15 OCT 2018 · Serving others is the greatest tool for influencing them and setting them up to change for the better.  There is no greater act of love than to serve and what we’ve learned throughout this 28 day journey is that love transforms.  So what kind of servant should you be?  "We weren’t created to be warm, safe, and comfortable. You and I were made to be 'turned on'—to put our love to work, to apply our patience in difficult, trying situations..." (Ted Engstrom)  

14 OCT 2018 · The benefits of being a disciple and discipleship are overwhelming! Joy, peace and happiness result from following Jesus Christ, together with the hope of being like him and with him in heaven. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20  The heart of Jesus is that his disciples go out to all the world and make more disciples.  

13 OCT 2018 · "So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God." Matthew 5:23-24 NLT In v23 Jesus is likely talking about someone you have legitimately offended.  You probably did do something wrong and you need to go immediately and make it right.  Jesus says there’s more to this commandment than simply not murdering. We must tackle our anger by forgiving each other. Even if we are at the most sacred moment of our year—poised to offer a gift to God—forgiveness is more important. We must leave our gift and make peace with the person with whom we are so angry. (Knowles, Andrew. The Bible Guide.)  

12 OCT 2018 · Jesus is demanding a radical kind of love, to forgive when they don’t deserve it. Peter’s question in v21 comes from the teaching in verses 15-20.  One of the new things I learned here was that the typical rabbinic consensus was that you would need to forgive a brother three times.  But Jesus radically challenges this idea.  Not three but seven times seventy! "Jesus does more than forbid vengeance; he transposes a cry of revenge (see Gen. 4:15, 23–24) into a call for forgiveness. Whether he says “seventy-seven times” (NIV) or “seventy times seven” (NIV marg.), his words reject a calculating, quantitative approach to forgiveness. Love within the church “is expressed by an indefatigable capacity to forgive the brethren.”25 The ensuing parable illustrates the lesson." (Chamblin, J. Knox. “Matthew.” Evangelical Commentary on the Bible.)  

11 OCT 2018 · "The picture of forgiveness in verse 38 is of a measuring jar in which the corn is pressed down so that it will hold more, shaken together so that every crack is filled, and poured over the top so that it overflows. Just as God has generously given to his own, so the disciple should give an overflowing amount to others." “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37

2 OCT 2018 · “But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.” Matthew 5:39 Obeying the commands is a heart issue. If you don’t make it a heart issue, you’ll do your best to find a way around the commands of Jesus. We can’t ignore these demands by Jesus.  Obedience is the fruit of loving Jesus. How does Jesus want you to love others? ?We are no longer under the rule of reciprocity! This is about freedom from hurt and unmet expectations.  You actually don’t have to hit back, you can walk in freedom because of what Jesus did for you. In Jesus you are: Defended Restored Healed Set free Redeemed Cared for You are loved! You are accepted! You matter! And now go and give what you have received to others!

18 SEP 2018 · The transformational power of Jesus’ words John 14:23 "Jesus replied,“All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.”  John 14:23 If you really love Jesus, you’ll do what he says! Get to know his commands All his commands are either about loving God or loving others. “The first thing to notice is that loving Jesus is not the same as keeping his commandments. It precedes and gives rise to keeping the commandments. Keeping his word is the result of loving him, not the same as loving him.” John Piper Love is the root, obedience is the fruit. God responds to our love and loves with a unique, personal, intimate, affectionate, caring, committed love that belongs only to those who love his Son. We get the Holy Spirit We get Jesus.  He will give us what orphans need: they need protection and provision and guidance. So how does this transform your marriage? When you feel lost, you’ve got the Holy Spirit “Therefore, love him. Keep his sweet commandments to receive him and abide in him. Overflow with his fullness for others in love. And he will come to you, and the Holy Spirit will come and the Father will come, and they will protect you and provide for you and lead you — you won’t be an orphan. And they will comfort you, and love you in a very personal way the world does not know, and they will manifest Jesus to you, and make you their home.” John Piper

4 SEP 2018 · Great relationships have grit:  Passion and Perseverance GRIT: firmness of character; indomitable spirit; pluck (dictionary.com) Passion an intense desire or enthusiasm for something. strong and barely controllable emotion. a thing arousing enthusiasm. the suffering and death of Jesus. Perseverance steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. other words for perseverance:  persistence, tenacity, determination, staying power, steadfastness, purposefulness… What does this mean for your relationship?  Everything!

22 MAY 2018 · This isn't just another top 10 list! In fact, the first thing on the list is something my father shared with me before I got married, and let me tell you, he was right!  Amy joins me once again to have an honest conversation about how to experience the best sex of your life!   In today's show, we give you the top 10 things a husband can do to get his wife excited about sex.  You'll be surprised by some of them, but there's something important we discuss that every man better know!

15 MAY 2018 · One of the most popular posts on our website is titled, "Is oral sex ok for a Christian couple?"  It's time we clear some things up for couples and what is allowed or not allowed sexually between a husband and wife.  Is there any limit to how a husband and wife can pleasure each other when it comes to sex? Discover how to have an honest conversation with your spouse about sex and what you like and what you don't like.