“Говорю это не потому, что нуждаюсь, ибо я научился быть довольным тем, что у меня есть.” -Филиппийцам 4:11 ___________________ “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:”-Philippians 4:11
Religion is mans answer to draw close to God; A relationship through Jesus Christ is Gods answer to draw close to man; Which one will you choose? -Rick Cheatham
We Need You, Lord We need you, Lord. Like lost wanderers in a burning, empty desert thirst for cool, clean water, we long for you to quench us. In a world gone progressively mad, with chaos all around us, we seek refuge in the order and purpose of your law. With evil sneaking, leaking everywhere, spreading heavy darkness, creating feelings of emptiness, we hunger for your goodness and light. Turn us around, Lord, we pray; retrieve your sheep who have gone astray. Draw us to the satisfaction of your purity and righteousness. Cleanse us, and make us more like you, role models, examples, beacons, for others who are searching for meaning for their lives. Come, Lord Jesus. We need you, Lord. By Joanna Fuchs
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Sergey S | 3/15/2010 1:58 AM
How are we the light of the world? What is it mean to be the light? Why do we need to be the light? What kind of thoughts run through your mind when you read these questions? Feel free to share them by leaving a comment--- 
The newspaper article in the Florida newspaper told it in grim detail. The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reported the death of a 12 year old boy who hung himself. Why? The merciless taunting of his classmates because of his weight. The boy was 5 foot 4 inches tall and weighed 174 pounds. Seems the classmates couldn't get enough of teasing him. So one evening at midnight, he crawled out of the window of his home and went to the backyard tree, got a stool, slung a rope over a branch and hung himself. His 8 and 10 year old brothers found him as they were getting ready for school. His mother collapsed as the paramedics pronounced him dead on the scene. The father immediately took an axe and cut down the tree. You might say the boy was literally teased to death. Isn't that absolutely tragic?
We learn a lot about science and math - but we don't really learn in school about compassion.
But let me ask you...surely there was at least one student in his school who was a Christian, who could have befriended him, and made him feel welcome. WHERE WERE THE CHRISTIANS?
Tags:13 comment(s) so far...
Re: This Thursday’s Bible Study Topic: You Are The Light Of The World. To be the light of the world, is to be like Christ. We as Christians should follow his commands...To be the light of the world is to show the unbelievers that live around us, Christ the Lord. So when doing good deeds, have God being glorified through our deeds and other people who look at us could glorify the true living God! In order for anyone to be the light of the world, they have to have a close relationship with Christ and be regenerated! Apart from Christ you can't be the light of the world, it's impossible.
By Brother in Christ on
3/16/2010 11:03 PM
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Re: This Thursday’s Bible Study Topic: You Are The Light Of The World. Hello Everyone.
To be the light of the world is to be like Christ....obeying all his commands. To be the light of the world is to have the fruits of the spirit. (Gal 5:22-23)It's showing the world that you are different and that the spirit of God dwells in you. By showing and doing good deeds, you give glory, praise and thankfulness to God of what happened in your life. To be the light of the world is showing the unbelievers Christ the Lord through your deeds and actions. In order for anyone to be the light of the world they have to put their faith in Christ Jesus and be regenerated! Apart from Christ it's impossible to be the light of the world. By your deeds and actions, people around you can give glory to the one living God, that's what being the light of the world is!!
By odessa on
3/16/2010 3:46 PM
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Re: This Thursday’s Bible Study Topic: You Are The Light Of The World. Hello Everyone!
What’s the opposite of light? Its darkness. Either you are in dark or in light. Light is righteousness, darkness is sin. The light came into the world-JESUS.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend[a] it.
Jesus is the light! Those who follow Him are also the light.
Why are people not the light of the world?
John 3:19-21
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
A Christian suppose to be the light of the world. Jesus said:
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
These words Jesus is telling to his followers. People got to see u different then everybody else. The light shines in darkness. Christians should shine their life in the sinful world. Jesus is the light for us we are the light to the world.
Have a wonderful day!
By Paul on
3/16/2010 9:41 PM
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Re: This Thursday’s Bible Study Topic: You Are The Light Of The World. Very good points are being listed. Christ is the best example of true light given to us.
What do you guys think? You know that candles burn out and lights sometimes go off in our materialistic word...
Are there times in a Christian's (who is born again) life when its okay not to shine? Is it okay, how some say "I don't have this courage to tell others about God". ...is this a problem?
By Sergey S on
3/16/2010 11:16 PM
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Re: This Thursday’s Bible Study Topic: You Are The Light Of The World. Interesting question Sergey, I'd like to add to this though. I suppose the quick answer is that 'yes' its a problem not to have the courage, and 'no' its not ok to not shine sometimes.
But I think that sometimes you may not be as ready as you think you are ready, and sometimes its not Christ's light but your light that you're shining, but thinking you're shining Christ's light. I think it is very important to distinguish this "light" that comes from us and the light that is Christ's light reflecting off of us.
What do you suppose the difference?
By Viktor Kulikovskiy on
3/17/2010 9:01 AM
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Re: This Thursday’s Bible Study Topic: You Are The Light Of The World. Hello everyone!
Sergey your questions: Are there times in a Christian's (who is born again) life when its okay not to shine? Is it okay, how some say "I don't have this courage to tell others about God". ...is this a problem?
Christians have to shine all the time. Verse from the Bible:
Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
To say you have no courage to tell others about Jesus, and you can not do it, is not good at all!
2 Tim 1:8
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
Hello Victor! Your question: "I think it is very important to distinguish this "light" that comes from us and the light that is Christ's light reflecting off of us.What do you suppose the difference?"
I think we do not have light. Its Jesus light that is in us. Without Jesus there is no light.
Look at this verse:
John 15:4-5
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
By Paul on
3/17/2010 8:10 PM
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Re: This Thursday’s Bible Study Topic: You Are The Light Of The World. Yes, I should've said "light", not light :) The point I was trying to make is that sometimes we are so eager to shine that we don't notice that we're far from Christ's light.
By Viktor Kulikovskiy on
3/17/2010 10:31 PM
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Re: This Thursday’s Bible Study Topic: You Are The Light Of The World. Great point Viktor, it's important to distinguish between our "light" and "Christ within us light"....
Failure to figure out the difference between the two and being careless can result in us trying to force our "light" onto others rather than having Christ's character within us shine, or simply shining our pride.
By Sergey B on
3/17/2010 11:07 PM
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Re: This Thursday’s Bible Study Topic: You Are The Light Of The World. We are in Christ if we are born of Him and the Scripture commands us to shine His light. This light is the only light that would reveal the sinful darkness that is out there in the world and can be in us when we hide our sin.
The only way we would be able to shine the true light is when we walk in purity. If a light bulb is broken, has wrong wiring inside, filled with dust it is unable to give off good light or any light at all.
Same for a Christian, we are unable to shine if there are objects that stand in the way between us and God.
The further away we get from Christ the more of our light we are shining.When your close with Him the light that is coming out of you would be His light no doubt.
What other obstacles could get in the way that make us shine more of our light instead of the light of Christ?
By Sergey S on
3/18/2010 10:38 PM
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Re: This Thursday’s Bible Study Topic: You Are The Light Of The World. I suppose there are many ways a light bulb can malfunction. I'm curious though, what does it mean in practice to "shine light"?
I remember when I was a yacheyka leader, or maybe when I preached on this topic, I tried very hard to explain how a light can malfunction and how it shouldn't malfunction. Then after church someone asked me how to shine a light in a particular situation and all my theology went out the window.
You have a story above, so shining a light in that case means being friends with that person? What if your closest friend is doing something really wrong but doesn't think there's anything wrong with it, how do you shine your light in that case?
There are many situations when shining a light is not as easy as it sounds, what do you think?
By Viktor Kulikovskiy on
3/18/2010 4:37 PM
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Re: You Are The Light Of The World Really good questions Viktor.
Yes you are right, in the story above shining the light would be seeing how people act towards that person and coming up to him and being his friend and sharing the gospel with him.
Regarding shining the light in practice for a christian is a very big but a simple approach.
The closer you are in a relationship with Christ the more of His light is going to be coming from you. When different situations come about it all going to come to and depend on how much of the Christ character is in you.
If your closest friend is doing something really wrong (something that Christ would not approve). You have few choices: 1. Let him know that what he is doing is wrong and its non-biblical and your not okay with it and if he listens and changes his behavior, continue to be his friend. 2. If you told him and he is unwilling to change his behavior, you need to break the relationship with him (as hard as it may sound).
To do #2. is very hard. This is where the the character of Christ comes in. This is shining the light. The more of Christ light your gonna have inside of you the easier this decision would be to make.
By Sergey S on
3/19/2010 2:40 PM
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Re: You Are The Light Of The World Hello everyone!
John 13:34-35 (New King James Version)
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Matthew 5:44 (New King James Version)
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,[a]
Matthew 18:15 (New King James Version)
Dealing with a Sinning Brother
15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
Matthew 18:21-22 (New King James Version
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Being the light is when we obey the Bible.
By Paul on
3/22/2010 8:38 PM
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Re: You Are The Light Of The World It is easy to be the light and to tell others of the great miracles of God when everything is well; when you paid your bills on time, when your bank account is not overdrawn, when everything at work seems to be going fine, when things at school seems to be working out.
How can you be the light of the world if things around you seem to be falling apart?
When Jesus said that you are the light of the world I don't think He meant only at a certain time of your life you need to be one. I don't think He meant at a certain location you need to be the light.
He meant no matter where you're going to be, you are going to be looked at as the one who can lead the way. As the one who can show and expose the picture of what is darkness.
So how can you shine this light during the time when you are going through difficulties in your life? What might be the key factors that play the role here to help you continue shining? Maybe someone has a life example and would like to share it-feel free to do so.
By Sergey S on
3/30/2010 11:11 PM
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1. This Thursday we are gathering at Igor Petrienko's house. 2. Baptism this Saturday at 10:00 am. 3. New Pictures from our recent trip to the ocean and this years youth camp are posted in our picture gallery.
David Kilyukh -7/10 Igor Petrienko -7/25
Abraham was the first person in the Bible to be called a Hebrew.
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