Laws of the Cross

 1.     Death is birth into eternity

Eternity is life in another realm where flesh and blood cannot exist

Life in eternity has a different purposes than in this world.

So those who enter into eternity have to leave behind this flesh and blood in this world.

The only way to enter into the eternal life is the transformation of this body of flesh and blood.

Death is only a process of shedding flesh and blood and inheriting another that is eternal.

John 12:23-25

23  And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man will be glorified.

24  Truly, truly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.

25      The one who loves his life loses it, and the one who hates his life in this world preserves it for eternal life.

What did he mean when he said that one must hate himself?

The expression to hate something often meant to prefer less.

Jesus says that nothing should get in the way of our preferring him and the will of our Father in heaven.

Making Disciples

Introduction

It is very difficult for us, almost 2,000 years removed from Jesus’ day, to project ourselves back across the centuries of time to a culture and language so totally foreign to our mind of today.

And yet, before we can even begin to understand the magnificent and thrilling words of Jesus, that is exactly what we must do.

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20

18  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Conquering Depression

What is Depression?

There are normal ups and downs in life.

Everyone feels sad or has "the blues" from time to time.

Sadness or downswings in mood are normal reactions to life’s struggles, setbacks, and disappointments.

Depression is much more than just sadness.

If emptiness and despair have taken hold of your life and won't go away, you may have depression.

Depression makes it tough to function and enjoy life like you once did.

Just getting through the day can be overwhelming.

Some people describe depression as “living in a black hole” or having a feeling of impending doom.

What is God’s Will?

Why ask this question?

The question is a tough nut

So we seldom bother to ask this question.

But there are times in which we suddenly come up this question.

We know our way until we come to a junction and are uncertain of the next move.

Three different situations

1.      Clear situations: there are right decisions and wrong decisions

2.      Grey situation: something that's not necessarily right or wrong

3.      Difficult situations: a choice between two good things

Kingdom of God and the Parable of Ten Minas

Parable ten Minas

Luke 19.11 – 27

The story goes like this:

Jesus was going to Jerusalem and he was near to it.

The disciples and other gatherings thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

As answer to their expectation, Jesus told them that the King had to go to the emperor and his kingdom.

So he will be absent for a period time.

To explain this truth Jesus said a parable.

A certain nobleman went into a far place to meet the emperor.

His intention was to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

He wanted the emperor to appoint him as the king of the province where he lived.