Studying James 5:19!

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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.

 

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

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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?

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

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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.

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Transformed #284: Building Relationships Through Sunday School!

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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!

 

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Studying James 5:18!

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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.

 

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Hard Heartedness Refuses to Acknowledge the Lord Despite Personal Experience!

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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?

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Hope For Today – Help Me Be Brave!

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

brave-image

Photo Credit: sarahkocischeilz.wordpress.com

Fear is insidious, isn’t it? It scares us right down to the lint between our toes. It stops us in our tracks and derails our life in an instant!

I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today for those of you who are praying, Lord, Help me be brave!

Azariah the prophet told Asa the king one day, “But as for you, be brave and don’t lose heart, because your work will be rewarded!” (2 Chronicles 15:7, Common English Bible)

Fear is a constant problem in our lives, and it was no different in the life of King Asa of Judah. Surrounded by enemies and world powers that were collapsing, global instability was in the air.

Internally, people were choosing lawlessness and taking liberties God never intended. An invasion of foreign faiths threatened to tear the shrunken state of Judah into shreds. Does any of this sound familiar?

Into this mess, God sends a message to the king and says, I know what everyone else is doing. “But as for you, be brave and don’t lose heart, because your work will be rewarded!”

Today, with political instability, terrorism, rampant immorality, financial roller coasters, and a growing unease globally, many people are looking for peace and pleasure anywhere they can find it. Despite all this, God is saying to you today: “But as for you, be brave and don’t lose heart, because your work will be rewarded!”

 

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.

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Transformed #283: Modeling Our Sunday School After New Testament Health and Growth!

Posted on February 7, 2016 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

healthinsurance1

Sometimes we make the simple way too complicated. This is especially true when it comes to our discipleship using Sunday School or small groups.

As we continue our New Year series, “When Sunday School Works Well!” Dr. Matthew Lee Smith refocuses us on the purpose of discipleship through our Sunday School and then opens up the New Testament genius of health and growth.

Let’s listen in as Dr. Smith brings hope and help to leaders like yourself at a recent conference in Northern California on the subject, “Modeling Our Sunday School After New Testament Health and Growth!

 

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!

 

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Studying James 5:17!

Posted on February 4, 2016 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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.

 

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Hard Heartedness Refuses to Acknowledge God’s Supernatural Activities!

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

hard-heart1

Some thoughts from Exodus 7:20-25 (ESV)

The hard-heartedness of Pharaoh refused to take the supernatural actions of the Lord to heart.

We begin to understand Pharaoh better as we explore his stubborn refusal to accommodate the Lord’s command. Despite the miracle of turning water into blood, this emperor is unphased. He watched his magicians do the same “trick” and walked away without another thought. While this was a “first salvo” across the bow of the nation of Egypt, Pharaoh finds nothing of interest or intimidation in it. This is often the case of power and pride.

When one thinks they are invincible, they usually ignore the gracious attempts of the Lord to bring them to Himself.

 

What do you think? I’d love to hear!

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