December 6, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9:9-13 OBSERVATIONS 1. Jesus shows up, says ‘follow me’, and Matthew leaves everything to follow Him. What would it take for this to happen? Either Matthew was compelled by God, or he was already primed for this (tired of persecution as a tax collector? hating his job and his life? shocked…
our greatest need
December 5, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9:1-8 OBSERVATIONS 1. Jesus forgives and heals the paralyzed man because of the faith of his friends. This is encouraging for when we pray for people we love, even if they themselves cannot or do not have confidence in God.
anti-Jesus scare tactics
December 4, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 8:28-34 OBSERVATIONS 1. These guys are scary, what we would call raving lunatics, violent and dangerous. The town lived in fear of these crazy men. Jesus does them a favour by healing them. But then the incident with the pigs messes things up. They saw the two men restored, but they…
experiencing God’s power in the storm
December 2, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 8:23-27 OBSERVATIONS 1. Jesus seems quite harsh on the disciples, you of little faith! He does love them, so He probably said it in a gentle, not judging way. But who can blame them their fear of drowning. On the other hand, the picture of Jesus sleeping in the midst of…
if God seems distant, who moved?
December 1, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 10 OBSERVATIONS 1. Sometimes (often) God seems silent, distant, as if He does not exist or does not care that we are going through crisis. David says here that he feels that God is standing far off, hiding? Does God play ‘hide and seek’? Why does it feel that we are…
worship songs as teenage love songs?
Worship Songs from The Work Of The People on Vimeo.
Exodus 1:1-7:5
November 30-31, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Exodus 1:1-7:5 OBSERVATIONS What do you notice in this passage? APPLICATION What do you sense the Lord saying to you? PRAYER
dead or alive?
December 29, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 8:18-22 OBSERVATIONS 1. Why does Jesus avoid the crowds? Seeing how they often responded – faith, doubt, anger, excitement – and how some wanted to “make Him king by force” (John 6:15), I suspect that Jesus avoided the crowds to keep Himself on task, fulfilling His God assignment. He knew how Satan…
heal my mother-in-law too!
November 28, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 8:14-17 OBSERVATIONS 1. Peter is married. His mother-in-law is sick with the fever, and with a word, Jesus heals her. My mother-in-law is sick with cancer, with a word Jesus could heal her. Why some and not others? If we ask today, will Jesus heal. If He does not heal, is…
glory to God!
I found this version of a traditional dutch christmas carol, Ere Zij God. This song was a big deal for our church community, I still get goosebumps thinking about how people sang it with all their heart! It is based on the angel’s song (Luke 2) at Christ’s birth: Glory to God (ere zij God) In…