The Heidelberg Catechism - The Foundations Of Our Faith

"Great church Fights" Paul had rivals at Philippi 1:12-18 Depressive.  Be angry but do not sin.  Phil 1:27. Strive together with one mind.   Do you remember those wonderful times of genuine comfort as you understood the gospel ? Do you remember the times of fellowship in the Spirit with other like minded believers?  Philippians 2:1-5 ESV - So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,  But hurts come in.  Self centredness can dominate.  Selfish ambition for power or pleasure or fame or fortune.  And the wondered fellowship is gone. And of course it's not our fault!  You should have Harmony. Vs 3 Philippians 2: 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his ow...

CONCENTRIC CIRCLES ... Every Member Spreading the Gospel! Person X may be in the high crime streets of a big city or in a third world, or in a poverty-stricken country, or in a rescue mission, or a jail— SO, WE go to them! We evangelize. We come home. We tell others about our efforts. We go back to our business, job, home, church, and/or daily routines; and every so often we repeat the cycle. HOWEVER, WHY is it that all too often We do not GO TO THE FOLKS, close to us, IN CIRCLES 2 - 6? [1] IT COULD BE because they know us! They know our salty language, lustful looks, greedy grasping, anger, business deceit, gossip, etc. They see how we are at work or at school or in our home. THUS: We might need to, first of all, ask for their forgiveness or give forgiveness— which if that is what we need to do— just do it! That is powerful witnessing! [2] ANOTHER REALITY: With Person X, we don't have to deal with our 'hang-ups' … OR THEIRS … and we can 'love them and...

More Than We Can Bear?  Does God put on us more than we can bear? Yes, He does! Maybe you are thinking about 1 Corinthians 10:13, "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." This promise refers specifically to temptation. It is critically important to rightly divide the Word of truth these days. In his book titled, The Place of Help, Oswald Chambers explains, "There are disasters to be faced by the one who is in real fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. God has never promised to keep us immune from trouble. He says, 'I will be with him in trouble,' [Psalm 91:15] which is a very different thing." Here are three outstanding Old Testament examples who were overwhelmed by the trouble they faced. Moses said, "I am not able to bear all these people alone, because...

When the Great Commission Caused a Great Commotion by Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey Arthur T. Pierson explains in The Acts of the Holy Spirit: "When disciples have a true revival, society gets a revolution. When the Spirit moves mightily upon children of God we may look for other mighty movements among unbelievers, and need not be surprised if the devil himself comes down, having great wrath, as though he knew that his time were short." Acts 19:23 reads, "And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way." This happened as those of the Way carried out the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ recorded in the four gospels and the book of Acts. Note three scenes in this segment of the life and ministry of the apostle Paul. First, he is in the line of sacred duty (Acts 19:21-27). Paul was in Ephesus at this time on his third missionary journey, where a silversmith named Demetrius who made shrines to Diana felt his livelihood threatened by the progres...

2 Timothy 4:16-18 CSB [16] At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them. [17] But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. [18] The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen. Paul and your Dilemma 2 Timothy 4:9-15 CSB [9] Make every effort to come to me soon, [10] because Demas has deserted me, since he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. [11] Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry. [12] I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. [13] When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments. [14] Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him...

F W Boreham on The Powder Magazine F W Boreham's essay entitled, 'The Powder Magazine', first published in 'The Other Side of the Hill' (London: Charles H Kelly, 1917), 253-264. 21   I  I have a special fondness for explosive people. I can never persuade myself that dynamite got into the world by accident. I intolerantly scout the theory that the devil built all the volcanoes, and that his minions feed their furious fires. I have admired an indescribable grandeur in the hurricane. I have felt the cyclone to be splendid, and the tornado to be next door to sublimity. Even the earthquake has a glory of its own. And how a thunderstorm clears the air! How deliciously sweet my garden smells when the riven clouds have passed, and the glittering drops are still clinging like pendant gems to the drooping petals and the bright green leaves! And, in the same way, I have discovered something terribly sublime in those stormy elements that sweep the realm within. There was a time...