Studying James 5:20!

James web slider

Welcome to the Transformed Podcast!

Dr. Matthew Smith, director of Eagles In Leadership, continues to teach verse by verse through the book of James, one verse per podcast. These studies were recorded live in his class at Bible Believers Christian College and Seminary in Hawthorne, California.

The book of James has been called, “the faith explained” and that is the purpose of these teachings. These short studies are designed to help you grow your faith.

Now, let’s open our Bibles to the book of James as Dr. Smith, Director of Eagles In Leadership, discusses our faith from the words of the step-brother of Jesus, the head of the Jerusalem Church …

 

This podcast was recorded in Hawthorne, California and edited by Melodee Smith.

 

Posted in James Study, Transformed | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Hard Hearted Refuse to Honor Their Commitments!

manipulative-behavior

Some thoughts from Exodus 8:28-32 (ESV)

The hard-heartedness of Pharaoh refused to honor His own agreements despite the Lord’s follow through in keeping His side of the agreement.

Pharaoh calls for prayer, saying plead for me as he verbally gives in to the Lord’s demand to, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.” So Moses asked God to remove the swarms of flies and He complies. But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go.

Amazing, isn’t it? In crisis, the proud may plead for help. But once it is averted, the pride reasserts itself. Such are the orchestrations of manipulators. They choose to do what is necessary to get what they want, all the while never intending to allow anyone – even the Master of the Universe – to dictate the ultimate terms of their lives.

What’s your experience been concerning manipulators?

Posted in Hard Heartedness | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hope For Today – Only You Can Help Us Lord!

help-sign-above-water

Photo Credit: www.clearlakechurch.com

What do you do when your enemies surround you on every side and defeat looks imminent? Cry? Give up? Quit?

I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today to remind us that only the Lord can help us!

Attacked by an army of over a million men, the king of Judah, “cried out to the Lord his God, “Lord, only you can help the weak against the powerful. Help us, Lord our God, because we rely on you and we have marched against this multitude in your name. You are the Lord our God. Don’t let a mere human stand against you! (2 Chronicles 14:11, Common English Bible)

In many ways, these are dark days for Christians. If we believe the Bible and take the God of the Bible at His word, then much of our culture is in juxtaposition with us. Name a subject; God is probably on the other side of our “do whatever you want to feel good” culture.

Legal assaults against businesses, colleges, and Biblical imagery across our land are hardly news anymore. It seems like millions have chosen to eradicate the name of Jesus and his followers voices as well.

To our present reality, the king of Judah reminds us to act in faith and pray with passion, “Lord, only you can help the weak against the powerful. Help us, Lord our God, because we rely on you and we have marched against this multitude in your name. You are the Lord our God. Don’t let a mere human stand against you!

 

Hope For Today is a part of the ministry of Eagles In Leadership. If you would like to know more about the hope God gives and His abundant life through Jesus Christ, I would invite you to check out our website: Eagles In Leadership . org; that’s Eagles In Leadership .org.

Posted in Hope For Today, Transformed | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Transformed #285: Coaching Our Class to Christlikeness!

Coaching-iStock-pic-medium

Losing is no fun! And yet, to be honest, Sunday Schools and Churches are losing people all across this nation.

As we continue our New Year series, “When Sunday School Works Well!” Dr. Matthew Lee Smith speaks plainly about why we are losing and the desperate need for our some great coaching to turn things around.

While listening to this training, you will see how Dr. Smith exposes some real and painful truths about our churches when he spoke at a recent conference in Northern California on the subject, “Coaching Our Class to Christlikeness!

Would You Like to Help Spread the Word?

Perhaps you would you consider sharing this message with a friend? God longs to release the captives of our culture into the freedom of faith. Thank you!

 

If you would like to explore how you can be a more effective disciple of Jesus Christ, Dr. Smith has written a book to take you to the next level!

Growing Missional Leaders is a practical passionate, Biblical mentoring journey for individuals, small groups, leadership teams and congregations who desire to win their world for Christ.

Readers will appreciate the enthusiastic and Spirit-filled hope God provides as Matthew …

* Tells stories – of lost opportunities and successes with friends – that give powerful, encouragement of personal and corporate outreach

* Opens Bible passages – again and again – showing God’s heart is to bring his lost children home

* Provides stimulating discussion questions – at the end of each chapter -providing the stepping stones to launching fresh ministry into your community Believers hungering to reach their world for Christ will be energized by this passionate call to fulfill Christ’s Gospel and the invigorating manner in which their thought processes will be stretched to God-sized proportions.

You can order your copy Growing Missional Leaders at the Eagles In Leadership website by clicking the appropriate link on the right hand side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

 

Today’s episode was recorded live in Orangevale, California and edited by Melodee Smith in La Puente, California.

And now, until next time, we are praying you would be filled with the love of God so that you can demonstrate His love to the lost and dying in your city! God bless!

Posted in Sunday School, Transformed | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Studying James 5:19!

James web slider

Welcome to the Transformed Podcast!

Dr. Matthew Smith, director of Eagles In Leadership, continues to teach verse by verse through the book of James, one verse per podcast. These studies were recorded live in his class at Bible Believers Christian College and Seminary in Hawthorne, California.

The book of James has been called, “the faith explained” and that is the purpose of these teachings. These short studies are designed to help you grow your faith.

Now, let’s open our Bibles to the book of James as Dr. Smith, Director of Eagles In Leadership, discusses our faith from the words of the step-brother of Jesus, the head of the Jerusalem Church …

 

This podcast was recorded in Hawthorne, California and edited by Melodee Smith.

 

Posted in James Study, Transformed | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hard Heartedness Refuses to Listen to One’s Inner Circle!

Hard_Hearted-rou638-d1

Some thoughts from Exodus 8:18-19 (ESV)

The hard-heartedness of Pharaoh refused to listen to his innermost circle of trusted advisors despite their unified agreement.

As we have already stated, pride creates deafness. Everyone else is wrong. I am the only one that is right. Despite the testimony of his advisors that this is the finger of God, Pharaoh would not listen to them. The plague of gnats came unannounced, so Pharaoh had no opportunity to acquiesce to the Lord’s will. However, when Moses returns for the next plague announcing flies, there is no recognition that Pharaoh even cares … until the devastation besets the nation. When the land was ruined by the swarms of flies, the King decides that the Israelis can indeed go. But, true to form, once the catastrophe was ended, Pharaoh’s pride kicked in and he changed him mind.

While many struggle with this whole scenario, we see it play out in the lives of people every day. Some go years and others decades resisting the pull and prodding of the Lord. They may be on your jobsite or in your family, but they exist all around us. As their kingdoms fall into greater devastation and the collapse of their worlds is imminent, these self-proclaimed gods of their own universes laugh at the warnings and interventions of the Almighty One. For those of us who know the Holy One of Israel personally, we know their destruction is certain, apart from repentance, which is doubtful by this point in their lives.

Against all hope, we pray and fast more, hoping for their turning to His mercy and grace.

 

How do you see it play out in your world?

Posted in Hard Heartedness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hope For Today – Loves Does No Wrong to a Neighbor!

neighbors - Do You Love Your

Photo Credit: pastormattblog.com

It’s Valentines Day! A time to share fattening sweets, overpriced flowers and credit card busting dinners with the ones we love. But, is that really how love is expressed?

I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today as we focus on the spirit of the season of love …

Paul, the great teacher of the faith tells us that, “Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:10, English Standard Version)

In other words, loving another person is a 365, 24/7 reality. It’s not just a day on the calendar. Now, don’t misunderstand me! I believe in romance and I like to eat with the Ivory Beauty to celebrate our growing and deepening love for one another. But why restrict that to just one day!? I mean, they serve steak at those restaurants every day!

And why reserve such lavish demonstrations only for our life’s companions? Shouldn’t we show others our love in generous outbursts of sacrificial selflLESSness as well?

And then the question raises it’s ugly head, “Do we even like our neighbors?” Some would say, “You can’t like a person when you don’t even know their name?!”

Today, before the sun sets, why not do something spontaneous, generous, and gracious for your neighbor … do them no harm and slather some love on them like Jesus does for us all too often!

 

Hope For Today is a part of the ministry of Eagles In Leadership. If you would like to know more about the hope God gives and His abundant life through Jesus Christ, I would invite you to check out our website: Eagles In Leadership . org; that’s Eagles In Leadership .org.

Posted in Hope For Today, Transformed | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Transformed #284: Building Relationships Through Sunday School!

Relationships - Building

Sitting in a room with strangers is depressing. Especially when no one seems interested in you and your life.

As we continue our New Year series, “When Sunday School Works Well!” Dr. Matthew Lee Smith shows us that healthy Sunday Schools build relationships intentionally!

As we listen in, Dr. Smith gets real practical about the practices that bring health and growth to churches like yours as he spoke at a recent conference in Northern California on the subject, “Building Relationships Through Sunday School!

Would You Like to Help Spread the Word?

Perhaps you would you consider sharing this message with a friend? God longs to release the captives of our culture into the freedom of faith. Thank you!

 

If you would like to explore how you can be a more effective disciple of Jesus Christ, Dr. Smith has written a book to take you to the next level!

Growing Missional Leaders is a practical passionate, Biblical mentoring journey for individuals, small groups, leadership teams and congregations who desire to win their world for Christ.

Readers will appreciate the enthusiastic and Spirit-filled hope God provides as Matthew …

* Tells stories – of lost opportunities and successes with friends – that give powerful, encouragement of personal and corporate outreach

* Opens Bible passages – again and again – showing God’s heart is to bring his lost children home

* Provides stimulating discussion questions – at the end of each chapter -providing the stepping stones to launching fresh ministry into your community Believers hungering to reach their world for Christ will be energized by this passionate call to fulfill Christ’s Gospel and the invigorating manner in which their thought processes will be stretched to God-sized proportions.

You can order your copy Growing Missional Leaders at the Eagles In Leadership website by clicking the appropriate link on the right hand side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

 

Today’s episode was recorded live in Orangevale, California and edited by Melodee Smith in La Puente, California.

And now, until next time, we are praying you would be filled with the love of God so that you can demonstrate His love to the lost and dying in your city! God bless!

 

Posted in Sunday School, Transformed | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Studying James 5:18!

James web slider

Welcome to the Transformed Podcast!

Dr. Matthew Smith, director of Eagles In Leadership, continues to teach verse by verse through the book of James, one verse per podcast. These studies were recorded live in his class at Bible Believers Christian College and Seminary in Hawthorne, California.

The book of James has been called, “the faith explained” and that is the purpose of these teachings. These short studies are designed to help you grow your faith.

Now, let’s open our Bibles to the book of James as Dr. Smith, Director of Eagles In Leadership, discusses our faith from the words of the step-brother of Jesus, the head of the Jerusalem Church …

 

This podcast was recorded in Hawthorne, California and edited by Melodee Smith.

 

Posted in James Study, Transformed | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hard Heartedness Refuses to Acknowledge the Lord Despite Personal Experience!

hardheart

Some thoughts from Exodus 8:11-15 (ESV)

The hard-heartedness of Pharaoh refused to acknowledge the Lord and His works despite personal involvement in the miraculous.

When the frogs died in Egypt at the time requested of Pharaoh, one would think that he would acknowledge the Lord as God of gods and submit. But pride is a terrible master. Once the crisis was over, despite the need to clean it all up – after all, he has slaves for that – he hardened his own heart. He got what he wanted – an end to the plague. Why should he cave in to this god now? He was smarter and cleverer than the Lord. He could think his way out of anything … or so his pride told him. Such is the delusion of pride leading to one’s utter destruction.

The longer one withholds their knee to the King of kings, the greater the impending disaster.

 

What’s your take on this?

Posted in Hard Heartedness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment