The Passion of the Christ–My Immortal
This is one of the best videos that I have viewed on YouTube. AWESOME
Encountering Jesus
Encounter: to come upon face-to-face
You, no doubt have asked the question: “What Would Jesus Do?” Maybe you have asked the question “Who Is Jesus, Really?” If you are like me, you have even asked the question “Why Would I Spend My Life Trying To Please Jesus?”
We have all been told that God is love and Jesus is God. We have all probably had people tell us what Jesus would be pleased with and what He would not tolerate. We hear everybody’s version of who God (Jesus) is and what He is like.
NOW COME ENCOUNTER (COME FACE-TO-FACE) WITH THE REAL JESUS, THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE
I have given my life to seek out and discover the truth of the Bible and then to share that truth with others and I am excited about a New Series “Encountering Jesus”.
Beginning Sunday Evening November 30th we will Embark on a Journey through the Book of Matthew to discover who Jesus really is. Find out what Jesus is like, understand what Jesus would do and get to know Him personally. Decide for yourself if Jesus is worth investing your life in.
I have spent the week working on a plan for discovering Matthew with you. As it currently stands, we will spend an entire year with Matthew. It is my personal belief that the Bible is never boring and I promise you will not be bored. You will walk away from every Encounter with Truth and Application. If you can’t apply it to life, what good is it?
The study alone is enough to come to SNL but that’s not all you will receive. Our Praise Band “SouledOut” will open and close every Encounter together, with uplifting, encouragiung and inspiring music. If you haven’t had the opportunity to hear SouledOut you can hear them @ www.myspace.com/souledoutfumc
Come check it out starting Sunday November 30th @ 6:30pm
Light in a Dark World
1 John 2:9 NIV
9Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.
1 John 2:11 NIV
11But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.
John 3:19 NIV
19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
John 1:5 NLT
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.
Proverbs 4:19 NLT
19 But the way of the wicked is like total darkness.
They have no idea what they are stumbling over.
We are called to be LIGHT in a DARK World. Are We?
3 Great Tools for Serious Bible Study
The following are three tools that I have used for some time now. People comment about the large number of books that I have but if you think about it, a mechanic needs many tools to do the work they have to do on automobiles and a preacher or bible teacher needs many tools to do the work we have been called to. There, that is why I have so many books.
These three tools however are books on high speed. The one that I have used most over the past 6 years or more is Logos and I highly recommend it. They start with a very reasonably priced system for the Sunday School Teacher or Pastor and go all the way to Scholars Gold. I own the Scholars Silver edition. Maybe if I get the opportunity to do a DMIN I will upgrade to Gold.
The tools in this software are tremendous. Check out their site @ www.logos.com
The one that I have and purchased through Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary is BibleWorks. This tool is really only for the most serious student of the bible, mainly because it is not as user friendly as the other two. It has great tools that are unsurpassed in word study and exegesis but harder for me to use.
The IVP Essential Reference Collection was recommended by my Hebrew Professor and I believe mainly for the great background references. getting to know the Bible lands and culture. This is an outstanding tool and one that will stand alone and a great place to start. It can be purchased through amazon.com.
Blessings in your study!
Ronnie
God Leads Us into the Desert
God Leads Us into the Desert
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 2, by Os Hillman
10-03-2008
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil” (Matt 4:1).There is a common teaching going around today that says if you do all the right things in your Christian life, you will be blessed and never experience problems in your life. This teaching is heresy. The Bible says that we will encounter many problems during this lifetime. Just read Peter’s epistle.
Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Why would God lead His Son into the desert to be tempted? Why would God lead you and I into the desert?
The desert is a place to learn something about ourselves. It is the place where we determine if we will truly live by every Word of God, not by bread alone. When Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, Jesus responded to every temptation by citing what the Word of God said about that temptation.
This is also the way you and I must respond to the temptations that are brought our way. We must have the Word of God written into our hearts in order to know how to respond to given situations. The Bible says, “the truth shall make you free.” It is knowing and doing the will of God that allows us to live free from the temptation of evil.
The desert is often the place of silence. However, it is also a place where the devil will speak loudest because you are in a place of weakness and the comforts of your normal life are not to be found. It is a place where God is often silent but can also be a place where God speaks loudest. The word desert comes from the Hebrew word “dahbaar” which means “to speak.”
If God has placed you in the desert, meditate on the Word of God so that you will withstand the temptation that comes in the desert place.
Got The T-Shirt, Now What?
Got the T-Shirt, Now What?
We went to CCIS this morning with Johnny V. and wow what a time, there must have been 120 students in that room. Sassar was in normal form, getting the students to listen up. She is so awesome and she loves the students so much. Now, I don’t call her Sassar to be disrespectful I heard the students call her that and she seemed to be cool with it. It is one of those terms of endearment.
Anyway, as Johnny V. would say, you don’t care about all that. John wore his TEAM Soccer shirt this morning and he spoke about wearing the T-Shirt. Anybody can sit on the bench but in order to make anything happen you have to get in the game.
Today as all of history we have lots of people wearing the Christian T-shirt but they are not really in the game. You can go to church every day of the week, sing in the youth group, raise your hands in worship and even give money to missionaries but until you get in the game and become a real part of team it’s not real.
James says that Faith without works is dead. In other words, you say you have faith in Jesus Christ, you wear the Christian T-shirt, and you go to church. Go out and do something that shows Christ to the world.
Ronnie
Jesus Causes An Uprising Everywhere He Goes
Jesus was born to a couple of teenagers who couldn’t even stay with their family in Bethlehem, this may be because of the scandal of her pregnancy before their official marriage.
This is how God became one of us. This should incite passionate joy and excitement in us as followers of “The Way”. This is either the greatest thing to ever happen or the most ridiculous idea ever suggested. That God should become one of us.
Not only did Jesus’ birth turn everything upside down; so did his life and what he taught. You must die to live. You must lose to gain. Weakness is strength. Joy exists in the midst of suffering. Power is restraint. Love those who persecute you. Pray for those who hate you. It is not the strong or the wealthy who will inherit the earth, but the meek or not those who display their strength and or wealth.
Jesus Christ becoming one of us caused an Uprising. If you follow Jesus, you follow the most radical man who ever existed. He stepped onto the scene with kindness, peace, and love, and offers people a whole new way of looking at the world and how to live radically different. His is the most radical message you can preach or live. He turns everything upside down and calls us to do likewise. Jesus is committed to changing the people He comes into contact with and He comes into contact with people through you and me.
The Uprising that Jesus entry into the world caused, isn’t for the faint of heart or the middle-of-the-road, on again-off again, wishy washy. It isn’t safe. It isn’t comfortable. It costs us a great deal to say yes. We take hold of the Uprising by abandoning ourselves to Jesus and letting go of everything else.
Will you choose to follow a safe Jesus who came and still lives to provide you with health, wealth, comfort, and happiness? Or will we press on to find the Jesus of Nazareth, the most dangerous and radical man to ever walk the face of the earth?
I want the real thing. I don’t buy into the idea that Jesus came just to give us a ticket to heaven. Will you join me?
Ronnie
Eleminate The Weeds In Your Life
The weeds in your life, are those things that hinder or limit your spiritual growth. Weeds are the things that choke your relationship to Christ or that prevent you from further growth. How much effort does it take to grow weeds?
None at all!
You don’t have to cultivate weeds. In fact, that’s the difference between a weed and a vegetable. You feed, water, and cultivate a vegetable, and it still dies! Pay no attention to a weed and it grows.
Weeds are a sign of neglect. I’ve found that when I neglect my quiet time, when I neglect my personal maintenance, such as walking/running and staying physically fit, and when I neglect key relationships in my life, the weeds start to grow and begin choking my productivity.
Reading the Bible is a great experience, try it and you will learn the wisdom that only comes from God, it is the way God has chosen to speak to us in this day.
Ronnie
Which Cross Are You On?
Last night in Youth we looked at Luke 23: 26-43 and we talked about the “Three Crosses” and the people who died on each one. On the middle Cross was a man (Jesus) who lived a perfect sinless life. Remember that Jesus came to earth as a Man, He became one of us. He had the opportunity to sin just like you and I have the opportunity to sin but he didn’t. But not only did Jesus live a sinless life, he did a lot of great things. He forgave people, he did miracles, he was a friend to sinners, he taught people about God and the Old Testament Scriptures, on and on and on, we could list many great things that Jesus did. He lived a great life of caring more for others than himself.
The next man was one who yelled insults at Jesus as they were there on the Cross. He made fun of Jesus and ridiculed him.
And then the third man asked Jesus for forgiveness and Jesus said, today you will be with me in paradise. However this second man, eventhough he asked for forgiveness he didn’t have th opprotunity to do a lot of good in this world. Now, he did rebuke the second guy and told him that they deserved punishment and Jesus didn’t but still he just didn’t have the opportunity to do a lot of good.
All of us are instructed by Jesus to take up our cross daily and follow Him. Which Cross Are You On?
You Think About That.
Ronnie
Stop! Before you make that decision…..
Before you make that decision, ask yourself these 4 questions.
How will this affect me Eternally?
How will this affect my family Eternally?
How will this affect my friends Eternally?
How will this affect Jesus Christ Eternally?
Life is short, keep Eternity in mind.
Ronnie
Worship, is it God Centered or You Centered?
Most of the people that I talk to about worship think that a worship service is all about the music. What do you think? Actually a worship service means the time when the saints of God get together to offer their service to God through worship and their service to others in the church. Over the years this has reversed to the time of the week that we go to the church much like we take the car into the service station. Most people view the weekend worship service as the time that we go to get our tank filled, our spiritual tank. However, when I read the Bible, it says that worship is about God and not about us!
Think about that!
Ronnie
What would happen if we carried our Cross in Total Obedience?
What would happen if, when we are insulted we blessed the one who insulted us?
What would happen if, when someone was mean to us we were nice in return?
What would happen if, when someone said something bad about someone else we siad something nice about that same one?
What would happen if, when someone hurt our feelings we did something nice for them?
What would happen if, when someone did anything that isn’t nice or is just outright mean, what would happen if we carried our cross in total obedience in these situations?
WE WOULD WIN THE WORLD!
Agree? or Disagree?
Let me hear from you!
Ronnie
Why do you wear that Cross?
Jesus, the one that we Worship was hung on a Cross.
What if someone we love were killed in a car wreck, would we put the car on display? Would we make little car replicas and hang them around our neck? Why would we wear Crosses around our neck? Why would we put them in prominent places in our churches and homes? Why do we hold the Cross in such high esteem?
Here is what I think.
Some (many) people wear a cross just because it is jewelry, it has no specialspiritual representation for them. But when Christians wear a cross, it is because theyhave unashamedly chosen to pick up their cross daily and follow their Savior.
Jesus used the Cross as a way to teach about true discipleship: Matthew 10:38 & 39 says, If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. NLT
Here is what the Message says: “If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me.
In this Scripture and others, Jesus is saying to you and me, no matter the pain, His disciples His followers, we are to surrender ourselves to God’s will for our lives.
Jesus was doing God’s will by carrying His own cross to His death. The Bible is clear, Jesus would have done it some other way if it were possible. Philippians 2:8 says, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Most people know that the cross was the method of the death of Jesus Christ, but few realize that it tells the story of God’s salvation plan. The cross represents what Jesus did for us to gain our Eternal Life. The death and resurrection of Jesus is the message of the Bible. It’s the “Good News”.
The symbol of the Good News is the cross!
So, if you are a Christian, wear your Cross but more than that, carry your Cross every day. That means, represent Christ to those around you. Treat them with the love of Christ, even when you don’t feel like it. We have no excuse! However, if you wear that Cross out of Tradition, it would be like putting a car on display that had taken the life of someone that you love. It would be meaningless.
Cross of Gold by Michael W. Smith (check out the video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8vpfW5L3KU
Live Like The Stars
I sometimes make the statement that I have seen everything and that nothing surprises me. Well, I still don’t know if there is anything that surprises me but I obviously haven’t seen everything.
Thursday was my day off and I always keep Samuel on that day. I was watching The Today Show and they did a story on “Living Like A Star.”
For $250.00 a half hour (yes 30 minutes) 3 people will follow you around snapping pictures of you as if you were famous (like Brittany). For $1500.00 you can get an entire package, they will provide a FAKE Body Guard to pretend to make the photographers go away. AMAZING
We live in a world where people just want Glory, they want to be Somebody Important. That is Important by the World’s Standards.
We live in a world that is HURTING so Bad.
Daniel 12:3 in The Message Bible says this,
3 “‘Men (Teen Guys) and women (Teen Ladies) who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever.
Listen TEENS: This world is controlled by the forces of satan and his cronies, don’t buy into his lies and they are lies. You and I are going to shine like the stars in Heaven.
Lets get busy,
Ronnie
About Ronnie G. Collins
I am the Planting Pastor of Out of the Box Worship Center and I also serve as the Associate Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Hillsville Virginia. We are a Multi Site Church, one church in multiple locations. Our 1st campus is located at 225 Fulcher Street in Hillsville Virginia. Our 2nd location is on Main Street in Hillsville, FUMC Downtown, Out of the Box Worship Center, and our 3rd location is 522 North Main Street in Hillsville and this is our Youth Ministry Center, FUMC Downtown “Out of the Box”, Youth Ministry. The most recent ministry we have is “Out Of The Box Worship Center” and we are located at 516 North Main Street Hillsville. This site is now my main focus, along with the Youth Ministry.
I have a Passion to see hurting people come to know Jesus Christ. I believe that we as Christians have to demonstrate God’s Love to the world, rather than just telling them they are loved. I am married and have 3 sons two very special nephews that are like sons, 2 grandchildren, 5 great nephews, and one great niece that are like grandchildren. I am a blessed man.
I attended school at Carroll County High School, Wytheville Community College, Liberty University, and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.
My passions are as follows:
God
Family
Others
Reading
Running
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/ronnie24317
Twitter http://twitter.com/ronnie24317
Three Minute Thursday’s http://www.facebook.com/threeminutethursdays
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