Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson
2013-01
Episodes
Sunday Jan 27, 2013
Sunday Jan 20, 2013
Keep It Real
Sunday Jan 20, 2013
Sunday Jan 20, 2013
Keep it Real
Matthew 13:44-46 (Amplified Bible)
44The kingdom of heaven is like something precious buried in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field. 45Again the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a dealer in search of fine and precious pearls, 46 Who, on finding a single pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it.
Everything that is real has value and priority
Value is defined as: the worth, importance, or usefulness of something. The verb is defined as: to rate something according to its perceived worth, importance, or usefulness.
Priority is defined as: 1. The state of having most importance or urgency, 2. Somebody or something that is ranked highly in terms of importance or urgency, 3. The state of having preceded something else
PRIORITY
Matt 13: 44The kingdom of heaven is like something precious buried in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy he goes and sells all he has and buys that field
At the time Jesus spoke these parables, it was common for people to hide their money and valuables in the ground for safe keeping. There were not safes or banks. In a time of war, people would flee after hiding their valuables. When they returned, they would retrieve them.
In the parable of the talents the worthless servant hid his talent in the ground and brought it out, lest he should lose it (Matt. 25:25). No risk, no reward
There are even people who make it their life's business to search for hidden treasure, and that they get into such a state of excitement that they have been known to faint at the discovery of one single coin. When Jesus told this story, he told the kind of story that anyone would recognize in Palestine and in the east generally.
In regard to hidden treasure Jewish Rabbinic law was quite clear: What is found belong to the finder.
SIMPLICITY
The great point to this parable is the joy of the discovery that made the man willing to give up everything to make the treasure his own.
What are you willing to go “all in” to gain something greater?
Matt 12:45,Again the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a dealer in search of fine and precious pearls, 46 Who, on finding a single pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it.
Sunday Jan 13, 2013
Keep it Simple
Sunday Jan 13, 2013
Sunday Jan 13, 2013
2 Cor. 11:3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
God gave Adam and Eve simple instructions. The devil's craftiness made them feel discontented when they should have been perfectly content.
This is a very common trap, even until this day. People can be corrupted from simplicity in Christ, and become addicted to unnecessary complexity. This leads to a loss of peace, joy and forfeiture of position (Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden). Said another way, people become carnal, petty, and "flaky."
Don't go there! KEEP IT SIMPLE!
In John Chapter 15, Jesus said we are like "branches" connected to a grapevine. The natural growth pattern of vines is complex and confusing. Vines (and people) need a "vinedresser" to purge and prune the branches. This keeps the vine (and people) simple and fruitful.
Three keys to simplicity and fruitfulness:
1. Follow instructions from the Vinedresser (Jesus) and His “associates” (pastors, elders, etc)
2. Put first things first. Seek first the Kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33)
3. Do your best. Doing less will require more effort to correct mistakes.
Sunday Jan 06, 2013
Vision for 2013: Chosen Appointed Fruitful
Sunday Jan 06, 2013
Sunday Jan 06, 2013
John 15: 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.