Matthew Stephens

I am what I do

Romans 7:14-20 (NASB)
For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.

Moving out of the town called sin

Romans 6:1 (MSG)
So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we've left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn't you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace—a new life in a new land!

Romans 6:3 (MSG)
Or didn't you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace-a new life in a new land!

Lifegroup Culture

Acts 2:41-47 (MSG)
That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.

Serving in church

1 Timothy 3:8-13 (MSG)
The same goes for those who want to be servants in the church: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it. They must be reverent before the mystery of the faith, not using their position to try to run things. Let them prove themselves first. If they show they can do it, take them on. No exceptions are to be made for women—same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued, not overfond of wine. Servants in the church are to be committed to their spouses, attentive to their own children, and diligent in looking after their own affairs. Those who do this servant work will come to be highly respected, a real credit to this Jesus-faith.

Church arguments

Acts 15:7-11 (MSG)
The arguments went on and on, back and forth, getting more and more heated. Then Peter took the floor: "Friends, you well know that from early on God made it quite plain that he wanted the pagans to hear the Message of this good news and embrace it-and not in any secondhand or roundabout way, but firsthand, straight from my mouth.

Acts 15:14-18 (MSG)
James broke the silence. "Friends, listen. Simeon has told us the story of how God at the very outset made sure that racial outsiders were included. This is in perfect agreement with the words of the prophets: After this, I'm coming back; I'll rebuild David's ruined house; I'll put all the pieces together again; I'll make it look like new So outsiders who seek will find, so they'll have a place to come to, All the pagan peoples included in what I'm doing. "God said it and now he's doing it. It's no afterthought; he's always known he would do this.

Jesus salvation declaration

John 11:25-26 (MSG)
"You don't have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live. And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?"

Wall Writing Verse

Matthew 7:25 (MSG)
Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit-but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.

Charisma

Matthew 7:15 (MSG)
"Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.

Religion Rules

Colossians 2:20-23 (MSG)
So, then, if with Christ you've put all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? "Don't touch this! Don't taste that! Don't go near this!" Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention? Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and ascetic. But they're just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important.

Issues with ORU and Carasmatics

Colossians 2:8 (MSG)
Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that's not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

LIfeChurch.tv Code

Colossians 1:28 (MSG)
We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less.

Prayer for my child

Colossians 1:3-14 (MSG)
Our prayers for you are always spilling over into thanksgivings. We can't quit thanking God our Father and Jesus our Messiah for you! We keep getting reports on your steady faith in Christ, our Jesus, and the love you continuously extend to all Christians. The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope.

Song Lyrics

Jeremiah 1:7 (MSG)
God told me, "Don't say, 'I'm only a boy.' I'll tell you where to go and you'll go there. I'll tell you what to say and you'll say it. Don't be afraid of a soul. I'll be right there, looking after you." God's Decree.

Business Leadership

Proverbs 16:10-26 (MSG)
A good leader motivates, doesn't mislead, doesn't exploit.

No worries

Proverbs 3:25-26 (MSG)
No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday's just around the corner,

Fasting

Matthew 6:16-18 (MSG)
"When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don't make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won't make you a saint. If you 'go into training' inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn't require attention-getting devices. He won't overlook what you are doing; he'll reward you well.

Spelling error - symbol

Luke 1:23-24 (MSG)
When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. It wasn't long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. "So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!" she said.

Spell error

1 Kings 8:36 (MSG)
isten from your home in heaven, forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel. Then start over with them: Train them to live right and well; send rain on the land you gave your people as an inheritance.

1 Kings 8:49 (MSG)
isten from your home in heaven to their prayers desperate and devout and do what is best for them.

Psalm 51:1-10

Psalm 51:1-10 (NIV84)
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

Matthew 5:14-16

Matthew 5:14-16 (MSG)
"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Water in Heap

Joshua 3:15-16 (MSG)
When the priests got to the Jordan and their feet touched the water at the edge (the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest),

Wall Writing Verse

Psalm 84:2 (MSG)
Always dreamed of a room in your house, where I could sing for joy to God-alive!

The Ride: The Promise

Psalm 91:14-16 (MSG)
"If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says god, "I'll get you out of any trouble. I'll give you the best of care if you'll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; I'll rescue you, then throw you a party. I'll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!"

Workout Plan

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (MSG)
Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God-no spiritual flabbiness, please!

Jesus' Return #2

Mark 13:32 (NASB)
But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.