Season 02 Episode 11 of Gems of Truth. Have you ever felt like your church wasn't what you expected it to be? Do you sometimes get caught up in the drama and the politics? Do you ever find yourself wishing that you could just tune everything else out, and focus your attention on Jesus and your relationship with God? This episode focuses on exposing Satan's attempt to sift you right out of God's church. It explores the parable of the wheat and the tares and emphasizes a practical approach to staying focused in God's church.
In this week's study we discuss how reformation brings about a change in thinking. God changes our mindsets and turns evil thoughts to pure thoughts. Are you a person who struggles with evil thoughts? How can your mind be renewed? Is there anyway to safeguard our minds? How does one learn to think pure thoughts? Also, the relationship between the body, the mind, and spirituality is discussed. How does treatment of the body impact our relationship with God? How does treatment of the mind impact this relationship?
John Spellman preaches on the 7th church of Revelation. What is Jesus' message to the church of our time? How does Jesus introduce Himself to the church of our time in a unique manner that addresses the unique problems and challenges of today? Jesus: the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God calls the church to recognize its true condition. As a forest of trees would be unstable and unsafe if each of those trees was not rooted in the soil, so today God's people must be rooted in Jesus and anchored in truth.
The Bible teaches about a day lost in history. A day God designed for us to remember. This week's lesson uncovers the mystery of this forgotten and lost day.
He had been so steeped in sin; well, that’s what he thought of himself and his friends concur. He could never change. The worldly lifestyle was his thrill and giving it up was unimaginable. The girls, the drinks, parties and more; that was his life. After all, he was young and it was his life to live. But God had other plans! God choose a new direction for his life-a direction that led to a total change of both the inner and outer man.
Serpent wisdom needs to be tempered with dove harmlessness to keep us humble. To be harmless is to lack the power or desire to do harm; to be innocent of evil intention and motive, giving no provocation. Christian Author John McClain is convinced that doves, known as birds of peace, possessed calm temperaments coupled by their sweet disposition. I concur. Unlike serpents, people are normally not afraid of doves. Therefore, it is easier to get near to them when we possess dove traits. While the serpent will avoid and escape danger, the dove is innocent and will walk right into it. Jesus saw the need for us to have both traits, innocent to care and share, yet prudent enough not to be caged and become someone’s next meal.
On our path with God, whether we want it or not, not one of us can escape studying this science because in it is where the very essence of Christianity exists. Living in a human body, Jesus also sat for this exam. The powers of His soul were strained to the greatest extent and the scarlet drops of His blood were showing to the sleeping garden of Gethsemane and to the ages to come. What does it mean to LOVE? Other people sat for this exam as well. Do you remember the family from Bethany—the close friends of Jesus? All of us know this gospel story with the happy-ending very well; but, have you ever, even once in your life, put yourself in the place of Mary and Martha in the beginning of the narration?