Diligence 2011
Teach Them Diligently:
The High Calling of Christian Parenting
Saturday, July 16, 2011 ~ Sioux Center, Iowa
Diligence 2011 is over, but the conference addresses and seminars
are now available here and as podcasts on iTunes!
Click Here for Conference Website
Click Here to Download Conference Addresses & Seminars
Click Here to Access Conference Addresses & Seminars on iTunes
Verse of the Week ~ Psalm 88:7 (ESV)
“Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves.”
People used to understand thunder and lightning as the displeasure of God toward them. Now that we understand the science behind these natural occurrences, we don’t give a storm a second thought. But could it be that our pre-scientific ancestors were closer to the truth than we are? When the psalmist experienced trouble in his life, he attributed it to the wrath of God. Indeed, given that the fall of man through Adam’s sin has brought us into an existence of “toil and trouble” (Psalm 90:10), shouldn’t we understand our toil and trouble as the wrath of God and the consequence of sin? A season of suffering may not be the direct result of some specific sin in our lives, but the difficulty of life is the result of sin, and sin incurs the wrath of God against our race. Instead of expecting prosperity and getting angry at God for our suffering, perhaps we should expect suffering and be thankful for the grace of prosperity.
Do You Love Christ? [John 21:15-16]
(2012 Question of the Year) ~ Introduction
A new year brings a new question for us to hear and answer- Do you love Christ? Following Peter’s three-fold denial of Jesus, and after the resurrection, Jesus “restored” Peter by asking him three times- “Do you love me?” Upon the third time, Peter was grieved to recognize what Jesus was doing. He saw that Jesus’ three-fold question was in direct response to his three-fold denial of Jesus, which contributed to His crucifixion. True faith requires that each of us recognizes our role in the crucifixion of Christ. It was our sin that required His sacrifice and death on the cross. So even as Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” we too must hear and answer the question. And even as Peter answered each time, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”-so we too must be willing to answer and declare aloud- “I love you, Jesus.” Have you ever said these words in prayer to Christ? Have you ever confessed to others your love for Christ? And does your life declare your love for the Savior who live and died for you? This will be the point and the challenge of this question of the year- Do you love Christ?
Prayer Prompt ~ A Quotation
“Theology has flourished only at times when theologians have continued in prayer and, in prayer, have sought the communion of the Holy Spirit. And, on the other hand, theology loses its leaf and begins its winter sleep when ambition for learning silences prayer in the breast of theologians.” — Abraham Kuyper
Pray on!
