Obeying God’s Messengers (Authority) December 14, 2014 Year B For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him. (Matthew 21:32, HCSB) Observation: This parable contrasts the kinds of people who do God’s will. The first son said NO to God’s will and then changed it to YES. The second son said YES to God’s... Read more
Preparing the Way for Christmas December 14, 2014 Mark 1:1-8 Mark’s Gospel is the only Gospel without a description of the traditional Christmas story. However, Mark’s Gospel still shares a story about the birth of Jesus Christ. The point of view is from the messenger who tells people that someone special is coming to town. The opening starts with a prophecy from Malachi and Isaiah about the role of John the Baptist. The Old Testament predicted that a messenger would... Read more
Ego Versus Faith December 12, 2014 Year B Look, his ego is inflated; he is without integrity. But the righteous one will live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:4, HCSB) Ego versus faith – this is the struggle in following Christ. Will I listen to myself or will I live by faith and listen to Christ? The world says that you are God. Thinking about yourself is the best for you. Look out for number one. God says here that people... Read more
Emotions of the Harvest December 11, 2014 Year B Psalm 126:5-6 Sowing and reaping. The process is a picture of the faithfulness of God. We have our work and God does His work. We sow and God reaps. Sometimes the sowing is a difficult work. We cry as we work the field of God. People don’t want to let the Seed enter their hearts. People don’t want the fruitfulness of God in their lives. We see people. We talk to them,... Read more
Act and Being by Dietrich Bonhoeffer Act and Being by Dietrich Bonhoeffer defines its purpose with the subtitle: Transcendental Philosophy and Ontology in Systematic Theology. The purpose may be very complicated. However, Bonhoeffer shows us the purpose of the book with a summary outline of the book (31). Bonhoeffer addresses the interpretation of revelation in Scripture: “(1) in terms of act, (2) in terms of being, (3) interpretation of act and of being meet and are drawn together, is... Read more
Keep Me Dependent On You December 10, 2014 Year B You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You. Isaiah 26:3 (HCSB) Observation: God is in the business of keeping things. He keeps my salvation secure. He keeps the world spinning. He keeps gravity working. He keeps time rolling. He also keeps my mind in perfect peace. Perfect peace means without stress. He keeps my mind focused on what He... Read more
His Gifts Come With Him December 9, 2014 Year B See, the Lord God comes with strength, and His power establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His gifts accompany Him. (Isaiah 40:10, HCSB) When a person comes with gifts, you know something good is going to happen. Santa comes with gifts and we are happy. He leaves gifts behind and we are glad that he brought them to us. Someone buys you a gift and you are... Read more
Everlasting Love December 8, 2014 the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued to extend faithful love to you. Jeremiah 31:3 God tells His people from far away that He has loved them with an “everlasting love.” He also explains that He continues to extend faithful love. We learn two principles about God’s love and how God operates in His love. First, God’s love is everlasting. God’s love... Read more
No Fear No Fear “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom should I be afraid? When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell. Though an army deploys against me, my heart is not afraid; though a war breaks out against me, still I am confident. I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is... Read more
Baptism of Repentance December 7, 2014 Year B Mark 1:4-8 Like many prophets before him, John used a visual illustration (an object) to show a Biblical truth. John preached a message of repentance. He shared the good news that said this: God forgives you and you can show that by changing your life. You can show that you have changed your life by being baptized. So from the beginning of John’s ministry, baptism was always a symbol. Baptism showed that... Read more
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