LHIM Weekly Bible Teaching

The post Delusional Thinking Patterns first appeared on Living Hope .

Depression is on the rise, especially in the youth of the USA. What is going on? And what can we do about it? In The Coddling of the American Mind , the authors identify three “common cognitive distortions” and the solution to all three is found in the Scriptures. Mental Filtering: Focusing exclusively on the negative details and rejecting positive experiences, insisting they don’t count. Ma...

To maintain sanctified thinking, we must control anxious thinking patterns. Catastrophizing, negative projecting about the future and overgeneralization come against the joy and peace that is ours in Christ. Numbers 13:23-14:1 – Catastrophizing (predicting that things will turn out badly) and overgeneralization destroy sanctified thinking. Numbers 14:2-22    Ten times they lost control. By the Red...

This teaching is relevant for us today. Although the underlying elemental principles of our day manifest differently, they nonetheless enslave us the same. Cultural currents like hyper-individualism, careerism, aestheticism, consumerism, technological optimism, inclusivism, polarization, and coercion are always pushing and pulling us along. Let us instead imitate our Father as dear children, looki...

Throughout history, God has chosen individuals that no one would expect. But nonetheless, that is who God wanted. Likewise, God decided in advance that he would choose all those who put their faith in Christ. Being chosen by God means that God wants YOU! But to be chosen by God requires that you respond to his invitation in the good news of Christ. God’s chosen ones are those who choose God....

Justification by faith is a key concept in Christian salvation. The idea is simple. We believe in the gospel message; God justifies us, making us right with Him. To further understand this, we’ll consider two examples: Abraham and David, both mentioned in Romans 4. Romans 3:21-26   God’s righteousness is a big topic. To understand it, we need to reflect on how God created our world, how humans hav...

Leviticus 25 and the book of Ruth lay the foundation of understanding our spiritual redemption that we have in Christ. We will be returned to our spiritual family and inherit the land. We are part of the new Israel therefor included in the promises made to Abraham. Leviticus 25:1-7    The 7th year sabbath would provide rest for the land, the people, and the animals plus build their faith and confi...

The outpouring of God’s spirit on Pentecost marked a massive step forward in God’s plans to redeem the world. At Babel, He had divided up humanity, confused the languages, and assigned the nations deputy rulers from His divine council. Through the work of His Messiah, Jesus, and the outpouring of the spirit, God has begun the process of taking the nations back that will ultimately culminate in His...

Mother’s Day may not be a Christian holiday, but the Scriptures clearly set out how God views a mother and the importance of the goodness of this woman as it relates to the goodness of God. There are numerous stories in the Bible about mothers who were good women such as Hagar, Hannah, Esther, Ruth, and Elizabeth, alongside stories of non-mothers, those spiritual good women such as Miriam, Martha,...

God invites us to join him in the work he is doing in the world. He equips us for good works by bestowing God-given talents, resources, and a heart to serve. Paul encouraged Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1:6 ESV). What gifts has God entrusted you with? How can you use them for his glory? Ephesians 2:10 We aren’t saved by works, but we are saved for works. God invites us to...

We want to join God in what He is doing in the world and not expect Him to join us in our plans. To participate in His work we must have an awareness of Him and expectations based upon His Words. God is at work in the world. Awareness of God’s presence Expectation based upon His Words Acts 1:4-5; Luke 24:49   Expectations based upon God’s Word Hebrews 10:36; Psalm 27:14; 62:5-6   Waiting is not pa...

Acts 16:1   Paul embarked on his second missionary journey from Antioch in Syria to Derbe and Lystra, travelling over land. Acts 16:6-8   As they travelled, God kept dissuading them from going to Asia Minor or Bithynia—places that were obvious choices for missionary work. Instead, they kept travelling. It took them 350 miles to get from Antioch in Pisidia to Troas. Acts 16:9-12   Sleeping on the w...

People are “filled” with holy spirit when they believe in Jesus Christ and confess him as their Lord. But, a believer doesn’t receive only a portion or part of the spirit or even just most of the spirit—they are filled with the spirit to the fullest measure. There is no lack or deficiency. They are filled completely with the gift of the spirit. Acts 9:17 Paul was “filled with the spirit” when Anan...

Acts 1:1-11   Jesus stated the mission and purpose of the church. Matthew 5-7   Jesus elaborated on how we become his witnesses. Matthew 5:13-16    The beatitudes prepare disciples to be salt and light. These beatitudes are intended to yield at least three significant outcomes: 1) glory to God, 2) blessedness (holiness and happiness) for the disciple, and 3) godly influence in the world. We are di...

Looking at various incidents in the life of Christ, we can appreciate how courageously and admirably he lived. Comparing him to heroes of old or those we laud in our own time, we see that Jesus comes out as the most impressive person to ever live. Thankfully, Jesus’ righteous life and heroic death were not the end, for God raised him from the dead! Mark 3:1-6   When he healed the man with the with...

Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly, eliciting widespread joy and praise from the people. However, within a short span of time, those very praises gave way to vehement cries of “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.” What precipitated such a profound and abrupt shift in sentiment? John 1:29 and 36   The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away th...

In Luke 16, Jesus told two parables about generosity. In the first, a dishonest manager ingratiates himself to his boss’ debtors to gain favors after he’s fired. Surprisingly, Jesus says such shrewdness is an example to his disciples. The second parable has a rich man and a poor man whose fortunes switch in the afterlife. The second parable illustrates the shrewdness of the first. By giving genero...

A life of discipleship can be described as “a long obedience in the same direction.” While in our Christian walk, we might take wrong turns and have to course correct and get back on track moving forward toward the Lord, our desire should be to develop a pattern in our lives every day of taking one step closer to being like Christ. John 15:1-8 Deuteronomy 5:28-33 Genesis 12:1-10 Prover...

Zerubbabel was an important leader among the initial migration of Jews from Babylon. Arriving in Jerusalem they built an altar and began work on the temple. Though the government forced them to stop, Zerubbabel eventually led the effort to reinitiate the building project. Likewise, Clarence Jordan of Georgia serves as an example of persevering in the work God called him to amid great opposition an...

Acts 18:24-28 Priscilla and Aquila took the time to share with Apollos what they have learned about the “way of God.” They were willing to give of themselves in order to shape the life of another. Acts 18:1-4 After leaving Rome (Italy), Aquila and Priscilla met Paul in Corinth, Greece. Interestingly, they were of the same trade/occupation, and so they invited Paul to stay with them and work with t...

Elisha was a prophet who repeatedly made bold moves in his walk with God. His example serves as a corrective to a milquetoast Christianity that hesitates and hopes without ever stepping out boldly in faith. Is it time for you to make a bold move? 1 Kings 19:19-21 Elijah invited Elisha to train with him to become a great prophet of God. Elisha may have hesitated, but before long he fully committed....

There are many heroes we look up to in the Bible – Abraham, Moses, David, John the Baptist, Peter, Paul, and of course, Jesus – just to name a few. But who are the unsung heroes? This week we kick off a new series which will take a closer look at some important, but obscure figures who made a significant impact on biblical history. We start off with Rahab, a woman whose dubious reputat...

What does God want? Genesis 1:26-28   God’s original and ultimate purpose for humanity 1 Timothy 2:1-4    What does God want?   2 Peter 3:9    Why hasn’t Jesus returned yet? John 3:16    Why did God give His Son? Why did Jesus give his life? Colossians 1:27    With the holy spirit, we have Christ within enabling us to be in the image of God with His morals, motives, and desires. 2 Corinthians 5:14...

Time is something we all have been given the same amount of but don’t all use the same way. God wants us to be mindful of how we use our time so that we make the most of the time that we have been given. Ephesians 5:15-16 “Watch carefully” — This means to pay careful attention or be keenly aware of something. “Unwise/wise” — Wisdom and foolishness are an important matter of interest here. Th...

As a result of the problems we face, from political tribalism to economic inflation to the decline of civility in our society, it’s easy to lose hope. Yet, for us who follow Christ, we have strong reasons to have hope. Looking to examples like Hezekiah’s deliverance from the Assyrian Empire, Jesus’ heroic suffering and death on the cross, and Martin Luther King’s belief in overcoming, we can see h...