by avministry | Jan 20, 2023 | Blog
The New Living Translation Bible (NLT) is a comparison translation of the Bible, first published in 1996. For a reader without extensive knowledge of biblical languages, it is often the most commonly used version of the Bible.
The NLT translation was designed for maximum readability and comprehension in the English language. To do this, it uses modern language and terminology more than other versions of the Bible such as the King James Version.
Unfortunately, this approach to translation can lead to some inaccuracy in its wording and interpretation of certain passages due to its iterative approach and lack of use of original language sources. A few examples include changing gender commands from masculine gender ubiquitous to all genders, or some passages that are translated too literally for full context or nuance to be understood properly.
In spite of these issues, however, there is much value in using an NLT bible if used properly. Since its readability makes it accessible to a much wider audience than traditional translations would, it serves as an excellent source for teaching aides such as sermon points or bible studies; using ‘big words’ to communicate God’s message may serve only to confuse those who need simple guidance instead of complex philosophy with which many are unfamiliar. Additionally, it provides readers with an option for quick references when trying to find specific verses or passages that may be harder to understand in other versions due mostly in part to archaic language used throughout them. Suggesting simplistic alternatives through accessibly flexible evangelical constants also allows youth audiences easier entry into understanding or appreciating biblical themes without dismissing scholarship or tradition either; relationships between characters are emphasized along with theological explanation when relevant while ensuring simplification means these key points aren’t lost on readers new and old alike – both can find value where they look hard enough by absorbing some elements while passing on others denoting personal preference over scripture accuracy itself.
When all is said and done: The New Living Translation Bible has quite a few flaws but can still be considered useful when attempting religious literary studies if one knows their sources well enough not ignore potential issues found within them whilst also disregarding entirely what works better for one’s own faith rather than academically approved ones (i.:e.: stressing allegory vs original text). In short: let critical thought enter into any study process before taking things at face-value – then you will receive better results from research endeavors associated with said mediums like NLT bibles worthy enough independent scrutiny & examination rather than just accepting blindly whatever emerges from them unconditionally!
Devotional Qualities
In Psalm 23:4-5 from the NLT we see this poignant emphasis: “Even when I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will not be afraid; for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” By carefully selecting each word for its meaning as opposed to relying solely on literal translations, these verses become incredibly powerful for believers as they seek out God’s protection over their lives. The Bible encourages us to meditate on scripture day and night; these carefully crafted passages make that task much easier – providing an intimate conversation between ourselves and our Creator amidst trying circumstances we may encounter in life.
These stylistic choices aid immeasurably when reading or studying less familiar stories contained within scripture as well. In Luke 10:38-42 we find Jesus visiting with warm hospitality at Martha’s house along with his disciples: “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way…They came at last…telling her sister Mary,” Through careful wording choices such as this one we can sense Jesus’ joy during those moments spent with his beloved friends – encouraging us further along our own spiritual journey set forth by him .
Top 10 Verses From The NLT
1. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”2. Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”3. Ephesians 2:8-9 “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
4. 1 John 4:19 “We love each other because he loved us first.”
5 Joshua 1:9 “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
6 Psalm 27:14 “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous, and he will strengthen your heart.”
7 Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
8 Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will hold onto with my righteous right hand.”
9 James 1:2-4 “Dear brothers and sisters when troubles come our way consider it an opportunity for great joy because trials show us how strong our faith is! So let it grow stronger as You learn to endure what happens—for You know that endurance develops strength of character in each one of You!”10 Hebrews 11:1 “Faith shows us what is real even though we cannot see it”
by avministry | Jan 15, 2023 | Sermons
Sermon Audio:
Sermon Video:
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine
is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
John 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You
should keep them from the evil one.
John 7:7, “They hate Me because I say their deeds are evil.”
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things
to those who ask Him!
Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving
and being deceived.
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
John 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You
should keep them from the evil one.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common
to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what
you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you
may be able to bear it.
I) EVIL IS REAL.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
1) Lord deliver us from evil that can reside in our own society.
2) Lord deliver us from evil that can reside in our own homes.
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put
away from you, with all malice.
3) Lord deliver us from evil that can reside in our own schools.
4) Lord deliver us from evil that resides in our own government.
Isaiah 13:18 “… And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb; Their eye will
not spare children.”
Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
Isaiah 1:15 (NLT) When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. though
you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the
blood of innocent victims.
5) Lord deliver us from evil that resides in our own justice system.
Genesis 4:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said,
“I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Why do people do evil?
Because it gives them pleasure.
Because it gives them power.
Because they think that the evil they are doing is righteous or good or necessary.
Because they are indifferent to the suffering of others.
II) EVIL IS PERSONAL.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things
to those who ask Him!
Psalm 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon
as they are born, speaking lies.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
Title “Where Evil Grows”
And it never shows
The place where evil grows
Evil grows in the dark
Where the sun, it never shines
Evil grows in cracks and holes
And lives in people’s minds
Evil grew, it’s part of you
And now it seems to be
That everytime I look at you
Evil grows in me
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge
of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
John 7:7, “They hate Me because I say their deeds are evil.”
III. THE ULTIMATE EVIL IS UNBELIEF.
Hebrews 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief in departing from the living God;
John 3:18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not
believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of
the only begotten Son of God.
IV. DIVINE DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL.
Luke 11:4 (KJV) ” … but deliver us from evil.
Luke 11:4 (NKJV) “… but deliver us from the evil one.”
1) We are admitting that the EVIL ONE exists,
2) We are declaring that the EVIL ONE is in conflict with us as God’s children,
3) We are confessing that God is our deliverer from the EVIL ONE.
4) We are proclaiming the Lord wants us to take our stand against the EVIL ONE.
Psalm 22:4 Our fathers trusted in You: They trusted, and You delivered them.
Psalm 22:5 They cried to You, and were delivered: They trusted in You, and
were not ashamed.
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,…”
Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed
us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.
by avministry | Jan 8, 2023 | Sermons
Sermon Audio:
Sermon Video:
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you.
Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses.
Bible word pictures for forgiveness
To forgive is to turn the key, open the cell door, and let the prisoner walk free.
To forgive is to write in large letters across a debt, “nothing owed”
To forgive is to pound the gavel in a courtroom and declare, “not guilty!”
To forgive is to shoot an arrow so high and so far that it can never be found again.
To forgive is to bundle up all the garbage and trash and dispose of it, leaving the
house clean and fresh.
To forgive is to loose the moorings of a ship and release it to the open sea.
To forgive is to grant a full pardon to a condemned criminal.
To forgive is to relax a stranglehold on a wrestling opponent.
To forgive is to sandblast a wall of graffiti, leaving it looking like new.
To forgive is to smash a clay pot into a thousand pieces so it can never be pieced
together again.
Quote
“I don’t know why, but for some reason my mother could not forgive my brother
for leaving home as a teenager. Even in later life when my brother tried to reach
out to her, my mother was so filled with anger and bitterness, that she was unable
to forgive him. I watched as her inability to forgive hurt her more and more.
It destroyed my mother so much, that she was not able to bring herself to attend
my brother’s funeral. I learned firsthand how a lack of forgiveness can destroy
a family, can destroy relationships, can stop people from moving forward,
but ultimately the one it hurts the most in the end, is the one who will not forgive.”
I. FORGIVENESS AS A BRIDGE.
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin
against us.
O the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin
against us.
Luke 6:37 “… Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
John Irving said “The man who refuses to forgive destroys the bridge over which
he himself must cross.”
James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.
Forgiven people forgive people.
II. FORGIVENESS AS A DEBT.
Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted
to us.
Matthew 6:12 (PHILIPS) Forgive us what we owe to you, as we have also forgiven
those who owe anything to us.
Hell is a place where people pay an unpayable debt, that’s why it’s forever.
Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us …
Luke 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their
sins,
III. FORGIVENESS AS AN INFINITE NUMBER.
Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how many times
shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?
Matthew 18:22 Jesus answered, I tell you not seven times but seventy times seven.
Matthew 18:32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked
servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
Matthew 18:33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant,
just as I had pity on you?’
Matthew 18:34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until
he should pay all that was due to him.
Matthew 18:35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from
his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God in Christ forgave you.
1. Forgiveness is not, denying a wrongdoing,
Acts 2:22 Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by
God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your
midst, as you yourselves also know—
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of
God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;
2. Forgiveness is not forgetting.
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter
and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying,
Be saved from this perverse generation.
Acts 2: 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized;
3. Forgiveness is not approving or diminishing sin.
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what
they do.”
The three rules of forgiveness
Golden Rule
You should forgive others the way you would want others to forgive you.
God’s Rule
You will be forgiven the same way you forgive.
Grace Rule
The way you should forgive is the way God has forgiven you.
Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my
anxieties;
Psalm 139:24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting.
by avministry | Jan 1, 2023 | Sermons
Sermon Audio:
Video:
Luke 2:39 So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
Luke 2:40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom;
and the grace of God was upon Him.
Luke 2:41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
Luke 2:42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem
according to the custom of the feast.
Luke 2:43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus
lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;
Luke 2:44 But supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s
journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
Luke 2:45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
Dr. Paul Rusking described the case study patient under his care like this:
“The patient neither speaks nor comprehends the spoken word. Sometimes
she babbles incoherently for hours on end. She is disoriented about person,
place, and time. She does, however respond to her name. I have worked with
her for the past six months, but she still shows complete disregard for her physical
appearance and makes no effort to assist her own care. She must be fed, bathed
and clothed by others.
Her food must be pureed. Her shirt is usually soiled from almost incessant drooling.
She does not walk. Her sleep pattern is erratic. Often she wakes in the middle of the
night and her screaming awakens others. Most of the time she is friendly and happy,
but several times a day she gets quite agitated without apparent cause. Then she
wails until someone comes to comfort her.”
I. ARE WE GROWING AS CHRISTIANS?
Luke 2:40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom;
and the grace of God was upon Him.
Luke 2:41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
Luke 2:42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according
to the custom of the feast.
Jesus at age 12 is on the cusp of adulthood, in the last year that could be
identified as childhood because at 13 Jewish males were considered adults.
II. ARE WE RIGHT WITH THE LORD?
Luke 2:43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered
behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;
Luke 2:44 But supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s
journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
Luke 2:45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.
One of the saddest things on earth is for a person to think they’re right with God
when they’re not.
Judges 16:20 “… So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before,
at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had
departed from him.
We know that the Lord hadn’t left Samson but Samson had left the Lord.
III. ARE WE SEEKING JESUS’ FOR UNDERSTANDING AND ANSWERS?
Luke 2:46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting
in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.
Luke 2:47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.
The Voice of the Child
Come listen awhile to the voice of a Child
Stand in awe of the wisdom of God
Hear what He has to say
For the time is today
You can come or just walk away
Luke 2:48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him,
“Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You
anxiously.”
Luke 2:49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I
must be about My Father’s business?”
Luke 2:50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
Luke 2:51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was
subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.
IV. ARE WE BALANCED CHRISTIANS?
Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God
and men.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld
his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He
walked.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
by avministry | Jan 1, 2023 | Blog, Music
- “Amazing Grace” – This is a well-known hymn that is often used to start the new year off on a spiritual note.
- “I Will Sing of My Redeemer” – This hymn is a tribute to Jesus Christ and His role as our redeemer. It is a great choice for starting the new year with a focus on faith.
- “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” – This hymn is a testament to God’s faithfulness and His presence in our lives. It is a great choice for starting the new year with a focus on gratitude and trust in God.
- “Joy to the World” – This hymn is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and the joy that He brings to the world. It is a great choice for starting the new year with a focus on joy and hope.
- “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” – This hymn is a celebration of God’s grace and His role in our lives. It is a great choice for starting the new year with a focus on gratitude and trust in God.
- “O God Our Help in Ages Past” – This hymn is a tribute to God’s faithfulness and His presence throughout history. It is a great choice for starting the new year with a focus on hope and trust in God.
- “It Is Well with My Soul” – This hymn is a testament to God’s peace and comfort in times of trial and suffering. It is a great choice for starting the new year with a focus on hope and resilience.
- “Blessed Assurance” – This hymn is a celebration of the security and certainty of our salvation through Jesus Christ. It is a great choice for starting the new year with a focus on faith and assurance in God.
Blessed Assurance is a beloved hymn that has been a staple in Christian worship for over a century. It was written by Fanny Crosby, a hymnist and poet known for her prolific output and deeply faith-filled lyrics.
The story of Blessed Assurance begins in the late 1800s when Crosby was living in New York City and working as a hymnist. She had lost her sight at a young age, but she refused to let her disability hold her back. Instead, she used her gift for words and her deep faith to create hymns that touched the hearts of countless people around the world.
One of Crosby’s most famous hymns is Blessed Assurance, which was written in 1873. The hymn is based on a Bible verse, Philippians 3:7-8, which says, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Crosby’s hymn reflects this verse, as it speaks of the peace and assurance that comes from having a personal relationship with Jesus. The hymn has three verses, each of which speaks to a different aspect of this relationship. In the first verse, Crosby sings about the joy and peace that comes from knowing Jesus as her savior. In the second verse, she speaks about the security and comfort that come from trusting in Jesus. Finally, in the third verse, she talks about the hope and assurance that she has in Jesus, even in the face of difficult circumstances.
Blessed Assurance has remained a popular hymn in the years since it was written, and it has been recorded by many different artists in a variety of musical styles. It is often sung in churches and at other Christian gatherings, and its message of hope and assurance continues to resonate with people of all ages.
