Churches in Blackfoot

“Fascinating discussion. What are the pros and cons? However, the next question can often be this is my opinion, not that I've studied it. Can often be, but which country are you actually loyal to? If push came to shove, which country would you be loyal to? And here is my point. As followers of Jesus, when push comes to shove, our first loyalty is to the kingdom of God. Amen. Not to America, not to Canada or Mexico, not even to Scandinavia, although I've been told that's the second happiest place on earth next to Disney World. Kingdom of God is our first priority, our first loyalty.”

“The gospel clarifies how we understand our suffering, our discipline, and purpose. God's discipline is for our good. Jesus endured the sin of the world for our benefit. This was the joy set before him. He endured all things for us. Jesus weeped in the garden that we might rejoice today. Jesus died in our sin. He took the wrath that we deserve that we might live in righteousness. There is not one ounce of wrath for God's children.”

“Think of Caesar. Who was Caesar when Peter was writing this letter? Who was going to cut off cut off Peter's head, he cut off Paul's head. Who was going to to crucify Peter upside down? It was Nero. He was such a wonderful man that when he when when Rome part of Rome burned, he blamed the Christians. They were easy. And because he blamed the Christians, do you know what he used to light up his courtyard during parties for a while? Christians on fire. Nero was not a nice man and yet what did Peter say? He said, honor the emperor. Fear god, him first, honor the emperor. He's not god, but we respect him anyway.”

“``As followers of Jesus, our lives should look completely different from the culture we live in. Not because we're better or so that Jesus will accept us. No. We should look different because we are no longer who we were, but rather we are now people belonging to god's kingdom with a new identity and therefore should live that new identity This includes praying for, submitting to, and honoring those in governmental authority even when their behavior and beliefs are not of god's kingdom. In this way, they have the opportunity to also become a new creation in Christ.”

“None of us deserve it. If any of you think you are good enough that you could get into heaven and be in relationship with god on your own merits, you are the only one who believes that because the rest of us, somebody knows you well enough to say, holy cow, you no. Not a chance. None of us are good enough to get in on our own merits. Jesus gave us freedom in Christ. He gave us forgiveness. He washed us in the blood of Christ. We are set free, and we are in relationship with God because of all that Jesus did for us. And so God says, now, go and do likewise. That's the kind of love, honor, and respect we are called to give everyone.”

“``He'll take you to the most difficult of places at times in this thing called faith, this adventure of faith that you will rise up and show your colors, your colors that the Holy Spirit has painted you and colored you, your colors, not your fleshly colors, that you will still call on Jesus when your knees are raw from praying and wondering, is he ever gonna come through? Oh, he's gonna come through because he came through right here. He says, how much bread do you have? They came back and said, this isn't much bread. This is how much fish. I didn't ask you how much fish. Jesus didn't say that. I just wonder how much bread you got. But since you got the fish, we'll break that up too. Jesus takes us. He gives thanks. He breaks us. And what's the last part? He gay he gives us to this world.”

“So here's Jesus. It says, without a that that he had compassion on them, and here's why. There's something said about sheep without a shepherd. It says, what happens is namely, the shepherd says this, the sheep will settle for less. He says they're known to drink from dirty, stagnant puddles right in front of them rather than seeking clean water and just a short distance away. Says they'll drink from there. We're not gonna let them drink from that. The guy says, we're not gonna let them drink from these bad puddles. And, no, don't let them do it. And the presence of a shepherd ensures they receive proper nourishment and do not consume things that will harm them.”

“You're a greater gift than than the world tells you that you are. You're a greater gift than the flesh tells you that you are, and you're a greater gift than the devil tells you that you are. And then you say, and then the Holy Spirit comes around, and he's working me over in areas I need to grow in. That's right. Well, man, it feels a lot better to be over here with the world, the flesh, and the devil. Come on, somebody. You guys with me on this? Rise up and show your colors. We're gonna be this way for Jesus.”

“What does he do? He he allows the Holy Spirit to work with us, and he walks with us, and he he's with us, and he's whispers to us. And the Holy Spirit's our referee. Right? He's blowing the whistle when we get too out of bounds. He get close to the bounds. Beep. You better get back over. Beep beep, man. He better you know, he keeps us in our bounds. Jesus takes us too, and when he gives thanks, which he did on the cross, Lord, forgive them. These people, they don't know what they're doing. What does he do? He breaks us at times. He breaks us so he can do something with us.”

“The young man was stunned at this command and went away grieving. The most common interpretations of this are that Jesus was pointing out where the young man's trust truly lied, not in God, but in his riches. And those interpretations are true and good, but they always stop before getting to the why. Why was the young man stunned? Why did he go away grieving? What was he grieving? His possessions or his beliefs about what they represented? Jesus didn't just say that he had to give away his possessions. He was saying that his possessions did not amount to the love and treasure that he would find in heaven. They were not worth what the young man thought they were. What he had lived his entire life trying to get. They weren't worth it. He was stunned because he had lived his entire life following the commandments and building up his riches in the world. And Jesus said, that is not worth what I am offering you. The story is not just about giving up your old life and your preconceived notions. It's about discovering that the parts of identity not founded in Christ are simply worthless. Not burdens keeping you away, but the things that prevent you from finding true value in God and in love.”