Hey all! I've been out of town, and have been unable to post for the past couple days and for this I apologize! I have been in prayer for each one of you this week, and have been praying you continue to stay strong to your commitment. The word of God speaks power to our lives, and has nothing less than life changing power. Do not grow lazy! The verses for the week are:
Romans 6:23
Ephesians 2:8-9
The next extended passage is:
Colossians 3:1-17
Continue to use the weekly verse to learn how you can share your faith with your friends! The extended passage simply teaches us how to enhance our Christians lives! Dig in it!
Much love!
-Matt Allen
The 'ETC Revolution' is dedicated to the memorization of scripture and being able to use it to not only enrich our walks with Christ, but to further the Kingdom of God by sharing His love and word to EVERYONE with love, compassion, encouragement, prayer, and wisdom. ETC stands for 'Every Thought Captive,' which is taken directly from 2 Corinthians 10:5
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Who Are You?
I think so many times we can change everything about who we are dependant on who we are around. Pertaining to this I find an uneasing characteristic of those who find themselves caught up in sin. Maybe you can empathize with me here. Growing up in public school, and having fallen away from God late middle school and early high school, I found myself at a dilemma. My parents saw me as one person, yet my basketball team saw me as another. With this juxtaposition of expectations, I turned into two different people. The person that my parents wanted me to be. The nice, Christian, loving kid who laughed a lot and loved people. The person who was vile, covered in sin, manipulative, judgemental, and worldly. Depending how the people around me viewed me, I turned into a different person. Sort of like some awful multiple personality disorder.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight."
God views you as HOLY and BLAMELESS. It matters not what your parents view you as, your friends view you as, but only what God views you as. And as forgiven, loved, children of God, in his sight you stand blameless and holy. Strive to live as he sees you, for he sees you more than the rest combined. We are the redeemed. And we are not of those who shink back and are destroyed. But of those who BELIEVE and are SAVED. Amen, and amen.
Much love,
Matt Allen
The 'ETC Revolution' is dedicated to the memorization of scripture and being able to use it to not only enrich our walks with Christ, but to further the Kingdom of God by sharing His love and word to EVERYONE with love, compassion, encouragement, prayer, and wisdom. ETC stands for 'Every Thought Captive,' which is taken directly from 2 Corinthians 10:5
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight."
God views you as HOLY and BLAMELESS. It matters not what your parents view you as, your friends view you as, but only what God views you as. And as forgiven, loved, children of God, in his sight you stand blameless and holy. Strive to live as he sees you, for he sees you more than the rest combined. We are the redeemed. And we are not of those who shink back and are destroyed. But of those who BELIEVE and are SAVED. Amen, and amen.
Much love,
Matt Allen
The 'ETC Revolution' is dedicated to the memorization of scripture and being able to use it to not only enrich our walks with Christ, but to further the Kingdom of God by sharing His love and word to EVERYONE with love, compassion, encouragement, prayer, and wisdom. ETC stands for 'Every Thought Captive,' which is taken directly from 2 Corinthians 10:5
Sunday, August 23, 2009
New Week, New Verses!
Friends of the ETC, and team leaders!
School is here! Most of you will start tomorrow, or have already started, and with that I am excited for all of you! Some of you are worried, others stressed, others excited. My one suggestion is this. Don't make your next few days about you. Start the year right, as Jesus would have. As a servant. Over the next couple weeks, we'll be working on verses that are extremely powerful when it comes to sharing our faith! Verses that outline God's perfect plan for his salvation, for a world needing saving. This will be the last week we spend on 2nd Corinthians 4, so knock it out and get it memorized! Also, as school finally begins to start, think of ways, places and times you could incorporate a family group and ETC session into your school! Before school in the cafeteria, at the flagpole, after band practice, before football games. Getcreative on how you may shepherd and serve his flock!
Verses for this week!
1st Peter 3:15
Romans 3:23
Also, make sure you are refreshing yourselves daily with the verses we've memorized in the past! Let the words of God encourage you to start this school year off right! Love you guys!
Much love,
Matt Allen
The 'ETC Revolution' is dedicated to the memorization of scripture and being able to use it to not only enrich our walks with Christ, but to further the Kingdom of God by sharing His love and word to EVERYONE with love, compassion, encouragement, prayer, and wisdom. ETC stands for 'Every Thought Captive,' which is taken directly from 2 Corinthians 10:5
School is here! Most of you will start tomorrow, or have already started, and with that I am excited for all of you! Some of you are worried, others stressed, others excited. My one suggestion is this. Don't make your next few days about you. Start the year right, as Jesus would have. As a servant. Over the next couple weeks, we'll be working on verses that are extremely powerful when it comes to sharing our faith! Verses that outline God's perfect plan for his salvation, for a world needing saving. This will be the last week we spend on 2nd Corinthians 4, so knock it out and get it memorized! Also, as school finally begins to start, think of ways, places and times you could incorporate a family group and ETC session into your school! Before school in the cafeteria, at the flagpole, after band practice, before football games. Getcreative on how you may shepherd and serve his flock!
Verses for this week!
1st Peter 3:15
Romans 3:23
Also, make sure you are refreshing yourselves daily with the verses we've memorized in the past! Let the words of God encourage you to start this school year off right! Love you guys!
Much love,
Matt Allen
The 'ETC Revolution' is dedicated to the memorization of scripture and being able to use it to not only enrich our walks with Christ, but to further the Kingdom of God by sharing His love and word to EVERYONE with love, compassion, encouragement, prayer, and wisdom. ETC stands for 'Every Thought Captive,' which is taken directly from 2 Corinthians 10:5
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tightrope Walking
Often I find myself walking tightropes. Not because I consider myself of the daredevil nature, nor because I have amazing balance of my own power. You see, generally tightrope walkers don't simply walk empty handed. Often they are found carrying a rather long pole stretching out several feet side to side to help them keep their balance. They have something to HOLD onto. To RELY on. And, often, I find I must ask myself.
"What am I holding onto for balance?"
There is much we can hold. Our friends, a relationship, money, our own strength. Yet, as I walk in faith, I hear a call from God that says: "Hold me! I provide your balance! I AM your strength. I AM what keeps you from falling! Hold me!"
It's the times that I find myself holding onto anything besides God for balance that I'm on the ground. On my back. Looking at the place I once was.
2nd Corinthians 1:8b-9
"For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired for life itself. Indeed we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead."
What is the thing you hold onto for balance? Is it Christ, and his words of love? Is it a person? An object? Money? Yourself? Unfortunately, all these things fade. People go, things fade, and money flees. The word of the Lord will stand forever. Today, may you hold him, allow him to be your balance, and hold fast to your hope. For this world is fading fast, and nothing else will last. Only his love.
Much love,
Matt Allen
The 'ETC Revolution' is dedicated to the memorization of scripture and being able to use it to not only enrich our walks with Christ, but to further the Kingdom of God by sharing His love and word to EVERYONE with love, compassion, encouragement, prayer, and wisdom. ETC stands for 'Every Thought Captive,' which is taken directly from 2 Corinthians 10:5
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
I Will Spend.
Quick word this morning! Check out:
2nd Corinthians 12:15a
"I will most gladly spend, and be spent for your souls."
This world is so dark, and sometime I think people are dying to see a little sliver of light. Why not be that light? Spend of yourselves for every person you run into. Every person you encounter. Now go. Spend and be spent.
Much love,
Matt Allen
THE 'ETC REVOLUTION' IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORIZATION OF SCRIPTURE AND BEING ABLE TO USE IT TO NOT ONLY ENRICH OUR WALKS WITH CHRIST, BUT TO FURTHER THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY SHARING HIS LOVE AND WORD TO EVERYONE WITH LOVE, COMPASSION, ENCOURAGEMENT, PRAYER, AND WISDOM. ETC STANDS FOR 'EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE,' WHICH IS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM 2 CORINTHIANS 10:5
Monday, August 17, 2009
The Narrow Gate
Matthew 6:13-14
"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."
We stand at a crossroads. Two paths ahead. One seems light. Easy. There seems to be a gravel road, at very least throughout it's course, and you can see down this path for miles. You can see several of your friends walking down this path, seemingly having the time of their life. The trees on this path are tall, providing a decent amount of shade. The next path though seems quite difficult. Narrow. Uncomfortable, and everyone seems to be avoiding it at all costs. The tress are low to the ground, with branches that seem to get in the path's way. In fact, to top it off, you lose sight of where the trail leads looking down it from the beginning.
What scares me most is that, "the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and THOSE WHO ENTER BY IT ARE MANY." I would also use the word "many" to describe the amount of people in this country who claim to be Christians. So, what are we missing? The worst part is this: The paths of the narrow and wide gate do not run side by side. They run away from each other at an angle, as shown to the right. This frightens me, for should I choose the wide gate, I cannot simply jump a fence and land on the path of the narrow gate. Simply put, it seems that, the longer one continues to the path to destruction, the further he travels from life. Picture the letter "V', the longer one walks up the right side, the further he gets from the left. Yet. God is a God of grace who says, "Come near to me, and I will come near to you." He allows us to travel to the narrow path, should we use discernment to do so. But we must get there.
This is what I call "the bridge". The trek back to righteousness, and while being on the bridge, in between two paths, is better than being on the path to destruction; be wary. You have not arrived to the path leading to life yet, and the devil will do anything in his power to deter you from reaching it. Unfortunately some people walk the bridge all the way to the path of life, and realize how hard it is, and run back to the easy path. Likewise, some who chose the narrow gate soon find themselves crossing the bridge to the path of destruction. Neither of these instances are God's will for his people.
I could go on and on, but you get the point. Where are you? One of the two paths? The bridge? The narrow gate is the only way to life. Choose it, and walk it till it's end. For when this life is over, I want nothing more than to hear: "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
Much love,
Matt Allen
The 'ETC Revolution' is dedicated to the memorization of scripture and being able to use it to not only enrich our walks with Christ, but to further the Kingdom of God by sharing His love and word to EVERYONE with love, compassion, encouragement, prayer, and wisdom. ETC stands for 'Every Thought Captive,' which is taken directly from 2 Corinthians 10:5
"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."
We stand at a crossroads. Two paths ahead. One seems light. Easy. There seems to be a gravel road, at very least throughout it's course, and you can see down this path for miles. You can see several of your friends walking down this path, seemingly having the time of their life. The trees on this path are tall, providing a decent amount of shade. The next path though seems quite difficult. Narrow. Uncomfortable, and everyone seems to be avoiding it at all costs. The tress are low to the ground, with branches that seem to get in the path's way. In fact, to top it off, you lose sight of where the trail leads looking down it from the beginning.
What scares me most is that, "the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and THOSE WHO ENTER BY IT ARE MANY." I would also use the word "many" to describe the amount of people in this country who claim to be Christians. So, what are we missing? The worst part is this: The paths of the narrow and wide gate do not run side by side. They run away from each other at an angle, as shown to the right. This frightens me, for should I choose the wide gate, I cannot simply jump a fence and land on the path of the narrow gate. Simply put, it seems that, the longer one continues to the path to destruction, the further he travels from life. Picture the letter "V', the longer one walks up the right side, the further he gets from the left. Yet. God is a God of grace who says, "Come near to me, and I will come near to you." He allows us to travel to the narrow path, should we use discernment to do so. But we must get there.
This is what I call "the bridge". The trek back to righteousness, and while being on the bridge, in between two paths, is better than being on the path to destruction; be wary. You have not arrived to the path leading to life yet, and the devil will do anything in his power to deter you from reaching it. Unfortunately some people walk the bridge all the way to the path of life, and realize how hard it is, and run back to the easy path. Likewise, some who chose the narrow gate soon find themselves crossing the bridge to the path of destruction. Neither of these instances are God's will for his people.
I could go on and on, but you get the point. Where are you? One of the two paths? The bridge? The narrow gate is the only way to life. Choose it, and walk it till it's end. For when this life is over, I want nothing more than to hear: "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
Much love,
Matt Allen
The 'ETC Revolution' is dedicated to the memorization of scripture and being able to use it to not only enrich our walks with Christ, but to further the Kingdom of God by sharing His love and word to EVERYONE with love, compassion, encouragement, prayer, and wisdom. ETC stands for 'Every Thought Captive,' which is taken directly from 2 Corinthians 10:5
Sunday, August 16, 2009
New Verses!
Hey TL's!
STAY TRUE TO YOUR COMMITMENT! I love you all, and can't express this enough! For this to be a true movement, we have to be people who DO what we SAY. Amen? This statement does not seek to condemn, but to help grow! I feel so out of touch with so many of you! I miss reading E-grams, which are not meant to be a chore, but a way to keep lines of communication open! I so badly want to know your struggles, your triumphs, your victories and losses! Looking now, M,W,F,Sun, is a little more that I had initially thought, but try to touch base with me at least three times a week! Beyond that, make sure you are consistent with your memorization! People will only follow leaders, so don't forget the power behind the vision of what we do! Let's look at what we've learned!
Week 1
Romans 8:6
2nd Corinthians 10:5
God taught me that as I replace earthly thoughts with his thoughts, he fills me with his life and peace! And as I truly take these thoughts captive, my life becomes obedient to Christ. You have thought 50,000 thoughts today alone. How many brought you closer to Christ?
Week 2
1 Peter 5:9-10
Galatians 2:20
God continued to teach me that the only true way for me to live abundant life is for myself to become as less as possible that HE may become more. Furthermore, when the storms come; and they will, I'm not alone. Not only am not alone, but after I have suffered he will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish me. Amen, and amen.
Week 3
Colossians 3:14
Mark 12:30-31
This world is all about love. We don't simply seek to change our thoughts that God may fill us with more peace, but that through his thoughts, our actions would become as his. Our love as his love. Put on love. Love God with everything. Love others as yourself. Love God, love people. The reason we are here.
Week 4
Isaiah 50:10
Matt 7:13-14
I know it seems I often throw double verses at you guys, but some verses have to be taken in with the verses surrounding them! Let these verses speak to you. God is the God of faith. When we can not see him. When we don't know where he is. Or when we know he is sleeping under the storm. Yet, hope is not what we can see. Next, as school comes, it will be easier to choose the wider gate leading to destruction. It is always easier to choose this road. Choose your road, and go for a walk. Love you guys so much, and miss hearing from you! Send some E-Grams!
Much love,
Matt Allen
THE 'ETC REVOLUTION' IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORIZATION OF SCRIPTURE AND BEING ABLE TO USE IT TO NOT ONLY ENRICH OUR WALKS WITH CHRIST, BUT TO FURTHER THE KINGDOM OF GOD BY SHARING HIS LOVE AND WORD TO EVERYONE WITH LOVE, COMPASSION, ENCOURAGEMENT, PRAYER, AND WISDOM. ETC STANDS FOR 'EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE,' WHICH IS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM 2 CORINTHIANS 10:5
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