CCF Weekly Services Podcast Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

Solomon's song begins with the woman expressing a physical attraction and desire for Solomon. She has issues and history, but seeks Godly counsel and pursues Solomon in such a way where both are able to experience and acknowledge the emotions that will naturally accompany attraction to each other. God isn't against these things. The challenge is balancing a desire to be with someone and committing to their walk with God as one you'd want to emulate as well.

1. God considers marriage, sex, and physical attraction as honorable. Not sinful by nature.
2. Everyone has issues. What makes someone exceptional is if they bring them to God or not.
3. Every relationship should be built on common ground.

Paul's last words to the elders of Ephesus are ones that summarize his ministry well. It is the same kind of ministry any Christian would want to rightly describe their lives.

1. Humility isn't thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.
2. Jesus is a wonderful boss to work for.
3. Any hope less than Jesus' approval of our lives is not worth having.

Song of Solomon isn't the only song Solomon wrote, but it was by far the best. Though the content of it is extremely graphic, sexuality isn't evil or worldly by definition. God created sex. And when enjoyed His way, it can be a foreshadowing of Heaven itself.

1. God is just as involved with our sex lives as any other part of our lives.
2. Solomon's perspective on relationships came from experiencing God's ideal and the World's as well.
3. Don't just know what God says about sex. Understand and live accordingly.

It is amazing how religion, or simply a moral life, does not help us get into heaven or combat our narcissisms. In the encounter of the wealthy, young, moral and Jesus, we see our own failures in what we think about Jesus. Is he just a good teacher? Is He really someone to listen to? Would I listen to him? Not only that, but we tend to think we are good people through and through, instead of admitting our need for saving. We have a far to high view of ourselves and a far to low view of God. Many in our world turn away from the Messiah not wanting to admit that we are licked, totally abominable in God's eyes. Jesus teaches in a way to reveal our lack but is also able to provide the remedy, if only we would repent of our sins and ask. What prevents us from asking? Self sufficiency and not seeing yourself clearly. Have you ever said, "what do I still lack?" (Compare this with John 9:39-41) In saying this, the young man shows his pride. God's salvation is a gift, and we need it. Humility is needed to receive it. Do you live in this humble state, daily needing his grace?

1. Pride is the sin that looks worst on other people.
2. The greatest obstacle between us and salvation is understanding our need for it.
3. Jesus offers salvation freely.

The Conclusion of Esther reminds us of how to properly handle the blessings of God. If we take the time to remember the ways God has been good to us, the joy and thankfulness that follows will as much be a blessing to us as it will the lives of those around us.

1. Take the time to remember how good God's been to you.
2. Thankfulness happens when we recognize how good God's been to us.
3. Your relationship with God should be a blessing to those around you.

The Church of Troas was a model of an ideal gathering of believers in Jesus. The reasons they gathered and when had Jesus as the focus. The motivation to gather was to hear God’s Word. And the result was seeing God do incredible things.

1. Jesus should be the reason we gather in His name.
2. God’s Word should be the focus in any meaningful discussion of God.
3. A desire to receive God’s word starts from a desire for its source.