Teaching from Curwensville Alliance (Pastor Steve Shields)
Tom relates how Jesus being awakened by the disciples on the boat during a storm relates in real life experiences.
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There are 5 lessons we can learn from Jesus feeding the five thousand.
Be compassionate with others. Jesus had compassion on those who were listening to Him teach.
Engage with others. When we serve others we can serve with other Christians. Jesus could have spoke the food into the baskets. Instead, He used a little boys lunch to feed the 5,000.
Have confidence in God. The amount of food needed to feed that many people was enormous, but Jesus was confident that God would provide.
Be a good steward of what God’s given you. The disciples gathered up what was left over. It didn’t go to waste.
Keep the main thing the main thing. It is so easy to get distracted with other things and lose sight of the main thing.
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The calling of Matthew was not just a blessing to him, but also to us.
By Jesus calling Matthew it brings relief to us as it takes away the burden of self-righteousness.
Jesus’ call to Matthew brings us peace as He speaks of completeness found in coming to Him.
Jesus’ call to Matthew brings us hope!
Jesus gives us the hope of forgiveness. Jesus gives us the hope of belonging. Jesus gives us the hope of growing.
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Where are you on your spiritual journey?
Here are some questions to ask to help determine your location. How am I using the time given me to advance the kingdom? Where am I connecting with other believers? What place does the Bible hold in my life?
You could be curious, but that isn’t where Jesus wants you to stay. You could be desperate, but that isn’t where Jesus wants you to stay. You could be consumed by guilt, regret or shame, but that isn’t where Jesus wants you to stay. You could be skeptical, but that isn’t where Jesus wants you to stay.
Some moves Jesus may want you to make today. Choose to move from trivialities to exploring what Christ wants to do in your life.
If you allow desperation to move you toward God, you will find hope.
When we take our guilt and shame to Christ, He cleans us up.
If you think moving from skepticism to rejoicing would take a miracle, take heart, Jesus is in the miracle business.
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Why do we spend time in God’s word?
His word is truth!
His is word is relevant. Are you struggling with worry, fretting with fear, feeling defeated, feeling angry, being weighed down by sorrow? His word is relevant in ALL these situations, and so many more!
His word bring freedom!
His word bring healing!
His words are for EVERYONE! We study God’s word so we can share it well. We obey HIs word so we are living His word well. We share God’s word so others can come and see.
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Listen to Pastor Steve as he discusses being fishers of men.
Why are we fishing for people?
People have lost their way. People are heading toward destruction. Jesus is calling us to help others discover the gift He offers.
Jesus is calling us to be fishers of men!
So, how do we fish for men?
We fish intentionally. We fish intelligently. We fish cooperatively.
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There are two types of contempt, blatant and subtle.
Subtle contempt can be non-engagement, casual engagement or distracted engagement.
The problem with contempt is it prevents you from honoring God. It prevents you from receiving blessing and it increases pain in life.
The keys to avoiding contempt are to keep your perspective of God fresh. Get to know God more deeply. Practice saying yes to God.
Choose to avoid the subtle contempt that may creep into your spiritual life.
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Why would Jesus make this point in John 4:48 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”?
None of them are coming to Him, and it is an “outsider” who comes to Jesus. Jesus wants us to bring Him our needs. Because when we bring Him our needs, we bring our hearts.
Pastor Steve discusses a Biblical understanding of belief. Belief is not something I manufacture. It is not something I psych up in myself. It is not a leap of faith. It is not just nodding my head.
Instead, Biblical belief is a choice to trust Jesus!
Jesus invites you to trust Him. He invites you because He wants your heart. He invites you because it is the only way to really live.
You respond to His invitation by genuinely desiring His help, and genuinely desiring HIM!
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When I am without Jesus I may look like the Samaritan woman at the well. I may seem like a loner, someone to avoid, cynical, pragmatic, clueless, insignificant or worthless. My life may seem hopeless to others.
But just like the woman at the well, the answer to my problems is Jesus.
Jesus tells His followers that people are thirsty. We need to open our eyes to those around us who are thirsty.
Giving Water to the thirsty must be our priority. We must make giving Jesus to others a priority, which will mean tending to something besides our own agenda.
We need to examine our commitment of giving Water to the thirsty.
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Nicodemus came to Jesus with a humble spirit. He was respectful towards Jesus, and sensed that Jesus had what he needed. He saw to the burial of Jesus.
Jesus spoke with Nicodemus about the Kingdom. Kingdom participation requires personal transformation. The Kingdom of God is organic or living. It is otherworldly. We enter the Kingdom by trusting God. The Kingdom is here if you want it.
Knowing this leads to questions we can ask ourselves. What is MY faith like? What do I need to do to be reborn? How do I maintain this new life? Listen to Pastor Steve as he guides us to the answers through Scripture.
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