Soul Idolatry- What are your idols?

-David Clarkson ~ 1621-1686

1. ESTEEM. That which we most highly value, we make our God.
2. MINDFULNESS. That which we are most mindful of—we make our God.
3. INTENTION. That which we most
aim at, we make our God.
4. RESOLUTION. What we are most resolved for, we worship as God.
5. LOVE. That which we most love—we worship as our God.
6. TRUST. That which we most trust we make our God.
7. FEAR. That which we most fear, we worship as our God.
8. HOPE. That which we make our hope we worship as God.
9. DESIRE. That which we most desire—we worship as our God.
10. DELIGHT. That which we most delight and rejoice in—that we worship as God.
11. ZEAL. That for which we are most zealous, we worship as God.
12. GRATITUDE. That to which we are most grateful, that we worship as God.
13.WORK HARD FOR? When our care and industry is more for other things, than for God—this is idolatrous.


Find the entire sermon here: http://www.gracegems.org/SERMONS/Clarkson_soul_idolatry.htm

"Ask, Seek, Knock" - Sermon Review Questions: from the Sermon on the Mount– 8/12/12

1.    What’s the progression in asking, seeking knocking? How does this affect our prayer life?

2.    How do we respond when our prayers are not answered the way we asked them to be answered? What does that reveal about our hearts?

3.    In our asking, seeking, and knocking - how can we see God working his best, even when the result is not what we originally desired or planned?

4.    How does asking, seeking, and knocking lead us back to God’s grace?

5.    We know how to give good gifts, as Jesus pointed out. Reflect on the fact that “How much more” God has given us the best gifts! Be prepared to share some aspects of God’s goodness in your life with the group.

6.    John Stott says that prayer presupposes three things
     a.    Knowledge of God’s revealed will
     b.    Faith in God’s revealed will
     c.    Desire to see God’s revealed will fulfilled
 What can we do to cultivate these three aspects in our lives this next week?

7.    For personal application: What specific spiritual request can you earnestly ask, seek, and knock for this coming semester? (this could be a friend’s salvation, a certain area of growth, etc)

Cross Impact Summer Update

It’s been a full summer so far here at Clemson! Jon and I have been working long hours on the campus and have been greatly encouraged at the work that God has wrought in hearts. The most concentrated effort we’ve put forth has been the Wednesday investigative Bible study “Truth or Myth” which has met during the lunch hour. We’ve gone through questions about Christianity such as “Can I know God,” “What is the Bible,” “Creation and Evolution,” and many others. We’ve had many guests from various backgrounds attend: some of our faithful regulars have supported the Bible study, we’ve had some other Christian students come, as well as some non-Christians. One guy was saved after the third week of the study! Be praying for him as Jon disciples him in his newfound faith.
              We’ve also been a part of the orientation for incoming freshmen, meeting them and their parents and encouraging them to get involved with our ministry in the fall. It’s so exciting to see these students intentionally planning for a continued relationship with Christ. We emphasize to them that their freshmen year is where they really get to own their faith, and make that crucial choice whether to follow Christ for themselves. When they come, all their external supports are taken away and they’re thrust out into a predominately secular environment. Our campus ministry as a way to help these students, not by sheltering them from secularism, but by giving them a place to continue in the reality of Christ on this campus! We’re a diverse community of believers who all believe firmly in the gospel, we’ve been transformed by it and are seeking to transform our campus by it!
            We’ve got a couple weeks before everyone starts rolling back into campus, and we’re gearing up now for that. Please be praying for those who will be coming to our Bible study in the fall, for our student officers and POWER group leaders who will be heading up events and discipling one another, and be praying that God would be preparing hearts to hear, receive, and be transformed by the gospel!