NO EXCUSES - But First...IS NO EXCUSE!
Scripture
James 1:22 | But do not just listen to Gods word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
Luke 9:59-62 | 59 He said to another person, Come, follow me. The man agreed, but he said, Lord, first let me return home and bury my father. 60 But Jesus told him, Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead!l Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God. 61 Another said, Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family. 62 But Jesus told him, Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 6:24-34 | 24 No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. 25 That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Is not life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They do not plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And are you not far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They do not work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 So do not worry about these things, saying, What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Todays trouble is enough for today.
Luke 9:59-62 | 59 He said to another person, Come, follow me. The man agreed, but he said, Lord, first let me return home and bury my father. 60 But Jesus told him, Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead!l Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God. 61 Another said, Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family. 62 But Jesus told him, Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 6:24-34 | 24 No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. 25 That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Is not life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They do not plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And are you not far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They do not work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? 31 So do not worry about these things, saying, What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Todays trouble is enough for today.
Discussion
- When someone says, but first, what are they communicating about that thing verses following Jesus?
- What in your life do you treat with a but first mindset (i.e., I need to read my Bible, but first…)?
- The things that distract us as but firsts, are things that are not building Gods kingdom. Whose kingdom are they building?
- In what ways can you first seek Gods kingdom instead of your own (or your families, or your business, or your friends, etc.)?
- What does God promise in Matthew 6 when we seek His kingdom first?
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2021
January
NAMES OF JESUS: Light of the worldNAMES OF JESUS: KingESSENTIALS: Salvation motivates growthESSENTIALS: Crave Spiritual Food Pt. 1ESSENTIALS: Crave Spiritual Food Pt. 2ESSENTIALS: To live GodlyESSENTIALS: One who loves wisdomESSENTIALS: Not worldly philosophiesESSENTIALS: So your ready to shareBIBLE: Inspired(Authored) by GodBIBLE: Is Inerrant (Free from Error)BIBLE: Is Infallible (will not fail)BIBLE: Helps me growBIBLE: Is Authoritative Pt 1BIBLE: Is Authoritative Pt. 2BIBLE: Obeyed through actionGOD: The trinity (3 in 1)GOD: Is perfectGOD: Is loveGOD: Is creatorGOD: Is all powerfulGOD: Is all knowingGOD: Always presentGOD: JESUS - is GodGOD: JESUS - Son of GodGOD: JESUS - Operates in unity with trinityGOD: JESUS - Is sinlessGOD: JESUS - Our advocateGOD: JESUS - SalvationGOD: JESUS - Our exampleGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Operates in unity with trinity
February
GOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Given to Jesus followersGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Our helperGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - ConvictsGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Guides righteousnessGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Helps us growGOD: HOLY SPIRIT - Works through usHEAVEN & HELL - What is heaven like?HEAVEN & HELL - Who goes to heaven?HEAVEN & HELL - What is hell like?HEAVEN & HELL - What is hell like?HEAVEN & HELL - God is the judgeHEAVEN & HELL - Your choice!HEAVEN & HELL - God wants all to be saved!SATAN - His origin - Pt. 1SATAN - His origin - Pt. 2SATAN - Is craftySATAN - How he works (unbelievers)SATAN - How he works (believers)SATAN - Resisting himSATAN - The end of his storyMAN - Created in God's ImageMAN - Entrusted with God's creationMAN - Handcrafted by GodMAN - Loved by GodMAN - Created with a purposeMAN - Created to live for GodMAN - God's MessangersSIN - What is sin?
March
SIN - Where does sin come from?SIN - Everyone sinsSIN - Results in deathSIN - Points us to our need for JesusSIN - The desire for sin and right wars within usSIN - Your Desire > Satan's Temptation > Sin or Escape?SALVATION - God's giftSALVATION - Not deserved or earnedSALVATION - Through faithSALVATION - Only through JesusSALVATION - Through the crossSALVATION - Fully & forever forgivenSALVATION - Faith changes how you liveCHURCH - Is those who follow JesusCHURCH - Meets togetherCHURCH - Loves one anotherCHURCH - Supports one anotherCHURCH - Serves one anotherCHURCH - Proclaims JesusCHURCH - You are the churchLIFE - Foretold and Jesus follwedLIFE - Proclaimed good news to the poorLIFE - Taught in parablesLIFE - Jesus' teaching fell on deaf earsLIFE - MiraclesLIFE - Hated and RejectedLIFE - The only saviorDEATH - The promised savior on a donkeyDEATH - The promised savior\'s betrayalDEATH - The promised savior\'s silenceDEATH - The Savior mocked
April
DEATH - Crucified with sinnersDEATH - Pierced but not brokenDEATH - Buried with the richRESURRECTION - He is alive!RESURRECTION - Bore our sinRESURRECTION - AscendedRESURRECTION - Sits at the right hand of GodRESURRECTION - Gave his SpiritRESURRECTION - Left his followers giftsRESURRECTION - Will Return