Spiritual Journey Insights

Another episode of Thriving Talk is out. The topic this week is Social Media.  Details about Thriving Talk Podcast -  On Gospel-Link.com website - https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/ Links to different podcast platforms -  https://tinkuthompson.blogspot.com/2022/08/thriving-talk-podcast-links.html YouTube Link to the latest episode -  https://youtu.be/_dy1gmWW55U

I want to share the sermon I preached last Sunday at my church. I spoke in Malayalam with translation to English.  Main Points from the messages. Message Portion:-Number 9:15-23 Main Verse:- Number 9:22-23 രണ്ടു ദിവസമോ ഒരു മാസമോ ഒരു സംവത്സരമോ മേഘം തിരുനിവാസത്തിന്മേൽ ആവസിച്ചിരുന്നാൽ യിസ്രായേൽമക്കൾ പുറപ്പെടാതെ പാളയമടിച്ചു താമസിക്കും; അതു പൊങ്ങുമ്പോഴോ അവർ പുറപ്പെടും.  23 യഹോവയുടെ കല്പനപോലെ അവർ പാളയമിറങ്ങുകയും യഹോവയുടെ കല്പനപോലെ യാത്ര പുറപ്പെടുകയും ചെയ്യും; മോശെമുഖാന്തരം യഹോവ കല്പിച്ചതുപോലെ അവർ യഹോവയുടെ ആജ്ഞ പ്രമാണിച്ചു. Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. 23 So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses. • We have different ideas about God, but they must be biblical. ○ 5 things to remember -  God visits  God speaks God leads God fulfills the purpose Go...

This post is for my colleagues in ministry, but it will benefit everyone. I recently read through the books of Exodus and Numbers from the Bible. Many things caught my attention, but what stood out was the Hazeroth moment in Moses’ life. Moses was a humble man who was given the enormous task of leading the people out of Egypt. This was not something he signed by himself. He was explicitly asked by God to do it. He tried to get out of this assignment but was not given an option to opt-out. During the journey in the wilderness, Moses faced many challenges and opposition from people. He had a Kibroth-hattaavah experience in which people complained about not having meat, and the anger of the Lord blazed against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. I feel sad about it, but I felt like his brother Aaron and sister Miriam were with him most of the time. Something which happened is recorded in Numbers 12. Numbers 12:1-3 (NLT) While at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticize...

Episode 5 of Thriving Talk is out. The topic this time is " Volunteering at Local Church vs. Parachurch ."  This is another Dad-Son edition in which Tim, my son, sits with me and asks questions about life, purpose, spirituality, faith, etc.   I recently wrote a blog, and some questions are from it. You can read that blog pose here - https://tinkuthompson.blogspot.com/2022/08/local-church-vs-parachurch-ministry.html . Details about Thriving Talk Podcast - https://tinkuthompson.blogspot.com/2022/08/thriving-talk-podcast-links.html YouTube Link to the latest episode - https://youtu.be/ZbAvrNG9EEs

Sharing the  sermon, I preached this Sunday at my church. It is in English.    Summary of the message Main Verse:- James 4:17 So it is sin to know the good and yet not do it. (CSB) Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (NLT) SC&SO Sin of Commission - Sins that a person actively commits.  Sin of Omission - A sin of omission is a sin that is the result of not doing something God’s Word teaches that we should do. James 4:17 I had personally confessed and thought of sin of commission 95% time. Did not think about omissions that much. Paul's struggle with this issue - Rom. 7:14-20 - Struggle with Sin Good Samaritan story - Luke 10:25-37 Bible teachings - 1 John 3:17-18, Mathew 25:44-45 Consequences of Omission Intentional Omission is disobedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice. ( 1Sam. 15:22)  Omission leads to neglect which hinders the fulfillment of God's purpose and calling.  Omission leads to missed divine appoi...

Most people will agree that God has a purpose for their life. Many have a genuine desire to do something for the Lord. How will we do anything for the Lord? Should we pursue it, or will something come to us? There are many ways in which people get engaged with the work of the Lord. 1.      Their desire and commitment push them to volunteer and do things. 2.      They are pushed into something by others because there is a need, and they have the talent to do it. 3.      They are asked or forced to take up some responsibility because others think they will grow by doing things even though they may have no experience. 4.      They get opportunities because there is pressure within their church or organization to provide them to people. People may end up with things they do not want to do. 5.      They want fame and fight to get positions, so elections take place with a lot of com...

Episode 4 of Thriving Talk is out. The topic this time is Purpose of Life.  This is the first Dad-Son edition. Tim, my son, sits with me and asks questions about life, purpose, spirituality, faith, etc.   Details about Thriving Talk Podcast - https://tinkuthompson.blogspot.com/2022/08/thriving-talk-podcast-links.html YouTube Link to the latest episode - https://youtu.be/cnbNrRsrBmU

Sharing the  sermon, I preached this Sunday at my church. It is in English. It was a heartfelt message in which I shared how God taught me about submission last year. Main Points from the message Message Portion:-James 4:1-10 Main Verse -  James 4:7 -  So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (NLT) Question - Are we really submitted?  Practical Surrender - More than words. Heart and actions. God owns all; He owns me; He owns my home; He owns my children; He owns my property. I have called your attention before to the fact that the modern idea of ownership is pagan. The Christian idea is this: that God is the absolute owner of all things. - Clovis G. Chappell DMHS - Evil  D esires -> Wrong M otives -> False H umility =>Complete  S ubmission Desires which lead to fighting (4:1-2) Wrong motives (4:3-4) Humble in words but proud in reality (4:5-6) Submit, Resist and humble before the Lord - Let him exalt you (4:7-1...

I came across a church's Position Paper (intentionally leaving it out as I disagree with many things they have on their site). The paper has some good points but does not agree that the parachurch ministry is biblical.  As someone who pastors a local  church  as well as gives leadership in a parachurch  ministry , I thought about it and did some research. I want to share my thoughts on this topic. Let us start with some simple definitions. Local Church – The local church is the consistent gathering of Christians within a particular community or area. Parachurch ministry - Parachurch organizations, are Christian faith-based organizations that work outside and across denominations to engage in social welfare and evangelism. They are focused on particular areas. Why should I write about this? I am the pastor of a local church, and I have members who volunteer or help with other parachurch ministries. I also give leadership in an organization that has people who are me...

Another episode of Thriving Talk is out. The topic this time is  Bible Reading Habits and Plans. In this episode, the discussion is about bible reading habits and plans. Details about Thriving Talk Podcast - https://tinkuthompson.blogspot.com/2022/08/thriving-talk-podcast-links.html YouTube Link to the latest episode - https://youtu.be/pW8nM_D5hU0

I want to share the sermon I preached last Sunday at my church. I spoke in Malayalam with translation to English.  Main Points from the messages. Main Verse - Luke 1:45 - Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (NIV) Zachariah doubted while Mary believed. Sarah laughed while Mary believed. What is your default thought about the promises of God? Five Practical Steps Have strong faith and conviction about who God is. We should believe and trust that God will fulfill His promises. Prepare yourself and wait. Do not dwell on negativity or mediate on negative things and say what is contrary to the word of God. Just shut up!  Give praise and glory to God when the promise of God is fulfilled. YouTube Link -  https://youtu.be/hcQ5KXdAaqU

I am happy to announce that I have started a Newsletter to provide an update about helpful resources. I will summarize what I shared and learned during the week and give updates on the projects I am working on.  Feel free to subscribe here -  https://tinkuthompson.substack.com/ . The link to 1st update is -  https://tinkuthompson.substack.com/p/week-with-lot-of-updates . If you want to receive the newsletter, which should provide encouraging content, Subscribe. You will start getting weekly updates. If you do not get the email, check your Promotion folder in Gmail or spam folder the first time.  Move it email to your inbox. Hope you will find this newsletter helpful. 

Thriving Talk podcast is now available on main platforms. You can subscribe to get the latest episodes and listen on your favorite app. Apple Podcast -  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thriving-talk/id1638183396 Amazon Music -  https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/18796e9a-bfd3-4a40-b6f6-94f508943c61/thriving-talk Google Podcast - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9hZGQwZTUxNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw Spotify -  https://open.spotify.com/show/6AM0x1Gstm5ctvAnARUveo YouTube Channel -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW8nM_D5hU0&list=PLuHHgU2WJHA89UqWiozCC4I4X1c_aWyPl On Gospel-Link.com website -  https://gospel-link.com/podcast-thriving-talk/ Anchor -  https://anchor.fm/gospel-link RSS Feed -  https://anchor.fm/s/add0e514/podcast/rss

A new episode of Thriving Talk is out.  This is the first Dad-Son edition. Tim, my son sits with me and asks questions related to life, purpose, spirituality, faith, etc. In this episode, the discussion is about my personal experience of sickness. Link to the video - https://youtu.be/H_O9A_5lB2E

  Video Link -  https://youtube.com/shorts/m2ruYhbYbMk?feature=share

  Video Link -  https://youtube.com/shorts/sL0OVVfhVCU?feature=share

Last Sunday, I preached a message on " Quality of Contributions ."  The key points from the message are-  Generous vs giving under compulsion. Do not do anything for self-satisfaction. Give the best you can as if you are doing it for the Lord. People whose heart was moved and willing. Do service to God based on our ability and gifting. YouTube Link -  https://youtu.be/7gUHQgdefec