Author: Norm

SCRIPTURE: Romans 12 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “Jesus asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’” [John 8:11]  Notice that Jesus does not tell her first to stop sinning, then He will not condemn her; rather, He…

SCRIPTURE: Romans 11 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.’” [Matthew 11:25] Apparently God chooses to bypass the proud and work with the humble and lowly. At one time, this is what…

SCRIPTURE: Romans 10 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” [Matthew 23:37] Can you sense the pain and sorrow in Jesus’ heart? Paul shares this…

SCRIPTURE: Romans 9 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last.” [John 15:16] God does what He does for a purpose. Why does God seem to choose the least likely, and overlook the ones who expect to be favoured? Why did Jesus bypass the…

SCRIPTURE: Romans 8 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” [John 10:28-29] According to Jesus, we are totally secure. No matter what….

SCRIPTURE: Romans 7 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.” [Matthew 12:33]. Jesus pointed out that in order to change the fruit of a tree, you have to change the tree. As long a…

SCRIPTURE: Romans 6 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” [John 8:34-36] Am I a slave to sin, or…

SCRIPTURE: Romans 5 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “’Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’” [John 8:10-11] Jesus removes the barriers between God and us, and removes the label “condemned” from over us. No condemnation, as far as…

SCRIPTURE: Romans 4 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” [Luke 7:50] This is what Jesus says to a sinful woman who came to Jesus with deep sorrow, and anointed His feet with her tears and perfume, wiping them with her hair. Jesus saw into her heart, and there He saw humility, honesty, sincerity… love….

SCRIPTURE: Romans 3 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 5:20]. How do we do better than the Pharisees? The answer – we don’t, we can’t. The answer, Jesus helps us. Paul is making…