Focusing on Christ

Bob RoaneBible Study, Loving and Trusting God, Wise living

Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight before me….Teach me your way, Lord….Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. (Psalm 5:8, 27:11, 31:3) Note: When I talk about focus on Jesus, I mean focusing on God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. …

Listening to God

Bob RoaneBible Study, Loving and Trusting God, Wise living

Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes …

Teaching and Preaching the Bible (Part 5)

Bob RoaneBible Study, Service, Teaching

I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word. (Psalm 119:42) Preparing People for Eternity Helmut Thielicke (1908-1986) was a German pastor who served during World War II. In Hilter’s last days, Allied bombs rained down on Stuttgart. Thielicke preached sermons on the Lord’s Prayer in these times of uncertainty and death. His ministry seemed to …

Teaching and Preaching the Bible (Part 4)

Bob RoaneBible Study, Service, Teaching

My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. (Psalm 119:81) Advice from Martin Luther Martin Luther (1483-1546), the German Reformer, reminds us that it’s not necessary for us to express all our thoughts in one sermon or lesson. He gives us three principles: 1. make a good introduction and don’t spend …

Teaching and Preaching the Bible (Part 3)

Bob RoaneBible Study, Service, Teaching

Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. (Psalm 119:37) God Used a “Dead in the Water” Sermon James Smith approached Pastor Hugh Litchfield and asked, “Do you remember me?” James explained that 10 years earlier he had visited the church where Litchfield was serving. James was facing jail time over tax violations, that …

Teaching and Preaching the Bible (Part 2)

Bob RoaneBible Study, Service, Teaching

Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word. (Psalm 119:17) Not Just Pointing at People Pastor David Roseberry went to see a doctor for pain in his shoulder. It hurt whenever he moved it. The doctor diagnosed it as “frozen shoulder” and said it comes with age and over-use. The doctor prescribed physical therapy …

Teaching and Preaching the Bible (Part 1)

Bob RoaneBible Study, Service, Teaching

How can a person stay on the path of purity? By living according to the Lord’s word. (Psalm 119:9) A God-blessed Message Stuart Briscoe, author and long-time pastor tells this story: In the 1990s, I traveled to Poland for itinerant ministry while Poland was occupied by Russia (USSR). One winter day my sponsors drove me in the dead of night …

Righteous and Pure in Christ

Bob RoaneBible Study, Counseling, Wise living

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6 NLT) This builds on Christ and GIGO …

Jesus’ Noble Ones

Bob RoaneBible Study, Counseling, Wise living

The Lord says of His holy people: They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight….We have happy memories of godly people, but the name of a wicked person rots away. (Psalm 16:3; Proverbs 10:7) This builds on Christ and GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) Royal People, Royal Behavior Dr. Sinclair Ferguson, the Scottish theologian, told a story …

Christ and GIGO (garbage in, garbage out)

Bob RoaneBible Study, Counseling, Wise living

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it….A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say and do flows from what is in your heart. (Proverbs 4:23; Luke 6:45) Input and Output I took …