December 20, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 10:21-25 OBSERVATIONS I thought sheep among wolves was bad: betrayed by family, put to death by people I love? This may seem strange, but think of what it would be like for a Jew or Muslim to convert to Jesus, and how their family might respond (look up Mosab Hassan Yousef,…
do nothing for two minutes
Can you manage, can you succeed, or will you FAIL. Click on this link and spend two minutes of doing nothing, just sit there. Just relax and listen to the waves. Don’t touch your mouse or keyboard. Its funny – or sad – but I have yet to make it through two minutes. But right…
I’m a missionary too
December 19, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 10:16-20 OBSERVATIONS Apparently those who follow Jesus are not just along for the ride, they are going to be given assignments. To be sent (Latin, ‘missio’; Greek ‘apostolo’): the word ‘apostle’ means ‘missionary’, or ‘sent one’. A tough assignment: like sheep among wolves. In other words, don’t expect an easy time…
dealing with rejection
December 18, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 10:9-15 OBSERVATIONS 1. Disciples are told to travel light, to keep their mission simple. They will get what they need along the way. I do think the more stuff we carry around, the more hindered we are in kingdom work. How much of our time, energy and resources is tied up…
blessed to be a blessing
December 17, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 10:1-8 OBSERVATIONS 1. Why twelve disciples? Is Jesus starting a new ‘Israel’, a new beginning for God’s ‘chosen’ people? Since the disciples were sent first to the “lost sheep of Israel”, this seems like a pointed message. The symbolic picture of the new Jerusalem connects the twelve tribes with the twelve…
he came!
one baby’s impact on the world
Psalm 12
December 16, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 12 OBSERVATIONS What do you notice in this passage? APPLICATION What do you sense the Lord saying to you? PRAYER
the irony of what we’ve made of Christmas
“Christ came to bring peace and we celebrate his coming by making peace impossible for six weeks of each year …. He came to help the poor and we heap gifts upon those who do not need them.” A.W. Tozer, The Warfare of the Spirit (Wingspread Publishers, 1993)