Frank's Bible Blog

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 Timothy 4-- From Bookshelves to Real Living

Leadership is a hot topic today both in the church and society in general. More and more bookstore space is being given to the topic as it seems a new title hits the shelves daily. Personally, I enjoy reading books on leadership and usually find them helpful. But there is one book, the Bible, that has been guiding leaders for hundreds of years. Its timeless truths don't need any revisions and are applicable to today. Consider 1 Timothy 4 which provides eight instructions for godly leadership. First, godly leaders should point out false teachings (vv1-6). They should be disciplined in their pursuit of godliness (v8). Third, they should continually proclaim the gospel (vv9-11) while also being a consistent example of the believers (v12). They should be able to publicly instruct others in the Word of God (v13). It is also important for them to discover and develop their own spiritual gifts so that they in turn can help others develop their gifts (v14). Leaders should never stop growing (v15). Finally, leaders need to guard themselves and their beliefs (v16). These are timeless leadership expectations that every Christian leader should meet.
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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 Thessalonians 3-- No Couch Potatoes Allowed

When I hear the phrase "couch potato" I picture a a guy spread out on a couch with the TV remote control in one hand and a bag of chips in the other who won't get up unless he absolutely has to. Unfortunately, some people live their lives like couch potatoes. Paul, however, says that kind of lifestyle has no place in the body of Christ. He exhorted the Thessalonians in chapter 3 to work and provide for themselves rather than mooching off from others. He challenged them to break the soap opera syndrome of busying themselves with the affairs of others and get a life for themselves. He starts the chapter asking for payer for himself and his team that "the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified." No, Paul was never idle even when he was imprisoned. There was always someone to whom he could witness, someone who needed an encouraging letter, someone whom he could touch for Christ. Let's don't "grow weary in doing good" (v13) .  It's time to drop the chips, put down the remote, and run the race of active service 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 Thessalonians 1-- Missed the Evening News

The daily news is filled with stories of people who are bad examples to others. Those who have failed in politics, business, entertainment, and even church. You don't see very many good examples--role models that other people can emulate. Well, they probably would not have made the news in their day, but the believers in Thessalonica were great examples of Christ throughout their region. In Thessalonians 1, Paul praises these believers. What made them such a great example? There were four things. First, they followed a great example--Paul and his team (vv2-5). One of the secrets of becoming the best you can is to follow after others who exemplify what it means to be the best. The same is true with our spiritual lives. It is important to watch and learn from those with a mature and vibrant Christian walk. Second, the Thessalonians demonstrated joy in the midst of suffering (v6). They didn't whine about their hardships; instead, they found joy in the midst of them. Third, they proclaimed God's word everywhere they could (v8). Finally, they demonstrated genuine faith--the kind of faith that caused others to take notice (VV9-10). We can be great Christian examples as well if we learn from the Thessalonians.
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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 20-- Learning from Lumberjacks

During a family vacation in Alaska, we attended a lumberjack show. Two teams competed in a series of events--everything from splitting wood to climbing trees. The most captivating event was the log roll, where two men stood on a log in a pool of water tried to knock the other man off balance. Not only did they stand, but they ran on that log in an attempt to beat the opponent. That event took not only courage--it actually was quite dangerous--but wisdom. Each man needed to know how to position himself on the log, how to respond to movement changes, and how to anticipate his opponent's move. He needed to know how to best apply the knowledge he had about the event to the particular moment. In Luke 20, we see Jesus exemplifying both wisdom and courage when peppered with questions from various religious leaders. Jesus was asked about His authority, the lawfulness of paying taxes, and about marriage in the resurrection. That last issue was raised by those who didn't even believe in the resurrection. In each case, Jesus responded with wisdom. Some times He answered a question with a question. Some times He brought a larger perspective to the question. Not only did He act with wisdom, but He showed courage as He publicly showed the error of these leaders. We should ask God for courage to stand up for Him, but also the wisdom to know how to say the right thing at just the right time. Courage and wisdom isn't just for lumberjacks--they comprise an important balancing act that every believer should master.
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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 15-- Can't Find the Car Keys

Have you ever lost something, like your car key, then had to spend considerable time looking for it? We all have. Sometimes we lose things of minimal value--maybe we drop a penny on the ground--and spend minimal time looking for it. But if you drop something of great value, say your wedding ring, then you keep looking until you find it. You will expend whatever effort is necessary until it is located. Luke 15 is a chapter about things of value that were lost. Here, Jesus tells three parables. The first about a shepherd who lost one of his sheep. The second about a woman who lost a silver coin in her house, and the third about a father who lost his son to rebelliousness and riotous living. All of the the lost "things" were very important and dear to the ones who lost them. In the case of the shepherd and the woman, they launched into a vigorous search until the missing items were found. In the case of the father, searching wasn't an option. He had to wait and watch for his son to come around. The three stories, of course, illustrate lost people (those who have not received God's love and forgiveness) coming to God and the rejoicing that takes place in heaven when they do (vv7,10). It reminds us that Christ came to seek and save the lost, but it also encourages us to be concerned about the lost. Like the shepherd, there are times that we need to go out looking for the lost--maybe even to another country or culture. Like the woman, there are times when the lost are nearby--maybe even in our house. In other situations, like the father, all we can do is watch and pray. The lost person has heard the gospel, knows what he or she needs to do, and prayerfully in time will do it. Let's be concerned about finding those who are lost.

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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.

Colossians 4-- Touching All the Bases

It was one of those rare heart-warming stories that made the evening news. During a collegiate softball playoff game, a Western Oregon University player hit a three-run home run then blew out her knee running to first base. Since the rules state that the player must touch all the bases, without assistance from her teammates, the umpires were about the revoke the home run. That's when two players from the opposing team, Central Washington University, stepped up and carried the injured player making sure she touched each base. Nothing against the rules for getting assistance from the opposite team. It cost Central Washington the game and any championship hopes, but in helping their opponent touch all the bases these players touched the hearts of multitudes. In Colossians 4, Paul brings the book to a close by encouraging us to touch all the bases as we seek to live for Christ. At first base we have prayer(vv2-4). It should be something we are "devoted" to, not only praying for ourselves but for others, especially those proclaiming the gospel. Second base is our walk with outsiders--those who haven't come to faith in Christ (vv5-6). We should act with wisdom and love towards these as we seek to demonstrate Christ. Paul reminds us that how we say it is just as important as what we say. Many outsiders have been turned off to Christ by the way in which well-meaning Christians tried to share the gospel. Third base is about caring for those within the family of faith (vv7-18). We see this in how Paul and his team cared for the Colossian people, with one teammember, Epaphras, especially "wrestling in prayer" for them. Prayer, walk, care--touch these bases and your ready to head to home plate!

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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.

Colossians 1-- Finding the Right Response

Have you ever been in one of the awkward moments when someone says or does something to you but you aren't sure how to respond? Maybe it was something so wonderful and unexpected that you are left speechless. Well, Colossians 1 outlines the wonderful things that Christ has done for us and what an appropriate response should be. Christ gives us hope for eternity (v5). He delivers us from darkness (v13) and forgives our sins (v14). It is because of Christ that we can have a relationship with God (vv21-22) and understand the mysteries of God (vv26-27). What is an appropriate response by us? We should seek to be filled with the knowledge of God's will (v9). We should walk worthy of our calling as God's children and bear godly fruit (v10). We should seek his strength during the long and often difficult journey of life (v11). We should regularly give thanks to God for what He has done for us (v13). Most of all, we should live a life that is blameless and above reproach (v22). I believe that as we respond to God in these ways, He gives us focus, clarity, and a personal mission in life. Paul's mission was prayer (v9), preaching (v23) and perfecting (v28) or discipling everyone he could and helping them become all that God would have them to become. No awkward moment here. God makes it clear exactly how we are to respond to all He has done for us.
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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 5-- Life in the Tent

A group of us guys from church were on a camp out. We had a great evening and had settled into our tents when a storm came through. When you are in nothing but a canvass tent even the slightest rain seems torrential, but we did get a pretty heavy rain that night. My tent was waterproof and kept everything inside dry. Some of the other guys, however, didn't fare as well. Their tents leaked all night. Camping was a fun experience (at least for us with the dry tents!), but not something we would want to do every day . Paul in this chapter uses the metaphor of tent camping to describe our life, particularly our bodies (vv1-8). He reminds us how temporal our bodies are. There is more to our existence than just the few years we spend on this earth. There is eternity and we need to prepare for it. As believers, God will judge our works in order to reward us (vv9-11). How do we prepare for that moment and maximize our rewards? First and foremost we must live for God. "Those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." It is shifting the focus off from us and onto God. Then, we can take on our role as ambassadors of Christ and help reconcile others to the Lord (vv18-21). Let's never forget that we are just living in a tent. There is something better, something permanent, coming.
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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 2-- What's that Smell?

The story is told of a traveler to a small French town who was eating at an outside cafe late in the afternoon. As he enjoyed his food, he began to smell something powerful yet beautiful. The air was completely filled with this sweet aroma. He asked the waiter about it and was told the smell happens every day at that time. It is the aroma from a nearby perfume factory carried on the clothes of workers as they leave work and walk past the cafe. These workers carried with them this beautiful aroma. I'm sure, however, that not everyone would agree that the smell was so desirable. I have allergies, for example, and I have to hold my breath when I walk through the perfume section of a department store. It's not a sweet smell to me! Chapter 2 describes the gospel in the same way. As believers, we are to be carriers of the gospel. To those who accept it, it is a sweet smell that brings life. To those who reject it, it is the pungent smell of death (vv14-17). Sometimes, however, there are believers who backslide who need to be reminded of the gospel's aroma. Such was the case with one individual in Corinth who Paul to task in his previous letter (1 Corinthians 5). The church apparently had disciplined him, as they should have, but now Paul says it was time to reach out to him. He had been punished; now it was time to once again let him breath the sweet aroma of God's forgiveness (vv1-11). Maybe today you need to inhale the gospel's sweet aroma--either for salvation or because you have drifted away from what you once held dear. Then you can be a gospel fragrance carrier wherever you go.

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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 15-- The Medal for Courage

"The Medal of Honor is awarded for an act of such courage that no one could rightly be expected to undertake it." Those were the words of President George W. Bush as he posthumously awarded Navy SEAL Michael A. Monsoor the United States highest award for bravery. Instead of fleeing the area, Monsoor threw himself onto a grenade in Iraq and saved the lives of 11 people. Courage is something that should be celebrated! In Mark 15 we see several lessons in courage, some who had it and some who did not. Of course the ultimate example of courage is what Christ did by suffering and dying on the cross. In addition to Christ, we see three other lessons in this chapter. The first is a negative one--the Roman governor Pilate. He did not have the courage to stand up against the crowd for what he knew was right. He gave in and "washed his hands" of the situation. The next two were positive. At the moment of Christ's death, the Roman centurion standing by exclaimed "surely this man was the Son of God!" (verse 39). It took courage to stand out from the other soldiers like that and publicly confess Christ's deity before the crowd. Another example of courage was Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Jewish ruling council. Much of the council, of course, was opposed to Christ. Yet Joseph came "boldly" to Pilate to request possession of Christ's body to prepare it for burial (verse 43). Not only did he prepare the body, but he donated a tomb that he owned. Both the centurion and Joseph showed courage in standing out from their peers to acknowledge Christ. Great lessons in courage from Mark 15. How courageous are you when it comes to living out your faith? Are you more like Pilate--afraid of what the crowd will think--or are you like the centurion and Joseph?

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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 13-- Watching the Fishing Line

Growing up, I loved to go fishing with my grandfather. We would sit for hours beside a lake waiting with  anticipation that any moment we would land "the big one." I usually fished with a "bobber," the bright-colored float that attaches to your line that goes under the water when a fish hits it. I would stare at that red and white bobber waiting for the second it went under the water. Jesus said that when it comes to life and to future events that we need to watching in keen anticipation. We need to watch what is happening around us and we need to be vigilant in our preparation to one day meet Christ face to face. In Mark 13 Jesus paints a broad general picture of future events, beginning with the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple (which occurred in 70 A.D.). While it is easy for us to get caught up in wanting to know the details of the future, there are three major things that we should keep before us. First, God's people will be brought before authorities where they will have to answer for their beliefs (v9). This is all part of God's plan to spread the gospel to all the nations and to those in power (vv10-11). Second, we can rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us the words to say when we are before those in authority (v11). Finally, we do need to be vigilant as no one knows the exact hour that everything Christ outlined will come true (vv35-37). That means living a life that we can be proud of if we were to stand before the Lord even today. How are you doing at watching the "bobber" of your 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.

Mark 4-- Out of Control

The scene on the TV news was horrific. An 18-wheeler truck speeding the wrong way on a freeway before it crashes into the guardrail and bursts into flames. The driver apparently suffered a diabetes induced seizure that caused him to lose control. There wasn't anything that anyone could do to stop the truck before tragedy stuck. Somethings in life, like this truck, are out of our control. While there are other things that we can control--as least parts of them. Dirt, light, trees and storms--not exactly out of control trucks but illustrations we find in Mark 4 about things that we can and cannot control. Jesus first uses the parable of the sower sowing seed that falls on different types of soil. The sower has no control over how the soil receives the seed, but he does have control over whether or not he actually sows, and how much. We can't control the impact of light, but we can control whether or not we shine it. We can't control how much a tree grows, but we can control planting the seed. We can't control the storms that arise in our lives but we can decide whether or not we will give Christ control of the situation. There are many things out of our control, and honestly, many things that God wants us to leave to His control. But there are other things for which God expects us to take responsibility. Don't try to take upon yourself what should be left to the Lord, but don't shrug off those things that God expects you to do either.
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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.

Galatians 2-- Are You the Problem?

Hypocrisy has always been one of the chief reasons non-Christians give for avoiding Christ. Their exposure to some Christians had been a turn-off. In unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity... and Why It Matters, the Barna Group's David Kinnaman documents hypocrisy as one of the main reasons young adults give for avoiding church. Hypocrisy in the church isn't new. In fact, it is exactly what Paul dealt with in Galatians 2 as he recounts his encounter with Peter and other early church leaders. Peter, it seemed, would act one way when he was around Gentiles and another way around Jews. Paul challenged that he and his message needed to be consistent. If even the early church leaders had trouble with consistency, then what can we do? Well, Paul goes on to explain that the key to consistency is crucifixion. When you and I daily consider ourselves crucified with Christ, then it isn't us trying to be consistent; rather, it is Christ living His life through us. "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I know live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God..." is how Paul put it in verse 20. Unfortunately, too often the gospel is hidden behind the inconsistent lives of those who claim to embrace it. If more believers lived the crucified life, then maybe more outsiders would be able to see the gospel for what it is. So, is your life a turn-off to those outside of Christ or does your consistency allow the gospel to shine clearly through 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.

Galatians 1-- Red Light Cameras

Here in my state of Texas, more and more cities are using cameras at traffic intersections to catch drivers running red lights. The program is controversial, but it does make drivers think twice before running a red light. When you know that someone--or something--is watching your actions, it usually causes you to be more careful. Well, whether you realize it or not, people are watching you and not just as you drive! People are forming opinions of you personally, and they form opinions of what you represent as well as your belief system. Galatians 1 is a great encouragement to the power of our testimony. The Apostle Paul in defending the one true gospel, points to his own life and how it had been radically changed by Christ. This persecutor of Christianity had become its most vocal preacher. Paul said "And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. But they were hearing only 'He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.' And they glorified God in me" (vv 23-24). Notice that last phrase--"they glorified God in me." Because of Paul's life, God was glorified. They looked at Paul and saw Jesus. Don't you want that to be said of you? Don't you want God to be glorified in you? Is there any greater compliment that you could receive than that? People are watching you. Hopefully what they see brings glory and not shame to God.

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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.

Matthew 28-- Darkest before the Dawn

The saying goes that it is darkest just before the dawn. That certainly was the case in the hours preceding that first Easter Sunday morning. It seemed that all hope had been lost when Christ died on the Cross, but now something truly wonderful had happened. Christ was alive! Imagine what this meant to Christ's disciples at the time. What looked like a devastating defeat had turned into a glorious victory. Death and sin had been conquered. Imagine what it would have been like as the 11 remaining disciples (Judas had committed suicide) gathered to see their resurrected Lord. They had seen Jesus do some amazing things while He walked with them, but nothing as incredible as this. As they gathered together, Jesus gave them their marching orders--to make disciples of all the nations. Then He left them with a promise "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (v20). As followers of Christ, we experience the victory of Easter every day as we walk with the Lord. There is always hope because their was an Easter! As we journey through this life, we must remember two things--the same things Jesus told His disciples gathered on a Galilean mountain. We must remember our mission is to make disciples and we must remember that Christ is always with us, no matter what we are facing. If you are facing a dark time in your life today, remember Easter.  Return to your mission, and rely on Christ's power and presence in your 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.

Matthew 22-- Answering the Tough Questions

I must admit that I'm a bit of a political "junkie."  I closely follow politics and enjoy watching the election process take place. It is especially interesting to watch candidates take questions from reporters. Usually, the questions asked are ones that have been posed a hundred times before. The candidate is well prepared and knows how to give a polished answer. But every once in a while a question will be thrown that takes the candidate by surprise. It is fascinating to watch the person stutter and pause and try to come up with a coherent answer--or to change the subject if it is an uncomfortable question. In Matthew 22 Jesus was peppered with questions, not from reporters but from religious leaders. It is amazing to see how He handles these. Whether it is the question about paying taxes, the greatest commandment, or the question about marriage after the resurrection (that question was posed by those who didn't even believe in the resurrection), Jesus responded with great wisdom. While none of us is Christ, God says that if any of us lack wisdom we should ask boldly for Him to give it to us, and He will. As we move through life we are faced with questions--probably not from reporters, but from co-workers, family, friends, etc.  We can respond with confidence if we will do two things: seek wisdom from God and spend time in God's Word.  Just as Christ responded with wisdom and with Scripture, we can as well. Maybe if more politicians did this we would all be better off!

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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.

Matthew 19-- What You Want to Hear or What You Need to Hear?

A network television talent show was recently in town filming for an upcoming show. My daughter and I went to it and watched the variety of acts. The ultimate winner for the season gets $1 Million, so a lot was at stake. Some of the acts we saw were quite good, and some were just awful. There was a panel of judges that determined if the act would go on to the next stage of the competition. After one group had performed, one of the judges said "Listen, we are not here to tell you what you want to hear, we are here to tell you what you need to hear." He then went on to share his opinion of their weaknesses, even though they were a crowd favorite.

Sometimes we are in situations where we must say what someone needs to hear, even though it may not be the most popular. That is very much the situation in Matthew 19 as Jesus dealt with issues such as divorce, children, and salvation. At one point, even Christ's own disciples could not believe what He had said. "When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished" (v25). But Jesus told the truth. He gave people what they needed to hear in order to make the right decisions. With the rich young ruler, He cut through to the heart of the issue--he loved and trusted in material things and had no place for faith in Christ. Some people are never confronted with truth; rather they hear only what they want to hear, and suffer as a result. Elsewhere in Scripture, we are told to "speak the truth in love." God may place us in certain situations where we are the only bearers of truth. We must speak up for truth, but just as importantly, we must do it with love.

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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.

Matthew 10-- Your First Job

Can you remember your first job? Can you remember what it was like your first day on the job? My first "real" job was working at a fast food restaurant my senior year of high school. Day one was mostly training, which consisted of reading the employee handbook and watching filmstrips (yes, I did say "filmstrips" and not DVDs) before I was introduced to the cash register--my work station for the next year. In Matthew 10, we see Jesus sending out the disciples on their first jobs. Jesus was all about multiplication and raising up laborers for the harvest. He wasted little time in getting His followers engaged in ministry. His training instructions, however, were far more encompassing than what they would experience in the immediate. No, Jesus was preparing them for the future and long-term ministry. The reality is that much of this chapter applies to anyone doing ministry, including us today.

Notice three principles that Jesus gave that we should take to heart today. First, expect rejection. Christ was opposed and rejected and there will be those who reject us today. Second, trust God to know what to say when witnessing or ministering. Yes, you need to have studied His word, but it is God who will give you the right words. Finally, don't sweat it--God's got everything in control. He knows even the number of hairs on your head (v30) and He will take care of you. You don't have to have a theology degree, know the answer to every biblical question, or have been saved for decades to begin ministering. Trust God to guide you and jump into service for Him. If you are actively serving God, then ask yourself "what am I doing to multiply myself into more laborers for the harvest?"

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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.

Matthew 3-- A Man on a Mission

"Traffic is slow in both directions as onlookers glance at the wreck." How often have you heard those words on the radio during your daily commute to work? Traffic on the opposite side of the freeway slows down to see what is happening across the way. There certainly were those curious about what they would see, but I think the onlookers 2,000 years ago who paused to see John were looking for something deeper. Matthew 3 introduces us to John, the cousin of Jesus. He was quite the sight, and people were coming from all over to see him.  But they were also drawn to his simple and clear message. He called everyone, even the religious elites, to repentance. John was clearly a man on a mission. He was called by God for a specific role--to prepare people for the coming of Christ. He fulfilled that mission with determination and focus. He stayed on message and on target, even though there were many who opposed his message and others who felt his mannerisms were strange. When Jesus came to him to be baptized, he refused at first. He recognized that Christ was the focus, not himself. I believe all of us have a divine purpose and mission. It may not be to preach in the wilderness like John, but God has a role for each of us to play in advancing His kingdom. I would encourage you to discover your unique purpose.  Once you do that, stay focussed on your mission. It is easier to do that when you realize that life isn't about you.  It is about Christ and glorifying 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 share this blog with your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Acts 28-- Consistency is the Key to Success

What makes great athletes great is their ability to consistently do what they do well.  It is the baseball player who consistently hits .300.  It is the basketball player who always makes the free throw when the game is on the line.  It is the kicker who always nails the field goal--even with four seconds on the clock to win the football game.  This is what they do, and they do it the same week in and week out, whether the game comes down to them or not.  This is what we see with Paul, and it really stands out in Acts 28.  He's shipwrecked on the Island of Malta and uses his three months there to witness and minister.  He makes various stops along the way to Rome, each time sharing Christ and encouraging leaders.  He finally gets to Rome and spends two years basically in house confinement.  Even then, he does the same thing.  Paul finds ways to share Christ, strengthen believers and train leaders.  Paul never compartmentalized his life.  His faith permeated every thing that he did 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Acts 26-- Law and Order Can't Compete with Paul and Agrippa

Perry Mason.  Matlock.  The Practice.  Law and Order.  No TV courtroom drama could ever match the drama and passion of Paul stating his case before the Roman ruler Agrippa.  His argument was so powerful that it not only put himself in a good light, but nearly led to Agrippa's conversion.  We can learn several things from Paul's incredibly persuasive speech. 

First, he was well prepared.  Although not spelled out in the text, Paul obviously had plenty of time to think and prepare for this meeting.  He surely spent significant time praying and contemplating his presentation.  Second, he immediately went positive with his message.  He said how happy he was to be able to share with Agrippa.  He talked about hope, even stating that it was because of his hope that he had been arrested.  He didn't come out of his corner swinging punches, complaining about his situation, or singing the blues.  He framed the argument as one between those who have hope and those who reject it.  Third, he spoke about what he knew intimately, his own testimony.  No one can argue with your testimony.  They may not agree with its outcome or the basis for your decisions, but they can't say that what happened to you didn't really happen.  Your testimony is one of the most powerful witnessing tools that you have.  Fourth, Paul spoke with conviction--so much so that Festus accused him of being mad.  Paul knew what he believed and stated it with passion.  Finally, he made his message personal.  Look at how many times he uses Agrippa's name or refers to him as king.  Paul knew his audience--he knew that Agrippa was well schooled in Jewish history and thought--and he appealed to that.  He masterfully shifted the focus off from his accusers to Agrippa himself with an incredible question and statement, "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?  I know that you do believe." 

Wow! Paul moved from a courtroom defense to a powerful sermon to an altar call within minutes.  Whether we are sharing our faith, exhorting others or defending truth, we can learn much from Paul's courtroom drama.

Acts 24-- A Contrast in Convictions

Fairly regularly, the news reports a story of a person wrongly convicted of a crime who only years later is exonerated based on new evidence.  Imagine sitting in prison for years for something you know you didn't do.  Paul probably felt like that as he waited for more than two years just to go to trial.  Acts 24 reveals Paul's testimony before the Roman governor Felix and a lesson in contrasts.  Paul was confident in what he believed, he stood up for himself, and he demonstrated that he had not done anything illegal.  This whole thing was over opposition to Christianity.  Felix, on the other hand, is typical of many who are outside of Christ.  He is curious but won't commit.  He's concerned with convenience rather than clarifying the truth.  Finally, he is looking for temporal gain rather than eternal purpose (vv25-27).

Acts 22-- Sharing Your Testimony

Do you know how to succinctly share your testimony of conversion to Christ?  Have you ever shared it?  Acts 22 is a great example of how to do so as Paul shares his story with the Jerusalem mob.  Notice that there were three parts to his story, and these make a great outline for sharing our stories today.  First, he shared what his life was like before he came to Christ.  He was very religious, well educated, and zealous in what he believed--but he was wrong.  Second, Paul shared how he came to Christ and what caused his radical life change.  Finally, he shared what his life has been like since his conversion--sharing the gospel with Jews and Gentiles alike.  Let me encourage you to write out your testimony in one page.  What was your life like before you responded to the gospel (don't spend a lot of time on this).  Then share how you came to Christ.  Make sure you include the gospel--which is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.  Finally, tell how your life is different now that you have been walking with the Lord.  Maybe in the process of doing this you will discover that you don't have a salvation story.  Well, today you can have one when you, like Paul, turn away from your sin and acknowledge that what Jesus did for you is the only way of forgiveness and salvation.  Invite Him to be your Savior today.

Acts 19-- Redemption, Revival and Riots

The couple of years that Paul spent at Ephesus is a great story line for a movie! Filled with drama, you see the light of the gospel battling the darkness of Satan and false religions.  There are those who repented of their sin and demonstrated it publicly by burning their occultic books.  There were those who stood in awe of the power of God, as demonstrated through the life of Paul, who also gave their lives to Christ.  But Jesus himself said that the gospel is divisive.  We certainly see that in Ephesus.  We have the charlatan itinerant exorcists acting like they have God's power but really didn't (v.15).  We have those who hardened their hearts and tried to do everything they could to dissuade others away from Christ (v9).  There are the culturally sensitive who felt that embracing Christ and abandoning the worship of goddess Diana was an attack on who they were as Ephesians (v27).  Then there are the business men who saw Christianity as a threat to their livelihood (vv.24-26).  The bottom line is this: the gospel cuts different ways with some embracing it and some resisting it.  While it may not always be popular, our job is to live out our lives for Christ, share the gospel with others, and leave the outcome to God.

Acts 17-- Lessons in Witnessing

I had a professor and mentor who always said that the key to witnessing was to "look for the ones that God has ready to be saved."  That certainly is what Paul and his team exemplified as they moved from Thessalonica to Berea to Athens. In each city, Paul found ways to share Christ with the people.  In Thessalonica and Berea, he began (as was his custom) in the synagogues preaching to Jews and religious Gentiles.  In Athens, a polytheistic society, he went to the philosophers.  In each place, there were those who were receptive and those who were not (and those who weren't were adamant to the point of violence). Paul didn't let those who rejected Christ bother him or keep him from sharing the good news.  He kept sharing and worked to disciple those who responded favorably.