Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Hebrews

  • God spoke through prophets before Jesus; then the Son reflected the Glory of God
  • The Son is greater than all of the Angels; angles worship the Son
  • Lord will remain even when Earth and skies are destroyed and He will never change
  • Angels are spirits who serve God and help those who will receive salvation
  • Don't stray from trust; salvation is great
  • God -> Jesus -> Angels -> People
    • Jesus became lower than angels as human; suffered and died for us; then rose to be at God's right hand
    • Jesus didn't help the angels
    • Jesus was the high priest on Earth
  • Jesus no can help those who are tempted because He suffered and was tempted
  • Jesus is greater than Moses; builder is greater than the house; God is builder of every thing
  • Keep the faith until final rest; don't turn away
  • Nothing can be hidden from God
  • Jesus is our high priest, chosen by God, an honor, sacrifice for eternal salvation because of his obedience and perfection
  • Move forward in learning and teaching to grow
  • Do not leave the faith and sin shaming God; work hard until Hope and God's promise are reached
  • God cannot lie in promise or oath; He is our safety and hope to anchor our soul
  • Priest Melchizedek, means King of Goodness and King of Peace and no one knows who his parents were, when he was born or when he died; he continues to be a priest forever
  • Abraham gave Melchizedek 1/10 of everything from battle even though he wasn't from the tribe of Levi
  • Jesus is like Melchizedek and is priest forever bringing us near to God
  • Jesus the priest is unlike the other priests who had to make sacrifices daily for Jesus offered himself
  • Jesus is at the right hand of God
  • God made a new agreement with us through Jesus
  • Reminder of the Old Agreement and the Holy Tent with the Ark
  • A will is useless until someone dies
  • Christ bring a new agreement; blood cleanses and shows death of sins
  • Holy Place replaced with heaven = most Holy Place
  • Christ death takes away sin
  • Christ second coming is for those waiting for salvation
  • Trust God, don't turn back; help others and go to church
  • Faith is being sure of things we hope for knowing it is real even though we can't see it
  • Cannot please God without faith
  • Go to God believing He is real and knowing he rewards those who seek Him
  • Examples of faith from any people in scripture
  • God has something better planned for us
  • Keep the faith; follow the examples before us, follower Jesus example; remove things that hold us back
  • Let God's discipline teach and change us
  • Live with God in mind
  • God's kingdom cannot be shaken but everything created will be
  • Welcome strangers; remember those suffering and in prison; keep your marriage pure
  • Strengthen your heart with God's grace, not food rules

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

The American Heiress

I wasn't so sure about this book for sections of it.  In my Bible reading lately, I'd been learning a little about the mere following of the law doesn't make our hearts right.  And with the rigid expectations of positions and appearances it was a great example of just because everything look good on the outside and rules were followed, hearts weren't in the right place.  Ultimately the ending brought it altogether so I didn't dislike the book anymore. Maybe I never really disliked the books, but I certainly wasn't excited about it for period of time either.

Philemon

  • A letter from Paul and Timothy to Philemon, a sister and a fellow worker
  • Philemon is full of faith and love for others
  • Paul doesn't want to give orders, but wanted Philmont to work with Onesimus
  • Onesimus was a slave, now a useful servant

Monday, November 18, 2019

Titus

  • Paul write to Titus
  • Titus is appointing elders in towns; elders must have only 1 wife and believing children
  • Elders hold onto what is true and can tell others when their ways are wrong
  • Paul tells Titus to encourage the people: young and old; men and women - to be wise and true; to show they serve God and are waiting for hope and the coming of Jesus
  • Don't speak evil and do goo
  • Don't follow the enjoyment of your body, but remember the kindness and love of God and do good deeds
  • Also Titus, help others teaching the Good News

2 Timothy

  • Paul encourages Timothy
  • Timothy comes from a family of faith
  • They serve sharing the Good News
  • Avoid evil and quarreling and do good
  • In the last days, believers will turn away and turn to evil
  • Follow the teachings, use the scripture to guide your life; keep the faith

Friday, November 08, 2019

1 Timothy

  • A letter from Paul to Timothy
  • Stay and tell them not to spend time on false teachings but on faith items
  • God shows mercy when we believe
  • Jesus is patient
  • Don't shipwreck your faith
  • Pray for believers and leaders
  • Men: pray without anger or arguments
  • Women: do good deeds, not fancy clothes
  • Women should be quiet and not teach because of Eve, but saved through children
  • What qualifies someone to be an elder and deacon
  • Don't follow false teachers
  • Serve other and serve God for it helps you in every way in this life and the future
  • Treat others with respect as parents and siblings
  • Care for windows who are alone, let families care for their own windows
  • Families should care for each other so the church can care for those without family
  • Don't share in others sin
  • Some sins and deeds aren't easily seen until later
  • Want of money leads you astray; serving God makes us very rich

Wednesday, November 06, 2019

2 Thessalonians

  • Paul, Silas and Timothy brag of the Thessalonians to other churches for they stand in suffering and trouble
  • When they Lord comes, non-believers will be punished
  • Man of Evil will come and turning away from God by the people before the Lord will come again
  • Man of Evil from Stan and will do false miracles, signs and wonders
  • Stand strong and believe Good news teachings
  • Pray the Good News keeps spreading
  • Be willing to work for yourself, but don't treat those who don't as enemies, but warn them as fellow believers

1 Thessalonians

  • Thessalonians believed and stopped worshipping idols and spread the Good News
  • Paul uses his words to try to please God, not people
  • Paul accepted them as the word of God, not just people
  • Paul wants to visit again, but is glad when Timothy brings good news of them back to him
  • Live a life pleasing to God, no sexual sin
  • Take care of your business and you will be respected
  • When the Lord comes again, those who have died first will go before those still living
  • The Lord's coming will be a surprise but believers should be prepared and not asleep; faith, love and hope will protect us in the coming of the Lord
  • Appreciate hard workers
  • Live in peace
  • Encourage the afraid
  • Help the weak
  • Be patient
  • Don't return wrong with wrong
  • Keep what is good, stay away from evil

Tuesday, November 05, 2019

Love Beyond Reason

This book took me awhile.  It had a more academic reading/feel to it and I had a more difficult time staying engaged and following along.  It's a busy season, and I'm tired in the evenings so my mind wanders and often falls asleep.  It certainly had good points in it, and I'm sure I missed some great points too as I lost focus on the reading.

Friday, November 01, 2019

Colossians

  • Paul writes to the people of Colossee wishing grace and peace and thanking them for their faith, hope and love
  • Christ is first; all things are created through Him and for Him; Christ first rose from the dead and made us friends with God again
  • Christ is our only hope for glory; so we share all God's teachings with other people to bring everyone to God
  • Paul in body is away from them, but with them in heart
  • Be strong in faith as taught and thankful
  • Don't be fooled by human teaching
  • Don't follow rules of people about eating, drinking, feats; hold tight to Christ - the rules don't really control sinful desires as they aim to
  • Paul tells of how you should live with your new life in Christ: think only of heaven, stop evil things for doing them is like serving a false God, forgive, love, everything you do, do for the Lord
  • Treat other people well
  • Always be kind and pleasant with talking with others
  • Paul tells of the people whit him and who he sends to the people
  • Share the letter with the church