what does this story mean?
January 21, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 13:1-9 OBSERVATIONS I am trying to get into the story, to hear this message as if for the first time. This is hard because I have heard and interpreted this parable many times. But imagine I was a part of the crowd, I’ve come to hear this miracle worker speak. He…
God, I leave this to You!
January 20, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 17 OBSERVATIONS David is not suggesting that he is sinless, but in the situation he is facing – being falsely accused and cruelly abused – he is claiming innocence. He does not deserve this treatment, he has always tried to be an honest, fair and kind person (hmm, he must have…
Leviticus 8-15
January 18-19, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 8-15 OBSERVATIONS What do you notice in this passage? APPLICATION What do you sense the Lord saying to you? PRAYER
a close, personal relationship
January 17, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 12:46-50 OBSERVATIONS I have a lot of people in my life that I would consider ‘friends’. But of all these ‘friends’, the ones that I feel the closest too are those that share my heart and hope and faith and vision. This is what Jesus is saying here; He is not…
occupy my heart!
January 16, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 12:43-45 OBSERVATIONS Jesus is not giving a scientific explanation of how spirits operate, but using figurative language to make a point – that the spirit of evil (both as a principle and as actual spirit beings) do not simply go away when we tell them too, they come back with a…
am I open to seeing the evidence?
January 15, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 12:38-42 OBSERVATIONS People want proof before they believe something, yet often even proof will not convince them. In order to accept something as proof, there needs to be an openness to the evidence. Jesus had performed countless miracles, yet here the religious leaders demand proof. Jesus is not reluctant to give…
no excuses
January 14, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 12:33-37 OBSERVATIONS We saw from Leviticus 1-7 that God takes sin seriously, and here jesus proves it again. “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.” Yikes, every empty (careless) word? Jesus point here is that our…
resurrection attitude!
January 13 2013 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 16 OBSERVATIONS David is not sinless, but he is sincere. He genuinely strives to honour and obey God, and He is genuinely thankful to God for guiding and supporting him through his life. God has been good to him, and he is thankful. Now he is going through a crisis, he…
taking sin seriously
January 11-12, 2013 SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 1-7 OBSERVATIONS What a lot of blood and guts. What do we do with all these sacrifices? First of all, I am ready to admit that I find all of this disturbing. I could not be a priest, I would not be able to kill all those animals. At the same…