Verse of the day
Meeting Notes
Church Notes 03-28-10
Brian Post
Bruce Hempel
Brain Post - Wycliffe
I am working with Wycliffe Bible Translation that sends linguists to other countries.
We starting 109 bible translations this year – we would covet prayers for this.
Bruce Hempel – Communion
Jesus gave thanks for the bread and the cup regardless of the tribulations he was about to face. Jesus had such a focus on the big picture-a self-less example.
Covenant relationships are less understood now. A marriage covenant is a pledge to be faithful regardless of what happens. If you are saved, you are in a covenant relationship with Christ. He will not abandon you, no matter what you do.
Before communion we have the opportunity to examine ourselves through the Holy Spirit.
Bruce Hempel – Trials and Joy
V1 - The tribes are dispersed, signifying suffering and trials.
V2 - The trials should be a joy. Counting trials as joy Is not a “mind game.” We have a promise that trials will make us perfect and complete.
V12-16 – When you experience a temptation in a trial, then you know God is ready to change something.
V16-18 – when I’m tempted, I tend to think what I want is a good thing. James is saying that what God gives is perfect. We should desire what God wants, not our desires.
Church Notes 03-21-10
Dr. Bill Teubl
Bruce Hempel
Dr. Bill Teubl - Grace
v17 – the law was given through Moses
Grace is a New Testament term. We can see grace from the reference in from the words, John 1:14 - “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Law:
Before we can get to grace, however, we have to visit the law (the law was given through Moses as mentioned in v17).
What is the reason for law? The answer is to teach us that we are sinners. Someone who does not understand the law does not see their need for grace.
Make sure you can relate and live with sinners. We must be able to relate because we are all sinners. Once we can realize that we are sinners then we can be saved. We cannot be saved if we do not admit that we are sinners.
The gospel is blasphemed if Christians act as if they are sinless and the world is sinful. Everyone is sinful and we must be able to relate to those in the world even as we are sinners.
Grace:
Grace and truth come through Jesus Christ. The law is just, “the soul that sins will surely die.” Grace is God giving me something that I don’t deserve. Without mercy, however, we will not receive grace. God’s grace is completely unmerited. It is not simply grace, it is grace upon grace.
What are the gifts of grace? What are the manifestations, are embracing them?
Truth:
One of the most profound things said in the New Testament about truth was Jesus’ words, “I am the truth.” It is important to note that the law is true. Further we should realize that the law is not all truth. The law is simply part of the truth written down for us.
All the things that we need in life we can find in Jesus. We do not have to search outside of Jesus to find a fulfilling life of grace.
Bruce Hempel - Elijah and Elisha
2 Kings 2:1-14 – Elijah taken away from Elisha and into heaven
Some interesting point on this passage:
Elisha was persistent throughout this time period—like Jacob wrestling with the Angel and Ruth and Naomi.
Elisha was not timid and he had a bold request—Solomon
Elijah’s striking of the water is an interesting picture to the red sea parting for the Israelites.
The rending of the garments and the correspondence with the curtain which dividing the Holy of Holies from the outer court was rent in two.
Elijah was led by the Lord to speak to Elisha and tell him to wait in order to confirm Elisha’s persistence.
Moses also had persistence when he asked for the people of Israel to be spared
When Elisha asked for the spirit of Elijah, he was asking for the spirit that gave Elijah his power (the Holy Spirit). It is possible that Elisha actually did not realize the significance of the Holy Spirit, yet he was asking for the Holy Spirit.
Elijah is passing a blessing on to Elisha. In Numbers 6:27 – “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I (meaning God) will bless them.” God instructs us to bless others (the next generation). It is important to note that the job
A mantel is a symbol to Elisha and Israel that the ministry of Elijah had been passed onto Elisha. The witnesses (prophets who had followed them) saw this and were able to actually see the mantel passed.
The mantel itself was not the powerful, it was simply a symbol of the spirit. Jesus left us with his spirit — let us use it.
It is interesting to note that everyone knows what is going on (the prophets they meet, Elisha, and Elijah). The prophets have their ears tuned to the Spirit. We need people who are ready, willing, and able to listen and speak. The Lord does not want us to be caught up in the spirit of Babylon (busyness and buying and selling—an overall focus on material things). God wants us to be listening and quiet before him.
Church Notes Feburary 21st 2010
Bruce Hempel
Dr. Bill Teubl
Scriptures:
Bruce Hempel – being needy and being rich
In our lives we have times when we are in a major trial, and other times when we have much joy.
When we are in times of trial, we should remember that God has taken care of us through past trials and He will take care of us with this one. If we are going through a trial it is ok to be needy. Rest in the idea, “God has thought for me”.
Luke 6:20-23 (recounting of the beatitudes)
There is a richness that comes to us through our poverty. This is why the poor are blessed – it is not better to go through our lives without the times of need. If having the worlds riches keep us from gaining godly riches, then we are poorer.
Job is another example of going through hard things making us richer in life.
Kyle: Luke 7:41-42 - Our tribulations bring us to value God’s love for us.
Dr. Teubl
We have had a couple years now where the Lord has nurtured a desire to reach out. I feel now that God wants to work a further deepening. “Lord will your deepen my faith, my love for You?” As we do this God will further the work around us.
Church Notes February 14, 2010
Dr. Bill Teubl
Bruce Hempel
Dr. Teubl – peace:
The faith that we have tends to vary by area (perhaps strong faith that we are saved and weak faith in the area of conflict)
Nature of Spiritual Warfare: 3 major realms: mind, community/church, world
To be successful in the realm of the church, we must first have success in the realm of the mind. And to be successful in the world, we must have success in the church.
As a man thinks, so he is – Proverbs 23:7
- Recap on strongholds
- See: notes on strongholds from youth retreat and Dr. Teubl's teaching on December 27th
Mind: When it comes to the issue of living at peace, we have strongholds like “I’ll never be able to live at peace with so and so”. The way to overcome these kinds of things is to list the things you believe and reference them with scripture verses. One by one you take down the false thoughts and replace them with biblical beliefs.
Community/Church: We need to take down the strongholds regarding inability to have peace with others.
What is reality? Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s word will remain. God’s word is the true reality. When we see our current experience conflicting with the reality of God’s Word, we can say to Him: “Lord make this area conform to the reality of your Word.”
Bruce Hempel:
What makes a stronghold strong is that its members are interlocked. Lies are a web, they get connected together. God wants to blow up these strongholds with the Word of God. We then build a stronghold of truth with the truths we find in God's Word. Just as the stronghold of lies was strengthened by many interconnected lies, the stronghold of truth is made strong when we meditate on many interconnected scriptural truths.
Praise is a weapon of battle. Often we think backwards: "I'll praise the Lord after He has removed this trial from my life" – but we should praise Him before we see His deliverance in response to our faith. There are battles in your heart that will be won by praise. We need to calculate based on the size of God – He is bigger than any of our problems. When you come to the hard place in your life, instead of groaning and complaining, calculate on Him.
Mr. Strickland:
Discouragement is full of self, Repentance is emptying self.