Church Of The Lost Sheep

Suffering for Doing Good "Finally, all of you, be like-minded , be sympathetic , love one another, be compassionate and humble . Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing , because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing ." 1 Peter 3:8-9 [This is the  31st  message of this series] This lesson is intended for mature believers (or adulting believers). For a more orderly study, please go through all the previous messages first, if you haven't yet. The Apostle Peter gave a rundown on how to live a blessed life. All of us wants a life of blessing. And preachers have often equated God's blessing with wealth and health. It does, but that is not the essence of it and it involves much more than that. It involves  things that aren't about earthly riches, possessions, fleeting happiness, earthly fame, influence or power.  Blessing God's blessing is more about the things that are unseen and thi

"But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence in God when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect ." 1 Peter 3:15 [This is the 7th lesson of this  series ] Everything about the new creation in Christ is summed up in one word -- love. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Loved God loved us regardless of who we are and what we have done. He loved us first. And gave us the power and the opportunity to love Him back in return, and love others including the most unlovable person in the room with us -- ourselves. Grace This love is called grace. We did not earn it. We do not deserve it. It is a gift. Why? So we do not go overboard , take credit or think we have no need of God. Oh and believe me, we need God, every minute and every second of the day. Teach Why? Because we are

  "He won’t shout or yell     or call out in the streets. He won’t break off a bent reed     or put out a dying flame, but he will make sure     that justice is done." Matthew 12:19-20 Continuing this series on joy, after having discussed God's kindness, today we will talk a little bit about His gentleness. He is Gentle Do not get me wrong, God (like we have already discussed in previous messages in this series) is love, He is kind, He is patient and He is gentle. But He also cannot be fooled. He is all that and more but like the passage above (He will not shout or yell, He will not break off a reed that is bruised or snuff out an ember that is dying out) -- Matthew quoting the old prohet Isaiah, yet He will also make sure that justice is done. He is Just He is merciful and full of race. He is long suffering. But He is no fool. He is a just God. If anyone or anything has wronged us, He will make sure that justice is done. In the same way, if we continue