Mark 10:17-22 "Being a Good Ole Boy"

There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to do right, except in letting yourself think that being a good ole boy or good ole girl will be the means of your salvation. In the Bible, Jesus encounters a good ole boy who claims to have followed every commandment of Moses since birth and wants to know what must be done to inherit eternal life. By his own claims if anyone deserved a gold star from God and had earned his way to salvation, it would have been this young man. Unfortunately, the young man goes away sad because Jesus tells him that salvation is not something we can earn but it is instead a gift from God when we choose to believe in Him. Beyond belief, salvation leads to the sacrifice of worldly treasure and pleasures for future riches in heaven. For those of us who wish to see the difference between just being good and being saved begins and ends with Jesus Christ.

1. What makes so many of us chase the idea of acting perfect instead of being perfected through Christ? How is the rich young ruler an example of this type of good ole boy thinking and living?

2. Jesus asked the rich young ruler to go and sell everything he had and give it to the poor which made the young man sad. What would you be sad to give up if it was requested of you? Why do you think that Jesus makes this request of him?

Encounter Eternity - 3/8/09

This week our topic is one that is not too popular…death. But, you know where death is concerned, the stats tell the story…one out of one dies. For each of us on this side of heaven it is the only way out unless Christ comes back. For most of us it’s not so much being dead that concerns us, but how death will happen and what happens after that. Thankfully God knew that we’d have questions about what comes after this life is done, and the bible is filled with answers to that all important question…

What’s next for me when I get to the end of this life?

More on Relationships...

If you look back over your life and consider people who have had the greatest impact on you, I bet it is safe to say they fall into two categories. Either they were involved in your life and invested in it or they were absent from it. Either type of relationship can profoundly influence us. My favorite chapter of the Purpose Driven Life is entitled, What Matters Most. On this day, the author is talking about relationships, and he keeps it pretty simple. He says, "Relationships take time and effort, and the best way to spell love is T-I-M-E."

Here are some questions to think about:

1. Our day-to-day lives have become packed with activities, deadlines and chores. What is one way we can schedule "face time" with those we love?

2. When we have been deeply hurt by someone, finding a way to heal sometimes seems almost impossible. If you have had a major hurt in your past, what could you do today to start the healing process for yourself? For the other person? For the relationship?

3. Small groups have become a big part of the lives of many East Bayou members. What do you get out of the experience of small group? Why do you think God says we should meet with fellow believers on a regular basis?

Simplify Your Life "Financially"

Pastor Mike said that in the bible, Jesus himself taught more about money than He did about heaven and hell combined! That fact tells me that we are loved by an amazing God who, knowing our frailties, realized that money had the potential to trip up His children. Proverbs is an amazing book filled with practical insight into everyday life. Let’s keep it simple. From my study, here is some advice on money and the passages where they are found:

Be generous in giving….Proverbs 11:24.
Place people’s needs ahead of profit….Proverbs 11:26.
Be cautious of countersigning for another….Proverbs 17:18.
Don’t accept bribes….Proverbs 17:23.
Help the poor….Proverbs 19:17; 21:13.
Store up for the future….Proverbs 21:20.
Be careful about borrowing….Proverbs 22:7.

There is a financial “guru” who is known for asking viewers that call into her show to “Show me the money!” Truth be told, if our checkbooks were open to others, they would reveal a lot about our hearts and where we are spiritually. Why is it that we find it easy to trust Jesus with our eternal salvation and yet not so much with our finances? The good news is that this difficulty obviously does not surprise our Savior. That’s why His Word is so full of wisdom and instruction concerning money.

January 11 - Simplify Your Life "Spiritually"

Most people don’t grasp the fact that spirituality is not supposed to be very complicated. Many get hung-up on doing it the exact right way when all God wants is for us to put Him first. To learn how to do this, there are several different areas of our lives where we can choose to put God first. At the beginning of each day, we can commit to putting God first by praying and studying His Word. We can choose to put Him first at the beginning of each week by attending church and worshiping God with other believers. Our finances can help us make God our top priority if we commit to tithe faithfully. We can also choose to put Him first in our relationships by committing each one to God and allowing Him to accomplish His will through them. Finally, we can commit our energy to Him by keeping our priorities focused on the things God values and spending our energy on those things first. Through keeping God the center of our lives, day by day and week by week, we can learn how to keep our spirituality focused and simple.

1. Which of the things mentioned above do you find hardest to commit to God? Why do you think this area is particularly hard to surrender?
2. From work to chores around the house to social obligations, it often seems like time is the most precious commodity of them all. Why do you think God makes spending time with Him and other believers an important part of simplifying our spiritual lives?
3. The start of a new year is always a good time to reflect on what you have learned in the past twelve months. Think back to this time last year: What do you know about God starting this year that you didn't in January 2008? How can that serve as motivation to put God first in 2009?