CrossTrain.Me

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  • Grief: MT e71

    Questions to Ponder

    1. What are some PAST and PRESENT things that are a source of sadness for you?
    2. Read Psalm 6 below. The writer was very sad about something. Who did he tell about his sadness?
    3. Have you prayed about the things that cause you sorrow?
    4. If you have, did you get any relief? Did things at some point improve?
    5. What statement of Jesus while he was dying on the cross did pastor Matthew mention?
    6. What did Jesus do on the cross for believers?
    7. Do you believe that Jesus knows about sorrow?
    8. Does this help you trust Him more when you pray?

    Amplified Version of Psalm 6 (a little easier to read)

    O Lord, do not rebuke or punish me in Your anger,
    Nor discipline me in Your wrath.
    2 
    Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am weak (faint, frail);
    Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed and anguished.
    3 
    My soul [as well as my body] is greatly dismayed.
    But as for You, O Lord—how long [until You act on my behalf]?

    4 
    Return, O Lord, rescue my soul;
    Save me because of Your [unfailing] steadfast love and mercy.
    5 
    For in death there is no mention of You;
    In Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) who will praise You and give You thanks?

    6 
    I am weary with my groaning;
    Every night I soak my bed with tears,
    I drench my couch with my weeping.
    7 
    My eye grows dim with grief;
    It grows old because of all my enemies.

    8 
    Depart from me, all you who do evil,
    For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.
    9 
    The Lord has heard my supplication [my plea for grace];
    The Lord receives my prayer.
    10 
    Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly horrified;
    Let them turn back, let them suddenly be ashamed [of what they have done].

    English Standard Version of Psalm 6

    O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,
        nor discipline me in your wrath.
    2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
        heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.
    3 My soul also is greatly troubled.
        But you, O Lord—how long?

    4 Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;
        save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
    5 For in death there is no remembrance of you;
        in Sheol who will give you praise?

    6 I am weary with my moaning;
        every night I flood my bed with tears;
        I drench my couch with my weeping.
    7 My eye wastes away because of grief;
        it grows weak because of all my foes.

    8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
        for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
    9 The Lord has heard my plea;
        the Lord accepts my prayer.
    10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
        they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

  • Why Are There “Letters” in the New Testament?

  • Guarding Your Heart

  • Matthew 3:4 – Three Things

    Questions to Ponder

    1. Do you think it is important for Christ followers to be modest? Please explain.
    2. What are some challenges you face in being modest?
    3. In what ways does John looking different from everyone around him, give you encouragement to not worry about looking like the people around you?
    4. How can you “put on love” (wear love) around your family?

  • Silly Putty & Psalm 1

  • Why Is There An Old Testament and New Testament?

    Ask Pastor Matt

  • How To Grow In Christ

    Questions to Ponder

    1. What are all the ways you have grown in the past several years? (the answer is not just that you have gotten taller. One example would be how have you changed in the way you think?)
    2. What does sanctification mean?
    3. What does 1 Corinthians 6:11 about WHEN sanctification happens?
    4. in John 17, Jesus is praying the the Father. His words, “Sanctify them in truth, your word is truth.” According to this, how can we grow as Christians?
    5. Do you think our Lord would help you if you prayed to mature in the faith?

  • Resume

    On this edition of Monday Thursday pastor Matt describes what a resume is and how it relates to Jesus and our righteousness.

    After watching the video consider the questions below. You can think about them to yourself quietly or write them privately in a journal.

    1. Answer yes or no to this question: In your life time have you: lied, disrespected a parent or other authority figure, taken something that was not yours, took the Lord’s name in vain (like saying OMG or something similar), said something you knew you should not have said, watched something you should not have watched?
    2. The Bible says, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) If you said yes to any of those, how can you be perfect?
    3. pastor Matthew mentioned 2 Corinthians 5:21 “. . . God made him, who knew no sin, to be sin, so that in him we might become righteous.” This means that Jesus does 2 things: He takes something and gives something. What are those things he takes and gives?
    4. For those who have faith in Jesus HOW is He our perfection

    Understand this, the only way we can become perfect is faith in Christ. For those who are Christians, who follow Christ, who trust in Christ, when it is time for judgement, Jesus appears in YOUR place. You are perfect because of Jesus.

    5. When it comes to standing before God, how does your resume look?