Posts with the tag “following”
Taking Up Your Cross
by Curt Dodd on March 24th, 2024
And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. - Luke 14:27One of the most famous statements Jesus ever made was this: “You must take up that cross, deny yourself, and follow me.” I want you to understand what He is saying when He makes this statement. He’s saying to us, His followers, “I want you to die every day to what you want and follow me.” In other words, you ne... Read More
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Born Again
by Curt Dodd on March 8th, 2024
Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5) This conversation in John Chapter 3 is between Jesus and a Jewish Sanhedrin member, Nicodemus, who came to Jesus during the evening hours. Jesus quickly directs the discussion to conversion. He tells Nicodemus that he must have a conversion experience likened unto ... Read More
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Be Ready for the End
by Curt Dodd on January 11th, 2024
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9) Whether we admit it or not, the end times are not very far away. Jesus is coming back soon and we need to be prepared. We might not be here when the events of the end times arrive. This is the pathway that will unfold during the Great Tribu... Read More
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The Center of God’s Will
by Curt Dodd on December 20th, 2023
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23) You have probably heard this verse many times before. Unfortunately, when we read this verse, we focus only on the phrase “the gift of God is eternal life,” and overlook the phrase “the wages of sin is death.” Because of sin, death comes. We live in a fallen world; we are fallen men a... Read More
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The Reality of Persecution
by Curt Dodd on December 10th, 2023
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. – John 16:33In the past year, 360 million Christians (1 in 7 believers around the world) suffered significant persecution for their faith. I don't know if you have ever been persecuted for your faith or overlooked for a raise or promotion because of your f... Read More
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Why Are You Following?
by Curt Dodd on November 28th, 2023
When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. (Matthew 8:1) Why are you really following Jesus? After the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus amassed a huge crowd. This huge crowd was made up of individuals who were following Christ for different reasons: 1. Some followed out of interest and curiosity. They just showed up because everyone was headed that way, and they were inte... Read More
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Setups for Failure
by Curt Dodd on November 15th, 2023
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” (John 13:36-38) As followers of Jesus, we are not excluded from experiencing failure... Read More
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Show God’s Grace
by Curt Dodd on November 1st, 2023
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5) The very heartbeat of the Church needs to be grace. Under grace, we extend love regardless of who people are, where they are on their journey, and what is happening in their life right now. We just extend God'... Read More
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God Still Heals
by Curt Dodd on September 17th, 2023
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26Years ago, we discovered that my wife had a tumor in her back. Once she was able to get an MRI, the doctors were able to see that the tumor was the size of a grapefruit. That was on a Friday, and we scheduled a biopsy for the following Monday.After we found out on Friday about my ... Read More
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Look to Christ
by Curt Dodd on August 11th, 2023
The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10) Have you wondered how you can know if Jesus is the true source of your fulfillment? There is a good way to determine the answer. You will know if Jesus is really fulfilling your life when things aren’t going well for you, when your circumstances are less than ideal, and you are still looking to Chris... Read More
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Pray To Receive Christ
by Curt Dodd on July 26th, 2023
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9) My grandson, Shepherd, recently gave his life to Jesus. His father, Jonathan, is the one who had trouble finding the deer in his scope when he was young. Jonathan felt in his heart that he needed to talk to his 10-year-old son about giving his life to Chri... Read More
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Do You Need To Get Up?
by Curt Dodd on July 16th, 2023
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5There are a lot of peopl... Read More
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Born Again
by Curt Dodd on June 8th, 2023
Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5) This conversation in John Chapter 3 is between Jesus and a Jewish Sanhedrin member, Nicodemus, who came to Jesus during the evening hours. Jesus quickly directs the discussion to conversion. He tells Nicodemus that he must have a conversion experience likened unto ... Read More
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Pray, Just Pray!
by Curt Dodd on May 20th, 2023
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:18-2... Read More
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Be Responsible for Your Children
by Curt Dodd on March 23rd, 2023
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25) As a parent, you are responsible for your children. That might sound like an obvious statement, but in today’s culture, it can be very tempting for parents to share the responsibility of raising their children. Some people look to the schools to help raise their children. Others... Read More
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Your Testimony and God’s Word
by Curt Dodd on February 28th, 2023
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) We have so much power available to make a difference for the Kingdom because of what Jesus has done for us. I want us to look at two specific ways we can use Christ’s power in ou... Read More
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Out of Alignment
by Curt Dodd on January 20th, 2023
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God…Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:4, 7-8) When w... Read More
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Get off the Bench
by Curt Dodd on January 19th, 2023
“So, because you are lukewarm -- neither hot nor cold -- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16)Many people have already given their life to Christ. Many Christians are suited up and trained up, but there is a problem. Many believers today need to get up. You should feel a little uncomfortable if you are not getting up. Are you a benchwarmer? You know Christ and you have been f... Read More
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Diving into God’s Word
by Curt Dodd on January 13th, 2023
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)As you pursue Jesus and grow in your relationship with Him, the enemy will use whatever he can to deceive you and steer you down the wrong path. This is why it is so important tha... Read More
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Handling Persecution
by Curt Dodd on January 12th, 2023
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)God did not promise us that the Christian life would be a walk in the park. Just because you choose to follow Jesus, doesn’t mean you will have an easy path to walk. Rather, the opposite is true. You will have to face difficulty and hardship... Read More
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The Center of God’s Will
by Curt Dodd on December 20th, 2022
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)You have probably heard this verse many times before. Unfortunately, when we read this verse, we focus only on the phrase “the gift of God is eternal life,” and overlook the phrase “the wages of sin is death.”Because of sin, death comes. We live in a fallen world; we are fallen men and women.... Read More
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Saying No to Temptation
by Curt Dodd on November 28th, 2022
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. 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 endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)I have a good friend who went on a weight loss program. He was jogging every day and watching what he ate. He had a curious habit of taking a big Snick... Read More
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Avoiding Trouble
by Curt Dodd on November 24th, 2022
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (John 14:1)Do you realize that trouble is simply part of life? You can't avoid it. It is crucial to understand that through Christ we can overcome the trouble, regardless of what it is. Jesus told us, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15:18)People will not always line up with what you believe ... Read More
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Wait in Obedience
by Curt Dodd on September 14th, 2022
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1... Read More
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Do Your Words And Your Actions Matchup?
by Curt Dodd on March 2nd, 2022
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds/ Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:... Read More
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2024
January
Building Men Over MembershipsActions and WordsPraying in God’s WillA Call to God’s ChurchFalse ProphetsJesus Intercedes for YouAre You Encouraging Others?Strengthening BelieversSalvation Is SimpleCounterfeit TeachingBe Ready for the End Jesus Understands Your PainLooking ForwardCommitting Others To ChristSharing Your StoryTaking the Time To BlessPraying for UnbelieversA Word of BlessingJesus Cares about YouThe PavementAre You Confessed Up To Date?Fighting Self-Sufficiency With PrayerBe Responsible for Your ChildrenJesus Is Standing with You The Promise of the Holy SpiritBe Aligned in PrayerI Am InnocentAligned PrayersPraying with PowerDealing with ProblemsHandling Stress
February
Come and SeeA Childlike FaithDon’t Miss OutWhy Support Israel?Praying For IsraelHow To Honor GodResisting EvilThe Lord Encourages UsJesus Is the AuthorityGod ProvidesLiving Out The Great CommissionMaking SureA Heart of RepentanceSharing Your FaithSubmitting to God’s WillSecure in Your IdentityHow Are You Filled?God Is All-SufficientJesus Is The Only WayPray, Just PrayNo Sin Is Too BigThe Purpose in PainFeed Your FaithStay in Love with JesusIt’s Only JesusRemember Who God IsGifts from the Holy SpiritThis World Is Not Your HomeBe Different
March
Admitting You Are WrongMoney Can’t Buy HappinessMy ConfidenceChanged by Christ Faith and UnderstandingDo Angels Exist?Falling at Jesus’ FeetBorn AgainThe Fullness of JesusExperiencing Christ’s FullnessThe Lord’s ProtectionPraying FriendsA Hand of BlessingBe StillYour Heavenly FatherBlessing Your ChildrenGod Is Our ProviderTime To StopSimply Follow ChristFathers Loving MothersEvery Knee Will BowWhen God Repeats HimselfThe Seven ChurchesTaking Up Your CrossMake Peace With GodGod Gives Free WillGod’s Healing PowerGo All in for ChristAbiding and RestingBelieving God’s WordWhat Hangs In The Balance Of Evangelism?