Weekly Bible teaching from Pastor Jim Thomas at Holly Springs Bible Fellowship in Hornick, Iowa.
I hope you can see God's generous provisions in your life. I hope we will remain faithful and obedient when God tests our faith. As God tests us, I pray that God will honor and bless your faithfulness and obedience. Walk this week in faith and obedience regardless of your circumstances.
Genesis 21:22-34 – This story reminds us that we will all face conflicts. Our responsibility is to stay current and deal with problems as they arrive. Wise believers focus on the impact they make for God's kingdom each week. They help prepare their family for the future they will never see. They plant trees for eternity.
Genesis 21:1-20 - This week, may you take your eyes off your problem and focus on the solutions God has already provided. May you see God's plan in your pain and situation as an opportunity to reveal himself and use your life.
We all fail God, but that does not mean God has abandoned you. I pray that you stack your fears and worries this week at the foot of the cross and walk away. May you understand that God has not abandoned you but forgives and continues to use you in His kingdom if you follow Him wholeheartedly.
John 19:28 - I Thirst - It is our prayer and our purpose to make sure everyone hears and has an opportunity to trust Christ. You are now responsible for what you do with it. Everyone walks away from here one of 2 ways = Christ as your Savior or Rejecting Him – no other options. He is the only way, the only truth and the only life – no one comes to the Father but through him.
Genesis 19 - I pray that we each look at the direction of our lives. Carefully look at your choices and the paths they lead you down. Examine your heart before God and ensure it is in tune with Him. Live in such a way that you remember Lot's wife and keep your focus and goals pure before God.
Genesis -18:16-33 = This week may you deepen your prayer and fellowship with God. May you develop a genuine intimacy with God. May you converse with him so your heart becomes in tune with His. May you learn what it is to intercede and be humble, sincere, and committed to what you take into His presence. May your heart be changed due to your prayer life this week.
Genesis 18a - Jimmy Cockburn - Is anything too hard for God?
Genesis 17 - This week, may you trust in the Almighty God. May you surrender your will and plans and allow Him to be in control. May you examine your heart and ensure that you have a heart that is circumcised and marked forever by devotion and a commitment to the almighty God.
Genesis 16 – I pray that we learn to realize it does not depend on us to figure it out. We have to learn to wait and do God's will God's way in God's time. God is watching and sees your situation. Often His answer comes in doing the hard things, but blessing follows genuine obedience.
Genesis 15 - May you learn to sit and wait on God this week. May you do the hard things that God is asking you to do. May you give up all of your plans and follow God in what He desires for you to do this week
Genesis 14 – The story of Genesis 14 is about giving and taking. The pagan kings focused on taking what they wanted. Abram focuses on giving sacrificially of his time, resources, and money. He puts others first and seeks the glory of God. How will you honor God with your time, talents, and resources this week. It is what we are all called to do.
Genesis 13:3-18 – Abram demonstrates the value and necessity of resolving conflict. He steps up and is the hero in the story. He puts the needs of others ahead of his self-interests. Abram trusts God to care for his needs, and God honors his commitment and values. We must learn to do the same thing in our world.
Genesis 13:1,2 – When Abram hits bottom, he goes back to God. He changes his focus from the famine to the Lord. Guard your focus when difficult times come. Allow God to display His power in your life. *The shorter message was due to a church meeting where we updated the church family on our plans for our growing Fellowship.
Genesis 12 – Abraham’s story reminds us that God requires His children to walk in Faith. It requires that we follow God and not stop. God will show himself along the way, but we must be obedient and focus on him. Following God will always involve a struggle between right and wrong, but we must always learn to choose the right things.
1 Samuel 1,2 = Hannah reminds us that we are not a victim of our circumstances. We can focus on God and His plans and purposes for our lives. We all need to be faithful and focus on the task God has called us to. It is our responsibility to model a consistent Godly example to our children. We have to pray and trust their care to our God.
Psalm 127 – Parenting is like building a house. Your job is to develop and guard those God has given to you. Wise parents balance life and work and focus on measurable targets for their kids. Effective parents understand the value of letting go so their kids can grow into what God wants them to be. Parent well this week.
Luke 15:11-24 – God as a Father loves us and will not force us to serve Him. He will allow us to go our own way, but as His children, that way will not be easy. It will come at a cost. When we return, God welcomes us on His terms with love and acceptance. It is my prayer that we learn to parent the same way.
The Genesis story gives us the basic principles of parenting. God set the example with His creation. Wise parents will follow God's standard and directions. Every parent will give an account for how they raise their children. Your children will give an account for the choices they make. Choose wisely.
The Genesis story reminds us that God teaches us how a good parent loves and cares for His children. Parenting involves teaching responsibility, restrictions, and a relationship. We all are responsible for raising the next generation of Christ's followers.
The Easter story is a story about the sacrifice that Christ made for us. The cross represents Jesus love for us and His willingness to pay the price for our sin. The resurrection is proof that God accepted that sacrifice. God provided a way, the decision now rests with us. We accept Jesus as the only way to God or we try to pay for our sin through some other way. Jesus said He is the only way. It is my prayer that you have accepted His free gift and know Him as your Lord and Savior....
John 21 – Failing and failure are very different. God is more concerned with our character than our careers. We must take ownership of our failures and accept God's grace and forgiveness. God desires each of us to be faithful and continue to serve Him regardless of the circumstances surrounding our life.
John 11 – Often, during difficult times, we feel that God has abandoned us. We enjoy the mountaintop experiences with God but often struggle in the valleys. God understands our struggles and will meet and walk us through the valleys. God loves His children and is always with us; we must trust Him to walk with us.
God comes to us in our darkness to bring light. God challenges us to tell our story. We must let people know what God has done in our lives. The world may reject us, but Jesus is always with us. He will use our lives and stories to glorify Him if we allow Him to do that.
John 6:16-21– Storms are a regular part of life for all of us. God may allow us to struggle during the storms, but He is always with us and wants us to focus on Him. Sometimes God encourages us to join Him in the storm. In some situations, God may stop the storms. We must remember that He is with us, and we are not alone in the storm.
John 4 & 5 – It is easy to become paralyzed when stuck in life. God desires that we focus on Jesus and God’s Word. God expects complete obedience and faith in Him if we are going to get unstuck.
John 2:1-11 - God desires that we allow Him to transform our lives from ordinary to extraordinary. God is working on His schedule and not mine. He will accomplish His plan in my life as long as I remain obedient and faithful.
Philippians 3:10 – The focus of our life determines our direction. Biblically, God needs to be the center of our lives. We must understand that God focuses on our Character and His Glory, not our comfort. We need to allow God to use us daily as we give our lives to serve and minister to others.
1 Corinthians 13 – It is easy to become task-driven people in this life. It is my prayer that we are driven by Love this week. May we value people over things. This week spend your time honoring and investing in people. Make the sacrifices you need to focus on loving others as God loves them.
Matthew 5:37 – Life is incredibly complicated. It is my prayer that you simplify things this week. As you speak to God and others, may your speech be simple, straightforward, honest, and authentic. May you see this week with the eyes of a child and appreciate and enjoy some of the simple things God has provided.
