The Spirit-ual Practice of Forgiveness

The Spirit-ual Practice of Forgiveness

 

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Prayer Focus for Venezuela – Sunday, June 28

vene-MMAP-smVenezuela, Latin America: Challenges facing the churches. The need is for: a) Commitment to discipleship. Confronted with poverty, political activism and outright spiritual warfare, believers need to make wise choices. A life of true discipleship is not easy, and full-time ministry is even more of a challenge. b) Unity is essential for further growth and for the power to stand up to opposition. Cooperation is higher than ever before through the work of the Evangelical Council of Venezuela (representing 150 Christian groups), Amanacer/DAWN and others.

  1. c) Theological orthodoxy. Spiritual error has crept into many churches through prosperity teaching, legalism or unbiblical practices instituted by misguided leaders. For more information visit www.operationworld.org.

Prayer Focus for Vanuatu – Sunday, June 21

Vanuatu, Pacific: Vanuatu’s motto is “In God We Stand”. Pray that leaders of this complex little nation may be examples in doing so. Committed Christians played a major role in attaining independence, and they continue to help lead the country – not least is the President himself. The Protestant Church is numerically strong. Presbyterians are the largest group, but AoG and other Pentecostal/charismatic groups claim rapid growth. Most of them are represented in the Vanuatu Christian Council. Revival has occurred on some islands and in several denominations, but not in all places; some islands are spiritually stagnant. Church-planting mission is still needed for a few superficially evangelized peoples. Pray for the training of future leaders in the seven Bible colleges/schools. Pray that pastors and group leaders would lead with guidance from both the Word and Spirit. For more information visit www.operationworld.org.vanu-MMAP-sm

The Practice of Church Membership

Matthew 18:15-20

 

The Practice of Church Membership

 

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Sermon Notes

The Three P’s of Christian Work

 Ephesians 6:5-9

 

              5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. 9And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.  

 

The Three P’s of Christian Work

 

–Perspective

 

 

 

 

 

–Purpose

 

 

 

 

 

–Passion

Prayer Focus for Uzbekistan – Sunday, June 14

uzbe-MMAP-smUzbekistan, Asia: The unreached. Only a small fraction of the Muslim majority have ever had the opportunity to hear the gospel. Almost every Muslim people group is less than 0.1% Christian. For more information visit www.operationworld.org.

The Passionate Spirit-ual Practice of Care for the Body

Acts 3:1-10

The Passionate Spirit-ual Practice of Care for the Body

 

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Prayer Focus for the Virgin Islands – Sunday, June 7

virgin islandsVirgin Islands of the U.S.A., Caribbean: Tourism and the influx of wealth affect society profoundly, corroding its moral fabric. Pray that the gospel might impact society, personal lifestyles and family life. For more information visit operationworld.org.

Prayer Focus for Uruguay – Sunday, May 31

urug-MMAP-sm

Challenges for Prayer

Missions vision is still limited, but interest is growing. At least two Uruguayan mission agencies send workers (Avance and Desafio Mundial). There are active international sending bodies such as OM, YWAM, Baptists and AoG. Pray for the growth in Uruguay to mature into a vibrant missionary-sending movement.

The less-reached:

a) The Jews are concentrated in Montevideo. JAMI has a small witness among them. There is some openness to the gospel.

b) The Chinese and Japanese communities. There is very little ministry.

c) The Palestinians living in several border towns. Desafio Mundial focuses on them.

d) The upper middle-class living along Montevideo’s coast are probably the largest unevangelized group in the country; in their relative affluence, they are isolated from the gospel.

e) The poor are a growing segment of society, even as the middle-class shrinks. Many children are born into poverty. Slums are popping up around the urban areas. CMS runs a shelter for the homeless in Montevideo. Pray that the many new churches would mobilize to reach this needy group.

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