July 2, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:11-15 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION The religious leaders do NOT want to believe that Jesus is alive. They are as devoted to their faith that Jesus is not the Messiah, as His disciples were devoted to their confidence that He is! Some people accuse Christians of blindly following faith, not reason. But faith lies…
Not dead!
July 1, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:5-10 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION Yesterday I was with someone who was dying, and last night they died. I can imagine the grief these women felt, but I can barely imagine what it must have felt like to hear an angel day, ‘He is risen’. I am going back to the house today, but…
Resurrection hope!
June 30, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 30 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION I was sliding down into the pit of death, and he pulled me out. The psalmist has experienced God’s resurrection power before, now he is trusting in Good to do it again: Lord, please save me. Lord, come quickly to help me. Our confidence in God is not just when things…
1 Samuel 16-23
June 28-29, 2013 SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 16-23 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION What do you sense the Lord saying to you? PRAYER
Epochal!
June 27, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:1-4 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION How would Hollywood portray this scene? Most depictions of angels do not seem frightening, not likely to scare Roman soldiers like this. Not just like a human form, more like a flashing, pulsating, blinding light with subtle human yet non-human qualities… something to scare them to death. Why is there an…
You ask me how I know He lives?
June 26, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 27: 62-66 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION These religious leaders had experience with scheming and conniving, so they could anticipate how others might do it. Sad isn’t it, that religious leaders are so good at playing the game, working the system, manoeuvering for personal advantage. Is this any different today? Resurrection from death was/is so extreme that it…
It’s always personal!
June 25, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 27:57-61 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION I have been with a body after the person stopped breathing. Although it is natural in one sense (it happens to us all), it feels wrong, it is not how the body should be… something essential is missing. Not only is the natural process of breathing stopped, but the person is…
Kneeling now… Or later!
June 24, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 27:54-56 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION There is something remarkable about Jesus, in life and in death. Why were so many people impacted by this nobody from Nazareth? Why did He agitate those in power, and inspire those in poverty? How did He generate a world-changing movement, considering He died such an ignoble death? Even the Roman…
Honest with God
June 23, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 39 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION The psalmist is getting old, and is overwhelmed by the prospect of death. He is afraid to die, in part because he is filled with honest shame and regret. Is God punishing him, is his suffering the wages for his sin? Life is short; it doesn’t seem that way when we’re…
1 Samuel 8-15
June 21-22, 2013 SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 8-15 OBSERVATIONS/APPLICATION What do you sense the Lord saying to you? PRAYER