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7/29/10 |
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The Last Word/Brian Sharpe: Intentional Living |
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7/15/10 |
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The Last Word/Brian Waple: Re-Inventing Our
Worship |
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7/8/10 |
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The Last Word/Steve Kearns: Faithful Pray-er |
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7/1/10 |
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The Last Word/Larry Short: Does God Respect Us? |
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6/24/10 |
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The Last Word/Teri Parsons: Financial Update |
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6/17/10 |
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The Last Word/Gordy McCoy: Under the Rug |
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6/10/10 |
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The Last Word/Martin Schlomer: How To Listen To A
Sermon |
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Brian Sharpe |
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6/3/10 |
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The Last Word/Dan Amos: It's Going to Be a Busy
Summer |
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5/28/10 |
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The Last Word/Martin Schlomer: The Carpet
Conundrum |
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5/21/10 |
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The Last Word/Steve Kearns: Vows |
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5/14/10 |
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The Last Word/Larry Short: How to Finish Well,
Part 2: Stay Connected to the Vine |
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5/7/10 |
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The Last Word/Larry Short: How to Finish Well,
Part 1: Two Who Strayed off the Straight and Narrow Path |
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4/30/10 |
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The Last Word/Dan Amos: Help! I’ve Fallen
and I’ve Got No Margin! |
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4/23/10 |
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The Last Word/Gordy McCoy: Hidden Horrors of
Hypocrisy |
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4/16/10 |
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The Last Word/President Bosokpale, Congolese Free
Church |
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4/2/10 |
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The Last Word/Luke Amos: Christian Politics |
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3/26/10 |
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The Last Word/Cal Kierum: How Elim Can Be a Part
of Fulfilling the Great Commission |
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3/19/10 |
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The Last Word/Cal Kierum: The Unreached Task of
the Church: Reaching Unreached People With the Gospel |
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3/12/10 |
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The Last Word/Brian Sharpe: Living Proactively |
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3/5/10 |
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The Last Word/Steve Kearns: Knowing God |
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2/26/10 |
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The Last Word/Martin Schlomer: Worshipping in the
Rain |
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2/19/10 |
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The Last Word/Steve Kearns: Pray for Others |
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2/12/10 |
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The Last Word/Gordy McCoy: Still Friends |
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2/5/10 |
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The Last Word/Larry Short: We Need To Hear From
You! |
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1/29/10 |
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The Last Word/Martin Schlomer: ELDERS: What in
the world do they do? |
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1/22/10 |
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The Last Word/Dan Amos: All I Know About Fear I
Learned as a 2Lt |
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1/15/10 |
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The Last Word/Larry Short: Younger Elders |
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1/7/10 |
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The Last Word/Brian Sharpe: Prayer |
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12/25/09 |
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The Last Word/Martin Schlomer: Musings About
Grace |
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12/18/09 |
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The Last Word/Steve Kearns: Milestones and
Memories |
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12/11/09 |
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The Last Word/Bill Parsons: Asleep in the Food
Dish |
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12/10/09 |
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Crisis in the Ubangi -- Please Pray |
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2009 |
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2009
Last Words |
Intentional Living
By
Brian Sharpe
I have been in ministry, working with students,
for 10 years. Over the years there have been themes that God has
brought out through teaching or experience.
Over the past couple of years I have been hearing
the same theme. On the Evangelical Free Church Student Ministries
Council I serve on, in staff meetings, in training seminars, and just
as God teaches me through His Word, He has been calling me to
intentional living.
The problem is, it is easy getting caught up in
what needs immediately to be done -- the tyranny of the urgent. You
think, if I don’t do it then it no one else will.
I am a doer. I like being a doer. I will help in
most situations. If a storage room needs cleaned out, I will help.
Martin often says I need to focus. This is a part of intentional
living, having in mind the things that are important so you will focus
on them. Doing everything in your power to stay on track and
accomplish the “big rocks” in your ministry and life. (Big rocks are
the most important things that need to be done in ministry and life.)
As a believer in Jesus, in life and ministry I
have two main foci. These need to rule everything I do. They are: the
Great Commandment, and the Great Commission.
Jesus gets asked the question, “What is the
greatest commandment?” And He answers this question. His response
summarizes the most important thing that you and I can do with our
lives. There is no bigger rock in life or ministry.
Jesus says in Matthew 22:37-40:
“You must love the Lord your God with all your
heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and
greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your
neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the
prophets are based on these two commandments.”
These verses for believers should form the basis
for our everyday intentionality. They should be what we live for, what
makes us tick. When we are building our lives around them, our hearts
and lives will change. We will be different.
What defines you? What are your “big rocks?” If
we desire to live intentionally, we will ask these kinds of questions.
Then we will be compelled actions. That’s where we need to be. We
need to be moved from hearers of the word, to effectual does of the
word. This goes along with the beatitudes. When we live as God calls
us to live in the beatitudes, and then action will be the result.
James says you will see my faith by what I do. We are saved by faith,
but that fail compels us to action.
I know I have a long way to go to live
intentionally. But I need to start the process. I need to ask the
questions and allow the answers to shape the way I live.
A couple of years ago I was listening to a
sermon. A statement that the pastor made will stick with me for the
rest of my life. He said, the way we live shows us who is on the
throne of our life. How you answer these questions defines you.
Knowing what your big rocks are will help you see who or what is on
the throne of your life. Take time this next week and asks these
questions. Evaluate how you are living and be compelled to action.
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