SCRIPTURE: Genesis 9:1-17 OBSERVATION: God again renews the creation mandate (first given to Adam and Eve, Genesis 1:28). This time God offers the animals for food, whereas in the beginning it was just the plants (Genesis 1:28-30). We were created to be vegetarians? This is where Jehovah’s Witnesses develop their opposition to blood transfusions, since it is like…
Mar 2 — Genesis 8:1-22
SCRIPTURE: Genesis 8:1-22 OBSERVATION: This is the end of the story of Noah and the flood, and how God decides not to “clean” the earth of evil in this way again. It was because every inclination of the human heart was evil from childhood (v.21) that God sent the flood in the first place (Genesis 5:5-8). The…
Mar 1 — Psalm 51:1-20
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 51:1-20 OBSERVATION: Written by David after he was confronted (2 Samuel 12:1-14) for committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering Uriah (2 Samuel 11:1-27). David is genuine sorrowful, recognizing how evil his sin was. He affirms that he was born a sinner, that sin poisons his whole nature. He tried to hide his sin but the Lord, who desires…
Feb 28 — Psalm 50:1-23
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 50:1-23 OBSERVATION: Asaph describes judgment day to challenge people to think through their relationship to God. God is the only Judge, everything in all creation will stand (or fall) before Him. Judgment day will come for God’s people (OT Israel, the NT Church, “my consecrated ones”, v.5) and He will open their hearts. God’s…
Sermon on Mark 9:1-10
I’m preaching on Mark 9:1-10 this coming Sunday (March 4, 2007). Its the daily Bible Reading scheduled for February 26. I really do want to hear from you! Even just one thought, one comment, one question. It does help me organize my thoughts for the sermon. Click on Comments to leave your thoughts. Pastor Norm
Feb 27 — Mark 9:14-32
SCRIPTURE: Mark 9:14-32 OBSERVATION: A crowd was watching an argument between the disciples and the teachers of the law. Jesus response (vv.19) indicates that they were denouncing Jesus and His disciples as fakes. Jesus responds harshly (see Luke 9:37-45, “unbelieving and perverse generation”), but it is not the disciples He is angry with. What might the symptoms…
Feb 26 — Mark 9:1-13
SCRIPTURE: Mark 9:1-13 OBSERVATION: Peter, James and John see the “kingdom of God come with power” (v.1), the brief unveiling of God’s appointed King. Peter describes this (2 Peter 1:16-18) as “majestic glory”. God doesn’t give Jesus glory at this moment, God pulls back the “cover” to show the actual glory that Jesus has. Though veiled from human…
Feb 25 — 2 Kings 2:1-18
SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 2:1-18 OBSERVATION: What an interesting and amazing passage, the parting of the river twice and the chariots of fire! This is a passing of the “torch” from one leader to the next, though we strongly sense Elisha’s hesitation to be separated from Elijah, not wanting to talk about Elijah’s leaving and not wanting to…
Feb 24 — 2 Corinthians 4:1-18
SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 OBSERVATION: No matter what he endures, no matter how hard his life is, Paul is confident in the Lord and in what the Lord is doing. Paul says that the real miracle is what is happening inside of us, when the Lord turns on the “lights” in our heart, enabling us to see…
Feb 23 — 2 Corinthians 2:12-3:18
SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 2:12-3:18 OBSERVATION: Paul is still defending his work to the Corinthians, but showing that the real power and glory is in the message, not in the messenger (himself). Paul admits that he is nothing (3:5), that the proof is in the life-change that comes as a result of the Holy Spirit at work within…