
• Getting rid of the yokes, what does God give us instead?

What weighs you down in life right now? What do you think weighs down your parents or other people in your life? Share personal and global issues as prayer requests.

Old Yokes

            Apathy, We are Free: to care, to make a difference, to have a purpose

Fear, We are Free: be ourselves, conquer death, conquer humiliation in resurrection

How does the resurrection changes things for us?

Lifestyle, We are Free: to stand outside of need, be grateful for this life,

for having our life, not someone else’s

Which of these yokes seems familiar to you currently? Can you think of any examples of what this struggle to put aside one of the yokes looks like in actual life?

New Yokes

Target on our back as a believer, We are Free: to think eternally, to let the Spirit work in us and change us

How can we see Jesus in more parts of our lives? Where do we frequently leave him out?

What worship/religion looks like, We are Free: Authentic because it is, not because it looks right

Looking for happy, We are Free: When faith feels absent it’s still there, Joy in Jesus

Which of these yokes seems familiar to you currently? Can you think of any examples of what this struggle to put aside one of the yokes looks like in actual life?

No Yokes

God gives us…

            Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

            Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Which fruit or piece of armor is most comforting to you?

Which fruit or piece of armor is most difficult for you to believe it is there for you and working in and around you through the Spirit?

Challenge: Write or draw one of the fruits or armor pieces on a card or paper. Paste it up in your room or locker, wherever you’ll see it each day. Write NO YOKES or FREEDOM underneath it and thank God for His work every time you see this reminder. He is at work in you!

ESV Bible translation - Copyright © 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

ilovemyshepherd.com

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd0fe9BbadMkIZwWx-esd-g

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I Love My Shepherd 32 – Chasing Freedom Audio Bonus 6: Restoring Grace

Let’s end this study on some Grace, just as Paul ends the book of Galatians.

How do we bring grace into our homes?

How do we bring grace into our families?

How do we end conversations with grace?

How do we begin and end the day in grace?

Galatians 6:18

Define grace –

Unmerited, uncomfortable, Divine assistance, divine gift-love (CS Lewis), manifested in forgiveness

John 1:16

Putting some grace in life tip #1 – physical touch

Galatians 6:14-18

Putting some grace in life tip #2 – speak the language of the people

The rule we live by in freedom = none of it counts but Jesus.

Sharing the struggle = sharing grace

Putting some grace in life tip #3 – focus on today, fixing our eyes on what God is doing today

Matthew 6:34

Putting some grace in life tip #4 –

Sandwiching grace

How can we begin the day with grace?

How can we end the day with grace?

How do you have snippets of grace throughout your day?

ESV Bible translation - Copyright © 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

ilovemyshepherd.com

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd0fe9BbadMkIZwWx-esd-g

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I Love My Shepherd 31 – Chasing Freedom YA Bonus 5:

YA Bonus – Someone gave something up for your freedom

Which topics, religions, world problems, life problems cause you to wonder if Christianity is the right path?

Do you believe Jesus is the only way? Why or why not?

God gives us answers in the Bible, it's Truth written out with blood stained ink by the prophets and early Apostles of the Church. In today's podcast we'll examine Truth with a capital T and it's connection to sacrifice. We'll wrestle with tough questions with no easy answers and one easy answer all at the same time. 

Questions we’ll be addressing:

Is our faith exclusive and what do we do with that?

What is the connection between freedom and sacrifice? Truth and sacrifice?

John 14:6

• Why do you think people are uncomfortable with the exclusivity of the Gospel?
• List all the belief systems different from Christianity you can think of.
• What else do you think comes up in the world that people want “acceptance” for?

Jesus accepted all people, but what does this actually mean…

Look up each of the following passages – how does the message of each help us to understand better both the inclusive and exclusive nature of the Gospel, all at once?

John 8:11

James 4:12, Romans 12:19

Ephesians 4:15

What are the traits/marks people use when they say “good people”?

We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God- Romans 3:23-24

We all like sheep have gone astray – Isaiah 53:6-8

Why is it better, God’s way of saving the world than what any of us would have come up with?

What comfort is there in WHO Jesus is, WHO God is?

Galatians 5:1

Galatians 5:22-23

Galatians 5:25-6:1

Challenge: Pray as a group or individually about whatever makes you uncomfortable about the Gospel.

ESV Bible translation - Copyright © 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

ilovemyshepherd.com

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd0fe9BbadMkIZwWx-esd-g

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I Love My Shepherd 30 – Chasing Freedom Audio Bonus 5: Freedom to walk loved

What fruits of the Spirit do you struggle with, if any?

Galatians 5:22-26

Fruits of the Spirit v. Fruits of myself

• Fruits from Christ - Romans 8:38-39 – nothing separate us from Christ’s love, that love is planted in us
• Noticing the fruits in one another, especially when we can’t see it
• Believing God over believing ourselves and what we feel and think

Walking in the Fruits

• Galatians 5 imagery of what it looks like to live outside the fruits and inside them
• Paul compares apples to oranges to show the abundant life, what the Galatians were giving up
• Paul interestingly ends up speaking to the sinner and the self righteous, one side is steeped in spiral of sin the other the spiral of “being good” of their own accord

What does Joy look like as a thing that just exists + what does it look like in my life?

• Peace, patience, kindness, etc.
• Look for the fruits around you

Let us love imperfectly, have imperfect joy, imperfect peace – it’s still there!

Galatians 6:1 – restoration and the connection to the fruits

Fruits of the Spirit v. gifts of the Spirit

Confusion with Ephesians 4:11-16

1. 1-7 whole Body existing together
2. 11-12 parts
3. 13-16 whole Body growing together, sanctified life

We all have all the gifts. We all have our own calling.

What has God gifted you in? Where have you seen the fruits of the Spirit?

ESV Bible translation - Copyright © 2001 by Crossway,

a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

All rights reserved.

ilovemyshepherd.com

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd0fe9BbadMkIZwWx-esd-g

Facebook - @ilovemyshepherd

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