Transformed Episode #056 – Trust: The Key to Successful Living

Posted on February 7, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Jerry Bridges reminds us, “Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold of the promises of God and cling to them despite the fear that at times seeks to overwhelm us.”

Continuing our 4-part series entitled ‘The Trust Test’, Dr. Matthew Lee Smith digs deeper into Proverbs 3 to discover the fact: We can trust God! 

We continue exploring God’s faithfulness from Proverbs 3 today with a message entitled, “Trust – the Key to Successful Living.”

As the waves of recession brought deepening numbers to the stock market back on October 12th, 2008, Pastor Matt encouraged the people of First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, California to trust God, despite the desperate headlines.

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Transformed Enhanced Episode #055 – Trusting God in Turbulent Times

Posted on February 7, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

This is a special iTunes/iPod ENHANCED podcast. This podcast contains the PowerPoint slides that Pastor Matt uses during his sermons so you can follow along in iTunes or with your iPod. You can subscribe to this podcast by clicking here or you can subscribe via iTunes.

Foreclosures, bankruptcies, and dwindling retirement accounts seem to be all the news these days. Everyone seems to be hurting these days. The recession has tested the limits of many people’s faith.

Dr. Matthew Lee Smith encourages our hearts to ‘trust in the Lord with all our hearts’ in the midst of these turbulent times as we begin a 4-part series entitled ‘The Trust Test.’

Today we begin exploring God’s faithfulness from Proverbs 3 with a message entitled, “Trusting God in Turbulent Times.”

This message was first given at First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, California on October 5th, 2008 – just as the waves of recession were sinking major financial institutions across the nation.

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Special Conference Discount for Our Pastor Friends!

Posted on February 5, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

We have an exciting offer from Moody Bible Institute’s Pastors Conference and Eagles in Leadership. As a friend of Eagles in Leadership, Tommy Lee, Special Assistant to the President has increased his original generous offer! Now …

Save $50 on conference registration!

As you know, Moody Pastors Conference will be May 18-21, 2009 in Chicago at the Institute. Tommy has offered us the following …

Special Deal for Eagles in Leadership

Save $50 on conference registration!

Early Bird Registration (Until March 1, 2009): $150! (Register by 3/1/09) Regularly $200

Regular (After March 1, 2009): $180 (Register after 3/1/09) Regularly $230

Housing and Meals: $180 Regularly $180

In order to obtain the discount, please us the following promotional code when you register:

Promo Code: EAGLES

You can register at:

http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaID=168674

Or call 888-824-8246 (Visa or MasterCard)

Remember: May 18-21, 2009 – Chicago, IL

As this event is designed for men in the pastorate, registration for the conference, housing, and meals are available only to men. Pastors’ wives may attend the general sessions (not breakout sessions) without charge or registration.

Please be sure to forward this information to anyone you think would be interested!

A Word about This Year’s Conference

This year promises to be one of the best conferences in years! I am very excited about this conference and hope you will seriously consider coming. I know you will be greatly encouraged and uplifted. Note some of the following features:

Speakers to include the following:

Michael Easley, Voddie Baucham, John Piper, Chip Ingram, John Perkins, Henry Blackaby, John MacArthur, Crawford Loritts, Andy Crouch, Elmer Towns, Mark Mittelberg, Del Tackett, T.M. Moore, Colin Smith, David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons of unChrisitian.

New breakout tracks:

There is a choice between the typical track or new, directed tracks from which you can choose: Preaching, ALPHA, Justice and Compassion, and Culture and Worldview

Special Lunches:

There will also be Special Lunches with Speakers, called ‘Lunch and Learns’.

Incredible Giveaways!

Don’t miss this: You will receive approximately 25 books at this conference!

There is a bigger exhibition hall (in the Solheim Center) with 80 organizations!

There will also be other giveaways at the exhibition hall (these are random giveaways):

Baker Baker Exegetical Commentary (x 2)

New Testament Use of the Old Testament (x 25)

Zondervan NIV Application Commentary (New and Old Testament)

The Expositors Bible Commentary

Moody Publishers John MacArthur Commentary Set

Ryrie Study Bible (x 5)

Logos Logos Silver Edition (x 2)

Thomas Nelson MacArthur Personal Size Study Bible (x 12)

Blackaby Study Bible (x 5)

Word Biblical Commentary Hardcover (x 2)

Word Biblical Commentary CD – Rom (x 8.)

Crossway ESV Study Bibles

You can learn more about the conference at: http://www.moodyconferences.com/con_conferencemain.aspx?id=9438

It is my sincere hope that I will see you at Moody Pastor’s Conference May 18-21, 2009! Please take advantage of the discount Tommy has provided us.

If you have any questions, please contact me by replying to this post. I would love to know if you are planning to attend.

Please be sure to forward this information to anyone you think would be interested!

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Leaders and Their Followers!

Posted on February 3, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.”

~ Roselyn Carter

My friend, John Maxwell, often reminds us that if you want to test your leadership, just turn around and see who is following you. Those leaders who have no one following them are just out for a walk. As I looked at my leadership and noticed the hundreds of people who have chosen to ‘follow my leadership’ through my local ministry, my web-based leadership training and my personal prayer partners, I was humbled by God’s goodness.

Jesus’ life and ministry demonstrates how important it is to lead people. Looking at his ministry we note that there was a core of people who followed and supported Jesus …

Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities–Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance. Luke 8:1-3 (NKJV)

We become like Jesus when …

o We enjoy the company of a small group of committed friends to journey with us in the completion of our mission and passion.

Jesus was surrounded by ‘the twelve’ – men who had forsaken all to follow Jesus. These men demonstrate Jesus’ quality of leadership – they followed because they believed the man and his mission were more important that their own lives and pursuits.

You will also notice that there was a core group of women who had experienced the life-changing work of Jesus’ ministry in their lives. These women ‘bought into’ the ministry in two key ways … they followed Jesus and they supported him financially.

Leadership is all about followers. Jesus shows us how to gain a following by focusing on a mission greater than the lives of those we minister to. When that mission impacts a life in a monumental manner, another follower is born!

© 2009 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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Transformed Enhanced Episode #054 – Accomplishing Your Mission … No Matter What

Posted on February 1, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Welcome to our new iTunes/iPod ENHANCED podcast. This podcast contains the PowerPoint slides that Pastor Matt uses during his sermons so you can follow along in iTunes or with your iPod. If you have any questions about how this works please email us at transformedpodcast-at-gmail.com

There is a poem that reads …

“When you enter that beautiful city,

and the saved all around you appear.

What joy when someone will tell you,

it was you who invited me here.”

Accomplishing our mission of telling the world of the love of God through Jesus Christ is what this episode is all about. In “accomplishing your mission … no matter what!” Dr. Matthew Lee Smith explores the six needs every Christ-follower has in order to accomplish your God-given mission.

As you open your Bible to Acts 18, let’s join Pastor Matt as he teaches the congregation at First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, California today …

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.GotoMyPC.com/podcast

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Looking for the Acts of Faith!

Posted on January 27, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

“To disbelieve is easy; to scoff is simple; to have faith is harder.”

~ Louis L’Amour

America is filled with talkers about Jesus! We talk about our church. We talk about our faith. We go to services and attend studies. But what is the end of all this supposed to be?

Jesus ran across a marvelous specimen of religiosity one evening. Invited to dinner at the home of a very devout man, the following exchange took place …

Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” “There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Luke 7:36-50 (NKJV)

We become like Jesus when …

o We deepen our affection for Jesus through demonstrable actions, and stop looking down on those who do – despite their previous background.

When the local fornicator dropped by to express her repentant faith, the devout religious man was critical. (Usually our lack of faith can be seen in our ability to criticize another.) While the Pharisee judged the woman (and Jesus!) he truly showed how distant his heart was from God!

Faith is demonstrated by our actions! The more we love Jesus, the more we demonstrate it. Our compassion should monitor our thought processes carefully. We are looking for faith … in anyone … nothing less or else; especially in ourselves.

© 2009 B

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Transformed Episode #055 – Trusting God in Turbulent Times

Posted on January 25, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Foreclosures, bankruptcies, and dwindling retirement accounts seem to be all the news these days. Everyone seems to be hurting these days. The recession has tested the limits of many people’s faith.

Dr. Matthew Lee Smith encourages our hearts to ‘trust in the Lord with all our hearts’ in the midst of these turbulent times as we begin a 4-part series entitled ‘The Trust Test.’

Today we begin exploring God’s faithfulness from Proverbs 3 with a message entitled, “Trusting God in Turbulent Times.”

This message was first given at First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, California on October 5th, 2008 – just as the waves of recession were sinking major financial institutions across the nation. 

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Enjoying a Lighter Burden!

Posted on January 20, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

“You will never be on top of the world if you try to carry it on your shoulders.”

~ Unknown

With so many things to do, the Eagle Leader often feels like they are about to break under the load. You know it is impossible to “mount up with wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31) when you are weighed down with cares and concerns.

Jesus understands your burden and wants to lift it from your shoulders. This will involve changing the way we look at our situation and giving Him control of certain things. All too often, burdens come from usurping the responsibilities that belong to Jesus. A classic example of this comes from our passage today …

Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:20-30 (NKJV)

We become like Jesus when …

o We learn how to come to Jesus and leave the consequences of the indifferent to him.

We all struggle with it … what to do with those who seem to have cotton in their ears and granite for a heart! We talk and encourage, plead and lead and still many of the people we work with don’t do anything with God’s Word. Their direction remains world-centered and their passion for spiritual things is as cold as a Midwestern ‘Arctic Clipper.’

Jesus makes a powerful diagnostic statement just before our passage today: “But wisdom is justified by all her children.” Luke 7:35, the parallel passage, catches the flavor of Jesus meaning best. What people do IS what people are! Some will change and some will not. While this can break our hearts, we need to remember that Jesus is the final judge of humanity. Rebuking the cold-hearted incalcitrance of Chorazin and Bethsaida, he pronounces a certain doom to them. I have been in what remains of Chorazin – ruins are all that is left.

The moral of today’s training is this: you are not responsible for the results of the message of God’s love and goodness. You are responsible for the clear and compassionate declaration of that message. When people do not respond, leave the consequences to Jesus. Then go to Him so he can heal your heart and lift your hurt from the certain result of such apathetic rejection!

© 2009 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Posted in Becoming Like Jesus, Eagles E-Letter | Leave a comment

Bragging On the Team Leader!

Posted on January 13, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Feel free to forward this to a friend!

Every person has an invisible sign around their neck that says, ‘Encourage Me!’

~ Mary Kay

Eagle leaders are no less in need of encouragement than anyone else. Some believe that leaders have an ‘inner source’ that resupplies them with encouragement. Therefore, the thinking goes, don’t talk too much about the leader or it will go to his head! While this may be true occasionally, the reality is that many leaders are dying for lack of encouragement! Encouragement, by nature, doesn’t feed the head, it feeds the heart!

That is why Jesus, when confronted by John the Baptist’s doubts, began to brag on his exploits – within earshot of those who would take Jesus’ words of encouragement back to John. You will also notice that Jesus had nothing good to say about the people who drained the joy and hope from John’s life and (by intimation) from His own life as well. Jesus said to the crowds …

When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him. And the Lord said, “To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: ‘We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by all her children.” Luke 7:24-35

We become like Jesus when …

o We brag to all who will listen about the good things our leaders do for us!

John was not a perfect man! No one is perfect. However, while some believe their gift is to expose the faults of others (perhaps it is a gift – from Hell), the Bible says that love covers a multitude of sins (Proverbs 10.12; 1 Peter 4.8).

This week, why not join the lifestyle of Jesus and brag on your leaders! While they aren’t perfect, they are in need of your encouragement. Tell everyone you meet – within earshot of the leader or someone close to them – why and how much you appreciate them. You will be surprised what a little true appreciation will do for your leadership team as a result.

© 2009 By Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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Transformed Episode #054 – Accomplishing Your Mission … No Matter What

Posted on January 10, 2009 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

There is a poem that reads …

“When you enter that beautiful city,

and the saved all around you appear.

What joy when someone will tell you,

it was you who invited me here.”

Accomplishing our mission of telling the world of the love of God through Jesus Christ is what this episode is all about. In “accomplishing your mission … no matter what!” Dr. Matthew Lee Smith explores the six needs every Christ-follower has in order to accomplish your God-given mission.

As you open your Bible to Acts 18, let’s join Pastor Matt as he teaches the congregation at First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, California today …

Sponsor: Try GotoMyPC free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.GotoMyPC.com/podcast

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