THE STORY OF JESUS: Proverbs 30-31 “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.” (Proverbs 30:8) Our world seems to be divided between those with plenty, and those with nothing. As a result, some people disown God while others dishonour God (v.9). Our world is caught in the grip of poverty and…
Author: Norm
Who is sharpening you?
THE STORY OF JESUS: Proverbs 27-29 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) Who in your life sharpens you as a person? Is there anyone you spend time with that improves your character? In creation, God saw it was not good for people to be alone (Genesis 2:18). Yet too many of us live…
Bill Hybels on the Gift of Leadership
“I believe that the great tragedy of the church in our time has been its failure to recognize the importance of the spiritual gift of leadership. It appears to me that only a fraction of pastors worldwide are exercising the spiritual gift of leadership, organizing the church around it, and deploying church members through it….
Living for Jesus, even if it costs us!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 9:21-27 “Whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:24) Jesus is not asking us to choose death, but to choose Him! To choose Jesus is to choose everything He stands for. Life, goodness, justice, mercy, love, joy, peace, etc. Not just for ourselves, but for everyone! Following Jesus is…
The promised one!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 9:18-20 “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, ‘God’s Messiah.’” (Luke 9:20) The Jews were eagerly anticipating the coming of God’s promised messiah. The One that would rescue them from bondage and restore their fortunes. God’s anointed one (‘messiah’ in Hebrew, ‘christ’ in Greek). Anointed with power, appointed to set things…
You give them something!!!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 9:10-17 “Jesus replied, ‘You give them something to eat.’” (Luke 9:13) There is still hunger and poverty in the world. We want Jesus to get rid of hunger and poverty, but He wants us to. We want Him to send the poor away, but He sends us to the poor. But how…
Turning from, turning to!
“In the larger rhythm of turning from and turning to, repentance is the turning away from. Repentance turns us from sin, selfishness, darkness, idols, habits, bondages, and demons, both private and public. We turn from all that binds and oppresses us and others, from all the violence and evil in which we are so complicit,…
Equipping leadership
THE STORY OF JESUS: Luke 9:1-9 “He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:2) How could Jesus send out the disciples so soon, they were not ready! The disciples would have failed a test on the kingdom of God (Acts 1:6). They did not understand Jesus’ death, or know…
Feeling God’s smile!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 80 “Make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” (Psalm 80:19) This verse is a quote from the priestly blessing in Numbers 6:25-26. “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you…
Pray before you speak!
THE STORY OF JESUS: Proverbs 25-26 “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.” (Proverbs 26:4-5) So what is the right answer, should we answer a fool according to their folly? These…