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Click here for more studies.
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Social Issues & The disciple
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Abortion & the Disciple
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"All the children of wrath may become children of the Father through Jesus Christ. An aging abortionist, a few blocks from our church, after 3,000 abortions, can become a child of God. She could hear Jesus say, on her death bed, 'Today you will be with me in paradise.' The same is true for the mother of five aborted children. And for the selfish, responsibility-shirking boyfriend. And for the secretive, shame-fearing, overbearing parent. And for the desperate 14-year-old girl. Jesus did not mainly come to stop abortions in this world. He came mainly to die for abortion-committing sinners. 'I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance' (Luke 5:32). There is one way to know God as your Father. And it’s the same for the people at Planned Parenthood, and the people at Pro-life Action, and the people at [our] church — come to Jesus" (J. Piper).
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John Piper's poem, "The Children"
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Ray Comfort's documentary "180"
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Homosexuality & the Disciple
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"My closing declaration is this: God has not called us to win elections, but to win souls and hearts and minds; he has not called us to control Congress, but to preach the gospel; he has not called us to be safe, but to tell the truth; he has not called us to avoid conflict, but to love everyone (1 Thessalonians 3:12). So speak the truth in love, entrust your cause to God, and keep the glory of God in the center of your soul, so that all the planets of your passions will be pulled into their proper orbit" (J. Piper).
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Political Evangelism & the Disciple
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Matt Barnes serves as Indiana State House Chaplain and the State Director for Capitol Commission Indiana, a ministry of gospel-witness at our Capitol building that he started in 2004. The Lord has richly blessed Matt's ministry, which has included the birth of Public Servants’ Prayer and the opportunity to open the United States House of Representatives in prayer in April 2012. Matt recently joined us to share his ministry narrative and to challenge us regarding political evangelism as disciples of Jesus.
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
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Alcohol & the Disciple
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"There are people who can't begin to whistle a happy tune or sing a song at work because they are so tense and anxious about life. But later in the evening at the tavern with a few drinks under their belt they can put their arms around each other and sing and laugh. All of us long to be carefree, uninhibited, happy. And the mounting tragedy of our own day, as in Paul's, is that increasing numbers of people (even Christians) believe that the only way they can find this child-like freedom is by drugging themselves with alcohol or other mind-benders. Such behavior dishonors God, and so Paul says: There is a better way to cope with the evil days—be filled with the Spirit, stay filled with the Spirit. And you will know unmatched joy that sings and makes melody to the Lord.... So I repeat, whatever joy or peace you find in alcohol, the Spirit of God can give you more. Even the psalmist of the Old Testament had experienced this. He says in Psalm 4:7-8, 'You [O Lord] have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety'" (J. Piper).
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