The Open Word (Audio)

There is nothing that we own that didn’t come from God. As we study Jesus’ parable about the unjust steward, Pastor David will teach valuable principals we can learn in this story. During our lifetime, we are managers of God’s resources and His blessings to us here on Earth. It is our responsibility. How have we managed what God has given us? Our finances, our talents, our time, our job, our hobbies, our health, our family… How can we worship Him and honor Him in all of it?

Our God is a God of reconciliation! Pastor David will teach the parable of The Prodigal Son, and God’s heart to redeem us. The prodigal son left his father to live a life of sin – and was quickly suffering the consequences of that poor choice. However, when the son comes back home, the father RUNS to him and restores him into the family! That’s God’s heart! He moves in grace, compassion and mercy, rather than in judgment! That was a difficult lesson for the Pharisees to learn – as they acted just like the legalistic older son.

Whenever we think that somebody is not worthy of God’s grace, we are acting just like the Pharisees! In today’s study, Pastor David will teach us that the Lord NEVER feels that way about a person! Jesus taught the parables of The Lost Sheep and The Lost Coin to make the point about His heart for the lost! God will put ALL His effort to rescue every single one of us! He was trying to convey to the Pharisees that not only He rejoices in rescuing the “one sheep”, but His friends should also rejoice with Him!

Being a disciple of JESUS is not a flippant thing. Even though many claims have been made about discipleship, too often we see a great discrepancy between the way people live and what the Bible says are the characteristics of a true disciple. In our time with Pastor David, we’ll take a look at what the Bible says about discipleship. Although many have professed to be followers of JESUS, God makes a distinction between those who are honestly pursing JESUS as true followers of the Son of God.

JESUS always knew how to turn the tests back around on the religious leaders who continually challenged His Authority as the Son of God. And although there was never a moment when they had the upper hand on JESUS, it never seemed to get through to them that everything He did was above reproach. In our time with Pastor David today, we’re reminded that God’s heart for the people always trumped the rules and practices of religious people. No one was ever able to misalign the ministry of JESUS.

Believers need to count the cost when ministering in the Name of JESUS. Because there has never been a time when there hasn’t been push back when advancing the Kingdom of God. In our time with Pastor David, we’ll consider the cost of staying steadfast in the truth. It’s very important that we are prepared for spiritual warfare when ministering the gospel message. But if we take our stand and remain steadfast in our faith, we will advance the Kingdom and be rewarded by JESUS in the end.

If we kept our religion to ourselves, we probably wouldn’t hear much from the opposition. But since we’re willing to stay on mission to faithfully proclaim our hope in JESUS Christ, we should realize that push back is inevitable. As we listen to Pastor David today, we will be encouraged to take some things into consideration when it comes to the realities of staying on mission. To take a stand for the Lordship of Christ brings push back from those who have yet to enter into the Kingdom of God.

JESUS reserved His strongest warnings for the religious leaders who were always playing church. In light of this truth, we ought to be very careful about our thoughts, opinions, and attitudes when it comes to how God wants to work in ministry. As we get into the Word with Pastor David, we’ll hear how the religious leaders missed the heart of God by the accusations they made about JESUS. If religious leaders misrepresent the goals and intent of God, they will lead many people astray in the church.

JESUS was a wonderful rule breaker, but He never broke a single command of God. When the religious leaders made a statement about healing on the Sabbath, they became guilty of playing church. In today’s program with Pastor David, we’ll hear what really matters to the heart of God in ministry. If we become so busy doing church that we no longer minister to the needs of people, we put ourselves in danger of falling under the same category. God desires compassionate ministry from the body of Christ.

If anything is needed, it’s repentance. No matter how good or bad our lives may seem, we should continually repent from what we know is sin. In our time with Pastor David, we’re reminded of the value of a heart attitude of repentance. Not because we need to be saved, but because we ARE saved! All believers are delivered from the penalty of sin, but need to remember that thoughts and attitudes are under construction. We ought to live in such a way that shows gratitude for the remission of our sin.