February 10, 2016 (Ash Wednesday) Luke 23:26-31 If you think things are bad now and you are crying out for help, what will you do when I return? This is the meaning of the short proverb and parable that Jesus gives to other women who are crying about the state that Jesus is in. Jesus is carrying His cross to be used for His own death. He has been flogged and beaten. He will soon be crucified and by the... Read more
February 9, 2016 Year C (Shrove Tuesday) Psalm 35:11-28 In many comic book stories, a good person is paid evil by an an enemy (Psalm 35:12). The superhero is called upon to vindicate that good person who has been hurt. The victim can’t call out to law enforcement because the law punishes people for a crime, and there are limits to their abilities. Law enforcement exacts punishment or judgment, but not vindication. For vindication, a victim needs a superhero –... Read more
February 8, 2016 Year C The purpose of the Sabbath was for us to give our rest to the Lord. It is not designed as a rest day from just our work. It is also designed so that I could give a complete rest to the Lord (Exodus 35:2). What does that mean? It means that I don’t just take a rest for myself. I can also give a rest to the Lord. I can give a rest to God... Read more
Revelation 2:1-7 Keeping Christ As My First Love Neville Morrison discovered his house was on fire. Fortunately he lived only four houses from the fire station. He sprinted to get help. The firefighter that met him at the door told him to call 911. “I have no phone,” he said. “You can see the blaze coming out of the roof of my house!” The firefighter shut the door in his face. By the time firefighters did respond, the home was... Read more
February 5, 2016 Deuteronomy 14:1-2 There are people today who feel the need to cut themselves. Some teenage girls feel so insecure that they feel the need to cut themselves. They cut their arms to get attention from people whom they love. They express themselves in this way because it’s a call for help. In the Old Testament, people who cut themselves and put dots on their foreheads did it to mourn the dead. It was an unnatural practice and... Read more
February 4, 2016 Deuteronomy 8:1-20 It’s easier to forget than it is to remember. That’s the lesson that Moses is teaching the people of Israel in his final address as their leader. Moses is getting ready to leave his people and he wants them to remember one thing. What does he tell them? Remember the Lord These were the people whom God delivered out of Egypt. These were the people whom God fed and clothed in the desert. These were... Read more
February 3, 2016 Year C Psalm 56:1-13 People may be against me, just as some people were during David’s reign. They may be arrogant and fight against my efforts (Psalm 56:1-2). During this times, I may feel fear (Psalm 56:3). They may twist my words (Psalm 56:5), stir up strife (Psalm 56:6), and make me feel like they will evade punishment for their sin (Psalm 56:7). Part of me will want vindication. God knows me. He has recorded my steps... Read more
February 2, 2016 Numbers 25:1-18 Have you had anyone betray you? If you do, then you know how it feels upsetting to place your trust in someone, to invest time, energy and resources into someone’s life, only to see the person turn against you and your values. This is the feeling behind the passage. It is easy to look at Phinehas and see his bravery. But more important than his bravery was his loyalty (Numbers 25:6-13). At first glance, it... Read more
February 1, 2016 Luke 5:29-32 Jesus tells a tax collector (Levi) to follow Him. The first act of the tax collector is to invite people to a dinner with him to invite them to Jesus. He arranged a great banquet in his home (Luke 5:29). A large group of other tax collectors – Levi’s buddies – came and invited others as their guests (Luke 5:29). This was a big event. As usual, somebody complains about it. The legalisms come and... Read more
Revelation 2:1-3:22 Seven Tests of a Healthy Church These words in Revelation 2-3 are the last words Jesus speaks to the church. He spoke about the purpose of the mission in Matthew 28:19-20. He spoke about the direction of the mission in Acts 1:8. Here, Jesus evaluates the church. He tells them what they did wrong and what they did right. He points them in a direction to keep them on track, to keep them going. In these special messages... Read more
Select your answer to see how you score.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In