In Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus introduces (or clarifies) concepts which are difficult to reconcile with our understanding of the gift of grace and new covenant.
Questions arise.
Do we follow the Law or not? Are we required to follow the Law better than the Pharisees in order to enter heaven? Is it ok to be a least in the kingdom if we are at there anyway? What exactly has to be accomplished before the Law disappears?
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“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets” Jesus said
Jesus wouldn’t have said something like that out of the blue, he would have said it if he thought something he had just said might have been misinterpreted. So for this Lesson let’s consider that the salt and light discussion to his disciples had something to do with the law and the prophets. (more…)
“Energy follows thought ”
These three words were my take-away from three days of leadership training. Not that everything else wasn’t good information is was just more of the same from previous training events. I probably even heard these three words in training before but it never struck me the way they did that day.
What a simple rule for Christians. (more…)
Before you begin this study read Matthew 18:21-35
Servants who have approached the master with a poor spirit, acknowledging how broken and unrighteous we are without him and mourning over the sins we have committed, will have the master bring them into his kingdom and comfort us. Only in this state can we with meekness bring our power under his control and crave the righteousness which he has promised to fill us with. What a joy for the servant who is comforted and filled, who possesses a share of the master’s present kingdom and all things on the earth becomes his.
But the question that has vexed forgiven servants for centuries is this: What do you do once you are free? What do you do with this new freedom? How do you respond to when your master has made you a co-owner in the kingdom?
Jesus not only meets us where we are… he showers us with blessings. He gives us citizenship in the kingdom and makes us rulers over the earth. How do we respond to such great mercy? (more…)
The Maxwell Leadership Bible counts the leadership style in the United States since World War II. There has been an evolution of leadership styles over the past sixty years which illustrates the change in the generations and a move to more internalized and inspired followers.
1. Military Commander. Leaders returned from the war emulating the leadership styles that won the war. They implemented a top down dictatorship style influencing from their position as a leader instead of inspiration.
2. Chief Executive Officer. CEOs lead through vision, goals and objectives passed to subordinates to follow. This is a top down leadership style which depends more on execution of a strict plan than
3. Coaches. Recently, leaders have viewed themselves as coaches of a team striving together for a win. In a sports obsessed society this works well because it focuses on the teams strengths and weaknesses forms
4. Poets. Currently more leaders are realizing the power of words and the inspirational value of empowering subordinates. A leader poet knows with a properly formed message subordinates will be empowered to creatively achieve the organizations goals. See also: Motivation 3.0
…all the people hung on [Jesus’] words (Luke 19:48 NIV
Bible class audio for July 18, 2010: [audio:http://www.gregchaney.com/wordpress/audio/0718_092104.MP3]
Bible class audio for July 25, 2010
[audio:http://www.gregchaney.com/wordpress/audio/0725_091856.MP3]
1. Elephant and the Rider (monkey) from the Happiness Hypothesis Jonathan Haidt (University of Virginia psychologist)
Weakness vs Strengths
Elephant (Emotions): lazy and skittish, quick payoff over long term gain (ice cream vs thin)
Rider (Rational) : think long term, think beyond the moment, to plan
Strengths vs Weaknesses
Elephant: Compassion, sympathy and loyalty, protection instinct, love
Rider: overanalyze, over-thinks, spins wheels, mechanical, no passion
When rational thinking and emotions disagree…emotions always win.
Plato: In our heads we have a rational charioteer who has to rein in an unruly horse that “barely yields to horsewhip and goad combined”
2. Understanding the blessing of Jesus