SPF 062: The Simplicity of Prayer

Sometimes prayer can appear to be more complicated than it really is. But when we throw off our misunderstandings about prayer, we learn that prayer is actually all about putting our trust in God. Today we are talking about 7 biblical principles of prayer and how prayer can help you prove faithful.

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Support the SPF Podcast

Join the Team and support the SPF podcast! Just $5 a month helps me keep this podcast going for equipment, supplies, and marketing! Not only do you help keep this podcast up and running but you also get access to exclusive SPF content. 

Find out more here: patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful

SPF Christmas Favorites: Featured Shops!

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Courage & Birch

These adorable handmade birch signs can be found on Etsy at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/courageandbirch

Rachel is offering 10% off your purchase from November 20th - November 27th with code: SPF10

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MagSoul Headbands

I love my knottwisted headbands! I have three of them and they help me get out the door on days when the hair just can't happen!

You can find these headbands here: https://magsoulshop.com/

Mags is offering a 20% off your purchase with code: SPF

Find more at sheprovesfaithful.com/christmas

Thanksgiving

What is the purpose of Thanksgiving? To advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Read more about the history of Thanksgiving here: http://www.apuritansmind.com/the-christian-walk/the-first-thanksgiving/

“The first Thanksgiving Proclamation was issued by the revolutionary
Continental Congress on November 1, 1777. Authored by Samuel Adams, it was one sentence of 360 words, which read in part: “Forasmuch as it is the indispensable duty of all men to adore the superintending providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with gratitude their obligation to him for benefits received…together with penitent confession of their sins, whereby they had forfeited every favor; and their humble and earnest supplications that it may please God through the merits of Jesus Christ, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of remembrance…it is therefore recommended…to set apart Thursday the eighteenth day of December next, for solemn thanksgiving and praise, that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feeling of their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their Divine Benefactor…acknowledging with gratitude their obligations to Him for benefits received….To prosper the means of religion, for the promotion and enlargement of that kingdom which consisteth ‘in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.’”
— Samuel Adams
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Free Thanksgiving Printable!

Give thanks to God according to His Word!

Download and print this free printable!

 

The Simplicity of Prayer

Some common misunderstandings about prayer:

  • Prayer is often used or thought of as a way of controlling our circumstances or future

  • Prayer can change God's mind

  • If I pray about it, it will happen ("claiming" it)

  • Prayer is a spiritual experience about me

Seven Biblical principles about prayer:

  1. Prayer helps us center our lives on Jesus

  2. Prayer shows our dependence on God but also is a way to get to know the nature and character of God in a personal way

  3. Prayer helps us to Praise and Honor God because we are remembering WHO He is and what He has done and can do!

  4. Prayer helps us to fix our minds on eternal things and think beyond the present moment as we persist in prayer

  5. Prayer helps us know God as we eagerly wait for Him to answer in His way

  6. Prayer casts our worries and anxieties on God because He is Sovereign and in control and He has a plan and it will not be thwarted

  7. Prayer exposes idol worship in our hearts - as we pray God often reveals sin and we confess it to Him

Reasons We Pray

Remembering God
Persistence in our trust
Eagerness in What He will do
Hope in Him and eternity
Revelation of Sin

“Prayer sanctifies us.”

Scriptures

Acts 12

Habakkuk 1-3

SPF 061: Giving a Defense for Hope

How do we give a defense for the hope that we have? Let’s start with a few questions that every person wrestles with in their lifetime. Who am I? Why am I here? What is wrong with the world? How can the wrong be made right? Today we are answering these questions from two vorldveiws: secular humanism and Christian theism and how relying on the Truth of God’s mercy helps us prove faithful.

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Join the Team by becoming a monthly sponsor on Patreon. Not only do you help keep this podcast up and running but you also get access to exclusive SPF content. 

Find out more here: patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful

SPF Christmas Favorites List

Does gift giving stress you out? Give life to your soul? Are you a last minute shopper or have you already purchased AND wrapped all your Christmas goods?  Whatever your feelings or styles are with gift-giving, you won't want to miss these SPF Christmas Favorites!

That's right - a list compiled of some great ideas for gifts. It's kind of like Oprah's Favorites only more affordable . . . and more awesome because there are some giveaways and exclusive discounts to SPF Listeners.

So check it out! It's LIVE today!

www.sheprovesfaithful.com/christmas

Cultural Apologetics 

The word "apologetics" is scary to me. It feels like I'm not smart enough to even get near the topic. But we are called to give a "defense" or apologia, for the hope that we have, and with gentleness and respect. 

Today is about answering four questions through two different worldview. We expose the issues with one and see the goodness of the other.

1.  Who am I?

2. Why am I here?

3.  What’s wrong with the world?

4.  How can the wrong be made right?

Voddie Baucham addresses these in a talk that is EXCELLENT here:

https://vimeo.com/203890559

Secular Humanism:

Secular humanism is by definition "an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems." (Merrium Webster dictionary)

Christian Theism:

The belief that God is the Creator of the universe and reigns Supreme. We have rebelled against His holy law and are dead in our sins. We need a Savior to take the punishment for our transgressions, which came through Jesus Christ, God's only Son. Through Christ alone can our sins be forgiven and can we stand before the most Holy God without blemish.

Secular Humanism answers the four questions with humans being the solution to the problems. More government and more education are often the solutions they stand behind, but they do not work.

For example, the drug problem. Check out recidivism - rearrests for the same crime for drugs:

Recidivism is measured by criminal acts that resulted in rearrest, reconviction or return to prison with or without a new sentence during a three-year period following the prisoner's release.

Bureau of Justice Statistics studies have found high rates of recidivism among released prisoners. One study tracked 404,638 prisoners in 30 states after their release from prison in 2005.[1] The researchers found that:

Within three years of release, about two-thirds (67.8 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested.

Within five years of release, about three-quarters (76.6 percent) of released prisoners were rearrested. 

Of those prisoners who were rearrested, more than half (56.7 percent) were arrested by the end of the first year.

Take directly from https://www.nij.gov/topics/corrections/recidivism/Pages/welcome.aspx 

Look at the potential effectiveness of Red Ribbon Week from a mother: - why wearing camouflage will not help you in the crack battle:

Christian Theism answers the questions with a worldview and belief that God is Creator, we are creation, and that the problem in this world is sin, therefore God is the only solution.

If sin is not the problem, then humans are the answer. If sin is not the problem, then God is not the answer.

Does the Bible say that we can fix our own problems?

No, we are not righteous! That means God is the answer.

Sin is the answer to what is wrong. There is no other answer.

Sin gave way to a world that is in chronic decay, progressive immorality, and death

VB More education just leads to smarter sinners

More government control leads to more law breakers and less freedom

Christ came to set us free.

Read Colossians 1 and Ephesians 2

Be aware of where secular humanism impacts our theology

Examples:

Going to church to serve our needs

How we view and care for the unborn

How we view sin

How we treat one another

How we structure our days

God’s mercies are so deep. They reached into the deepest parts of all our ugliness, all our evil, and made us right with Him.

Other Resources

Amazon Links are affiliate links - meaning I get a very small referral credit from Amazon for recommend products, at no cost to you - that goes to supporting the podcast.

Know What You Believe
By Paul E. Little
Know Why You Believe
By Paul E. Little

SPF 060: Here I am! Don't Send Me

Here I am God, Send me! Go and make disciples. Ummmm...  Discipleship can be tough and there can be some obstacles that make us a bit reluctant. Today we are talking about Acts 9, being a reluctant disciple-maker and 5 reasons God gives us to be hopeful about our calling. 

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member only access!

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LIFE HACK: Easy Fall Dessert for a Crowd

It would cost me our entire Christmas budget to bring a PSL to everyone at group get-togethers. Fret not, there is another easy dessert that won't break the bank, tastes like fall, and feeds a crowd.

Easy Crock - Pot Cinnamon Apples

*Note, that this is a Lauren recipe, which means I do a little of this and that - you make this your own! It would be hard to mess up - unless it caught on fire somehow. That's a hard recovery ;)

Feeds: 8-10

Time: prep 20 minutes   -    cook time varies (2 min to 3 hours)

Ingredients:

  • 10-12 apples (I mix tart and sweet, like granny smith and some pink lady's or gala's) peeled, cored, and sliced

  • 2 tbsp lemon juice (keep apples from browning)

  • 1/2 cup of liquid like apple cider, pumpkin spiced cider, (i've even used some apple sauce diluted with water)

  • 1 - 2 Tbsp corn starch

  • 2 Tbsp melted butter

  • 1/4 cup or less of sugar or brown sugar (to your taste)

  • drizzle of molasses (to taste)

  • sprinkle of cinnamon (to taste) I use about 1 tsp

  • Vanilla icecream

Instructions:

  • coat apples in lemon juice and put in crock pot or insta-pot

  • in a separate bowl, mix corn starch and cider (or liquid) until lumps are out

  • add melted butter, sugar, molasses, cinnamon, to liquid mixture and stir

  • drizzle over apples and stir to coat

  • Set crock pot to low for 3 hours or Instapot to 2 minutes high pressure (then manual release).

  • After cooked to desired softness, ladle over two scoops of ice cream

 

The Reluctant Disciple-maker

God has given every Christian a calling: to go make disciples of all nations. Matthew 28:19-20

A disciple is a student or follower of Christ.

Discipleship isn't just about intellect or organization!

Sometimes there are obstacles to fulfilling our calling and it makes us reluctant to obey.

Today we looked at Ananias in Acts 9:10-25 and how we can be encouraged to GO even when it seems impossible, painful, intimidating, and unknown.

Five Hopes for the reluctant disciple-maker

NO 1: Go anyway

We need to be obedient even when we don’t understand because WE CAN TRUST God!

NO 2: It's not about us.

God reminds Ananias that He is God and that God needs to be at the center of God’s universe.

“He is a chosen instrument of MINE”

NO 3: God has a greater purpose than we can see

When we are reluctant we need to remember that God has a great purpose especially when there is suffering. Because there will probably be suffering if you are following Jesus.

NO 4: Remember that God transforms hearts not us

There is no limit to God's power at work: within days Saul when from killing people who said Jesus was the Messiah to preaching Jesus was the Messiah!!

NO 5: Keep growing and maturing

Sometimes we feel reluctant because we are scared we don’t know the answers, but remember we are called in 1 Peter to give a defense for the hope we have - that word defense means apologia - we are to be apologists of the faith. We need to be faithful with the intellect and the sphere of influence God has given us. That means growing and maturing in our knowledge and love and faith.

My Reluctance

It's hard to keep making disciples when we get hurt by people. When they are mean, or just vanish, or even flaky. I have found myself violating God's command to love others as I love myself.

When we struggle to love others we need to repent and ask God for help. We need to cling to passages like Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you."

 

Discipleship Resources

These are resources I mentioned on the show.

Amazon Links are affiliate links - meaning I get a very small referral credit from Amazon for recommend products, at no cost to you - that goes to supporting the podcast.

 
Discipleship Plans: Foundations
Discipleship Plans: Foundations
$7.00

Digital File - PDF

Get instant access to eight discipleship plans covering foundational principles of growing in Christ:

  • Lordship Plan 1:  What is Lordship?
  • Lordship Plan 2:  Repentance and Belief
  • The Word Plan 1:  The Word of God
  • The Word Plan 2:  How to Spend Time in the Word (Quiet Time)
  • Prayer Plan 1:  What is Prayer?
  • Prayer Plan 2:  Praying with Confidence
  • Fellowship Plan 1:  What is Fellowship?
  • Fellowship Plan 2:  Confronting and Forgiving

These eight mini bible studies are an excellent resource for one on one and group discipleship. Encourage other women to know Jesus through discussion questions and topical Scriptures, or use them for personal study to learn more about foundational principles of growing in Christ.

Access these on you iPad, smart phone, or computer - instantly!

Add To Cart
Know Why You Believe
$12.63
By Paul E. Little
Buy on Amazon
 
Discipleship Plans: Identity
Discipleship Plans: Identity
$7.00

Digital File - PDF

Get instant access to three discipleship plans on the topic of Identity in Christ:

  • Plan 1:  What is Identity
  • Plan 2:  Jesus is Our Representative
  • Plan 3:  The Old Self and The New Self
  • Plan 4:  In Christ
  • Plan 5:  Living Out Our Identity

These five mini bible studies are an excellent resource for one on one and group discipleship. Encourage other women to know Jesus through discussion questions and topical Scriptures. Or use them for personal study to learn more about identity in Christ.

Access these on you iPad, smart phone, or computer - instantly!

Add To Cart
Know What You Believe
$12.09
By Paul E. Little
Buy on Amazon

The Gospel Project Big Picture Cards

Lifeway has a preschool and elementary version (pictured is preschool - Jesus Saves pack).

Additional Resources

 
 

SPF 059: The Reformation Part 3 - Our Role in Reform

Reformation didn’t stop with the end of the 17th century. Every generation is prone to it’s own waywardness. Even the first century church struggled! Today we are looking at a familiar pattern in historical Reformations, and our role in our generations Reformation. We are wrapping up our Reformation Series with Part Three - Our Role in Reform.

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Support the SPF Podcast

Thanks for listening and letting me be a part of your day! I'm looking for a support team to help me keep the SPF Podcast going by teaming up with me to help cover website hosting, software and materials expenses.

Be a part of the team for $5 a month by signing up at patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful

LIFE HACK

Family Time discipleship resource!

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Sign up for the Family Time newsletter and get free family activities that are discipleship focused for your family!

There is a season activity called The Pumpkin Parable too!

Sign up for the newsletters here: famtime.com

Three Patterns of Reformations

NO 1: There is a deviation from God's Truth

1 John 2:15-17

NO 2: God is faithful. He raises us bold men and women who go back to the Truth of Scripture in order to know who God is, who we are, our condition, and how to be right with God.

1 Peter 1:17-21

NO 3: Suffering for standing up for Biblical truth

1 Peter 3:13-18

Examples of this pattern:

- Early Church - Stephen Acts 6,7

- 8th Century - Iconoclasm

- 16-17th Century - Reformation

Our Role in Reformation

We have a role in reforming were the church is erring. 

We have a role of reforming in our own lives and homes.

The directive is the Word of God.

Ideas for our Role in Reform

In the Church:

  • Attend a bible-believing church and be involved, learn, grow

  • Pray for those locked on a false gospel

  • Learn to give a defense for the hope that we have - with gentleness and respect

  • Stand firm on Truth

  • Don't be surprised at suffering

In our own lives:

  • Know the Word of God

  • Teach the Word of God

  • Pray for God to reveal personal religious systems and be humble

  • Be free in Christ

Reformation Resources

Amazon Links are affiliate links - meaning I get a very small referral credit from Amazon for recommend products, at no cost to you - that goes to supporting the podcast.

She Proves Faithful Podcast: The Reformation Part 1 - The Spark

She Proves Faithful Podcast: The Reformation Part 2 - Reformation Women

She Proves Faithful Podcast: The Five Solas

She Proves Faithful Podcast: The Woman Who Fears the Lord

Pastor Jim Savastio - is doing a current sermon series on the Reformation

https://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?SpeakerOnly=true&currSection=sermonsspeaker&keyword=Jim%5FSavastio

Our Reformation Heritage by Pastor Albert N. Martin

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=10270222537

Dr. Richard Gamble has a three part series on the History of the Reformation:

Part One http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=421089674

Part Twohttp://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=42808832220

Part Three http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=512081059562

Calvinist - the documentary - Les Lanphere

See the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axjzInqdzBI

Website: http://leslanphere.com

Reformation Day Ideas

Amazon Links are affiliate links meaning if you click on my link I get a small commission for my recommendation at no cost to you.
 

Church History 101: The Highlights of Twenty Centuries
$5.43
By Sinclair B. Ferguson, Joel R. Beeke, Michael A. G. Haykin
Buy on Amazon

 

 

SPF 058: The Reformation Part 2 - Reformation Women

It’s Part 2 in a three part series on the Reformation. Today we are talking about some women in the reformation and how their faithfulness encourages us to bear fruit in our own faithful service to God  We will learn about five characteristics the Reformation Woman possessed and be encouraged by a few reforming women’s stories. 

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Support the SPF Podcast

Thanks for listening and letting me be a part of your day! I'm looking for a support team to help me keep the SPF Podcast going by teaming up with me to help cover website hosting, software and materials expenses.

Be a part of the team for $5 a month by signing up at patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful

LIFE HACK

We don't always have time to pour over history books, but it doesn't mean we can learn and teach our young children. We are loving this book - great for elementary school and younger.

Reformation ABC's

Amazon Links are affiliate links meaning if you click on my link I get a small commission for my recommendation at no cost to you.

The Women of the Reformation

500 years ago on October 31st 1517, Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to a church door in Wittenberg Germany.  The Reformation is quite remarkable and shows the amazing complex web God weaved to bring necessary reformation to the church.

Two Books

These are two great resources to learn more about these faithful women.

The five characteristics of women in the Reformation were taken from Reformation Women by Rebecca VanDoodewaard.

Amazon Links are affiliate links - meaning I get a very small referral credit from Amazon for recommend products, at no cost to you - that goes to supporting the podcast.

 

Five Characteristics of Reformation Women

NO 1:  They were devoted to the protestant church

"Sometimes their contributions to the Protestant church were direct, issuing edicts, writing theological works, establishing congregations, some involved indirectly by supporting their husbands, reviewing book manuscripts, sheltering refugees, AND EDUCATING their children to carry on the work. " - Rebecca VanDoodewaard

Joel 2:6-13

NO 2: If they were married to believers, they were devoted to their husband’s work

These faithful wives fanned giant flames of the Reformation by supporting their husbands, facilitating the work of preaching and pastoring that they were unable to do themselves. The Reformation THRIVED because of supportive faithful wives.

NO 3: They were given to hospitality

They took in  visiting pastors, orphans, refuges running for their lives, many times from other countries all because they were believing and confessing Scripture. They fed them, clothed them, encouraged them, sacrificing a great amounts of time, energy, and finances. 

NO 4: They stewarded their intellectual abilities

“Their education was a means of using God-given intellect in order to bear more fruit." - Rebecca Vandoodewaard

These women were part of raising up a next generation of theologians! That’s us too - discipling women to Read the Word and obey the Words of God, teaching our children the commands of God, training us, our friends, our children to be thinkers and learners flushing all things through God sufficient word.

NO 5: They were BRAVE!

God opened the eyes of these women to the Truth and they saw it stood in stark opposition to the climate of their countries. They knew the course of action they needed to take and they obeyed God rather than man.

Reformation Women

Soup Lady - saving Geneva by faithfulness in her home - story in Reformation ABC's

Margarethe Blaurer - Story in Reformation Women

Anne Askew - Story in Radiant

Other Women:

Jeanne D'Albret- Story in Radiant and you can read her story online here

Katie Luther - Story in Radiant and you can read her story online here

Reformation Resources

She Proves Faithful Podcast: The Reformation Part 1 - The Spark

She Proves Faithful Podcast: The Five Solas

She Proves Faithful Podcast: The Woman Who Fears the Lord

Our Reformation Heritage by Pastor Albert N. Martin

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=10270222537

Dr. Richard Gamble has a three part series on the History of the Reformation:

Part One http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=421089674

Part Twohttp://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=42808832220

Part Three http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=512081059562

Calvinist - the documentary - Les Lanphere

See the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axjzInqdzBI

Website: http://leslanphere.com

Reformation Day Ideas

Amazon Links are affiliate links meaning if you click on my link I get a small commission for my recommendation at no cost to you.
 

Church History 101: The Highlights of Twenty Centuries
$5.43
By Sinclair B. Ferguson, Joel R. Beeke, Michael A. G. Haykin
Buy on Amazon

 

 

SPF 057: The Reformation Part 1 - The Spark

It’s the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses to the church door in Whittenberg Germany. In this episode we are going to take a look a Christian history and how God orchestrated an amazing Reformation in the church that fanned a flame of loyalty to Scriptures above every human institution. Today we are learning about Erasmus and Martin Luther and Four Blessings of the Reformation. 

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Support the SPF Podcast

Thanks for listening and letting me be a part of your day! I'm looking for a support team to help me keep the SPF Podcast going by teaming up with me to help cover website hosting, software and materials expenses.

Be a part of the team for $5 a month by signing up at patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful

Help Puerto Rico! Hurricane Maria Victims

Until Friday, October 13, purchase this $5 print and directly support hurricane victims. Your money goes to buying batteries, battery operated fans, and insect repellent wipes.

Buy the print here: sheprovesfaithful.com/shop/pr

Reformation Ideas

Teaching church history to our kids doesn't have to be difficult or dry. It's incredibly exciting and amazing to learn about God's reformation of His church.

Check out Christina Fox's blog for book and movie ideas for teaching your kids about the Reformation: http://www.christinafox.com/blog/2017/8/17/celebrating-the-reformation-with-your-children

Reformation ABC's

I just got this book for my kids! I'll let you know how it is! Reviews said it's thorough and has enough information for even an older elementary school child (not just an alphabet book).

Amazon Links are affiliate links meaning if you click on my link I get a small commission for my recommendation at no cost to you.

The Spark of the Reformation

500 years ago on October 31st 1517, Martin Luther nailed 95 theses to a church door in Wittenberg Germany.  The Reformation is quite remarkable and shows the amazing complex web God weaved to bring necessary reformation to the church.

Ad Fontes

It starts with this movement among Renaissance Humanists to "go back to the source" of their reasoning and thought. Protestant Reformers also returned to the Bible as the primary source of their faith.

Erasmus and Luther

Erasmus - Roman Catholic who translated the New Testament to Greek (to be more accurate than the Latin Vulgate. His work exposed Scriptures that were being taught incorrectly. He wanted reform in the Catholic church but moral reform.

Luther - Martin Luther was a monk who started to read the Greek translation of the Bible and his heart was lit on fire for the Word of God. He saw that salvation was by faith alone and that the Roman Catholic Church was teaching a works based, paid based salvation. He wanted reform - for the Pope and the counsels to submit to the authority of God's Word. He nailed 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg. Eventually he was excommunicated from the Catholic Church.

Four Blessings of the Reformation

There are SO many more, but here are four:

  1. That we have a Bible in our our language!

  2. Scripture is self-authenticating - because Scripture are God’s Words - we can be certain it’s true

  3. The Church isn’t the authority on what people need to know, or the authority on who has salvation - the Bible is the Authority and God is the grace giver

  4. The great exchange: Jesus takes our sins, we take on His righteousness - justification by faith alone hat salvation by faith alone is being preached without fear or threat of being burned at the stake.

Reformation Resources

She Proves Faithful Podcast: The Five Solas

She Proves Faithful Podcast: The Woman Who Fears the Lord

Dr. Richard Gamble has a three part series on the History of the Reformation:

Part One http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=421089674

Part Twohttp://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=42808832220

Part Three http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=512081059562

Ad Fontes - Four Articles on Erasmus

https://www.nsa.edu/ad-fontes-part-iv/

Calvinist - the documentary - Les Lanphere

See the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axjzInqdzBI

Website: http://leslanphere.com

Amazon Links are affiliate links meaning if you click on my link I get a small commission for my recommendation at no cost to you.
 

Church History 101: The Highlights of Twenty Centuries
$5.43
By Sinclair B. Ferguson, Joel R. Beeke, Michael A. G. Haykin
Buy on Amazon

 

 

SPF 056: Holy Priesthood & Spiritual Sacrifices

First Peter says we are a holy priesthood offering up spiritual sacrifices to God. How do we prove faithful as a holy priesthood? What is a spiritual sacrifice and what keeps our worship from being a form of self righteousness? Today we are talking about spiritual sacrifices of worship and four biblical spiritual sacrifices a Christian can give.  

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Hurricane Maria Relief in Puerto Rico

You can help people in Puerto Rico recovering from Hurricane Maria in a tangible easy way by going to sheprovesfaithful.com/shop and purchasing the verse print "For Puerto Rico" for $5. Your donation will go directly to buying batteries, battery operated fans, and insect repellent wipes. SPF is not a non-profit organization so this gift is not tax deductible.

My dear friend, Isabella, who was on episode 33 sharing wisdom about Biblical Counseling, will be taking a trip and hand delivering items to people in need. You can follow her story on Instagram to get updates: asojourner1

Life Hack

Don't let your toes stay cold. Wear a pair of socks and in the morning ball them up and put them behind your pillow. They'll be waiting for you when you go to bed.

Holy Priesthood & Spiritual Sacrifices

1 Peter 2:4-8

God indicates who we are in Christ:

  • living stone built up as a spiritual house

  • holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Living Stones:

Uur identity: we are living stones, part of the temple of God where God dwells with His people.  “In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." Ephesians 2:2

Holy Priesthood:

We are a priesthood set apart for God, not in that we offer animals to atone for people’s sins, but that we do a work unto God every day.  We are selected by God to serve Him, to serve others, to offer our bodies, souls, and our affections, prayers, and other Christian duties to God. 

Because we are a Holy Priesthood:

Spiritual Sacrifices are my duty of worship and honor to God. And it all happens THROUGH CHRIST. He is the great high priest through whom all our sacrifices and services are accepted. Before they were filthy rags, but now, they are an offering to God. 

Four Spiritual Sacrifices of A Christian

Number 1: Repentance and Humility Psalm 51:17

Number 2: Our Physical Bodies Romans 12:1

Number 3: Sharing the Gospel / Evangelism Romans 15:15-16

Number 4: Praise, Doing Good, Generosity Hebrews 13:15-16

Resources

Amazon links are affiliate links, meaning when you click or buy, a small percent goes to me at not additional cost to you!

SPF 055: Devoted to Fellowship

In the early church Christians were devoted to fellowship. What did that mean and what does biblical fellowship look like today? what are some of the benefits of this biblical fellowship? Today we are discussing the churches koinonia and and give some practical tools to jump the hurdles of living it out in our every day living. 

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Go to patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful to learn more or to join the team!

Life Hack

SPF Podcast listener, Olivia, had a great idea to get conversations going at the dinner table or on a road trip by using Chat Packs. You can get them on amazon or you can use a homemade version I featured on the blog! (Amazon links are affiliate links.)

SPF Blog Learning to Engage in Meaningful Conversations - Free Resource

 

Devotion to Fellowship

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42

"Devoted" - the Greek word for devoted is eimi and means “I exist” to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.

My existence now is to know Christ and to make Him known.

"Fellowship" - the Greek word for fellowship is koinonia means it’s a participation in fellowship and community.

Biblical Fellowship involves:

  • serving
  • loving
  • investing

Examine some Scriptures to help us live out this biblical fellowship:

  • Galatians 5:13-15
  • 1 Peter 4:7-11

Four benefits of fellowship:

  1. You are not alone
  2. A place to heal
  3. Unified eternal purpose
  4. Eternal hope with others

Practical Ideas to Prove Faithful in Fellowship

  1. Practice Hospitality
  2. Pray together
  3. Be on mission together
  4. Learn to ask meaningful heart level questions
  5. Pray for the Holy Spirit to help you to fellowship

Questions and Ideas from YOU!

I reached out and asked listeners on Instagram and Facebook and ask if you had any favorite questions you like to ask or resources you use to help engage in meaningful conversations. You ladies provided some really great ideas and I've compiled them to help each other! A big thank you to everyone who participated!

  1. What have you been reading (in the Bible)? How is your heart? - Carissa
  2. What's God been teaching you? - Lindsay
  3. How can I be praying for you? - Jessica
  4. What's your testimony (How did you become a Christian)? - Brittany
  5. What have you been encouraged by lately? - Alexa
  6. What is Christ working on in you? - Blythe
  7. How did you grow up? - Deb
  8. What brought you to church? What urges you to seek Christ? - Keri
  9. What have you been encouraged by lately? - Alexa
  10. What are you learning in the Word? Erin
  11. Describe your week (instead of just "how's your week") - Abell
  12. Tip - show no partiality but show intention to each person in your group/study -Jannette
  13. Ask about family, occupation, goals, interests, dreams - Olivia
  14. Tip - be willing to be vulnerable first - Heather
  15. What books are you reading right now? - Leah
  16. What has God been teaching you/doing in your life lately? - Alesha

Read the Bible with a Friend

Sign up for SPF in the Word free monthly Bible reading plan! It's free and every month you get a Bible reading plan sent straight to your inbox. Take the guess work out of where to read the Bible and join the plan! Plus, read it with a friend to build quality fellowship.

Sign up at sheprovesfaithful.com/bible

Resources

Olive Tree Bible App

New City Church Sermon - Devotion

SPF Podcast Dealing with Sin in Our Children Part 1

SPF Podcast Dealing with Sin in our Children Part 2

SPF Podcast How to Practice Biblical Hospitality

SPF Blog - Hospitality: Learning to Engage in Meaningful Conversations

Amazon links are affiliate links and provide a small kickback for my recommendation if you click on a link or purchase at no additional cost to you.

Church History 101: The Highlights of Twenty Centuries
$5.43
By Sinclair B. Ferguson, Joel R. Beeke, Michael A. G. Haykin
Buy on Amazon

SPF 054: Me Myself and I Theology

Theology is simply the study of God. It’s knowing who God is revealed in the Bible. But sometimes our theology takes a little left turn - I’ve been there - and our culture certainly doesn’t help us get back on track. Today we are looking at biblical Jesus and Modern day Jesus (which is false) and learn to be discerning, wise, and more full of worship of the One True God and Savior. 

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Have you been encouraged and blessed by the SPF Podcast? Would you prayerfully consider becoming a teammate for just $5 a month to fund this podcast? Your support will help upgrade my equipment and fund training and more materials for you!

Visit patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful to learn more and to become a teammate!

Happy Fall - 7 Tips to Prepare your Home

These tips came from the blog Thistlewood Farm to help us prepare our homes for the fall season.

You can find the post here: Seven Tips to get your house ready for fall

  1. Sort through your fall bins - get rid of the fall “non sense”
  2. Find a cozy throw
  3. Paint your front door
  4. Replace your welcome mat
  5. Create a fall pin board
  6. Add a wreath
  7. Add textured pillows “fall is all about texture”

Biblical Jesus vs Modern (false) Jesus

Check out this chart from Roberta - Vegaslady42 on Instagram

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Resources

Q and A Discerning Women Teachers and Authors - She Proves Faithful Podcast Episode 26

New City Church Acts 2 sermon - Classic Acts - UNAVAILABLE - such a bummer, but due to technical difficulties the sermon was not recorded. But you can read Peter's sermon in Acts 2:14-41!

Voddie Baucham sermon on discerning God's will - Sermon Audio

Amazon Links are affiliate links - when you click on them, a small (very small) kick back goes to SPF at no additional cost to you.

Family Worship Bible Guide
$19.98
By Joel R Beeke Ph.D.
Buy on Amazon

I have not read John MacArthur's book on How to Study the Bible, but he is a trusted source.

 

 

 

 

SPF 053: How to Read the Bible Better

Have you ever wondered if there’s a better way to read the Bible? There are many methods of storing up God’s Word in our hearts, but there are some pitfalls we need to watch out. Today we are learning out to read our Bible better by engaging our minds.

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LIFE Hack: Cream of Yum Soup

You don't have to use those cream of yuck soups in the store - simply follow this recipe!

  • 2 TBSP Butter
  • 2 TBSP Flour
  • 1 Cup of Milk
  • Favorite seasonings and salt
  • Spinach, mushrooms, cooked chicken, etc

Simmer butter and flour together for a few minutes, add milk and spices and stir. Add chopped spinach, or chopped mushrooms, or cooked chicken.

Add it to soups, casseroles, etc.

Easy Crowd Pleasing Chicken and Rice Casserole

This is a great recipe to feed 10 people. Depending on the size of your casserole dish, you may need two.

  • 4 chicken breast cooked in slow cooker with a little water or broth and salt - shred it
  • 2 cups cooked rice
  • Cream of YUM soup recipe above - double it with chopped spinach
  • shredded mozzarella or cheesy blend
  • salt and seasoning to taste
  1. Mix shredded crock pot chicken and two cups of cooked white rice in large bowl
  2. Pour cream of YUM over chicken and rice and mix with spoon until nice and creamy
  3. Add any extra seasoning to taste
  4. Pour into casserole dishes and top with cheese
  5. If chicken and rice are already warm - bake at 350 for twenty minutes then broil HI until cheese is bubbly.
  6. If chicken and rice are cold (from being previous cooked) - bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until warmed through and broil HI until cheese is bubbly.

Sola Feels

Sometimes we read the Bible with our feelings first, when we need to engage our minds and let our feelings follow. Babylon Bee (a fake satirical "news" site) published an article called Sola Feels to illustrate the Christian culture's bent toward feelings.

Read the article here (remember it's fake): http://babylonbee.com/news/progressive-evangelical-leaders-meet-affirm-doctrine-sola-feels/

Facts first - know the Truth of God's Word

Faith second - put faith in the Truth

Feelings third - let them fall in line with the Truth and be carried to true joy!

Some ways we put our feelings first when reading the Bible:

  1. When we interpret the truth in a different way because it messes with our feelings
  2. Xanax approach - going to isolated Scriptures to make us feel better making the Bible about serving us and making us feel better
  3. Pinball approach - good intentions but we miss the wholeness of God's plan and can fail to give us context that engages our mind
  4. Magic Eight Ball - the Bible doesn't provide answers our whims and isn't just used to give us personal direction about our decisions
  5. Telephone Game - when we know the Word through other people's books instead of gaining Bible literacy through reading the Bible

Numbers 2-5 come from Jen Wilkin's book Women of the Word which you can purchase on Amazon or local Christian bookstore.

Better Bible Reading

When we read the Word with our minds first and let our feelings follow, that is better Bible reading.

Luke 10:27  “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Romans 12:2"Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Luke 5:1-11 Peter saw Jesus differently when He obeyed Him and one of the first things he saw was his sin. Reading the Bible should convict our hearts of sin and righteousness and the character of God.

Tips

1. Read the Bible with our minds to gain understanding, not just to feel something

2. Understand the context and history of the book to gain a better understanding

3. Wrestle with the Scriptures before going to the commentaries

4. Know what the text says first before we decide it's meaning

5. Read the Bible to know the Lord of Glory

Resources

Read Psalm 39 :)

Good Questions to ask for Better Bible Reading:

1. What does this say about God?

2. What is God like? What has God done?

3. Who am I in light of this passage? How do I respond to God?

Amazon links are affiliate links: