ALL – Psalm 95:1-96:13
ALL – Proverbs 14:5-6
OT – Judges 6:1-40
NT – Luke 22:54-23:12
Interesting passage for the day: Now the guards in charge of Jesus began mocking him. They blindfolded him and hit him with their fists and asked, “Who hit you that time, prophet?” And they threw all sorts of other insults at him. – Luke 22:63-64, The Living Bible
Thought: When people don’t want to believe the truth, they find foolish and harmful ways of proving to themselves that Jesus isn’t the all-wise, all-powerful, all-knowing, eternal Son of God He claims to be.
Question: What are some of the most frustrating and pointless ways that people have responded to you when you’ve tried to share with them that Jesus is the Lord?
Or…
If you do not believe in Jesus, why not?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Got Your Weapon?
ALL – Psalm 94:1-23
ALL – Proverbs 14:3-4
OT – Judges 4:1-5:31
NT – Luke 22:35-53
Interesting passage for the day: “But now,” he said, “take a duffle bag if you have one, and your money. And if you don’t have a sword, better sell your clothes and buy one! For the time has come for this prophecy about me to come true: ‘He will be condemned as a criminal!’ Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.” – Luke 22:36-37, The Living Bible
Thought: Apparently the world’s hatred toward Jesus’ followers means that they need to prepare for ministry and provisions without expecting any kindness from the people they encounter. But the sword…It sounds almost like Jesus wants His followers to be prepared to defend themselves, which seems out of character.
Question: How do you reconcile Jesus’ encouragement to His followers to pack swords with the walk Jesus was about to take to the cross?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 14:3-4
OT – Judges 4:1-5:31
NT – Luke 22:35-53
Interesting passage for the day: “But now,” he said, “take a duffle bag if you have one, and your money. And if you don’t have a sword, better sell your clothes and buy one! For the time has come for this prophecy about me to come true: ‘He will be condemned as a criminal!’ Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.” – Luke 22:36-37, The Living Bible
Thought: Apparently the world’s hatred toward Jesus’ followers means that they need to prepare for ministry and provisions without expecting any kindness from the people they encounter. But the sword…It sounds almost like Jesus wants His followers to be prepared to defend themselves, which seems out of character.
Question: How do you reconcile Jesus’ encouragement to His followers to pack swords with the walk Jesus was about to take to the cross?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Blog Changes
This is especially for those few who read this blog regularly: Changes are coming.
First, let me explain what's going on. This blog began as a journal. I would jot some thoughts down while I read the Scriptures. As I became aware of some spiritual siblings who needed encouragement in their walks with Christ, I began to email my journal thoughts to them--one, then a couple more, then a few more... Soon I got the idea to post my journal thoughts on a blog as an encouragement to anyone who could use it.
Something else began to happen, too. I began to feel responsible to write more. More frequently. More thoroughly. More interestingly. To make a long story short, writing this blog now takes a lot of time.
I love writing (as you can probably tell every time I wax eloquent, whether you think I'm all that good a writer or not). And my deep desire is that everyone would be encouraged to walk more closely with Jesus through what I write.
At the same time, I'm investing too much time into this blog. I'm neglecting other things...including my health, at times. And my kids. Whatever time I invest in this blog is time I can't invest in other aspects of life.
So, am I quitting?
No.
But the blog is changing. At least, I hope I can be disciplined to change the way I blog. I also hope that it becomes more of a discussion blog. My goal is still to encourage people to keep up with daily Scripture readings. But rather than explaining the Scriptures the way I have been, I'm going to try to post a verse or passage, a concise thought about that passage, and a question inviting your thoughts.
We'll see how it goes. Please pray for me, that I invest my time wisely. And pray for one another, that each of us deeply, passionately pursues our relationship with Jesus Christ through His Word, prayer, obedience, etc.
Grace and peace -
Matt
First, let me explain what's going on. This blog began as a journal. I would jot some thoughts down while I read the Scriptures. As I became aware of some spiritual siblings who needed encouragement in their walks with Christ, I began to email my journal thoughts to them--one, then a couple more, then a few more... Soon I got the idea to post my journal thoughts on a blog as an encouragement to anyone who could use it.
Something else began to happen, too. I began to feel responsible to write more. More frequently. More thoroughly. More interestingly. To make a long story short, writing this blog now takes a lot of time.
I love writing (as you can probably tell every time I wax eloquent, whether you think I'm all that good a writer or not). And my deep desire is that everyone would be encouraged to walk more closely with Jesus through what I write.
At the same time, I'm investing too much time into this blog. I'm neglecting other things...including my health, at times. And my kids. Whatever time I invest in this blog is time I can't invest in other aspects of life.
So, am I quitting?
No.
But the blog is changing. At least, I hope I can be disciplined to change the way I blog. I also hope that it becomes more of a discussion blog. My goal is still to encourage people to keep up with daily Scripture readings. But rather than explaining the Scriptures the way I have been, I'm going to try to post a verse or passage, a concise thought about that passage, and a question inviting your thoughts.
We'll see how it goes. Please pray for me, that I invest my time wisely. And pray for one another, that each of us deeply, passionately pursues our relationship with Jesus Christ through His Word, prayer, obedience, etc.
Grace and peace -
Matt
Friday, April 23, 2010
Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Find Security in Jesus
The message, preached on April 11th, 2010, covered 1 John 5:13-21, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. We may not recognize it, but our world is full of idols competing for our worship—and idols kill. Often we turn to idols for security, but we can know our lives are secure only through Jesus Christ, who died and rose to give us eternal life. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
Did Jesus Pre-Arrange His Miracles?
ALL – Psalm 90:1-91:16
ALL – Proverbs 13:24-25
OT – Judges 1:1-2:9
NT – Luke 21:29-22:13
People are always trying to explain Jesus’ miracles and divine foreknowledge away. And some of the stories in the Bible make that seem almost possible. But there are two stories in particular that I’ve heard even fairly faithful Bible teachers say, “This wasn’t a miracle. This was pre-arranged.” One is the story of Jesus sending His disciples to get a donkey’s colt for Him to ride into Jerusalem; the other is the story we’re going to consider today, the story of Jesus sending the disciples to find a place for their final Passover (Luke 22:7-13).
I disagree with the “pre-arranged” theory. Both of these stories portray Jesus’ foreknowledge. Here’s why.
Let’s start with the concluding verse:
They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and prepared the Passover. – Luke 22:13, The Living Bible
Why would it be important, in a book devoted to pointing people to Jesus as God’s Christ, to say that they found everything as Jesus said—except to point out His foreknowledge? It wouldn’t.
Open your Bibles and check out the story to see if the rest of these reasons make sense.
Jesus is the Son of God. The Father sent Him to earth as a man, to live the life of men. But Jesus was no mere man. He was unique, a miracle worker who showed that He knew what would happen before it happened. No matter how much people try to explain His miracles away, it just makes more sense to take the stories that seem miraculous exactly as they are—stories that display the glory of the Christ, God’s Son, the Son of Man.
P.S. My computer has been down this week (no power cord). So I hope that you remembered that you can access the readings online via http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan.asp?version=51&startmmdd=0101 (go ahead and bookmark it if you forgot, just in case something happens again). The rest of this week’s readings, through Sunday, are:
April 24, 2010
ALL – Psalm 92:1-93:5
ALL – Proverbs 14:1-2
OT – Judges 2:10-3:31
NT – Luke 22:14-34
April 25, 2010
ALL – Psalm 94:1-23
ALL – Proverbs 14:3-4
OT – Judges 4:1-5:31
NT – Luke 22:35-53
And the prior readings can be found at the above link. Let’s press on together!
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 13:24-25
OT – Judges 1:1-2:9
NT – Luke 21:29-22:13
People are always trying to explain Jesus’ miracles and divine foreknowledge away. And some of the stories in the Bible make that seem almost possible. But there are two stories in particular that I’ve heard even fairly faithful Bible teachers say, “This wasn’t a miracle. This was pre-arranged.” One is the story of Jesus sending His disciples to get a donkey’s colt for Him to ride into Jerusalem; the other is the story we’re going to consider today, the story of Jesus sending the disciples to find a place for their final Passover (Luke 22:7-13).
I disagree with the “pre-arranged” theory. Both of these stories portray Jesus’ foreknowledge. Here’s why.
Let’s start with the concluding verse:
They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and prepared the Passover. – Luke 22:13, The Living Bible
Why would it be important, in a book devoted to pointing people to Jesus as God’s Christ, to say that they found everything as Jesus said—except to point out His foreknowledge? It wouldn’t.
Open your Bibles and check out the story to see if the rest of these reasons make sense.
- Even if Jesus pre-arranged things, He would not have known the precise time when His disciples would enter Jerusalem, so He would not have known when to arrange to have a man walking along carrying a pitcher of water. Also, any number of servants could have been sent to carry water for their masters, so this sign could easily have back-fired if Jesus had just made arrangements in advance. He had to have foreknowledge to know when His disciples would arrive and which man they would see carrying water.
- Also, Jesus does not instruct the disciples to interact with the man carrying water—just to follow him. If Jesus had pre-arranged everything, surely He would have had the disciples confirm in some way that this was the correct man carrying water. But he doesn’t give them the man’s name, his master’s name, or any special greeting whatsoever—just instructions to follow him into someone’s house. This is because they didn’t need to confirm the man’s identity. Jesus simply knew that the man they saw carrying water would lead them to the house where He intended to eat the Passover.
- Third, Jesus’ instructions to them about what to say to the master of the house are very vague and general. They don’t identify the master, and they don’t identify Jesus. Rather than saying, “Jesus sent us,” the disciples are to say, “The Teacher needs a room.” There were other teachers with disciples besides Jesus in those days. Jesus did not need His disciples to identify Him because He had not pre-arranged this; He knew this man would respond to this general request.
Jesus is the Son of God. The Father sent Him to earth as a man, to live the life of men. But Jesus was no mere man. He was unique, a miracle worker who showed that He knew what would happen before it happened. No matter how much people try to explain His miracles away, it just makes more sense to take the stories that seem miraculous exactly as they are—stories that display the glory of the Christ, God’s Son, the Son of Man.
P.S. My computer has been down this week (no power cord). So I hope that you remembered that you can access the readings online via http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan.asp?version=51&startmmdd=0101 (go ahead and bookmark it if you forgot, just in case something happens again). The rest of this week’s readings, through Sunday, are:
April 24, 2010
ALL – Psalm 92:1-93:5
ALL – Proverbs 14:1-2
OT – Judges 2:10-3:31
NT – Luke 22:14-34
April 25, 2010
ALL – Psalm 94:1-23
ALL – Proverbs 14:3-4
OT – Judges 4:1-5:31
NT – Luke 22:35-53
And the prior readings can be found at the above link. Let’s press on together!
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
You’re Not Really Sorry!
ALL – Psalm 83:1-18
ALL – Proverbs 13:4
OT – Joshua 9:3-10:43
NT – Luke 16:19-17:10
Have you ever had someone hurt you frequently enough that you just began to expect he/she would hurt you? Have you had a person like that say sorry? Over and over and over, saying sorry and asking for forgiveness, but never changing?
At some point you just want to scream, “You’re not really sorry!”
When people aren’t sorry enough to change, sorry enough for repentance that goes deeper than the words, “I’m sorry,” it becomes really hard to forgive. Why? Because we begin to expect more pain, more frustration, more sin. We just know it’s coming.
But Jesus still calls us to forgive those who claim to be repentant:
Rebuke your brother if he sins, and forgive him if he is sorry. Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns and asks forgiveness, forgive him. – Luke 17:3b-4, The Living Bible
We are to be quick to forgive, quick to show mercy, quick to reconcile. Even with the most habitual offenders.
How have you shown forgiveness recently?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
The rest of this week's readings are:
April 15th, 2010
ALL – Psalm 84:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 13:5-6
OT – Joshua 11:1-12:24
NT – Luke 17:11-37
April 16th, 2010
ALL – Psalm 85:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 13:7-8
OT – Joshua 13:1-14:15
NT – Luke 18:1-17
April 17th, 2010
ALL – Psalm 86:1-17
ALL – Proverbs 13:9-10
OT – Joshua 15:1-63
NT – Luke 18:18-43
April 18th, 2010
ALL – Psalm 87:1-7
ALL – Proverbs 13:11
OT – Joshua 16:1-18:28
NT – Luke 19:1-27
ALL – Proverbs 13:4
OT – Joshua 9:3-10:43
NT – Luke 16:19-17:10
Have you ever had someone hurt you frequently enough that you just began to expect he/she would hurt you? Have you had a person like that say sorry? Over and over and over, saying sorry and asking for forgiveness, but never changing?
At some point you just want to scream, “You’re not really sorry!”
When people aren’t sorry enough to change, sorry enough for repentance that goes deeper than the words, “I’m sorry,” it becomes really hard to forgive. Why? Because we begin to expect more pain, more frustration, more sin. We just know it’s coming.
But Jesus still calls us to forgive those who claim to be repentant:
Rebuke your brother if he sins, and forgive him if he is sorry. Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns and asks forgiveness, forgive him. – Luke 17:3b-4, The Living Bible
We are to be quick to forgive, quick to show mercy, quick to reconcile. Even with the most habitual offenders.
How have you shown forgiveness recently?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
The rest of this week's readings are:
April 15th, 2010
ALL – Psalm 84:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 13:5-6
OT – Joshua 11:1-12:24
NT – Luke 17:11-37
April 16th, 2010
ALL – Psalm 85:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 13:7-8
OT – Joshua 13:1-14:15
NT – Luke 18:1-17
April 17th, 2010
ALL – Psalm 86:1-17
ALL – Proverbs 13:9-10
OT – Joshua 15:1-63
NT – Luke 18:18-43
April 18th, 2010
ALL – Psalm 87:1-7
ALL – Proverbs 13:11
OT – Joshua 16:1-18:28
NT – Luke 19:1-27
Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Live Victoriously by Faith
The message, preached on April 11th, 2010, covered 1 John 5:1-12, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. Faith in God through Jesus Christ is the heart of true religion. We must depend on God’s testimony by faith, obey our King by faith, and ultimately receive victorious life—both now and forever—by faith, and only by faith. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Love One Another More and More
The message, preached on April 4th, 2010, covered 1 John 4:7-21, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. John teaches believers again about what it means to love. We are to love redemptively, like Christ; we are to love by revealing the Father; and we respond to God in love by loving one another. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Are You Living Together? Or Married?
Quick thought, and I haven't thought it through yet, but I was interested in making sure I didn't lose it. I was talking with a close friend the other day, and we talked about how some believers attend and serve the same church faithfully for years without becoming members. They're loved, they're appreciated, they're needed. It seems ok, doesn't it?
Without taking the analogy too far, should we view membership in a local church as being like marriage? Think about it. Some people live together and act like they're married--for years, sometimes. At that point, getting married can feel like it's just about a "piece of paper." But it's more than that. Marriage adds a degree of commitment that wasn't actually there before. It adds even more responsibility. It communicates something not just about the fact that people enjoy and love one another, but about the work they're willing to put into the relationship to help one another maintain that love and grow together day by day.
Now, some people live like they're church members--for years, even. Is membership still important at that point?
Thoughts?
Without taking the analogy too far, should we view membership in a local church as being like marriage? Think about it. Some people live together and act like they're married--for years, sometimes. At that point, getting married can feel like it's just about a "piece of paper." But it's more than that. Marriage adds a degree of commitment that wasn't actually there before. It adds even more responsibility. It communicates something not just about the fact that people enjoy and love one another, but about the work they're willing to put into the relationship to help one another maintain that love and grow together day by day.
Now, some people live like they're church members--for years, even. Is membership still important at that point?
Thoughts?
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Always Be Prepared
ALL – Psalm 78:56-64
ALL – Proverbs 12:24
OT – Deuteronomy 32:28-52
NT – Luke 12:35-59
Some events you can’t always be ready for. Break-ins. Natural disasters. Travel accidents. We can wear seat-belts, build with storms and earthquakes in mind, and install alarm systems and video cameras, and perhaps even keep a gun near the bed. But when something happens, we can’t know we’ll be ready.
Jesus is coming back, and He wanted people to prepare for His return, saying:
Everyone would be ready for him if they knew the exact hour of his return—just as they would be ready for a thief if they knew when he was coming. – Luke 12:39, The Living Bible
Here’s the problem: we can’t know when Jesus is coming back any more than we can know when a thief plans to break in or when an earthquake is going to strike or a car is going to come across the road into our lane.
But there’s one big difference between being ready for thieves, accidents and natural disasters and being ready for Jesus. Being ready for Jesus’ return involves our relationship with Him now.
We can’t have a relationship with any of the other things we fear. We can’t receive their instruction and guidance to being prepared. We can’t receive their reassurance that we’ll be ready when the time comes. But with Jesus, we can listen to Him day by day as we read His Word, we can talk to Him day by day and see how He responds, we can be guided by His Spirit in our hearts. Every moment of every day is about our relationship with Him—whether we’ll follow or go our own ways, whether we’re honoring Him or ignoring Him. And as we walk in relationship with Jesus Christ, we can be ready. Because when He comes, readiness means knowing and being faithful to Him.
Jesus said:
There will be great joy for those who are ready and waiting for his return. He himself will seat them and put on a waiter’s uniform and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come at nine o’clock at night—or even at midnight. But whenever he comes there will be joy for his servants who are ready! – Luke 12:37-38, The Living Bible
This is an event we can be ready for, an event we know is coming, an event to look forward to, an event that we can prepare for just by trusting and obeying Jesus in the regular rhythms of our lives. Are you ready? If not, why?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 12:24
OT – Deuteronomy 32:28-52
NT – Luke 12:35-59
Some events you can’t always be ready for. Break-ins. Natural disasters. Travel accidents. We can wear seat-belts, build with storms and earthquakes in mind, and install alarm systems and video cameras, and perhaps even keep a gun near the bed. But when something happens, we can’t know we’ll be ready.
Jesus is coming back, and He wanted people to prepare for His return, saying:
Everyone would be ready for him if they knew the exact hour of his return—just as they would be ready for a thief if they knew when he was coming. – Luke 12:39, The Living Bible
Here’s the problem: we can’t know when Jesus is coming back any more than we can know when a thief plans to break in or when an earthquake is going to strike or a car is going to come across the road into our lane.
But there’s one big difference between being ready for thieves, accidents and natural disasters and being ready for Jesus. Being ready for Jesus’ return involves our relationship with Him now.
We can’t have a relationship with any of the other things we fear. We can’t receive their instruction and guidance to being prepared. We can’t receive their reassurance that we’ll be ready when the time comes. But with Jesus, we can listen to Him day by day as we read His Word, we can talk to Him day by day and see how He responds, we can be guided by His Spirit in our hearts. Every moment of every day is about our relationship with Him—whether we’ll follow or go our own ways, whether we’re honoring Him or ignoring Him. And as we walk in relationship with Jesus Christ, we can be ready. Because when He comes, readiness means knowing and being faithful to Him.
Jesus said:
There will be great joy for those who are ready and waiting for his return. He himself will seat them and put on a waiter’s uniform and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come at nine o’clock at night—or even at midnight. But whenever he comes there will be joy for his servants who are ready! – Luke 12:37-38, The Living Bible
This is an event we can be ready for, an event we know is coming, an event to look forward to, an event that we can prepare for just by trusting and obeying Jesus in the regular rhythms of our lives. Are you ready? If not, why?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Gimme!
ALL – Psalm 78:32-55
ALL – Proverbs 12:21-23
OT – Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27
NT – Luke 12:8-34
If we’re honest when it comes to getting new tools, new clothes, new movies, new music, new gadgets, etc., most of us sound like Ariel from the Little Mermaid: “Looking around here you think, “Sure, she’s got everything.”… But who cares? No big deal. I want more.”
Craving. Wanting. Coveting. Greed. It’s an epidemic that hits pretty much every home, and usually every member of every home. We’re sick people – sick with greed, sick with envy, sick with desire. And we think that the medicine for our condition is more stuff. “I don’t need much! Just this one thing, and I’ll be happy…”
If we’re honest, we’ll admit that our continuous acquisitions have not cured us. What we thought was medicine is actually poison; rather than curing us, each new gadget and each new toy we buy feeds our disease. And it’s killing us. We’re so sick for new clothes, new cars, new posters and new experiences that we gladly spend all our money on them, even when we end up running out of money for our heat, our water, or our food. And even those of us who are wealthy enough to spend as we desire without running out of money for our necessities are deadly sick; we would rather spend ridiculous sums on ourselves than on our needy neighbors or on the kingdom of God! What’s wrong with us?
That’s why Jesus said:
Beware! Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are. – Luke 12:15, The Living Bible
He had a remedy for this sickness, too:
Sell what you have and give to those in need. – Luke 12:33, The Living Bible
The remedy for greed is generosity, not “buying just one more thing.” The remedy for sending life down the drain is giving life to those who are barely scraping by. The remedy for our selfishness is love—a love that gives.
Can you and I relax our grasping hands and give? What’s the struggle?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 12:21-23
OT – Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27
NT – Luke 12:8-34
If we’re honest when it comes to getting new tools, new clothes, new movies, new music, new gadgets, etc., most of us sound like Ariel from the Little Mermaid: “Looking around here you think, “Sure, she’s got everything.”… But who cares? No big deal. I want more.”
Craving. Wanting. Coveting. Greed. It’s an epidemic that hits pretty much every home, and usually every member of every home. We’re sick people – sick with greed, sick with envy, sick with desire. And we think that the medicine for our condition is more stuff. “I don’t need much! Just this one thing, and I’ll be happy…”
If we’re honest, we’ll admit that our continuous acquisitions have not cured us. What we thought was medicine is actually poison; rather than curing us, each new gadget and each new toy we buy feeds our disease. And it’s killing us. We’re so sick for new clothes, new cars, new posters and new experiences that we gladly spend all our money on them, even when we end up running out of money for our heat, our water, or our food. And even those of us who are wealthy enough to spend as we desire without running out of money for our necessities are deadly sick; we would rather spend ridiculous sums on ourselves than on our needy neighbors or on the kingdom of God! What’s wrong with us?
That’s why Jesus said:
Beware! Don’t always be wishing for what you don’t have. For real life and real living are not related to how rich we are. – Luke 12:15, The Living Bible
He had a remedy for this sickness, too:
Sell what you have and give to those in need. – Luke 12:33, The Living Bible
The remedy for greed is generosity, not “buying just one more thing.” The remedy for sending life down the drain is giving life to those who are barely scraping by. The remedy for our selfishness is love—a love that gives.
Can you and I relax our grasping hands and give? What’s the struggle?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
A Heart Like a Toilet – Clean on the Outside Only
ALL – Psalm 78:1-31
ALL – Proverbs 12:19-20
OT – Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20
NT – Luke 11:37-12:7
Boy meets girl, what happens next? Usually, they’re both going to try to make a good impression. What happens from there is anyone’s guess.
Prospective worker meets potential boss, what happens next? Usually, they’re both going to try to make a good impression. What happens from there is, again, up in the air.
Pastor meets congregant, what happens next?
Good impressions are not only part of the secular world. Believers like to make a good impression on people, too. Not only do we want to make a good impression—we want people to like us! I can’t think of anyone who would prefer to be despised rather than liked.
But what happens is that we begin to make an idol out of our reputations and our relationships. We want people to like and appreciate us so much that we will sin to get their approval, or else we’ll sin if we don’t get it. And often, the way that we sin to get people’s approval is that we stop being honest. All of us already have sin in our lives; those of us who need other people’s approval and appreciation add yet another sin—we hide the sin that’s already there rather than bringing it into the light, humbly and honestly confessing our sins and repenting of them before God.
A love of men’s approval and respect that rules over all other loves, including our love for God, is deadly. Jesus talked with the Pharisees about this issue in their lives:
Woe to you Pharisees! For how you love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the respectful greetings from everyone as you walk through the markets! Yes, awesome judgment is awaiting you. For you are like hidden graves in a field. Men go by you with no knowledge of the corruption they are passing. – Luke 11:43-44, The Living Bible
Are you pretending to be someone you’re not? Are you covering over your shame in order to deceive people? Don’t get me wrong—it’s not a good idea to give people detail after detail about our sins. But we must be honest about the fact that we are sinners, and even help people know what kinds of struggles we face and ask for their help and prayer. We must deny the temptation to create a false image of ourselves, to paint a picture that says we have everything under control. The only way to keep our hearts clean is to deliberately and honestly admit who we are, how we think, what we want, the things we do. The best way to lead others to know God is not to portray ourselves as people who never sin, but as people who have learned to confess our sins in humble honesty before God, finding the grace that He has already provided for us through Jesus Christ.
Are you honestly cleaning out the corruption in your heart by confessing your sins and having them washed away by the blood of Christ? Or are you harboring your sins, refusing to confess and repent of anything for fear of what people might think?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 12:19-20
OT – Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20
NT – Luke 11:37-12:7
Boy meets girl, what happens next? Usually, they’re both going to try to make a good impression. What happens from there is anyone’s guess.
Prospective worker meets potential boss, what happens next? Usually, they’re both going to try to make a good impression. What happens from there is, again, up in the air.
Pastor meets congregant, what happens next?
Good impressions are not only part of the secular world. Believers like to make a good impression on people, too. Not only do we want to make a good impression—we want people to like us! I can’t think of anyone who would prefer to be despised rather than liked.
But what happens is that we begin to make an idol out of our reputations and our relationships. We want people to like and appreciate us so much that we will sin to get their approval, or else we’ll sin if we don’t get it. And often, the way that we sin to get people’s approval is that we stop being honest. All of us already have sin in our lives; those of us who need other people’s approval and appreciation add yet another sin—we hide the sin that’s already there rather than bringing it into the light, humbly and honestly confessing our sins and repenting of them before God.
A love of men’s approval and respect that rules over all other loves, including our love for God, is deadly. Jesus talked with the Pharisees about this issue in their lives:
Woe to you Pharisees! For how you love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the respectful greetings from everyone as you walk through the markets! Yes, awesome judgment is awaiting you. For you are like hidden graves in a field. Men go by you with no knowledge of the corruption they are passing. – Luke 11:43-44, The Living Bible
Are you pretending to be someone you’re not? Are you covering over your shame in order to deceive people? Don’t get me wrong—it’s not a good idea to give people detail after detail about our sins. But we must be honest about the fact that we are sinners, and even help people know what kinds of struggles we face and ask for their help and prayer. We must deny the temptation to create a false image of ourselves, to paint a picture that says we have everything under control. The only way to keep our hearts clean is to deliberately and honestly admit who we are, how we think, what we want, the things we do. The best way to lead others to know God is not to portray ourselves as people who never sin, but as people who have learned to confess our sins in humble honesty before God, finding the grace that He has already provided for us through Jesus Christ.
Are you honestly cleaning out the corruption in your heart by confessing your sins and having them washed away by the blood of Christ? Or are you harboring your sins, refusing to confess and repent of anything for fear of what people might think?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Mother Mary vs. You and Me
ALL – Psalm 77:1-20
ALL – Proverbs 12:18
OT – Deuteronomy 28:1-68
NT – Luke 11:14-36
Have you ever wondered how much of a blessing it would have been to be Jesus’ mother Mary, or perhaps to be Joseph, her husband? Were they such special people that they deserved this honor more than all others? Should we give them special respect, special attention, special awe? Where do you and I stand in God’s sight, compared to Mary?
As [Jesus] was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came and the breasts that gave you suck!” He replied, “Yes, but even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.” – Luke 11:27-28, The Living Bible
Make no mistake. Mary was blessed to be Jesus’ mother. Joseph was blessed to be called His father. But there is a blessing far greater than the blessing of being Jesus’ parents, and the blessing is available to you and me. It is a blessing which God bestows on all who not only hear His Word, but also put it into practice.
What’s keeping you from pursuing the blessing of God today?
Please find the rest of this week's readings below. To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
April 6, 2010
ALL – Psalm 78:1-31
ALL – Proverbs 12:19-20
OT – Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20
NT – Luke 11:37-12:7
April 7, 2010
ALL – Psalm 78:32-55
ALL – Proverbs 12:21-23
OT – Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27
NT – Luke 12:8-34
April 8, 2010
ALL – Psalm 78:56-64
ALL – Proverbs 12:24
OT – Deuteronomy 32:28-52
NT – Luke 12:35-59
April 9, 2010
ALL – Psalm 78:65-72
ALL – Proverbs 12:25
OT – Deuteronomy 33:1-29
NT – Luke 13:1-21
April 10, 2010
ALL – Psalm 79:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 12:26
OT – Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24
NT – Luke 13:22-14:6
April 11, 2010
ALL – Psalm 80:1-19
ALL – Proverbs 12:27-28
OT – Joshua 3:1-4:24
NT – Luke 14:7-35
ALL – Proverbs 12:18
OT – Deuteronomy 28:1-68
NT – Luke 11:14-36
Have you ever wondered how much of a blessing it would have been to be Jesus’ mother Mary, or perhaps to be Joseph, her husband? Were they such special people that they deserved this honor more than all others? Should we give them special respect, special attention, special awe? Where do you and I stand in God’s sight, compared to Mary?
As [Jesus] was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came and the breasts that gave you suck!” He replied, “Yes, but even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.” – Luke 11:27-28, The Living Bible
Make no mistake. Mary was blessed to be Jesus’ mother. Joseph was blessed to be called His father. But there is a blessing far greater than the blessing of being Jesus’ parents, and the blessing is available to you and me. It is a blessing which God bestows on all who not only hear His Word, but also put it into practice.
What’s keeping you from pursuing the blessing of God today?
Please find the rest of this week's readings below. To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
April 6, 2010
ALL – Psalm 78:1-31
ALL – Proverbs 12:19-20
OT – Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20
NT – Luke 11:37-12:7
April 7, 2010
ALL – Psalm 78:32-55
ALL – Proverbs 12:21-23
OT – Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27
NT – Luke 12:8-34
April 8, 2010
ALL – Psalm 78:56-64
ALL – Proverbs 12:24
OT – Deuteronomy 32:28-52
NT – Luke 12:35-59
April 9, 2010
ALL – Psalm 78:65-72
ALL – Proverbs 12:25
OT – Deuteronomy 33:1-29
NT – Luke 13:1-21
April 10, 2010
ALL – Psalm 79:1-13
ALL – Proverbs 12:26
OT – Deuteronomy 34:1-Joshua 2:24
NT – Luke 13:22-14:6
April 11, 2010
ALL – Psalm 80:1-19
ALL – Proverbs 12:27-28
OT – Joshua 3:1-4:24
NT – Luke 14:7-35
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Giving Up on God
ALL – Psalm 76:1-12
ALL – Proverbs 12:15-17
OT – Deuteronomy 26:1-27:28
NT – Luke 10:38-11:13
“Prayer doesn’t work.”
“God doesn’t care.”
“I’ve tried asking God. Nothing happened.”
We get discouraged so easily. So quickly. We think prayer’s supposed to be like a magic charm that creates good luck, a silver bullet that knocks our problems out of our lives. We’re like my daughter, who is convinced that she ought to get whatever she wants so long as she says, “Please.” So when we ask God for something, and we ask nicely, and nothing comes, we give up on prayer. Really, we give up on God.
Jesus taught His disciples not to give up. Encouraging His disciples to imagine being a man who needed bread for a guest, Jesus described this man going to his friend for help—in the middle of the night. The friend responded as most of us would in the middle of the night: “This can wait until morning. You’re a friend, but this is ridiculous! Goodnight.” But that wasn’t the end of Jesus’ parable:
But I’ll tell you this—though he won’t do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long enough he will get up and give you everything you want—just because of your persistence. And so it is with prayer—keep on asking and you will keep on getting; keep on looking and you will keep on finding; knock and the door will be opened. – Luke 11:8-9, The Living Bible
God isn’t just our buddy in the sky. He’s not an instant-gratification coin slot—put in a prayer, out comes a prize. He’s not to be taken advantage of. He won’t put up with it. He wants US, not just our prayers. And He’s willing to require persistence of us to find out whether we’re really after Him or just after His blessings. Of course, since God knows our hearts, our persistence is required more to reveal our hearts to ourselves than to Him.
But persistence is one of the marks of a true relationship, a true love. Those of us who pray quick trial prayers to “see what happens” demonstrate our lack of faith; such people think, “God probably won’t do anything, but it’s worth a shot.” Persistence in prayer is a mark of faith, because by persisting in the face of a seemingly unresponsive God we demonstrate how fully we know that we need Him. We will not turn elsewhere in vain efforts to control our lives; our lives are fully in His hands, and we’ll leave them there. That’s what persistence in prayer says. And God responds to our persistence. “Keep on asking and you will keep on getting.”
Have you given up on finding God’s help in your time of need? Have you prayed only once? Return to God in prayer over and over. Place your needs and desires in His hands. Trust Him. He’s faithful and good.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 12:15-17
OT – Deuteronomy 26:1-27:28
NT – Luke 10:38-11:13
“Prayer doesn’t work.”
“God doesn’t care.”
“I’ve tried asking God. Nothing happened.”
We get discouraged so easily. So quickly. We think prayer’s supposed to be like a magic charm that creates good luck, a silver bullet that knocks our problems out of our lives. We’re like my daughter, who is convinced that she ought to get whatever she wants so long as she says, “Please.” So when we ask God for something, and we ask nicely, and nothing comes, we give up on prayer. Really, we give up on God.
Jesus taught His disciples not to give up. Encouraging His disciples to imagine being a man who needed bread for a guest, Jesus described this man going to his friend for help—in the middle of the night. The friend responded as most of us would in the middle of the night: “This can wait until morning. You’re a friend, but this is ridiculous! Goodnight.” But that wasn’t the end of Jesus’ parable:
But I’ll tell you this—though he won’t do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long enough he will get up and give you everything you want—just because of your persistence. And so it is with prayer—keep on asking and you will keep on getting; keep on looking and you will keep on finding; knock and the door will be opened. – Luke 11:8-9, The Living Bible
God isn’t just our buddy in the sky. He’s not an instant-gratification coin slot—put in a prayer, out comes a prize. He’s not to be taken advantage of. He won’t put up with it. He wants US, not just our prayers. And He’s willing to require persistence of us to find out whether we’re really after Him or just after His blessings. Of course, since God knows our hearts, our persistence is required more to reveal our hearts to ourselves than to Him.
But persistence is one of the marks of a true relationship, a true love. Those of us who pray quick trial prayers to “see what happens” demonstrate our lack of faith; such people think, “God probably won’t do anything, but it’s worth a shot.” Persistence in prayer is a mark of faith, because by persisting in the face of a seemingly unresponsive God we demonstrate how fully we know that we need Him. We will not turn elsewhere in vain efforts to control our lives; our lives are fully in His hands, and we’ll leave them there. That’s what persistence in prayer says. And God responds to our persistence. “Keep on asking and you will keep on getting.”
Have you given up on finding God’s help in your time of need? Have you prayed only once? Return to God in prayer over and over. Place your needs and desires in His hands. Trust Him. He’s faithful and good.
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Two Devastating Failures
ALL – Psalm 75:1-10
ALL – Proverbs 12:12-14
OT – Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19
NT – Luke 10:13-37
Have you ever been on a bridge or narrow pathway so high that you could look over the edge on either side and know that a fall meant death?
Among Christians, one of the most inspirational thoughts in all of Scripture is known as the “double love command.” Jesus tells us that it summarizes all the Law and the Prophets (the OT). Here is one version of it, recorded by Luke:
“It says,” he replied, “that you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbor just as much as you love yourself.” – Luke 10:27, The Living Bible
In this case, it was not said by Jesus, who responded:
“Do this and you shall live.” – Luke 10:28, The Living Bible
No one can measure up perfectly to this command. Even among those who seek to obey and fulfill these requirements, people usually make the mistake of obeying just ONE of the TWO commands given here.
Some people love God with all their hearts. They devote themselves completely to God, or so they think. They spend all their time reading their Bibles, praying, attending services, and helping with official church programs. If someone interrupts their service to God, that person gets set aside, left behind, left alone. But God says to these people, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates (neglects, ignores) his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20, NIV).
Other people really do a good job of loving people. They open up their homes, they share their food, they give cash to every beggar, they devote themselves to programs that help people to get out of poverty and homelessness and drugs. They always sympathize with people, always listen, always care, never judge. But these people often lay aside their Bibles, sweep sins (their own and other people’s) under the carpet, neglect to pray, think of Jesus as merely a good man, and worry that any spiritual discussion will hurt people’s feelings. To these people, God says, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me” (John 14:21), and “…this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us” (1 John 3:23, NIV). Loving God is obeying God, and obeying God is believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Neglecting our faith is just as destructive as neglecting our neighbors.
The double-love command is a united command. We are not to love God but hate our neighbors. Neither are we to love our neighbors but neglect God. We are to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
We all fall short. We all struggle more either with loving God or with loving people (though, if we’re honest, we fall short in both). We sin. Which is why we praise God that Jesus Christ, His Son, died on the cross to provide forgiveness for our sins. There is grace for us, even as we fail in the two most important commands of all. But that grace is not intended to make us neglect the commands; instead, it strengthens us to stop wallowing in our failures and sins so that we can get up and grow in obedience and love. This requires humility and honesty. We must recognize our failure and call on our Lord for help.
Which side of the command do you struggle with most?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 12:12-14
OT – Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19
NT – Luke 10:13-37
Have you ever been on a bridge or narrow pathway so high that you could look over the edge on either side and know that a fall meant death?
Among Christians, one of the most inspirational thoughts in all of Scripture is known as the “double love command.” Jesus tells us that it summarizes all the Law and the Prophets (the OT). Here is one version of it, recorded by Luke:
“It says,” he replied, “that you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbor just as much as you love yourself.” – Luke 10:27, The Living Bible
In this case, it was not said by Jesus, who responded:
“Do this and you shall live.” – Luke 10:28, The Living Bible
No one can measure up perfectly to this command. Even among those who seek to obey and fulfill these requirements, people usually make the mistake of obeying just ONE of the TWO commands given here.
Some people love God with all their hearts. They devote themselves completely to God, or so they think. They spend all their time reading their Bibles, praying, attending services, and helping with official church programs. If someone interrupts their service to God, that person gets set aside, left behind, left alone. But God says to these people, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates (neglects, ignores) his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20, NIV).
Other people really do a good job of loving people. They open up their homes, they share their food, they give cash to every beggar, they devote themselves to programs that help people to get out of poverty and homelessness and drugs. They always sympathize with people, always listen, always care, never judge. But these people often lay aside their Bibles, sweep sins (their own and other people’s) under the carpet, neglect to pray, think of Jesus as merely a good man, and worry that any spiritual discussion will hurt people’s feelings. To these people, God says, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me” (John 14:21), and “…this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us” (1 John 3:23, NIV). Loving God is obeying God, and obeying God is believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Neglecting our faith is just as destructive as neglecting our neighbors.
The double-love command is a united command. We are not to love God but hate our neighbors. Neither are we to love our neighbors but neglect God. We are to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
We all fall short. We all struggle more either with loving God or with loving people (though, if we’re honest, we fall short in both). We sin. Which is why we praise God that Jesus Christ, His Son, died on the cross to provide forgiveness for our sins. There is grace for us, even as we fail in the two most important commands of all. But that grace is not intended to make us neglect the commands; instead, it strengthens us to stop wallowing in our failures and sins so that we can get up and grow in obedience and love. This requires humility and honesty. We must recognize our failure and call on our Lord for help.
Which side of the command do you struggle with most?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Don’t Swallow Just Any Pill
The message, preached on March 28th, 2010, covered 1 John 4:1-6, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. People may think of “testing the spirits” as a special, high-spiritual-power showdown between the forces of good and evil, but that’s not what it’s about. We’re told to learn to discern between God’s Spirit and any spirit or voice that would lead us away from God, and the one simple goal is to keep going where God’s Spirit leads. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.
A Panel Discussion Between Moses, Elijah and Jesus
ALL – Psalm 73:1-28
ALL – Proverbs 12:10
OT – Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20
NT – Luke 9:28-50
You’ve seen it at leadership conferences, weight-loss retreats, church planting networks, universities, and Fortune-500 companies. When experts get together, people pay attention. After all, what’s better than one expert? How about a whole panel of them? If you want to learn, you turn to the experts, and panel discussions are wonderful opportunities for learning because experts sharpen one another and spur on one another’s best thinking.
If you want to know God, you ought to listen to the experts. Peter, James and John had that opportunity one day. They went up a mountain with Jesus, and while they were there they saw Moses and Elijah appear with them on the mountain. Not only that, but Jesus was gloriously transfigured before them. These three men represent all the wisdom God has revealed; Moses represents God’s Law (part of the Old Testament), Elijah represents God’s Prophets (another part of the OT), and Jesus is the center of our entire New Testament. What greater experts could you find to point the way to God? In this panel discussion of the ages, what did they talk about?
They were splendid in appearance, glorious to see; and they were speaking of his death at Jerusalem, to be carried out in accordance with God’s plan. – Luke 9:31, The Living Bible
They were talking about the culmination of Jesus’ ministry! The cross! The resurrection! Perhaps even His ascension (other translations say they were talking about “his departure”)! Moses (the Law), Elijah (the Prophets) and Jesus all agree: Jesus’ cross is our way to God!
Let’s pay attention to this panel discussion.
But let’s notice one thing more: our hope is not in the panel. Our hope is in the Expert of experts, the Servant of servants, the Guide of guides, the Lord of lords and King of kings—Jesus Christ. As Peter and the other two disciples began to realize what was going on, they responded with awe and wanted to set up camp right there, to hold on to all three of these wonderful people. But God intervened:
And a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him.” Then, as the voice died away, Jesus was there alone with his disciples. – Luke 9:35-36, The Living Bible
Moses and Elijah never expected to receive the glory and honor and attention we give to Jesus. They came to lead us to Jesus. They came to introduce us to our God, the King, the eternal Son, the one who would one day die for our sins, conquering sin—only to rise from the dead three days later, conquering death, too.
Are you listening to Him?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
ALL – Proverbs 12:10
OT – Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20
NT – Luke 9:28-50
You’ve seen it at leadership conferences, weight-loss retreats, church planting networks, universities, and Fortune-500 companies. When experts get together, people pay attention. After all, what’s better than one expert? How about a whole panel of them? If you want to learn, you turn to the experts, and panel discussions are wonderful opportunities for learning because experts sharpen one another and spur on one another’s best thinking.
If you want to know God, you ought to listen to the experts. Peter, James and John had that opportunity one day. They went up a mountain with Jesus, and while they were there they saw Moses and Elijah appear with them on the mountain. Not only that, but Jesus was gloriously transfigured before them. These three men represent all the wisdom God has revealed; Moses represents God’s Law (part of the Old Testament), Elijah represents God’s Prophets (another part of the OT), and Jesus is the center of our entire New Testament. What greater experts could you find to point the way to God? In this panel discussion of the ages, what did they talk about?
They were splendid in appearance, glorious to see; and they were speaking of his death at Jerusalem, to be carried out in accordance with God’s plan. – Luke 9:31, The Living Bible
They were talking about the culmination of Jesus’ ministry! The cross! The resurrection! Perhaps even His ascension (other translations say they were talking about “his departure”)! Moses (the Law), Elijah (the Prophets) and Jesus all agree: Jesus’ cross is our way to God!
Let’s pay attention to this panel discussion.
But let’s notice one thing more: our hope is not in the panel. Our hope is in the Expert of experts, the Servant of servants, the Guide of guides, the Lord of lords and King of kings—Jesus Christ. As Peter and the other two disciples began to realize what was going on, they responded with awe and wanted to set up camp right there, to hold on to all three of these wonderful people. But God intervened:
And a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him.” Then, as the voice died away, Jesus was there alone with his disciples. – Luke 9:35-36, The Living Bible
Moses and Elijah never expected to receive the glory and honor and attention we give to Jesus. They came to lead us to Jesus. They came to introduce us to our God, the King, the eternal Son, the one who would one day die for our sins, conquering sin—only to rise from the dead three days later, conquering death, too.
Are you listening to Him?
To review the Bible reading plan options, please visit http://tinyurl.com/yj2o7jz.
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