Messages with tag - Obedience

The family is where the next generation is trained. Its health is related to the health of a society. Honoring parents shows humility and respect which is the essential response to authority. A leader must first learn to follow. Observe a child’s response to the parent of the opposite sex as an indicator of the way he will relate to his spouse. In Proverbs, verses concerning how to train children are practical guides of implementation. See the nature of Proverbs as wisdom sayings, not promises. Understand what it means to “train up a child” and when that begins. When is the “rod of correction” appropriate? What is the common starting point of every baby? Is discipline always negative? What is the direction of our culture regarding child rearing? How does discipline relate to God’s love for us? What was God’s ultimate expression of judicial punishment?

"Bless you." "Have a blessed day." Are these just airy greetings with little meaning? When we think of blessing and its synonym, happiness, we think of money in the bank, a big salary, vitality, and brilliant relationships. Proverbs tells us that God is offering us wisdom, which is worth more than all of these things and leads to true happiness. Nothing we wish for can hold a candle to wisdom. When we attain wisdom, we are promised enduring joy, long life, and recognition. The book of Proverbs explains the conditions God has attached to gaining His wisdom. Listen to this message to learn nine ways to help develop wisdom in your life and the ability to enjoy the exciting blessings that come with it.

Repent! The Kingdom of heaven is at hand! Judgment is near! Listen to this lesson to discover a withering doomsday message proclaimed by John the Baptist. Understand the vivid word pictures John uses to describe the coming judgment and the three uses of "fire". Contrast John's baptism as a sign of repentance with Christian baptism by means of the Holy Spirit as our identification with Christ at the instant we believe. Learn how repentance to John means turning to God and should be followed by obedience to God, just as Christian baptism demonstrates the power of Christ in our lives as we obey Him.

"Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who's the fairest of them all?" This little snippet from a famous fairy tale shows us that we all love ourselves and think we're the best. Listen to this lesson to learn that our greatest need is to learn to love others, no exceptions even for those who mistreat and hate us. Impossible, you say? Discover the different kinds of love described in the Bible and which one we are commanded to have for others. Don't be discouraged by the lofty Christian character traits listed here. Instead realize that these virtues are developed in us by the Holy Spirit when we hang in there, not giving up but persevering through confession of sin, daily Bible reading, and a passion for obedience and for prayer.

Are there apostles today as some churches teach? Listen to this lesson to get a thorough understanding of the word apostle, starting with its early roots. Understand how apostle is used in the gospels in contrast to its use in the Church Age. Find out three questions to ask when the Bible says someone is an apostle. Learn the connection between apostleship and authority. See that the qualifications for an apostle in the Church Age are ones that make it impossible for anyone to be an apostle today. As you read and study 1 Peter realize that Peter’s description as an apostle means that what the book teaches us is meant to be obeyed.