I kinda think just about everyone winds up wanting their life to be “right,” to be better than it is. Nobody I know wants to look back and say, “http://wow...did I screw that up! What a waste.” I mean, it’s sad when you where someone say, “I never took the time to think How am I going to live this life?
I ran into a woman recently, got into a conversation. She asked what I did. I told her, “I’m a pastor; I help shepherd people in their life journey with Jesus.” She immediately began pouring our her last 20 years, wishing she had been a better person.
Here’s how she put it – “My f---ed up life.”
How about us? What about you? You have an instruction book that you’re following for not winding up there?
Quite honestly, I don’t know about all the books and podcasts and TED talks out there. What I know is that there is one Book that has the answers, the instruction, the truth about “the how.” It’s the Bible. Mike Shields said it last week. We are going to reading from the” greatest book ever written, and every part of it is true.”
This morning, one more listen to Paul discipling his spiritual son Timothy. Because when you look at the letters he wrote, Paul gives Timothy 5 trustworthy sayings—5 key truths he depended on, and WE, can count http://on...to shape a life worth living. to shape his heart and his living.
Life-Defining Courage
May 23, 2021 • Mike Shields
1. Facing Your Fears
• God’s PROMISES must be the FOCUS.
• God's promises have INSTRUCTIONS and CONDITIONS.
• Face the REALITY of your next STEPS.
2. Life-Defining Courage
• Gives us CONFIDENCE to PERSEVERE.
• Gives us STRENGTH to take the NECESSARY path.
• Gives us INSIGHT to FOLLOW God’s plan.
Responsive Relationship in the Gospel
May 16, 2021 • David Staff
So as Paul finishes his letter to Timothy, he shines a huge spotlight on the importance of supporting relationships (4:9-22). I find this veteran apostle giving his son this coaching call—Life-giving discipling in the gospel takes relationship initiative a proactive stepping up to meet one another’s needs. Paul is asking his son to step up in their relationship, and in the relationships they have with others. He urges what I would call relationship initiative.
