03 June 2018
Two-Minute Features | 10 June 2018

Church Members Are to be Sober-Minded (TMF:905)

Friday, June 08, 2018
Peace to Live By: Church Members Are to be Sober-Minded (TMF:905) - Daniel Litton
(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       So, Paul says here, as a church collectively, that we are not to “get drunk with wine.” Now, in part that statement may be literal, as he could be referring to a Love Feast gone astray (that is, when the early churches gathered together for communion, they would share a common meal, and some churches still do this today). But also, he is referring to the church members being sober-minded. That means we have control of our thoughts and our emotions, which in turn means we are in control of our speech and behavior. We have to be sober-minded if we are going to be “filled with the Spirit.” We should not be bogged down with worry, fear, anxiety, envy, strife, jealously toward one another, and things like these. On Sunday mornings, we gather together as members of Christ’s body to worship God and to hear a word from God, a message delivered by one of God’s teachers.

The Spirit Works to Keep Harmony at Church (TMF:904)

Thursday, June 07, 2018
Peace to Live By: The Spirit Works to Keep Harmony at Church (TMF:904) - Daniel Litton
(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       The Holy Spirit, while he gifts his church, also works to keep harmony among us as individual members. I first want us to consider a text in Ephesians chapter 5, starting in verse 18, where the Apostle Paul talks about how the church members should act toward each other. We read: “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:18-21, ESV). So, Paul says here, as a church collectively, that we are not to “get drunk with wine.” Now, in part that statement may be literal, as he could be referring to a Love Feast gone astray (that is, when the early churches gathered together for communion, they would share a common meal, and some churches still do this today).

Verbalize to God What You Want; He's Not a Killjoy (TMF:903)

Wednesday, June 06, 2018
Peace to Live By: Verbalize to God What You Want; He's Not a Killjoy (TMF:903) - Daniel Litton
(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       Jesus said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him” (7-11, ESV). We ask with our mouths. We should ask God what we want because we believe that God will give it to us. And Jesus so clearly points out that God is not a killjoy; he is not eager and wanting to let us down. Jesus showed us that if even an “evil” human person can give good things to his child, then God surely can and will give good things to those who ask him. But, we have to believe that he will. Often we ask, but we don’t really believe, and therefore we don’t receive.

Don't be Afraid Bad Will Happen in the Future (TMF:902)

Tuesday, June 05, 2018
Peace to Live By: Don't be Afraid Bad Will Happen in the Future (TMF:902) - Daniel Litton
(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       Please don’t be fearful of the future. Don’t be afraid that bad things are going to happen. Be thinking positive. Look at it this way. Even if you didn’t get what you hoped for later in time, you did yourself a favor by thinking positively. It made you feel good. But, I believe that you will obtain what you want if you’ll believe, and if you’ll trust God that he is on your side, and wants to give you good things. Please consider a passage with me in Matthew chapter 7. Let’s go to verse 7. Jesus said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him” (7-11, ESV).

Speaking Negatively Shows Unbelief (TMF:901)

Monday, June 04, 2018
Peace to Live By: Speaking Negatively Shows Unbelief (TMF:901) - Daniel Litton
(Tap or right-click link to download two-minute feature)

       We are supposed to be using our mouth for good, saying helpful, encouraging, and positive things, both to ourselves when we are alone and to others when we are with people. Our words will either bring forth righteousness or bring forth condemnation for ourselves. Frequently those who speak negativity in their lives are those who are full of unbelief in their minds. Some people just don’t think that good will happen for them in the future. They just don’t believe that God is on their side. They may say, “I can’t hope for good things because what if something bad happens?” And by that statement they stand condemned because they show that they don’t believe. Or, a person might take note of something bad that happened to someone else they know, and they’ll say, “See, I can’t hope for good. Look at what happened to this person.” But we should not take this or that bad situation and act like, just because bad can happen, that we must then always be afraid and not hope for anything. Please don’t be fearful of the future. Don’t be afraid that bad things are going to happen. Be thinking positive.