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…
Because I have so little faith?
March 4, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 17:14-21 OBSERVATIONS Was this a medical condition (epilepsy?) or an evil spirit, or a combination of both? Unbelieving and perverse? Jesus speaks harshly to… the disciples? the crowd? the father? that generation in general? The disciples faith was too small, they doubted themselves, or God’s power in themselves. Yet even tiny…
Psalm 23
March 3, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 23 OBSERVATIONS What do you notice in this passage? APPLICATION What do you sense the Lord saying to you?