You might be familiar with Philippians 4:7, Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. This verse starts with then (or and in some versions) which means it is linked to the verse before it. Philippians 4:6 says, Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
We often talk about God's peace that is far greater than what we can understand, without considering how to get it. We find this peace when we:
So the next time you find yourself worrying about something, stop and pray. Thank God for all the things you are grateful for. For all the times he has answered your prayers in the past, for his promise to never leave you, for his Holy Spirit that lives in you, for your friends, your family, for your house, for the forgiveness of your sins, etc.
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Ephesians 4:11 says, These are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. The gift of evangelism is the God-given gift of being able to explain the gospel to non-believers in a way that leads them to faith in Jesus. The original Greek word means a missionary, or someone who brings good news. Thayer's Greek Lexicon explains that evangelists are those who preach the good news about Jesus to non-believers who are not New Testament Apostles. All of us a called to share the good news about Jesus, but some people are particularly gifted in this area.
Apologetics means being able to defend your faith. All Christians, including teenagers, should be able to explain what they believe and why to anyone who asks. You don't have to go to Bible College to do this. Here are some useful books that you can read: 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin (I've just finished this book) The Case for Christ (Student Edition) by Lee Strobel Don't Check Your Brains at the Door by Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler. There are still copies of Thirsty Deer available for delivery within Australia. Suitable for 12 to 18 year olds. Click on the SHOP link above and get your full colour copy including postage for $30.
Pray for everyone affected by the floods in Queensland and New South Wales. Ask that they would get the financial and emotional support they need. Pray for the churches, aid organisations and volunteers helping.
I like to dabble in a bit of amateur photography and I love taking photos where the background is blurred while the main subject is in sharp focus, like the photo above. The Bible tells us that this is how we should look to Jesus—that we should forget everything around us and focus on him.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV) Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Colossians 3:1-2 (NOG) Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above—where Christ holds the highest position. Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things. Matthew 6:33 (ERV) What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Jesus isn't something you can schedule in on Friday night and Sundays, while you focus on your friends, studies, social media accounts, etc. the rest of the week. He wants to be first in everything you do. You should put him first and honour him in your friendships, your studies, in your social media use and in all areas of your life. The other stuff doesn't matter in the light of eternity. Do you fix your eyes on Jesus all week or just on Sundays? Originally the term Apostle referred to the twelve disciples that Jesus called. Some people believe that the gift of apostleship does not exist any more, however, Paul refers to himself as an apostle and he wasn't one of the original twelve. In 2 Timothy 1:11 he said I was chosen to tell that Good News and to be an apostle and a teacher.
The original Greek word means a messenger or someone who is sent. I believe that missionaries and church planters are modern apostles. There aren't many people who fit this definition, but they do exist. When you think about it, all of us have been sent into the world to tell the good news of the Gospel. Matthew 28:19-20 says, go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. So, what are you waiting for? |
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