Author: Norm

PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 19 What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage? Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.” (Matthew 19:13)Jesus is extremely welcoming, yet even the disciples don’t get it.It is not only…

PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 19 What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage? “Those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:12)The disciples find Jesus’s teaching on faithful love too difficult.They suggest that singleness would be better than getting married.But why does Jesus bring…

PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 19 What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage? “What God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Matthew 19:6)The religious leaders were looking for loopholes for their marriages.Despite their covenant promises, they saw the law as providing a way out.The Moses Law allowed for divorce (Deuteronomy 24:1-4).The religious…

This week (April 21-26, 2025) we are focusing on Matthew 19. Pray for the Spirit of Jesus to speak to your heart. Watch the Bible Project video below (Part 2) to review the big picture. Read this chapter through a few times, with silent reflection. Make note of any words or sentences, thoughts or questions that arise….

PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 18:15-35 What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage? “In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.” (Matthew 18:34) The ending of this story is disturbing… “to be tortured”!?!?”And v.35 makes it sound like God…

PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 18:15-35 What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage? “Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” (Matthew 18:33) Jesus is urging His followers to be merciful, because we all need mercy.This is more challenging for those who have been severely…

PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 18:15-35 What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage? “The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.” (Matthew 18:27) Jesus tells one of His teaching stories (parable) to explain how forgiveness works. A man owes a HUGE debt (equaling 5 lifetimes of…

PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 18:15-35 What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage? “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (22) Peter hears Jesus’s heart for rescuing, restoring and reconciling (Matthew 18:1-20) and is challenged by this idea of reconciling with someone who sins against you (Matthew 18:15-17). He asks the…

PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 18:15-35 What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage? “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20) This verse is a part of the section on dealing with sin in the church. As I suggested yesterday, the church is a…

PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 18:15-35 What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage? “Treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” (Matthew 18:17) Jesus has demonstrated His compassion and passion for rescuing, restoring and reconciling with ‘little ones’, those who are struggling, wandering or looked down on (Matthew 18:1-14). Now…