Sunday October 17, 2010

Matthew 1

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the sone of Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar…Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.  David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

Genesis 38:8-10

Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother -in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.” But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother.  What he did was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so he put him to death also.

Ruth 1:22-2:12

So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.  Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz.  And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi.  “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead my daughter.”  So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.  Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, “The LORD be with you!”  “The LORD bless you!” they answered.  Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters “Who does that young woman belong to?” The overseer replied, “She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi.  She said,  “Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.” She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.”  So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me.  Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here.  Stay here with the women.  I have told the men not to lay a hand on you.  And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.”  At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me — a foreigner?  Boaz replied, I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-lkaw since the death of your husband — how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before.   May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the GOD of Isreal, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”

Sunday october 10, 2010

John 10:10

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

2 Kings 4:1-7

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha. “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revere the LORD.  But his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said”exept a little olive oil.” Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.  Then go inside and shut the door behind you and our sons.  Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”  she left him and shut the door behind her and her sons.  They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring.  When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”  But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts.  You and your sons can live on what is left.”

2 Kings 13: 14-20

Now Elisha was suffering from the illness from which he died.  Jehoash king of Isreal went down to see him and he wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried.  ” The chariots and horsemen of Isreal!” Elisha said “Get a bow an some arrows” and he did so.  “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Isreal. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hans on the king’s hands.  “Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it.  “Shoot!” elisha said, and he shot. “The LORD”s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared.  “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.”  Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them.  Elisha told him, “Stike the ground.”  He struck it three times and stopped.  The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it.  But now you will efeat it only three times.  Elisha died and was buried.

Proverbs 3:9-10

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Luke 6:38

“Give, an it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Sunday September 26, 2010

Numbers 14:1-10

Then the whole community began weaping aloud, and they cried all night.  Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron.  “If only we had died in Egypt or even here in the wilderness!” they complained.  “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle?  Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?”  Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!” Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel.  Two of the men wh had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Calebsone of Jephunneh, tore their clothing.  They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a wonderful land!  And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us.  It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.  Do no rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land.  They are only helpless prey to us!  They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”  But the whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb.  Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to all the Isrealites the the Tabernacle.

Aristotle’s famous criteria for lasting friendships

1. Mutual attraction

2. Mutual usefulness

3. A common focus on the good.

Your biggest hope in a close friendship under God?

• A Spiritual peer.

Genesis 2: 18-25

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper who is just right for him.” So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky.  He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one.  He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals.  But still there was no helper just right for him. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep.  While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening.  Then the lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.  “At last!” the man exclaimed.  “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’ ” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.  Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.

Some thoughts on building a firm base in marriage:

1. Commit to “filling each others’ love tanks.”

       a. The so-called “love languages”

               i.  Quality time

             ii. Words of affirmation

           iii.  Gifts

           iv. Acts of service

            v.  Physical touch

Sunday September 19, 2010

John 14: 1, 8-17, 22-27, 30-31

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.”… Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among yousuch a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father… The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority.  Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.  Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the work temselves.  Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the son.  You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will ddo it.  “If you love me, keep my commands.  And I will ask the father, and he will give you another advocate to help you an be with you forever— the spirit of truth.  The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.  But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”…  Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said,  “But Lor, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”  Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.  My father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.  Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching.  These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.  “All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind ou of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you;  my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubed and do not be afraid. … “I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming.  He has no hold over me,  but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.”

Sunday September 12, 2010

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.  But someone who falls alone is in real trouble…Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken

Matthew 18:19-20

“If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.  For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

Mark 9: 33-37

(Jesus’ disciples) came to Capernaum.  When he was in the hoouse, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way  they had argued about who was the greatest.  Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”  He took a little child whom he placed among them.  Taking the child in his arms, he said to them “Whomever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Acts 6

But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent.  The Greek-speeking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.  So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers.  They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.  And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom.  We will give them this responsibility.  Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”  Everyone liked this idea and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).  These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.  So God’s message continued to spread.  The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.  Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people.  But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him.  They were… from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia.  None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.  So they persuaded some men to lie about Stephen, saying, “We heard him blaspheme Moses, and even God.”  This roused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law.  So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council.    The lying witness said, “This man is always speaking against the holy Temple and against the law of Moses.  We have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”  At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s.

Sunday September 4, 2010

2 Samuel 23:8-23

These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed in one encoounter. Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite.  As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered [at Pas Dammim] for battle.  Then the Israelites retreated, but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword.  The LORD brought about a great victory that day.  The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.  Next to him was Shammah son  of Agee the Hararite.  When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel.s troups fled from them.  But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field.  He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.  During harvest time, three of the thirty chief wariors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.  At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.   David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”  So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David.  But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD.  “Far be it from me, LORD, to do this!” he said.  “Is it not the blood of men who went at the ristk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.  Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.  Abishai the brother of Joab son of Zeruiah was chief of the Three.  He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three.  Was he not held in greater honor than the Three? he became their commander, even though he was not included among them.  Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits.  He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warrriors.  He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.  And he struck down a huge Egyptian.  Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club.  He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.  Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty warriors.  He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three.  And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

Hebrews 11:24-27, 32-12:3

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.  He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.  He regarded disgrace for the  sake of  Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.  By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible… And what more shall I say?  I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.  Women recieved back their dead, raised to life again.  There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection.  Some faced jeers and flogging,  and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.  They went about in  sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated– the world was not worthy of them.  They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.  These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.  God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect… Thereford, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sate down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Sunday August 29, 2010

Song of Song’s 8:6-7

Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.  Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.  If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

Song of Songs 1:2-3, 6:2-3

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth– for your love is more delightful than wine.  Pleasing is the fragerance of your perfumes; your name is like perfume poured out.  No wonder the young women love you! … My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to browse in the gardens and to gather lilies.  I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine; he browses among the lilies.

Song of Songs 4:1-3, 7, 9-10

How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves.  Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from the hills of Gilead.  Your teeth are like a flock of sheep just shorn, coming up from the washing.  Each has its twin; not one of them is alone.  Your lips are like a scarlet ribbon; your mouth is lovely.  Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate. … All beautiful you are, my darling; ther is no flaw in you. … You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your love, my sister, my bride!  How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragarance of your perfume more than any spice!

Song of Songs 2:4

Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love.

How might we experience this transformative love?

1. Make experiencing God’s love your top priority

2 Prioritize space in your day to be with God.

3. Press the issue.

4 If it’s true, tell God you love him back.

Sunday August 22, 2010

1Isaish 61

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the LORD has annointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenheated, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor and the day of vengence of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion– to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called mighty oaks, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Strangers will shepard your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead of your shame you will recieve a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. “For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.” I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

GOD WANTS TO MEET EVERY NEED-WHETHER PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL OR SPIRITUAL.

GOD WANTS US TO PARTNER WITH HIM.

Jeremiah 29:7
Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.

GOD WANTS US TO ENJOY HIS GIFTS…
… AND ENJOY PARTNERING WITH HIM.

How can we partner with God in loving others?
START SMALL AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!
BE ABUNDANT IN GIVING WHAT YOU HAVE.

Sunday June 27, 2010

Ephesians 1:15-19

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all his people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 3:1-2

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are… Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Sunday June 13, 2010

Isaiah 35:1-6, 10

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.  Lke the crocus it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.  The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our GOD.  Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your god will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”  Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.  Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.  Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.  and the ransomed of the LORD will return.  They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.  Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighting will flee away.

Isaiah 49:13

Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains!  For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

Matthew 25:31-34

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. ” All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.'”

Thessalonians 4:16-18

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And so we will be with the Lord forever.  Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Romans 8:28-31

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brothers.  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.  What, then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:34-39

Christ Jesus, who died-more than that, who was raised to life-is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long: we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors throough him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,  will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Revelation 21:1-5

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, comng down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, fore these words are trustworthy and true.”