February 21, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16:13-20 OBSERVATIONS Caesarea Philippi probably means nothing to you, but doing some research you discover it is a well-known sacred worship space. In a large rock wall at the foot of Mount Hermon is a large, deep cave where a strong underground river arises to feed into the Jordan River. There…
Author: Norm
Its not about the bread
February 20, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16:5-12 OBSERVATIONS It’s not about the bread. Jesus uses bread in a figurative way, but the disciples miss the point. This seems to happen a lot with Jesus-followers. Jesus talks about water and cleansing, and we get sidetracked about when and how to baptize; Jesus talks about His body and blood,…
don’t want to believe?
February 19, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16:1-4 OBSERVATIONS The religious leaders do not want to believe Jesus, they are offended by Him (Matthew 15:12) and want to kill Him (Matthew 12:14). Jesus refuses to play their game. He uses a variation of the saying: “Red sky at night, sailors delight; red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.” He…
another reminder of God’s love and power
February 18, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 15:32-39 OBSERVATIONS The only difference between this miracle feeding story and the previous (aside from the numbers) is the audience, here we have non-Jews, people from the regions north of the sea of Galilee. Notice that Jesus spoke of only feeding the ‘children’ (Israelites?) previously with the Canaanite woman, yet here…
the joy of His presence
February 17, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 21 OBSERVATIONS This psalm applies first of all to David, king of Israel, secondly to Jesus, the Son of David (promised Messiah), and third to all of us as God’s children and appointed rulers over creation. The basic point is that when we are centered in God and His will, we…
Numbers 7-12
February 15-16, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Numbers 7-12 OBSERVATIONS What do you notice in this passage? APPLICATION What do you sense the Lord saying to you? PRAYER
written on our hearts
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12) Paul, a Jewish convert to Jesus Christ, notes how even non-Jews (Gentiles) understand the heart of the law because it is written on their hearts. 13 For it is not those…
praising God because of us
February 14, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 15:29-31 OBSERVATIONS It was the needy, the hurting, the desperate that flocked to Jesus. Is that any different today? People who are content, happy, settled, healthy, wealthy, in a good place, etc. may tolerate Jesus, but they don’t want Him to get to close to their own personal lives. He might…
what issue is He dealing with in me?
February 13, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 15:21-28 OBSERVATIONS Jesus leaves the borders of Israel, goes among the Greek/Phoenicians (or Canaanites) near Tyre and Sidon. He is not presently among the ‘lost sheep of Israel’. The disciples do not want to help her, they want to send her away. Even Jesus seems reluctant to help her? Why because…
compassion!!!!!!!!!
One thing for sure, if the heart of Christianity is not compassion, then it does not reflect the heart of God. I believe that compassion (love) is what Jesus is all about, and His life is the perfect demonstration of it. I also believe that deep down inside we sense that love and compassion are…