Weekly Bible teaching from Pastor Jim Thomas at Holly Springs Bible Fellowship in Hornick, Iowa.
Joshua 1 – Joshua faces a daunting and overwhelming future after the death of Moses. He sets his focus on obeying, honoring, and trusting God. Joshua approaches his future with courage, and God prospers his efforts. God will do the same for us, but it requires a determination to follow God, whatever the cost. Seek God's plan this week and not your own.
1 John 5 :9 -17 = John wants to move the Christian from doubt to certainty. He assures us that we can live this day by living life to the fullest. We can rest our heads tonight knowing – absent from this life present with God. John also reminds us that we can have confidence in our prayer life. We can come boldly into his presence and ask whatever is important to our hearts and lives.
Genesis 16 – I pray that we learn to realize that it does not depend on us to figure it out. We have to learn to wait and do God's will, God's way, in God's time. God is watching and seeing your situation. Often, His answer comes in doing the hard things, but blessing follows genuine obedience.
1 John 5:6-9 = John wants to move the Christian from doubt to certainty. He assures us that we can live this day by living life to the fullest. God's Spirit confirms my relationship with God and gives my life purpose and meaning.
1 John 5:1-5 - John wants us to have the assurance of our salvation. He also wants us to understand that genuine faith is based on belief (truth) and love, producing a life of obedience and victory. A genuine Christian continues to grow in faith and obedience,
Exodus 11, 12: The Passover reminds us that our salvation came at a significant cost. Salvation requires that we privately choose to accept Jesus as our Passover lamb. It means committing our lives to living for Him and not ourselves.
1 John 4:7-21 = John wants us to realize that genuine love originates from God. God set the example, giving us the power to love in the same way. He demands that if we call ourselves believers, we show love to those around us.
1 John 3:11-24 = John establishes clear distinctions to know if you are a child of God. Genuine believers love the right things and hate the wrong things. They are obedient and respond when God convicts their heart. Genuine Christ followers show compassion and meet needs when they are able. John challenges us to ask ourselves whether we are real or fake. They are sobering tests that require us to be honest with ourselves before God.
1 John 3:4-10 = John writes so we can know we are believers. He encourages us to look at how we view sin and our beliefs and practices regarding sin in our lives. A believer's life is marked by righteousness. As a believer, he seeks to follow the "righteous one". If we are genuinely born of God, our lives will resemble Christ because we will take on the characteristics of our father who adopted us into his family.
1 John 3:1-3 = John challenges us to live as Children of God. We are His children now, and our righteous and loving Father loves us and desires only the best for His Children. Let us live in the hope and confidence of a Father who loves and cares for us.
1 John 2:20-29 = John challenges us to stay faithful and acknowledge the anointing that we possess. Allow God to use you this week for His purposes and plans. I pray that we will experience the voice and leading of God this week. If God should come this week or call you home into His presence, may you stand confident that your life has been about stuff that matters.
1 John 2:18,19 – Are you ready for the Lord's coming? Satan will do everything in his ability to sidetrack you this week. We need to remain faithful and patient, focusing on Jesus and not those who are anti-Jesus.
1 John 2:15-17 – What do you love? John challenges us to examine our real love. We cannot love the world's system and claim to love God. They are mutually exclusive. Invest your life and legacy in things with eternal value instead of those that will pass away one day.
This is a short summary of our recent Mission Trip to Ethnos 360 Training Center in Roach, Missouri, from February 9 to 14, 2025.
1 John 2:3-8 May you go into this week with the assurance of your relationship with our heavenly father. May you walk in Fellowship and allow Him to work through you in what He desires to accomplish this week. It is my prayer that people wold see Jesus in our lives this week.
1 John 2:1,2 = The sacrifice of Jesus covers my sin. It allows me to become a Child of God. As His child, my focus becomes pleasing my heavenly Father in all I say or do. I do not serve God to be accepted; I serve God because I am accepted. Serve Him with your whole heart this week.
1 John 1:8-10 = To genuinely walk with God, we must be honest about our sins and what hinders our growth as a believer. May we confess and deal with the things that are hurting that Fellowship.
1 John 1:5-7 = Fellowship is essential to our relationship with Christ. We must make sure that we are walking in the light that God provides through His Word and others. As we deal with our own lives, we are better equipped to be light in a very dark world.
1 John 1:1- 4 = Genuine Christianity is sourced in a personal relationship with a living Christ. It involves Fellowship with God and His people. It can and will produce a mature joy in your life in this world.
Philippians 3:12-14 - Paul reminds us that the focus of this life is to be in a forward direction. We cannot change the Past, but we can learn from it and use it to help us focus as we go forward. Our ultimate goal is allowing Christ to be seen in us so that the world may know Him as their Lord and Savior.
The Messiah - Jesus came to this earth to save us. It was the purpose of His birth; He was born to die. He made an “all-in” commitment that resulted in His death on the cross. He offers Salvation to anyone who commits to following Him. I pray that you have accepted that gift. For those of us who have – let's focus our energy on sharing Christ with a world that desperately needs Jesus.
Jesus comes to deal with messy people. All of these people teach us something about Jesus. The shepherds teach us to be willing to follow. The Woman at the Well reminds us to focus on the future, not the past. The publicans and tax collectors challenge us to meet people where they are. The religious leaders challenge us to be bold when dealing with truth. The disciples remind us that God will never give up on us.
Matthew 1 – Matthew's genealogy of Jesus proves that God is in control and keeps His promises. God redeems the unredeemable and gives people with a messy past grace, mercy, hope, and a future. No one is beyond the love of God. He will use anyone who comes to Him. The Messiah came to save sinners and give them a new purpose.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Paul writes to help these people develop a deep inner strength that helps in times of difficulty. We must possess a heart of gratitude. Prayer needs to be as natural as breathing. Every day, we must rejoice in who God is and what He has done in our lives. These three elements are essential to Christian growth.
Romans 13 / Titus 3 We are incredibly privileged to live in a democracy where we are allowed a voice in our Government. To represent our heavenly citizenship well, we must actively pray and support our Government in embracing Biblical values. We must teach our children honor and respect for authority by modeling a life that practices honor.
Jeremiah 29:7 - Jesus was incredibly political, but He focused on the Kingdom of Heaven and not the cities of men. God calls us to be ambassadors of His Kingdom in the world. His Kingdom is one of unity, love, and obedience to God. Represent Jesus well during this election. Vote this week to help God's Kingdom and your country prosper.
Jimmy Cockburn - Resurrection of Christ
1 Peter 5:12-14 – Peter focuses on 3 things essential to a life of peace when faced with hardship and persecution. He reminds us to surround ourselves with a community of believers. Peter wants us to treasure the grace that God has shown us. He challenges us to love and focus on the needs of others. As you leave this morning, I pray that you experience the peace of God this week.
1 Peter 5:8-11 – Peter commands us to be self-controlled and alert. He does not want us to focus on the noise and fear that Satan tries to create in our lives. Peter wants us to stop fighting against God's plan and respond appropriately to our difficulties.
1 Peter 5:5,6 – Peter reminds us that a servant's heart is one of the keys to enduring difficult times. Gratitude guides our focus and is essential for our mental well-being. Humility builds a foundation to see difficult situations from a proper perspective. He challenges everyone to clothe themselves in humility and serve someone this week. Go and do that this week.
Jimmy Cockburn - 1 Peter 5a - 2024 0922
1 Peter 4:12-19 = Don't be surprised when difficulty or testing comes. It is an opportunity to draw closer to the heart of God, and He is suffering with you. It is easy to want to retaliate when wronged, but our response should reflect the character of Christ and glorify Him. Let's trust Him with everything this week.
1 Peter 4:7-11 = Peter challenges people to implement 6 attitudes reflecting Christ. A balanced life does not react; it is spirit-controlled and involves serving and loving others. The life that Peter describes honors & glorifies God. It is a life that allows people to see God in us. I pray that we each live that type of life this week.
1 Peter 4:1-6 = Peter reminds us that this world is not home. We are visitors in a foreign country. Our job is to live for God in such a way that people see a difference. Difficulty, hardship, and persecution is to be expected.
1 Peter 3:18-22 = Peter reminds us that death does not win. The resurrection of Jesus Christ demonstrates and guarantees a future with Christ for believers. We can live because we are also made alive in the Spirit of God
1 Peter 3:13-17 = Peter challenges us to reshape our hearts to focus on Christ rather than our fears, concerns, and circumstances. As you have opportunity, share with others the hope that you have Christ. When people see our walk, may it be filled with a gentle firmness that our lives are centered and sourced in something other than the events of this world.
1 Peter 3:8-12 – Peter challenges us to be honest and look at our hearts. God can help us develop compassion, love, sympathy, and humility. May each of us bring our lives into harmony with God's plan. Let us pursue peace this week while living in a hostile world.
John 21 = We need to learn that we are not walking this journey alone. Jesus is on the shore, watching and desiring for us to look to Him. He is patient, loving, and forgiving. He offers hope when you see hopelessness. He focuses on your future, not your failure. Follow Him with your whole heart.
1 Peter 03:7 – Peter challenges husbands to know and honor their wives. God commands us to treat them as valuable and vital in our spiritual growth. Failure to obey this command comes at a high price in the life of a Christian Husband. God refuses to hear the prayers of a husband who does not honor his wife.
1 Peter 03:1-6 – Peter explains what a woman of faith and character looks like. They possess a submissive heart to Christ. They focus more on their inward character than outward beauty. These are characteristics we all need to implement in our lives this week.
2nd Peter 1:8, 9 = Growth is essential to the Christian life. Peter ends the book with this simple admonition – But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
2nd Peter 1:6,7 = As we become aware of God at work in our lives, we focus on God around us. An awareness of God allows us to love and serve the people God puts in our lives. Serving people also draws us closer to loving and serving God. Doing the things Peter encourages us to do is how we grow in the Christian life. Go and grow this week.
2nd Peter 1:6b – Perseverance is mandatory in the Christian life. Everyone will be tested because God is interested in developing our character. He has a purpose and a plan for your life. Your challenge will be never to quit but to finish strong regardless of life's circumstances. Serve Him this week with your whole heart.
2nd Peter 1:6a – You will be controlled this week - by God's spirit or the world's. Self-control is deciding you will choose God's ways over your own. It is the power to allow God to be in control. Self-control is mandatory for Christian growth. It is my prayer that we will each lead a spirit-directed life this week.
2nd Peter 1:5 – Faith, Virtue, and Goodness are the first steps to genuine Christian growth. Peter reminds us that the journey begins with our faith (a personal relationship with Christ). Our next step is determining that we want to pursue the life of excellence that God wants for us. A life of knowing what God wants for us is established and sourced in the Word of God. As we discern and apply God's plan, we can begin to be the people God designed for us to be.
2 Peter 01:3-5a—Diligence—Peter explains that Christian growth requires effort. We have to be diligent if we intend to grow. How much effort are you putting into your growth? Real Christian growth does not happen without diligence.