Solid "Food For Thought"

Speaker: Toby Soechting

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-16; Hebrews 5:12-6:1

INTRODUCTION:

1. As we encounter problems in life we will either slowly but surely overcome them, or we will slowly but surely fail to grow.
2. A person does not have to be perfect to grow into the image of Jesus Christ, but that person does have to be conscientious.
3. The Hebrews writer rebuked some of his brethren for needing milk instead of solid food (Heb. 5:12).

DISCUSSION:

I. AM  I  A TEACHER? (Heb. 5:12)

1. We owe a debt we cannot pay.  We possess the gospel and owe it to the “world” to teach it!
2. We should at least be teaching ourselves!

II. AM I WORKING OVERTIME TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF PURITY?

1. My actions are the result of my attitudes.
2. Is my mind meditating on the proper things? (Phil. 4:8-9)

III. AM I AWARE OF MY TONGUE?

1. Let us pursue peace… (Rom. 14:19).
2. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life… (Prov. 15:4).

IV. AM I AWARE OF OTHERS?

1. Extending love to the unlovely?
2. Bearing others burdens?

V. AM I IN MY “RIGHT” MIND?

1. Do I possess the mind of Christ?
2. One body and one mind? (Phil. 2:2)

Conclusion:  Jesus, and the life I live for Him, is worthy of my every consideration.

Solid "Food For Thought"

Patience

Speaker: Toby Soechting

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2

INTRODUCTION:

1. Christians do well to recognize the possibility that they might drift or fall away (Heb. 2:1-4; Heb. 2:4-6).
2. We are painfully aware of many others who are struggling with living faithfully in Christ.

DISCUSSION:  

I. THE MEANING.

1. hupo – “to abide under.”
2. makrothumia – “longsuffering” (cf. Heb. 6:12).
3. Patience means to endure.

II. THE MANIFESTATION.

1. We are confused by sin and sinners (Heb. 12:3; 1 Pt. 4:3-4).
2. We must contend against sin (Heb. 12:4).
3. In Christ, we cope with trials of life (Heb. 12:5-11).
4. We are confronted by bitterness (Heb. 12:15).

III. THE MOTIVATION.

1. We look to Jesus (Heb. 12:2, 14).
2. We know that our citizenship is in heaven, an immovable kingdom (Heb. 12:28).

Conclusion: The Bible likens Christianity to a race.  It is not a sprint, but instead a marathon.  May we each so run!

Patience

Leadership: As A Man Thinks In His Heart - Part 2

Speaker: Toby Soechting

Scripture: Proverbs 23:7

INTRODUCTION:

1. “Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nor desire his delicacies; For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.” (Proverbs 23:6–7) 
2. “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Cor. 5:9–10)  

DISCUSSION:  KNOWING MY DESTINY IS SO CLOSELY CONNECTED TO MY THOUGHTS, TODAY, I “THINK” --I. I WILL LEAD.

1. I will forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead. (Phil. 3:12)
2. I will remember to be a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17).
3. I will do the good works for which I am created in Christ (Eph. 2:10).
4. Life’s circumstances will never defeat me nor destroy me (2 Cor. 4:7-10).

II. I WILL LOVE.

1. Without it, my actions are little more than clanging cymbals (1 Cor. 13:1).
2. Without love, it does not matter how much I know (1 Cor. 13:2-3).
3. Love never fails (1 Cor. 13:4-8).

III. I WILL LAST.

1. “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8) 
2. “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10, NKJV) 

IV. I WILL LEAN.

1. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;” (Proverbs 3:5, NKJV) 
2. ““Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matt. 6:31–33) 

V. I WILL LIMIT.

1. “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control…” (2 Peter 1:5–6, NKJV) 
2. I will be filled with a diet of spiritual fruit, instead of physical lusts (Gal. 5:16-26).

VI. I WILL LAUGH.

1. “A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;” (Eccl. 3:4) 
2. “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.” (Prov. 17:22) 
3. “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.” (Philip. 2:17–18) 

VII. I WILL LIVE.

1. Paul only knew two days—today and “the day.”
2. “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:16)
3. Today, I will avoid the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3:12-13).
4. I will take up my cross daily (Lk. 9:23). 

Conclusion:  Our thoughts will eventually become our destiny.  As we think in our hearts, so shall we be. So… whatcha thinking?

Leadership: As A Man Thinks In His Heart - Part 2

Leadership: As A Man Thinks In His Heart - Part 1

Speaker: Toby Soechting

Scripture: Proverbs 23:7

INTRODUCTION:

1. “Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nor desire his delicacies; For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.” (Proverbs 23:6–7) 
2. “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Cor. 5:9–10)  

DISCUSSION:  KNOWING MY DESTINY IS SO CLOSELY CONNECTED TO MY THOUGHTS, TODAY, I “THINK” --I. I WILL LEAD.

1. I will forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead. (Phil. 3:12)
2. I will remember to be a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17).
3. I will do the good works for which I am created in Christ (Eph. 2:10).
4. Life’s circumstances will never defeat me nor destroy me (2 Cor. 4:7-10).

II. I WILL LOVE.

1. Without it, my actions are little more than clanging cymbals (1 Cor. 13:1).
2. Without love, it does not matter how much I know (1 Cor. 13:2-3).
3. Love never fails (1 Cor. 13:4-8).

III. I WILL LAST.

1. “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8) 
2. “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10, NKJV) 

IV. I WILL LEAN.

1. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;” (Proverbs 3:5, NKJV) 
2. ““Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matt. 6:31–33) 

V. I WILL LIMIT.

1. “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control…” (2 Peter 1:5–6, NKJV) 
2. I will be filled with a diet of spiritual fruit, instead of physical lusts (Gal. 5:16-26).

VI. I WILL LAUGH.

1. “A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;” (Eccl. 3:4) 
2. “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.” (Prov. 17:22) 
3. “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.” (Philip. 2:17–18) 

VII. I WILL LIVE.

1. Paul only knew two days—today and “the day.”
2. “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:16)
3. Today, I will avoid the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3:12-13).
4. I will take up my cross daily (Lk. 9:23). 

Conclusion:  Our thoughts will eventually become our destiny.  As we think in our hearts, so shall we be. So… whatcha thinking?

Leadership: As A Man Thinks In His Heart - Part 1

What Do You See?

Speaker: Toby Soechting

Scripture: Hebrews 8:1-12

INTRODUCTION:
1.    Some people are only able to “look back” and see the mistakes they made in life.
2.    A better question is, “What does God see when He looks at my life?”

DISCUSSION:  CONSIDER --

I.    MOSES
    1.    Beginning (Ex. 2:1-10):                                                             
    2.    Middle (Ex. 2:13-15):                                                    
    3.    End (Ex. 3:4-5; 14:21-22):                                                    
    4.    A Christian’s failures are not final!

II.    DAVID
    1.    Beginning (1 Sam. 13:14):                                                    
    2.    Middle (2 Sam. 11):                                                        
    3.    End (1 Ki. 15:1-5):                                                        
    4.    Our failures do not define us!

III.    PAUL
    1.    Beginning (Acts 7:58-8:3):                                                 
    2.    Middle (Acts 9, 22):                                                    
    3.    End (1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Tim. 4:6-8):                                                
    4.    Our past does not prevent us from being a Christian!

Conclusion: 

We all “look back.”  What do you see?  

What Do You See?

The Abundant Christian Life

Speaker: Toby Soechting

Scripture: John 10:7-10; Romans 8:26-30

INTRODUCTION:

1. “…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10, NKJV) 
2. A Christian is continually reminded that God wants him to enjoy life!  Jesus gives a Christian an advantage!
3. The “advantage” is clearly seen in Romans 8:26-30

DISCUSSION:  IF I AM A CHRISTIAN, I AM PROMISED --

I. GOD WILL WORK GOOD FOR ME.

1. “All things” of Rom. 8:28, implies both good and bad! 
2. When circumstances work out well, God deserves the credit and glory (Cf. Mt. 5:45).
3. The Bible doesn’t promise me that my circumstances will be better than anyone else’s.
4. The very things I count as bad may end up being things God works for the good of saving my soul.

II. THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE LIES IN THE FUTURE.

1. A Christian is justified (Rom. 8:30).
   1. Just as if I’d never sinned!
   2. It is a legal term, and a one time occurrence.
2. A Christian is glorified (Rom. 8:30).
   1. The term is in the present tense!
   2. I am glorified!

CONCLUSION:  As we travel through life, with its trouble and strife, we’ve a glorious hope to give cheer on the way!  God promises us all the help we need.

The Abundant Christian Life