Have you registered for Psalm 27?

November 7, 2014 by Lisa Burgess Leave a Comment

You’re not too late to join in as we memorize Psalm 27!

If you’ve never memorized with us before, this is a great chapter to begin with. We’ll learn one verse per week, beginning this Monday, November 10, with breaks for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Register today and print any free resources you’d like.

We trust that God will reveal fresh insights and give renewed strength as we set our minds and energy to seal the 14 verses of Psalm 27 into our hearts.

And even if you choose not to memorize, please follow along as we look at each verse, and be in prayer for those who will be attempting this challenge. Thank you!

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Psalm 27:14

Questions? Ask here.

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“It’s not too late! Register today to memorize Psalm 27 http://wp.me/p1Su7F-397 @DoNotDepart #HideHisWord”

Give Thanks {A Study on Psalm 118}

November 4, 2014 by Caroline 5 Comments

Gratitude changes pretty much every aspect of our daily lives.

With gratitude, our perspectives on what we have change.

With gratitude, our worries about the future ease.

With gratitude, our views on interruptions and rocky paths alter.

Regardless of what situation we’re currently in, can we remain grateful?

Psalm 118 says, YES.

Why?

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!“

And that’s just verse 1.

We can always give thanks because He is good. Because His love lasts. Because He is our Salvation (Psalm 118:14).

We’re studying Psalm 118 all this month here at Do Not Depart. Each of our writers will read and study a few verses with you each post. We invite you to join us, give thanks with us, and revel in His endless love with us.

Read through Psalm 118 once today. What verses stick out to you? Share them in the comments!

We’re studying Psalm 118 all this month. Join us, #GiveThanks with us, and revel in His love with us:

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Regardless of what situation we’re currently in, can we remain grateful? Here’s what Psalm 118 says:

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Registration/resources to memorize Psalm 27

November 3, 2014 by Lisa Burgess 11 Comments

We can do this–memorize Psalm 27!

This short but full chapter is a great one to put in our hearts and minds, to remind ourselves often that we can live confidently, not fearful of outward circumstances or enemies. We can know the Lord will be gracious to us when we seek His face.

Mindful of the busy holiday seasons ahead, we’ll concentrate on only one verse per week, taking off for the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas. See the full schedule here.

When you register, you will receive an email reminder every two to three weeks with the next verses and bonus memory tips and links.

For extra community, join our Facebook group. Share tweets using #HideHisWord and practice the verses using Scripture Typer.

RESOURCES

Print these free resources now to get prepared. Resources are in 3 versions! Memorize in any translation you prefer.

Bookmark Schedule
Text Cards
ESV / KJV / NKJV
Text One Page
ESV / KJV / NKJV
First Letters
ESV / KJV / NKJV
Button

If you’re memorizing in NIV, Jody Collins is sharing her great Psalm 27 (NIV) business-sized cards. (If you also have resources you’re willing to share, let us know!)

INVITE OTHERS

Will you help us spread the word on your blog or other social media?

“I’m memorizing Psalm 27. Join me! Find out how. http://wp.me/p1Su7F-38j @DoNotDepart #HideHisWord”
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Link-up coming in one month, December 3, for your blog posts on why/how you’re memorizing Psalm 27.

Questions? Comments? We’d love to hear you’re joining in!

Registration now closed

Jesus Is…

October 30, 2014 by Kathy Howard Leave a Comment

This month at Do Not Depart we’ve tackled a huge question: Who is Jesus? Although we will spend an eternity discovering the full answer, we have touched on a few vital truths.

Let’s recap what we’ve learned:

Jesus is the True Sacrifice – Ali reminded us that Jesus was the final and full sacrifice for sin. “We can have hope because we have a loving Savior who gave himself to rob our sin. We no longer need to live under guilt and condemnation! We’re set free from the punishment of sin! And we’re able to approach the throne of grace confidently (Heb 4:16) any and every time we draw near to God.”

Jesus was fully human – Lindsey showed us from Scripture that Jesus was 100% human. “Because Jesus was fully human, he understands fully what it’s like to be human… He understands our struggles… our fears … and our feelings of abandonment when God seems distant.”

Jesus was fully God – Jesus was 100% human, but Scripture teaches He was also 100% God. (God’s able to do math like that!) Lisa laid out a list of reasons why we must accept the deity of Jesus. “Everything is different for us since Jesus is divine. Awakened to a higher purpose, we have a fuller joy now and a kingdom home with God forever.”

Jesus is our High Priest – Jesus is the only mediator between us and God the Father. He gives us access to God. I love how Caroline reminded us that because Jesus is our High Priest, “we can come to Him any time, any place, with anything on our hearts.”

Jesus is the Messiah – Jesus is the Promised One, the Deliverer, the Savior, the One God’s people had long waited for. I loved Patti’s conclusion: “Jesus our Messiah bore our every sin. He was anointed to make intercession for us with His very life, and save us from an eternity of separation from God. Jesus is the Anointed Savior Who was promised from the beginning – our Messiah and our hope!”

We could say so much more about Jesus! But instead of me rambling on, I ‘d like to share some words from the Nicene Creed, crafted by some of the early church fathers at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD.

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God,
begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again
according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;
and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.

Jesus – who is our Savior, our Sacrifice, our High Priest, and our God – is coming again as King!

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, NIV

New Bible Memory Challenge! Psalm 27

October 29, 2014 by Lisa Burgess Leave a Comment

Are you ready to dive into a new Bible chapter memory challenge? Together let’s learn Psalm 27, a beautiful (and short) chapter about the Lord as our light and salvation!

Register here this Monday, November 3, to get the FAQs email sent directly to your inbox, along with links to all the resources and extra memory tips, sent every two or three weeks throughout the challenge.

We’ll officially begin memorizing the following Monday, November 10. We’ll go slow–one verse per week—taking breaks during Thanksgiving and Christmas, and finish in February. See full schedule here.

If you’re on Facebook, you can join our group now. We stay actively engaged and encourage each other there. You can also sign up for our Scripture Typer group to practice the scriptures on your computer or smartphone.

Will you help us spread the word on your blogs and social media? [Button here or right click on image below and “save as”.]

“Want to learn Ps 27? Pray now; register Nov 3; memorize Nov 10. Together it’s easier! http://wp.me/p1Su7F-385 #HideHisWord”
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Share your questions, comments, and excitement in the comments!

Jesus the Messiah

October 28, 2014 by Patti Brown 2 Comments

Almost from the moment Eve ate from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, humans have known they needed help. They needed Someone sent from God, anointed to save them.

I find it significant that the first time God speaks of the One to come, He is talking to the face of evil itself. In Genesis 3:15, God says to the serpent:

I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise his heel.
Genesis 3:15

Evil had just entered humanity, and God already had a plan for defeating the enemy forever!

What is a Messiah?

The Old Testament is full of prophecies of a messiah to come; some scholars count over 300 prophecies. You can take a look at some of them in this useful chart.

But what is a messiah?

Messiah literally means “anointed one.” Christos (χριστος) is the Greek word for Messiah, so when we say Jesus Christ, we are actually saying “Jesus the Messiah” or “Jesus the Anointed One.”

Early in His earthly ministry, Jesus Himself declared that He was anointed. Just after He returned from being tempted in the desert, He went to the synagogue and stood before the people and read Isaiah 61:1-2.

And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”.

– Luke 4:17-21

From His birth (Micah 5:2/Matthew 2:1) to His ascension (Psalm 68:18/Mark 16:19), Jesus fulfilled every Messianic prophecy in the Old Testament scriptures.

Anointed to Be Our Savior

Jesus our Messiah did not come as a political savior. He did not release His people from the governments that enslaved them. His purpose was and is far greater. Jesus’ purpose is eternal.

Just as God told the serpent in the Garden of Eden, His purpose for His Anointed One was to crush evil.

One of the most well known passages concerning the prophesied Messiah is Isaiah 53:

1 Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
²For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
³He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted withgrief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

⁴Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
⁵But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
⁶All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

⁷He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
⁸By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
⁹And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
¹¹Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
¹²Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.

– Isaiah 53:1-12

Jesus our Messiah bore our every sin. He was anointed to make intercession for us with His very life, and save us from an eternity of separation from God.

Jesus is the Anointed Savior Who was promised from the beginning – our Messiah and our hope!

Do you know what “messiah” means? Learn here:

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Christos (χριστος) is the Greek word for Messiah. Jesus Christ = Jesus the Messiah.

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The Greatest High Priest

October 23, 2014 by Caroline 3 Comments

So far this month, we’ve discussed Jesus as the One True Sacrifice, as human, as divine. And all of this plays into His role as our High Priest.

The “high priest” can be defined as “ruler of the house of God” ([amazon_link id=”0785212175″ target=”_blank” ]Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary[/amazon_link], p. 928). In the Old Testament, Aaron was the first designated high priest. His duties, his clothes, and his obligations were all different from any other priest or common followers (Hebrews 9:1-10).

One of the high priest’s biggest jobs: He was the main communicator between God and the Israelites. Only the high priest could approach the “throne” of God.

Another essential job: “The high priest had to offer a sin offering for his own sins and the sin of the whole congregation” (Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 929). He performed all the necessities to make atonement for himself and the people.

But things changed between the years of the Old Testament and the New Testament. The high priests became focused on wealth, prestige, and blame.

Then came Jesus.

The Greatest High Priest (and why that matters) - DoNotDepart.com — Original photo credit

Christ as Our High Priest

Hebrews 4:14 calls Him the “great high priest.” What specifically makes Him such?

Ali mentioned a major truth in her post a couple of weeks ago. She said:

“We all do things that God doesn’t like. None of us are sinless. And we all know that sin separates us from God.”

That’s a pretty major difference between Christ and us, isn’t it?

Christ is sinless – before, while on this earth, and after. His perfect nature and accompanying sacrifice allow us the opportunity to follow Him and experience redemption.

That blamelessness helps make Him our High Priest. As Lisa said last week, “But since Jesus IS the Son of God . . . we can love beyond ourselves.” His divine love is the example for our love.

Yet, that’s not all that classifies Him as such.

Though Christ was blameless, that doesn’t mean he didn’t suffer. He suffered. More than any of us ever have.

Lindsey shared a good list of how Christ experienced much of humanity as we do on her post last week.

He grew weary, He wept, He grieved, He experienced pain. He suffered.

Hebrews 4:15 says:

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Think of your most trusted friend. Do you trust him (or her) because he holds knowledge or status? Or do you trust her because she has suffered as you have? He can empathize. She can relate. And he has wisdom and growth and guidance to offer from that experience.

Christ’s goal as high priest was not earthly in motivation. Unlike any previous priest, He holds an eternal priesthood with a better purpose available for all of us (Hebrews 7:22-25).

His sacrifice allows us to pray to God and opens redemption to anyone (1 Timothy 2:3-6).

He entered (Hebrews 9:11-12), and He saved.

“For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly… But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” – Hebrews 9:24-25, 26

What Our High Priest Shares

I always think of Hebrews 4:15 when I think of Christ as High Priest. But, I think it’s equally important to look at the verses before and after that verse:

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:14-16

Because He is our High Priest, we can come to Him any time, any place, with anything on our hearts. And share that grace-filled love with others.

How does your heart respond to Christ as our High Priest?

Hebrews 4:14 calls Christ the “great high priest.” What specifically makes Him such?

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What it means that Christ is our High Priest:

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Teaching Kids to Be Missionally Minded

October 22, 2014 by Patti Brown 2 Comments

Many parents wonder how to teach their children to be missionally minded – to be more outward focused instead of focused on themselves. Children learn not only by word (what you teach) but also by example (what you do.) If you live a missionally minded life, your children will observe your choices and learn from you.

Start at Home

The first step in nurturing a servant-hearted worldview is to make the language of service a normal part of your family’s life. In our home we talk a lot about making the loving choice. We memorize verses that help us remember that a fundamental expression of love is to serve. Here are some verses you might want to use in your home:

Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:29-31

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. – Luke 6:31

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. – Philippians 2:3

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:4

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. – Colossians 3:23-24

Even before talking about serving those outside the home, children can practice by serving their siblings and parents. Make it fun and exciting, even play games to practice!

Service Ideas for Children

Getting out and helping others outside the home is the next step. You may have to be creative to find service opportunities for very young children. Ministering as a family is best when you have little ones, but don’t try to do too much too early, or both you and your child will end up frustrated.

Pray and consider your child’s natural gifts and interests. This may open up new possibilities for service. Lisa has some great suggestions for questions to consider as you look for ways your children can serve.

Here are some service opportunity ideas to get you thinking about what might be available in your area.

Service opportunities for children under 5
– practice at home by helping parents do kind things for siblings
– help bake cookies for a neighbor
– pick out toys for Operation Christmas Child

Service opportunities for children ages 6-12
– contact your local food bank or women’s shelter and find out what supplies they need, then have your children help pick out these items at the store and deliver them
– help your kids set up a fundraiser (bake sale, lemonade stand, yard sale) for a charity they want to support
– pick up trash together in your neighborhood
– make a meal as a family to deliver to someone needing help (new mom) or cheering (invalid)

Service opportunities for children ages 13-18
– volunteer at the local food bank or soup kitchen
– make crafted items like hats, sleeping mats, dresses, puppets or shoes for those in need.
– go on short term mission trips with church or youth groups
– babysit or clean house for a new mom

You may find other ideas here. And now it’s your turn! How do you nurture a servant’s heart in your children?

Teaching Kids to Be Missionally Minded from @becomingjoyful and @donotdepart.

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Make the language of service a normal part of your family’s life. More here:

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How have you nurtured a servant’s heart in your kids? Share your thoughts here:

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How Our Beliefs Affect Our Emotions

October 21, 2014 by Katie Orr 3 Comments

After a local musical performance of The Little Mermaid, Jr., a little three-year-old girl, Tori, bounced excitedly out to the lobby to meet the actors. Still dressed in their costumes, the characters awaited Tori and the other members of the audience, who herded through the foyer to the front door of the theatre. Tori walked joyfully as she acknowledged the Poor Unfortunate Souls, the Sailors, and various Sea Creatures, until she encountered King Triton. One look at his commanding presence and seemingly sharp trident, and her excitement quickly turned into terror. An ear-piercing, show-stopping scream came out of the little child.

The lobby was completely silent.

The lines of fantasy and reality are still being drawn in Tori’s developing mind. The power of Triton was intimidating from a seat in the theatre, but standing two feet in front of him was all too scary for a child who believes the character is real. Her view of Triton—though incorrect—affected Tori’s emotions and actions in very real ways (and the ringing ears of dozens of onlookers can verify her reality!)

This phenomenon does not stop with childhood. We all hold faulty beliefs, and many of them are tucked away in our views of God.

The way you and I view God is so very, very important. If our mental portrait of God is off from what is true, it will affect our daily emotions and choices. When we have an opportunity for a closer encounter with God, one that requires a trust in His goodness, our true beliefs about who God is will come into play.

If I believe my God is mighty, in-control, all-knowing, and completely full of love for me, I will draw near to Him and follow His lead in faith, because I know His plan for me is safe.

If I believe my God is weak, unable to deliver, and doesn’t understand or care what I’m going through, I will cower in fear, maybe even run in the other direction, because I do not have confidence that God will provide for me.

See the difference?

Not only is the way I view God important, but how I think He views me, is crucial as well.

If I believe that God turns His back on me when I sin, or that He looks for ways to send punishment and judgement down on me, then I will run away and hide from Him when I mess up.

If I believe that my sin is paid for, through Christ, and that when God looks at me, He no longer sees my sin, but sees the righteousness of Christ which was given me at salvation, then I will joyfully and thankfully return to His presence.

For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. — Romans 5:19

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. — Romans 8:1

If Tori knew the real person behind the Triton costume, she would know that he is indeed a gentle, kind boy who would never do her any harm. However, her beliefs were a powerful dictator of her emotions, and her emotions led her to act in such a way that was inconsistent with the real Triton’s character.

When we allow our faulty beliefs about God dictate our emotions and actions, we miss out on much of what He has provided for us through Christ.

Let’s believe better today, and thus experience a deeper intimacy with God as we see him more clearly for who He really is.

How have you seen your faulty beliefs affect your actions? What are some ways you fight to believe better about God?

(I’ve also podcasted about the importance of our beliefs in relation to our obedience, in my kick-off to a new series on the character of God in Psalm 46. If you are looking for ways to grab truth here and there—in under 15 minutes—the FOCUSed15 Podcast is for you!)

Why you should care if Jesus is the Son of God

October 16, 2014 by Lisa Burgess 20 Comments

Here we looked at Jesus being fully human. And why that matters to us.

But what about Jesus being fully divine? Does it make a difference if He also is or isn’t a God? Would that affect our everyday lives?

Yes, it makes a difference, and yes, it greatly affects us!

Because. . .

If Jesus is NOT the Son of God—we don’t have to obey Him.
We could ignore His commandment about loving the Father and loving everybody we know. Um, can you imagine the implications in our relationships if we all lost our motivation to love and resorted to self-centeredness instead?
(See John 15:9-12; Mark 12:29-31; 1John 5:1-2)
If Jesus is NOT the Son of God—our past shame still binds us.
With no perfect sacrifice for our past sins, there would be no permanent forgiveness, no grace. Without a Savior to clean us up, we’d have to carry our dirty baggage around with us from birth past death.
(See Hebrews 1:3; 1John 4:14)
If Jesus is NOT the Son of God—then this life is our only hope.
Our promise of eternal life would be over if the Way is closed. A bright future forever in heaven would be hopeless.
(See John 5:24,39-40; 1John 5:11-12; John 14:6)
If Jesus is NOT the Son of God—so much for our royal lineage.
With Jesus not our brother, we’d be just another face in the crowd, made only in the DNA of our earthly parents, not in the image of a holy Creator.
(See John 1:1-3; Revelation 4:11; Hebrews 1:2; Colossians 1:15-16)
If Jesus is NOT the Son of God—we’re on our own.
That would mean God couldn’t be trusted and the Spirit never came. We would have no higher power to help us. God wouldn’t live in us, nor we in Him.
(See John 10:33-38; 1John 5:20; Luke 10:22-23; John 15:26)
If Jesus is NOT the Son of God—there goes our community.
If Christ isn’t worthy of worship, there would be no Christianity. With no mutual blood of Jesus between us, we’d lose our family ties we now have with those in the church (there would be no church).
(See Colossians 1:18-20; Ephesians 2:12-14)

But since Jesus IS the Son of God . . . we can love beyond ourselves. We start each day with new mercies. We’re assured we’ll live forever. We are a royal priesthood. We are divinely-empowered. We’re included among the bride of Christ. We’re redeemed, delivered, free!

Everything is different for us since Jesus is divine. Awakened to a higher purpose, we have a fuller joy now and a kingdom home with God forever.
(See John 10:28-30; 1John 4:15-17)

Believing in Jesus as my Lord and my God matters to me, both now and later. You, too?

Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:28-29

Question:
How has knowing Jesus as the Son of God changed your life? What’s a favorite scripture of yours about Jesus? Let’s talk in the comments.

Is Jesus divine or not? Why it matters here and now

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