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Archive for February, 2011

What You Need Most

Published by KingsWay on February 23, 2011 in Application, By Gene and Messages. 0 Comments

This past Sunday, Gary Thomas spoke from Micah 6:8 on “What You Need Most.”  Here are some questions to help us respond to his message:

  1. How do you perceive your need for God’s mercy?  How does He show you mercy on a daily basis?
  2. Gary said “We are called to ‘fall in love’ with God’s mercy.  What does that mean in our relationship with God?  With others?
  3. What opportunities do you have today to extend the mercy you’ve been given?

Roadblock to Forgiveness - Application

Published by KingsWay on February 18, 2011 in Application, By Matthew and Messages. 0 Comments

Last Sunday, I preached on the parable of the unforgiving servant from Matt. 18:21-35, exploring what gets in the way of practicing the costly forgiveness Gene spoke on the week before.  We saw how Jesus helped Peter understand that he who knows he is forgiven much will forgive much, but he who forgets he is forgiven much, forgives little.  The primary roadblock to biblical forgiveness is a self-righteous heart that minimizes the extent of our moral indebtedness to God and exaggerates our ability to pay Him back.  Bitterness (the opposite of forgiveness) grows in the soil of self-righteousness.  Only by remembering the great chasm between our sinfulness and God’s holiness, and rejoicing that Jesus Christ has completely paid ALL our debt, can we maintain the humble gratitude necessary for forgiving others the debts they owe us.  Here are a couple application questions to consider:

  1. Am I grateful for the gospel?  Not cognitively.  Not theoretically.  In the depth of my heart, is gratitude for what Jesus has done for you through his death and resurrection alive and growing?
  2. Do you think of yourself primarily as someone who owes God a great debt (that has been forgiven in full!) or as someone who is owed a debt by others?  Which is larger in your eyes - your debts or your debtors?
  3. Where in your circle of relationships do you see evidence of self-righteousness?  Do you have a relationship where bitterness has taken hold as a result?  What’s your next step in humbling yourself and pursuing reconciliation?

Marriage Conference Preview!

Published by KingsWay on February 11, 2011 in Books, By Gene and Quotes. 0 Comments

Gary Thomas just completed an interview for Focus on the Family on his book, Sacred Marriage.  If you’d like a preview of next weekend’s conference, follow this link: Gary Thomas Interview.  There’s still time to register for the marriage conference at Sacred Marriage.

Forgiven - Sunday, February 6

Published by KingsWay on February 8, 2011 in Application, By Gene and Messages. 0 Comments

On Sunday, we began a series called “Forgiven” with a message from Colossians 3:12-13 entitled “Costly Forgiveness.”  Our premise is that nothing is more glorifying to God than Christians forgiving others as God has forgiven us.  We provided three reasons for the question, “Why should I forgive?”: Because I’ve been forgiven, God commands me to forgive, and God empowers me to forgive.We also reviewed the Four Promises of Forgiveness from The Peacemaker:

  1. I will not dwell on this incident
  2. I will not bring it up again or use it against you
  3. I will not talk to others about it
  4. I will not allow it to hinder our relationship
  1. How do you view God’s forgiveness?  Free, full, and eternal or hard, partial and conditional?
  2. Ken Sande wrote, “When I have a hard time forgiving, almost always because forgotten the Gospel.”  Reflect on that statement in light of your own experiences.  Do the biggest hindrances to forgiveness relate to the Gospel?
  3. Who is God calling you to ask or extend forgiveness to?

Sunday Meeting 1/27

Published by KingsWay on February 3, 2011 in Application, By Gene and Messages. 0 Comments

Sunday’s meeting provided an overview of three days of mediation and a picture of God’s kindness to bring reconciliation out of conflict.  As Paul Cornwell says, “Peace has everything to do with representing Christ in the world.” Here are three questions to discover if we are glorifying God in the midst of conflict:

Am I Trusting Him?

  • Am I asking God to lead me and give me strength to handle conflict as He desires?

Am I Obeying Him?

  • Am I studying Scripture and using the tools He has given me to resolve conflict?

Am I Imitating Him?

  • Am I following the example Christ left for us?  Am I being humble, slow to anger and soft in my speech?

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