Frank's Bible Blog

Psalm 25-- Lessons from the Karate Kid

Several years ago there was a popular movie and sequel called the Karate Kid. (A re-make was done in 2010). It was about a boy with a difficult home life who took up karate. The boy had a lot of potential but knew if he was going to be successful he needed training by a real karate master. There was such a person who agreed to train him. At first, however, the training was nothing like the boy thought it would be. The master had the boy wax his car! Not only that, but he was insistent that it be waxed a certain way with very deliberate strokes. "Wax on, wax off," the master kept repeating in a famous scene from the movie. Day after day the master had the boy do other seemingly meaningless tasks. After a while the boy got very frustrated. "When is he going to start teaching me!" he wondered in exasperation. He almost quit on the master but was persuaded to stick it out--and boy was he glad he did! When he went into the big karate match he discovered that he had not spent days doing worthless tasks. He actually was learning discipline and how to move his arms, hands and body in certain ways that were beneficial to karate. The master did not tell him why he had the boy doing certain moves, just that he needed to do them. In the end, the master knew what was best and the boy became a champion because he learned to intimately follow the master. I believe that you and I can become champions in life when we, too, learn to follow the Master--the Lord. Psalm 25 is a great picture of a learner--a student--desperate to follow the master and ready to reap the rewards of this discipline. "Show me Your ways...teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. On You I wait all the day" is how the psalmist-learner expresses it in verses 4-5. He was ready to wait "all the day" on the Master because he knew that the Master had the truth. He knew that the master knew the best path to take. He knew the master would lead him to victory. "Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity...the secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him" (vv12-14). Today, you and I can unlock the Master's "secret" and find true success if we will become desperate students. Desperate students who linger on every word of the Master. Desperate students who seek the Master's guidance in everything, even when it doesn't make sense. Desperate student's who turn only to their Master for truth and nothing or no one else. Desperate students who trust their Master (v20) and live in integrity as they wait on their Master's direction (v21). Are you a desperate student of the Lord today? Are you even teachable?


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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 25-- Lessons from the Karate Kid

Several years ago there was a popular movie and sequel called the Karate Kid. It was about a boy with a difficult home life who took up karate. The boy had a lot of potential but knew if he was going to be successful he needed training by a real karate master. There was such a person who agreed to train him. At first, however, the training was nothing like the boy thought it would be. The master had the boy wax his car! Not only that, but he was insistent that it be waxed a certain way with very deliberate strokes. "Wax on, wax off," the master kept repeating in a famous scene from the movie. Day after day the master had the boy do other seemingly meaningless tasks. After a while the boy got very frustrated. "When is he going to start teaching me!" he wondered in exasperation. He almost quit on the master but was persuaded to stick it out--and boy was he glad he did! When he went into the big karate match he discovered that he had not spent days doing worthless tasks. He actually was learning discipline and how to move his arms, hands and body in certain ways that were beneficial to karate. The master did not tell him why he had the boy doing certain moves, just that he needed to do them. In the end, the master knew what was best and the boy became a champion because he learned to intimately follow the master. I believe that you and I can become champions in life when we, too, learn to follow the Master--the Lord. Psalm 25 is a great picture of a learner--a student--desperate to follow the master and ready to reap the rewards of this discipline. "Show me Your ways...teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. On You I wait all the day" is how the psalmist-learner expresses it in verses 4-5. He was ready to wait "all the day" on the Master because he knew that the Master had the truth. He knew that the master knew the best path to take. He knew the master would lead him to victory. "Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity...the secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him" (vv12-14). Today, you and I can unlock the Master's "secret" and find true success if we will become desperate students. Desperate students who linger on every word of the Master. Desperate students who seek the Master's guidance in everything, even when it doesn't make sense. Desperate student's who turn only to their Master for truth and nothing or no one else. Desperate students who trust their Master (v20) and live in integrity as they wait on their Master's direction (v21). Are you a desperate student of the Lord today? Are you even teachable?


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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Ezra 5--Everyone Needs a Cheerleader

Let's face it--life can be tough at times. Things don't go the way you expected them to, plans are frustrated, and you are uncertain how to proceed. It's in these difficult days that we especially need a cheerleader in our life. We need someone who believes in us, who can encourage us, and who can help us see the big picture. Cheerleaders are exactly what God provided to Zerubbabel in Ezra 5. Their names were Haggai and Zechariah. We can read their messages in detail in the books that bare their name, but basically they told Zerubbabel to move forward with the mission that God had called him to do--rebuilding the temple. At the end of Ezra 4 we see that Zerubbabel and his team were compelled by force to stop building. Fourteen years later, construction resumed. Imagine how discouraged Zerubbabel must have been during those years! At the right moment in time, however, God sends in Haggai to tell Zerubbabel how special he is to God (Haggai 2:23). Along with him is Zechariah, reminding Zerubbabel that his mission will be accomplished "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6). These were just the words Zerubbabel needed to hear to renew his vision and move forward. Friend, who are the Zerubbabels around you that might need encouragement today? Who are those who God would have you speak a word into their lives? You may be just the one that God uses to help that person renew their vision and go on to accomplish great things for the Lord. After all, we all need a cheerleader.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Ecclesiastes 4-- Championship Living

You see it every so often in professional sports--the hotshot rookie who thinks he is God's gift to the sport and who thinks he knows it all. It usually doesn't take long, however, for these athletes to get a rude awakening and a heavy dose of reality. They quickly discover that they are one among many on the team and that their coaches actually do know more than they do. If they don't make this discovery, they usually don't last long. The legendary basketball coach of the UCLA Bruins, John Wooden, said "Individuals win trophies but teams win championships." There are two fundamental necessities to winning both in sports and in life--teamwork and being teachable. Ecclesiastes 4 drives these points home. There are those who labor alone and only for their personal gain (v8) but this brings exceptional emptiness. When we connect with others, however, there is synergy, encouragement, support and strength. We are stronger as an individual when we connect with a team (vv9-12). Someone who is teachable, even though he or she may not have the experience of some who are older, is in a much better position (vv13-14). We must never get to the point in our lives where we "will be admonished no more" (v13). All of us have more to learn. None of us have arrived yet. So if you want a rich and fulfilled life become a team player who never stops learning and who consistently allows others to speak into your life. That's the formula that wins championships.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Nehemiah 4-- Breaking Through Discouragement

Let's be honest. We've all had discouraging times in our lives. We've all had those times when we just wanted to quit. Maybe you are in one of those times right now. Maybe you are a leader and things in your organization are very discouraging--maybe it is your team that is discouraged. Well, you can take heart from a great lesson from Nehemiah found in chapter 4. First, notice five causes of discouragement:

1. Opposition (vv1-3,8)
2. Physical fatigue (v10)
3. Foggy vision (v10b)
4. Loss of confidence (v10c)
5. Lack of security (v11)--this could be physical, financial, etc.

Nehemiah was a great leader, and as a great leader, Nehemiah chose to lead his team through the discouragement rather than throwing up his hands. Nehemiah addressed the situation--he didn't dismiss it, minimize it or ignore it. He tackled it head-on with prayer (vv4,5,9), organization (vv13, 16-18, 21-22), motivation (v14), and by establishing a rallying point (v19). Most of all, Nehemiah was right there with the people, leading by example. He asked the people to stay vigilant and focused, and he did the same. Notice verse 22, "Neither I, my brethren, my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me took off our clothes except that everyone took them off for washing." Nehemiah is a great lesson on the fact that we can't wish away discouragement but we can break through it with prayer and concrete action.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Nehemiah 2-- The Secret to Your Success

How do you achieve success? Much has been written about success and there are many schools of thought on what it takes to be successful. I recently read the book Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell which takes a different twist on why successful people are successful. It is an interesting book with a lot of good food for thought. But there is a time-tested formula for success that comes right out of the pages of Scripture, and it is found in Nehemiah 2. Here is the formula: Prayer+Plan+Opportunity+Strategy+Initiative+Perseverance=Success. Yes, it is somewhat complicated, but all six steps I believe are necessary to achieve the kind of success God would have for us.

Nehemiah, as we saw yesterday, began praying about the terrible situation in Jerusalem, the home of his forefathers. As he prayed, he also planned what it would take to fix the situation. This is evident by the fact that he was ready to give a detailed answer when the king asked what Nehemiah wanted to do about Jerusalem (vv5-8). As we pray and plan, we have to wait for the right time or opportunity. That is what Nehemiah did, waiting four months until the moment was right to approach the king. Opportunity is one thing when you are anticipating it, but it can be quite another thing when you are in the midst of it, and that is where strategy comes in (vv9-16). Nehemiah assessed the situation, which included the obstacles that he would have to overcome, and developed a more detailed strategy. Next, he put action to his prayers and planning by taking initiative to rally a team and begin work. Although it is not described in this chapter, the final step of perseverance is clear as you read through Nehemiah's narrative. Success doesn't come easy and there are many times when we will be tempted to quit, but we must persevere. Prayer+Plan+Opportunity+Strategy+Initiative+Perseverance--that was Nehemiah's secret to success and it can be yours as well.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Acts 21-- Listening to Godly Advice

One of the ways that God speaks to us is through other believers.  And when He does this, He often does it with several people saying the same thing so that we can't miss it.  Of course, He never leads anyone to give advice that is contrary to His word.  Assuming that the advice we are getting is consistent with God's word, and we know the people giving us the advice to be godly people, then we would do well to heed what they say.  That is the situation in Acts 21 with the Apostle Paul.  Several godly disciples told him not to go to Jerusalem.  "You will be bound and handed over to the Gentiles," they exclaimed.  Paul would not listen to them and instead replied "I am ready to not only be bound but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."  We certainly admire Paul's courage and tenacity, but this may be one case where his zeal got the best of him.  Paul did go on to Jerusalem, and even though he was careful in his dealings there, there was an uproar and he was arrested.  In typical Paul fashion, however, he used even this occasion to share Christ.  The bottom line is this: when we hear multiple godly people tell us the same thing, we need to pause, listen to them, and then earnestly seek God for confirmation.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Acts 16-- West Nile Virus and Your Future

Every summer here in Texas and other western states, we are alerted to the dangers of West Nile Virus, a mosquito-carried disease that in rare cases can be deadly. We are told by health officials to not have any standing or stagnate water on our property as this can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. In our spiritual life, stagnation is also dangerous. It keeps us from becoming all that God would have us to become and it often makes us more susceptible to temptations. The Apostle Paul was never stagnant.  He kept growing, kept moving, and kept doing his part to expand God's kingdom.  In Acts 16 we see Paul and his team on the move once again for God, making their way through various cities and regions.  Notice several things that Paul did as he moved for God. 1) He expanded his team.  Paul kept his eyes out for people whom he could mentor (vv. 1-4).  2) He was Holy Spirit led.  He went when and where God wanted him to go (vv. 6-10).  3) He engaged people, sharing Christ with a group of women (vv. 13-15).  4) He worshiped God even in difficult times and in difficult places (v. 25).  5) He was fearless in his mission (vv. 35-40).  These are good steps for us to follow as we stay on the move for God and avoid stagnation.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Acts 9-- Best Supporting Characters

The Academy Awards has two categories called "Best Supporting Actor" and "Best Supporting Actress."  These are film actors who help make movies successful--although they aren't the main stars.  The movie doesn't revolve around them, but it probably would be lost without them.  Similarly, Acts 9 describes four such characters.  People who are not the focus of Scripture but who had a major impact on those around them.  In the case of two of them, they launched the ministry of biblical "superstar" Paul.  Ananias and Barnabas both stood up for Paul (Saul) before others in the church.  His reputation as a Christian persecutor caused the believers in Damascus and Jerusalem to not trust his claims of conversion.  Ananias in Damascus and Barnabas in Jerusalem put their reputations on the line to be obedient to God and help Paul get started. 

Two others also make the "Best Supporting Character" list.  They are Aeneas and Tabitha.  Aeneas was a paralyzed, bedridden man who was healed.  His healing and subsequent witness resulted in many people in his community turning to Christ.  Tabitha, also known as Dorcas, touched the lives of everyone around her by her generosity and care.  Her impact was so great that when she died, God used Peter to actually bring her back to life.  She continued her ministry and God was glorified through this amazing act.  Four people we hear little about in Scripture but who made a big impact on those around them.  God may not place you in the "lead actor" role with the spotlight and all the attention, but you certainly can have a role equally as important.  History may not write about you, but it may write about those whom you impact.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Corinthians 16-- Strategic Planning

What makes a great leader great? I'm sure if you asked 10 people you would get a variety of answers. There are many things that go into great leadership but one of the foremost is planning. Great leaders have a clear vision and a plan for where they want to lead their people. They also do a great job at communicating that plan to their team. Strategic planning is simply having a vision for where you want to go and then establishing the priorities and steps necessary to get there. In 1 Corinthians 16 we get some insight into strategic planning from one of the early church's greatest leaders--the Apostle Paul. Notice six principles that went into his strategic plan. First, there was proper preparation (vv1-4). Paul discusses a collection the Corinthians were taking for needy believers in Jerusalem and exhorts them to have everything done and in place before he arrives. This would allow him and the church to maximize their time together. Second, remain flexible in your planning (vv5-7). If they are not careful, leaders can become slaves to their plans. Plans are a means to an end, not the end in themselves. Paul stayed flexible when it came to the amount of time he would spend in Corinth.  Third, capitalize on your opportunities (vv8-9). Paul saw enormous opportunities where he was at in Ephesus and wanted to do all he could to capture them. Fourth, be realistic (v9). Yes there were enormous opportunities but Paul also realized their was much opposition. He didn't sugar-coat the reality of the difficulties he would have to go through to accomplish his plans. Fifth, fully utilize your team (vv10-20). In these few verses we see how Timothy, Apollos, Stephanas, Fortunatus, Achaicus, Aquilla, and Priscilla all had roles to play in this plan. Finally, maintain the proper attitude. (vv13-14). This means having courage, faith, determination, attentiveness, and most of all, love. If you want to be a great leader, then learn from one of the best and apply Paul's six principles to your strategic planning.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Corinthians 15-- Meaningful Life Work

We were standing in line waiting to order lunch at an amusement park cafe. There was a woman in front of us trying to juggle two small children and wondering aloud what had happened to her husband and third child. I'm sure she was also wondering how she was going to hang on to the two very active children and manage to get everyone's tray of food. Finally, she spotted her husband outside the cafe. "Will you save my spot in line," she pleaded. "Sure," I replied. A few moments later she returned, this time without the kids (she had turned them over to the dad) and visibly less frazzled. There was an older couple in front of her that also saw the whole thing and comment that they had once been in her shoes. "It is all worth it," the elderly man said, "they grow up so quick, but it is all worth it."

Sometimes when we are juggling life, trying to serve God, and just hoping to make it through the day, we wonder if it all is worth it. Like the elderly man's encouragement to that young mom, the Apostle Paul encourages each of us in 1 Corinthians 15. He says "Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (v58). How can you and I have the assurance that it is all worth it? We know our labor is not in vain when it is centered on the gospel, which Paul defines as the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (vv3-4).We know that our labor is not in vain when we have the hope of the resurrection (vv12-49). We know our labor will be worth it when we one day see Christ reigning over all things (vv20-28). It will all be worth it when death is defeated once and for all (vv50-57) and we receive new glorified bodies (vv39-45). But don't get side tracked--the wrong kind of associates can derail you from a life of purpose (vv33-34). So, no matter how discouraged you may be today, remember, "it's all worth it" when your life is centered on Christ.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Corinthians 9-- Lessons from Nordstrom

When it comes to business transactions, we live in a culture that expects great customer service. Companies that excel today do so through exemplary customer service. Some businesses, like the upscale department store Nordstrom, have become almost legendary in their pursuit of customer care. These companies have a "whatever it takes" attitude towards business. How much more should we as believers have this attitude towards reaching people for Christ? We need a "whatever it takes" commitment. I Corinthians 9 tells us that it is an honor and privilege to preach the gospel (vv16-17). Those who benefit from its preaching should support financially those who are preaching (VV1-12), but our motivation to share Christ should never be financial (V15). We must be willing to do it for nothing. We also must be willing to adapt our culture and move from our comfort zone in order that we can win people to Jesus (VV19-23). We become as much like them as possible. In other words, we have a "whatever it takes" approach. But that approach is not only an attitude but also a strategy. There should be a method or a plan to our work to reach people for Christ (V24). If corporations can spend countless hours and resources planning new ways to reach more customers, should we not spend some time considering the best ways to connect people to the gospel? Great companies do not deliver great customer care by accident. Instead, they take a disciplined approach that involves training, rewarding, and focusing their employees. The same is true when it comes to the gospel. We must be disciplined if we want to be successful (V27). Whatever it takes--is that your approach towards reaching your world for Christ?

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Corinthians 8-- Ice Sculpting

Each year in Fairbanks, Alaska there is an ice sculpting festival. Massive chunks of ice are cut out of the area's frozen ponds and fork-lifted to the carving area where teams of sculptors from around the world assemble. Using chain saws, chisels, and even hair dryers, the artists transform the frozen water into life-sized works of art while an audience looks on. The assembled group watches the sculptors' every move, anticipating the outcome.

While you may never find yourself carving ice in front of an audience

, it is important to note that people are watching how you sculpt your life. They notice where you go and what you do. I Corinthians 8 is a reminder to all of us that we need to be other-focused. Paul tells us of the importance of not doing things that other believers consider wrong, even though there is nothing wrong in and of itself. Our focus should be on the growth and development of other believers, especially those who are young in the faith (v9). Sometimes that means we sacrifice some of our own freedoms so that we do not become a stumbling block to those who may be weak in the faith (v13). These brothers and sisters in Christ are watching you--they are looking up to you--and if you do things considered wrong, then it can really rock their faith, cause them to violate their own conscience, and even slip into a sinful lifestyle (v11). So let's always be aware of other believers. Let's help them as they sculpt their lives into something beautiful by watching how we sculpt our own lives.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Corinthians 5-- Pet Sin

Amanda Ruth Black's husband was devastated when he came home one evening to find his wife dead on the floor of their Virginia Beach, VA home. Amanda had been killed by the couple's pet snake, a 13-foot python. According to news reports, she apparently was trying to give it medicine when it turned on her. This terrible tragedy that cost a young woman her life is a reminder that even though they may be a pet, deadly animals can still turn deadly. It also illustrates a spiritual point that is made in 1 Corinthians 5. Too often we take a lackadaisical approach to sin, almost making it like a pet or at least tolerating it "in the house." In this chapter, Paul deals with sin "in the house"--sin among believers (vv1-5). Paul strongly reprimands the Corinthians about their flippant attitude toward sin. "Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump," Paul asked (v6). He went on to say that they needed to "purge out the old leaven that you may be a new lump." You see, there is great danger when we associate with believers who are in a lifestyle of sin. It is easy for us to think "well, they are a Christian and do that, maybe it isn't so bad if I try it." This is especially true of immorality, which prompted Paul to say that we should not even eat a meal with a believer who is sinning like this (v11). Those outside of Christ are expected to act like that--and we know that. We are not told to remove ourselves from them, because to do so would mean we couldn't go anywhere in this world (v10). Sinners act like sinners, and that is no surprise. But when those who claim to be believers act like that, then it is another story and should not be taken lightly. Sin should always repulse us, but especially when it is among Christians. Be careful with whom you associate because before you know it, the pet sin in the room may be strangling you.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Corinthians 3-- Proper Foundation

It was exciting to each day drive past the lot where we were having our new house built. We lived just a couple miles away, so it made it easy for us to watch the progress. First thing, of course, was the construction of the foundation. If this wasn't done properly, then the rest of the structure would be unstable. It didn't matter how nice the materials were that went into the house, if the foundation was faulty then everything else would have been in jeopardy. We've been in that house several years now and haven't had any problems--so they must have laid a good foundation! 1 Corinthians 3 discusses laying the proper spiritual foundations in our lives as well as us laying foundations in the lives of others. To do this right, we must be walking in a proper relationship with God. We must understand that our life is the temple of God and we must keep it holy (vv16-17).  We must be growing. We cannot remain as babies or be "carnal" in our thinking by being divisive and causing strife with other believers (vv1-4). One of the secrets to becoming a good spiritual foundation layer is to focus our glory on God and not on the achievements of men (vv5-8). Then we must be sure that the foundation is solidly Christ (v11). It is not traditions, or personal opinions, or anything else. If you want a solid foundation in your life, and you want to help lay solid foundations in other lives, then get to know Christ. Study carefully the gospels. Pay particular attention to the commands He gave. In the Great Commission, Jesus said that part of how we make disciples is by teaching them to obey whatever He commanded. Jesus' commands fall into nine categories (for more details, see my book Maxpoint, which has a chapter on this). By keeping our focus on Christ, we will be able to build beautiful lives that add great value to God's kingdom and reach their full potential.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Titus 2-- Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way

I don't know who first said it, but I like the saying: "If you think you are leading and you look back and no one is following, then you are just taking a walk." Leaders need to lead! God-ordained leaders have a God-given authority and they need to exercise that with boldness, especially when it comes to teaching the truth and correcting those who fall into sin. Titus 2 is about leadership. The chapter begins and ends with "speak these things..." (vv1,15). There are certain things that God expects leaders to speak into the lives of those they are supposed to be leading. Those things concern how the person is to appropriately live for their particular life stage. Paul, in challenging Titus to lead, passes on instructions for older men (v2), older women (v3), younger women (vv4-5), younger men (vv6-8), employees (vv9-10) and everyone (vv11-14). It is important to note that as people move through different life stages they have different challenges. There are different temptations that come at various ages. There are also different kinds of opportunities. Good leaders do not take a cookie-cutter approach to leadership. They note where their followers are at in terms of their life stage, spiritual development, giftedness, etc. They then speak into those lives with exhortations and, at times, rebukes (v15) that are tailored to the follower's situation. So, if you are in leadership, pause today and take a look behind you. Are people really following you or are you just taking a walk? If it is the latter, then maybe the problem is you are not following the leadership principles outlined in Titus 2.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Titus 1-- To Protect and to Serve

One of my favorite TV shows when I was a kid was Adam 12, which followed the adventures of a couple patrol officers from the Los Angeles police department. Many camera shots would show the LAPD's motto that was painted on their police car door--"to protect and to serve." In many ways, Titus 1 is a call to believers, especially mature believers, to protect and to serve. We are to protect those who are young in the faith from falling into false teachings. We should serve God's kingdom by developing new leaders. That means discipling young believers, mentoring growing believers in ministry, and so on. Today, if you consider yourself a mature believer, I want to challenge you to take up the "protect and serve" motto for your life. I want to encourage you to pro-actively look for others with whom you can invest your life and help them become great and godly leaders.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

2 Timothy 1-- Olympic Toughness

As the world watches the Beijing Olympics, we are reminded that behind the records being set and the medals being won are real people--people with stories of both triumph and tragedy. But those who rise to the top are the ones who refuse to quit in the face of adversity. They overcome opposition, shatter their fears, and press on for the gold. How much more should all of us have this kind of an attitude when it comes to the journey called life. 2 Timothy 1 is a great reminder that life often is not easy, but we must battle through the challenges by keeping our eyes on Christ. Paul, who was imprisoned and had been deserted by many of his "friends," challenges timothy to stand firm in the faith even when faced with hardships (v8). The spirit of fear, he reminds his former protégé, is not from above. Paul reminds all of us of the victory that Christ provides us because He "abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (v10).Here is Paul's gold-winning life strategy: 1)use your god-given gifts (v6). 2) Don't be ashamed of Christ (vv8,12). 3) Hold fast to sound doctrine (v13) and 4) Walk in the Spirit (v14). Sounds like a great plan that we all can use to be winners in life!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Thessalonians 3-- Making a Difference in a Life

"Dad, you're the best!" That's the phrase I love to hear my son say the most. From my daughter it's "You rock!" When you hear words like these it means you are doing something right. We know that we have an impact on our children, but what about other people? Have you stopped to think about the impact that you can have on others, even if you are separated by a great distance? Notice in 1 Thessalonians 3 how the Apostle Paul impacted the Thessalonians. First, he kept in touch with them (vv1-6). Long before email, faxes and even telephones, Paul found a way to continue his relationship with these dear brothers and sisters--he sent an emissary to them and he wrote them. Second, he showed concern for them and the difficult situation they were in because of their faith (v5). Finally, and most importantly, he prayed for them. Paul's prayer is a good one for us to use as we pray to make a difference in another life. He prayed that God would direct their relationship (v11), that God would increase their capacity to love (v12), and that their hearts would be established blameless and holy (v13). Whose life are you trying to make a difference in today?
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

1 Thessalonians 2-- Leadership Lessons

Leadership is, and has been, a hot topic for several years now. It seems that the number of leadership books on store shelves increases daily. And for good reason--leadership is important. No, leadership is critical. It has been said that "everything rises and falls with leadership." This is true in business, church, organizations, and even the home. 1 Thessalonians 2 gives us some great insights into leadership as Paul recounts how he and his team worked with the Thessalonians. Although he was only with them a very short time, Paul had a profound impact on the Thessalonians. Notice what he did. First, he spoke the truth with clarity and boldness, and without any pretentiousness (vv2-5). He then sat aside any rights or demands that he could have made as an apostle (v6) and instead approached them with humility and care (v7). He selflessly poured himself out in love (v8). Paul had a strong work ethic and did not ask anyone to do anything that he was not willing to do himself. Rather, he rolled up his sleeves and worked tirelessly (vv9-10). He exhorted the Thessalonians to realize their full potential in Christ (vv11-12). He prayed for them and thanked God for them (vv13-16). Finally, he did his best to keep in touch and continue to mentor them (vv17-20). The way Paul led with truth, humility, love, commitment, encouragement, prayer, and communication is a great example for all of us, whether we lead a large multinational corporation, local church, youth sports team, or just our own family.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Luke 9-- Getting the Full View

We drove through the foothills of Nevada, across the Hoover Dam, and into Arizona. When you cross the Hoover from Nevada you really can't get an appreciation for this massive creation of man because you don't really see the dam until you are right on it. Once you get across it, however, there is a place to park where the whole structure comes into view. Then you can truly appreciate this engineering masterpiece. Luke 9 is kind of like the panoramic view that you see once you get through the foothills--it brings the whole person and purpose of Christ into view. In this chapter, we see Christ model leadership as He sends out the apostles (vv1-6), is sought after by political leaders (vv7-9), and then spends intimate training and vision casting time with his inner circle (vv18-36, 43-45). We see the power of Christ as He feeds more than 5,000 people (vv10-17) and heals a boy (vv37-42). We see the character of Christ as He taught about humility (vv46-50) and chose love over vengeance (vv51-56). Finally, we see His wisdom as He helps would-be followers understand the true cost of discipleship (vv57-62). Pause a moment today and take a fresh look at Christ--His leadership, power, character and wisdom. As you do, you probably will see something particular that either helps you through a difficult situation or challenges you to change areas of your life that don't resemble Christ.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Luke 6-- Smarter than a 5th Grader?

For 27 years the Smithsonian Institute National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. had a mistake on an exhibit notation. It took a fifth grader from Michigan to finally notice it and bring it to the museum's attention in order to correct it. For years, everyone assumed the exhibit was correct; after all, surely the curators and historians at the museum knew what was right. In a more dramatic fashion, that was the scene in Israel when Christ came along. People assumed that what the "experts"--the religious leaders of the day--taught was correct. Only this hadn't been going on for a couple decades but for hundreds of years! Jesus completely turned upside down the faulty traditions and thinking of the day. In Luke 6, He begins by setting the leaders straight about the sabbath (vv1-11). He then begins to shift the focus of His ministry to 12 men (vv12-16) out of the hundreds, even thousands, who followed Him.Even this approach to leadership development was different. Next, He presents to the crowds a radically different message than what they had heard from their "experts." Blessed are the poor, hungry, persecuted, etc. Love your enemies. Stop your hypocrisy. (vv17-49). Even today, what we believe and practice in our lives often contradict the so-called "experts." But that is o.k.! Jesus was right then and He is right now. Our focus should be on bearing good fruit in our lives (v43) by putting into practice the things we learn from Christ (v49).

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

2 Corinthians 10-- In the Zone

In basketball, there are two basic ways to play defense. One is man-to-man where each player covers a specific opposing player no matter where he goes on the court. The other approach is called zone defense, where the player defends a defined area or "zone" of the court. Instead of zone "defense," Paul outlines in chapter 10 zone "ministry." Paul had heard from God and knew exactly the "zone" or sphere where he was to minister (vv13-16). By ministering in the zone, Paul knew what authority he had under God and was not afraid to exercise it. Even though some in the Corinthian church questioned Paul, he was able to stand his ground because he knew he was right where God wanted him. This gave Paul boldness in his writing (which he excelled at) and also with in-person communications, which appears to have been a weaker area for Paul (vv10-11). Ministering in the zone like this is what I refer to as the Deployment Stage in my book Maxpoint. It is knowing how to say "no" to good things so that you can say "yes" to the best fit for your particular calling and giftedness. This is where your life really begins to make a significant impact (vv15-16). So, take a lesson from Paul's play book and get in the zone!
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Hebrews 10-- The Bottom Line

Anytime I hear a speech, sermon, presentation, etc. I think to myself "so what..what is the bottom line of what has been said? What can I take away from all that I have heard?" So, I bring that question to the book of Hebrews. For 10 and a half chapters the author of Hebrews has been showing the superiority of Christ, particularly in relationship to the Old Testament law. Now he moves to the bottom line--the "so what" of the message. How are we to respond to all of this? First, if you are outside of Christ he wants you to know that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (v31). God is a loving and graceful God but He is also holy and will not allow sin to remain in His presence. Through His Son, God has given you everything needed to receive eternal life and avoid eternal punishment, but it is up to you to accept that or not. For those of us who have accepted Christ as our Savior, the writer tells us to do five things. First, we can and should draw near to God with a true heart (v22). Second, we need to hold fast our confession of hope without wavering (v23). Next, we should be considerate of other believers to love them, encourage them to do good (v24), and to gather together with them for worship and exhortation (v25). Then, we should remember where we came from and the way in which God has guided us to this point (vv32-34). Finally, we should hold to our confidence in the Lord regardless of our circumstances (vv35-36). All of these things are now possible thanks to the complete and superior sacrifice of Christ. That's the bottom line!

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Hebrews 5-- Over Our Heads

Some people pick up foreign languages very easily. Others, like myself, struggle with them. In college I took classes in Spanish and later Greek. It seemed that I was always at least two weeks behind in my comprehension of what the professors were teaching. They would teach but it would go right over my head because I hadn't grasped earlier concepts. (I did, by the way, pass--but I had to work at it!). The same is true with spiritual lessons. In Hebrews 5 the author begins to explain how Christ is the ultimate high priest but cuts short his remarks because it would be over his audience's head. Not only should they have been able to comprehend it, but at this point in their spiritual journey, they actually should have been teaching it (v12). Instead, they were needing the basics of the faith explained to them again (v12) because they had not matured (vv13-14). There are two things that cause this delay in maturity: being "dull of hearing" (v11) and not exercising your spiritual senses to discern good and evil (v14). Both of these require focus and a commitment to action on our part. Are you regularly reading God's word and exposing yourself to solid biblical teaching? If so, do you listen intently to try and hear from God? Do you ask God for discernment and then respond to His "still small voice" as it convicts you of what is right and wrong? Or have you learned to ignore it and do whatever you want? How you answer these questions will make the difference in whether or not you mature as a believer. Without this maturity, everything God wants to show you will just go right over your head. You will miss becoming all that God created you to become.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Mark 12-- Hitting a Fastball

When a baseball batter faces a pitcher throwing a 96 miles per hour fast ball, he has to maintain extreme focus if he is going to have any chance at hitting the ball. He has to be able to react in seconds, based on what the ball is doing and not on what is being shouted in the stands behind him. Having this kind of focus is a good lesson for life, and it is something we see in the life of Christ. We learn from Christ the importance of cutting through the fog to see the main thing and focus on real issues. Mark 12 is a masterful example of this as Jesus responded to questions, posed questions of His own, and highlighted key actions of others both through story and real-life examples. Jesus used a parable about a vineyard owner who rents out the land only to have the renters kill his servants and eventually his son. Jesus used this to show that the real issue of the day then (and now) was the rejection of Christ. When asked about paying taxes, marriage after the resurrection or which is the greatest commandment, Jesus cut to the heart of the issues. He was able to see through those who posed the questions and focus on root causes. Then Jesus posed His own question regarding a quote from David which attests to Christ's deity. Finally, Jesus pointed out the poor widow's gift as an example of real sacrifice. Likewise, as we deal with people, problems or just daily living, it is important to look for foundational issues. Why is this person acting this way? What is the cause of the problem, not just its symptoms? What are the two or three fundamental things I must keep before me as I live my life? By focusing our life in this way, we are able to better utilize our energies to walk in wisdom rather than chasing after things that really don't matter.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Matthew 16-- Preparing for What's to Come

As children mature, they are constantly being exposed to new things.  The "new" things may be simple, like a new food, or they may be something big. Sometimes the "new" is something good and exciting like a trip to an amusement park. Sometimes the "new" is a sad or potentially scary situation. As a parent, we try to do our best to prepare our children for what is to come. In Matthew 16, we see Jesus preparing those around Him for what was to come. In particularly, He prepares them for His impending death. With the Pharisees, who peppered Jesus to show them a sign, He prepared them by saying the only sign they would have is the sign of Jonah-- a vague reference to the fact that He would be buried three days just like Jonah was "buried" in the giant fish. Then, Jesus prepares those closest to Him--His disciples. He warns them about the false doctrines of the Pharisees. He solicits their confession about who He really was--an important truth they would need to cling to in the coming days. Finally, He lays out some of the specifics of His death but then quickly turns that around to be an example to the disciples. As Christ would physically die, they needed to "die" to themselves in order to follow Christ. How can this prepare us today to what might come in our lives? While we don't know the future, learning to focus our faith on who Christ is will make a world of difference. We don't need to go through life like the Pharisees looking for God to prove Himself through signs. No, we need to act with a mature faith that confesses that Christ alone is sufficient for all we need as we daily deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Romans 16-- Beyond Networking

At first, it sound like the "I want to thank..." that you hear at all of those awards shows. But Paul's list of greetings in Romans 16 is much deeper. It shows the depth of relationships and teams that he had built. It is amazing that Paul knew so many people and so much about so many people in a place where he had never been. Paul wasn't just a great networker; no, he was a great relationship builder. He impacted people's lives, mobilized them into ministry, and served with them to bring glory to God. He also warns his "team" to be careful of those who would seek to divide and hinder them (vv 17-19). Likewise, we must be vigilant about being deceived by those who may be very eloquent but are not teaching truth. Finally, Paul brings this chapter and book to a close by telling his team they are assured of victory because "the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet" (v20). Let's be vigilant, grow in our relationships with other believers, and look forward to that day when our adversary is crushed once and for all.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential.Please share this blog with your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Acts 20-- Leadership Means Teamwork

What really impresses me about the Apostle Paul--and what so many people fail to see--is that he did all of his ministry as a team.  He was not a Lone Ranger or Rambo trying to go it alone.  He constantly built teams and effectively led them.  This is one of the best chapters that illustrates this truth.  Look at how he interacts with his various teams at different places.  Notice his zeal, commitment and passion to build teams and develop leaders.  The secret to doing this is found in verse 28 as Paul gives his final instructions to the leaders from Ephesus.  He tells them basically two things: look after yourselves, and be a good shepherd of others.  Leadership and teamwork starts from within.  You have to be disciplined, growing, and focused yourself before you can effectively lead others.  Then, you approach others as a shepherd, gently but decisively walking with them in the direction they should go.

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