What good is hearing if you aren’t doing? God’s standards for our lives aren’t for judging others, but for applying to our own behavior. In this message, Andy explains that application is everything. Your doctor can prescribe you the best medicine. But it does no help if you don’t take it. You can own the sleekest pair of running shoes. But it does no help if you don’t exercise. You can gather all the nutritional information regarding the foods you eat. But it does no help if you don’t adjust your diet. “Unapplied truth is like unapplied paint. It doesn’t do anybody any good. The value is in the application.” Merely reading the Bible or coming to church and hearing a sermon is one thing. But real life-change happens in the “doing”. Application makes all the difference.
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Apps Are EverythingAndy Stanley, 06.04.12DescriptionWhat good is hearing if you aren’t doing? God’s standards for our lives aren’t for judging others, but for applying to our own behavior. In this message, Andy explains that application is everything. Your doctor can prescribe you the best medicine. But it does no help if you don’t take it. You can own the sleekest pair of running shoes. But it does no help if you don’t exercise. You can gather all the nutritional information regarding the foods you eat. But it does no help if you don’t adjust your diet. “Unapplied truth is like unapplied paint. It doesn’t do anybody any good. The value is in the application.” Merely reading the Bible or coming to church and hearing a sermon is one thing. But real life-change happens in the “doing”. Application makes all the difference.
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The Forgiveness AppJeff Henderson, 06.11.12DescriptionDoes forgiving someone mean he gets away with it? If not, why does it feel so good to hold a grudge? Holding a grudge is a guilty pleasure. We all love to think about how we would have just the right words to say at just the right time to make our enemies feel small in front of all the right people. But what if holding a grudge is more sinister than we think? What if the grudge is less about the other person and more about us? What if there is a better way to handle these of situations?
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The Confession AppAndy Stanley, 06.18.12DescriptionAt some point in time, confession became a private practice used to relieve your conscience. But that’s not the way confession is presented in the Bible. The concept of confession conjures images of a veiled priest sitting in a confession booth ready to absolve you of your sins. Protestants have it a little easier; they can go directly to God and ask for forgiveness without involving a middleman. Regardless of the religious system, the outcome tends to be the same – a relieved conscience. However confession doesn’t necessarily result in life-change. What happens if confession simply provides a license to sin again? Genuine confession leads to genuine change. But that requires an element of both repentance and reconciliation. The Bible is clear about confessing sins to one another rather than keeping it solely a “you and God” issue. For the consequences of confession are far less severe than the consequences of concealment.
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The Trust AppAndy Stanley, 06.25.12DescriptionOne of the Bible’s most famous verses states that “love always trusts.” Always??!! Really??!! What do I do with all my suspicions?
Jesus says in Luke 6:31, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Naturally, you would want people to choose to trust you rather than be suspicious of you. So make five commitments in your most important relationships.
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The Encouragement AppJeff Henderson, 07.02.12DescriptionIn the typical relationship, for every one compliment or encouraging comment, there are six complaints or criticisms. Six to one! That explains why so many work environments are negative and dysfunctional. That explains why so many marriages are in trouble. Can a simple application of encouragement significantly improve the quality of our relationships? When our ratios are 6 to 1 in criticism and encouragement, what world are we creating? What kind of generation are we raising? What kind of work culture are we creating? What kind of marriages are we modeling? It doesn’t have to be that way. We can change the world in which we live by replenishing people in these circles. It’s important for them. It’s important for you.