Coffee With God

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Bill Hybels responds to this common complaint: “I just can’t make time for a meeting with God. I can’t fit that into my busy life.”

“I’ve always been able to make time for what I value.”

Convincing Evidence of Jesus Christ’s Reseurrection

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If the resurrection of Jesus Christ did occur, then it should be the most life-changing reality for each of us. This is because it shows that Jesus is who He claims to be — the Unique Son of God who died for our sins making it possible for you and I to be eternally forgiven (1 Peter 3:18) and Who’s words you and I will be judged by when we stand before God. (John 12:47-48)

The video below covers the topic of Jesus Christ’s resurrection quite well. I know it’s kinda long, about the length of a movie, but how many movies have you and I watched that are simply a waste of time and that added little or nothing to our life?

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TIMELINE

30 A.D. – Peter, James, and John Witness Jesus Christ’s Crucifixion, Burial, and Resurrection. 

32 A.D. – Paul (Saul) Converted

35 A.D. – Paul Discusses Gospel Account with Eyewitnesses: Peter and James (Brother of Jesus)

48 A.D. – Paul Records Galatians 2 & Validates Gospel Account from Eyewitnesses: Peter, James, and John.

55 A.D. – Paul Records Gospel Account in 1 Corinthians 15

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Scripture References:

Galatians 2:1-10

Then fourteen years later I went back to Jerusalem again, this time with Barnabas; and Titus came along, too. 2 I went there because God revealed to me that I should go. While I was there I met privately with those considered to be leaders of the church and shared with them the message I had been preaching to the Gentiles. I wanted to make sure that we were in agreement, for fear that all my efforts had been wasted and I was running the race for nothing. 3 And they supported me and did not even demand that my companion Titus be circumcised, though he was a Gentile.

4 Even that question came up only because of some so-called Christians there—false ones, really—who were secretly brought in. They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to enslave us and force us to follow their Jewish regulations. 5 But we refused to give in to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the gospel message for you.

6 And the leaders of the church had nothing to add to what I was preaching. (By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.) 7 Instead, they saw that God had given me the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as he had given Peter the responsibility of preaching to the Jews. 8 For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles.

9 In fact, James, Peter, and John, who were known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me, and they accepted Barnabas and me as their co-workers. They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews. 10 Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do.

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 

1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still living, but some have died; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

1 Peter 3:18

18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

John 12:44-50

44 Then Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in Me believes not in Me, but in Him who sent Me. 45 And the one who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. 46 I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not remain in darkness.

47 If anyone hears My words and doesn’t keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects Me and doesn’t accept My sayings has this as his judge:

The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

49 For I have not spoken on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a command as to what I should say and what I should speak. 50 I know that His command is eternal life. So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”

Why is there Suffering and Evil?

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The question of “Why Does God Allow Suffering and Evil?” is one of the most asked questions regarding God’s existence and character.   There are many feelings and emotions connected with this question, which means that an intellectual explanation may not fully address it for some.

This video provides an explanation of why God allows suffering and evil to exist in the world:

Living as a Branch on Jesus Christ’s Vine

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What a Great Blessing to Have the Ability to Become a Branch on Jesus Christ’s Vine and to Receive Everlasting Nourishment.  Let’s Strive to Produce Fruit, so that We May Remain on it.“

~ JOSHUA JAMES FORD

John 15:1-8

15 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission ofTyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.