17:1 - We are always going to be tempted...temptation will always be there...we live in a sin filled world. Just make absolutely sure by the life you live and the things you say and do that you are not the tool of temptation for another person. Check out Romans chapter 1, at the very end of the chapter...the vilest sinners who have descended the most deeply into sin are those who convince others to sin with them - tempters.
17:3 - It is clear from scripture that if we love each other as Christians, we will hold each other accountable. We also need to understand that the rebuking needs to be done with compassion and humble mercy. We often like to bring the rebuke without the love and that doesn't bring any God honoring healing.
17:5-6 - This seems like a wacky verse, but it makes a simple point. The disciples come up to Jesus and they want to take it to the next level...they want to have their faith ramped up...they want to have more faith than anybody. Jesus kinda shoots their competitiveness down. He is saying that it isn't the amount of faith that matters...even a mustard seed sized faith can do miraculous things...no, what matters is that faith is present in your life. We are often crippled in life and ministry because we are waiting to get enough faith to do something...Jesus says you just have to have faith, any kind of faith - so ACT!
17:10 - Something we need to get straight here. God isn't going to send a little thank you note and invite us to dinner because we actually served. Don't get all high and mighty when you have been serving the lord. David doesn't throw a party when I get to work on time...that's what I'm supposed to do - that's my job. We are servants...we are created to serve...try not to get overly impressed with yourself and keep on doing what you were created to do!
17:18ff - Powerful close to this story. All the lepers were healed, but only one understood the power of faith and the mercy of Jesus Christ. Only one was spiritually healed (The only kind of healing that really mattered). The others simply got what they wanted and went on with life. There are people all over the world receiving good gifts from God every second...and the goodness of those gifts is only fully realized when those gifts lead them to the feet of God.
17:28ff - Life was going on as if nothing were wrong...right before the fire balls began to rain down on Sodom, people were buying and selling and building up and storing away. We need to remember how fragile our reality is and refuse to get caught up completely in the here and now. There is a bigger more important reality that we must remain plugged into.
17:33 - Again with the priorities. If you live for this world and this life, you will be sorely disappointed when the things of earth all pass away.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Luke Chapter 16 - September 3, 2008
* Some of the most difficult teachings in all of the gospels fall in this chapter - YAY!
16:8ff - The master commends the dishonest manager? Does that mean that God is going to commend people that are self-seeking and dishonest? Not really. There are two main options here. Jesus could be using a negative example to make his point about how Christians must also be shrewd with their resources (shrewd not unethical). I don't like this option as much as the next one. The other option is about what the shrewd manager may have really been doing. In this time period, managers were allowed to set their own prices...they could really crank up the debt someone owed and take a large cut off the top for themselves to make money personally. The second option is that the man was cancelling the debt that the customers owed to him...he was them his own cut off the top. He was a shrewd man that understood that being in the good graces of these people would be more beneficial to him in the long run, than getting his money on the spot. So although he was a dishonest manager, he sets a good example for us by making a sacrifice in the short-term that would pay off int he long term. I believe this fits well with what Jesus says next, because if we make sacrifices in our lives now (being living sacrifices) we will be paid off a million fold when everything is made right in the end.
16:13 - Pretty clear cut - you cannot serve two masters. I believe this applies to every area of our lives, not just money. As Christian we need to ask ourselves, "Where does my allegiance lie? What is it that drives me?" We either serve God with our lives or we serve something else.
16:15 - There are those who will do anything...will say anything to be right...to justify themselves in front of other people...to look good before man. We've probably all been that person a time or two. But what other people think of us means very little if God is disgusted with our life choices and our motivations.
16:25ff - I believe that the main focus of this parable is that you reap what you sow...you get what you deserve...God gives you what you want. The rich man while on earth chose to serve only himself...he lived the extravagantly and completely ignored the needs of the suffering man outside his door. Every day he walked by in his purple robe with a smoked turkey leg in his hands as Lazarus was having his sores licked by street dogs. He showed no mercy or love for his fellow man and in the after life he received no mercy or love. He rejected God and God's ideals, so why would he receive God in the end. He got what he wanted...nothing to do with God's kingdom.
16:31 - People often cry out for "proof" to justify belief, but often they have made up their minds, and even miraculous proof would fall on blind eyes and deaf ears. For thousands of years the Jews had been waiting for the Messiah and when he came - the religious leaders rejected him.
16:8ff - The master commends the dishonest manager? Does that mean that God is going to commend people that are self-seeking and dishonest? Not really. There are two main options here. Jesus could be using a negative example to make his point about how Christians must also be shrewd with their resources (shrewd not unethical). I don't like this option as much as the next one. The other option is about what the shrewd manager may have really been doing. In this time period, managers were allowed to set their own prices...they could really crank up the debt someone owed and take a large cut off the top for themselves to make money personally. The second option is that the man was cancelling the debt that the customers owed to him...he was them his own cut off the top. He was a shrewd man that understood that being in the good graces of these people would be more beneficial to him in the long run, than getting his money on the spot. So although he was a dishonest manager, he sets a good example for us by making a sacrifice in the short-term that would pay off int he long term. I believe this fits well with what Jesus says next, because if we make sacrifices in our lives now (being living sacrifices) we will be paid off a million fold when everything is made right in the end.
16:13 - Pretty clear cut - you cannot serve two masters. I believe this applies to every area of our lives, not just money. As Christian we need to ask ourselves, "Where does my allegiance lie? What is it that drives me?" We either serve God with our lives or we serve something else.
16:15 - There are those who will do anything...will say anything to be right...to justify themselves in front of other people...to look good before man. We've probably all been that person a time or two. But what other people think of us means very little if God is disgusted with our life choices and our motivations.
16:25ff - I believe that the main focus of this parable is that you reap what you sow...you get what you deserve...God gives you what you want. The rich man while on earth chose to serve only himself...he lived the extravagantly and completely ignored the needs of the suffering man outside his door. Every day he walked by in his purple robe with a smoked turkey leg in his hands as Lazarus was having his sores licked by street dogs. He showed no mercy or love for his fellow man and in the after life he received no mercy or love. He rejected God and God's ideals, so why would he receive God in the end. He got what he wanted...nothing to do with God's kingdom.
16:31 - People often cry out for "proof" to justify belief, but often they have made up their minds, and even miraculous proof would fall on blind eyes and deaf ears. For thousands of years the Jews had been waiting for the Messiah and when he came - the religious leaders rejected him.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Luke Chapters 14 and 15 - September 2, 2008
14:5 - Rules, dogma and theological opinions should be put aside for the sake of people...helping people reach newness and healing. People are more important than rules. They are more important than budgets. They are more important than our plans. People are the sons and daughters of the most high God. Rules/laws are made to help people live better, holier lives...not to make them slaves.
14:12 - I think that we sometimes get caught up in being generous with those who we know will repay us our generosity. We are kindest and most giving to our friends, because they will pay us back with gifts and words of thanks. True generosity is shown when we break out of that mold and give to those who have no ability to return the favor. True generosity is shown when we give to those who hate us...when we give to those who have no idea who we are.
14:18ff - There are a million excuses for us in this world to ignore God's invitation to drink from His cup...to live the life He has called us too. We are too busy. We are preoccupied. We will do it after school. We will answer the call after we've had some fun. If we feast on the things of this world, we will be left empty and unsatisfied...we will miss out on the great banquet that we are being called to take part in. Choose wisely.
14:26 - Hate everybody you love, including yourself!? That seems so harsh. But this is what you have to understand. When you put everything else behind
God on your list of priorities...you actually become better at all the other relationships. When I show hatred to myself in that I put God before myself - I actually have a more fulfilling, joy-filled life. When I show hatred towards my family by putting God before them - I am a better, more focused, more committed husband and father. Hatred does not imply that we sinfully destroy every relationship we have on earth...it means we consider all relationships nothing in comparison to our relationship with God...which in turn makes every other relationship more holy and God-honoring. Pretty cool, huh?
14:34 - A dangerous warning to all Christians...if you carry the name of Christ, you are the salt of the earth. Wherever you go, you should make a difference...you should add a godly flavor into everything you do. If not, we are not fit to carry the name of Christ...a Christian who doesn't actually follow Christ is as useless as salt with no taste.
15:6 - I love that line, "Rejoice with me for I have found the sheep that was lost!" That should be that attitude of the church when lost, broken, incredibly sinful people walk in the door - "Yes, they've come to the right place!" We do the grace of God no justice when we react with judgement and fear. Who are we as undeserving sinners in the hands of a merciful God, to call judgement upon others. Rejoice when the lost are found!
15:17ff - We have to notice that the prodigal son returns in humble repentance. He knows how wrong he has been and he returns to his father on his knees, begging only to be treated as a slave. When we have strayed from God, we should always return in humility...understanding that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves as we fall broken at His feet. A belief that we have to earn our way back into God's good graces will only sending us spiraling further and further into sin and further and further away from God.
15:31 - I have been the brother in my life. I have been the Christian wondering why some people get to sin-it-up and then at the last minute turn to God, receiving the same thing I get after all my hard work! I came to the realization that it all depends on how you look at what truly living looks like. I had the flawed belief that the life of sin was more fun and enjoyable than the life of the Christian. I have found that, that is absolutely not true. The one who has been in Christ has been at the banquet table the entire time...given access to the Holy Spirit...given purpose and meaning and true joy. The life long Christian has been offered over and over the chance to eat the bread of life and drink from living water. The prodigal has wallowed in sin and hopelessness and discovered the hard way that there is nothing in this world that can truly satisfy outside of God. Why should I be jealous of a broken lost man who falls at the feet of God with nowhere else to turn? I should rejoice that such a man is now going to sit at the table with me and experience the life he was created to live.
14:12 - I think that we sometimes get caught up in being generous with those who we know will repay us our generosity. We are kindest and most giving to our friends, because they will pay us back with gifts and words of thanks. True generosity is shown when we break out of that mold and give to those who have no ability to return the favor. True generosity is shown when we give to those who hate us...when we give to those who have no idea who we are.
14:18ff - There are a million excuses for us in this world to ignore God's invitation to drink from His cup...to live the life He has called us too. We are too busy. We are preoccupied. We will do it after school. We will answer the call after we've had some fun. If we feast on the things of this world, we will be left empty and unsatisfied...we will miss out on the great banquet that we are being called to take part in. Choose wisely.
14:26 - Hate everybody you love, including yourself!? That seems so harsh. But this is what you have to understand. When you put everything else behind
God on your list of priorities...you actually become better at all the other relationships. When I show hatred to myself in that I put God before myself - I actually have a more fulfilling, joy-filled life. When I show hatred towards my family by putting God before them - I am a better, more focused, more committed husband and father. Hatred does not imply that we sinfully destroy every relationship we have on earth...it means we consider all relationships nothing in comparison to our relationship with God...which in turn makes every other relationship more holy and God-honoring. Pretty cool, huh?
14:34 - A dangerous warning to all Christians...if you carry the name of Christ, you are the salt of the earth. Wherever you go, you should make a difference...you should add a godly flavor into everything you do. If not, we are not fit to carry the name of Christ...a Christian who doesn't actually follow Christ is as useless as salt with no taste.
15:6 - I love that line, "Rejoice with me for I have found the sheep that was lost!" That should be that attitude of the church when lost, broken, incredibly sinful people walk in the door - "Yes, they've come to the right place!" We do the grace of God no justice when we react with judgement and fear. Who are we as undeserving sinners in the hands of a merciful God, to call judgement upon others. Rejoice when the lost are found!
15:17ff - We have to notice that the prodigal son returns in humble repentance. He knows how wrong he has been and he returns to his father on his knees, begging only to be treated as a slave. When we have strayed from God, we should always return in humility...understanding that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves as we fall broken at His feet. A belief that we have to earn our way back into God's good graces will only sending us spiraling further and further into sin and further and further away from God.
15:31 - I have been the brother in my life. I have been the Christian wondering why some people get to sin-it-up and then at the last minute turn to God, receiving the same thing I get after all my hard work! I came to the realization that it all depends on how you look at what truly living looks like. I had the flawed belief that the life of sin was more fun and enjoyable than the life of the Christian. I have found that, that is absolutely not true. The one who has been in Christ has been at the banquet table the entire time...given access to the Holy Spirit...given purpose and meaning and true joy. The life long Christian has been offered over and over the chance to eat the bread of life and drink from living water. The prodigal has wallowed in sin and hopelessness and discovered the hard way that there is nothing in this world that can truly satisfy outside of God. Why should I be jealous of a broken lost man who falls at the feet of God with nowhere else to turn? I should rejoice that such a man is now going to sit at the table with me and experience the life he was created to live.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Luke Chapter 13 - August 28, 2008
I'm going to continue to pray through the passages this week.
13:6 - God, thank you for your patience. I know there have been times you have come to me and found my fruit lacking...thank you for giving me time...thank you for building me up. God please let me continue to grow ad mature and bear fruit for your kingdom.
13:15ff - God, please never let me be a leader in your church that has the arrogance to put a dogmatic theological obsession before actual human beings. As a leader it is my job to guide people towards your truth..not try to bludgeon your children over the head with my understanding of your truth.
13:19 - Father, please take the tiny kernel of faith within me and make it grow. That can only happen through your power God...I am too doubtful...too fearful...I can only grow if your Spirit is within me.
13:24 - God give me the strength to walk the narrow path. It is hard, but to be in our presence is worth it.
13:34 - God, may we lead our church so that you never have to lament over us like you lamented over Jerusalem. Let us be a house of your truth - where you unadulterated truth can be spoken and accepted, even when it hurts. Let us be a home where you flock can gather to be built up and spurred on towards Christ-like living.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Luke Chapter 12 - August 27th, 2008
Sheldon and I have been talking a lot about prayer, so I wanted to pray through the passage today. You simply read through the chapter and when you get to a verse that speaks to you, you pray it to God...
12:1 - God please give me the strength to stand true to your word and the life you have called me to...God help me not to live as a hypocrite in this world. Hypocrisy unchecked only leads to more hypocrisy and I don't want that to be my legacy.
12:11ff - God, please build up my faith so that I will never allow fear to stall my ability to share my faith. God let me remember it is not about what know or my slick answers, it is about your Spirit within me and you will give me the words I need. Thank you for that.
12:25 - (Great verse to repeat over and over as a prayer if you are struggling with worry) God, what am I doing...what does this worry add to my life, but more worry? God, please cleanse my mind of the lies of this world and help me to remember that you are in control ad you love me. Worrying only serves to destroy my life and exist as a sign of my lack of faith.
12:31 - God please let me be a man that replaces worry with a kingdom focus. God please help me to take captive my every thought of worry and make it obedient to you...God help me to take every worry and let it be a reminder for me to ignore the worry and seek your kingdom.
12:37 - God, please wake me up. God wake me from the zombie sleep I often walk through this life with...God help me to b fully awake and fully aware of your plan fr my life and your kingdom work. I don't want to waste the time you've given me God...I want to be serving you with everything I have when it comes to your return or my departure.
12:45 - God please help me to fight against the lies of Satan that tell me I have all the time in the world. The lies tell me I can lie however I want from time to time because I have a lifetime to make up for it...God you know that is sick and so do I. God I don't want live a life trying to take advantage of grace ad cheapening you sacrifice...I want to honor you with my life and I need you in me to make that happen.
I love you God, amen.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Luke Chapter 11 - Augst 25th, 2008
11:1 - Sheldon and I will be teaching on this in a couple of weeks. I love how the disciples desire to pray like Jesus. They have seen the power that he wields...they have seen that after every spiritual encounter and before every big decision - he prays. They come to him and say, "Please master, teach us to pray like you!" Do I have that same desire...am I allowing Jesus to teach me new and different ways to connect to my Father in heaven?
11:24ff - You can't just sweep out the bad through your own power and think it's over with...oh no, if you were weak enough to be overtaken before, you will be weak enough to be overtaken when the temptation comes back stronger with more friends. It is not enough to simply clean house in our lives...we must invite God in. We clean out the sanctuary and invite Him in, and when the evil spirits and temptations barged through the door and the all-powerful God of the universe is dwelling inside...uh, needless to say, it is ON!
11:32 - See, the Ninevites needed no miraculous sign...the only sign they got was Jonah and he didn't even want to be there. I imagine that he was kinds mumbling the words he needed to say, because he didn't even want the Ninevites to get a second chance...he wanted them dead. So this random Jewish dude shows up with the truth and the Ninevites are clued in enough to understand it when they hear it - what is our excuse? The Jews are begging for a miraculous sign and Jesus says, "Am I not sign enough? When you hear my words and see my life, is that not enough?" Do you really need to see miraculous signs to believe...I hope not...just look at the way Jesus is calling us to live out. It is so different, so beautiful, it cannot be anything but the truth. It is the truest thing I have ever come in contact with.
11:34 - The eyes are the keys to your own personal purity. What you let in, shapes who you become. Never forget that.
11:52 - What is the key to knowledge? I believe the key to knowledge is humility and teachability...understanding you don't know it all...understand that you cannot save yourself...understanding that you need God to show you the true path...understanding that we all need correction from prophets that come into our lives. See the Jewish religious leaders had destroyed the key to true knowledge by thinking they had it all figured out. They fought viciously against anything or anyone that tried to correct them in their folly. Not only did they destroy themselves...but they brought alot of other people down with them. Never forget that you are a human who has only a sliver of the picture of what is going on in God's universal plan.
11:24ff - You can't just sweep out the bad through your own power and think it's over with...oh no, if you were weak enough to be overtaken before, you will be weak enough to be overtaken when the temptation comes back stronger with more friends. It is not enough to simply clean house in our lives...we must invite God in. We clean out the sanctuary and invite Him in, and when the evil spirits and temptations barged through the door and the all-powerful God of the universe is dwelling inside...uh, needless to say, it is ON!
11:32 - See, the Ninevites needed no miraculous sign...the only sign they got was Jonah and he didn't even want to be there. I imagine that he was kinds mumbling the words he needed to say, because he didn't even want the Ninevites to get a second chance...he wanted them dead. So this random Jewish dude shows up with the truth and the Ninevites are clued in enough to understand it when they hear it - what is our excuse? The Jews are begging for a miraculous sign and Jesus says, "Am I not sign enough? When you hear my words and see my life, is that not enough?" Do you really need to see miraculous signs to believe...I hope not...just look at the way Jesus is calling us to live out. It is so different, so beautiful, it cannot be anything but the truth. It is the truest thing I have ever come in contact with.
11:34 - The eyes are the keys to your own personal purity. What you let in, shapes who you become. Never forget that.
11:52 - What is the key to knowledge? I believe the key to knowledge is humility and teachability...understanding you don't know it all...understand that you cannot save yourself...understanding that you need God to show you the true path...understanding that we all need correction from prophets that come into our lives. See the Jewish religious leaders had destroyed the key to true knowledge by thinking they had it all figured out. They fought viciously against anything or anyone that tried to correct them in their folly. Not only did they destroy themselves...but they brought alot of other people down with them. Never forget that you are a human who has only a sliver of the picture of what is going on in God's universal plan.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Luke Chapter 10 - August 23, 2008
10:16 - There is a powerful responsibility described in this passage for Christians. We are the image bearers of Christ. If we are earnestly trying to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and people reject his way...woe to them. When we call ourselves Christians and reflect only selfish worldliness dragging the name of Christ along with us...woe to us.
10:20 - It is easy as a minister to get caught up in the victories and defeats you see every day. To cheer when great God-honoring things are happening and to weep when it seems like the systems of this world are insurmountable. This verse is a great reminder for me that I can always rejoice n the fact that I am saved. Every day, no matter what comes my way...I am saved...God is good.
10:21 - There seem to be truths that my 4-year-old son Dane can grasp that are almost impossible for many mature Christian believers to understand. It is all so simple...so cut and dry for him...God loves him and that is enough. He doesn't have to know why...he doesn't have to earn anything...he completely accepts that God loves him. He believes and he cannot comprehend how others do not believe...it is beautiful (I'm a little jealous).
10:36ff - Do I go through this life as a bringer of mercy...a dispenser of grace wherever I go and with whomever I come in contact with?
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Luke Chapter 9 - August 21, 2008
9:5 - when people reject you and the message of Christ...do not dwell on it and let bitterness take control of you...shake it off and move on. Getting worked up and angry only gives the opposition power over you. (Remember this verse for later in the chapter)
9:18 - Again, after a miraculous event (feeding the 5,000) Jesus spiritually recharges through prayer...I'm starting to see a pattern!
9:26 - How do you show shame for Jesus and his message? You refuse to let it make any difference in the life you live. You refuse to talk about it to anybody. You let the things and people and obsessions of this world shape who you are and what you believe instead of the message of Jesus. Lord, I ask that you give me strength to live like I am not ashamed of the gospel...I don't want you to be ashamed of me.
9:41 - Wow...harsh words Jesus! Why so hardcore? Because the reason the disciples couldn't drive out the demon is because they feared the power of Satan and his demonic forces. They doubted the power of God in the face of such evil. Jesus rebukes the generation that believes evil has so much power...and then he shows them what true power looks like by driving out the demon. Do you live like you are on the most powerful, victorious side?
9:54 - The disciples reaction was a typical human reaction - they want to repay the disrespect to Jesus with anger. How many times have we seen Christians in our culture angrily railing against anything they think is wrong and disrespectful. Jesus instead chooses to show grace (Just like he did in verse 5 when he tells his disciples to shake the dust off their sandals). Soon he will be entering Jerusalem and weeping for the lost generation that he sees - he feels empathy for those who are apart from him and offers them a second chance to come to him. There are times that Jesus does react with righteous anger...but that is usually in the face of religious hypocrisy. Maybe we should get a little more fired up about the hypocrisy in our own lives and the lives of our Christian brothers and sisters and show a more gracious, loving face to the utterly lost and confused people of this world? Maybe.
9:18 - Again, after a miraculous event (feeding the 5,000) Jesus spiritually recharges through prayer...I'm starting to see a pattern!
9:26 - How do you show shame for Jesus and his message? You refuse to let it make any difference in the life you live. You refuse to talk about it to anybody. You let the things and people and obsessions of this world shape who you are and what you believe instead of the message of Jesus. Lord, I ask that you give me strength to live like I am not ashamed of the gospel...I don't want you to be ashamed of me.
9:41 - Wow...harsh words Jesus! Why so hardcore? Because the reason the disciples couldn't drive out the demon is because they feared the power of Satan and his demonic forces. They doubted the power of God in the face of such evil. Jesus rebukes the generation that believes evil has so much power...and then he shows them what true power looks like by driving out the demon. Do you live like you are on the most powerful, victorious side?
9:54 - The disciples reaction was a typical human reaction - they want to repay the disrespect to Jesus with anger. How many times have we seen Christians in our culture angrily railing against anything they think is wrong and disrespectful. Jesus instead chooses to show grace (Just like he did in verse 5 when he tells his disciples to shake the dust off their sandals). Soon he will be entering Jerusalem and weeping for the lost generation that he sees - he feels empathy for those who are apart from him and offers them a second chance to come to him. There are times that Jesus does react with righteous anger...but that is usually in the face of religious hypocrisy. Maybe we should get a little more fired up about the hypocrisy in our own lives and the lives of our Christian brothers and sisters and show a more gracious, loving face to the utterly lost and confused people of this world? Maybe.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Luke Chapter 8 - August 20, 2008
8:12ff - Destroyers of faith: 1.) Lies straight from the pit of hell - the devil's deception. What are some examples of Satan's lies tat lead us away from God? 2.) Never growing - hearing the word and believing for a while, but never seeking to know God more or grow in maturity. What would be some examples of this? 3.) Getting distracted by worldly junk - allowing the temporary to take precedence over the eternal. Examples?
8:15 - The road to a strong faith an spiritual maturity starts with hearing the word of God and actually letting it shape your life. It goes along with what Jesus said in chapter 7, "How can you say, Lord, Lord, and not do what I say?" How is it possible to have a strong faith when you refuse to live out the word of God?
8:21 - They may have been trying to use their relational position to get better treatment, but Jesus wants it understood that all those who hear God's word and live it out are his family, and the spiritual bond is thicker than the genetic bond.
8:31 - The abyss - total separation from God - is no joke! The abyss is not some crazy fun-filled club where you get to hang out with all the cool bad people from the history of the earth, like something from Guitar Hero or Little Nicky. It is so scary and vile and horrible that demons would rather be sent to live in pigs - then sent back to the abyss. Abyss probably not a place we want to end up!
8:39 - Jesus immediately sends new converts out to speak about how God has moved in their lives. It doesn't require special training...it doesn't require years of intense study...it is simply a matter of sharing the love of God that they have seen at that point in their lives. Maturity and faith grow with time, but it is always time for us to share the story of how God has worked in our lives.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Luke Chapters 6 and 7 - August 19, 2008
Sorry about all the bible blog slacking!
6:7 - There are people that sit in churches looking for reason to complain...looking for flaws instead of worshipping God. They aren't in the best company. Here is a list of the people at our church that fall in that category...j/k...hope you didn't get scared!
6:12 - Jesus prepares for big decisions through intense prayer...why would we do anything different?
6:19 - "And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and he healed them all." I would hope that the people of our community would long to come in touch with Northside because we pour out the healing power of Jesus into our city. That is my prayer for us.
6:22ff - Take a minute...read verses 20-23, and then read verses 24-26. Which one do you more resemble? A scary reminder to seek humility and live with an understanding of your insufficiency's, because in those insufficiency's Jesus is powerful and we are grateful.
6:40 - We have a never-ending quest to train to be more like Jesus ahead of us...sounds like a wild ride!
6:46 - Really good question!
7:9ff - We should sit up and take notice when Jesus marvels at someones' faith. The centurion has an understanding of who Jesus is that surpasses that of the Jews - he is observant and clued in to the Spirit of God that Jesus exudes. He has a respect for the power of Jesus and a faithful expectation that Jesus will move powerfully in his life. We can take some hints from that guy.
7:13 - Jesus compassion for the widow gives us a clue about where our compassion should be directed.
7:44ff - We wary of undeserved "righteous" complacency in your life. This woman lived a sin-filled life and had nothing to offer Jesus but broken-hearted remorse...she gave him everything...laid it at his feet. The "good" man who arrogantly saw himself as "greater than" or "equal to" Jesus offered the son of God nothing. Let's hope we never begin t think that merely letting Jesus "come into our presence" is enough.
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