Geoffrey's Notebook

Predestined according to Foreknowledge (*Note: These quick notes on Romans 8:18-30 were for content helps for a youth meeting on that section when I wasn't going to be leading. This was not for a message, but just to gain the structure and concepts so you don't get lost in the weeds while reading and meditating on this glorious passage.)  ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:18-30‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/59/rom. 8.18-30.esv ... for those who are called according to his purpose.  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined  to be conformed to the image of his Son,  in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those whom he predestined he also called,  and those whom he called he also justified,  and those whom he justified he also glorified. His purpose = to be conformed to the image of His Son Order of events: God has a purpose which is to conform us to the image of His Son. God foreknew people and their decisions before they were created God pre...

  So glad for this verse today:    as newborn babes  desire earnestly  [crave] the pure mental milk of the word, that by it ye may grow up to salvation  - 1 Peter 2:2 Try reading 10 chapters by the  choice  of craving and then read some more by the reactive desire of it.  How often are my 5 or 10 second moments spent checking some other happiness than Christ? In 5 seconds I can check notifications or I can chew on my manna for the day. In 10 seconds I can check for new emails or rehearse that verse I've been trying to memorize. I can spend just 5 minutes listening to the news or I can spend it finishing a daily Bible reading portion.  Mother's milk is the best thing for the newborn baby. The milk of the word is the best source of joy all through the day. "crave ... the word ... if indeed ye have tasted that the Lord is good."

Note: For a simplified and shorter set of talks on this topic see the post on Kingdom Talks . Kingdom Series of Messages Some years back (2011) I shared 3 messages in Richmond on Kingdom concepts.  1) Gift & Reward 2) The Kingdom Age 3) The Judgment Seat of Christ It was for those 3 messages that I quickly made some charts and other handouts.  Kingdom Charts Before then I had drawn these out so many times in small talks, Bible studies, or while preaching. I've since used them as hundreds of handouts and email-outs for believers seeking to connect some of these dots. If you're printing them, they're built to be on an 11" x 17" piece of paper. Any local copy shop can do that for you. But you can also print them on regular-sized sheets and just connect two of them together. These handouts need an upgrade in design. In 2011 they were not nice on the eyes and now they seem even more outdated. They do provide some Scriptures and explanations for many q...