by Steve McCranie
We’ve worked real hard to redefine what worship means today? And, in doing so, we’ve made it more about music or style or a feel-good experience than what it has historically meant in the past. But what does “worship” really mean?
According to Webster’s Dictionary (1828) worship means: “To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission. It means to declare or attribute dignity and worth. Worship is to show profound reverence and adoration.”
And this has nothing to do with a style of music or what I’ve seen in church most of my life. Which brings us to the question: Did you worship last Sunday? Did you honor your Lord with extravagant love and extreme submission? Did you boldly declare His dignity and worth among the congregation? Did you show, by your very actions, your profound reverence and adoration for the Lord last Sunday? And if you did, what was that like?
And if you didn’t, or if you’re not sure, then keep listening.
The following is a study on True Worship.
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by Steve McCranie
In Psalm 56, during a very dark time in David’s life, he wrote the following:
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; (therefore) I will not fear. What can flesh (or, man) do to me?
James Montgomery Boice said: “Man can oppress, slander, hurt, hate, maim, and murder me, for starters. But, of course, that is not the answer David is giving us in Psalm 56. His answer is: Nothing!”
And he’s right. What can man do to me? Nothing. Absolutely nothing? Why? Because “God is for me” (Psalm 56:9). Do you want to know how to live in the midst of fear? Do you want to know how to not let your view of God limit you because He is too small. If so, then keep listening.
The following is a study on Psalm 56.
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by Steve McCranie
In Matthew 5:1-12, we find a paradox known as the Beatitudes, the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. And in reading them today, they seem illogical and out of touch with real life. Consider these questions:
How can you be blessed when you’re in mourning?
How is being poor in spirit a good thing?
In fact, how is being poor ever a good thing?
And how can you possibly call the meek blessed?
I always thought the strong were the ones who had it all together. Is that not true anymore?
But these teachings of Jesus are not about life in the now, but about life in His Kingdom. They speak of the realities of living with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. And, by the way, they’re not a paradox. They’re realities of life that transcend our feeble existence on earth. They are, as Paul Harvey would say, “the rest of the story.”
Want to know more about living in His Kingdom? Then keep listening.
The following is a study on Matthew 5:3.
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by Steve McCranie
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus covers many subjects which all show us how to live in the Kingdom of our Lord. Over and over again, Jesus revealed to us the new realities of the life of faith in His Kingdom. Some of them include:
How to find true joy and happiness in the midst of suffering and turmoil – Matthew 5:3-12
How to find our true purpose in life – Matthew 5:13-16
How we are to now relate to the Law – Matthew 5:17-20
Then Jesus talks about the internalization of the Law.
He deals with anger, murder, strife, and unforgiveness – Matthew 5:21-26
Adultery, fornication, porn, and sexual sins – Matthew 5:27-30
Marriage and divorce – Matthew 5:31-32
Honesty, vows, oaths, and pledges – Matthew 5:33-37
Our “rights” and “privileges” – Matthew 5:38-42
And how to respond to those who hate us – Matthew 5:43-48
And that’s just in one chapter. There’s so much more for us to learn about how to live with Him in His Kingdom.
Are you interested in discovering more about life in His Kingdom? Then keep listening.
The following is a study on Matthew 5:1-2.
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by Steve McCranie
In closing his letter to the church at Colossae, Paul said the following to one of his “fellow laborers” in the faith, a man named Archippus.
Colossians 4:17 – And say to (who) Archippus, “Take heed (or, consider, discern, to see with the eye, to watch carefully) to the ministry (or, service) which you have received (how) in the Lord, (why) that you may fulfill (or, to render full, to complete, to bring to effect) it.”
Archippus probably struggled, much like Timothy, with insecurity, timidity, and a lack of boldness. Paul reminded him that his ministry was from the Lord and his calling and purpose in life was to fulfill what God had created him to do. And nothing more.
Do you ever struggle with the same thing? Do you ever wonder why you have such a hard time getting beyond your past and present failures? Do you sometimes feel God had a plan for your life but now, because of your disobedience, He has passed on by never wanting to use you again? If it was possible to move beyond that crippling thought, would you be interested in finding out how?
If so, then keep listening.
The following is a study on Colossians 4:16-18.
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