Gen. 3:1-24 GOD’S GRACE IN THE FALL Intro: Ill. The Creation and the fall of man. In that fall, the entire human race was plunged into darkness, sin and death. In that terrible instant when man sinned against God, man died and became spiritually separated from Almighty God. Man also became helpless in his ability to get back in a right relationship with a God. From the moment mankind fell into sin and ruin, God has made it His business to seek fallen man and attempt to establish a relationship with him. This truth is clearly presented in the story of the fall of Adam and the immediate aftermath. As God gives liberty this afternoon, I would like to preach on the thought, God’s Grace In The Fall. I. v. 8 HE CAME TO THEM A. Ill. Man had transgressed the commandment of God and had sinned. Now, there was great gulf between God and man – Isa. 59:2. (Ill. Apparently it was God’s custom to join Adam in the cool of the day for fellowship and communion. Now, man had sinned and God had every right to stay away, but He came anyway! That is grace! B. Ill. He is still doing that today! When the sinner’s heart is stirred and he is made aware of the great love of God. That is just the Lord walking in the cool of the day seeking fellowship! (Ill. Jesus – Luke 19:10) (Ill. God – Eph. 2:1- 9) C. It is grace and grace alone that allows Holy God to come to us! Thank God for Grace! II. v.9-10 HE CALLED THEM A. He didn’t just come to look upon their misery., He called out to Adam in an effort to reach him. B. Ill. Man is dead in sin, Eph. 2:1, until God awakens him to that fact. It is only at the call of God that the sinner can be saved – John 6:44; John 6:65. C. Again, it is pure grace that Holy God would call any one into love relationship with Himself. (Ill. The disciples – Ill. You and me!) III. v. 11 HE CONFRONTED THEM A. God challenged man on the basis of His sin. Ill. God wasn’t fishing for information, He knew what Adam and Eve had done. He was looking for a confession. What He got was accusation, Ill. V.12. (Ill. Adam’s double accusation.) B. Ill. This is what God does for the sinner. He reveals to us the sinfulness of our lives and calls upon us to repent. (Ill. John the Baptist – “Repent” Ill. Jesus – “Repent” Ill. John and Herod.) C. Ill. It is pure grace that shows the sinner the error of his lifestyle. Without His revelation, we would continue into Hell – Ill. Pro. 16:25. It may be painful to see yourself as you really are, but until you do, you will never see as need to be different! (It is grace that challenges us in our lifestyle! Thank God He doesn’t just let us go!) (Ill. The ministry of the Holy Ghost – John 16:7-11) IV. v. 12-20 HE CHASTISED THEM A. Ill. The various punishments meted out on the sinners. This too was the grace of God. Ill. He would have been within His rights to have killed them outright – Gen. 2:17. B. God’s chastening and restraining hand stands as a reminder that there is a price on sin. Imagine for a moment that God just allowed us to go on as we pleased without any checks. We would all sin our way into Hell, or into deep trouble. He chastens us to call our attention away from the pleasure of sin so that we might see the reality of sin. That it is brutal, ugly and defiling! C. Nobody likes chastisement, but it too is a product of God’s grace – Rev. 3:19; Pro. 3:11-12. V. v. 21 HE COVERED THEM A. Their sin became real when that animal died to cover their nakedness. They instantly realized that they were responsible. It was the grace of God that accepted the sacrifice of an innocent party to atone for the sins of the guilty. B. Our salvation is the same way. It is pure grace that saves the sinner., cleanses him and clothes him the righteousness of Jesus Christ – Eph. 2:8. (Ill. Our salvation is free, but it is anything but cheap! Ill. The cross and the awful death Jesus faced there for sinners. It was pure grace in action!) C. Grace is the sinner’s only hope. Pure grace and nothing they can ever do can atone for sin. It is through grace that we enter salvation. VI. v. 22-24 HE COMMANDED THEM A. Ill. The context! Ill. The implications of man being allowed access to the tree of life in a fallen state! What a horrible hell that would have been. Eternally separated from the presence and love of God. His command to cast them out was a command of compassion and grace! B. His grace is evident in our lives in the things He keeps us from. He isn’t a cosmic killjoy, He knows what is best for you and me. Therefore, some things are off limits to us as children of God. It is grace that protects us, our testimonies, and our fellowship with the Father. (Ill. Adam thought it was the worst that could happen, when all along it was the best possible solution to a terrible problem.) C. Grace is why you and I can rest assured of a home in Heaven – 2 Cor. 12:9. Conc: Thank God for grace this evening. It is evident all the way back to the Garden of Eden. It is still evident tonight! We ought to praise Him for His grace and rest in it with full assurance of faith. His grace truly is amazing!

Our yearly 21 days of prayer and Fasting continues.Passing on the TORCH OF PRAYER OF FASTING each evening to Men Fellowship Ministry.

Hebrew 10:19-25 WHAT THE FAITHFUL DO Intro: The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish converts. These people had been saved from an ancient system of bondage to a law they could not keep. But, the rituals and demands of the law were all they knew. The book of Hebrews suggests that some of these converts were considering a return to Judaism. They were having a difficult time leaving the rituals and ceremonies of their old live behind. They were clinging to their old religion and to their old methods of worship. Some of had already walked away from their commitment to Jesus, from the church, and they had gone back to their old life. They had returned to Judaism. The writer of Hebrews has spent the bulk of the book proving that Jesus, and the salvation He provides, is far superior to anything the Jews experienced under the Law. After proving that Jesus Christ and His Gospel are vastly superior to Judaism, the writer closes by challenging the Jewish believers to remain faithful to Jesus and to their faith in Him. As a part of this message, he mentions two ways that people who hear the Gospel can respond. • Verses 19-25 teach us that some receive the Gospel and are saved. These people are given some challenges they must follow to ensure the continued health and blessing of the church. • Verses 26-31 speak about those people who reject the Gospel of grace. Those who reject the Gospel face certain condemnation. The context concerns those who have abandoned their faith and gone back to their old way of life. Their abandonment of the truth demonstrates the truth that they were never truly saved to begin with. They are said to have “trodden under foot the Son of God” and “counted...the blood...and unholy thing.” This passage contains some very important challenges that we need to hear. These challenges are identified by three “let us” commands. Each of these “let us” statements tells us something we should do or avoid doing. I want to consider these “let us” commands because they teach us about What The Faithful Do. These verses give us a glimpse into what genuinely born again people do when they are a part of the local church. God has a word for us in these verses. I. v. 19-22 THE FAITHFUL DRAW NEAR The first challenge is for us to “enter in” and “draw near”. These verses tell us how it is possible to “enter in” to the presence of God, and for us to “draw near” to Him. • The writer makes a statement in verse 19 that must have sounded strange to his Jewish readers. He tells them to “enter into the holiest” with “boldness”. He also tells them that there is a “new and living way” into the presence of God. The old Jewish system was a closed system, as were most religious systems in the ancient world. Under the Jewish system no one could approach God but the High Priest, and he could only do so on the Day of Atonement, and only then with the blood of an innocent sacrifice to atone for his own sins. Man was barred from the presence of Holy God! When Jesus came and died on the cross, He made a way for all those who receive Him to enter the presence of God. When the “veil” of Christ’s flesh was broken on the cross, the way was opened to God for all who will enter. Ill. The torn veil in the Temple – Matt. 27:50-51. When Jesus, Who is our High Priest, entered the Holy of Holies with His blood, He left the way open for us to follow, John 10:9. His shed blood is our invitation to enter the presence of God, Heb. 9:22. • The word “having” is used three times in these verses. It speaks of a “present possession”. We have some precious possessions because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. - v. 19 We Have Boldness To Enter Into Salvation – The way has been opened and we are invited to come, Isa. 1:18; Rev. 22:17. If you haven’t come to Jesus, you should, and you should do it today! - v. 21 We Have A High Priest – We have a Man on the inside, praying for us and guaranteeing us that we will be accepted when we come, Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34; John 6:37. - v. 22 We Have Clean Hearts And New Lives - The Jewish worshiper was never truly clean. Even the High Priest had to cleanse himself every time he entered the tabernacle and temple. Things are different for us. ‣ When a sinner comes to Jesus by faith, he is cleansed by the blood of Jesus, once for all, 1 John 1:7; Eph. 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18-19. ‣ When the heart is cleansed by the blood of Jesus, the outward man is also affected, Heb. 9:14; 2 Cor. 5:17. ‣ Because we are clean in His sight, we have an open invitation to enter into the presence of God at any time. In fact, we are commanded to do so, Heb. 4:16. • Based on what Jesus did for us and what He has provided for us, people are challenged to “draw near”. There are only two possible responses to the Gospel message: acceptance or rejection. The call is for people to come. - We can come with “a true heart”. We must be “sincere” when we come to Jesus. We are not to come to Him lightly. We are not to treat spiritual things as if they were a game. - We can come in “full assurance of faith”. This means we can come to God with the full assurance that He will receive us. If we come to Him as a born again believer seeking His help, He will receive us and hear us. If we come to hIm as a lost sinner crying out for salvation, He will hear us and not turn us away! • The question that comes to mind at this point is this: What have you done with the Gospel invitation? Have you accepted it? - If you have, then you have access to God the Father. Make good use of that privilege. Seek His face and call on Him often. Find yourself frequently in the throne room of the King calling on Him to do the incredible for His church and for the lost. - If you haven’t the way has been opened for you, if you will come to Him, John 6:37, 47; Rom. 10:13. I. The Faithful Draw Near II. v. 23 THE FAITHFUL HOLD FAST • We are told to “hold fast the profession of our faith”. This means that since we claim to have hope in Jesus, and since we say we are saved and headed to Heaven some day, we are to live out that hope by remaining faithful to Him. Some of these Jewish converts were having a hard time making a complete break from the rituals of their old religion. They were trying to hold onto their Jewish roots and Jesus too. The writer tells them to beware lest they turn away from Christ and go back to their old lives. There is a danger in that for us as well. Most of us were not saved out of religion, but out of the darkness of our sin. There is always the danger that we might turn back to the world. We are challenged here to be faithful to the Lord Who saved our souls by His grace. We have all known those people who were in the church for a while and have departed for the world. We must be on guard that the same thing does not happen to us. There is nothing back there but pain, suffering, heartache and death. Ill. Lot’s wife – Gen. 19:26. Ill. Heb. 10:38. Here is what John said about those who turn back: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us,” 1 John 2:19. • We can endure faithfully with the sure knowledge that Jesus will keep His end of the bargain. When He saved us and called us out of our sins; He promised us a new life, John 10:10, and a home in Heaven when this life is over, John 14:1-3. He will not fail to deliver everything He has promised the children of God. We will come short in our commitment to Him, but He will never fail us, Heb. 6:18; Heb. 13:5! Every promise He made to us is an ironclad promise and it will be fulfilled. The knowledge that God will always be faithful to us should serve to make us desire to be faithful to Him in return! I. The Faithful Draw Near II. The Faithful Hold Fast III. v. 24-25 THE FAITHFUL LOOK AFTER ONE ANOTHER • These verses have told us that we can have access to God through the blood of Jesus. • They have also told us that we are expected to live out faithful, dedicated lives to the glory of God. Verses 24-25 teach us that we are to help one another along the way of life. • The challenge here is for us to “consider one another”. The word “consider” means “to set the mind on”. We are to set our minds on our fellow believers in an effort to “provoke” them. • The word “provoke” is usually used in a negative manner. It means “to incite”. It has the idea of causing a crowd to “riot”. In this context word means “to stir up”. • Another significant word in these verses is the word “exhort” in verse 25. This word means “to encourage”. Taken together, these words are a challenge for the saints to look out for one another and to encourage one another in our walk with the Lord. Notice the ways we are to do this. A. We Are To Love Together – Love is to be the calling card of the church, John 13:35. • Our love for God is to be the supreme love of our lives, Matt. 22:37-38. • Second only to that love is the love we are to have for our brothers in Christ, Matt. 22:39-40. • Genuine, godly love one for another is one of the sure marks of real salvation, 1 John 3:14. • The absence of this love reveals the absence of true salvation, 1 John 4:7-8; 4:20-21. Ill. The church house is to be a place where people feel loved! It is sad when people receive a warmer greeting at Walmart than they do at the house of God! We are to love! Don’t wait to be love, start loving others and love will come your way! B. We Are To Work Together – We are to help our brothers and sisters in their work for the Lord. We are to encourage them in the work they do. Instead of finding fault with everyone and everything they do, we should take the time to notice the positive things people are doing and encourage them in their work for Jesus. We are in this thing together and we are to be in the “building up” business, not the tearing down business, Rom. 14:19; Eph. 4:29. We should be encouraging one another to continues faithfulness in the Lord’s work. (Ill. I appreciate you!) C. We Are To Worship Together – Some of the Jewish converts had abandoned the public gatherings of the believers. We are to seek out the fellowship of the saints and not find ways to avoid it. Church attendance is far more vital than many people realize. Just as a hot coal becomes cold when it is separated from the fire, the believer will become cold when that believer is separated from the fellowship of other believers. We need the excitement, the teaching, the preaching, the worship, the challenges, the encouragement, the fellowship and the sense of family that is available when we go to church. Many of the saints need to reexamine their commitment to the public worship of the Savior. Nothing will help you stay close to the Lord any more than regular, faithful attendance to the services at the House of God! Please do fall for the trick and trap of the enemy. Do not let him convince you that other things are more important than you being in your place when it is time to worship. Do not let him take away one of the greatest blessing the Lord has ever placed in your life. • Come to church. • Come often. • Come faithfully. • Come to Sunday School. • Come to morning worship. • Come to evening worship. • Come to Wednesday evening meeting. • Come to prayer room. • Come to prayer meeting. • Come to youth meeting. • Come ready to worship. • Come to sing. • Come to pray. • Come to praise Him. • Come to hear HIs Word. • Come to fellowship with His people. • Come to serve. • Come to help. • Come to be helped. • Come excited. • Come expectantly. • Come prepared for the Lord to do something big. • Come praying. • Whatever you do, come! • Come for your children. • Come for yourself. • Come for the glory of the Lord. • Be in your place every time the doors open. • Come to church! Here’s something to think about. Football in the fall. Basketball in the winter. Baseball in the spring and summer. This pastor has been an avid sports fan all his life. But I've had it! I quit this sports business once and for all. You can't get me near one of those places again. Want to know why... • Every time I went, they asked me for money. • The people with whom I had to sit didn't seem very friendly. • The seats were too hard and not at all comfortable. • I went to many games, but the coach never came to call on me. • The referee made a decision with which I could not agree. • I suspected that I was sitting with some hypocrites -- they came 
to see their friends and what others were wearing rather than to see the game. • Some games went into overtime, and I was late getting home. • The band played some numbers that I had never heard before. • It seems that the games are scheduled when I want to do other things. • I was taken to too many games by my parents when I was growing up. 
I don't want to take my children to any games, because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best. That’s silly isn’t it? Yet, those are the same kinds of excuses people use for not coming to church. Church is far more important than any ball game has ever been. We need to stow our excuses, and just admit that our hearts are not where they need to be with the Lord. We need to repent of our sin of not attending His house, and get back to where we need to be: the house of God! If you need a reason to go to church, I will give you two excellent reasons. 1. God commands it - Heb. 10:25. 2. Jesus practiced it - Luke 4:16. D. We Are To Wait Together – As we see the coming of the Lord draw closer each day, we are to encourage one another to faithfulness and holy living. The idea here is this: as the end of this evil age draws near, and the coming of Christ draws near; it is going to become increasingly harder to remain holy and separated from this world. We are going to need the fellowship of the church more than we ever have. We have a duty to one another to encourage, challenge and help one another along the way of life. Jesus is coming and we need one another. We need the fellowship and the strength we draw from one another if we are to make it. We need what the church has to offer while we wait for Jesus. Conc: When you see the phrase “let us” in the Bible, it is usually a command. These “let us” phrases here are no different. These commands teach us what the faithful people of God do with their lives. This is what the faithful do. Does this describe you? As we close our thoughts today, let me ask you a couple of questions. • Are you saved? If you are, you are in the family of God and these commands apply to your life. If you are not, let me invite you to come to Jesus today. He loves you. He died to save you. If you will come to Him, He will save your soul and put you in His family. • Are you faithful? If you are, the Lord will reward you for your faithful service and attention to His will. If you have allowed yourself to wander from the path God intended for you to walk. You can get that made right today. If you need help in your life, please listen to what the Lord has to say to you today.

𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗘𝗹𝗹𝗶𝘀 (𝗜𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗿î𝗮 𝗜𝗷𝗶𝗮𝗿î𝗿𝗼) — 𝗠𝘁. 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮’𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗲𝗺! 🌊 Nestled near Mûgî Hill at 3,455 meters above sea level, this 28-acre lake is the third largest in the Mt. Kenya region. A sanctuary of breathtaking beauty, its calm waters rejuvenate the mind, body, and spirit. The name Iria rîa Ijiarîro, given by local communities, means “Lake of Birth”, as woodland animals traditionally came here to give birth — a living symbol of life and nature’s cycles. Perfect for day hikes, fly-fishing overnight trips, or a rest stop for climbers on the Chogoria Route, this lake — sculpted by glacial activity over 10,000 years ago is a must-see for adventurers and nature lovers alike. ✨ 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝘁. 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝘆𝗮’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁-𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 nature

Prayer and Fasting 2026 week 1

Daniel 6:1-28 THE POWER OF A CONSISTENT FAITH Intro: They are known as the forty martyrs of Sebaste. In the famed Twelfth Legion of Rome's Imperial Army there were forty soldiers who professed their faith in Jesus Christ. One day their captain informed them that Emperor Licinius had sent out an edict commanding all soldiers to offer a sacrifice to pagan gods. These Christian warriors said, "You can have our armor and even our bodies, but our hearts' allegiance belongs to Jesus Christ." Because of their stance they were marched onto a frozen lake in the midwinter of A.D. 320 and stripped of their clothes. At any time they could renounce Christ and be spared from death. Instead, they huddled close together and sang their song of victory, "Forty martyrs for Christ." That freezing night saw thirty nine men fall to their icy graves. When there was but one man left he stumbled to the shore and renounced Christ. As the officer in charge of guarding these men listened to their singing, he had secretly come to believe in Christ. He immediately replaced the man who had renounced Jesus and he walked out onto the ice. He threw off his clothes and confessed his faith in Christ. At sunrise the Roman soldiers found forty men who gave their all for the cause of Christ. Those forty brave men demonstrated a faith that was consistent. So does the man featured in our text. Daniel was a man who possessed a consistent faith. Daniel is a man who lived this kind of consistent live all the days he lived. As a young man he was separated, Dan. 1. As a middle aged man, he was sold out, Dan. 5. Even as an older man, he was surrendered, Dan. 6. As we watch Daniel face and weather this great trial of faith, there are just a few lessons I would like to point out concerning the power of a consistent faith. What we can learn from Daniel teaches us that it is consistency that pays off. Friend, it isn’t all about how you start the race, though that is very important, or about how you finish, though that is also important. God is interested in our running faithfully all the way, Heb. 12:1-3. There is power in a consistent faith. Allow me to point out the lessons contained here. I. A CONSISTENT FAITH WILL BE TESTED (Ill. The context. Ill. 2 Tim. 3:12 - This is a verse that is absolutely true! If you choose to live your life for Jesus, holding nothing back, persecution will come your way! But, this is not a bad thing! Notice what is accomplished when faith is put to the test.) A. V. 3 The Saint Is Cultivated - Daniel was already a great man, God wanted to develop him even further. Your trials are never meant to destroy you, only to grow you! (Rom. 8:28; Jer. 29:11) B. V. 25-28 The Savior Is Celebrated - Because of Daniel’s trial, God received glory and honor! As the trials of life come against us and we stand faithful in spite of the trial, God is honored by the faith of His people. (Ill. 1 Cor. 10:31) (Ill. 3 Hebrews, David and Goliath; Stephen; Paul) C. V. 4-5 The Sinner Is Convicted - These men were disturbed by Daniel’s faith. They knew that he possessed something that they did not have. As the world watches a believer walk through the lion’s den, they can see faith at work. Truly, it touches their hearts. (Matt. 5:16; Ill. Believers are living epistles - 2 Cor. 3:2) Don’t think for a minute that the world does not see your peace, your actions and the help you are receiving from the Lord! II. A CONSISTENT FAITH WILL TESTIFY (Ill. Sometimes the testimony of faith under trial is louder than a testimony of words.) A. V. 10-11 It Testifies To Its Foes - Daniel did not alter his ways, even to appease the king. He remained consistent in spite of the danger, the pressure to conform and even the command of the king. God give us saints who will take their stand for the Lord and will be faithful and consistent in spite of what they face in life, 1 Cor. 15:58. (Ill. When you stand for Him, He will stand with you, Psa. 55:22.) B. V. 14-20 It Testifies To Its Friends - Daniel’s faith had made an impact on the king. Even he believed that the Lord could get Daniel through the trial. When faith is exercised faithfully and consistently, it has the power to move those who know us to consider the Lord for themselves! (Ill. When consistent faith is practiced, it encourages others to be more consistent in their own faith. Our faith can help our brother grow! (Ill. Acts 28:15 - Paul’s friends exercised faith and encouraged Paul.) C. V. 10 It Testifies To Its Focus - Daniel stayed the course for God knowing that he had no one to please but God. When a person walks faithfully with the Lord in spite of the problems and temptations that surround him, he makes a bold statement about where the focus of his life really is. The believer who possesses a consistent faith does not try to live to please everyone; he just lives to please God. His primary concern in the glory of God, 1 Cor. 10:31. God has a way of working the rest out! III. A CONSISTENT FAITH WILL TRIUMPH (Ill. The Context. Daniel’s faith gave him the victory, and your faith will do the same for you, 1 John 5:4; 1 Cor. 15:57; 2 Cor. 2:14.) A. Over Every Adversity - Daniel’s faith in God allowed him to enjoy victory over the Den of Lions, the Danger, the Dark, King Darius, his Detractors, and even over Daniel. His faith carried him through the trial. Daniel learned what every saint can learn: God will either get you out of your trial, or He will give you grace in your trial! (Ill. What He doesn’t take away, He makes a way to take!) (Ill. Faith can still part your sea, fill your barrel, walk on your storm, and multiply your loaves and fishes. Faith still guarantees the victory for the child of God - “all things are possible to him that believeth”, Mark 9:23.) B. Over Every Adversary - Daniel’s faith enabled him to see the lions lose their lunch and his enemies lose their lives. He saw every adversary defeated! One day, the saints of God will see the enemies of the faith fall away one by one. Then, we see will the truth that our faith conquers all things! (Ill. The World, 2 Pet. 3:7-10, the Flesh, 1 Cor. 15:49-54, and the Devil, Rev. 20:1-10, will all be dealt with in due course.) Conc: Craig Davison is a consistent man. The Phoenix, AZ resident began running regularly in 1978 and hadn’t missed a single day since then when an article was written about him in 1997. By May of 1997, at age forty-three, he calculated he had logged in 120,000 miles (nearly five laps around the world). His regimen of running is an example of consistency by itself, but what he’s done traveling all of those miles is an equally impressive lesson in consistency. While running, Davison keeps his eyes open for loose change and doesn’t pass up a single penny. This consistent vigilance has paid off. Over the years he has collected $5,170. All those dimes, nickels, and pennies paid for a second honeymoon to Hawaii in 1991. Consistency pays off but we frequently neglect it because the dividends come in slower than we desire. We’d all like to find $5,000 but are we willing to run 120,000 miles to get it? Whether it’s finances, meaningful relationships, spiritual maturity, or physical fitness, consistency is the best route to take. We need some Daniels in our day! We need some men and women of faith who will make up their minds to just be consistent! Are you a consistent Christian? Do you live every day to the glory of God? God just wants people to be consistent. He just wants us to walk in obedience, minute by minute and day by day. Does that describe you? If not, there is help in Him. If you are up and down and in and out, you don’t have to be! You can walk for Him and be consistent. He will enable you, just as He enabled Daniel! He will do it so that you can demonstrate the power of a consistent life.

21 days of Prayer & Fasting.

In a world shaped by many religions and universal belief systems, humanity continues to ask deep and timeless questions. If God is one, why are there many paths and channels through which His message is revealed? Is religious relativism subjective or objective? How do these beliefs shape our way of life, values, and actions? *The Approved invites you to an insightful Online Webinar on Google Meet* as we thoughtfully engage these questions and more. The details of the session are as flexible 🗣 Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Kevin Muriithi (Co-founder & Former Chairperson, Apologetics Kenya) 📌 *Topic: Religious Pluralism & Universality* 📅 *Date:* *17th January* ⏰ *Time:8:00 – 9:30 PM* The link of the session is attached https://meet.google.com/ckh-mjrs-pkx Join us for a rich conversation that seeks clarity, understanding, and truth in the midst of diversity. *See you then!*

A Simple Path to Healthier Doctrine & Discernment Bad theology undermines our comfort, assurance, peace, and joy in Christ. Bad theology leads to dark places. Wrong thinking and wrongdoing alike can destroy our lives or at least diminish our intimacy with God and our faithfulness. God intends our thinking to align with His Word, and from it our feeling and doing as well. Obedience to God is the fruit of the Spirit through faith, so it is very important what we believe. Some professing Christians think, “The Bible alone is my theology,” and in uone sense that’s true, but what does the Bible mean? And the moment anyone begins to explain what the Bible means, they are expressing some theological hermeneutic or framework. But is their hermeneutic or framework a good one? Every two years, Ligonier Ministry and LifeWay Research team up to do a State of Theology survey. [1] This survey reveals doctrinal trends of Americans in general, but also Evangelical Christians in America, and every year there are considerably troubling results. According to the 2025 survey results, for professing Christians with evangelical beliefs: 28% believe Jesus was a good teacher, but he is not God. 47% believe God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. 94% believe God loves all people the same way. 53% believe the Holy Spirit is a force but is not a personal being. 53% believe everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature. 64% believe everyone is born innocent in the eyes of God. 44% believe worshipping alone or with one’s family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church. There are many significantly confused professing Christians sitting in pews (or not attending church and thinking it’s okay) all across America, and their bad theology is damaging their lives and greatly destabilizing their comfort, assurance, peace, and joy in the gospel. There are various reasons why many Evangelical Christians have unsound doctrine and discernment, but I think one of them is they spend time reading the latest and most popular Christian books, blogs, and music, and they fill their minds with unsound theology and old heresies repackaged. Essentially, they follow the current of contemporary culture. Of course, there are wonderful new books, blogs, and songs, but many Christians don’t realize that much “Christian” content derives from historically bad theological frameworks, frameworks that subtly undermine their confidence in God and His Word. Many professing Christians are unaware. How can we guard against this? How can we ensure that our doctrine and discernment are healthy? One great way is to read old theological works, works that Christians have believed for centuries, works that are time-tested. What I mean is, don’t read and study alone. Instead, read and study with the Church of ages past. It should matter to you what Christians have believed and written centuries before you. But who has time to research all of that? Few of us. So, as a housewife, plumber, teenager, or salesman, how can you grow healthier in your doctrine and discernment? Where would one begin to build a solid doctrinal framework? And the answer is simple. But with the noise of social media and Christian marketing, it is also simple to disregard. It’s not a sexy or flashy answer, but it is a simple, helpful, and doable answer. Baby steps, right? The answer begins with good counsel from Martin Luther. Luther said: The number of theological books should . . . be reduced, and a selection should be made of the best of them; for many books do not make men learned, nor does much reading. But reading something good, and reading it frequently, however little it may be, is the practice that makes men learned in the Scripture and makes them pious besides. [2] That is a profound and helpful statement. Luther recognized that the Bible is the primary source text – so please read your Bible – but he also believed in reading a few good theology books. But where do you start to build a solid theological framework which helps you understand what the Bible teaches? Many Evangelical Christians are not conscious of their theological framework (they do have one), nor are they aware that it’s not a good framework, so they’re all over the place in what they believe the Bible says. They are prime examples of Ephesians 4:14. Additionally, many good theology books are fat and intimidating. Here’s what I recommend you do. I think you’ll be surprised at how beneficial this will be in your life. Make yourself familiar with the historic Reformed confessions and catechisms. Start with the Heidelberg Catechism. It is clear, concise, simple, and one of the most helpful theological works ever written. It will teach you how to hear and understand the Bible, and it will instill in you a sound doctrinal framework. You may also want to spend time in some other clear and concise theological works which address other important doctrinal points. Go to the Belgic Confession. Dig into the Westminster Standards. There are others, but these are a great place to start. Start working through these brief resources (not that fat) at a pace that works for you. When you come to something challenging, discuss it with your elders who love you. Many Evangelical Christians have anemic doctrine and discernment. There are plenty of reasons for that. But if you take Luther’s advice and dig deeply into one or two good historic Christian confessions or catechisms, you will develop much healthier doctrine and discernment which will fuel your intimacy with God and holiness, as well as boost your comfort, assurance, peace, and joy in Christ. Oh, and make sure you’re in a good church where you hear this kind of substantial theology from the pulpit and get much encouragement from godly shepherds. [1] https://thestateoftheology.com/ [2] Taken from 21 Servants of Sovereign Joy by John Piper, © 2018, p. 80. Used by permission of Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. Jonathan L. Shirk Jonathan L. Shirk GCC & RPTS graduate; husband of Kristina; father of Jeremiah, Maria, Peter, & Andrew; minister of the gospel; founder & content creator of Small Town Theologian: smalltowntheologian.org. Read More Worship Connected Household Worship Guide on Worship Matters and Be Careful to Follow the Lord from Deuteronomy 12 December 03, 2025 If you want to get someone a gift, how can you be sure they will like it? Sometimes silly husbands decide that whatever they like will certainly be what their wife will like, so the latest cordless toy tool gets wrapped in gift paper for their beloved. And often, that is not what their wife wanted. Ed Blackwood Ed Blackwood Worship Connected Household Worship Guide on The Promised Shepherd King and In That Day, Micah preached a warning to God’s people. They eventually listened. Micah promised a Shepherd-King who is Jesus. God will cut off from his people all that hinders our obedience. God will preserve his people. God will destroy his enemies.

Men's Fellowship group photo Presbyterian Church Men Fellowship.

💓💕A giant has fallen… Yesterday we lost Craig, one of the most gentle giants to roam the earth. At Amboseli national Park in Kenya East Africa He died naturally at the age of 54 surrounded by the people who shared the land with him. He will definitely be missed…💕💓 #Bye Bye #Rest In Peace Big Boy…

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Nairobi crossover worship experience 2026 @ UHURU PARK

Nairobi City. Kenya HAPPY 2026

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Ministers and Ordained Church Elders, Church Ministry Training & Seminar [the] Coastal Town of Mombasa Kenya.