October 22, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:1-12 OBSERVATIONS 1. Though the crowds are present and listening (Matthew 7:28-29), Jesus is teaching His disciples, those who have decided to follow Him. Why does He focus on His disciples, is it because of the radical nature of His teaching? Should we do the same thing when we gather, sensitive to…
wrestle, resist, rest!
October 21, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 4 OBSERVATIONS 1. In verses 1,6,7, David is speaking to God, in verses 2-5 he is challenging and warning his tormenters. Privately he is struggling with God, but publicly he is still standing firm, still declaring his confidence in God. I can relate to this. Is this healthy, is it hypocritical? It certainly…
passing the temptation test
So here are some kids who are being tempted. Notice how they try to resist, then bit by bit give in to temptation. Or how they try to sneak ‘just a nibble’, hoping to get away with it. Then there is the one who does not even bother to wait – better one now than…
Genesis 11:27-17:27
October 19-20, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Genesis 11:27-17:27 OBSERVATIONS What do you notice in this passage? APPLICATION What do you sense the Lord saying to you? PRAYER
the Muslim Jesus
We are learning about what our Muslim neighbours believe, and it is very interesting. One of the startling discoveries is how prominent Jesus is in Islam, and in the Koran (over 150 references, including the virgin birth and the miracles… more mention than Mohammed). At our last session we watched this video clip (Part 1), very…
believe it or not?
October 18, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4:23-25 OBSERVATIONS 1. This must have been a very draining schedule for Jesus, I know how tired I am after one sermon, or when I am working even with just a few people. If Jesus felt the power go out of Him when the woman with the bleeding touched Him, what…
radical, extreme… who me?
October 17, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4:18-22 OBSERVATIONS 1. Follow me. Notice He does not say ‘believe in Me’, though faith in Him would be assumed in a decision to follow. Too often we focus on believing, rather than following (hence my blog title, an attempt to change this). To believe should involve following, but often it…
seeing the light (again)
October 16, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4:12-17 OBSERVATIONS 1. No explanation is given why Jesus left for Galilee after His cousin John was arrested. Was He fleeing, hiding from the authorities? Was He beginning His mission from the north and working His way down? v.17 suggests that He is beginning His mission. And the quote from Isaiah 9:1-2…
tempting
October 22, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4:1-11 OBSERVATIONS 1. Matthew has been presenting Jesus as following the pattern of Israel (going to Egypt). Here again Jesus follows Israel, led into the wilderness, tested in the wilderness, but unlike Israel, refusing to give in to Satan’s schemes. Notice that each quote by Jesus is from Deuteronomy, Moses account…
bigger than the bogey man
October 14, 2012 SCRIPTURE: Psalm 3 OBSERVATIONS 1. I do not have any foes. I cannot imagine what it would be like to be under attack like this. But I do know people who could relate, who feel threatened and assaulted like this. For me my enemies are spiritual, I am constantly under spiritual attack, and…