Philippians 1:3-5
3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.
4 I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy
5 because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.
(NLT)
When the Holy Spirit brings a person or people to your mind, stop, take the time to thank God for them and pray for them. God wants to hear your prayers and He wants you to pray. Pray brings joy to your heart. It is good for us to see our requests answered. It is good for us to see that God is at work doing things His way and accomplishing His will through us.
We are partners with Christ Jesus in spreading the Good News of Salvation through Jesus. We are to serve Christ and that service is spreading the gospel the good news about Christ.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sponsored by Men’s Ministry
Our Mission is to Lead Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Philippians 1:1-2
This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.
It is written to all of God's people in Philippi, who believe in Christ Jesus, and to the elders and deacons.
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
(NLT)
Paul saw himself as a slave or bond-servant of Christ Jesus. We too are called to be bond-servants of Christ Jesus. If you have received Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you too have been called to service. You have not been called to sit on the side lines but to serve. There is no age requirement and there is no retirement from service to the Lord. You start your service with Christ Jesus and you end your service with Christ Jesus. He will always be right by your side from the beginning to the very end and for all eternity. This letter may have originally been written to the Philippians but it also to us, those who believe in Christ Jesus and the leaders of the church.
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.
It is written to all of God's people in Philippi, who believe in Christ Jesus, and to the elders and deacons.
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
(NLT)
Paul saw himself as a slave or bond-servant of Christ Jesus. We too are called to be bond-servants of Christ Jesus. If you have received Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior then you too have been called to service. You have not been called to sit on the side lines but to serve. There is no age requirement and there is no retirement from service to the Lord. You start your service with Christ Jesus and you end your service with Christ Jesus. He will always be right by your side from the beginning to the very end and for all eternity. This letter may have originally been written to the Philippians but it also to us, those who believe in Christ Jesus and the leaders of the church.
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Monday, June 27, 2011
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
ANSWERS
Chapter 7
PART 1, 2, 3, 4
Chapter 7
MINISTRY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
PART 1
READ – Matthew 16:13-18
1. Many people said Jesus was who?
John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the prophets
2. Who did Peter say Jesus was?
The Christ, the Son of God
3. Who revealed it to Peter?
The Father
4. Should our walk be different than how we received Christ?
This Rock (Jesus Himself the solid rock)
Chapter 7
MINISTRY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
PART 2
READ – 1 Corinthians 11:20-34
1. Was the church at Corinth doing more than having the Lord’s Table?
Yes
2. Did they share the meals they were eating with each other?
No
3. Who gave the instructions for observing the Lord’s Table?
The Lord
4. The bread represents what at the Lord’s Table? (vs. 24)
Jesus’ Body, Broken for us
5. How important is God’s Word in bringing faith in Him?
Jesus’ Blood, Shed for us
6. The Lord’s Table is often called a Table of Remembrance. Who are we to be remembering when we participate?
Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection
Chapter 7
MINISTRY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
PART 3
No Questions
Chapter 7
MINISTRY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
PART 4
READ – Hebrews 10:24-25
1. What are we to provoke other people to do?
Love and good deeds
2. Are there some people who will not be meeting together with other Christians?
Yes
3. What is the duty of every Christian in vs. 25?
Not forsaking our own assembling together
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
ANSWERS
Chapter 7
PART 1, 2, 3, 4
Chapter 7
MINISTRY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
PART 1
READ – Matthew 16:13-18
1. Many people said Jesus was who?
John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the prophets
2. Who did Peter say Jesus was?
The Christ, the Son of God
3. Who revealed it to Peter?
The Father
4. Should our walk be different than how we received Christ?
This Rock (Jesus Himself the solid rock)
Chapter 7
MINISTRY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
PART 2
READ – 1 Corinthians 11:20-34
1. Was the church at Corinth doing more than having the Lord’s Table?
Yes
2. Did they share the meals they were eating with each other?
No
3. Who gave the instructions for observing the Lord’s Table?
The Lord
4. The bread represents what at the Lord’s Table? (vs. 24)
Jesus’ Body, Broken for us
5. How important is God’s Word in bringing faith in Him?
Jesus’ Blood, Shed for us
6. The Lord’s Table is often called a Table of Remembrance. Who are we to be remembering when we participate?
Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection
Chapter 7
MINISTRY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
PART 3
No Questions
Chapter 7
MINISTRY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
PART 4
READ – Hebrews 10:24-25
1. What are we to provoke other people to do?
Love and good deeds
2. Are there some people who will not be meeting together with other Christians?
Yes
3. What is the duty of every Christian in vs. 25?
Not forsaking our own assembling together
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
Friday, June 24, 2011
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 7
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 4
OTHER MINISTRIES OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
THE LOCAL CHURCH HAS BEEN GIVEN BY God to be a place where we can grow in Him. It is a place where we know we are loved and where we are encouraged. It is also a place where we can show God’s love to others and minister to them. It is a place where people are encouraged to walk and grow up in the Lord. It is a place of stimulation being provoked to love and good works. It is the avenue through which God is working in this time frame of human history.
READ – Hebrews 10:24-25
1. What are we to provoke other people to do?
___________________________________________________________
2. Are there some people who will not be meeting together with other Christians?
____________________________________________________________
3. What is the duty of every Christian in vs. 25?
____________________________________________________________
The word, exhort means to encourage. We are to stimulate each other to love and good works. As we see the last days approaching, we need each other more. It is important that we meet together and see the church function the way God intends. Many are neglecting the church and it is hurting the church and it is hurting them. The people at the church do not receive the things that those folks would bring and those folks are not receiving the ministry of the church in their spiritual lives. Church attendance is important and ministry through the local church is important. Each Christian should be an active part of a good Bible believing local church.
READ – Matthew 28:19-20
This is the great commission to the church. We are told by Jesus Christ that as we live our lives we are to make disciples. We have the privilege of sharing the truth of God with those around us. Every believer is a testimony of God’s working. As we live each day, God will give opportunity to share Him with others. We need to be ready to share the truth of God’s Word with them. Some will get saved and will grow in the Lord as we share Christ with them. It is now our privilege to share what God has done for us with others. There is great satisfaction when we see someone else experience the forgiveness of their sin and the new life in Christ. It is our responsibility and our privilege to share Christ with others.
CONCLUSION –
READ – 2 Peter 3:18
Grow. We are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We need to keep growing closer to the Lord, As we do, we will find that He grows close to us. It will be a joy to be a Christian. It is good to know your sins are completely forgiven and you are on your way to heaven. It is good to grow in that relationship with God. God will build your life and life more abundantly that Christ came to give your. Grow.
You are not what you were before being saved.
Now that you are saved you have many benefits in your life.
You have a love based relationship with God.
You can grow and experience this relationship each day of your life.
You can build a great life in Christ.
The local church will become very important to you.
You will have a life of purpose and meaning in Christ.
My prayer is that you experience everything God wants for you. May you know the security and love of God in your life. May you know what it is to have the abundant life Christ intends for His children. Welcome to the family my brothers and sisters in Christ. Now lets go and grow in Him.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 7
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 4
OTHER MINISTRIES OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
THE LOCAL CHURCH HAS BEEN GIVEN BY God to be a place where we can grow in Him. It is a place where we know we are loved and where we are encouraged. It is also a place where we can show God’s love to others and minister to them. It is a place where people are encouraged to walk and grow up in the Lord. It is a place of stimulation being provoked to love and good works. It is the avenue through which God is working in this time frame of human history.
READ – Hebrews 10:24-25
1. What are we to provoke other people to do?
___________________________________________________________
2. Are there some people who will not be meeting together with other Christians?
____________________________________________________________
3. What is the duty of every Christian in vs. 25?
____________________________________________________________
The word, exhort means to encourage. We are to stimulate each other to love and good works. As we see the last days approaching, we need each other more. It is important that we meet together and see the church function the way God intends. Many are neglecting the church and it is hurting the church and it is hurting them. The people at the church do not receive the things that those folks would bring and those folks are not receiving the ministry of the church in their spiritual lives. Church attendance is important and ministry through the local church is important. Each Christian should be an active part of a good Bible believing local church.
READ – Matthew 28:19-20
This is the great commission to the church. We are told by Jesus Christ that as we live our lives we are to make disciples. We have the privilege of sharing the truth of God with those around us. Every believer is a testimony of God’s working. As we live each day, God will give opportunity to share Him with others. We need to be ready to share the truth of God’s Word with them. Some will get saved and will grow in the Lord as we share Christ with them. It is now our privilege to share what God has done for us with others. There is great satisfaction when we see someone else experience the forgiveness of their sin and the new life in Christ. It is our responsibility and our privilege to share Christ with others.
CONCLUSION –
READ – 2 Peter 3:18
Grow. We are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We need to keep growing closer to the Lord, As we do, we will find that He grows close to us. It will be a joy to be a Christian. It is good to know your sins are completely forgiven and you are on your way to heaven. It is good to grow in that relationship with God. God will build your life and life more abundantly that Christ came to give your. Grow.
You are not what you were before being saved.
Now that you are saved you have many benefits in your life.
You have a love based relationship with God.
You can grow and experience this relationship each day of your life.
You can build a great life in Christ.
The local church will become very important to you.
You will have a life of purpose and meaning in Christ.
My prayer is that you experience everything God wants for you. May you know the security and love of God in your life. May you know what it is to have the abundant life Christ intends for His children. Welcome to the family my brothers and sisters in Christ. Now lets go and grow in Him.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 7
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 3
The second ordinance the Lord gave the local church is baptism. There is much confusion about baptism in the world today. It is a defining moment in a person’s life. Baptism is important to many people partly because of the misuse and abuse of this ordinance. It is important to God because He has instructed the local church to baptize people after they get saved. Like the Lord’s Table, this ordinance is not for salvation or to merit salvation but is for people already saved. As we have already studied, baptism has no part in our salvation.
Baptism is for believers and is to be administrated thro7ugh the local church. It is a step of obedience to God. It is a step of obedience to God. The method of baptism is by immersion. This means that a person is to be placed completely under the water and then brought back up out of the water. It is a beautiful picture of what Jesus Christ did for us. When we are in the water, we are identifying with the death of our Savior. When we go under the surface of the water, we are identifying with the burial of our Savior and when we come up out of the water, we are identifying with the resurrection of our Savior. Baptism is identification with the Savior. It is a beautiful, public picture of who we now are. Read Romans 6:3-5. Again, this demonstrates the beauty of the picture God has put together of what Christ has done for us.
Baptism is a public demonstration of what has happened in our hearts. That is why it is done in the local church. That is why it is done in public. We were once dead in our sins and now we are alive in Christ. We are publicly identifying with Him and with all those who are already saved when we are baptized. This can be a stumbling block for some people. It is often a step of obedience to God which will challenge each person as to whether they are real and serious about trusting Christ as their Savior. Baptism does not save but it is a step in the growth of a believer. It will confront each Christian as to whether they want their will or are they really willing to give God everything and do what He asks of them. That is why we call it a step of obedience.
As a pastor, I had the privilege of baptizing many people. I was always impressed by the joy of the people who I a baptizing. They have such a smile and glow about them, it is amazing. I have come to the conclusion it is because they are doing exactly what God wants them to do. There is always joy doing what God wants. The step of baptism should happen early in the life of a new Christian. It will help your to understand the joy in obeying God. It will also teach us that His commandments are not hard but are for our best. If you have not been baptized yet, this is a step you should take in your local church soon.
READ – Matthew 28:19-20
The word teach has the idea of making disciples of all nations. After they are saved, they are to be baptized. Then they are to be instructed how to live the Christian life as God would have us to live. This command is for the chu7rch and is called the Great Commission. This is what the local church is to be busy doing. Baptism is after they become a disciple or as we would say, after they are saved.
READ – Acts 8:26-39
Here is an Ethiopian eunuch who was reading the Scriptures in the book of Isaiah. God sent Philip to witness to him. The man was interested in what God was saying in the Bible. Philip started right where the man was reading and began to share Jesus Christ with him. As they were traveling along, they came to some water. The man asked Philip what hindered him from being baptized. Here is the condition given in verse 37. Do you believe with all your heart? The man answered that he believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He trusted Christ as his Savior right there on the road. Then both Philip and the eunuch went into the water and Philip baptized him.
The mode or method of baptism is demonstrated here. Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water and they both went up out of the water after the eunuch had been baptized. There are many churches that have adopted other methods of baptism but they are contrary to what God has set forth for the church. We must do what He wants and we must do it the way He wants. Methods are important to God. Baptism by immersion is a command and every believer is to be baptized after they are saved. If you are not already, talk with your pastor and set a time to take this step in your walk with God.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 7
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 3
The second ordinance the Lord gave the local church is baptism. There is much confusion about baptism in the world today. It is a defining moment in a person’s life. Baptism is important to many people partly because of the misuse and abuse of this ordinance. It is important to God because He has instructed the local church to baptize people after they get saved. Like the Lord’s Table, this ordinance is not for salvation or to merit salvation but is for people already saved. As we have already studied, baptism has no part in our salvation.
Baptism is for believers and is to be administrated thro7ugh the local church. It is a step of obedience to God. It is a step of obedience to God. The method of baptism is by immersion. This means that a person is to be placed completely under the water and then brought back up out of the water. It is a beautiful picture of what Jesus Christ did for us. When we are in the water, we are identifying with the death of our Savior. When we go under the surface of the water, we are identifying with the burial of our Savior and when we come up out of the water, we are identifying with the resurrection of our Savior. Baptism is identification with the Savior. It is a beautiful, public picture of who we now are. Read Romans 6:3-5. Again, this demonstrates the beauty of the picture God has put together of what Christ has done for us.
Baptism is a public demonstration of what has happened in our hearts. That is why it is done in the local church. That is why it is done in public. We were once dead in our sins and now we are alive in Christ. We are publicly identifying with Him and with all those who are already saved when we are baptized. This can be a stumbling block for some people. It is often a step of obedience to God which will challenge each person as to whether they are real and serious about trusting Christ as their Savior. Baptism does not save but it is a step in the growth of a believer. It will confront each Christian as to whether they want their will or are they really willing to give God everything and do what He asks of them. That is why we call it a step of obedience.
As a pastor, I had the privilege of baptizing many people. I was always impressed by the joy of the people who I a baptizing. They have such a smile and glow about them, it is amazing. I have come to the conclusion it is because they are doing exactly what God wants them to do. There is always joy doing what God wants. The step of baptism should happen early in the life of a new Christian. It will help your to understand the joy in obeying God. It will also teach us that His commandments are not hard but are for our best. If you have not been baptized yet, this is a step you should take in your local church soon.
READ – Matthew 28:19-20
The word teach has the idea of making disciples of all nations. After they are saved, they are to be baptized. Then they are to be instructed how to live the Christian life as God would have us to live. This command is for the chu7rch and is called the Great Commission. This is what the local church is to be busy doing. Baptism is after they become a disciple or as we would say, after they are saved.
READ – Acts 8:26-39
Here is an Ethiopian eunuch who was reading the Scriptures in the book of Isaiah. God sent Philip to witness to him. The man was interested in what God was saying in the Bible. Philip started right where the man was reading and began to share Jesus Christ with him. As they were traveling along, they came to some water. The man asked Philip what hindered him from being baptized. Here is the condition given in verse 37. Do you believe with all your heart? The man answered that he believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He trusted Christ as his Savior right there on the road. Then both Philip and the eunuch went into the water and Philip baptized him.
The mode or method of baptism is demonstrated here. Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water and they both went up out of the water after the eunuch had been baptized. There are many churches that have adopted other methods of baptism but they are contrary to what God has set forth for the church. We must do what He wants and we must do it the way He wants. Methods are important to God. Baptism by immersion is a command and every believer is to be baptized after they are saved. If you are not already, talk with your pastor and set a time to take this step in your walk with God.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
Words of Encouragement
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 7
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 2
TWO ORDINANCES FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH
God gave the local church two ordinances or practices that they were to continue doing. One is the Lord’s Table and the other is baptism. The pattern for the Lord’s Table is given in 1 Corinthians 11.
The Lord’s Table
READ – 1 Corinthians 11:20-34
1. Was the church at Corinth doing more than having the Lord’s Table?
___________________________________________________________
2. Did they share the meals they were eating with each others?
____________________________________________________________
The church people brought food to eat before the Lord’s Supper. Some had plenty while some had little and they did not share with one another. They were missing the whole purpose of coming together and were actually shaming themselves by their actions.
3. Who gave the instructions for observing the Lord’s Table? (v23)
____________________________________________________________
4. The bread represents what at the Lord’s Table?
____________________________________________________________
5. The cup represents what at the Lord’s Table?
____________________________________________________________
6. The Lord’s Table is often called a Table of Remembrance. Who are we to be remembering?
____________________________________________________________
There is no saving merit to the Lord’s Table. It is a time of remembering what Jesus Christ has done on the cross. God gave this ordinance to the local church because we need to be reminded what He has done for us. That is why we do it in remembrance of Jesus Christ.
Verse 27 of speaks of eating and drinking unworthily. This is not a time of frivolity but is a sobering time of self examination and remembrance. If God was talking about us being worthy of Christ’s death or of such a sacrifice for us, none of us would qualify for the Lord’s Table. That is not what He is talking about here. He is talking about our relationship with Christ. Are we walking with the Lord? Are we in a right relationship with Him? That is why we are to examine ourselves. It is not for the church or for someone else to examine each person who partakes but is the individual who is participating to examine themselves. The Lord will show you in your own heart whether you should participate. If you have known sin or are allowing sin to remain in your heart, you should not participate. This is also why the Lord’s Table is a time when many Christians will confess sin and get into right fellowship with God.
The Lord’s Table is for believers who are right with God. It is not for the unsaved nor is it a step to salvation. It is a time to remember what Jesus Christ has done for us on the cross of Calvary. It is one of the two ordinances God gave to the local church and its purpose is for remembrance.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 7
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 2
TWO ORDINANCES FOR THE LOCAL CHURCH
God gave the local church two ordinances or practices that they were to continue doing. One is the Lord’s Table and the other is baptism. The pattern for the Lord’s Table is given in 1 Corinthians 11.
The Lord’s Table
READ – 1 Corinthians 11:20-34
1. Was the church at Corinth doing more than having the Lord’s Table?
___________________________________________________________
2. Did they share the meals they were eating with each others?
____________________________________________________________
The church people brought food to eat before the Lord’s Supper. Some had plenty while some had little and they did not share with one another. They were missing the whole purpose of coming together and were actually shaming themselves by their actions.
3. Who gave the instructions for observing the Lord’s Table? (v23)
____________________________________________________________
4. The bread represents what at the Lord’s Table?
____________________________________________________________
5. The cup represents what at the Lord’s Table?
____________________________________________________________
6. The Lord’s Table is often called a Table of Remembrance. Who are we to be remembering?
____________________________________________________________
There is no saving merit to the Lord’s Table. It is a time of remembering what Jesus Christ has done on the cross. God gave this ordinance to the local church because we need to be reminded what He has done for us. That is why we do it in remembrance of Jesus Christ.
Verse 27 of speaks of eating and drinking unworthily. This is not a time of frivolity but is a sobering time of self examination and remembrance. If God was talking about us being worthy of Christ’s death or of such a sacrifice for us, none of us would qualify for the Lord’s Table. That is not what He is talking about here. He is talking about our relationship with Christ. Are we walking with the Lord? Are we in a right relationship with Him? That is why we are to examine ourselves. It is not for the church or for someone else to examine each person who partakes but is the individual who is participating to examine themselves. The Lord will show you in your own heart whether you should participate. If you have known sin or are allowing sin to remain in your heart, you should not participate. This is also why the Lord’s Table is a time when many Christians will confess sin and get into right fellowship with God.
The Lord’s Table is for believers who are right with God. It is not for the unsaved nor is it a step to salvation. It is a time to remember what Jesus Christ has done for us on the cross of Calvary. It is one of the two ordinances God gave to the local church and its purpose is for remembrance.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Words of Encouragement
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 7
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 1
God has ordained relationships for us which are good. Marriage and the local church are such relationships. Marriage between a godly man and a godly woman is a satisfying relationship. A solid, Bible believing, loving local church also brings great joy to the believer. The local church is a place we fellowship with people like us. They have been saved the same way and have the same Holy Spirit in them. They are growing in their relationship with the Lord just like we are. The Bible teaches us to meet together with other believers.
Jesus said He would establish the local church.
READ – Matthew 16:13-18
1. Many people said Jesus was who?
___________________________________________________________
2. Who did Peter say Jesus was?
____________________________________________________________
3. Who revealed it to Peter?
____________________________________________________________
4. Upon whom would Jesus build His church?
____________________________________________________________
As Jesus was talking with Peter, He said He would build His church. He said that Peter was Peter and upon Himself, the solid Rock, He would build His church. Some have tried to say Peter was the rock upon which Christ would build His church. This is not possible because of the sentence structure. Look carefully at the grammar of the sentence and you see why it is not possible. Thou refers to Peter and this refers to Himself. When studying scripture, it is important to hear what God is saying and not make it say what we want.
The church should be important to a believer. Christ loves the church and gave Himself for it. Since we love Christ, we will love what He loves. If we are becoming Christ-like, we will love the local church. This means that we are to be a part of a local, Bible believing and teaching church. We serve the Lord through the local church. One benefit of salvation is that we are a part of the family of God. Built correctly, the local church is a place where the family meets to worship and serve the Lord. Built correctly, it will be a place of great fellowship and love. We will love the local church.
READ – Ephesians 4:1-16
This passage teaches about the church. It starts in verse 1 with an encouragement to “walk worthy of our vocation”, with verse 2 showing how to accomplish it. Verse 3 describes the unity that is ours in Christ. The reason for this unity is stated in verses 4-6. We have the same Holy Spirit and have been saved the same way. WE are different physically and emotionally but we are the same spiritually. Christ and His salvation is the foundation upon which we build relationships in the local church.
Each Christian is significant and has a life of purpose in the body of Christ according to verse 16. In verse 7 God talks about the individual. We have each been gifted according to the grace and will of God. Verse 11 and 12 emphasizes that these gifts were given for ministry in the local church. We were each gifted “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” The body is a picture of the church, and the local church is visible manifestation of the body of Christ. Notice in verse 16 the emphasis on every part. As we walk with God, He will direct to these purposes and show the significance He places on our lives.
We do not go to church simply because we must. It is a privilege to be part of a growing, living group of people who are the same in the Lord. The local church is a place where we love and are loved, where we learn more about life in Christ. We come together with other Christians to praise the Lord and serve Him by ministering to others and helping them grow. The local church is a vital part of a believer’s life because it is there we are encouraged to grow and we encourage others to continue in their growth. God will lead us to be part of a local church and to actively participate in it.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 7
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 1
God has ordained relationships for us which are good. Marriage and the local church are such relationships. Marriage between a godly man and a godly woman is a satisfying relationship. A solid, Bible believing, loving local church also brings great joy to the believer. The local church is a place we fellowship with people like us. They have been saved the same way and have the same Holy Spirit in them. They are growing in their relationship with the Lord just like we are. The Bible teaches us to meet together with other believers.
Jesus said He would establish the local church.
READ – Matthew 16:13-18
1. Many people said Jesus was who?
___________________________________________________________
2. Who did Peter say Jesus was?
____________________________________________________________
3. Who revealed it to Peter?
____________________________________________________________
4. Upon whom would Jesus build His church?
____________________________________________________________
As Jesus was talking with Peter, He said He would build His church. He said that Peter was Peter and upon Himself, the solid Rock, He would build His church. Some have tried to say Peter was the rock upon which Christ would build His church. This is not possible because of the sentence structure. Look carefully at the grammar of the sentence and you see why it is not possible. Thou refers to Peter and this refers to Himself. When studying scripture, it is important to hear what God is saying and not make it say what we want.
The church should be important to a believer. Christ loves the church and gave Himself for it. Since we love Christ, we will love what He loves. If we are becoming Christ-like, we will love the local church. This means that we are to be a part of a local, Bible believing and teaching church. We serve the Lord through the local church. One benefit of salvation is that we are a part of the family of God. Built correctly, the local church is a place where the family meets to worship and serve the Lord. Built correctly, it will be a place of great fellowship and love. We will love the local church.
READ – Ephesians 4:1-16
This passage teaches about the church. It starts in verse 1 with an encouragement to “walk worthy of our vocation”, with verse 2 showing how to accomplish it. Verse 3 describes the unity that is ours in Christ. The reason for this unity is stated in verses 4-6. We have the same Holy Spirit and have been saved the same way. WE are different physically and emotionally but we are the same spiritually. Christ and His salvation is the foundation upon which we build relationships in the local church.
Each Christian is significant and has a life of purpose in the body of Christ according to verse 16. In verse 7 God talks about the individual. We have each been gifted according to the grace and will of God. Verse 11 and 12 emphasizes that these gifts were given for ministry in the local church. We were each gifted “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” The body is a picture of the church, and the local church is visible manifestation of the body of Christ. Notice in verse 16 the emphasis on every part. As we walk with God, He will direct to these purposes and show the significance He places on our lives.
We do not go to church simply because we must. It is a privilege to be part of a growing, living group of people who are the same in the Lord. The local church is a place where we love and are loved, where we learn more about life in Christ. We come together with other Christians to praise the Lord and serve Him by ministering to others and helping them grow. The local church is a vital part of a believer’s life because it is there we are encouraged to grow and we encourage others to continue in their growth. God will lead us to be part of a local church and to actively participate in it.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Words of Encouragement
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
ANSWERS
Chapter 6
PART 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 1
READ – Colossians 2:6-7
1. How did we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior?
Received Christ by faith
2. Should our walk be different than how we received Christ?
No, our walk is to be one of faith in Christ
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 2
READ – Romans 10:17
1. How does faith come?
By hearing
2. What was heard?
Hearing the Word
3. How important is God’s Word in bringing faith in Him?
Very important, it teaches us about God, about Jesus, His plan and His purpose for us
READ – 2 Timothy 2:15
1. There are two reasons given for studying God’s Word. What are they?
A. Present yourself approved as a workman
B. Handling accurately the Word
2. Do we need to be ashamed? Why or why not?
No
Why not? – Because we are Gods children and we have been forgiven and washed clean
3. Is it important that we correctly study the Word?
Yes
4. Are there some that do not study the Word correctly?
Yes
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 3
READ – Proverbs 3:5-6
1. There are tree things for us to do or not to do in these verses. What are the three things?
Trust the Lord
Acknowledge Him in all your ways
Do not lean on your own understanding
2. Do we understand things the same way God sees them?
No
3. What do we give up when we give God our bodies?
Direct our path
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 4
READ – Romans 12:1-2
1. What are we to present to God?
Ourselves (our bodies)
2. What makes this reasonable for us to do?
Because Christ gave Himself for us (His body)
3. What do we give up when we give God our bodies?
Ourselves for Christ
4. What two things are we to do in the fist part of verse two?
Not to conform to this world
5. What are the three characteristics of God’s will?
Holy, Perfect, Good
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 5
READ – John 15:1-6
1. In verse 1, who is the true vine?
Jesus
2. In verse 1, who is the person who tends the vine?
God the Father
3. The purpose of this passage is to show the fruit of abiding. It is the branches that bear fruit. Who do the branches represent?
Those saved through Christ
4. According to verses 4 and 5, can we bear fruit without abiding in Christ?
No
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 6
READ – Ephesians 6:18
· Pray at all times in the Spirit
· Be alert with all perseverance
· Pray with purpose
· Pray for all the saints
READ – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
· Pray without ceasing
· Rejoice
· Give Thanks
· All this is God’s will for you
READ – 1 Peter 5:7
· Giving all your anxiety to Him
· Surrendering to Him
· For He cares for us
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
ANSWERS
Chapter 6
PART 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 1
READ – Colossians 2:6-7
1. How did we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior?
Received Christ by faith
2. Should our walk be different than how we received Christ?
No, our walk is to be one of faith in Christ
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 2
READ – Romans 10:17
1. How does faith come?
By hearing
2. What was heard?
Hearing the Word
3. How important is God’s Word in bringing faith in Him?
Very important, it teaches us about God, about Jesus, His plan and His purpose for us
READ – 2 Timothy 2:15
1. There are two reasons given for studying God’s Word. What are they?
A. Present yourself approved as a workman
B. Handling accurately the Word
2. Do we need to be ashamed? Why or why not?
No
Why not? – Because we are Gods children and we have been forgiven and washed clean
3. Is it important that we correctly study the Word?
Yes
4. Are there some that do not study the Word correctly?
Yes
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 3
READ – Proverbs 3:5-6
1. There are tree things for us to do or not to do in these verses. What are the three things?
Trust the Lord
Acknowledge Him in all your ways
Do not lean on your own understanding
2. Do we understand things the same way God sees them?
No
3. What do we give up when we give God our bodies?
Direct our path
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 4
READ – Romans 12:1-2
1. What are we to present to God?
Ourselves (our bodies)
2. What makes this reasonable for us to do?
Because Christ gave Himself for us (His body)
3. What do we give up when we give God our bodies?
Ourselves for Christ
4. What two things are we to do in the fist part of verse two?
Not to conform to this world
5. What are the three characteristics of God’s will?
Holy, Perfect, Good
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 5
READ – John 15:1-6
1. In verse 1, who is the true vine?
Jesus
2. In verse 1, who is the person who tends the vine?
God the Father
3. The purpose of this passage is to show the fruit of abiding. It is the branches that bear fruit. Who do the branches represent?
Those saved through Christ
4. According to verses 4 and 5, can we bear fruit without abiding in Christ?
No
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 6
READ – Ephesians 6:18
· Pray at all times in the Spirit
· Be alert with all perseverance
· Pray with purpose
· Pray for all the saints
READ – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
· Pray without ceasing
· Rejoice
· Give Thanks
· All this is God’s will for you
READ – 1 Peter 5:7
· Giving all your anxiety to Him
· Surrendering to Him
· For He cares for us
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 6
Since we need Christ in order to bear fruit, we must depend on Him. Yet, we often find ourselves desiring to be independent and live as though we were. It is natural for our flesh to desire independence. However, if we are to have fruit in our lives, we must depend on Christ. Remember, we are saved and free from the control of sin and flesh, we can now walk by the Spirit. We walk dependent upon Christ. As we understand our need, we cry out with every part of our being, “I need your Lord.” Every moment of every day, we need Him.
Our dependency on Christ is acknowledged through our prayer life. If we need Him, we will pray. If we do not feel or understand the need of abiding in Christ, we will not pray. Prayer is acknowledging our need of Him. When someone is just saved, this is a new concept. We actually have access to God. It is direct access and He hears our prayers. We talk out loud or we talk silently to God. Prayer is communicating our cares and concerns; it is confessing our sins, praising and thanking Him. Prayer is the avenue of communication with God for every believer.
God answers prayer. As we pray, we share our concerns and requests with God. He tells us to cast all our care upon Him because He cares for us. He may say no to some of our requests. This is easy to understand when we desire His will in every area of our life. Not everything we ask is according to His will. Our prayer should be for His will in all things.
How do we pray? There is a simple explanation of the avenue of prayer. We are in a relationship with God; He is always present. Since He is present, just talk with Him. We speak to God with reverence, addressing Him by name first. The wording of prayer is personal and displays the heart. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. A common conclusion to prayer is Amen.
We pray to the Father through the Son in the Spirit.
READ – Philippians 4:6
This verse says not to worry about anything. We are to let our requests be made known to God with thanksgiving. Putting our lives in God’s hands and talking with Him through prayer keeps us focused on Him and His ability to meet all our needs. When we keep our lives focused on God, we will not worry about the issues of life. He will take care of us.
READ – Ephesians 6:18 ________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
READ – 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18 ___________________________
_____________________________________________________________
READ – 1 Peter 5:7 ________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
CONCLUSIONS –
1. We must trust God to walk with Him.
2. Trust will lead to committing ourselves to God for His will.
3. We must be students of God’s Word.
4. As we are dependent upon God, we pray because we need Him.
5. Prayer will be a common Characteristic of our lives.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 6
Since we need Christ in order to bear fruit, we must depend on Him. Yet, we often find ourselves desiring to be independent and live as though we were. It is natural for our flesh to desire independence. However, if we are to have fruit in our lives, we must depend on Christ. Remember, we are saved and free from the control of sin and flesh, we can now walk by the Spirit. We walk dependent upon Christ. As we understand our need, we cry out with every part of our being, “I need your Lord.” Every moment of every day, we need Him.
Our dependency on Christ is acknowledged through our prayer life. If we need Him, we will pray. If we do not feel or understand the need of abiding in Christ, we will not pray. Prayer is acknowledging our need of Him. When someone is just saved, this is a new concept. We actually have access to God. It is direct access and He hears our prayers. We talk out loud or we talk silently to God. Prayer is communicating our cares and concerns; it is confessing our sins, praising and thanking Him. Prayer is the avenue of communication with God for every believer.
God answers prayer. As we pray, we share our concerns and requests with God. He tells us to cast all our care upon Him because He cares for us. He may say no to some of our requests. This is easy to understand when we desire His will in every area of our life. Not everything we ask is according to His will. Our prayer should be for His will in all things.
How do we pray? There is a simple explanation of the avenue of prayer. We are in a relationship with God; He is always present. Since He is present, just talk with Him. We speak to God with reverence, addressing Him by name first. The wording of prayer is personal and displays the heart. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. A common conclusion to prayer is Amen.
We pray to the Father through the Son in the Spirit.
READ – Philippians 4:6
This verse says not to worry about anything. We are to let our requests be made known to God with thanksgiving. Putting our lives in God’s hands and talking with Him through prayer keeps us focused on Him and His ability to meet all our needs. When we keep our lives focused on God, we will not worry about the issues of life. He will take care of us.
READ – Ephesians 6:18 ________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
READ – 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18 ___________________________
_____________________________________________________________
READ – 1 Peter 5:7 ________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
CONCLUSIONS –
1. We must trust God to walk with Him.
2. Trust will lead to committing ourselves to God for His will.
3. We must be students of God’s Word.
4. As we are dependent upon God, we pray because we need Him.
5. Prayer will be a common Characteristic of our lives.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
Friday, June 10, 2011
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 5
Romans 12:1-2 are very important to the life of every believer. Paul beseeches us as Christians to commit our will to God. This word “beseeches” has the idea of encouraging or begging. He is encouraging us to commit ourselves, our bodies, to God for Him to do His will in us and through us. Why would we hesitate when we understand the love God has for us and the ability He has to build our lives? It is only reasonable to make this commitment. At this stage of growth we come to the point where we understand and accept this principle. We give ourselves to God for Him to do what He wants. We come to a point of commitment; we trust Him and then we commit ourselves to Him.
Verse 2 starts with our need to refuse to be like the world. Now we are new creations in God. Why would we want to go back to the old things? God warns us that the nature of sin, the world’s philosophies and values are contrary to His way. If we do not refuse those things completely, we will find ourselves accepting them gradually. It is the nature of world system to make us like itself if we do not refuse it.
The second part tells us to be renewed in our minds. This will transform us, from what we were to what God wants. The Holy Spirit shows through God’s Word the right way to think about life, renewing our minds. He shows how to act and walk with Him. Now we can do right. We can build correctly upon the foundation as God leads and changes us from day to day. We live a life of transforming growth as we commit our way to God. It is a life of anticipation each new day, as God works in us and through us to accomplish His will on earth.
The last part of verse 2 describes God’s will. It is good, meaning there is no evil in God’s will. He will never lead us to do wrong. It is good for us and good for God. The next word used to describe the will of God is acceptable. This has the idea of being well pleasing. We will be pleased with God’s will and we already know God is pleased with it. Because it is acceptable, we can embrace it with our lives. God’s will is not something we will find hard to accept in our daily experience.
God’s will is also perfect. It is complete. God’s will comes with everything we need to accomplish it. God provides all we need to do His will. Read that sentence again, it is an important point.
Many people have a fearful attitude about walking with the Lord. They are afraid that they cannot do it. In one sense this is true, because they cannot do it in their own strength or by their own will. God will give us all we need to do His will. He will give the ability and strength necessary in order to accomplish what He wants in us and through us. This removes the pressure to be good enough or have strength enough or the abilities we feel necessary. God will give us all we need. The key then is to depend upon Him for His enablement. He gives all we need to do His will throughout our lives.
Commitment leads to dependence upon God, showing us the value of prayer.
READ – John 15:1-6
In this passage, we have a description of a vine and the branches and the ability to bear fruit. The emphasis is the need for a branch to abide in the vine in order to bear fruit. There are many lessons taught in this short passage.
1. In verse 1, who is the true vine?
___________________________________________________________
2. In verse 1, who is the person who tends the vine?
____________________________________________________________
3. The purpose of this passage is to show the fruit of abiding. It is the branches that bear fruit. Who do the branches represent?
____________________________________________________________
4. According to verses 4 and 5, can we bear fruit without abiding in Christ?
____________________________________________________________
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 5
Romans 12:1-2 are very important to the life of every believer. Paul beseeches us as Christians to commit our will to God. This word “beseeches” has the idea of encouraging or begging. He is encouraging us to commit ourselves, our bodies, to God for Him to do His will in us and through us. Why would we hesitate when we understand the love God has for us and the ability He has to build our lives? It is only reasonable to make this commitment. At this stage of growth we come to the point where we understand and accept this principle. We give ourselves to God for Him to do what He wants. We come to a point of commitment; we trust Him and then we commit ourselves to Him.
Verse 2 starts with our need to refuse to be like the world. Now we are new creations in God. Why would we want to go back to the old things? God warns us that the nature of sin, the world’s philosophies and values are contrary to His way. If we do not refuse those things completely, we will find ourselves accepting them gradually. It is the nature of world system to make us like itself if we do not refuse it.
The second part tells us to be renewed in our minds. This will transform us, from what we were to what God wants. The Holy Spirit shows through God’s Word the right way to think about life, renewing our minds. He shows how to act and walk with Him. Now we can do right. We can build correctly upon the foundation as God leads and changes us from day to day. We live a life of transforming growth as we commit our way to God. It is a life of anticipation each new day, as God works in us and through us to accomplish His will on earth.
The last part of verse 2 describes God’s will. It is good, meaning there is no evil in God’s will. He will never lead us to do wrong. It is good for us and good for God. The next word used to describe the will of God is acceptable. This has the idea of being well pleasing. We will be pleased with God’s will and we already know God is pleased with it. Because it is acceptable, we can embrace it with our lives. God’s will is not something we will find hard to accept in our daily experience.
God’s will is also perfect. It is complete. God’s will comes with everything we need to accomplish it. God provides all we need to do His will. Read that sentence again, it is an important point.
Many people have a fearful attitude about walking with the Lord. They are afraid that they cannot do it. In one sense this is true, because they cannot do it in their own strength or by their own will. God will give us all we need to do His will. He will give the ability and strength necessary in order to accomplish what He wants in us and through us. This removes the pressure to be good enough or have strength enough or the abilities we feel necessary. God will give us all we need. The key then is to depend upon Him for His enablement. He gives all we need to do His will throughout our lives.
Commitment leads to dependence upon God, showing us the value of prayer.
READ – John 15:1-6
In this passage, we have a description of a vine and the branches and the ability to bear fruit. The emphasis is the need for a branch to abide in the vine in order to bear fruit. There are many lessons taught in this short passage.
1. In verse 1, who is the true vine?
___________________________________________________________
2. In verse 1, who is the person who tends the vine?
____________________________________________________________
3. The purpose of this passage is to show the fruit of abiding. It is the branches that bear fruit. Who do the branches represent?
____________________________________________________________
4. According to verses 4 and 5, can we bear fruit without abiding in Christ?
____________________________________________________________
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
Thursday, June 9, 2011
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 4
God directing our path is God building our life. God will build us as we trust Him. Our faith, our trust, grows as we walk with Him and are students of His Word. We become less concerned about what we want and more about what God wants. We will commit ourselves, our wills, to Him.
READ – Psalm 37:5
This Psalm is a favorite to many. It talks about trusting God even in difficult times. In verse 5, we are told to commit our way unto the Lord. This has the idea of us giving our will to God to shape us as He wants. The emphasis is on His will, not ours. The great thing about God’s Word is that God knows us. Right after He says to commit our way to Him, He repeats the phrase to trust in Him. He knows you and I will not commit our lives into His hands if we do not trust Him. God will prove His trustworthiness as we walk with Him. The more we walk with Him, the more proof He will give us. The longer we walk with Him, the more we know Him, the easier it becomes to give Him everything.
READ – Romans 12:1-2
1. What are we to present to God things?
___________________________________________________________
2. What makes this reasonable for us to do?
____________________________________________________________
3. What do we give up when we give God our bodies?
____________________________________________________________
4. What two things are we to do in the first part of verse two?
____________________________________________________________
5. What are the three Characteristics of God’s will?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 4
God directing our path is God building our life. God will build us as we trust Him. Our faith, our trust, grows as we walk with Him and are students of His Word. We become less concerned about what we want and more about what God wants. We will commit ourselves, our wills, to Him.
READ – Psalm 37:5
This Psalm is a favorite to many. It talks about trusting God even in difficult times. In verse 5, we are told to commit our way unto the Lord. This has the idea of us giving our will to God to shape us as He wants. The emphasis is on His will, not ours. The great thing about God’s Word is that God knows us. Right after He says to commit our way to Him, He repeats the phrase to trust in Him. He knows you and I will not commit our lives into His hands if we do not trust Him. God will prove His trustworthiness as we walk with Him. The more we walk with Him, the more proof He will give us. The longer we walk with Him, the more we know Him, the easier it becomes to give Him everything.
READ – Romans 12:1-2
1. What are we to present to God things?
___________________________________________________________
2. What makes this reasonable for us to do?
____________________________________________________________
3. What do we give up when we give God our bodies?
____________________________________________________________
4. What two things are we to do in the first part of verse two?
____________________________________________________________
5. What are the three Characteristics of God’s will?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 3
As we study God’s Word, our faith in Him will increase. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. If we do what God wants, we will not be ashamed. It is important that we become students of the Bible because the Bible is His blueprint for our lives. How do we become students?
We are all different in our learning aptitudes and skills. Some are very good students of anything they wish to study. Others work at just being a student. God knows we are all different. He made us this way. Because of these differences, there are many methods for being a student of the Bible. The key is to find what will work for you. Some discover that a daily time set aside for Bible reading works best for them. Others find that setting aside certain blocks of time during the week is better for study. Some need a guided study such as this, especially during the early development of their walk with God. The key is to be a student. Only then will we understand the value and preciousness of God’s Word.
Faith leads to commitment to do God’s will.
As our trust of God grows, it will be easier to give Him our lives. We will look to Him for our daily concerns and direction. Within His hands is a place of security in love and fellowship. God will keep us secure and will guide our steps as we yield to Him. Our relationship has been established in love, now we can walk in love. This means we will experience love as we walk with Him. We must trust Him in order to commit our daily life to Him. He is worthy of all our trust and faith. We understand this more as we study His Word and walk with Him. We find Him faithful as we depend on Him in the little issues of life. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, “Faith is he that calleth you, who will also do it.” Confidence in the Lord will give us the desire to walk with Him. He will work in our lives. Again, Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” The good work began the day you trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior. It continues in your life until the day Jesus Christ takes you to be with Him. This verse is saying we can be confident daily in the working of God. We can trust His love and His leading.
READ – Proverbs 3:5 - 6
1. There are three things for us to do or not to do in these verses. What are the three things?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2. Do we understand thins the same way God sees them?
____________________________________________________________
3. What does God promise to do as we trust Him?
____________________________________________________________
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 3
As we study God’s Word, our faith in Him will increase. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. If we do what God wants, we will not be ashamed. It is important that we become students of the Bible because the Bible is His blueprint for our lives. How do we become students?
We are all different in our learning aptitudes and skills. Some are very good students of anything they wish to study. Others work at just being a student. God knows we are all different. He made us this way. Because of these differences, there are many methods for being a student of the Bible. The key is to find what will work for you. Some discover that a daily time set aside for Bible reading works best for them. Others find that setting aside certain blocks of time during the week is better for study. Some need a guided study such as this, especially during the early development of their walk with God. The key is to be a student. Only then will we understand the value and preciousness of God’s Word.
Faith leads to commitment to do God’s will.
As our trust of God grows, it will be easier to give Him our lives. We will look to Him for our daily concerns and direction. Within His hands is a place of security in love and fellowship. God will keep us secure and will guide our steps as we yield to Him. Our relationship has been established in love, now we can walk in love. This means we will experience love as we walk with Him. We must trust Him in order to commit our daily life to Him. He is worthy of all our trust and faith. We understand this more as we study His Word and walk with Him. We find Him faithful as we depend on Him in the little issues of life. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, “Faith is he that calleth you, who will also do it.” Confidence in the Lord will give us the desire to walk with Him. He will work in our lives. Again, Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” The good work began the day you trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior. It continues in your life until the day Jesus Christ takes you to be with Him. This verse is saying we can be confident daily in the working of God. We can trust His love and His leading.
READ – Proverbs 3:5 - 6
1. There are three things for us to do or not to do in these verses. What are the three things?
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2. Do we understand thins the same way God sees them?
____________________________________________________________
3. What does God promise to do as we trust Him?
____________________________________________________________
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 2
READ – Philippians 1:6
When we have faith in God and walk by faith, we trust Him to build our lives. Confidence in Him is part of our new relationship He will guide us through the Holy Spirit. Would we put ourselves in God’s hands if we did not trust Him? You do not sit in a chair that you do not trust to hold your weight. If you have confidence in the chair, you do not even think about sitting in it. You just sit. The same should be true in our daily walk with God. We trusted Him for salvation based upon the truth of His Word. His Word will also build the trust or faith for our daily life.
Someone showed you from God’s Word what He says about us and His salvation. You believed what God said and became a new person. Now, because of who we are in Christ, we can grow in our confidence for Him to build our lives. His Word is the blueprint for building and we must study the blueprint.
READ – Romans 10:17
1. How does faith come?
___________________________________________________________
2. What was heard?
____________________________________________________________
3. How important is God’s Word in bringing faith in Him?
____________________________________________________________
READ – 2 Timothy 2:15
1. There are two reasons given for studying God’s Word. What are they?
___________________________________________________________
2. Do we need to be ashamed? __________ Why or why not?
____________________________________________________________
3. Is it important that we correctly study the Word?
____________________________________________________________
4. Are there some that do not study the Word correctly?
____________________________________________________________
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 2
READ – Philippians 1:6
When we have faith in God and walk by faith, we trust Him to build our lives. Confidence in Him is part of our new relationship He will guide us through the Holy Spirit. Would we put ourselves in God’s hands if we did not trust Him? You do not sit in a chair that you do not trust to hold your weight. If you have confidence in the chair, you do not even think about sitting in it. You just sit. The same should be true in our daily walk with God. We trusted Him for salvation based upon the truth of His Word. His Word will also build the trust or faith for our daily life.
Someone showed you from God’s Word what He says about us and His salvation. You believed what God said and became a new person. Now, because of who we are in Christ, we can grow in our confidence for Him to build our lives. His Word is the blueprint for building and we must study the blueprint.
READ – Romans 10:17
1. How does faith come?
___________________________________________________________
2. What was heard?
____________________________________________________________
3. How important is God’s Word in bringing faith in Him?
____________________________________________________________
READ – 2 Timothy 2:15
1. There are two reasons given for studying God’s Word. What are they?
___________________________________________________________
2. Do we need to be ashamed? __________ Why or why not?
____________________________________________________________
3. Is it important that we correctly study the Word?
____________________________________________________________
4. Are there some that do not study the Word correctly?
____________________________________________________________
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
Monday, June 6, 2011
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 1
We have examined the formation and benefits of the foundation. Jesus Christ is in our lives. The nest two descriptions of the Christian life in His Word, one is of a building, and the other is of a plant. Ephesians 3:17 says that we are rooted, an illustration of a plant and grounded, an illustration of a building foundation, in love. Our foundation, Jesus Christ, created in us a love-based relationship with God. Now we will move on to establish God’s directions for building our lives based on this relationship.
READ – 1 Corinthians 3:11 – 14
This passage teaches us that we continually build upon the foundation, Jesus Christ. How we build is through the choices we make in our daily walk. If we build God’s way, our lives will be solid and stable with quality construction. We must remember that we are not alone in this walk. God will lead us and direct us as we depend upon Him.
Faith is necessary to walk in Christ.
READ – Colossians 2:6 – 7
1. How did we receive Jesus Christ as our Savoir?
___________________________________________________________
2. Should our walk be different than how we received Christ?
____________________________________________________________
If we have received Christ by faith, then we are to walk by faith. We believed God for our salvation and now we can trust Him to build our lives. Hebrews 11:6 teaches us that it is impossible to please God without faith. Faith is necessary in our lives. The verse says further that we must believe that God is who He said He is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. If we believe what God says in Hebrews 11:6, we will seek Him daily, moment by moment. Christians believe God.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 6
BUILDING UPON THE FOUNDATION
PART 1
We have examined the formation and benefits of the foundation. Jesus Christ is in our lives. The nest two descriptions of the Christian life in His Word, one is of a building, and the other is of a plant. Ephesians 3:17 says that we are rooted, an illustration of a plant and grounded, an illustration of a building foundation, in love. Our foundation, Jesus Christ, created in us a love-based relationship with God. Now we will move on to establish God’s directions for building our lives based on this relationship.
READ – 1 Corinthians 3:11 – 14
This passage teaches us that we continually build upon the foundation, Jesus Christ. How we build is through the choices we make in our daily walk. If we build God’s way, our lives will be solid and stable with quality construction. We must remember that we are not alone in this walk. God will lead us and direct us as we depend upon Him.
Faith is necessary to walk in Christ.
READ – Colossians 2:6 – 7
1. How did we receive Jesus Christ as our Savoir?
___________________________________________________________
2. Should our walk be different than how we received Christ?
____________________________________________________________
If we have received Christ by faith, then we are to walk by faith. We believed God for our salvation and now we can trust Him to build our lives. Hebrews 11:6 teaches us that it is impossible to please God without faith. Faith is necessary in our lives. The verse says further that we must believe that God is who He said He is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. If we believe what God says in Hebrews 11:6, we will seek Him daily, moment by moment. Christians believe God.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
DEPRAVITY To SECURITY
Building A Secure and Stable Life Based Upon The Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author Monte Leavell
ANSWERS
Chapter 5
SECURE IN LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
PART 1
READ – Romans 5:8
1. What is the length and depth of God’s love for us?
The death of His Son Jesus Christ
READ – John 15:12-13
1. Is there any greater love than laying down your life for someone else?
No
2. What did Jesus do to show His love for us?
Laid down His life for us
Chapter 5
SECURE IN LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
PART 2
READ – 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
1. Verse one describes what area of our life?
Our own abilities and gifts
2. Verse two describes what area of our life?
Our spiritual life, our knowledge and understanding
3. Verse three describes what area what area of our life?
Our giving and sacrifices
4. What profit is there without love in these three areas?
None
Chapter 5
SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE FOUNDATION
PART 3
Read and note more verses about security –
John 10:25-30 – No one shall snatch them out of Jesus’ hand
Ephesians 1:13; 4:30 – Sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit, Sealed for the day of redemption
1 Peter 1:2-5 - 2 God the Father chose you long ago, and the Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Jesus Christ and are cleansed by his blood. May you have more and more of God's special favor and wonderful peace. 3 All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. 4 For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. (NLT)
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
Building A Secure and Stable Life Based Upon The Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author Monte Leavell
ANSWERS
Chapter 5
SECURE IN LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
PART 1
READ – Romans 5:8
1. What is the length and depth of God’s love for us?
The death of His Son Jesus Christ
READ – John 15:12-13
1. Is there any greater love than laying down your life for someone else?
No
2. What did Jesus do to show His love for us?
Laid down His life for us
Chapter 5
SECURE IN LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
PART 2
READ – 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
1. Verse one describes what area of our life?
Our own abilities and gifts
2. Verse two describes what area of our life?
Our spiritual life, our knowledge and understanding
3. Verse three describes what area what area of our life?
Our giving and sacrifices
4. What profit is there without love in these three areas?
None
Chapter 5
SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE FOUNDATION
PART 3
Read and note more verses about security –
John 10:25-30 – No one shall snatch them out of Jesus’ hand
Ephesians 1:13; 4:30 – Sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit, Sealed for the day of redemption
1 Peter 1:2-5 - 2 God the Father chose you long ago, and the Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Jesus Christ and are cleansed by his blood. May you have more and more of God's special favor and wonderful peace. 3 All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. 4 For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. (NLT)
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
DEPRAVITY To SECURITY
Building A Secure and Stable Life Based Upon The Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author Monte Leavell
Chapter 5
SECURE IN LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
PART 3
We need to remember that God evidences His love in this same way. His Word is not just a noise and He is of great value and His service is of great profit because He is love.
In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 we see the description of His love. Here is found a list of sixteen characteristics of His love, showing us what it is and is not. Look at the description of each characteristic.
1. God’s kind of love suffereth long. This has the idea of being patient with people, even those who aggravate or irritate us.
2. God’s kind of love is kind. This means to do good to those around us, again, even those who aggravate or irritate us. It means working for others benefit.
3. God’s kind of love envieth not. It is not jealous of other people’s goods. We even work and give to help others gain.
4. God’s kind of love vaunteth not itself. It does not brag. It doesn’t try to show how big or great it is.
5. God’s kind of love is not puffed up. It is not arrogant. It does not see itself as superior to others. It does not think more highly of itself than it ought to think.
6. God’s kind of love doth not behave itself unseemly. It is not disrespectful. It does not act inappropriately. It is not rude.
7. God’s kind of love seeketh not it’s own. It seeks the best for those being loved.
8. God’s kind of love is not easily provoked. It guards against being upset, angry or agitated. It is not easily offended. It guards against getting mad.
9. God’s kind of love thinketh no evil. It looks for the good and right in others, not the bad. It doesn’t plot against others.
10. God’s kind of love rejoiceth not in iniquity. It does not enjoy sin in others or others misfortunes
11. God’s kind of love rejoices in the truth. It rejoices in the truths of God’s Word. It speaks and walks in them. It acknowledges the reality of sin and its affect on people.
12. God’s kind of love beareth all things. It will conceal the displeasing parts of others. It does not speak or listen to gossip.
13. God’s kind of love believeth all things. It trusts. This is trusting God and a trust of people. It is not always suspicious.
14. God’s kind of love hopeth all things. It always looks for and believes spiritual good will come from the events in life. It is a hope that comes from believing God will accomplish His will.
15. God’s kind of love endureth all things. Love is able to endure or put up with circumstances and situations that are caused by unloving people or actions.
16. God’s kind of love never fails. It is always right. It will triumph. It may be abused at times but will be victorious. It is eternal because God is love.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
Building A Secure and Stable Life Based Upon The Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author Monte Leavell
Chapter 5
SECURE IN LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
PART 3
We need to remember that God evidences His love in this same way. His Word is not just a noise and He is of great value and His service is of great profit because He is love.
In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 we see the description of His love. Here is found a list of sixteen characteristics of His love, showing us what it is and is not. Look at the description of each characteristic.
1. God’s kind of love suffereth long. This has the idea of being patient with people, even those who aggravate or irritate us.
2. God’s kind of love is kind. This means to do good to those around us, again, even those who aggravate or irritate us. It means working for others benefit.
3. God’s kind of love envieth not. It is not jealous of other people’s goods. We even work and give to help others gain.
4. God’s kind of love vaunteth not itself. It does not brag. It doesn’t try to show how big or great it is.
5. God’s kind of love is not puffed up. It is not arrogant. It does not see itself as superior to others. It does not think more highly of itself than it ought to think.
6. God’s kind of love doth not behave itself unseemly. It is not disrespectful. It does not act inappropriately. It is not rude.
7. God’s kind of love seeketh not it’s own. It seeks the best for those being loved.
8. God’s kind of love is not easily provoked. It guards against being upset, angry or agitated. It is not easily offended. It guards against getting mad.
9. God’s kind of love thinketh no evil. It looks for the good and right in others, not the bad. It doesn’t plot against others.
10. God’s kind of love rejoiceth not in iniquity. It does not enjoy sin in others or others misfortunes
11. God’s kind of love rejoices in the truth. It rejoices in the truths of God’s Word. It speaks and walks in them. It acknowledges the reality of sin and its affect on people.
12. God’s kind of love beareth all things. It will conceal the displeasing parts of others. It does not speak or listen to gossip.
13. God’s kind of love believeth all things. It trusts. This is trusting God and a trust of people. It is not always suspicious.
14. God’s kind of love hopeth all things. It always looks for and believes spiritual good will come from the events in life. It is a hope that comes from believing God will accomplish His will.
15. God’s kind of love endureth all things. Love is able to endure or put up with circumstances and situations that are caused by unloving people or actions.
16. God’s kind of love never fails. It is always right. It will triumph. It may be abused at times but will be victorious. It is eternal because God is love.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 5
SECURE IN LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
PART 2
Jesus willingly went to the cross to suffer the penalty of sin on our behalf. Luke 23:46 says that He committed His spirit to God the Father and gave up the ghost. Jesus proved His love through the highest expression of love possible, He died for us. Jesus Christ laid down His life, gave it up, and willingly went through the suffering and torment on our behalf. This love from God is personal to each one who accepts the gift of salvation offered by God.
God describes His love.
It is good to know God loves us, but better to know what His love means. What kind of love is it? The word “love” is often used flippantly and in ways contrary to God’s way. Even though love is continually talked about, few examples in our society are God’s kind of love. Love is often used as a form of manipulation. “I will stop loving you if you do me wrong.” “If you really love me, you would do this or that.” These are ways people use “love” for their advantage. In the world, much of what we see and hear has distorted our understanding of love. Because our view has been distorted, we will take some time looking at the character of God’s love. When we see God’s love the way He describes it, then we can assess our understanding with the truth of God’s Word.
READ – 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
In this portion, we have God’s definition of His kind of love. It is often taught that we need this kind of love for one another. This is true, and now that you have a relationship with Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, your have the capacity to love this way. We often fail to realize this is the character of God’s love for us. The way He loves is described in verses 4 – 8.
We see the word, “charity” used in this portion. Charity is a translation of the word “agape.” Agape is translated love or charity, and always means God’s kind of love. It is the highest and purest form of love.
Let’s study the passage.
1. Verse one describes what area of our life?
______________________________________________________________________
2. Verse two describes what area of our life?
______________________________________________________________________
3. Verse three describes what area what area of our life?
______________________________________________________________________
4. What profit is there without love in these three areas?
______________________________________________________________________
Our lives should evidence God’s kind of love in these areas. But we can have great communication skills, great Bible knowledge, great faith, and great service and still not have God’s kind of love. Here, God is showing us the importance of His love and its working through our lives. When we love God’s way, love will be seen in our speech, spirituality and service.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 5
SECURE IN LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
PART 2
Jesus willingly went to the cross to suffer the penalty of sin on our behalf. Luke 23:46 says that He committed His spirit to God the Father and gave up the ghost. Jesus proved His love through the highest expression of love possible, He died for us. Jesus Christ laid down His life, gave it up, and willingly went through the suffering and torment on our behalf. This love from God is personal to each one who accepts the gift of salvation offered by God.
God describes His love.
It is good to know God loves us, but better to know what His love means. What kind of love is it? The word “love” is often used flippantly and in ways contrary to God’s way. Even though love is continually talked about, few examples in our society are God’s kind of love. Love is often used as a form of manipulation. “I will stop loving you if you do me wrong.” “If you really love me, you would do this or that.” These are ways people use “love” for their advantage. In the world, much of what we see and hear has distorted our understanding of love. Because our view has been distorted, we will take some time looking at the character of God’s love. When we see God’s love the way He describes it, then we can assess our understanding with the truth of God’s Word.
READ – 1 Corinthians 13:1-8
In this portion, we have God’s definition of His kind of love. It is often taught that we need this kind of love for one another. This is true, and now that you have a relationship with Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit, your have the capacity to love this way. We often fail to realize this is the character of God’s love for us. The way He loves is described in verses 4 – 8.
We see the word, “charity” used in this portion. Charity is a translation of the word “agape.” Agape is translated love or charity, and always means God’s kind of love. It is the highest and purest form of love.
Let’s study the passage.
1. Verse one describes what area of our life?
______________________________________________________________________
2. Verse two describes what area of our life?
______________________________________________________________________
3. Verse three describes what area what area of our life?
______________________________________________________________________
4. What profit is there without love in these three areas?
______________________________________________________________________
Our lives should evidence God’s kind of love in these areas. But we can have great communication skills, great Bible knowledge, great faith, and great service and still not have God’s kind of love. Here, God is showing us the importance of His love and its working through our lives. When we love God’s way, love will be seen in our speech, spirituality and service.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 5
SECURE IN LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
PART 1
Our security in Christ is very important to understand. No one, including ourselves, could ever take us out of God’s hands. (John 10:28-29). This is a solid basis for the life in Christ. Beyond this point of security (i.e. the fact that we are surely saved), there are many other privileges to being in Christ. When we were saved we entered into a love based relationship with God, secure in love and acceptance.
We are accepted by God.
READ – Ephesians 1:6-7
By God’s grace we are made acceptable before God. Our sin has been forgiven and we stand before God justified. We are accepted by God because we, by faith, have accepted what He did for us. If we had rejected God’s free gift of salvation, God would reject us. Now that we are saved, we will never be rejected by God.
Our salvation, and its working in our lives, fills our hearts with great joy. A tremendous burden is lifted when we realize we are accepted by God. Sin produced rejection and brought God’s condemnation on our lives. We felt guilt and conviction. Whether we understood it or not, we knew we were rejected by God. Salvation produced forgiveness of all sin, acceptance, and security. We will never again be rejected by God.
People look for acceptance in this life. Sometimes we carry this same need into our relationship with God wanting His acceptance. The Lord already accepts us from the moment of our salvation. He made us in such a way at our spiritual birth that we are now acceptable in His sight. People say, “Just look at my life. How can God accept me the way I am?” The truth taught here is about our new position of acceptance and security as a believer in Christ. God accepts us because Christ made us acceptable before God. Our salvation is complete and so is our acceptance.
Now, our actions may or may not be pleasing to God. Our works, after we are saved, will be evaluated by God. He will either be pleased or not pleased with what we do. His rejection of our works is not a rejection of us. We feel rejection when our works are not pleasing to God, but our feelings do not change the fact that we are accepted by God.
We should have no motivation to seek God’s acceptance because we are already accepted. Now, our desire should be to please the Lord. We may not always be pleasing but it never changes our position of being accepted in Him. It brings joy to our hearts to realize our position of acceptance by God. We now have no fear of rejection by God My God accepts me. Think on this for a moment. My God accepts me.
We are loved by God.
God not only accepts us, God loves us. God showed us His love by sending His Son to die for our sin. Let’s look at it again using a little more Scripture.
READ – 1 John 4:7-8
God is love. He loves because He has the capacity to love, not because we are worthy of it. He loves because He is love
God demonstrated His love for us.
READ – Romans 5:8
God demonstrated His love for us. He showed or proved His love even though we did not deserve it.
What is the length and depth of God’s love for us?
READ – John 15:12-13
1. Is there any greater love than laying down your life for someone else?
____________
2. What did Jesus do to show His love for us?
_____________________________________________________________________
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 5
SECURE IN LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
PART 1
Our security in Christ is very important to understand. No one, including ourselves, could ever take us out of God’s hands. (John 10:28-29). This is a solid basis for the life in Christ. Beyond this point of security (i.e. the fact that we are surely saved), there are many other privileges to being in Christ. When we were saved we entered into a love based relationship with God, secure in love and acceptance.
We are accepted by God.
READ – Ephesians 1:6-7
By God’s grace we are made acceptable before God. Our sin has been forgiven and we stand before God justified. We are accepted by God because we, by faith, have accepted what He did for us. If we had rejected God’s free gift of salvation, God would reject us. Now that we are saved, we will never be rejected by God.
Our salvation, and its working in our lives, fills our hearts with great joy. A tremendous burden is lifted when we realize we are accepted by God. Sin produced rejection and brought God’s condemnation on our lives. We felt guilt and conviction. Whether we understood it or not, we knew we were rejected by God. Salvation produced forgiveness of all sin, acceptance, and security. We will never again be rejected by God.
People look for acceptance in this life. Sometimes we carry this same need into our relationship with God wanting His acceptance. The Lord already accepts us from the moment of our salvation. He made us in such a way at our spiritual birth that we are now acceptable in His sight. People say, “Just look at my life. How can God accept me the way I am?” The truth taught here is about our new position of acceptance and security as a believer in Christ. God accepts us because Christ made us acceptable before God. Our salvation is complete and so is our acceptance.
Now, our actions may or may not be pleasing to God. Our works, after we are saved, will be evaluated by God. He will either be pleased or not pleased with what we do. His rejection of our works is not a rejection of us. We feel rejection when our works are not pleasing to God, but our feelings do not change the fact that we are accepted by God.
We should have no motivation to seek God’s acceptance because we are already accepted. Now, our desire should be to please the Lord. We may not always be pleasing but it never changes our position of being accepted in Him. It brings joy to our hearts to realize our position of acceptance by God. We now have no fear of rejection by God My God accepts me. Think on this for a moment. My God accepts me.
We are loved by God.
God not only accepts us, God loves us. God showed us His love by sending His Son to die for our sin. Let’s look at it again using a little more Scripture.
READ – 1 John 4:7-8
God is love. He loves because He has the capacity to love, not because we are worthy of it. He loves because He is love
God demonstrated His love for us.
READ – Romans 5:8
God demonstrated His love for us. He showed or proved His love even though we did not deserve it.
What is the length and depth of God’s love for us?
READ – John 15:12-13
1. Is there any greater love than laying down your life for someone else?
____________
2. What did Jesus do to show His love for us?
_____________________________________________________________________
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
ANSWERS
Chapter 4
SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE FOUNDATION
PART 1
READ – Hebrews 10:8-14
1. Did God take pleasure in the offerings and sacrifice? (verse 8)
No
2. God said He would take away what? (verse 9)
He would take away the first (the old way or the old covenant)
3. What would He establish? (verse 9)
He would establish a second (Jesus Christ)
4. According to verse 11, could the priest making sacrifices take away sins?
No
5. Can priests or doing sacrifices take away sin today?
No
6. Whose sacrifice can take away sin?
Jesus
7. How many times did Jesus need to die to take away all sin? (verses 10, 14)
Once
8. The word “sanctified” means made clean or perfect. All who accept Christ’s offer of salvation are sanctified. How long are we perfect before God? (verse 14)
Always, for all time
Chapter 4
SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE FOUNDATION
PART 2
No Questions
Chapter 4
SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE FOUNDATION
PART 3
Read and note more verses about security –
John 10:25-30 – No one shall snatch them out of Jesus’ hand
Ephesians 1:13; 4:30 – Sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit, Sealed for the day of redemption
1 Peter 1:2-5 - 2 God the Father chose you long ago, and the Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Jesus Christ and are cleansed by his blood. May you have more and more of God's special favor and wonderful peace. 3 All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. 4 For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. (NLT)
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
ANSWERS
Chapter 4
SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE FOUNDATION
PART 1
READ – Hebrews 10:8-14
1. Did God take pleasure in the offerings and sacrifice? (verse 8)
No
2. God said He would take away what? (verse 9)
He would take away the first (the old way or the old covenant)
3. What would He establish? (verse 9)
He would establish a second (Jesus Christ)
4. According to verse 11, could the priest making sacrifices take away sins?
No
5. Can priests or doing sacrifices take away sin today?
No
6. Whose sacrifice can take away sin?
Jesus
7. How many times did Jesus need to die to take away all sin? (verses 10, 14)
Once
8. The word “sanctified” means made clean or perfect. All who accept Christ’s offer of salvation are sanctified. How long are we perfect before God? (verse 14)
Always, for all time
Chapter 4
SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE FOUNDATION
PART 2
No Questions
Chapter 4
SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE FOUNDATION
PART 3
Read and note more verses about security –
John 10:25-30 – No one shall snatch them out of Jesus’ hand
Ephesians 1:13; 4:30 – Sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit, Sealed for the day of redemption
1 Peter 1:2-5 - 2 God the Father chose you long ago, and the Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Jesus Christ and are cleansed by his blood. May you have more and more of God's special favor and wonderful peace. 3 All honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. 4 For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for all to see. (NLT)
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 4
SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE FOUNDATION
PART 3
We can know we have eternal life.
READ – 1 John 5:13
When we believe on Jesus Christ as our Savior, we know we have eternal life. This is not an “I hope so” situation. God has promised it. He will bring it about completely.
READ – John 3:16
Everyone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ shall not perish. They will have eternal life because of the promise of God. It is definite. We believe God for our salvation and we can also believe He will keep us secure. Do we really believe God?
Emotions cannot change the truths of God’s Word.
Sometimes people will feel like they are not saved anymore. We have mentioned that we will sin after we are saved. We deal with the feelings of lost intimacy. We deal with feelings of conviction or guilt in our lives as we sin. Again, this is not based on our emotions. Feelings are not what saved us and feelings do not keep us.
When our feelings are contrary to the Word of God, we must trust the Word. The truth of the Bible stands forever. Our feelings change every day and sometimes moment by moment. People who are basing life on their emotions are very unstable. We must base our life on the Solid Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is easy to see why there is stability in Christ. We are secure in Him no matter how we may feel or what outers may say or think. We are basing our lives on Christ and the Word of God. We are now living according to the truth of God, not the roller coaster of our emotions and the events of the world around us. We now have the stability and solid foundation many seek. We are privileged to have this new relationship with God. It is easy to thank God for His salvation when we understand what He has done for us. Our emotions change to joy when we consider the benefits we have in Christ.
SUMMARY –
Justification means we are saved forever because of Christ sacrifice for our sin. Christians stand before God justified. We could not unless all sin (past, present, and future), was taken care of by God.
We can know we have eternal life. This knowledge is not based upon our emotions but upon the promises of God. He has promised to give us eternal life. No matter how we may feel at any given moment, we have eternal life.
Read and note more verses about security –
John 10:25-30 ________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Ephesians 1:13; 4:30 __________________________________
____________________________________________________
1 Peter 1:2-5 _________________________________________
____________________________________________________
It is important to study these verses to know more truth about our security in Christ. Take time to examine them closely.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 4
SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE FOUNDATION
PART 3
We can know we have eternal life.
READ – 1 John 5:13
When we believe on Jesus Christ as our Savior, we know we have eternal life. This is not an “I hope so” situation. God has promised it. He will bring it about completely.
READ – John 3:16
Everyone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ shall not perish. They will have eternal life because of the promise of God. It is definite. We believe God for our salvation and we can also believe He will keep us secure. Do we really believe God?
Emotions cannot change the truths of God’s Word.
Sometimes people will feel like they are not saved anymore. We have mentioned that we will sin after we are saved. We deal with the feelings of lost intimacy. We deal with feelings of conviction or guilt in our lives as we sin. Again, this is not based on our emotions. Feelings are not what saved us and feelings do not keep us.
When our feelings are contrary to the Word of God, we must trust the Word. The truth of the Bible stands forever. Our feelings change every day and sometimes moment by moment. People who are basing life on their emotions are very unstable. We must base our life on the Solid Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is easy to see why there is stability in Christ. We are secure in Him no matter how we may feel or what outers may say or think. We are basing our lives on Christ and the Word of God. We are now living according to the truth of God, not the roller coaster of our emotions and the events of the world around us. We now have the stability and solid foundation many seek. We are privileged to have this new relationship with God. It is easy to thank God for His salvation when we understand what He has done for us. Our emotions change to joy when we consider the benefits we have in Christ.
SUMMARY –
Justification means we are saved forever because of Christ sacrifice for our sin. Christians stand before God justified. We could not unless all sin (past, present, and future), was taken care of by God.
We can know we have eternal life. This knowledge is not based upon our emotions but upon the promises of God. He has promised to give us eternal life. No matter how we may feel at any given moment, we have eternal life.
Read and note more verses about security –
John 10:25-30 ________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Ephesians 1:13; 4:30 __________________________________
____________________________________________________
1 Peter 1:2-5 _________________________________________
____________________________________________________
It is important to study these verses to know more truth about our security in Christ. Take time to examine them closely.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
Words of Encouragement
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 4
SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE FOUNDATION
PART 2
Even though we are perfect before God because of the sacrifice of Christ, we still sin. Sin for the Christian does not break our relationship with God. It breaks our fellowship. When we have sin in our lives, we need to confess it to God. This means that we tell God what we did and agree with Him that it was sin. When we do, He forgives us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. This is God’s working in our lives as we maintain our fellowship with Him.
The word “justification” has been described as “just as if I never sinned.” It is a legal term that speaks of the change as we are transformed from unrighteous to righteous before God. We can see in Hebrews 10:14 that “before God,” or another term used, “positionally,” we are perfect. It is just as if we never sinned, but it is much more than that. We have sinned but the price has been completely paid by Jesus Christ. We can see how it happened in the book of Romans.
READ – Romans 5:1, 1Corinthians 6:11
According to these verses, we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. At the moment of saving faith, we are justified before God because of the work of Christ. We are justified, now this is our “position” before God. We are made clean and Christ’s righteousness is applied to our account. Christ has taken care of all sin, otherwise we could never stand before God justified. Past, present, and future sin must be taken care of in order for us to be declared clean. God is not locked by time, as we know it. He can see all things for all time. He can see our future and the sin we will commit. If sin were not already taken care of completely by Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, no one could stand justified before God.
The Bible (Romans 5:1) declares we are justified by our faith. It is a permanent position before God. Nothing can condemn us because the blood of the Lamb has washed away all our sin. We are secure forever in Christ because we have been justified. This is our position Before God.
We must also realize the practical part of our new life in Christ. We will still sin but it does not change our position before God. It changes our fellowship. We need to confess our sin and God bring us back into fellowship again. This is the practical part of our new lives in Christ. It does not effect our position, but does imply that we will still deal with sin in the flesh. To understand our security, we must understand these differences in our position and our practice. Our practice is constantly changing as we live daily in this world.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
DEPRAVITY
To
SECURITY
Building
A Secure and Stable Life
Based Upon The
Solid Rock
Reprinted by permission from the Author
Monte Leavell
Chapter 4
SECURITY AND STABILITY OF THE FOUNDATION
PART 2
Even though we are perfect before God because of the sacrifice of Christ, we still sin. Sin for the Christian does not break our relationship with God. It breaks our fellowship. When we have sin in our lives, we need to confess it to God. This means that we tell God what we did and agree with Him that it was sin. When we do, He forgives us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. This is God’s working in our lives as we maintain our fellowship with Him.
The word “justification” has been described as “just as if I never sinned.” It is a legal term that speaks of the change as we are transformed from unrighteous to righteous before God. We can see in Hebrews 10:14 that “before God,” or another term used, “positionally,” we are perfect. It is just as if we never sinned, but it is much more than that. We have sinned but the price has been completely paid by Jesus Christ. We can see how it happened in the book of Romans.
READ – Romans 5:1, 1Corinthians 6:11
According to these verses, we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. At the moment of saving faith, we are justified before God because of the work of Christ. We are justified, now this is our “position” before God. We are made clean and Christ’s righteousness is applied to our account. Christ has taken care of all sin, otherwise we could never stand before God justified. Past, present, and future sin must be taken care of in order for us to be declared clean. God is not locked by time, as we know it. He can see all things for all time. He can see our future and the sin we will commit. If sin were not already taken care of completely by Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, no one could stand justified before God.
The Bible (Romans 5:1) declares we are justified by our faith. It is a permanent position before God. Nothing can condemn us because the blood of the Lamb has washed away all our sin. We are secure forever in Christ because we have been justified. This is our position Before God.
We must also realize the practical part of our new life in Christ. We will still sin but it does not change our position before God. It changes our fellowship. We need to confess our sin and God bring us back into fellowship again. This is the practical part of our new lives in Christ. It does not effect our position, but does imply that we will still deal with sin in the flesh. To understand our security, we must understand these differences in our position and our practice. Our practice is constantly changing as we live daily in this world.
Men’s Ministry – Leading Men into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ
To own your own copy of Depravity to Security e-mail:
Monte Leavell
Visions West Ministries
backpacker1@aol.com
Cost is approximately $5.00 per copy
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