20
Sep '18
God’s Vision of the Good Life
20
Sep '18
Tripp Prince | Wisdom Hunters 9/13/2018
You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions. Mark 7:8
I am increasingly convinced that one of the most important questions you can ask is this: what is your vision of the good life? What motivates the things you do? What captures your imagination? When you take the time to silence the busyness and distractions that swirl around you, what are the things you find yourself thinking about?
In Mark 7, we have conflicting visions of the good life. Different groups of people have different visions of what it truly means to be happy, fulfilled, and as religious people, to live a life that is pleasing to God. On the one hand, one group says the good life comes through obedience to the rules, customs, and norms of society and faith. Jesus, on the other hand, is calling people back to the original vision of the good life, life as it is truly meant to be lived. He reminds them that all these rules and customs were never really the focus, never meant to be an end in and of themselves. They were meant to lead you into the very life of God. As it says in Leviticus, “be holy, because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44).
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15
Aug '18
Seeing Clearly
15
Aug '18
by Tripp Prince / Wisdom Hunters
While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” Matthew 17:5-7 (NRSV)
Peter, James, and John were the closest thing Jesus had to an ‘inner circle’. They walked with him in close and intimate ways, and as a result were invited into remarkable moments of spiritual clarity and insight. While they knew Jesus the carpenter from a small town with a remarkable knowledge of Scripture and power from God, they had not yet seen Jesus as he truly is, in his glory and wonder.
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08
Aug '18
Obeying Completely
08
Aug '18
by Ronnie Hewitt
In our song books, there is a song that says, “Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin.” When God gives instructions or authorization through His word for something to be done, then it is to be done. But, if no authority is granted for a particular action, then such should not be done. The focus for this article is the theme of “Obeying God 100%.” Partial obedience is never sufficient. The Lord expects complete submission to His will. When one is only partially obedient, he is disobedient in God’s eyes.
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