“The Story of Nicodemus”
August 31, 2009
John 3:1-21
This week we will be working with short stories from John. Each story tells us something about Jesus and something about ourselves.
Read today’s verses from your favorite translation. Answer what you discover:
Something About Jesus
Something About Me
How I Respond
“Put Off the Old Person”
August 29, 2009
Ephesians 4:25-32
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Read the selected passage carefully each day. Find what God is saying to you. Then prepare what you want to say to God in your prayer time.
WHAT GOD SAID TO ME:
WHAT I SAID TO GOD:
“Live Like Gentiles – or Not?”
August 28, 2009
Ephesians 4:17-24
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Read the selected passage carefully each day. Find what God is saying to you. Then prepare what you want to say to God in your prayer time.
WHAT GOD SAID TO ME:
WHAT I SAID TO GOD:
“No Longer Infants”
August 27, 2009
Ephesians 4:14-16
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Read the selected passage carefully each day. Find what God is saying to you. Then prepare what you want to say to God in your prayer time.
WHAT GOD SAID TO ME:
WHAT I SAID TO GOD:
“Prepared for Service”
August 26, 2009
Ephesians 4:11-13
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Read the selected passage carefully each day. Find what God is saying to you. Then prepare what you want to say to God in your prayer time.
WHAT GOD SAID TO ME:
WHAT I SAID TO GOD:
“Ascended – What This Means to Me”
August 25, 2009
Ephesians 4:7-10
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
Read the selected passage carefully each day. Find what God is saying to you. Then prepare what you want to say to God in your prayer time.
WHAT GOD SAID TO ME:
WHAT I SAID TO GOD:
“Worthy of the Calling”
August 24, 2009
Ephesians 4:1-6
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
It is time for another step in or devotions. It is your turn to take the Scriptures and find the meaning through devotional study. The passage for the week is the fourth chapter of Ephesians dealing with living the Christian life. Read the selected passage carefully each day. Find what God is saying to you. Then prepare what you want to say to God in your prayer time.
WHAT GOD SAID TO ME:
WHAT I SAID TO GOD:
“Gathered by God”
August 22, 2009
Matthew 24:30-31
30 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
Much in our Christian response involves us making personal choices. We can choose to run from God or run with God. Even though it is God who shapes us, we choose to continue in God’s favor in spite of the setbacks we face. Although God may choose us for His purposes, we must choose to be obedient to His calling. But there is coming a time when God will take over completely. The time for human choice will come to an end. It begins when the Son of Man will appear in the sky and send his angels to gather the “elect.” The end of earth’s story is at hand. God takes the redeemed to Himself to prepare them for eternity. With him there is safety and security.
The time for choice is not over until Christ returns. There is still time to remedy poor choices in your life. There is time for you to make the right choices for God.
Review the choices you have made for God. Were some choices right and others wrong? How would God have you deal with the wrong choices?
PRAYER:
- Pray that God would guide to right choices.
- Pray for Christ to return soon.
- Pray for all those in your prayer list.
Meet “Bro. Ray”
A Little About Me
I am seldom referred to as Dr. England, but I am better known as “Bro. Ray.” I was born and raised in the small Kentucky town of Campbellsville. I graduated from both Campbellsville University and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville where I earned both the master’s degree and a Ph.D. in New Testament Greek. I have been married to Leslie (Lalosh) for over 30 years. We have three daughters: Mary Beth (Mrs. Dale Potts), Jennifer (Mrs. Todd Elkins), and Stoya (soon to be Mrs. Dustin Hastings). Recently Mary Beth and Dale presented us with our first grandchild – Wesley.
In over 30 years of ministry, I have been a staff minister, taught in college and seminary settings, served on the foreign mission field, but mostly have served as pastor of churches in Kentucky.
It is my blessing to be the senior pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Greenville, Kentucky since December 1999. Second Baptist has been a joy to pastor with wonderful men and women of God working together in ministry to accomplish God’s purposes. I love the church I pastor and the people both in our church and in the community.
I enjoy competitive sports, having played basketball and run cross-country in high school. For many years (when I was younger and slimmer) I enjoyed weight lifting. I am now back in the gym and loving lifting weights on a smaller scale.
It has been a joy sharing my wife Leslie’s passion for the theater. I have served with her on the Board of Directors of our community theater group MCTI. In 2007 I had my first stage role, the supporting role of “Teddy” in the local production of Arsenic and Old Lace. Leslie has directed several MCTI production, recently Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. She works with our Minister of Worship on the annual Easter Pageant.
Other than the Lord, the greatest joys in my life are my wife Leslie and our three daughters and their husbands, and now Wesley. They are a blessing to me.
God has graced me many times more than I deserve. God is good — all the time!
Road Trip 2010
The theme for sermons and activities for the 2010 Summer
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