Contributed by Mark Eberly on Apr 13, 2009
OBJECT LESSON: NEW SOCKS
One of the things that our church does is that we give out new socks to some of the homeless men and women. You walk around and sleep here and there, and even if you take care of yourself and shower, your socks get dirty. When you’ve been wearing probably the same clothes
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Apr 13, 2009
OBJECT LESSON: THE MOP HEAD
I have here a mop head that I recently replaced at the Upper Room. This has been used to mop urine. I know, because I mopped up when this guy urinated all over himself, the couch he was sitting on, and the floor while he was asleep. It has mopped up the filth that was
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Apr 21, 2009
Speaking of abuse… have you seen those energy drinks that are out there. This may not always hold true but it seems to me that these often are marketed to promote the potential abuse of caffeine. Caffeine isn’t that bad, you may say. It isn’t like a narcotic. But I wonder if we abuse something less
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Apr 21, 2009
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So often, it seems like people and even churches want grace without responsibility. With forgiveness comes a responsibility to be forgiving. Our response comes through the ability to confess our love to Jesus and confess our shortcomings, our flaws, and our sins. It is the response to grace that
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Apr 23, 2009
The game ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ first came to light in 1974. Players of D&D create characters which they live out in an alternative reality. And so D&D is a fantasy role playing game where players embark upon imaginary adventures in a created world. Although there’s a few variations of the game, a
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Mark Armstrong on Apr 26, 2009
Dick Lucas says, "It is through great endurance that the servant of God commends himself. By it he learns to hold his position under attack, and quietly to persist in the paths of righteousness and truth. Through patience, the Christian learns forbearance and self-restraint,
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Presbyterian/Reformed
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Apr 28, 2009
WELCOME HOME!
Have you seen the show, “Extreme Home Makeover.” A powerful example of helping people and answering the question, “Who is your neighbor?” At the end of the show, Ty always closes with two words. It is the same two words
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Apr 28, 2009
HOW'S MY DRIVING?
A lot of trucks have a sticker on the back that says, "How’s my driving? Call xxx-xxxx to report." This is supposed to make the driver accountable. In Ireland, most people drive very, very courteously. They have roundabouts instead of lights (they do have some lights) where
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on Apr 28, 2009
GRACE IS FOR EVERYONE: 3:10 TO YUMA
One of the main themes that we find in a lot (although not all) of Jesus’ parables is God’s grace. Specifically, they often point towards God’s limitless grace. That was a central part of last week’s parable: Grace demands our response.
I want to start with a
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on May 4, 2009
Often people want to be mighty oaks. They want to be seen as strong and tall and be looked up to. We want the attention. We want to be admired. Except we don’t want to take the time to grow strong, deep roots. Jesus says that he want to make it as clear as possible. God is doing a great and new
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on May 12, 2009
ONE WAY TO WIN: BET IT ALL
God has the answers that we need. I often see people not trusting in God and truly seeking His face. Worshiping with others and seeking out the answers that we are looking for is often done superficially. We show up once or twice and wonder why "church" doesn't seem to
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on May 19, 2009
based on 3 ratings
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WHERE FRUIT BEGINS
I believe with everything that is in me that fruit begins with each one of us. It begins with a decision, “I want to bear fruit. I want to honor Jesus. I want to walk in his ways. And I will do it no matter what. No matter what life throws at me. No matter what struggles I face.
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on May 19, 2009
Then there are the thorns which Jesus says are the wealth and cares of the world. Providing for your family, working, spending, the economy, getting more stuff, getting the stuff paid for and so on are all part of the tension of living in this world while being a proper steward of our blessings.
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on May 19, 2009
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SOIL AND SPIRITUAL SEASONS
Jesus says these people resemble the soil next to the path which in Palestine could look like decent soil but only an inch deep. Because the soil has settled there maybe blown by the wind or pushed there by the run off from the rain, it can be very fertile.
People are
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Church Of God
Contributed by Mark Eberly on May 27, 2009
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A pastor name Richard Wurmbrand was imprisoned in Communist Romania for being a Christian. He gave this account:
“Hungry, beaten, and rugged, we had forgotten theology and the Bible. We had forgotten the ‘truths about the Truth,’ therefore we lived in ‘the Truth.’ We could not think anymore. In our
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Church Of God