I am working through the book of Acts (the 44th book in the Bible) for a seminar I am leading with Leadership Development Network. Its fascinating to approach the book as a whole, as opposed to looking at a small section of it for a sermon, to see the forest as well as the trees.
Apr 28 — Nahum 1:1-15
SCRIPTURE: Nahum 1:1-15 OBSERVATION: 1. “The LORD is a jealous and avenging God… the LORD is slow to anger and great in power” – Two different pictures of God? Jealous and avenging, yet slow to anger? We need to avoid comparing God’s anger to ours. His anger is always right, just and necessary, and if we…
Apr 27 — Luke 6:46-49
SCRIPTURE: Luke 6:46-49 OBSERVATION: 1. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” – Seems to be a lot of people still like this today. I am probably one of them. I was raised as a ‘christian’, but only lately have been sensing the need to be a Jesus follower…
who is my neighbour???
I just found an article by Andrew Hamilton, a soon-to-be church planter in Australia, who is reflecting on how little he knew his neighbours while serving his present church for 7 years. He concludes: “Many of us have been good at running churches or organizing ministries but not so good at loving our neighbours. Yet…
Apr 26 — Luke 6:43-45
SCRIPTURE: Luke 6:43-45 OBSERVATION: 1. “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit” – Jesus is very black and white here, we prefer to see more grey area. The analogy does not suggest that there is NO bad fruit, just that the majority of the fruit is good. One bad…
reading the Bible with SOAP!
The Bible is the most important means by which the Lord speaks to us. If we simply read it as a book, we may miss His voice. But if we read it with our heart, paying attention to the deep impressions within, we can sense His gentle, convicting and equipping voice, showing us the way,…
Apr 25 — Luke 6:37-42
SCRIPTURE: Luke 6:37-42 OBSERVATION: 1. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged… Forgive, and you will be forgiven” – This does not mean we should not discern right from wrong, but Jesus does warn us about condemning the sinner. It is up to God to make the final decision, and while there is time,…
Apr 24 — Luke 6:27-36
SCRIPTURE: Luke 6:27-36 OBSERVATION: Jesus introduces this with the phrase, “if you are willing to listen” (NLT), and that is very appropriate given how unacceptable what He says is. Here we see the radical way of the world according to God, the kingdom of God, the way the world ought to be. Love, compassion, mercy, generosity,…
Apr 23 — Luke 6:12-26
SCRIPTURE: Luke 6:12-26 OBSERVATION: 1. “Spent the night praying to God” – Can I imagine spending a WHOLE night praying to God? Though this kind of prayer may not be a command for us to follow, the example of dependence and priority on prayer certainly is stressed. 2. “Chose twelve of them, whom he also designated…
Apr 22 — Luke 6:1-11
SCRIPTURE: Luke 6:1-11 OBSERVATION: 1. “Disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels” – This action was understood as a form of ‘threshing’ of the crops. 2. “Unlawful on the Sabbath” – The Sabbath was a day of rest commanded by God for Israel in the Law…