In last
month’s Blog, I promised to give my take on the book 7 Questions
Of A Promise Keeper by Tom Fortson and Hank Hanegraaff. It was
a good read. As a matter of fact, the book is on sale now for $4.00.
Just go to their website's online store at www.promiseproducts.net/.
There are several memorable quotes/questions that Tom Fortson poses
that stuck with me. The first one is “What
are the questions every Promise Keeper must be equipped to answer?” The
other is “It isn’t as important to have all the answers,
as it is to be able to identify the right questions. As I read
and began to understand the relevance as it relates to scripture
and asking the tough questions, it provided me a new perspective
and strategy for practical application in coping with life’s
continual challenges. I encourage you to read it.
Our Men’s Ministry group just completed a Bible Study called
8 Life Shaking Moments With Jesus.
(The Baptism of Jesus, Healing A Leper, Calming the Storm, Feeding
the 5000, Betrayal at the Last Supper, Crucifixion, Resurrection,
and The Great Commission) It was an interactive video series depicting
the gospel of Matthew. The series was cast with a quick witted
host of three guys that brought their own perspectives and the
impact the scriptures can have in modern times. It is also described
as unconventional, unpredictable, uncompromising and unlike any
other Bible study. Although the series was designed to encourage
fresh conversations about Christ between 18-35 years, our group
thought it was awesome. The guys in our group range in age from
26 to 70 something. Here are some of the comments the guys shared
about the series:
- They took several scriptures and dissected them.
I felt like a lot of what was said was directed at me. I have
a new appreciation for the book of Matthew.
- They took small moments
in the life of Jesus and blew them up to provide more details.
It helps you focus your abilities. It strengthened my faith
and helped me focus on Jesus in a new way.
- I have a greater appreciation
for Jesus’ existence.
It was a reaction to an action that had to be. He had to die
for us to receive the gift of eternal life.
- It provided an interesting
insight on how to look at scripture. It was also done in a
humorous way. It taught me that even though we’re growing
in Christ, just hearing the different view points provided shaking
moments for me. It makes reading scripture fun.
- It provided a deeper meaning
of Jesus. It provided the model for us to live. This study
gave me the confidence to share Christ more. The ultimate impact
that it had on me was the realization that I can do all things
through Christ.
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A
friend called Saturday that I hadn’t talked with in a while.
We worked the Promise Keeper conference in Ft. Lauderdale back
in June and also worked on a next steps project after the conference.
It’s been almost 6 months since the first conference in June
for the 2006 season and Promise Keepers provided this quick look
at some early numbers:
- 16th season of conference ministry
- Eighteen events
- More than 132,000 attendees
- More than 3000 first-time
decisions for Christ, and another 3000+ rededicating their
lives to Jesus
- 170,000 pounds of food donated to local Christian
food banks of which Northwood Baptist Church was one of the recipients
- 213
units of blood donated at just four conferences
- More than 900 motorcycles
rallied in five cities as part of the PK Thunder Event
- Two prison
events (Venus, Texas and Marion, Ohio)
At any rate, our conversation led us to a discussion of the fact
that Jesus is coming back and how some people seemed to have forgotten
that. That led us to how we need to be prepared by studying His
word, by sharing the gospel and fulfilling the Great Commission.
The most startling revelation came however as we pondered the possibility
and in some cases inevitability of Jesus coming back and finding
us living lives that we know are ungodly and not pleasing to the
Father, what a sad day that will be. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us
that all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the
man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. “We
must remember that the goal of scripture is not to be learned but
to be lived. God intended his Word to be practical truth, a gift
that prepares us to do every good work”. www.heartlight.org.
Our next Bible Study will be Unleashing
Your Heart, A Six Week
Study of A Band of Brothers. We invite you to join us. For more
information, go to the Men’s Schedule Page at: www.northwoodbc.org/men/menschedule.html.
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