Madison Nicole Mansfield

Madison Nicole Mansfield

8lbs-6oz

19 inches

8-25-08

On August 25th Shannon and I became parents. I was overwelmed with joy. God has truly blessed us with her. From the moment I saw her on the table in the hospital life has taken on a whole new meaning. Now the struggles of life now, no longer matter. At excatly 7:45 am on Monday August 25th Madison came into our life, she was always with us in Shannon's tummy. It has been awesome to watch her grow in Shannon's tummy and now to see her and hold her. She has truly stolen our heart.

What Price am I willing to pay in following Jesus

Today's lesson we are going to talk about the Rich Young Ruler who allowed his possessions and self-trust to become more important that following Jesus.
Mark 10:17-21
(Make two columns, column 1 what key words or phrases that indicate on earthly focus in the man's life, column 2 what words or phrases indicate the spiritual focus in the man's life.)
“Pay the Price”
1) “Earthly”
a. focus on human power
b. salvation through works
c. discipleship=keeping the commandments
d. Jesus is a good teacher
2) “Spiritual” (There is none, the man was looking for salvation through an earthly means.)

1. Do you think all followers of Jesus must give away all their possessions? Why or why not?
Discipleship means following Jesus with total commitment.

Jesus told the young man, “Go sell everything you have.” Jesus was not calling the young man to poverty but to discipleship. Discipleship takes many forms. It does involve sacrifice and obedience, and Jesus was making those demands. Jesus probably asked the young man to give away his possessions because He was demanding repentance and saw that this was an area in which the young man had a spiritual problem. We should evaluate carefully and honestly whether we are allowing anything to compromise our commitment to Jesus.

2. What would you do if Jesus told you to give up your most prized possession?
Mark 10:22-25

3. What are some of the good things that the rich young man likely did since he said that he followed the commandments?

4. Would a person like this who visited this class or our church be considered an evangelistic prospect or would you assume this person was a christian because of the way he or she acted?

We need to be very careful in assuming an other's spiritual condition. We as Christians have to let God be the judge of that based on what they do with His son Jesus.

Read the following passages emphasizing the word “power”
Matthew 28:28 KJV
John 13:3
Romans 4:211
Corinthinans 2:3-5
Ephesians 1:19
Ephesians 3:20

Listen for the focus of power in the lives of Jesus' followers.
Mark 10:26-27

Allowing God to empower you will help develop spiritual thinking instead of secular thinking.

Mark 10:28-31
Peter and Mark left everything to follow Jesus. Discipleship does have its rewards, now and in the life to come. These rewards may be material but are often spiritual.

Are you hungry

Are You Hungry?

Growing up in Coal City I had two best friends, who happened to be twin brothers, Kevin and Jason. Whenever we got together we were like the Three Stooges. We went to church together, went camping, fishing, played sports, we even got into trouble together. Even though we live in separate cities now, Jason in Plainfield and Kevin in Indianapolis, when we got together in a few years ago for their 30th Bday and when we get together for mine in April, we still acted like the Three Stooges. But there was a “Fourth Stooge”who acted right along with us, their father Al. He really made an impact on my life spiritually. Now Al passed away in May of 1999 with cancer. Every time I went over to their house Al always asked me, “Wayne are you hungry, do you want anything to eat?”

Three questions to think about:

1. Did you get enough?
2. Would you like some more?
3. Are you full?

I think Jesus is asking us these same questions. In Matthew 15:29-38 it gives the account of the feeding of the four thousand. As we observe the Lord's Supper ask yourself these questions again. Are you hungry? Did you get enough? Would you like some more? There is plenty of God's saving Grace to go around. Are you full? Are you being filled?

Men's Campout

The Cross -vs- The Electric Chair

Lord's SupperCross -vs- Electric Chair
Philippians 2:8
How many people here tonight are wearing crosses. Think about it for a few minutes. Crosses are very attractive as jewelry. I believe that a gold or silver cross does not project an accurate image of its Christian symbol. Crosses fashioned by craftsman, by jewelers can be stunning to behold.
The cross of Calvary was anything but beautiful. In twenty centuries since the crucifixion, this symbol of suffering and sacrifice has been recast into an object of adornment.
Imagine, if technology had permitted Pilate to use electrocution; and he sentenced Jesus to die in the electric chair. Would we wear little tiny electric chairs on our wrists, around our necks, and in our ears? Would we hang thirty foot replicas of these high voltage killers above our alters?
We wouldn't. We would not because we know the horror associated with this instrument of death. We have glamorized the rough sawed wood on which Jesus gave His life on.
The cross that we are to remember is not one of polished gold created by a jewelry designer. It's value is made precious not by the hands of humans but by the blood of Christ.