http://www.seriousfaith.com en-us http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=608 Mark 2:4-5 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” (NKJV) Okay, put yourself in the scene. Jesus is in a house teaching. The house is over crowded. A group of guys bring their paralyzed friend to be healed by Jesus. They can't get in the door, but that isn't going to stop them. They go up on the roof of the house, cut a hole and let the guy down right in front of Jesus.</FO... G Brent Riggs 7/3/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=607 (Matthew 16:24) - Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (NKJV; emphasis mine) Knowledge of the Gospel (head) combined with the conviction to share it with others (heart) leaves us ready to actually figure out how (hands). There are several things to consider about how we utilize our own personal resources towards this purpose.... G Brent Riggs 6/27/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=606 (Psalm 103:1) - Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! (NKJV; emphasis mine) There are multitudes of Christians today that face death, imprisonment, starvation, beatings, banishment and worse. This message is not particularly for them. Western Christians are a soft, whiney bunch over all. (I know, not YOU... me either). It is such an obvious truth, I'm not going to take your time trying to justify it. ... G Brent Riggs 6/18/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=605 Mark 2:4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. (NKJV) We were looking at a passage in the Gospel of Mark this morning at church. In Mark 2, because of miracles and teaching, Jesus was constantly besieged by the crowds. They pressed in against Him, pushing and shoving, touching, grabbing, jockeying for position. The crowds wanted to see more, experience more, hear more... be a part of "more". ... G Brent Riggs 6/2/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=604 (Matthew 16:24) - Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (NKJV; emphasis mine) We are studying five primary goals of the Christian life, taking each goal in three steps of natural progression: knowledge (head), conviction (heart), and action (hands).... G Brent Riggs 5/23/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=603 (Matthew 16:24) - Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (NKJV; emphasis mine) We are studying five primary goals of the Christian life, taking each goal in three steps of natural progression: knowledge (head), conviction (heart), and action (hands). All five goals are: Living Like Christ Proclaiming Christ Serving Like Ch... G Brent Riggs 5/13/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=602 (Matthew 16:24) - Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (NKJV; emphasis mine) We are studying five primary goals of the Christian life, taking each goal in three steps of natural progression: knowledge (head), conviction (heart), and action (hands). All five goals are: Living Like Christ Proclaiming Christ Serving Like Ch... G Brent Riggs 5/6/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=601 (Matthew 16:24) - Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (NKJV; emphasis mine) We are studying five primary goals of the Christian life, taking each goal in three steps of natural progression: knowledge (head), conviction (heart), and action (hands). All five goals are: Living Like Christ Proclaiming Christ Serving Like Ch... G Brent Riggs 5/2/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=600 (Matthew 16:24) - Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (NKJV; emphasis mine) As we consider five basics of Christian living, there can be no more obvious or appropriate goal than simply "living like Christ", or put other ways: becoming like Christ, being transformed into the image of Christ, getting to know Christ better, imitating Christ and the popular but mostly ignored "what would Jesus do?"... G Brent Riggs 4/30/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=599 (Matthew 16:24) - Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (NKJV; emphasis mine) We recently spent a couple of Sunday school hours overviewing five primary Christian goals as it pertains to how we should live life. I am going to take the five points we reviewed and do a 16 part series on them because each point is worthy of a lesson by itself. Five points becomes 16 lessons because each point has three parts - "head, heart, hands" - plus today's introduction. ... G Brent Riggs 4/23/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=598 Acts 4:12 - Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (NKJV; emphasis mine) For those of you who have read my stuff for very long, you will know that it is only on a rare occasion I address specific people by name. It has come to a point where it is time for Christians to start addressing the religion of Oprah Winfrey by name.... G Brent Riggs 4/4/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=597 Mark 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (NKJV) Let's finish talking about this difference between what our head knows about God versus what our heart (emotions) feels when things are at their WORST in our life. To make sure I give credit where it's due, this series was prompted by Michael Wells book, "Sidetracked in the Wilderness", particularly chapter four. ... G Brent Riggs 3/27/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=596 Mark 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (NKJV) We continue to look at some interesting questions that reveal the difference between what we know in our head about God, versus what we truly feel in our emotions about Him. Remember, what we are examining is how we feel at OUR WORST, when life is caving in around us and we are in the depths of our greatest unhappiness. During those times, think about your answers to some of these questions and let if reveal how you REALLY feel about God.... G Brent Riggs 3/26/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=595 Mark 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (NKJV) Part of the maturing process of Christianity is exchanging our flawed concepts of God derived from flawed humans, and by an act of will, correcting our concept of God by applying His revealed Truth. We CHOOSE to believe what is true, and when our feelings say otherwise, we recognize this discrepancy and rebuke the incorrect feelings. ... G Brent Riggs 3/25/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=594 1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. (NKJV) The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the single most important event and fact of all of human creation and history. It has neither equal nor competitor in scope or consequence. Most people would take that as strictly religious comment but it is not. This proclamation is true for all mankind in all times and in all ways. It has no limitation, constraints or discrimination attached to it.... G Brent Riggs 3/18/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=593 Did you realize that the original New Testament was a series of letters and written accounts and not the "textbook" that we have now, all chopped up into little bitty pieces? The titles of the books, chapters, versus and all the little subdivision headings and notes were added hundreds of years after the New Testament was written. As well, it is out of order chronologically. All of this conspires present a much different "healing" than wh... G Brent Riggs 3/12/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=592 Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; (NKJV) I heard someone today talk about "what's the Christian life supposed to look like?" He was of course referring to the need people have to find a simple list they can follow. Supposedly this makes being Christian easier. In truth, it makes being a Christ... G Brent Riggs 3/10/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=591 Psalm 3:6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around. (NKJV) There have been many times in my life when I realize how thankful I am to be a Christian. Not only for salvation and God's blessings, but also for what I'm NOT because of being a Christian.... G Brent Riggs 3/4/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=590 Galatians 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (NKJV)2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; (NKJV) Okay, everytime I address an issue that falls short of excepting anyone as a "Christian" who wants to be called one, I light up a firestorm and lose a bunch of readers. Oh well. My allegiance is to the clear truth of Scripture, not to popularity. So here goes... G Brent Riggs 2/22/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=408 A honest prayer for forgiveness Merciful God, <P class=MsoNormal style... G Brent Riggs 2/12/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=589 Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. (NKJV) We are in the middle of another Presidential election year. America is more polarized than ever across idealogical lines. The fewest Americans in all of our history can even communicate the basics of our founding principles, causes and events. ... G Brent Riggs 2/11/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=588 Hebrews 6:11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, (NKJV) I get a lot of questions on my business blog about what it takes to be "successful". The answer is the same whether you are talking about business, finances, spiritual growth or relationships. Perseverance. You can have everything else "right" but if you fail to relentlessly DO those "right" things, then you'll get no results. ... G Brent Riggs 2/8/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=587 Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV) We've all heard countless messages on this verse. They usually relate to themes of overcoming great odds, or facing uncertainty or fear which of course is a correct and relevant application. However, I think even more, given modern lifestyles and attitudes, this verse needs to be retaught, re-examined and re-applied concerngin the simple day to day course of living.... G Brent Riggs 2/6/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=586 The Declaration of Independence is an incredible document that communicates the reasons why many people pledged their life, wealth and honor to risk war and death to create the United States of America we now take for granted. ... G Brent Riggs 2/5/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=398 A prayer for things we never want <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0... G Brent Riggs 1/30/2008