Good Communication Skills PERMANENT NOTICE Posted by: Christ's Church | more.. From Our Marriage Enrichment Seminar: Good Communication Is A Two-Way Street Communication involves free open conversation and careful attentive listening. It involves both the sending and receiving of a message. Most often it is a non-verbal expression. We must be attentive to the other person and focus on them. One should not dominate the other. If you talk a lot, give way to the other person who talks little. Remember, talking is not the only way a person communicates. Become a student of how your spouse communicates non-verbally.. Talking A. Is what I am going to say true? Do I have all the facts? Both Ephesians chapter 4 and Proverbs chapter 18 speak to the issue of telling the truth, and speaking after knowing the facts. It is wrong to lie, so don’t tell lies, particularly to your spouse. B. Is what I would like to say profitable? Will it be constructive or destructive? Both Proverbs chapter 20 and Romans chapter 15 give us insight in these issues. Your tongue should benefit your spouse when you speak to each other. There is power in your tongue that can either give life or death to the one you love, your spouse. This is an understanding that is too often forgotten. We see the fruits of it, but we very seldom think before we talk. We have a choice of using words and expressions that can build up our spouse, or we can use words that destroy our spouse. C. Is it the proper time for me to say it, or would it be better for me to wait? Proverbs chapters 15 and 25, and Ecclesiastes chapter 3 instructs us that there is a proper time for all things. D. Is my attitude right? Ephesians chapter 4, I Corinthians chapter 16, and Titus chapter 3 addresses our attitude. You could have all the facts. You could desire to speak for the benefit of your spouse, and the time could be right, but if your attitude is wrong, it will "blow up" in your face. E. Are the words I use the best possible way of saying it? The Scriptures in Proverbs chapters 12, 15,16, and Ecclesiastes chapter 12 teaches us the importance of the right words. F. Have I prayed about the matter, and am I trusting God to help me? Proverbs chapter 3, Colossians chapter 4, and Psalms chapter 19 gives us good advice in this area. 1) Self-Control This is very much needed for good communication. In Proverbs 12, verse 18 and chapter 16, verse 27 along with James chapter 3, verses 5 to 8 instructs us that our words can be a destructive power. We can inflict wounds with hateful, violent, vindictive, hasty, careless, bitter, cutting words. Your words can cause communication to shut down. Proverbs chapter 18 verse 21 says The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. James chapter 3 verses 1 through 12 tells us that if we can bridle our tongue, we can control our whole body. The following Scripture verses are of great help. Read them over. You will find many verses throughout the book of Proverbs about the tongue, lips and the mouth. It seem that true wisdom involves control over our tongues. A wise person will exercise discipline over that small member and receive the blessing of it. 2) Talk With A Charitable, Accepting, Forbearing Spirit The way we communicate can open doors for real sharing. Ephesians chapter 4 verses 29 to 31 instructs us to put off wrongful words and attitudes. Ephesians chapter 4 verses 2,3 and 32 encourages us to put on righteousness and godliness. We should make every attempt to see the glory of God in the other person. Remember whatsoever you do to another child of God, you do it to Jesus. 3) Speak Words That Will Build Up Your Spouse You have the power and the responsibility to build up your spouse. The words you speak are powerful. If words can cut and hurt, words can also heal and soothe. Your spouse needs kind, gracious words that only you can provide. Because of your place in your spouse’s life, your words carry more power than anyone else. Use your tongue to speak life to your spouse. Even if he or she is not living the way you would like, speak those things that are not as though they were! Listening Listening is the other part of communication. Listening must be active. We tend to forget most of what we hear. Therefore, it is important that we actively listen to hear what our spouse is saying. Active listening includes paying attention to what is being said.. 1) Let the other person speak without interruption. Proverbs chapter 18 verse 13 states "He who answers before listening--that is his folly and his shame". 2) Give the other person your undivided attention. James chapter 1 verse 19 states "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." The important issue here is undivided. It means that you not are watching the football game while your wife needs you to listen to her. Or you are not preparing dinner while your husband needs you to listen to him. Great communication can not take place when listening is in competition with looking at something else, or hearing something else, or your mind is somewhere else. There must be focus and attention. 3) Making sure you really understand what the other person is saying or thinking. Read John chapter 2 verse 19, Mark chapter 8 verses 15 to 21. • permalink | email blog | post new | printer-friendly | clone this | rss feed

God's Divine Potential That Is In You PERMANENT NOTICE Posted by: Christ's Church | more.. God’s Divine Potential That Is In You If God has worked the miracle of salvation in you, He has provided everything that you will ever need for an abundant life, filled with success. Those who do not live an overcoming life do so because of not knowing and receiving what God has provided. There are many wonderful truths that we could consider in this regard. Today we want to consider just 10 great truths. Consider Truth#1 Ephesians 1:3-9 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ Consider Truth#2 1John 4:9-17 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. Consider Truth#3 Romans 8:9-11 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Consider Truth#4 Romans 8:26-28 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. Consider Truth#5 1John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. Consider Truth#6 Colossians 1:25-29 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; [Even] the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what [is] the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. Consider Truth #7 1Corinthians 6:13-20 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body [is] not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make [them] the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Consider #8 2Corinthians 4:7-8 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. [We are] troubled on every side, yet not distressed; [we are] perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. Consider Truth#9 2Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Consider Truth#10 Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Category:  Life and Family • permalink | email blog | post new | printer-friendly | clone this | rss feed

Let Us Pray Together PERMANENT NOTICE Posted by: Christ's Church | more.. Please join us on our teleconference PRAYER LINE Monday through Friday mornings 6am to 7am EST. Dial 1-712-451-6000; Follow directions to enter code 943334#, then 1. You will join us live. • permalink | email blog | post new | printer-friendly | clone this | rss feed

Walking With God - Being One With Him PERMANENT NOTICE Posted by: Christ's Church | more.. Walking With God - Being One With Him Amos 3:3 The Context God's Concern Walking - A step by step movement; it is ongoing walking is present tense; it is right now. It denotes progress; a moving forward as oppose to staying at the same place. Agree - unity togetherness; the lack of resistance or hindrance Walking with God as a Saint (A Member of the Body of Christ) Living under the authority of Jesus Christ. Head/Member Relationship (Absolute Surrender to Christ in ALL Things) Our relationship to Christ as Head Member/Member Relationship (One Another Relating) Our Relationship to others as members of the Body of Christ Ephesians 4:1-6 Love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; Receive one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Salute one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.by love serve one another. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. But exhort one another daily consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. God made us male and female - there is a difference not in our relationship with the Lord. That is the same; we share the same grace; experience the same mercy; know of the same love. He has no respect of persons. He loves and cares for all of us the same way male and female. However, He has setup different functions, roles, responsibilities for men and women. Men are not to become women and women are not to become men. 50 years ago, this would not even be an issue or concern. But in 2007 it is an issue because the world in which we live exerts efforts to erase God's established difference between men and women. Today men want to marry men; women want to marry women; women want to usurp the role and authority of men. Just like any other worldly influence that impacts and seeks to takeover the church, this same influence has begun to major impacts in church life. Walking with God as a Man of God (A Man under God's Authority) How has God called you to walk with Him as a man? Do you agree with His role, function and responsibilities for you as a man? Are you tempted to forsake your God given place? There are 817 verses of scripture that has a focus on man. 383 of them are about man and the church. What insights could you gain if you studied them by the Spirit? What can you learn about a living vital relationship with Christ from these verses? Walking with God as a Woman of God (A Woman under God's Authority) How has God called you to walk with Him as a woman? Do you agree with His role, function and responsibilities for you as a woman? Are you tempted to forsake your God given place? There are 98 verses of scripture that has a focus on woman. 42 of them are about woman and the church. What insights could you gain if you studied them by the Spirit? What can you learn about a living vital relationship with Christ from these verses? • permalink | email blog | post new | printer-friendly | clone this | rss feed