May 23, 2014 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 26:17-30 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION The point of this passage seems to be Jesus’ amazing kindness despite betrayal and rejection… Jesus still wants to be in covenant with them. Judas is not kicked out or refused, He is welcomed, loved, served, Jesus even washes his feet to show them how much He lives them…
Author: Norm
Selling my soul for pocket change?
May 22, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 26:14-16 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION Judas has a money issue: as treasurer (John 12:6, who would dip into the funds for himself), this waste of costly perfume is the last straw. Thirty silver coins, think of how happy he would be: buy a field, grow crops, be rich and successful and content for the rest…
Jesus AND the poor!
May 21, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 26:6-13 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION No good deed goes unpunished. As sure as taxes and death, criticism will follow our good deeds. Coulda, shoulda, woulda… but at least she did something. This woman has had her life dramatically changed, someone loved her as a person and not just as an object of desire. Whether…
Whose agenda am I seeking?
May 20, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 26:1-5 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION Here we have an anticipation of what is to come, from two different perspectives. Jesus has a sense of destiny, what He must do to maximize God’s purpose; the religious leaders have a sense of selfishness, what they must do to minimize trouble. Jesus is thinking about God’s agenda,…
The good life
May 19, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 34 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION God takes care of those who live humble, moral, loving lives… not perfectly but sincerely. The key to happiness, success, fulfillment, vindication, protection, etc. is living a God-pleasing, God-kind of life. Try it, taste it, and you will see that it is good. David has learned by experience that…
Judges 1-5
May 17-18, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Judges 1-5 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION What do you sense the Lord saying to you? PRAYER
God is looking for loving hearts
May 16, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:31-46 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION This must be one of Jesus’ most well known stories (along with the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son) Question, will we be saved or condemned by what we do (or don’t do)? Jesus is not saying that good deeds will save us, or bad deeds condemn us. But…
Sound investment advice!
May 15, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:14-30 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION I have always known this as the parable of the talents. I like how the NIRV refers to monetary amounts, $10000, $4000, $2000. What would I do with $2000 (or in today’s terms, more like $2,000,000)? Would I grumble because I didn’t receive more? Would I do nothing, for…
Shining brighter for Him!
May 14, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:1-13 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION Jesus takes an example from His everyday life, to illustrate how people need to be wise and be prepared. This is a cultural illustration, it does not match our wedding customs and practices, but the point is still clear. The bible often describes the relationship between God and His…
Think about it this way
May 13, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 24:45-51 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION Imagine this scenario: you leave your young children in the care of a trusted babysitter, expecting them to care for your precious children until your return. You come back earlier than planned, only to discover that they locked the children in their bedroom, ate all the food, beat the…