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Remembering Madden

Jesus Christ Spiritual Growth Names

Source: preacherpollard.com

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Contributed By: Neal Pollard | Date Posted: 2024-12-03

Scripture: Ephesians 1:21 ; Colossians 1:27

Author: Neal Pollard
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ILLUSTRATION

If you are a football fan and you see “Madden,” you are most likely to think video games. An annual, updated version of Madden NFL has been released since 1994, and before that it was called “John Madden Football” (from 1988 to 1994). Many of the earlier game players, those up to 2009, would have heard John Madden’s voice providing commentary for football games on TV and radio. However, if you are old enough, you know that the man for whom the ever-popular video game is named was a successful head football coach for the Oakland Raiders from 1969-1978. After that, he was an NFL broadcaster for 30 years for CBS, Fox, ABC, and NBC. Before that, as diehard Madden people can tell you, he was head coach of Hancock Junior College for two years (1962-1963). 

What’s the point? Over time, John Madden went from football coach to broadcaster to namesake of one of the most popular video games of all time. The name “Madden” means one thing to a kid with a Playstation or Xbox and another to his Raiders-loving grandpa.

APPLICATION

How many people, ideas, and words appeal to us differently, depending on our age, outlook, or experience? 

Of all these, take the name “Jesus.”

To the child, He is the theme of Bible story books, the answer to every Bible class question, the subject of “Pew Packer” songs. To the skeptic or the searcher, He is an enigmatic religious figure who may be seen only as a teacher or a good man. To the nominal Christian, He is a shadowy, mysterious figure, a virtual stranger. 

But to one who has walked with Him and continues in an ever-deepening relationship, He is “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named…” (Eph. 1:21). He is the highly exalted one, bestowed with “the name which is above every name” (Phil. 2:9). “He is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36). He is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31). He is unchanging, and therefore, “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

The longer and better I know Him, my connection to Him grows more intimate. 

How well do you know Jesus? I don’t know how far back you go with Him, but each day should mean knowing Him better and seeing Him in a different light. God wants Him to be, “Christ in you, the hope of glory…” so that He can “present every man complete in Christ” (Col. 1:27, 28).

Don't Cry Over Spoiled Milk

Mistakes Perspective Spiritual Growth

Source: Facebook post from poster The Great Peter

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Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2024-06-12

Scripture: Philippians 3:14 ; 2 Corinthians 12:9

Author: Illustration Exchange
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ILLUSTRATION

Spoiled milk. It’s stinky, and nasty, and can curdle your stomach as much or more than the curds you see floating in the jug. 

But spoiled milk isn’t always such a bad thing. One Facebook blogger had thoughts:

If milk goes “bad,” it can become yoghurt. Yoghurt is more valuable than milk. 

If it gets even worse, it can turn into cheese. Cheese is more valuable than both yoghurt and milk. 

And it’s not just spoiled milk that can morph into things of greater value:

  • - If grape juice turns sour, it can ferment and transform into wine
  • - Christopher Columbus made a navigational error that lead him to discover America
  • - Alexander Fleming’s mistake led him to invent penicillin, saving countless lives since

APPLICATION

You are not bad because you made mistakes or experienced failures. Mistakes are the experiences that make you more valuable as a person. 

[So], don’t let your mistakes get you down. It is not just the practice that makes perfect. It’s also the mistakes we learn from that make perfect!  

As the great inventor Thomas Edison once said, when asked about his many failed attempts at innovation, “I have not failed 10,000 times—I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.”

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14, ESV).

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV).

"For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity" (Proverbs 24:16, ESV).

Our Deepest Need

Salvation Spiritual Growth Sanctification

Source: Yahoo! Life

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Marcelle Smith | Date Posted: 2023-03-04

Scripture: Ephesians 3:18

Author: Marcelle Smith
3

ILLUSTRATION

Lookout Mountain rises 2,000 feet above sea level, offering views of the Cumberland Plateau, the Tennessee River, and the surrounding mountains and valleys. While that is the most familiar and popular natural wonder of this area of America, what is deeper inside is more impressive. 

1,120 feet below the surface of Lookout Mountain is our country’s tallest and deepest underground waterfall - Ruby Falls. Ruby Falls opened to the public in 1929. The historic landmark, which welcomes more than half a million guests annually, offers 3 tiers of tours, all of which start off in a glass elevator that takes tourists 260 feet into the heart of the cave. From there, tourists explore the natural beauty at the place selected by the tourist.

 

APPLICATION

In a higher and holier sense, this hidden wonder speaks to what Jesus is saying to His listeners then, now, and always. Our spiritual growth is related to the pace and depth we desire to have in our relationship with Him and His Word.

Jesus wants the bottom of the ocean-deep relationship with us. Our relationship with Him is limited only by 1) how deep we ourselves will delve; and 2) by how deep we'll allow Him to penetrate our hearts and lives. He is a gentleman. He will walk and talk with us only as much as we want Him to walk and talk with us.

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:16-19, NIV).

Are You Being Fed?

Spiritual Health Spiritual Growth Spiritual Life

Contributed By: Bob Kombe | Date Posted: 2022-10-24

Scripture: John 6:35

Author: Bob Kombe
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The Obstacle Is The Way

Obstacles Spiritual Growth Perseverance

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2022-07-05

Scripture: James 1:2

Author: Mark Batterson
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The Man In The Iron Mask

Affliction Spiritual Growth Perspective

Contributed By: Shane Waldron | Date Posted: 2020-12-15

Scripture: Isaiah 46:10 ; Isaiah 48:3

Author: Shane Waldron
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Happy Death Day!

Spiritual Growth Trials Circumstances

Contributed By: Major Dalton | Date Posted: 2017-12-03

Scripture: James 1:2 ; Romans 7:24

Author: Major Dalton
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Feeding on the Word of God

Bible Devotion Spiritual Growth

Contributed By: Jane Drew | Date Posted: 2017-10-28

Scripture: Deuteronomy 8:3 ; Ezekiel 3:3

Author: Jane Drew
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Man Robs Bank To Get Away From Wife

Marriage Consequences Spiritual Growth

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2017-10-11

Scripture: Proverbs 21:9 ; James 1:3

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Peter Pan Christians

Maturity Love (Divine) Spiritual Growth

Contributed By: Pat Sage | Date Posted: 2017-03-30

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:2 ; 1 Corinthians 13:

Author: Pat Sage
13

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