7Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. 9Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
Let me know your thoughts
1. How can we be patient until the Lords coming? What will that look like?
2. Why do we grumble against eachother?
3. Why is that wrong?
4. What does it mean when it says we will be judged?
Monday, October 25, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
James 4:13-17 - Friday October 22nd
James 4: 13 - 17
13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
Ben's Comments:
-For me this verse came at a very good time.. It is pretty cool how the word of God can comfort and can help me know how to think and how to live.. Sometimes God brings verse into your mind and lets you read something you need to hear. For me that was this verse. Keep on doing the DDI, keep getting into the Bible and God can speak to you through it.
- A lot of times we can plan for the future but we don't even know what tomorrow will bring.
- What we do and how we plan our life matters.
- If we are so busy planning what we are going to do then we can miss what God really wants for us.
- Say you decide that you are going to spend all weekend playing video games - but you have a friend that is going through a hard time and just needs a friend to hang out with.. you could be missing out on an opportunity.
What do you think?
1. Why do we try to plan our lives?
2. Why is it so hard to say, "God I want to do whatever you want me to do?"
3. What do you think verse 17 means?
13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
Ben's Comments:
-For me this verse came at a very good time.. It is pretty cool how the word of God can comfort and can help me know how to think and how to live.. Sometimes God brings verse into your mind and lets you read something you need to hear. For me that was this verse. Keep on doing the DDI, keep getting into the Bible and God can speak to you through it.
- A lot of times we can plan for the future but we don't even know what tomorrow will bring.
- What we do and how we plan our life matters.
- If we are so busy planning what we are going to do then we can miss what God really wants for us.
- Say you decide that you are going to spend all weekend playing video games - but you have a friend that is going through a hard time and just needs a friend to hang out with.. you could be missing out on an opportunity.
What do you think?
1. Why do we try to plan our lives?
2. Why is it so hard to say, "God I want to do whatever you want me to do?"
3. What do you think verse 17 means?
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
James 4:7-10 - Wednesday DDI
James 4:7-10
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Ben's Comments:
- We have to submit ourselves to God... Resist the devil and then he will flee from us!
- That is a crazy thought - that the devil will flee from us.
- If we come near to God then we give him access to come near to us.
- Kind of seems like gloomy passage... telling us to grieve, mourn, and wail.
- It ends with a command and a promise and a command.
-If we humble ourselves before God and he will lift you up.
Tell me what you Think:
1. How would you submit to God?
2. What do we have to do for the devil to flee from us.
3. How would you "humble yourselves before God"
4. How will God "lift us up?" What does that mean?
Looking forward to Tonight!
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Ben's Comments:
- We have to submit ourselves to God... Resist the devil and then he will flee from us!
- That is a crazy thought - that the devil will flee from us.
- If we come near to God then we give him access to come near to us.
- Kind of seems like gloomy passage... telling us to grieve, mourn, and wail.
- It ends with a command and a promise and a command.
-If we humble ourselves before God and he will lift you up.
Tell me what you Think:
1. How would you submit to God?
2. What do we have to do for the devil to flee from us.
3. How would you "humble yourselves before God"
4. How will God "lift us up?" What does that mean?
Looking forward to Tonight!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
James 4:4-6 - Tuesday October 19th
James 4:4-6
4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?[a] 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."[b]
Ben's Comments:
- Friendship with the world = hatred toward God.
- Friend of the world = enemy of God.
- God has given us grace - something that we don't deserve.
- He longs to spend time with us - even envies for us.
What do you think?
1. What would it look like to be friends with the world?
2. Why are we not able to go be friends of the world and friends of God?
3. Why is God jealous for us?
4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?[a] 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."[b]
Ben's Comments:
- Friendship with the world = hatred toward God.
- Friend of the world = enemy of God.
- God has given us grace - something that we don't deserve.
- He longs to spend time with us - even envies for us.
What do you think?
1. What would it look like to be friends with the world?
2. Why are we not able to go be friends of the world and friends of God?
3. Why is God jealous for us?
Monday, October 18, 2010
James 4:1-3
Well I am back from my Brothers Wedding.. Sorry for the severe lack of DDI for the past 4 days... We are gonna be starting back up again here in James 4! Let me know what you think!
James 4:1-3
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Ben's Comments:
-The people that James was writing to were taking each other to court - fighting about stupid things.
- You have no because you do not ask God... (does this mean we can ask for whatever we want?)
- When we ask we ask with wrong motives...
Tell me your Thoughts:
1. What are the things you fight about?
2. Will we get whatever we ask from God?
3. What does it mean to "ask with wrong motives?"
Let me know your thoughts!
James 4:1-3
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Ben's Comments:
-The people that James was writing to were taking each other to court - fighting about stupid things.
- You have no because you do not ask God... (does this mean we can ask for whatever we want?)
- When we ask we ask with wrong motives...
Tell me your Thoughts:
1. What are the things you fight about?
2. Will we get whatever we ask from God?
3. What does it mean to "ask with wrong motives?"
Let me know your thoughts!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
James 2:14-17
James 2:14-17
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
My Thoughts:
- He is asking the question is it enough just to believe in God? Or do yo have to do something?
- Faith without action is dead..
- It is like seeing a bully walking toward a nerd at school. You say to that kid - "hey hope you don't get beat up by this bully and walk away.."
Your Thoughts:
1. Can you have faith and no action? Why?
2. Can you have action and no faith? Why?
3. Faith without action is dead - what does this mean to you?
14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
My Thoughts:
- He is asking the question is it enough just to believe in God? Or do yo have to do something?
- Faith without action is dead..
- It is like seeing a bully walking toward a nerd at school. You say to that kid - "hey hope you don't get beat up by this bully and walk away.."
Your Thoughts:
1. Can you have faith and no action? Why?
2. Can you have action and no faith? Why?
3. Faith without action is dead - what does this mean to you?
Friday, October 8, 2010
James 2:8-11
James 2:8-11
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"[a] you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,"[b] also said, "Do not murder."[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
My Thoughts:
- Doing right = loving your neighbor as yourself.
- Favoritism = Breaking the law.
- If you break 1 part of the law you have broken the law... Basically everyone is a sinner - if you break a small part of the law you are still a sinner.
What do you think?
1. How can you love your neighbor as yourself?
2. Why would it say to love your neighbor as much as yourself? How is that a good example?
3. Showing favoritism isn't as bad as say murder... but it is still a sin. Do you think this is true? Why?
Let me hear your thoughts!
Also Check out the Duck Tape Challenge Tab at the top of the page!
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself,"[a] you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, "Do not commit adultery,"[b] also said, "Do not murder."[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
My Thoughts:
- Doing right = loving your neighbor as yourself.
- Favoritism = Breaking the law.
- If you break 1 part of the law you have broken the law... Basically everyone is a sinner - if you break a small part of the law you are still a sinner.
What do you think?
1. How can you love your neighbor as yourself?
2. Why would it say to love your neighbor as much as yourself? How is that a good example?
3. Showing favoritism isn't as bad as say murder... but it is still a sin. Do you think this is true? Why?
Let me hear your thoughts!
Also Check out the Duck Tape Challenge Tab at the top of the page!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Thursday DDI
James 2: 1-4
1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
My Thoughts:
- Verse 1 : Because we are follower of Christ we are not to show favoritism.
- I think that this is something that we do a lot - think about school - the lunch room - in class.
- When we show favoritism - we make ourselves judge.. this is not out job..
What do you think?
1. Do you think you show favoritism to a kid who has more money or better things?
2. How do you see people putting down people that are poor?
3. What is wrong with showing favoritism?
4. Why do we make lousy judges? (verse 4)
1My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. 2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," 4have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
My Thoughts:
- Verse 1 : Because we are follower of Christ we are not to show favoritism.
- I think that this is something that we do a lot - think about school - the lunch room - in class.
- When we show favoritism - we make ourselves judge.. this is not out job..
What do you think?
1. Do you think you show favoritism to a kid who has more money or better things?
2. How do you see people putting down people that are poor?
3. What is wrong with showing favoritism?
4. Why do we make lousy judges? (verse 4)
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Super Fun NIght Tonight
Hey,
To everyone that was at ACCESS... wow what a blast..
Ladies good job on the Minute to win it!
Guys way to come back on the Duck Tape Challenge!
You managed to hold onto your lead for the second week! Good Job!
Ladies you will have to get them back next week!
Both the guys and the girls attempted to tape 4 people up.... Both teams before the 15 minutes was over had 1 person down and then used that tape to secure the other people. Girls had one end up staying for the full 5 minutes - Guys had 2 Make it the whole 5 minutes! Pretty crazy!
Good Work! Pictures from tonight will be coming soon.
Stay cool and keep checking out the DDI.
Have a great day!
To everyone that was at ACCESS... wow what a blast..
Ladies good job on the Minute to win it!
Guys way to come back on the Duck Tape Challenge!
You managed to hold onto your lead for the second week! Good Job!
Ladies you will have to get them back next week!
Both the guys and the girls attempted to tape 4 people up.... Both teams before the 15 minutes was over had 1 person down and then used that tape to secure the other people. Girls had one end up staying for the full 5 minutes - Guys had 2 Make it the whole 5 minutes! Pretty crazy!
Good Work! Pictures from tonight will be coming soon.
Stay cool and keep checking out the DDI.
Have a great day!
Wednesday DDI
1 Corinthians 10:13
13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
My Thoughts:
- We are not alone - everyone is experiencing temptation like I am.
- God is Faithful
- We won't be tempted more than we can take.
- I like how it says "but when you are tempted" Not.. "if" "but when" - you will be tempted.
- God provides a way out
Your Thoughts:
1. Do you think that God is faithful when you are being tempted?
2. How does the Holy Spirit help us stand up under temptation or provide a way out?
3. What happens if we do not pay attention to the way out or the Holy Spirit?
See you guys tonight!
13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
My Thoughts:
- We are not alone - everyone is experiencing temptation like I am.
- God is Faithful
- We won't be tempted more than we can take.
- I like how it says "but when you are tempted" Not.. "if" "but when" - you will be tempted.
- God provides a way out
Your Thoughts:
1. Do you think that God is faithful when you are being tempted?
2. How does the Holy Spirit help us stand up under temptation or provide a way out?
3. What happens if we do not pay attention to the way out or the Holy Spirit?
See you guys tonight!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Tuesday - D to the D to the I
James 1:13-15
13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Ben's Thoughts:
- Verse 13 he says when tempted - he doesn't say if tempted... He is saying you WILL be tempted.
- God does not tempt us.. a lot of times we may think that he does...
- We tempt ourselves - by our own "evil desire"
- We have an evil desire which if acted on leads to sin which leads to death.
Your Thoughts:
1. How often do you think you are tempted?
2. Why are you tempted?
3. What is the difference between God tempting us and God testing our faith?
4. If you are tempted to do something wrong - is that sin?
Let me know what you think!
ACCESS in 1 day 4 hours and 3 minutes
13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Ben's Thoughts:
- Verse 13 he says when tempted - he doesn't say if tempted... He is saying you WILL be tempted.
- God does not tempt us.. a lot of times we may think that he does...
- We tempt ourselves - by our own "evil desire"
- We have an evil desire which if acted on leads to sin which leads to death.
Your Thoughts:
1. How often do you think you are tempted?
2. Why are you tempted?
3. What is the difference between God tempting us and God testing our faith?
4. If you are tempted to do something wrong - is that sin?
Let me know what you think!
ACCESS in 1 day 4 hours and 3 minutes
Monday, October 4, 2010
MONDAY!!!!! WAHOOOO
James 1:26-27
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Ben's Comments:
-James is one of those guys who doesn't beat around the bush.. he says what needs to be said.
- Verse 26 - pretty strong words!
- Very good way to put it - "polluted by the world"
Tell me what you think:
1. What would you have to do to "keep a tight rein on your tongue?" What does this mean?
2. Do you know any widow or orphans?
3. Do you think there are people in your school that are similar to the "widows and orphans"
4. What do you think James means when he says being polluted by the world?
Let me hear your thoughts!
ACCESS in 2 Days!!!!!!
26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Ben's Comments:
-James is one of those guys who doesn't beat around the bush.. he says what needs to be said.
- Verse 26 - pretty strong words!
- Very good way to put it - "polluted by the world"
Tell me what you think:
1. What would you have to do to "keep a tight rein on your tongue?" What does this mean?
2. Do you know any widow or orphans?
3. Do you think there are people in your school that are similar to the "widows and orphans"
4. What do you think James means when he says being polluted by the world?
Let me hear your thoughts!
ACCESS in 2 Days!!!!!!
Friday, October 1, 2010
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