S-Scripture:  1 Corinthians 3:1-3, “Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to mature Christians. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life.  I had to feed you with milk and not with solid food, because you couldn’t handle anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your own sinful desires. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your own desires? You are acting like people who don’t belong to the Lord.”  (NLT)

O-Observaton:  Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church to engage the people in much needed dialogue concerning divisions within the Body!  When Paul heard the news of the lack of unity and harmony, he immediately wrote this letter to fan the flame of Spiritual Maturity.  He charged them with being Spiritually Immature. As a matter of fact he said, “You are acting like people who don’t belong to the Lord.”

A-Application:  These words cut to the very core of my heart.  I had to ask myself the question, “What if Paul were writing to StoneBridge Baptist Church, or better yet, to the pastors of this local body?  What would he say to us?”  Would he slam us?  Would there be accusations of our lack of Spiritual Maturity and Growth?  Would he write the same type of letter to us?  Personally, I know that there are areas in my life where I need God’s wisdom, grace, and strength to become a Spiritual Carnivore.  It’s time to quit nursing and start eating!

P-Prayer:  Father, it is my prayer to overcome my deficiencies so that I can develop the Leadership skills necessary to lead Your Church.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

A-Scripture: John 5:18, “Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.”

O-Observation: Jesus proved His Deity by healing, forgiving, and by claiming equality with God.

A-Application: When Jesus called God, “Father”, He was not only demonstrating an example to His Disciples on “how to” pray, but He was setting a precedent among the Jews…He was God in the Flesh! This verse can be used as a defense towards those who do not believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ!

P-Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, Thank You for revealing You Word to me today! Thank You for being more than a good man, leader, or prophet. You are God! Thank You for rescuing my life! In Jesus Name. Amen.

S-Scripture:  Ecclesiastes 5:2-3, “2 Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.  For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.  3 For a dream comes through much activity, And a fool’s voice is known by his many words.”  (NKJV)

O-Observation:   The wisest man who has ever walked the earth (besides the Lord) gives us some great advice concerning our words.  Words are dangerous if not used in the proper context.  They can be harmful, hurtful, and heretical (I had to get all of my H’s in there…haha).  Our words are to not be spoken rashly or quickly.  James 1:19-20 says, “19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”  (NKJV)

A-Application:  These verses speak loud and clear to me.  I am one who usually “opens mouth and inserts foot” on a regular basis.  I need the wisdom of God concerning the “things” which I say with my mouth.  Also, I must remember when I communicate, God is (in heaven) listening to everything I have to say to others.  A lot of people have great dreams, or a great vision, but vision is not accomplished by our words, they are accomplished by our activity!  So, we must take the advice of King Solomon.  And, to put it in the words of my mother while sitting at the dinner table, “How bout a little less talk and lot more action!”  Guys, let’s not just dream dreams, let us fulfill these dreams by our dependence on God and the work which we put forth to see the Lord’s churches grow and His Kingdom advanced!

P-Prayer:  Dear Father, I have heard it said before in a prayer…”Lord put your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth.”  I think this is a great prayer!  Thank you for your love, and for giving us the desires of our hearts.  Help us to not just talk about dreams, help us to accomplish these dreams for Your glory!  In the name of Jesus.  Amen!

S-Scripture:  Proverbs 31:29, “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all.”  (NLT)

O-Observation:  First, I notice that these are the words of King Lemuel, but it is the prophecy that his mother taught him.  Earlier in this chapter she advises King Lemuel to not give his strength to a woman. Then, she states in verse 10, “Who can find a virtuous woman?  for her price [is] far above rubies.”  Now, in verse 29, she says in verse 29 that there are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but the one who takes care of her family and husband surpasses them all.”

A-Application:  What I take from this verse applies to the labor of my wife.  She is truly a helper to me.  She labors diligently with the kids, the finances, and has to put up with me on top of all of that.  I am grateful to have such a wonderful woman in my life.

P-Prayer:   Father in Heaven, I am grateful for my wife.  Thank you for placing her in my life.  Lord, please bless Kristie, our kids, and our home.  In Jesus name.  Amen. 

S-Scripture: Proverbs 24:27, “27 First, finish your outside work and prepare your fields.  After that, you can build your house.”

O-Observation:  Solomon states that we must do our work before we do our work.  We must take care of the minor details, prepare the fields (the people, the location, etc.).  Then, we build a house for the Lord!

A-Application:  I immediately thought of our current situation as a church.  We have been meeting in a theatre for the past four and a half years.  It has worked well for us up until now.  We are approaching the five year mark of our church, our numbers are growing, and our children’s ministry is maxed out.  Russell and I have been racking our brains, trying to think “outside the box” on what to do, but have only a few thoughts.  The thing I take from this verse is to get ready, prepare the fields (the plans), reach more people, continue to grow numerically and spiritually, then you can build a “church building” to house the assembly.  In the meantime, I must continue to cast the vision of StoneBridge Baptist Church.  Our vision is to be a church where:

• People are passionate about Jesus Christ, sharing the good news of the gospel to the hundreds of thousands of residents in Monongalia County.
• Unchurched people will feel welcome, where the hurting, the broken, the frustrated and the confused can find love, acceptance, help, hope, forgiveness, guidance and encouragement.
• All members are involved in ministry, working to glorify Jesus Christ in everything we do.
• All the members are working together with the same mind, purpose, and heart.
• We establish like-minded churches in the the I-79 Corridor and beyond.
• God raises up church planters  within the local church to carry out the Great Commission.
• All members are active in the services of StoneBridge Baptist Church.
• We develop people to become fully developing followers of Jesus Christ through Life Transformation Groups, HomeTeams, seminars, retreats and a Bible school offered through our church.
• Multiply our Church Staff to produce more leaders who in turn will meet the needs of people in Monongalia County.

P-Prayer:  Dear Father, we are at a crucial time period in the life of our church.  Many of the folks within our body are wrestling with a permanent location.  Lord, please direct our paths, show us when, where, why, what, and how we will do this for you.  In the name of Jesus.  Amen.

S-Scripture1:  1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, “Now, brothers and sisters, we ask you to appreciate those who work hard among you, who lead you in the Lord and teach you.  Respect them with a very special love because of the work they do.”  (NCV)

O-Observation:  Paul encourages the church at Thessalonica to demonstrate respect and love for those who labor for Christ.  This church was told to honor the person because of the work.

A-Application:  I have much respect and love for those who have taught me the Word of God.  Pastoring one of the Lord’s churches is hard work.  It is not physically challenging, but the mental, spiritual, and emotional part of leading is sometimes more tiresome than working a forty hour (physical) work week.  Even though it is hard work, the Bible calls it a good work (1 Timothy 3:1). 

P-Prayer:  Father, it is a privilege to work for You!  It is challenging!  It is a spiritual battle at times, but it is the greatest job I have ever held.  Help me to lead StoneBridge Baptist Church.  Give me strength, and a vision that is caught by Your people.  Lord, do amazing things through my ministry.  In Jesus Name.  Amen!

S-Scripture:  1Thessalonians 4:3-8, “3It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body^[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.”

O-Observation:  Paul gives some instructions to the church of Thessalonica on how they should live in order to please God.  He told them to be set themselves apart from the ways of the world, to avoid or abstain from sexual immorality, to excercise self-discipline (in holiness and honor), to not engage in passionate lust like the heathens, don’t get involved in wronging your brother or taking advantage of another person, and to live holy lives.  Here’s the kicker:  When we reject these instructions, we are not rejecting man but God!  The very God who gave us the Holy Spirit!

A-Application:  When it comes to holiness, I need to do a better job!  I need to allow God to work in and through my life.  Holiness cannot be attained on our own merit or works.  It is attained by God living in and through us!  When we receive Christ as our Savior, His righteousness is accredited to our account, and we receive the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit seals us, teaches us, convicts us, chastens, us and draws us in a closer walk with the Father.

P-Prayer:  Father, please give me the strength to be holy.  I understand the consequences of our sins.  When we reject these instructions we are rejecting You.  Lord, guide me into truth, and protect me from evil.  In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray.  Amen.

S-Scripture:  Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  KJV

O-Observation: We are told to “Seek First The Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.”  The “these things” are the essentials that humans need.  What were the essentials in this particular text?  Food, Water, and Clothing.  The most important essential for a human being is the Righteousness of Jesus Christ.  When a person repents of their sin toward God, and places their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, they receive the righteousness of Christ.

A-Application:  When our attention is on Christ and His Righteousness our daily worries and concerns will slowly fade away.  When we are walking in a right relationship with Christ, we trust God to care for us, provide for us, and be there for us in our darkest hour!

P:Prayer:  Father, forgive me for not putting you first in my life.  I tend to do things my way, and in my own timing instead of your timing.  I know that Your Word teaches me that when I put you first, everything will work out for your honor and glory.  Thank You for Your faithfulness.  In Jesus Name.  Amen

S-Scripture:  Ruth 4:14-15, “14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! 15 And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.”  (NKJV)

O-Observation:  What a beautiful story of Redemption.  Boaz was Ruth’s kinsmen redeemer.  There was a law that stated if a person dies, then, the person next to kin had to redeem the woman.   So, this was the case with Boaz and Ruth.  Boaz is a picture of what Christ did for us!  Jesus was the only one who could redeem us from the curse of death!  He came, shed His blood for our sins, so that we can be redeemed, purchased, and reconciled to the Father!  We had to humble ourselves before the Kinsmen Redeemer (Jesus Christ) and request a relationship with Him!  When we did this, we became one with Him!  What a blessing!

A-Application:  Because of the Redemption of Christ, I am forever indebted to His love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy.  Just as the message of redemption is seen in the book of Ruth, even so, the message of Christ’s redemption is seen throughout the entire Word of God!

P-Prayer:  Father in Heaven, thank you for purchasing my salvation!  Thank you for my Kinsmen Redeemer, Jesus Christ!  I am grateful for your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.  Help me to tell others of your wonderful story of redemption!  In Jesus Name.  Amen! 

S-Scripture:  Ruth 1:17, “Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried.  The LORD do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.”

O-Observation:  Naomi had lost her husband and two sons in the country of Moab.  This experience was very painful!  I can’t imagine moving from my homelands with my wife and children, then, losing them.  It would be a tragedy!  So it would seem!  According to this text, there was a famine in the land of Bethlehem, Judah, so Elimelech took his family to the country of Moab.  Now, it would seem tragic to lose your loved ones in a foreign land (and I am sure that it was tragic), but God was able to see the completed picture, whereas, Naomi was only capable of seeing the present.  Little did they know that Ruth would return to Bethlehem, Judah to find a new husband, and from her womb, the Savior, Jesus Christ would eventually be born to a virgin, named, Mary! 

A-Application:  When it seems that things are not going as expected, be encouraged, God knows the outcome!  It may be painful, but when we trust God to come to our aid, the good will outweigh the tragedies. 

P-Prayer:  Dear Father, please help me to trust in the midst of personal tragedies.  Help me to depend on you, and remind me LORD that the outcome will outweigh the struggles if I will submit myself to your righteousness!  Thank you for this wonderful story!  In Jesus Name.  Amen!