Week Three, 2025
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you for a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and reverence (1 Peter 3:15).
We got on the elevator on the 14th floor on our way to breakfast. It stopped on the 10th floor. A tall handsome man got on. Now it was the three of us. We looked at him and then looked at each other. Could it be? We determined it was, and I said “Good morning, Dr. Graham.”
The doors closed and I realized that I had ten floors of descent to engage in a jeweled conversation with Billy Graham. I reached in my coat pocket and pulled out a New Testament and asked for him to sign. He wrote “Billy Graham, Philippians 1:3…. I thank my God every time I remember you.”
By then, we were on the ground floor and the doors opened. We shook hands and went our separate ways. What an experience with a man I so deeply admired.
They call it the” elevator speech.” It begs the question of what you would say about the philosophy you profess or the product you sell if you only had an elevator ride to do it. It also reminds us that we always need to be prepared to speak in the limited time we are fortunate to have, no matter how short.
1 Peter 3:15 tells us to be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you for a reason of the hope that is in you. Are you always prepared to share your faith at the time you have, even how short the opportunity?
What is your Christian elevator speech and are you always prepared?
Sometimes True Stories
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
Whatever you may be dealing with.
Whatever is going on in your world.
Whatever is stealing your thoughts, your moments, your joy…
Be Reminded.
Be reminded from where your help comes.
Be reminded of the one whose yoke is easy and whose burden is light.
Be reminded of the one who gives you joy and peace and comfort.
Believe me, I know it’s hard.
I know things sometimes are more than we can handle.
But in those moments… In those times when the weight is bearing down and the walls seem to be closing in, be reminded of the one who broke the chains of sin.
Be reminded of the one who defeated death, died upon the cross, and resurrected three days later.
Be reminded that you are not alone.
Be reminded that there is nothing that you may be facing that Jesus, himself, has not already faced.
Nothing that He cannot overcome.
Be reminded of His strength in our weakness.
His hope in our hopelessness.
His forgiveness in our failure.
His love even when we cannot seem to love ourselves.
Jesus Loves You.
This I Know.
For The Bible Tells Me So.
Be reminded of His grace. His mercy. His hope. His love.
Be Reminded. Marty Stubblefield
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PROBLEM:
These days there are far too many who say they are expositors of God’s Word but preach “feel good” sermons or “self-help” sermons or “get rich” sermons. Sure, we recognize them on television or radio, but too often we find them in our churches. Lost people who go to church hoping to find the solution to their lostness find, instead, how to have a happy life by what they can do in their own power.
SOLUTION:
1. Search out a church which preaches and teaches the pure Word of God, a church that will not compromise on the Truth found only in Scripture. If you don’t find one initially, keep looking until you do. The Holy Spirit will let you know when you find it.
2. Diligently read and study the Bible every day. Before reading, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what truths you need to know. He will answer that prayer.
Start today. Rich Jensen
Quotes You Can Use
The coming of the Lord enables us to be real about the messiness of the world while still being hopeful for the future. Edgar Aponte
If the Lord should come today, would you be ready to meet Him? Dan Shock
Some people can be reasoned into sense, and others must be shocked into it. Thomas Paine
One day we’ll pass through that veil called death and we will see the face of our Savior. Dan Shock
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. Mark Twain
If life is to have meaning, and if God’s will is to be done, all of us have to accept who we are and what we are, give it back to God, and thank Him for the way He made us. What I am is God’s gift to me; what I do with it is my gift to Him. – Warren Wiersbe
My God, I have never thanked Thee for my thorn. I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but not once for my thorn. I have been looking forward to a world where I shall get compensation for my cross; but I have never thought of my cross as itself a present glory. Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my thorn. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbows. – George Matheson
Returning thanks for blessings already received increases our faith and enables us to approach God with new boldness and new assurance. Doubtless the reason so many have so little faith when they pray is because they take so little time to meditate upon and thank God for blessings already received. As one meditates on the answer to prayers already granted, faith waxes bolder and bolder, and we come to feel in the very depths of our souls that there is nothing too hard for the Lord. As we reflect upon the wondrous goodness of God toward us on the one hand, and upon the other hand upon little thought and strength and time that we ever put into thanksgiving, we may well humble ourselves before God and confess our sin. – R.A. Torrey
Hell has many gates. Heaven has but one.
Death comes to an ungodly man as a penal infliction, but to the righteous as a summons to his Father’s palace. C.H. Spurgeon
Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you everything. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Serve your parents in the last part of their life just like they served you in the first part of your life.
The early church wanted to know what you have to do to be saved. Today’s church is asking what I can do and still be saved.
Saying that abortion is healthcare is like saying that human trafficking is free transportation.
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