Discipleship: Part 10 Luke 6:40

Luke 6:40:

⁴⁰ A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. (NKJV)

My thoughts:

-Disciples are not above their teacher

-Blessed life comes by Being- having God like character

-Describes the type of character attributes listed in the Sermon on the Mount

-Luke’s version: Jesus focused on our attitude toward: circumstances (Luke 6:20-26), people (Luke 6:27-38), ourselves (Luke 6:39-45), & God (Luke 6:46-49)

-True Happiness= Faith in God, Love towards others, honesty with ourselves, & Obedience toward God

-Our outward words/actions need to show Christ. If they don’t, then our hearts don’t show Christ. We need to speak/show Christ whenever we can, not just when we are asked what we believe.

BEC NT-

We cannot lead others where we have not been ourselves, nor can we be all that our master is. The more we strive to be like Him, the more we realize how far short we fall. Nothing blinds a person like pride (“Lay Down My Pride”-J)

Believers do sin, but the witness of their words & works is consistently good to the glory of God. In terms of ministry, servants of God who are faithful will produce themselves in people who are in turn true to the Lord (2 Timothy 2:2)

What comes out of our mouths shows what’s in our heart

Then Sings My Soul Book 3: A review of Robert J Morgan’s Book

This is the third book in a series that covers the history of many beloved hymns.  This volume goes in depths on the history of Christian hymnody as well as covers a few newer songs that take their ranks among the classic hymns that people have been singing for decades and centuries.  The stories are brief but detailed and very well written.

 Anyone who likes history, music, and or biographies will find this book interesting.  When I first started reading the book, it took a little bit for me to get into it.  After a couple of days off from reading it, I picked it up again and found myself enjoying the history behind several hymns that I grew up hearing when I visited my grandparents’ church plus several that I had never heard of.  The behind the scenes look on how each hymn was written is priceless.  Then there is the indepth behind the scenes look of “It Is Well”.  I knew the shorter version where Horatio Spafford lost his daughters at sea, but did not realize that he had 2 more children after that and had lost 1 of them to scarlet fever.  Most of the stories are a page long and are preceded by the hymn that is being discussed.  Several other hymn lyrics are shared throughout that were also written by the composers or as they fit the subject matter or time period discussed.  If you have ever been curious as to the story behind a hymn or how we have modern classics such “Shout To The Lord” and “In Christ Alone”, this book is worth it.  The history of the Christian hymnody is also rather facinating.  We see the progression hymns have made over the centuries and how that has impacted the church.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 FCR, Part 255. 

Discipleship: Part 9 Matthew 28:17

Matthew 28:17:

¹⁷ When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. (NKJV)

My thought:

Some doubted-check to see if Thomas had touched hands & side yet or if more than 11 may have been there

BEC NT:

Since Jesus has all authority, we may obey w/o fear. He is in control because of His death & resurrection

Christianity is a missionary faith which is demanded by the very nature of God as He is love & is not willingly that any should perish.

Tyndale: A Review of David Teems’ Book

David  Teems writes a thorough as possible biography of William Tyndale.  What is known of Tyndale falls into three categories: documented truth, possible truth, and legend/folklore.  David gives a brief overview of Tyndale’s life through his initial days as a student at Oxford.  He then focuses on Tyndale’s life from his time at Oxford until he is martyred 6 October 1536.  During this period is when we run into most of Tyndale’s legend.

I received the book in time for Christmas Eve and started reading it before company arrived.  It then took me three days before I could read it again since it had been left at my parents’ place twice.  Once I got the book back in hand, I started reading it every chance I had.  I found it fascinating reading how we got the first English Bible based off the original languages of Hebrew and Greek not just the Latin Vulgate as Wycliffe translation was based.  With Tyndale we saw a man that had determination and a love for God that ran deep.  Seeing what he went through to get the New Testament translated as  well as portions of the Old Testament kept me captivated.  Also reading some of the potential though likely untrue conversations that happened as a process of trying to end Tyndale’s translation and publishing added a light side to a book that has several dark moments such as Tyndale going into exile and the fact that the catholic church was willing to dispose of anyone who did not blindly follow the teachings of the church and the pope no matter how much error there was in theology.  Anyone who likes biographies, Bible history, or church history will find this book interesting.  This is also good for someone who likes intrigue in the books they read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 FCR, Part 255.  

Discipleship: Part 8 Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19-20- Great Commission:

¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.  (NKJV)

My thought:

-Creating disciples= Teaching them all of God’s commandments and the heart intent of the law as well as servant leadership