SCRIPTURE: Genesis 3 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: This passage shows how everything falls apart, when people listen to the voice of lies, rather than the voice of God. How many lies have we listened to, given in to, and been defeated by? The promise of pleasure, success, happiness, prosperity, wisdom, etc. but with a huge cost. The enemy doesn’t…
Author: Norm
preaching oops
OK, this is funny… This passionate young preacher is talking to a youth group and has a really comical slip of the tongue. Though I’ve never slipped up like this, I have spit out things that really sounded stupid, and its hard to keep going after that. Keep reading, I found another oops…
something, Someone incredible!
“Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people.” (Carl Sagan) I stumbled upon two quotes by astronomer Carl Sagan. This first one sure makes a…
miracle of life
As we reflect on the creation of humanity (reading Genesis 2), we are also reminded of the miracle of life. Watch this video with wonder, joy… and sadness, that people could actually deny the precious life of these unborn children. May God have mercy! Its worth reading the words of Psalm 139 again, For you created my…
what could have been
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 2 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: This passage introduces a number of important ideas, including Sabbath rest, the tree of life, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the role of mankind in creation, the gift of a matching partner (marriage), and the beauty of their relationship (no shame). Not only do these ideas remind us…
count me in
Leaders, don’t ever apologize for the strength of feeling you have for the vision that God has put into your life. Don’t hide your feelings about it. God meant for you to feel as deeply about His vision for you as you do about anything. I mean that! Anything. Paint your God-given vision for family,…
a call to worship
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 1 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Imagine being a witness to the creation. The YouTube video below gives you a limited sense of what Genesis 1 describes. We need to remember that there is no way our puny minds could grasp HOW God created the world. Moses may have received this as a vision or a dream, and I…
reading Genesis
For those participating in the SOAP Bible Reading schedule, here is an introduction to the readings from Genesis that begin today (Taken from GotQuestions.org). Author: The Book of Genesis does not specifically name its author. Traditionally, the author has always assumed to have been Moses. There is no conclusive reason to deny the Mosaic authorship…
still coming soon!
SCRIPTURE: Revelation 22 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The vision of the new Jerusalem continues from the previous chapter. Then John hears the reason for the vision: to bless and encourage those who are living in this time of persecution, to those who believe and obey its message. Interestingly, Jesus says that the time is coming soon, though from our…
living the kingdom vision now
SCRIPTURE: Revelation 21 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The city here symbolizes the fullness of old covenant believers (12 gates of the twelve tribes, all who entered by faith) and the fullness of new covenant believers (12 foundations stones of the apostles). The perfect dimensions of the city represent the perfection of God’s people (adorned like a bride, the wife…