We need men of God who are mature in every area of life and who are fully equipped unto all good works.

The way for that be possible is through a life given to the Word of God. Paul said that the Bible was profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness so that the people of God could be mature and equipped.

The Word of God will master you long before you will ever master it!

This verse is key to a fundamental doctrine of the Apostolic faith which is Bibliology or the doctrine of the Bible.

The Apostle Paul clearly instructs Pastor Timothy of the Church at Ephesus that the Word of God that he, Paul, preaches from and writes is not from him, but is divinely breathed into him by God. You see, only God can write a book, that has 40 different authors written over 1500 years in 3 different languages, that will carry the same message throughout without making one error.

Pastor Timothy is told how the Word of God would be “profitable” to him and the world: The Word of God tells you what is right (“doctrine“), what is wrong (“reproof“), how to get right when you have done wrong (“correction“) and how to stay right once you have gotten right (“instruction in righteousness“).

God’s Word is unique in that He is the author and is “profitable” for every area of life!

May that NEVER be said of the Apostolic Bible Quizzer!

With that in mind, I want to share with you – how to get the most out of your time memorizing your Bible Quiz verses:

1.) ENGAGE THE BIBLE WITH YOUR HEART THROUGH READING IT!

It’s obvious to you, I’m sure, that in memorizing the verses, you will have to read them. With Bible quizzing, you are required to memorize a lot of verses in a short period of time. I would suggest take the 30 or so days that you have between quizzes and read through the verses once a day. That is like reading through the Book of Philippians in a day. It’s possible and completely doable.

After reading through it 30 or so times, you will have several verses down and a really good grasp on all the other verses.

2.) ENGRAIN THE BIBLE WITH YOUR HEART THROUGH WRITING IT!

As you read, you will see the verses with your eyes, but there is something very special about just copying the Bible. You really engrain the Word in your heart as the letters are formed by your hand, focused on by your eyes and burned into your memory. Plus, you will gain a sense of appreciation to those, who before you, copied and translated the Bible.

3.) EXERCISE THE BIBLE WITH YOUR HEART THROUGH LIVING IT!

The Bible was just not only to be read, but lived. People will read a Christian oftentimes before they will read the Bible. So when the Word gets deep into your heart, your life will be transformed and conformed to holiness and the likeness of Jesus.

I heard about a man who was trying to memorize the Sermon on the Mount. He found himself constantly struggling. But one day something finally clicked. He was sharing his story with his pastor and there he quoted Matthew 5, 6 and 7. The Pastor was blown away and asked him how he did it. The man replied, “It was when I started living and practicing the Sermon that I really began to memorize it!”

I don’t want you to cram for the next quiz, I want you to get a hold of the Bible and the Bible to get a hold of you!

1.) I love seeing the young people memorize God’s Word.

This is no small work. Last year, they had to learn 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus and some of 1 Peter. That’s a lot in just a short amount time. This year, they are learning verses on doctrine. I am excited to see them fall in love with our doctrine and know how to defend it.

2.) I love seeing the young people grow up spiritually.

With a constant, large amount of Scripture pouring into your soul, its natural, or should I say supernatural, that you would grow. I was hearing them ask questions about the text and desiring to learn more than just the words, but their meaning.

3.) I love seeing the young people make deep friendships with those from other churches.

I have to admit that I love going to see the other churches’ facilities and members. Last year, I was the new guy in the region. So to visit the other churches was a great delight. I have made new friendships and I know that our people have too. I’m expecting a repeat this year around too.

Bible quizzing starts soon and this year, I am memorizing the verse with them. Therefore, I must go and study!

A sales appointment is important.

A doctors appointment is important.

But the most important appointment you will have all day is your appointment with God.

I understand that I have an appointment with death (Heb. 9:27) and I understand that that appointment will result with an eternal destination – Heaven or Hell.

So that makes my daily appointment with God all the more important, because I’m preparing for the final appointment.

Moses had a very important appointment with God in Exodus 24:12:

“And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.“

I want us to see what God did in this appointment:

1) God calls us to have a meeting with Him.

Moses is called to Mount Sinai (Ex. 24:16) and there he spends 40 days and 40 nights (Ex. 24:18). The only people there is Him and God.

God desires that everyone who wants to know Him, love Him, serve Him and be saved by Him have a meeting with Him. Christians are told to seek Him with their whole hearts (Jer. 29:14) and non-believers are told to look unto Jesus and be saved (Is. 45:22). So everyone is called to have a meeting with Him.

2) God communicates to us His Word.

Moses will receive the tables of stone, a law and commandments which are written by God’s own finger. (Ex. 31:18)

God wrote down everything He wanted Moses to have and everything he would need to lead, teach and build. The chapters between this verse (Ex. 24:12) and the conclusion of the meeting (Ex. 31:18) are instructions regarding the Tabernacle.

God has communicated His Word to us through the pages of our Bible (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21). I’m not looking for anymore truth or another word, because it’s all been completed. (Rev. 22:18-19)

In the meetings with God we have, He will communicate His Word through the Holy Spirit so you can understand and apply it.

3) God commissions us to teach His Truth.

Moses was to teach this to the Israelites. It was to flow like water to their dry souls.

As we learn and grow, we ought to teach others what we have learned. (2 Tim. 2:2) It’s been said that you remember more of what you learn when you teach it to someone else. Talk about it with your friends, family or whoever will listen.

Deuteronomy 6 instructs parents to teach it to their children – morning, noon and night.

Moses’ appointment did have an end (Ex. 31:18) and when we have our appointments with Him daily, they will end. But make sure you are ready for the final appointment, because when it is done your eternal soul will be required. (Heb. 9:27; Acts 2:38)

Judas Iscariot is a very well known figure in the Bible. He is most remembered for his betrayal of Jesus. I want to look at the process of the betrayal and draw a connection thought to what happens when you take communion unworthily or with sin in your heart and life.

In Matthew 26:14-16, the Scriptures record that Judas meets with the chief priests and offers to sell Jesus to them for 30 pieces of silver.

In Matthew 26:25, Judas is seating with Jesus at the Last Supper. It’s here where Jesus institutes the ordinance of Communion – the Lord’s Table! Judas is there, taking.

In Matthew 26:47-56, Judas instructs the chief priests that the one he kisses is Jesus. Judas comes to Jesus and kisses Him. Then Jesus is arrested.

In Matthew 27:3-10, Judas sees the things that are taking place to Jesus. He goes to the chief priests and tries to give them back the money. When he leaves that place, Judas goes out and hangs himself.

Judas was one of the twelve. It’s debated if Judas was saved or not. That’s NOT my purpose in this thought to explain. The Lord used Judas as an example of this chilling point: if you take the Lord’s Table in a matter that is unworthily then you are taking it to the damnation of your soul. You can’t take it unworthily and get away with it. Judas took it and later, he would be hanging from a tree by his own accord.

Next time, communion is taking place at your church, seriously examine yourself. (1 Corinthians 11:28)

Scripture memorization is vital to the Christian life. Through it we store up verses to use in the battle against Satan and his fiery darts. (Eph. 6:16)

The problem is that too many Christians find this discipline too daunting. They immediately find excuses: “my mind isn’t that good” and “it’s just too hard”. Christ isn’t asking you to memorize all of Psalms. He just wants you hiding His word away in your hearts. That means maybe just a verse a week for someone. For others, that maybe means more verses a week. But whatever it is, you need to be memorizing, because Satan will attack and you have to be ready.

Here are some tips when memorizing:

1) Select the verses.

2) Write them if you can on notecards and carry them with you throughout the day to review.

3) Read them no less than 10 times a day. Reference first, then verse, then the reference again (that way you know the verse and where to find it).

4) When starting the next week, repeat the process, but review the previous week just 3 times a day (still read the present week verse(s) 10 times).

5) At the end of the second week, start the process over. Then move the first week to just 1 time a day and move the second week to three times a day and read the third week’s 10 times.

6) At week 4, just move the first weeks out and review it just 1 time that week. And follow the same process as before.

7) Share the verse(s) with someone and have them help you.

Scripture memorization is every beneficial especially when Satan attacks and you can then defeat him with the Word of God like Christ did. (Matt. 4:1-11)

So enjoy and hide God’s word in your heart.

1.) The Great Commission Resurgence. This is a movement within the body of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) to move toward a renewed commitment to the commission of Jesus Christ. Southern Baptists have seen a decline of the last several years. So they are seeking to give themselves to the fulfillment of Christ’s commission thus resulting in growth, but ultimately, the blessing from God through obedience.

2.) The Election of a New President. For the last two years, the Southern Baptist Convention has been blessed to have Dr. Johnny Hunt serve as their President. Dr. Hunt is a great man of God and a wonderful leader. He has sought to bring a new excitement and energy to the Convention and that is indeed evident throughout many of the different entities of the SBC. But by June 16, there will be a new president and we look forward to seeing who that will be. (I am hoping personally for Dr. Ted Traylor of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL)

I’m going to be watching and I know that the world will be too. Will you and what are looking for in this year’s meeting?

I have done my fair share pranks in my life and I rejoice that nothing like this has ever happened. There is reason though for that. When I did pranks, I had some rules in place that I would never go against. In this post, I want to share those rules or guidelines with you.

1.) The prank should always be appropriate. The above prank was clearly not appropriate. When you are doing the prank, think to yourself – is it going to be okay to do. Will there be consequences that will have immediate or long lasting problems.

2.) The prank should be done to people that will take it well. Not everyone can take a good prank. Its human nature to want to get that person that you can’t stand, but if you think about it, that will be a bad idea. The people that take it well will come back at you, creating a fun atmosphere.

3.) The prank should never cause damage. Some pranks will create an inconvenience, but I don’t believe that they should create damage of a person’s stuff and property. That is just being a jerk,

4.) The prank should meet your maturity level. There are pranks that are pulled that you just question how mature the person that pulled it truly is. But I will admit though that a whoopie cushion is always funny to me.

5.) The prank’s end should always be laughter.

That’s just a few thoughts on pranks. I am sure that you have some thoughts and ideas yourself. So share them below.

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“4 in custody for bleach balloon attack” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

This group is very troubling to Christians, because they have a message that is not biblical and a method that is not Christ like. Also, they cloak all their hate in the clothing of being called a “church”. Too, their speech ought to make Christian cringe as they use derogatory terms toward preachers, homosexuals and just good ol’ people of this nation.

They trouble Christians, because their message is unbiblical. God doesn’t hate homosexuals, preachers, coal miners and others. No where in Scripture do you find that God hates people. What you do read is that God hates SIN! Its sin that God judges. Actually, God loved man so much that He refused to allow man to stay in and die in his sin. That is why He sent Jesus into the world. Its through Christ that man can have the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting in Heaven. What Westboro preaches is not the message of the Bible.

They trouble Christians, because their method is not Christ like. Christ came to comfort the brokenhearted (not picket at their funeral and tragedy), serve (not seek-out their own profit from one’s loss) and give His life as a ransom for many (not make as many people mad as possible)! Christians are to engage this world in a courageous demonstration of the love and compassion of Christ. What Westboro does is not the method of Christ.

A lot could be said about this group’s history, theology and activity. So I hope that this post has been a help to you for thinking about them and ultimately, caused you to pause and pray for them as they are severely misguided and clearly wrong.