Jesus Asked !!!

One Day, Jesus and Satan had a conversation and Jesus ask Satan what was he doing with the people here in the World...

Satan Responded :
They are entertaining me : Teaching them how to do bombs and to kill; to use weapons; to hate one another; to abuse the infancy; showing the youth to use drugs; to drink, to lie and to do everything prohibited...


I am amusing myself very much!!!!

Jesus asked:
And after, what are you going to do with them?

After ...I am going to finish them all!!

Jesus asked:
How much do you want for them?

Satan Replied:

Why are you going to love these people? They are treacherous, lying, false, egoistic, and covetous!

They will never love you really, they are going to blaspheme and spit in your face, they are going to despise you and they will not have you consideration any!

How much do you want for them Satan?
I want all your tears and your blood!


Ok done deal!
and...Jesus paid the price of our liberty!

How do we forget Jesus!
We believe everything they show us, but we question everything that comes from him...

People send jokes thruogh e-mail sending themto each other at a fast speed!
But when the e-mail is about GOD, they people think about it twice sending it to others.

Everyone says they want to be with GOD one day

A lot of us say: I believe in GOD, but what do we do for HIM!

To speak of Jesus is not a matter that the people want to hear...
They only come to Jesus when they are in big trouble.

When you finish reading this message.
Will you send it to somebody?

Who will send this message?

Who will you send this too?

Just the same, don’t be afraid , my child, I will always be with you.
Even when you feel alone ...

Peace be with you ...

Amen

lovely story......

Dear all.....

I hope you will enjoy reading this lovely story !!!!!

A little girl walked to and from school daily.Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to the school.

As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school and she feared the electrical storm might harm her child.

Full of concern, the mother quickly got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school. As she did, she saw her little girl walking along.At each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up, and smile.

Another and another flash of lighting followed quickly and with each, the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile. When the mother's car drew up beside the child, she lowered the window and called to her 'What are you doing?

The child answered, 'I am trying to look pretty because God keeps taking my picture.'

“ Bless you today and everyday as you face
the storms that come your way ”

ၤီီFrom Forwarded message

It Takes Energy to Do God's Will

“Lord, when doubts fill my mind, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me
and give me renewed hope and cheer”

(Psalm 94:19 LB)

The fact is it takes energy to do God’s will. What do you do when you run out of energy?

God suggests when we’re feeling uneasy, perhaps low on energy; we should be still and get quiet before Him: “Lord, when doubts fill my mind, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me and give me renewed hope and cheer” (Psalm 94:19 LB).

But many of us have trouble getting quiet. It’s as if we are afraid of silence; it makes us very uncomfortable. The moment we get in the car, the radio or CD player goes on. The moment we get home, the TV goes on.

Yet, God, in a sense, says, “If you want to lower your stress, it’s as simple as this: Shut up. Be silent. Stop talking and start listening.”

I suggest that once a day you should go out in your backyard, sit down, and just be quiet. I’m not talking about reading your Bible. You ought to read your Bible every day, but I mean get alone for five minutes a day and be completely silent. Ask God a question, and then just sit and listen.

Sometimes we say, “God, I really need your guidance on this,” and then we get up and walk off. We don’t wait for an answer. Could it be the reason we never hear from God is we never listen?

Learn to take little mini-breaks during the day. When you feel your blood pressure rising, stop and say, “God, I want to tune in on you again. I want to focus in on you.” I’m not suggesting thirty minutes of meditation. I’m talking about fifteen or twenty seconds. Just little mini-breaks to stop and be quiet.

Why is this important? Because the race of life is tough and, quite honestly, it’s tough to live God’s plan for your life. It’s important to be still and know He is there.

Here’s an easy formula I use: Divert daily, withdraw weekly, abandon annually. Get quiet once a day, take one day a week to rest, and always take some sort of vacation at least once a year.

Rick Warren

Is It Time To Take a Nap?

“In six days I, the Lord, made the earth, the sky, the seas, and everything in them, but on the seventh day I rested”

(Exodus 20:11 TEV)

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is just go take a nap. That’s because when you’re physically down, it’s hard to be emotionally and spiritually up. The legendary football (U.S.) coach Vince Lombardi said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” That’s true. It’s amazing how much better things look when you’re rested.

If you’re discouraged right now, it might not mean you have to make a change; it may simply be that you need some rest.

Farmers know that soil needs rest, so they rotate their crops and systematically leave a portion of their land fallow. They do this because land that has rested produces a greater harvest.

About one hundred years ago, a businessman named Frederick W. Taylor did a scientific study on the workplace and productivity. Do you know what his study proved? That people will produce more if they have periodic breaks; and from that, he introduced the coffee break.

Resting is spiritual. The Bible says God “enjoys giving rest to those He loves” (Psalm 127:2 MSG). You may need to put that verse on your refrigerator. The Bible says it’s vain for you to rise up early and stay up late.

The Bible also says, “You made my body, Lord; now give me sense to heed Your laws” (Psalm 119:73 LB). What are His laws for the body? Eat right, get your sleep, exercise, and relax.

Rest is so important, in fact, that God put it in the Ten Commandments. In essence, He said, “Every seventh day you are to rest.”

Don’t ignore what God established. A good night’s sleep makes a big difference. And even a quick nap can help you see things clearly.

Rick Warren

"But You Promised"

“It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows”

(Proverbs 20:25 NIV).

Have you ever…

• Promised to deliver something by a set date and later regretted it?
• Volunteered for a job you had no idea would take so long?
• Agreed to a deal that looked great but wasn’t?
• Accepted an invitation you wish you hadn’t?

Eventually, we all learn by experience a basic law of life: It’s always easier to get in than get out! The Bible says, “It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows” (Proverbs 20:25 NIV).

There are three common commitment traps:

1. The Money Trap: It’s always easier to get into debt than out of debt! It’s always easier to borrow than to pay it back.

2. The Partnership Trap: It’s always easier to get into a partnership, or a relationship, than to get out of one!

3. The Time Trap: It’s always easier to fill your schedule than to fulfill it! You can get so many irons in the fire that you put out the fire!

The solution: Remember what the Bible says—don’t make rash vows.

In other words, choose your commitments carefully; think before you speak; under-promise and over-deliver. With this, you’ll build a reputation as a person of your word.

Rick Warren

The Secret to Managing Frustrations

“A man’s wisdom gives him patience…”

(Proverbs 19:11 NIV)

It’s amazing how fifteen minor frustrations at the office can add up to one big, bad attitude by the time you head for home. Frustrations come in three varieties:

1. Interruptions: Unexpected visitors or phone calls when you have a deadline to meet or something important requires your attention. Our best plans are often interrupted.
2. Inconveniences: While interruptions are usually from people, inconveniences are usually situations involving things: the copy machine breaks down, traffic jams up, or you can’t find what you need when you need it.
3. Irritations: Long delays, unreliable people, playing telephone tag, catching a cold, obnoxious clients, etc.

But the truth is you can’t eliminate these. No doubt you’ll face all three varieties this week, but you can keep them from stressing you out.

What’s the secret of managing your frustrations?

Don’t resist it, but don’t overreact or blow up. Don’t resent it; don’t internalize you anger. Don’t resign to it; don’t have a pity-party.

Instead, reduce it. Treat it as insignificant. Put the frustration into proper perspective. It’s just a minor setback, a part of living, no big deal! It’s certainly not worth a heart attack. Follow these rules for stress management:

• RULE #1: Don’t sweat the small stuff.
• RULE #2: Realize it’s all small stuff!

The Bible says, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience…” (Proverbs 19:11 NIV). The only way we can see all stuff as small stuff is to view it from God’s perspective. When I am in tune with God, I remember he has everything under control even though I don’t! So I don’t have to sweat it: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).

Pray this prayer: “Lord, help me to be filled with your love, joy, and peace, so that when I’m squeezed and pressured it is your love, joy, and peace that spill out of me.”

Don't Procrastinate. Do It Now!

“If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything”

(Ecclesiastes 11:4 TEV).


Most of us have experienced the eight phases of procrastination:

Phase 1: “I’ll start early this time.” (Hopeful)
Phase 2: “I’ve got to start soon.” (A little tension)
Phase 3: “I should have started sooner.” (Creeping guilt)
Phase 4: “There is still time to do it.” (False reassurance)
Phase 5: “What’s wrong with me?” (Getting desperate)
Phase 6: “I can’t wait any longer!” (Intense pain)
Phase 7: “Just get it done!” (Get it over with!)
Phase 8: “Next time, I’ll start earlier.” (The cycle repeats)

Procrastination does tremendous damage to us and others. It causes unnecessary pressure and problems, and it wastes opportunities, time, and money.

The problem is: procrastination is addicting! The more you succumb to it, the harder it is to change. It becomes a way of life, causing you a lot of misery.

The Bible says, “If you wait until the wind and the weather are just right, you will never plant anything and never harvest anything” (Ecclesiastes 11:4 TEV). Therefore...

• Stop making excuses!
• Realize perfectionism paralyzes performance!
• Face your fears!
• Focus on the gain, not the pain!
• Do it now!

What have you been putting off that you know you need to do? Something at work? At home? At church? Do it now!

Pray this prayer: “God, help me to do what I already know I need to do. Help me to do it now!”

God’s Provision: Maintain Integrity

“God cares about honesty in the workplace; your business is His business”

(Proverbs 16:11 MSG)

God promises to meet all your financial needs, if you (1) ask Him for help; (2) learn to be content; (3) practice giving in faith; and (4) maintain your integrity.

God doesn’t bless dishonesty. Proverbs 16:11 (NLT) says, “The Lord demands fairness in every business deal.” That includes wages, sales, and taxes.

If you want God’s blessing on your finances, you’ve got to be honest. You can’t rip people off. Profit made dishonestly always brings trouble. Always.

“The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and He adds no trouble to it” (Proverbs 10:22 NIV). Have you ever known anybody who made money, and it just brought trouble? You will always reap what you sow. If you are dishonest with others, it will be returned to you. If you think you haven’t been caught, understand that the clock is still ticking. You cannot mock God and get away with it.

Be honest. Be honest with your finances: “It is the Lord’s blessing that makes you wealthy” (Proverbs 10:22 TEV).

Rick Warren

God’s Provision: Faithful Giving

“Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce”

(Proverbs 3:9 NLT).

God promises to meet all your financial needs, if you (1) ask Him for help; (2) learn to be content; and (3) practice giving in faith.

There is a universal law called the principle of sowing and reaping. If I sow criticism, I’m going to reap criticism. If I sow generosity, it’s going to come back to me, and I’m going to reap generosity.

Every farmer knows this. A farmer has four sacks of seed in his barn and he looks at his empty field. He doesn’t complain, “There’s no crop! I wish there was a crop!” He just goes out and starts planting seed. When you have a need, plant a seed.

It seems illogical that when I have a need, I should give. That’s why it requires faith. God says, “My ways are not your ways.”

Why did God set it up that way? Because God is a giver. He is the most generous giver in the universe, and God wants you to learn to be like him. He wants to build character in you.

The Bible says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce” (Proverbs 3:9 NLT). This is the principle of tithing. It’s the principle that says every time I make one hundred dollars, the first ten dollars goes back to God.

Tithing is an act of worship. We’re giving to God. We’re saying, “All of it came from you anyway.” God says, “Put me first in your life and watch what I do.” You may think you can’t afford to tithe, but the reality is, you can’t afford not to.

Rick Warren

God’s Provision: Contentment

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it”

(1 Timothy 6:6-7 NIV)

God promises to meet all your financial needs, if you (1) ask Him for help and (2) learn to be content.

If you’ve ever seen a baby born, you know they don’t come into the world with a whole lot. They’re not holding onto cigars, cars, and a stock portfolio. They don’t come into the world with anything but a little umbilical cord and that quickly gets cut.

And then, at your funeral, you don’t take anything with you. The Bible teaches that we should learn to be content.

What is contentment? Contentment means my happiness is not dependent upon circumstances. Most people get caught into “when” thinking: “When I get a certain job…When I can retire…When I get the house paid off…When I get the bills paid off…then I’ll be happy!”

God says, “No, once you get there, you’ll always want something else.” If you don’t learn contentment, you’ll never be happy. You’ll always want more.

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8 NLT).

Rick Warren

God’s Financial Provision: Ask Him for Help

“You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, His generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus”

(Philippians 4:19 MSG)

There is an amazing, incredible, and all-encompassing promise in Philippians 4:19 (NIV) regarding provision: “…God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Note the first two words: “God will . . . .” It doesn’t say, “He might meet your needs,” it says, “He will meet your needs.” It’s written as a fact; God is staking his character and his reputation on it.

Then the Bible says, “God will meet all . . . .” It doesn’t say, “I’ll meet some of your needs.” It says “all.”

Now, understand that it doesn’t say, “I’ll meet all your greeds.” There’s a big difference between needs and wants. As a parent, do you give your kids everything they want? I hope you don’t. You don’t do that because you love them. And your heavenly Father loves you. He’s not going to give you everything you want because if he did, you’d be spoiled to death.

He won’t give us everything we want, but he will give us everything we need. Then why do you have financial needs? Did God fail? Did he lie? Did he exaggerate?

No! With every promise, there is a premise—there are conditions and requirements. When God makes a promise, he says, “I’ll do my part and you do your part.” God’s financial wisdom is clearly laid out for us in his Word. Although the Bible discusses many aspects of financial health—including principles of saving, spending, giving, investing, and stewardship—over the next few days we’re going to look at five specific conditions for financial stability.

First, ask for his help. Jesus says, “Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy” (John 16:24 NLT). Here’s a good rule: Before you pay for it, pray for it. Give God a chance to provide before you go out and charge it. You probably depend more on your charge card than you do on Jesus Christ.

Why does God want me to ask? So He can give.
Why does He want to give? So I can receive.
Why does He want me to receive? So I’ll be full of joy.
Why does He want me to be full of joy? It’s a great advertisement for Jesus Christ. Joyful Christians are a positive testimony.

Tomorrow we’ll look at contentment, another condition for answered prayer.

Rick Warren

Biblical Marriage: On Mission Together

“In the same way that You gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. I’m consecrating myself for their sakes so they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission” (John 17:18-19 MSG)
Any successful marriage is built upon the biblical truth that God designed each of us with five purposes in mind: worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and missions.

You and your spouse were both made for a mission. Your marriage not only involves ministry, it also involves mission. Your ministry is to believers and your mission is to non-believers—allowing God to use your marriage as a means for telling others about his love.

This may take many forms, from being a witness in your neighborhood to going overseas on mission trips together. The fact is, if you want God’s blessing on your marriage, then you must care about what God cares about most.

What is that? He wants his lost children found! He wants everyone to know him and his purposes for their lives.

Marriage is a life-long process designed to teach you to see the needs of another person as more important than your own. It’s a difficult transition because it’s not natural. To think this way requires an intentional shift that can be made only through the power of God in your life.

The reward, however, is greater than anything you could ever imagine. God’s plan for your marriage is wider and deeper than anything in your wildest, craziest dreams.

Rick Warren

Biblical Marriage: Love God and Love Your Spouse

“‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus answered, ‘‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and the most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself’’”

(Matthew 22:36-39 TEV).

Any successful marriage is built upon the biblical truth that God designed each of us with five purposes in mind: worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and missions.

I suppose you’d expect a man who’s been married over thirty years to a beautiful, intelligent woman to be able to share with you the intimate secrets to having a perfect marriage.

But I’m going to disappoint you! That’s because Kay and I don’t have a perfect marriage. She is without a doubt my best friend, and we have a wonderful relationship, but as far as a perfect marriage, well, there’s no such thing.

What Kay and I do have is a marriage centered on Christ, specifically focused on glorifying God. We remain committed to each other because we remain committed to Christ and his work within us.

Jesus said the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Then he added, “The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your [spouse] as you love yourself’” (Matthew 22:37,39 TEV).

In this sense, you worship God when you love and sacrifice for your spouse. That brings pleasure to God, and any time you give pleasure to God, you’re worshiping him. Read through Romans 12 with a view of what its applications would mean to your marriage: “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:10 NLT).

Rick Warren

Breaking Through the Sound Barrier

“Listen before you answer. If you don’t, you are being stupid and insulting”

(Proverbs 18:13 TEV).

To really communicate, you must give up three things:

1. You must give up your assumptions. We get into trouble when we start assuming we understand the meaning of what people say to us. The truth is everything you hear goes through a filter. Your filter is determined by your past experiences and your unique personality. You may not be hearing what they are really saying. Therefore, it is smart (and safe) to ask for clarification: “Listen before you answer. If you don’t, you are being stupid and insulting” (Proverbs 18:13 TEV).

2. You must give up your accusations. You never get your point across by being cross. Anger and sarcasm only make people defensive and that kills communication. There are four common forms of accusation:

• Exaggerating, such as making sweeping generalities like “You never,” or “You always.”
• Labeling, such as derogatory name-calling. Labeling never changes anyone. It only reinforces the negative behavior.
• Playing historian, such as bringing up past failures, mistakes, and broken promises.
• Asking loaded questions, ones that really can’t be answered, such as, “Can’t you do anything right?”

The Bible says, “Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you” (Ephesians 4:29 TEV).

3. You must give up your apprehensions. Fear prevents honest communication. It causes us to conceal our true feelings and fail to confront the real issues. The two most common apprehensions are: the fear of failure and the fear of rejection. But when you face your fear and risk being honest, then real communication can happen. Freedom is the result of openness. Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32 TEV).

Rick Warren

Being Wise in Your Relationships

“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace-loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness”

(James 3:17-18 NLT).

Every person you know is unique. Each one is a complex blend of background, temperament, and giftedness. Yet, these differences are often the root of relational conflict. Uniqueness poses all kinds of communication problems—so often we simply don’t understand each other! We may use the same words but with very different meaning.

We’re wise when we recognize and value the differences in people. Our uniqueness requires that we use wisdom in order to relate to others in customized ways, rather than relating to everyone with the same, rigid style, as if everyone will think and respond the same way.

The Bible tells us the characteristics of genuine wisdom: “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and full of quiet gentleness. Then it is peace-loving and courteous. It allows discussion and is willing to yield to others; it is full of mercy and good deeds. It is wholehearted and straightforward and sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness” (James 3:17-18 LB).

From these verses we learn six ways to be wise when we relate to others. If I am biblically wise…

1. I will not compromise my integrity (wisdom is pure). I’ll be honest with you. I’ll keep my promises and commitments to you.

2. I will not antagonize your anger (wisdom is peace-loving). I’ll work at maintaining harmony. I won’t push your hot buttons.

3. I will not minimize your feelings (wisdom is courteous). I may not feel as you do, but I won’t ignore or ridicule how you feel.

4. I will not criticize your suggestions (wisdom allows discussion). I can disagree with you without being disagreeable.

5. I will not emphasize your mistakes (wisdom is full of mercy). Instead of rubbing it in, I’ll rub it out.

6. I will not disguise my motivations (wisdom is wholehearted and sincere). I’ll be authentic with you. I won’t con or manipulate you.

Rick Warren

Living Within Your Income

“Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!” (Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 NLT).

When you spend more than you earn, you end up in tremendous stress. The Bible says, “Stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it” (Proverbs 21:20 TEV).

What motivates us to live beyond our means? Why do we spend ourselves into debt? Why are we rarely satisfied with what we have?

There are three myths that drive us into debt:

MYTH: Having more things will make me happier.

FACT: “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!...So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!” (Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 NLT).

MYTH: Having more things will make me more important.

FACT: “Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed; because your true life is not made up of the things you own, no matter how rich you may be” (Luke 12:15 TEV).

MYTH: Having more things will make me more secure.

FACT: “The Lord is like a strong tower, where the righteous can go and be safe. Rich people, however, imagine that their wealth protects them like high, strong walls around a city” (Proverbs 18:10-11 TEV).

When we buy into these myths, we always overspend. So, here’s how to enjoy life more on less:

• Find happiness in helping others. Jesus said, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20:35 TEV). Just look around you and you’ll see this is true. The happiest people are those who help the most, not those who have the most. Misers are always miserable.

• Find self-worth by getting to know God. God says, “…you are precious to me…” (Isaiah 43:4 TEV). You matter to God. He made you for a purpose. Genuine self-esteem comes from establishing a relationship with God and becoming all he meant for you to be.

• Find security in trusting God, not a bank balance. The Bible says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never abandon you’” (Hebrews 13:5 TEV). Real security must be found in something that can never be taken from you. While there are many ways to lose your possessions, Jesus said God will take care of you if you trust him.

Rick Warren

Present - Gospel Songs

Gospel Songs


Download By Mediafire


Everything Glorious (David Crowder Band )


Give Me Your Eyes (Brandon Heath )


Jesus Loves You (Stellar Kart )


God With Us (MercyMe )


East to West ( Casting Crowns )


Give You Glory ( Jeremy Camp )


Miracle of the Moment ( Steven Curtis Chapman )

Life Together: Offering Sympathy

“As holy people…be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient”

(Colossians 3:12 GWT).

In real fellowship people experience sympathy. Sympathy is not giving advice or offering quick, cosmetic help; sympathy is entering in and sharing the pain of others.

Sympathy says, “I understand what you’re going through, and what you feel is neither strange nor crazy.” Today, some call this “empathy,” but the Bible word is “sympathy.” It says, “As holy people…be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient” (Colossians 3:12 GWT).

Sympathy meets two fundamental human needs: the need to be understood and the need to have your feelings validated.

Every time you understand and affirm someone’s feelings, you build fellowship. The problem is that we’re often in such a hurry to fix things that we don’t have time to sympathize with people. Or we’re preoccupied with our own hurts. Self-pity dries up sympathy for others.

There are different levels of fellowship, and each is appropriate at different times:

• The simplest levels of fellowship are the fellowship of sharing and the fellowship of studying God’s Word together.

• A deeper level is the fellowship of serving, as when we minister together on mission trips or mercy projects.

• The deepest, most intense level is the fellowship of suffering (Philippians 3:10; Hebrews 10:33-34). This is where we enter into each other’s pain and grief and carry each other’s burdens. The Christians who understand this level best are those around the world who are being persecuted, despised, and often martyred for their faith.

The Bible teaches us to “share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 NLT).

It is in the times of deep crisis, grief, and doubt that we need each other most. When circumstances crush us to the point that our faith falters, that’s when we need believing friends the most.

We need a small group of friends to have faith in God for us and to pull us through. In a small group, the body of Christ is real and tangible even when God seems distant.

This is what Job desperately needed during his suffering. He cried out, “A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty” (Job 6:14 NIV).

Rick Warren

Life Together: Don’t Be Reluctant to Show Mercy

“When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won’t give up in despair”

(2 Corinthians 2:7 CEV).

In real fellowship people experience mercy. Fellowship is a place of grace, where mistakes aren’t rubbed in but rubbed out. Fellowship happens when mercy wins over justice.

We all need mercy, because we all stumble and fall and require help getting back on track. We need to offer mercy to each other and be willing to receive it from each other.

You can’t have fellowship without forgiveness because bitterness and resentment always destroy fellowship. Sometimes we hurt each other intentionally and sometimes unintentionally, but either way, it takes massive amounts of mercy and grace to create and maintain fellowship.

The Bible says, “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (Colossians 3:13 NLT).

The mercy God shows to us is the motivation for us to show mercy to others. Whenever you’re hurt by someone, you have a choice to make: Will I use my energy and emotions for retaliation or for resolution?

You can’t do both.

Many people are reluctant to show mercy because they don’t understand the difference between trust and forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past. Trust has to do with future behavior.

Forgiveness must be immediate, whether or not a person asks for it. Trust must be rebuilt over time.

Trust requires a track record. If someone hurts you repeatedly, you are commanded by God to forgive them instantly, but you are not expected to trust them immediately, and you are not expected to continue allowing them to hurt you. They must prove they have changed over time. The best place to restore trust is within the supportive context of a small group that offers both encouragement and accountability.


Rick Warren

Life Together: A Mutual Dependency

“I mean that I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you”

(Romans 1:12 NCV).

In authentic Christian fellowship people should experience a mutual dependency. This mutuality is the art of giving and receiving; it’s depending on each other.

The Bible says, “The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part” (1 Corinthians 12:25 MSG).

Mutuality is the heart of fellowship: building reciprocal relationships, sharing responsibilities, and helping each other. Paul said, “I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you” (Romans 1:12 NCV).

All of us are more consistent in our faith when others walk with us and encourage us. The Bible commands mutual accountability, mutual encouragement, mutual serving, and mutual honoring.

Over fifty times in the New Testament we’re commanded to do different tasks for “one another” and “each other.” The Bible says, “Make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19 NIV).

You are not responsible for everyone in the body of Christ, but you are responsible to them. God expects you do whatever you can to help them.

Rick Warren

Life Together: Authentic Friendships

“But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us”

(1 John 1:7-8 NCV).

In Christian fellowship people should experience authenticity.

Authentic fellowship is not superficial, surface-level chit-chat. It’s genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level sharing.

It happens when people get honest about who they are and what is happening in their lives. They share their hurts, reveal their feelings, confess their failures, disclose their doubts, admit their fears, acknowledge their weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer.

Authenticity is the exact opposite of what you find in many churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, there is pretending, role-playing, politicking, superficial politeness, and shallow conversation. People wear masks, keep their guard up, and act as if everything is rosy in their lives. These attitudes are the death of real friendship.

It’s only as we become open about our lives that we experience authentic fellowship. The Bible says, “If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other…If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves” (1 John 1:7-8 NCV).

The world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it happens in the light. We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures, and flaws. But in the light, we bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are.

Of course, being authentic requires both courage and humility. It means facing our fear of exposure, rejection, and being hurt again.

Why would anyone take such a risk?

Because it’s the only way to grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy. The Bible says, “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed” (James 5:16 MSG).

Rick Warren