Author: Norm

SCRIPTURE: Mark 4 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables” [Mark 4:11]. When Jesus spoke in public, He kept His message simple, in stories that made people think. He did not explain His stories, He was intentionally…

SCRIPTURE: Mark 3 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. [Mark 3:5] Jesus must have often felt anger and deep distress about the stubborn hearts of the people He came to…

SCRIPTURE: Mark 2 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins.” [Matthew 2:22] Jesus did not come to start a new religion; Jesus came to replace religion (what…

SCRIPTURE: Mark 1 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” [Mark 1:8] First of all, I need to say that there were a number of verses I could have picked to focus on, there is so much I this chapter. I picked this verse because it describes the key…

SCRIPTURE: Judges 21 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: WARNING – DISTURBING CONTENT!!! In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. [Judges 21:25] This is in a nutshell what is wrong with our world. We’ve rejected God as King of this world, and we now do as we see fit. And the world as we see it…

SCRIPTURE: Judges 20 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: WARNING – DISTURBING CONTENT!!! Then the Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the LORD. They fasted that day until evening and presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the LORD. [Judges 20:26] How bad things were in Israel those days. It seems like we have…

SCRIPTURE: Judges 19 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: WARNING – DISTURBING CONTENT!!! Look, here is my virgin daughter, and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But to this man, don’t do such a disgraceful thing. [Judges 19:24] The last three chapters of Judges are extremely…

SCRIPTURE: Judges 18 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: They continued to use the idols Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh. [Judges 18:31] This last verse summarizes the problem in Israel: the people ignored the presence of God among them (the tabernacle) and dishonoured God by worshipping idols. The first commandment, You shall have no…

SCRIPTURE: Judges 17 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some idols and installed one of his sons as his priest. In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. A young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, who had been living within the clan of…

SCRIPTURE: Judges 16 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Then she called, ‘Samson, the Philistines are upon you!’ He awoke from his sleep and thought, ‘I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the LORD had left him. [Judges 16:20] As I read this chapter, I sense in example of how not to follow the…