John Shirk

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Faith Building Verse-Isaiah 9:2

john : December 22, 2022 4:22 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Isaiah 9:2.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

New hope was born for us at the birth of Christ. Jesus fulfilled this Old Testament prophecy in His ministry.

He is the great light that we need to find our way out of spiritual darkness. The message of Jesus was to repent-to turn from selfish ways and false beliefs and turn toward Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. That is where the real hope for a brighter day can be found-following in His footsteps.

Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to walk into the light of God’s grace by following Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Key Elements for Thriving Relationships-Peace and Holiness

john : December 22, 2022 4:18 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Elements for Thriving Relationships are peace and holiness.

Hebrews 12:14 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

A life of holiness flows out of a heart that is wholly devoted to the Lord. His holiness will inspire us to be holy before God and to have pure relationships. That includes having pure motivations to love people sincerely in ways that benefit them.

God’s love for us inspires us to seek peaceful relationships. His purpose for sending Jesus to the world was to reconcile us to Himself. Jesus became the bridge that enabled us to have peace with God. That is the kind of peace that can spread through our witness for Christ. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Peace and Holiness are key elements for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Faith Building Verse-Hebrews 9:26

john : December 20, 2022 6:07 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Hebrews 9:26.

Speaking of Jesus, “He has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

Jesus appeared to take away our sin. John the Baptist told us to look to the Lamb of God who takes away our sin. But as we look at our lives, we know in our heart of hearts that we still fall short of God’s glory by disobedient thoughts, words, and actions.

The good news is that our story is not over. By looking to Jesus as the author and perfecter of our faith, He breaks the power of sin over us and releases us from the punishment of sin.

The reason that the angel told Joseph to name Mary’s firstborn son “Jesus” was because He will save His people from their sins. Jesus lives up to the meaning of His name.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to celebrate God’s promise of salvation to those who believe in Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Integrity

john : December 20, 2022 6:04 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Integrity.

Titus 2:7 is a word for anyone who wants to have an influence for Christ in this world.

“In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”

Integrity backs up words with action. Charles Swindoll has said that “few things are more infectious than a godly lifestyle-not prudish. Not preachy. Just honest to goodness deep, non-hypocritical integrity.”

With this kind of integrity, we can make this world a better place, serving as a light to guide people to Jesus, and encouraging others to a higher standard.

Integrity is a key element for Thriving Relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Sharpening One Another

john : December 19, 2022 6:03 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is Sharpening one another.

Proverbs 27:17 says, “as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

The Christian life is to be lived out in the context of a community.

As we connect with each other, we have the opportunity to sharpen each other to be useful instruments of God’s grace.

This is how the early church was a dynamic force of the Gospel. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer….Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.

Acts 2:47 says that the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Sharpening one another is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Faith Building Verse-John 18:37

john : December 19, 2022 6:00 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is John 18:37.

Jesus told Pilate when He was on trial, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

In a world that is concerned about the spread of misinformation and fake news, we can take comfort in the truth of the good news found in Jesus Christ.

The truth that Jesus taught was not a confining message to ruin our fun. It was a liberating message to save us from our sins. Jesus said in John 8:32 that the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to walk in the truth of God’s good news in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Faith Building Verses-Galatians 4:4 and 5

john : December 16, 2022 4:06 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verses are Galatians 4:4 and 5.

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”

If we live by the law, we will die by the law. The law can show us the difference between what is good and what is evil. The law also exposes where we have fallen short of God’s glory by our sins. The law is powerless to save us from our shortcomings. But where the law fails to save us, the grace of Jesus is sufficient for our greatest need. He is able to set us free from the penalty of the law and make us right with God.

Romans 3:21 says “Now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”

These Faith-Building Verses inspire us to stop trusting in our good deeds to save us and start trusting in Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Wholesome Fun

john : December 16, 2022 4:04 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is clean, wholesome fun.

Not all humor is created equal. Some humor can stir us to laughter that brightens our day. Other forms of humor are harmful when it puts down other people or makes fun of them.

The Bible talks about laughter and joking in a number of places.

Ephesians 5:4 talks about obscenity and coarse joking being out of place for the believer in Christ.

Proverbs 26:18 and 19 says, “Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking.”

On the positive side, Proverbs 17:22 tells us that a cheerful heart is good medicine. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is a time to laugh. That moment is right during celebrations, fun times with friends, and having a heart filled with happiness.

Clean, wholesome fun is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Faith Building Verse-Ephesians 2:17

john : December 15, 2022 4:30 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Faith-Building Verse is Ephesians 2:17.

Speaking of Jesus, “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who are near.”

Jesus is our source of peace. He has the power to give us peace with God, peace with others, and peace within.

In Luke 2:14, the announcement of Jesus’ birth stirs praise among the heavenly host to say, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Peace comes to those who have God’s favor, and God’s favor extends to those who humbly recognize our need for Jesus to save us from our sins.

This Faith-Building Verse inspires us to find peace with God by following Jesus in the Year of Relationship.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Key Element for Thriving Relationships-Confronting Sin Carefully

john : December 15, 2022 4:27 pm : John Shirk, Staff Pages

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is confronting sin carefully.

Nathan was a prophet who confronted King David about serious sin issues in his life. He told a story to help David see the injustice of his actions and the pain that he caused. David repented of his sin and Nathan supported his leadership in the days that followed.

Confronting sin is not easy. It is an attempt to stand for righteousness and help someone to be set free from sin. The purpose of confrontation is not condemnation, but rather it is restoration. It is an opportunity for a spiritual breakthrough.

Galatians 6:1 says this: “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”

Confronting sin carefully is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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