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Into the Furnace

Jim Leffel

Daniel 3:1-36

When Nebuchadnezzar demanded universal worship of a statue, God's people faced a difficult and painful decision against the pressures of their culture. Today, the cultural bottom line that demands our loyalty has to do with the exaltation of the self. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made their decision based on integrity and an informed confidence in God. In the furnace, God was with them in their suffering.

Keywords

{"passage": "Daniel 3:1-36","passageabreviated": "Dan 3:1-36","passagetiny": "Dan 3:1-36","teacher": "Jim Leffel","teachingDate": "01/31/...

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Living in Exile

Jim Leffel

Daniel 1:1-21

For the Jewish people living in exile, there were challenges to their identity as their lives were controlled by the Babylonians. They chose neither to assimilate to their spiritual hostile culture nor to totally separate from it, but instead to be different in a good way. Modern-day culture is just as spiritually hostile as in the time of Daniel. Believers today should be different in a way that lends credibility to God and His message, without compromising in important areas of morality and truth.

Keywords

{"passage": "Daniel 1:1-21","passageabreviated": "Dan 1:1-21","passagetiny": "Dan 1:1-21","teacher": "Jim Leffel","teachingDate": "01/17/...

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Kings and Teens

Jeff Gordon

Daniel 1:1-21

Daniel was among the teenage boys who were taken to Babylon as captives to train in the king's palace. They received education and training and were offered choice food and wine from the king's table. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to eat food that was sacrificed to idols. God honored their loyalty to Him by making them stronger than the other boys and by giving them wisdom and understanding. Two lessons are taught: 1) live in the culture while being aware of where to draw lines. Maintain allegiance to God while being engaged in the culture; 2) parents should be aware of what the culture is teaching kids and model how to honor God as they involved in their kids' lives and activities.\r\n

Keywords

{"passage": "Daniel 1:1-21","passageabreviated": "Dan 1:1-21","passagetiny": "Dan 1:1-21","teacher": "Jeff Gordon","teachingDate": "11/22...

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Three Pseudo-Spiritualities

Tom Dixon

Colossians 2:16-23

Paul warns the Colossians against three false spiritualities that will move them away from the hope of the gospel. The first is ritualism, where Christians do external acts of service to God without dealing with the internal heart attitude towards Him in order to gain closeness with God. The second is mysticism, a type of of focus on intuition and feelings that become more trustworthy than God's Word. Lastly, there is moralism, the sense of focusing on strict obedience to morals, while neglecting what God desires, like love or compassion towards others. Each of these false ways of relating to God can hinder our ability to stand firm in the gospel.

Keywords

{"passage": "Colossians 2:16-23","passageabreviated": "Col 2:16-23","passagetiny": "Col 2:16-23","teacher": "Tom Dixon","teachingDate": "...

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A Servant's Fight

Jim Leffel

2 Corinthians 4:13

Paul calls us to fight the good fight. We are in a spiritual war, and an ideological battle against Satan and his world system. God has given us the truth of His powerful love and offer of salvation. Our fight is to share this message in a corrupt and jaded world.

Keywords

{"passage": "1 Timothy 1:1-20","passageabreviated": "1 Tim 1:1-20","passagetiny": "1Tim 1:1-20","teacher": "Jim Leffel","teachingDate": "...

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Gospel and Waste

Jim Leffel

Mark 14:3-9

When a woman broke a jar of expensive perfume at Jesus' feet, his disciples accused her of being wasteful. Their real issue was that they were embarrassed by her attitude and uncomfortable with her priorities. Many who fail to experience the goodness of a life for God have actually failed to truly prioritize the most important things.

Keywords

{"passage": "Mark 14:3-9","passageabreviated": "Mark 14:3-9","passagetiny": "Mark 14:3-9","teacher": "Jim Leffel","teachingDate": "09/06/...

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Suffering and Spiritual Warfare

Dennis McCallum

Mark 14:3-9

For healthy Christians, a significant portion of voluntary pain comes from our battle with Satan. Currently, Satan rules this world, meaning that Christians are always in a spiritual battle. Contrast having this mindset with having a peace-time mentality, and see how dangerous it is to remain indifferent.

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{"passage": "","passageabreviated": "","passagetiny": "","teacher": "Dennis McCallum","teachingDate": "07/16/2009"}

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Representing Jesus in a Non-Christian Society

Gary DeLashmutt

1 Peter 2:11-25

Peter explains how Christians should live in a non-Christian society. One way prescribed is for Christians to resist moral assimilation with society. Another way Peter presents is to be a blessing to those who don't believe in Jesus. Peter explains this includes: 1) respecting governing authorities, 2) doing good in the community, 3) treating people with honor and respect, 4) being a hard-working employee, and 5) patiently enduring mistreatment from others.\r\n

Keywords

{"passage": "1 Peter 2:11-25","passageabreviated": "1 Pet 2:11-25","passagetiny": "1Pet 2:11-25","teacher": "Gary DeLashmutt","teachingDa...

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Adultery in the Church?

Dennis McCallum

Matthew 6:24

James teaches on the world system that his audience have given themselves to as a metaphor of adultery towards God. For us and for them, the kosmos is not designed to make us deny God, it is designed to replace God in our affections. When we try to move physical enjoyments from something to enjoy in life to something that's the basis for our lives it becomes distorted and can't deliver what we want it to. Ultimately we end up with an inner hunger for more and we become enslaved. God calls us to view the things of His kingdom as the focus of our hearts, and to hold little value in trying to fill ourselves with things of the world.

Keywords

{"passage": "James 4:4-10","passageabreviated": "Jas 4:4-10","passagetiny": "Jas 4:4-10","teacher": "Dennis McCallum","teachingDate": "02...

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