The Brooklyn Tabernacle

[Jesus] said to them…‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ – Acts 1:8 “One of the main reasons why the Holy Spirit was sent to earth was to give power for ministry to those who are followers of Jesus Christ. As our Lord was about to ascend back to heaven after having risen from the dead, he told his disciples that they would receive power from on high to be his witnesses everywhere they went. When the promised Holy Spirit came, the church was born; and fishermen and tax collectors who had never been to seminary, who had no PhDs or MDivs, turned the world upside down. What made the difference? It wasn’t teaching; the disciples had the best teacher when Jesus was on earth, yet they failed. One denied him and all of them fled when he was arrested. What made the difference was that they were baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit; and with that filling came power. Since the beginning, God’s plan has been that the church would be built by believers in Christ sharing the good news of Jesus with the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in them.” – Pastor Cymbala What is one of the main reasons why the Holy Spirit was sent to earth? What did Jesus say would happen when the Holy Spirit came on his followers? What was the difference in the disciples once they were baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit? What is God’s plan for the growth of the church of Jesus Christ? How will people in your sphere of influence know that Jesus is alive? ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” –John 3:16 “This is Christianity 101: God loves you, and God loves me… unconditionally. And he sent his one and only Son to earth to die on a cross as a substitute for us. Jesus was innocent, and yet he hung on the cross to be punished for our sins, so that we wouldn’t have to pay the penalty for our disobedience. Instead we would have all our sins washed away by the blood that he shed and have the hope that we could one day go to be with him in heaven. This salvation can’t be earned; God offers it to us as a gift.” – Pastor Cymbala Why did God send his Son to this earth? What was humanity’s sin problem? Why did Jesus have to die on a cross? What is the significance of the blood that Jesus shed? Have you accepted God’s gift of salvation? If so, what does it mean to you? __________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

“Jesus replied… ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God, unless they are born again.’” – John 3:3 “When we repent of our sins and put our faith in Christ, we accept God’s gift of salvation. This means that the sins we have committed have been washed away through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. That settles our past. But how about today? How about the future? We’re still stuck with our weaknesses and the effects of our environment and our upbringing. That’s why Jesus said that we must be born again. In other words, as Christians, we have a double birth. We have a physical birth, of course; but in order to enter the kingdom of heaven and enjoy what God has for us, we must also be born from above. We have to get a new nature, a new heart, a new spirit, and a new way to live. This happens when the Holy Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead comes to live in us…” – Pastor Cymbala What does it mean to be born again? Why do some Christians live in defeat? Have you ever tried to live out your life in your own strength? If so, what was the result? Discuss the difference between religion and a having a relationship with God. What does it mean to you to know that you can live a victorious life because you have been born again? ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. – Mark 3:14-15 “When Jesus called his disciples, the Bible says that he did so for the purpose of sending them out to preach and to have the authority to drive out demons. These would later be the apostles who would carry on Jesus’ work when Jesus left this earth. But notice the first calling that was on their lives. The Gospel of Mark says that Jesus appointed them ‘that they might be with him.’ And we have the same calling on our own lives. As born-again Christians, we have a relationship with our heavenly Father; we are his children. But God loves us so much that he wants to have more than a relationship. He wants to have fellowship with us. Imagine! Almighty God wants us to spend time with him, talking with him, worshiping him, loving and adoring him, sharing with him our burdens, listening for what he wants to tell us through his Word and through the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts.” – Pastor Cymbala How would you define a calling on one’s life as a believer in Christ? How does our calling differ from our relationship with God? What does God’s wanting to spend time with us tell us about how God feels about us? What are the ways that we spend time with God? What are the things that work against our spending time with God, and how can we overcome these obstacles? ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “The only measuring stick for growth as a believer in Christ is love; it follows, then, that the most mature believer in any local church is the one who has the most love. Why? Because as Christians, we are children of God; and God is love. There are several words for love in the Greek. There’s eros, or ‘sensual love’; and phileo, which is ‘brotherly love.’ But the Greek word for love in the well-known 1 Corinthians 13 Scripture passage is agape. It’s the kind of love that Jesus had when he died on the cross for our sins. The only way to have this kind of love is to have Jesus living through us by his Holy Spirit. As Christians, we can ask the Lord to help us radiate his love, not only as individual believers but also corporately as the body of Christ, so that the stranger who walks into our gatherings is drawn by the love of God to the good news of Jesus.” – Pastor Cymbala Who is the most mature believer in any local church? Why? Explain the different words that exist in the Greek for the world “love.” Define and give an example of agape love. Can we possibly exhibit agape love on our own? Why or why not? Why is it important for us to radiate God’s love, not only as individual believers but also as the body of Christ? ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

[Jesus] taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed… – Mark 4:2-3 “Jesus often taught using parables, which are stories that illustrate a spiritual lesson. One such story is the parable of the sower. This parable speaks of the power and life contained in the seed, which represents the Word of God. It also describes the different kinds of soil in which the seed is sown, which symbolize the preparedness of the human heart to receive the seed. The lesson applies not only to how people become Christians but to all of the stages of life. The seed is sown by the sower, or farmer, who is the preacher or evangelist or any Christian who shares the Word of God. The parable uses imagery to explain why the seed, or the Word, can’t thrive when it stays on the surface, is not embraced by the heart, and ends up being stolen by Satan (the seed that falls along the path and is eaten by the birds); or when there is a blockage preventing the roots from going down deep enough to withstand the persecution and hard times that come because of the Word (the seed that falls on rocky places); or when it is choked by the cares of life and the heart’s desire for riches (the seed that falls among thorns). For best results, we have to prepare our hearts to be good, fertile ground, so that the Word we have received might yield fruit for our spiritual growth, for the furtherance of God’s kingdom and for the glory of God.” – Pastor Cymbala Read the parable of the sower and Jesus’ explanation of the parable in Mark 4:3-20. What does the seed symbolize in the parable? Whom does the sower represent? Explain in your own words the meaning of the different kinds of soil. Ask the Lord to prepare your heart to receive and embrace his Word every single day. ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

…I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. – Philippians 3:8-9 “The torment of guilt has been a recurrent problem for great men and women of God down through the ages and remains a challenge for every Christian today. Living with guilt causes us to live under a cloud—our joy and peace are affected, and we find it difficult to share the good news of Jesus with others. As Christians, we know doctrinally that our sins are gone, because of what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross. But after we come to Christ, we often revert to doing good works in order to feel good about ourselves and to show God that we are serious about our new life in Christ. The result is that our feelings end up fluctuating, depending on the temptations that come our way and the situations we are thrown into. What contributes to this roller coaster of emotions and guilt is the fact that Satan, who is also called the Accuser, looks to rob our joy and our effectiveness for God by condemning us. He accuses us to God, and he also accuses us to ourselves. And we listen. Then comes guilt. Yet Romans 8:1 says, ‘There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ So we’re supposed to live guilt-free. But how? The apostle Paul, writing to the Philippian church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, let us in on the secret. Paul said that he didn’t want a righteousness of his own that came from striving to do good works and looking inward to see if he was good enough; for if we are saved by the law, then Jesus died in vain. Paul said that he wanted instead the righteousness of Christ that God gives to every Christian as a gift on the basis of faith. It’s not our righteousness, because we didn’t do the good works to earn it; but it is our righteousness, because God gave it to us. So we see that our right standing with God has nothing to do with how well or poorly we do on a given day. Once we repent of our sins and put our trust in Jesus, we have his righteousness. It’s not about us; it’s about Jesus. No wonder Scripture speaks about the great salvation God has given us through faith in his Son Jesus Christ.” – Pastor Cymbala Why do we battle guilt even after we are saved? How does it affect our Christian life? What is the trap of good works that we can all fall into? Why do Christians fall into this trap? How does Satan contribute to our guilt? What is the apostle Paul’s secret to living guilt-free? Where does our right standing with God come from? ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:8-9 “We are told in Scripture not to worry about anything, but to pray about everything with thanksgiving in our hearts for all that the Lord has done in our lives. This command comes with the promise that the peace of God will then act as a sentinel guarding our hearts and minds. However, we can quickly lose that peace if we don’t have control over our thought life; because what we think about affects us mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Wrong thoughts can come from our not being careful about what we’re watching or listening to. Satan also suggests thoughts to our minds. It is for this reason that the Bible tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. That means dwelling on good things and not the wrong or negative things that have happened to us in the past. Wrong thoughts might knock on the door of our minds, but we don’t have to let them in and entertain them. Let’s tell the Lord, ‘I give you not just my heart, but my mind as well.’ As we think about whatever is true and noble and right and pure and lovely and admirable and excellent and praiseworthy, we will maintain the peace of God that transcends the negative situations that cause us to worry.” – Pastor Cymbala How do we lose the peace of God that we have secured by making our requests known to God? Where do wrong thoughts come from? Discuss the choice we have when a thought knocks on the door of our minds, and the consequences of the choice we make in this regard. What kinds of things are we to think about, according to God’s Word? What has your own experience been with right and wrong thinking? ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

Like newborn babies crave the pure spiritual milk of the Word so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. – 1 Peter 2:2 “Just as we need nutritious food for our bodies in order to grow physically from the time we are born, as Christians we need ‘soul food’ in order to grow spiritually from the time we are born again. In order to grow strong in our faith and be a blessing to others, we have to have a proper diet spiritually, and this starts with the Word of God. In fact, there is no substitute for God’s Word in our lives. We can have church meetings, sing praise and worship and have fellowship with other Christians, but that’s not the pure spiritual milk that the Scriptures talk about. Taking time in the Word of God daily— reading it, chewing on it, ingesting it, and meditating on it— will make us strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. As we open the Bible, we also need to humble ourselves and ask the Author to help us understand what he wrote…” – Pastor Cymbala Compare the food we need for our physical bodies with the “soul food” we need as believers in Christ. Why does the Bible compare the Word of God to pure spiritual milk? Why do we need a proper spiritual diet in order to be a blessing to others? Name some substitutes that people use to try to replace God’s Word in their lives; and discuss why they do not help us to grow in our faith. What is the importance of asking God to help us understand his Word before we meditate on it daily? ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. – Hebrews 11:1 “To have faith in God is to believe, rely on, and put your trust in God. God’s plan of salvation through faith is revealed in the Bible: God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes or puts their faith in who Jesus is and what he did for us on the cross, shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). The book of Ephesians explains that we are saved by grace (unmerited favor) through faith (Ephesians 2:8). In other words, salvation is a gift from God; and, figuratively speaking, faith is the hand that receives the gift. Furthermore, once we are saved, Scripture tells us that we are kept by the power of God every day—not through our own efforts but through faith, or childlike trust (1 Peter 1:5). So we see that faith is basic to Christianity. In fact, Scripture says that without faith it is impossible to please God. We read in the book of Hebrews that faith is confidence in what we hope for. This means that faith brings us into a confidence about future things, including the promises of God; and this affects the way we live now. Faith is also an assurance about what we do not see; i.e. faith makes us aware and sure of things that the natural senses can’t pick up. By faith, we ‘see’ God, who is invisible. Faith therefore enables us to approach God with confidence and to live victorious Christian lives.” – Pastor Cymbala What role does faith play in our salvation? What role does faith play in our everyday lives as Christians? Why does faith please God? Explain what it means to have confidence in what we hope for. Explain what it means to have the assurance of what we do not see. ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

And [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. – Colossians 1:18 “The Church is not a building where we gather on Sundays. The Church is a group of people who have been called out of the world to be separated unto God, to belong to Jesus. We’re the family of God, because we have the same heavenly Father; what brings us together is new birth through Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that the Church is the body of Christ, and Jesus is the head. Every member of the body has a different function. Not everyone is a preacher or a missionary or a Sunday school teacher; but all of the members, regardless of their function, work together to carry out God’s purposes on this earth, as the body receives its orders and direction from Jesus, who is the head. To God, there are no denominations and no Black or White or Hispanic or Asian churches. There’s just one Church, made up of Christians all over the world.” – Pastor Cymbala What is the Church? What brings us together as the family of God? Explain the relationship of Jesus and the Church. What is the importance of unity in the body of Christ? What does it mean to you to know that you have an important function as a member of the body of Christ? ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

The Son is the image of the invisible God…– Colossians 1:15 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. – John 1:18 “When we come to the Lord, we do so with joy and hope and in response to his love for us. But through the cares of life and Satan’s accusations, we sometimes become weary and disillusioned and discouraged. As a result, we could start doubting and wondering if God even cares. The reason for this is that we forget God; we lose our image of who he is. How can we be reminded? Scripture tells us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God and his exact representation. One of the reasons he came to earth was to reveal who God is. Thus, in order to remind ourselves of who God is, we have to look at Christ; we have to study Jesus. What does God think about women? Study Jesus. How does God feel about the poor? Study Jesus. What does God think about children? Study how Jesus treated children. How does God feel about sin? It must be very serious, because Jesus had to die and shed his blood in order to pay the penalty for our sin. So what does this tell you about God today? It tells you that God loves you, not only because God is love, but because of what Jesus did on the cross. If while we were yet sinners, he died for us, how much more does he love us now that we are part of his family? It also tells you that, whatever you are facing, God wants to help you today. How do you know? Just take a look at the life of Jesus. Scripture tells us that he went about doing good to everyone. That includes you and me today.” – Pastor Cymbala How do we lose our image of God? What can we do to remind ourselves of who God is? How does God feel about children… women… the poor… sin? How do you know? How do you know that God loves you today? What else do you know about what God wants to do in your life? ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. – Ephesians 6:10-13 “The devil or Satan—also called Lucifer, the Adversary, the enemy of our souls, the prince of the power of the air—is a spiritual being who is the archenemy of God and everything related to Jesus Christ. When you become a Christian, he puts a target on your back. That’s why the Bible tells us that, no matter how it may seem, our battle is not against other people. Instead, our real enemy is Satan and the evil principalities and powers under him. We are told in Scripture to be alert and watchful and not to be ignorant of the devil’s devices. One of those devices is having people think that he doesn’t exist. But Jesus spoke about Satan and was even tempted by him, although Jesus of course prevailed against him with the Word of God. Jesus said that Satan was ‘the father of lies’ and ‘a murderer from the beginning.’ Satan is against life and peace and joy. He foments hatred, racial prejudice and all kinds of evil. He was in fact the originator of evil. Satan is not all-knowing, all-powerful or present everywhere, as God is; but he has a host of assisting demonic forces at his disposal that are ready to carry out his schemes. He is compared in Scripture to a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He is such a powerful and clever foe that we have no chance of standing against him in our own strength. It is for this reason that the Bible tells us to put on the whole armor of God, as it is outlined in chapter 6 of the New Testament book of Ephesians. Thankfully, Scripture tells us that greater is he that is in us—i.e. the Spirit of Christ— than he that is in the world—i.e. the devil (1 John 4:4). In his New Testament letter, the apostle Peter exhorted the church to ‘resist him, standing firm in the faith’ (1 Peter 5:9). Let’s do that today, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” – Pastor Cymbala Who is Satan, and what are some of the other names by which he is called? What does Satan do when you become a Christian? Thinking back on some of the battles you may have had as a Christian, how does it change your thinking to know that your battle was not against the people who may have been involved, but rather against the enemy of your soul? How do we stand against the devil’s schemes? What is the hope we have of prevailing against Satan? ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds… encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:24-25 “In the New Testament book of Acts, we read about a believer in Christ whom the apostles called Barnabas, which means ‘son of encouragement,’ because of his unique ability to uplift people wherever he went. Wouldn’t you like to be called a son or daughter of encouragement, especially in these difficult days when so many are discouraged and ready to quit because of the situation in the world and their own personal circumstances? In fact, encouragement is so needed in the body of Christ, that the ability to encourage others is listed as one of the spiritual gifts in the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans (Romans 12:8). But this wonderful ability is not relegated to a chosen few with a special gift. The New Testament letter to the Hebrews tells us that we are to encourage each other and spur one another on toward love and good deeds. You don’t have to go far to give someone confidence and hope. Just pick up the phone and give the person words of encouragement. Tell them that you are thinking about them and praying for them. God is going to help you to be an encourager in the name of Jesus Christ.” – Pastor Cymbala What does the name Barnabas mean in the original Greek? Read Acts 4:36-37 and Acts 11:22-26 and explain how Barnabas lived up to the name that the apostles had given him. Name a time in your life when you were discouraged and the Lord used someone to encourage you. How do we know from God’s Word that the ability to encourage others is important in the body of Christ? What are some of the ways that you can encourage someone this week? ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7 “With the state of our world today, it’s no wonder that so many people are suffering from anxiety; yet God doesn’t want us to live lives of worry. Our heavenly Father loves us, and no parent wants to see their children anxious. That’s why God tells us not to worry about anything. He says this, not because there aren’t things to be concerned about, but because he transcends those very real factors and situations that cause us to lose sleep at night. The fact is that worry doesn’t resolve anything, but it does have negative physical and emotional repercussions for us. This is one reason why the Bible says that worry is a sin, in the same way that lying and hatred and stealing are sins. So what is the antidote to worry? God tells us to take everything to him in prayer, which is a general word for communion with God. And he asks us to do it with petition. This means that although God knows all things, he wants us to tell him exactly what we are worried about. But our prayer can’t be just a laundry list of concerns. We have to mingle our petitions with thanksgiving for all of God’s blessings and for his proven track record in our lives. This glorifies God and increases our faith. The result? The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds, according to God’s Word. The phrase in the original Greek gives us the image of a troop of soldiers marching around the perimeter of our hearts and minds as we are supernaturally kept, not in our own peace, which is based on circumstances, but the peace of God that transcends the circumstances and situations of our lives. So we can either worry or have the peace of God. That’s the choice we have today.” – Pastor Cymbala Discuss how the state of the world today may be causing you worry and concern for yourself and for your loved ones. Why does God not want us to worry? Why is worry a sin? What is the antidote to worry? What happens when we bring our cares to God with thanksgiving in our hearts? ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! – Matthew 7:9-11 “To call on God is to pray, which encompasses all communion between us and God. It means to implore, to cry out for help, to ask for assistance, to require, to need and to express that need. The Bible says that God ‘richly blesses all who call on him’ (Romans 10:12); and Jesus gave us the promise, ‘Ask and it will be given to you’ (Matthew 7:7). There is power in prayer. In fact, whatever God can do prayer can do, because prayer links us up with God. Here is the secret to tapping into the power of prayer: Go to God as a child and say, ‘Heavenly Father, this is what I need today.’ God desires to give good gifts to his children, and he will hear you when you call on him in childlike faith and sincerity. In his New Testament letter, James wrote the following: ‘You do not have because you do not ask God’ (James 4:2). Let’s not have that said about us as believers in Christ.” – Pastor Cymbala What does it mean to call on God? What inspires your confidence in the power of prayer, and how do you tap into that power? Discuss the father heart of God when his children ask him for what they need. Comment on what the New Testament writer James said about why believers sometimes don’t receive what they need from God. How does the passage in Matthew 7:9-11 encourage you to pray about a specific need you may have today? See this teaching in blog form!: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/the-power-of-prayer/ ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23 “When we repent and put our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us, and we are a new creation. But we still have our old human nature that wants to rear its ugly head and have us go back to our old sinful ways. The problem is that the more we set ourselves against our sinful habits, the less victory we have. The only way to overcome the sinful impulses of our old nature is not by self-effort, but by yielding control to the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Notice that it’s not our fruit; it’s the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and only he can produce it in us. The only way to live a victorious Christian life is to be plugged in to our power source, as we pray, ‘Holy Spirit, run my life, flow through me and produce your fruit in me.’”– Pastor Cymbala What is the old nature? Share about a time when you tried to give up a wrong habit or wrong attitude through self-effort. What was the result? How can we live the Christ life once we become Christians? Discuss the various aspects of the fruit of the Spirit. Why is it only the Holy Spirit who can produce this fruit in us? ________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

Pastor Cymbala challenges us to trust that God will not let us down but will instead meet us at our point of need, just as he promised the prophet in 1 Samuel 16:2-3. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

Pastor Cymbala encourages us to seek God and wise counsel so that we can know when it is time to move on from certain situations, as the prophet Samuel had to do, according to 1 Samuel 16:1. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

Pastor Cymbala encourages us to fight the right battles, as he reviews 1 Samuel 15:31-35. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

Did you know that today we can make God happy, or we can make him sad? Pastor Cymbala challenges us with this thought as he focuses on 1 Samuel 15:27-30 and the downfall of Israel’s King Saul. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

Pastor Cymbala highlights the dangers of trying to keep up appearances, as he discusses 1 Samuel 15:24 and continues to explore King Saul’s downfall. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

Pastor Cymbala discusses the sins to which arrogance and rebellion are compared in 1 Samuel 15:23, as he continues to explore the downfall of Israel’s King Saul. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab

Pastor Cymbala focuses on 1 Samuel 15:17-22 and explains the prophet’s words to King Saul: “to obey is better than sacrifice.” Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmIDNINOUtmEzL4Hqgstxg?sub_confirmation=1 Stay Connected: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ https://www.facebook.com/TheBrooklynTabernacle/ https://twitter.com/jimcymbala https://www.instagram.com/thebrooklyntabernacle/ Give: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/giving Request prayer: https://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/prayer #BrooklynTabernacle #JimCymbala #BrooklynTab