The Epic Life - Bob Hallman

Matthew 19:16-30 - Kala and the Kingdom - Part 1

Interesting facts about money:
The first paper money was invented in China about 1,400 years ago!
Ever wonder why quarters have has 119 grooves on its edge and dimes 118? In the early days, coins were made of silver or gold and it wasn’t uncommon for thieves to sell coin shavings off the edge of coins without being detected.
A penny costs 2.4 cents to manufacture
A stack of dollar bills one mile high would be worth 14.5 million dollars and weigh 2,040.8 pounds.5. Your money may be dirtier than your bathroom toilet! 90% of bills carry trace amounts of Cocaine! And 94% of dollar bills contains bacteria, viruses and pathogens including staphylococcus?  These sicknesses, like the flu for instance, can be transmitted via your cash for up to 17 days.
There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
If you have $10 in your pocket and no debt, you are wealthier than 25% of Americans.
I The Insufficiency of Temporal Riches
The young ruler, recognizing his own spiritual emptiness: [Verse 16]
Background on this man:
He was a man (a cultural advantage)
He was young (a physical advantage)
He was rich (a financial advantage).  From a rabbinic standpoint, his material wealth was an indicator of God’s divine favour, blessing and assurance of eternal life.
He was a ruler (a sociological advantage).  The president of a synagogue or a member of the Sanhedrin. Unusual for a young man of his age
He was a man of integrity: Devout, honest, prominent, influential, respected, transparent
He was a man of humility: He ran to Jesus - Mk 10:17a; He knelt before Jesus - Mk 10:17b;  He publically and openly confesses his spiritual emptiness!
(2014)
May God bless you through this message! 
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Matthew 19:1-15 - Part 2: The Divorce Dilemma

Pastor Bob concludes the Divorce Dilemma series with Questions and Answers.
 
(2014)
May God bless you through this message! 
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Matthew 19:1-15 - Part 1: The Divorce Dilemma - Part 2

Introduction
Matthew 19:1 marks an important transition in the Messianic story:
To this point in the narrative, the Synoptic Gospels have focused attention on Jesus’ Galilean ministry
However, from this point, the Gospel writers record the Lord’s determination to fulfill his redemptive purposes by setting his face toward Jerusalem.
Furthermore, the narrative highlights the growing intensity of the hostility of the Jewish leaders and their insistence on killing the Lord.
I  The Reality of Divorce
The statistics of divorce
Every year about 2.3 million marriages take place in the US
40%–50% of all first marriages will end in divorce
60% of second marriages will end in divorce
And beneath the rubble of those numbing statistics, lie the crushed lives of men, women and 5-6 million children.
(2014)
May God bless you through this message! 
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Matthew 19:1-15 - Part 1: The Divorce Dilemma - Part 1

Introduction
Matthew 19:1 marks an important transition in the Messianic story:
To this point in the narrative, the Synoptic Gospels have focused attention on Jesus’ Galilean ministry
However, from this point, the Gospel writers record the Lord’s determination to fulfill his redemptive purposes by setting his face toward Jerusalem.
Furthermore, the narrative highlights the growing intensity of the hostility of the Jewish leaders and their insistence on killing the Lord.
I  The Reality of Divorce
The statistics of divorce
Every year about 2.3 million marriages take place in the US
40%–50% of all first marriages will end in divorce
60% of second marriages will end in divorce
And beneath the rubble of those numbing statistics, lie the crushed lives of men, women and 5-6 million children.
May God bless you through this message! 
(2014)
May God bless you through this message! 
You can support this ministry: Donate
The Epic Lifehttps://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com
 

Steps to Biblical Reconciliation - Part 2 (Luke 17:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:15-21)

We all sin and hurt one another unintentionally or otherwise.  The thing that should differentiate us as believers is the way we handle our own sin and the sin of others.  Biblically, these things should be dealt with in love.  But often we find all kinds of excuses for not dealing with the problem directing and in a biblical manner.
In this message, Pastor Bob explains the obstacles to reconciliation, biblical motivation for reconciliation and offers practical steps to reconciling. Click for his Sermon notes and Outline. 
(Aug 2014)
May God bless you through this message! 
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Steps to Biblical Reconciliation - Part 1 (Luke 17:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:15-21)

In the Matthew 18 series, Pastor Bob addresses biblical reconciliation.  In this message he uses Luke 17:1-4 to give practical steps in reconciling.
We all sin and hurt one another unintentionally or otherwise.  The thing that should differentiate us as believers is the way we handle our own sin and the sin of others.  Biblically, these things should be dealt with in love.  But often we find all kinds of excuses for not dealing with the problem directing and in a biblical manner.
In this message, Pastor Bob explains the obstacles to reconciliation, biblical motivation for reconciliation and offers practical steps to reconciling. Click for his Sermon notes and Outline. 
Enjoy this audio replay of a sermon message Pastor Bob Hallman delivered 8/17/2014 about Steps to Biblical Reconciliation. 
May God bless you through this message! 
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Matthew 18:21-35 - The Unmerciful Servant - Part 2

This sermon is part of the Matthew series, but is included here as a companion message in the series on Biblical Reconciliation. This passage is often taught as a stand-alone text and therefore misinterpreted and misapplied. 
Peter asks Jesus a valid question:
What if my brother continues to sin repetitively against me after confessing and repenting of the original sin?  How many times should I forgive him?
Important points to remember:
Jesus is not talking about civil or criminal offenses:
He is referring specifically to Christians who, having been biblically confronted, have already confessed and repented of their sin(s).
He is referring to Christians who keep committing the same sin, but keep responding biblically to their repeated failure.
If a fellow believer has sinned against you, you have an obligation as a citizen of God’s kingdom, to follow the biblical steps of reconciliation - Matthew 18:15-17. If your brother or sister confesses and repents of their sin, you are obligated by God to forgive and restore that person.   
May God bless you through this message! 
(2014)
May God bless you through this message! 
You can support this ministry: Donate
The Epic Lifehttps://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com
 

Matthew 18:21-35 - The Unmerciful Servant - Part 1

This sermon is part of the Matthew series, but is included here as a companion message in the series on Biblical Reconciliation. This passage is often taught as a stand-alone text and therefore misinterpreted and misapplied. 
Peter asks Jesus a valid question:
What if my brother continues to sin repetitively against me after confessing and repenting of the original sin?  How many times should I forgive him?
Important points to remember:
Jesus is not talking about civil or criminal offenses:
He is referring specifically to Christians who, having been biblically confronted, have already confessed and repented of their sin(s).
He is referring to Christians who keep committing the same sin, but keep responding biblically to their repeated failure.
If a fellow believer has sinned against you, you have an obligation as a citizen of God’s kingdom, to follow the biblical steps of reconciliation - Matthew 18:15-17. If your brother or sister confesses and repents of their sin, you are obligated by God to forgive and restore that person.   
(2014)
May God bless you through this message! 
You can support this ministry: Donate
The Epic Lifehttps://www.theepiclife.org https://www.facebook.com/livetheepiclife https://www.instagram.com/Living_The_Epic_Life https://www.theepiclife.podbean.com

Wise Men Still Seek Him - Matthew 2:1-2

Who were these wise men?
The Greek word for wise men in this account (magoi) is rendered as astrologers where it occurs in the SEPTUAGINT, the Greek translation of the Old Testament (Dan. 1:20; 2:2) and as sorcerer in its other occurrences in the New Testament (Acts 13:6,8).
The Greek historian Herodotus, writing in the fifth century B. C., identified the Magi as a caste of Medes who had a priestly function in the Persian Empire. In the Book of Daniel the "astrologers" (magoi) are grouped with magicians, sorcerers, and Chaldeans as advisers to the court of Babylon with responsibility for interpreting dreams.
The role of the star in suggests a connection with astrology. These astrologers, pursuing their observations of the stars in the heavens, encountered a sign of God. God broke through their misguided system to make the great event known.
The joy, rejoicing, worship, and gifts which mark the response of these wise men to the birth of Jesus is quite a contrast to the troubled state and murderous intent of Herod and his Jewish advisers in Jerusalem.
The tradition that these men were kings dates back to Tertullian (second century).  It probably developed as a result of OT passages that say kings will come and worship the Messiah (Ps 68:29, 31; 72:10-11; Is 49:7; 60:1-2) 
The theory that there were three of them is probably a deduction from the three gifts.
By the end of the sixth century, the wise men were named; Melchoir, Balthasar, and Gaspar.  But Mathew gives no names.
Although these various issues are interesting to consider, the real point of the story is found, not in the identity of, but in the actions and priorities of these wise men.
May God bless you through this message! 
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Light of the World (Isaiah 9:1-7) - Part 2

There are at least three types of darkness a person can experience in life:
Physical darkness
Emotional darkness
Spiritual darkness
Fortunately, physical and emotional darkness are usually temporal. But the Good News is that spiritual darkness is something that no man or woman has to live with.  If you want, you can come out of the darkness and into the light! 
I The Promise of God's Light: Foreshadowed in the OT
In the Creation
In the Burning Bush
In the Pillar of Fire
In the Shekinah glory
A visible manifestation of the presence of God in the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle and in Solomon's Temple. The Shekinah was a luminous cloud which rested above the altar in the place of worship and lit up the room. 
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