March 14, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 19:1-9 OBSERVATIONS Why is it that religion always seems to get in the way when God is great things: people are healed, crowds are blessed and the religious people turn it into a debate. This was a test, they wanted to see if Jesus would go against Moses. Jesus quotes God…
Forgive, as I have forgiven?
March 13, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 18:23-35 OBSERVATIONS Jesus is a good story teller. The man owes more money than he could pay back in multiple lifetimes. Yet he pleads for mercy, and he gets it. The master absorbs the debt himself, no one pays it back, the master basically pays for it out of pocket. This…
Love, no keeping track
March 12, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 18:21-22 OBSERVATIONS Imagine someone hurts you, then says sorry, hurts you again and says sorry again, and repeats this cycle seven times. How long before we need to stop forgiving them and tell them to get lost? This is Peter’s question. Actually, seven times is quite generous. Jesus answer is either…
Two or three
dealing with a sinner (like me)
March 11, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 18:15-20 OBSERVATIONS 1. There will always be times in a fellowship that someone’s behaviour is inappropriate, harmful to the community, unloving or immoral. Jesus points out that it is important that we handle it in a loving, honourable way. 2. Keep it secret, don’t gossip or spread the story, deal with…
open wide the gates of my heart!
March 10, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 24 OBSERVATIONS 1. God owns everything, everyone, everywhere, all the time; He made it, and He owns it. 2. For OT Israel, the temple mount represented God’s presence among them. The question can be simplified to: who may stand before God, in His presence? 3. David lists the qualifications: clean hands,…
Numbers 30-36
March 8-9, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Numbers 30-36 OBSERVATIONS What do you notice in this passage? APPLICATION What do you sense the Lord saying to you? PRAYER
How He loves…
March 7, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 18:10-14 OBSERVATIONS 1. Jesus has a special place in His heart for little children. He has assigned an angel to each one, and they report to God (go one on one with Him, face to face) everything that is done against them. Anyone who abuses or neglects in any way (ie…
A world of child-like wonder!
March 6, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 18:1-9 OBSERVATIONS 1. If you want to be great, become small. If you want to be a leader, become a servant. God measures spiritual stature by how love we are willing to go. It’s called descending into greatness or downward mobility. 2. When I grew up, children were meant to be…
Good citizenship Jesus style
March 5, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 17:22-27 OBSERVATIONS As they head towards Jerusalem, Jesus prepares them for what is coming. He warns them of battles to come, but also of His resurrection, but the disciples only seem to hear the bad part, and are filled with grief. The issue with the temple tax shows that Jesus’ was…