John 1

I decided to stop where I was in Judges and jump over to the book of John.

I am reading John in the New Living Translation (good translation for easy reading and getting the basic thought) and also in the New American Standard Bible (good word for word translation that is harder to read, but super for getting closer to the exact words used) with a word study commentary. There are some really neat ideas that shine through in each.

In verses 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 19, 15 the word used comes from the Greek word eimi which is the "to be" verb of the Greek language. In this case it is en which is the imperfect sense and means "had been before for an undetermined time". The idea being in John 1 that Jesus (the Word) had been from before the beginning. Jesus was pre-existent. Because of the way some of our translations translate this section of the Bible some people have come to think that Jesus was created by God. The better understanding of this passage and the whole Bible is that Jesus was the initiator of Creation, but that He has always been with God from before the beginning.

In verses 3, 6, 10, 14, 17 John uses the Greek work ginomai in the aorist (eginota) which means "to become something it wasn't before." What you get then is the idea that Jesus was from before the beginning, but that when He came to live on earth He became something He was not before and that would be human. This is a really important and powerful understanding because some people then were saying Jesus really was just a spirit and had no flesh, but this would disagree with that. And today there are people who say Jesus is just one of many created beings, but this would say that John under God's inspiration said Jesus was from before the beginning and therefore is indeed God. Just check out verse 1 where John says the Word (Jesus) was God.

1:5 - The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (NLT) The NASB says the darkness did not comprehend it. I love the literal translation which says the darkness couldn't take hold of it. I am left with the idea that Jesus was and is so much beyond the control or comprehension of the darkness. It couldn't and can't manipulate Him and it can't figure Him out. Jesus is above the power and influence of anything dark. As my wife Nancy said last night at Bible study, Jesus is untamable and wild.

1:8 - John says that he was a witness that came to tell about the light. The Greek word there is where we get our word martyr from. John came to be a martyr. Did you?

1:12 - believed him and accepted him - It isn't enough to actually believe in Jesus. You actually have to accept His rule in your life or you r belief will mean nothing. Check out James 2:19. True belief causes a lifestyle change.

1:18 - There is an interesting comment in the translator's commentary here. It says that the article (the) is left off of the word for God (theon) and therefore John is expressing that no one has seen God in His complete, eternal and entirety except Jesus. This would be another great proof that Jesus was and is God because if no human or created thing has seen God completely and Jesus has than Jesus is beyond creation.

1:22 - How would you answer the question, What do you have to say about yourself? John had an answer ready that was 100% tied to God's purpose through Jesus. Does your answer have 100% Jesus or does it involve parts of the world?

1:29 - Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. - The word used here can also be used to mean to pick up a stone and move it from the earth. Jesus came to take the overwhelming weight of our sin off of us and He did it by being the sacrifice to God for us.

1:33 - who will baptize with (in - NASB) the Holy Spirit. - I have always understood this to be something God does with the indwelling of His Holy Spirit in the person's life at their water baptism. I am researching the Holy Spirit out more and more right now in my life to see if that is the right answer here or if there is something bigger we are missing in our understanding of the Holy Spirit.

1:39-46 - Come and see. - What a great approach. We try to get so clever with people to get them to meet Jesus, but if we had the confidence because of a changed life and the power of God on that life we could easily just say come and see for yourself. I think we get gimmicky because we haven't fully pursued God and therefore we can't honestly say come and see, because there isn't much to see.

1:51 - ... the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth. - The NASB says that the angels ascend and descend on Jesus. I have never seen this before. I love the idea that Jesus is the stairway between heaven and earth. If you are on Jesus than you are on the way to heaven. It really makes sense when Jesus says that He is the Way. You cannot get there any other way.

Love, Michael

Judges 17-18

This section of Judges is not chronological with the first 16 chapters. Most scholars believe that this is simply events and information to prove how unholy and distracted the people of Israel had become.

I also found it interesting that Judges covers about 324 years from start to finish.

The key verse in these two chapters as far as I can tell is 17:6 where it says, In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit. The people apparently all went their own way after Joshua and the elders died. Even during the rescues from the Judges earlier in the book you get the sense that it is only parts of Israel that turn back to God.

This whole episode with the idol and the priest were another powerful example of how far the people had walked away from God's way of doing things. They substituted the idea of religion for obedience. They thought that if they worshipped at all God would be pleased with them. God is not pleased with religion for religion's sake. He is looking for true worship through obedience to Him. Sincerity in disobedience is not a higher goal than obedience out of love.

Love, Michael

Judges 13-16

13:5 - I think it is interesting that the angel says that Samson will begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. I think historically, it isn't long after this couple of hundred years or so that the Philistines are completely delivered from the Philistines through Saul and then David and Solomon. It is just that idea that you might be a part of God beginning something, so don't get to fired up or bummed out if you don't get to be the one that sees it come to fruition.

13:8 - Teach us how to bring up the boy - We should all pray this prayer, although I wonder if they listened well, because they sure seem to just give him whatever he wants.

13:12 - What is to be the rule that governs the boy's life and work? - Another great question we should be asking God about our children.

13:25 - and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him... - Oh, Lord, would you please begin to stir not only in us again, but in our sons!!!!

14:4 - His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines... - It is really hard for me to get this. Samson basically looses his temper and the Bible says in some way it was part of God's plan. I trust the character and nature of God, so I am comfortable with it, but I don't fully grasp it.

14:6, 14:19, 15:14 - All these verses say that the Spirit of the Lord cam eon him in power. Just love it!!!!!

14:9 - Samson broke his Nazarite vow by touching the carcass of the dead lion.

14:10 - Samson broke his Nazarite vow by being a part of a drinking party. In the Hebrew the word for feast here is drinking festival that lasted 7 days.

It seems like one of the lessons to learn from this is to know who you are supposed to be in Christ and don't negotiate that. Had Samson stayed true to his Nazarite calling and let God lead him how much better off would Israel have been? If you figured out your role and then stuck to it without compromise how much stronger would the church be???

15:11 - I merely did to them what they did to me.- Living like this will get your eyes gouged out and leave you under a pile of rubble.

16:20 - ONE OF THE SADDEST VERSES IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE. But he did not know that the Lord had left him. God, may we never live in such a way that we do not know whether you are with us or not. May we always live where you stay with us and in us and your power rests on us.

Love, Michael

Judges 8-12

I read Judges 8-9 yesterday. It was good stuff. Pretty straight forward so not a lot of comments.

I read Judges 10-12 this morning.

10:6-7 - ... And because the Israelites forsook the Lord and no longer served him, he became angry with them.... - I seriously wonder many times if someone were writing the history of our lives and our church what would they write under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Would they have to write that we forsook God and no longer served Him? Would they have to right that we honored God with our lips, bu tour hearts were far from Him? Would they be able to write that we were devoted to Him in the right kind of way?

10:14 - Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble. - I am sure some people would be offended by this, but I have no issue with it. If they really believe that serving these false gods is right then why would it be wrong for God to remove Himself from the situation and let them have what they want? So often we want to live like hell and yet have God present us with heaven. We need to realize that we choose by our faith and the actions it causes whether we live with peace or in chaos. We have to learn to stop blaming God and start taking responsibility for our choices. God is willing to rescue and bless, but He won't force it.

11:29 - Then then Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah. - Just love verses about the Spirit of God coming on people.

11:34-40 - I have never fully understood this section of Judges. I have heard people try to make sense of it by saying Jephthah would not let his daughter marry, but the text says a burnt offering. The best I have come up with is that God NEVER condones or accepts this anywhere in Scripture. It seems like maybe it is something from the pagan culture that Jephthah does that God would not have him do.

12:1 - What's up with the Ephraimites and always trying to start a fight after someone else goes off to war and has a victory? What is that all about?

Love, Michael

Judges 5-7

Chapter 5 is a song about what had happened sung by Deborah and Barak.

6:7-11 - The verse says that God had rescued and delivered the people, but they refused to listen to Him. Where has God delivered you? Where has He rescued you? Where are you not listening to Him?

6:13 - Gideon trusted what he could see and had experienced over what god was telling him. We have to learn that our perception of reality is not reality. god's spoken word is reality in every circumstances.

6:14 - I wonder why God told Gideon to go in the strength he had. I bet it was so Gideon would realize he couldn't without God. It was to help him recognize his need and god's willingness to help.

6:16 - I will be with you, - some of the most powerful words you could hear if you were Gideon. And think about this, Jesus said these same words in the Great Commission to you. Where is YOUR strength, Gideon?

6:17 - This is the 1st sign Gideon asked for.

6:27 - Gideon did destroy the altars to the false God's but he did it at night. What would the outcome and response have been if Gideon had honored God by doing it in the day time? Can you imagine how much glory God would have received if Gideon had let God stand in front of his fear? We must learn to do everything in the daylight of no fear, because we trust the God who will one day reveal everything. Let people praise God by doing the difficult out in the open.

6:34 - The Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, - And then look what Gideon did. We live with the indwelling of the Spirit of the Lord, so it is time we start doing even more than Gideon did.

6:36-38 - 2nd sign asked for

6:39-40 - 3rd sign asked for. Interesting, God never corrects Gideon for asking for confirmation.

7:2 - The Lord said to Gideon, "You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boats against me, 'My own strength has saved me.'" - WOW! They started out with 32,000, but that was too much. They worked it down to 10,000 (vs 4), but that was still too much. God wasn't satisfied until it was 300 (vs 7)!!!! We think resources make the difference, but God makes the difference. Sometimes too much of something removes God's willingness to move. We need to take joy when we are really weak because God loves to work through things where His glory shines through the brightest.

7:8 - Interesting. Gideon didn't send them home, but to their tents. Was this in accordance with god's will or was Gideon hedging his bet?

7:10 - God reassured Gideon in the midst of his concern.

7:17 - Watch me. Follow my lead....Do exactly as I do. - This is something only a leader can say. why are we so afraid of saying this to people? Maybe because we want on out so we can sin or stumble or stop for a while without feeling responsible to others. Godly leaders have no problem telling people to follow and watch and do.

7:22 - The Lord did the fighting for them. He is always the ultimate fighter in these situations.

Love, Michael

Judges 3-4

3:2 - God's plan was for the Israelites to totally destroy the inhabitants so that the Israelites would have peace and not have need of war, but because they disobeyed God adjusted that and left the inhabitants there to test and train the Israelites. We need to remember that if we do things God's way, without wavering, it makes life so much easier. It is when we disobey that we end up living with snares that god never intended for us.

3:6 - They took their daughters in marriage and gave their own daughters in marriage to their sons, and served theirs gods. - No matter how much our society wants to make it okay, we should do everything we can to make sure that Christians marry Christians. Who you marry will normally deeply affect your faith. Some marry thinking they can bring someone to Christ through marriage, but Paul says just the opposite is going to happen when he writes in 1 Corinthians 7:16.

3:7 - The result of the previous verse is seen immediately in this verse.

3:10 - The Spirit of the Lord came on him... - The Spirit of the Lord came on him and empowered him, but we live with the Spirit of the Lord inside of us. How much more should we be out courageously rescuing God's children?

There is a pattern throughout Judges. Sin --- Suffer --- Cry out --- Get rescued --- Sin

4:6-9 -God commanded Barak to go, but Barak had conditions on it and so God took away from him what could have been his. (9) "Certainly I will go with you," said Deborah. "But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman." - I love her confidence and clarity. Do you see that the problem with Barak was the course he was taking? The course we take in obedience to God does matter incredibly.

4:14 - Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Ha snot the Lord gone ahead of you? - Who is your Sisera? Who is it that has you worried enough that you hesitate to fully obey God? We have to remember that today is the day that Lord has delivered us from everything in life and so there is nothing to fear. GO! Go and obey God as He has called you to without fear.

4:15 - At Barak's advance, the Lord routed Sisera and ... - We have to move before God will rout our enemies. Barak had to take the first step, but then God did all of the routing. Never think God will just go ahead without your obedience and never think that your obedience means you go it alone. God goes before us and He does the work and secured the victory for us.

Love, Michael

Judges 1-2

1:3 - It is good to ask your brothers for help and to help them in return.

1:6 - When the Bible records that they cut off the thumbs and big toes it meant that the person would then have trouble picking up stuff and walking. It relegated people to being beggars who crawled around. It was a total act of humiliation.

1:19 - The enemies of Israel had superior technology (iron) and yet with God with them they had no trouble overtaking them. Technology and resources do not determine the outcome when God is with you.

There were a few times I picked up on the phrase the Lord was with them. This is highly significant. God didn't tell them what to do and then stand back. He was actively engaged with them while they carried out His commands. God is no less with us when we do what He calls us to. We need to remember that.

1:35 - I wonder what would have happened had the Israelites been more determined than the people in the land. I heard one man say that if the Israelites had been willing to come out of the foothills and take the good land that god offered them they would have had an even greater influence over the world at that time. Fear kept them in the foothills and it kept them from making the impact they could have made. What does fear keep us from influencing?

2:2 - Had the people disobeyed by making a covenant with another nation (yes the Gibeonites) and had they worship other gods and bowed down at their altars (yes). We can not follow God AND....and anything.

2:3 - God left some people in the land because of the Israelites disobedience. He didn't want it that way, but that is what their disobedience led to. What is in your life because you have not fully obeyed God that causes you grief?

2:7 - The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders... - We need to do all that we can to make sure that our ministry outlives our lives.

2:10-11 - After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. - I want you to see a pattern here. The people didn't properly pass on their faith. They didn't teach and tell the stories of God's faithfulness. and since they didn't teach the younger generation what God had done and how He had been faithful those people walked away. Are you doing all that you should be doing right now to make sure to take about God and His faithfulness to your kids and to other kids? Will they know enough about how He has been faithful to trust Him themselves or will your lack of talking lead them to go find something else to worship? We are the bridge between our faith and whether faith will exist in the lives of those closest to us in the future. We have to talk about God's faithfulness or they will go looking somewhere else.

2:14 - Obedience grants god's favor which allows you to resist evil and overcome in life.

2:19 - more corrupt...They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. = the Lord was very angry with them. What are you hanging onto that you refuse to give up? Do you know that it causes God to be angry with you? I think we think that because of Jesus God never gets upset with us. Our evil practices and our stubborn ways still anger God.

2:22 - Their punishment was that God would now leave the snares in the land that He initially had intended to remove. God had a great plan for their life, but their refusal to follow Him completely even when things got tough meant they would never experience it fully. They would get some of it, but not all. We need to decide if we are okay with some of it or if we want God's very best for our lives, family and community. If we want God's best for PW than we need to fully obey our God.

Love, Michael

Mark 15-16

15:5 - Sometimes silence is the best defense. So many of us argue our case, but Jesus left Himself in the hands of the Father. (1 Peter 2:23)

15:12 - What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews? - that is the question every one of us is asked.

15:14 - If you find yourself repeating the same thing only louder and louder there is a great chance that your heart isn't right. Yelling, even about good things, most likely means our hearts have taken a detour.

15:16-20 - Love = allowing those you are saving to mock and beat you while you are saving them.

15:32 - ...that we may see and believe. - The problem for the chief priests and teachers of the law was their lack of faith as much as it was their thirst for power. They didn't want to have to believe what they couldn't see and therefore control. we need to be careful not to make Christianity only about what we as leaders can see, understand and control. There should be things we are just as amazed by. Too many answers means too little of a God.

15:33-37 - Jesus gave His life up at 3 PM. 3 PM was the time during every day when the priests sacrificed the lamb for the sins of the people. God is perfect in His timing. What an incredible way to teach us who and what Jesus was and is.

When Jesus calls out and the people say He is calling Elijah it is because the name Elijah means God is God.

15:38 - The curtain being torn from top to bottom was huge, because it meant that God was tearing away that which separated Him from His people.

15:43 - We focus so much on the disciples running away that we forget some people acted boldly. Joseph of Arimathea went boldly to Pilate.

16:6 - ... who WAS crucified. He IS risen! He is not here. - I love this. He was crucified, but He isn't any more. He IS now risen from the dead and can no longer die. And, oh yeah, He ain't in this tomb anymore. Your Savior is RISEN!!!! That should change something for you today.

16:7 - I think it is interesting that the angel sends them to the disciples and Peter. Jesus has such a desire to redeem and reconnect with us even after we have betrayed Him that He calls us by name. Jesus dealt with this head on for Peter's sake.

The last half of Mark 16 is not in the best and earliest manuscripts. This probably means Mark didn't write it there, but others did as other people wrote about Jesus and recalled what happened. It is worth listening to, but be careful about putting too much weight behind it as it is a 50/50 proposition and not as solid as other writings in the Scripture.

16:14 - ... he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. - You know this part is true because you can check out the other Gospels (Matthew, Luke, John) and find this in their record. I wonder if Jesus would have to rebuke those of us in leadership at The Oasis for our lack of faith and stubborn refusal to believe sometimes. Right now, to be honest, I think He would praise us for our faith and belief, but let's keep it that way.

16:16 - Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. - I am a baptism guy, but I would use this verse lightly. Since it is in a section that is 50/50 I would be careful not to build a whole theology off of it. It is funny because the baptism people point to this to prove the significance of baptism with salvation and the faith only people point to it to prove that baptism is not necessary. Same verse, but different biases cause different understandings. Work hard to make sure to admit your biases up front so you can honestly examine the Scriptures as a whole.

16:17 - This verse is interesting to me.

Love, Michael

Mark 14

One of the overwhelming thoughts that I got while reading chapter 14 of Mark was that the first time the disciples lives were at stake they ran away and hid, but the next time they gladly stood their ground. It is an amazing change that is a tremendous proof of the resurrection of Jesus. If it was a hoax and they knew it they would have ran even faster, they proved that the first time. By standing their ground, even to the point of death for all but John, they prove the resurrection deeply changed their lives. Lies don't do that. At a minimum they believed in the resurrection.

14:1 - When you have to get sly or crafty you are headed to, if not already in, sin. God calls us to be wise, not to be sly. The next time you have to get overly creative at work or with your spouse or with a neighbor, you need to check if sin is present.

14:5 - I believe that Judas was the one who was so indignant because he used to help himself to the community's money bag. I am not sureif that is recorded in one of the Gospel about this time Jesus was anointed or the first time, but it does say Judas like to steal money from the bag and that is why he was bent out of shape.

14:8 - She did what she could. - I love this verse. It is not about what you would did if you had or what someone else did, it is really about doing what you can. Jesus will judge us based on what we did with what we had. That should be a huge relief for many of us. It isn't about giving millions of dollars, it is about giving what you have faithfully. It isn't about preaching to millions, but to each person God entrusts to you. It isn't about sharing Jesus with a movie star, but with the neighbor God has put in your life. It isn't even about loving the whole world, but loving those God has placed in your world. Do what you can.

14:34 - Prayer is keeping watch.

14:38 - Watch and pray SO THAT you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. - True. We need to pray for strength because we are weak in ourselves. We need to ask God to protect us and strengthen us, because we are not strong enough on our own.

14:47 - Peter cut off Malchus' ear (John 18:10) and Jesus reconnects it just by touching him. You would think that the whole "Let's arrest Jesus" thing would have ended in that moment, but it just goes to show you how hate can blind you.

14:54 - Following Jesus at a safe distance leads to betrayal. - 14:71 - I don't know this man you're talking about.

Love, Michael

Mark 13

The theme of chapter 13 is definitely to be on guard and to be ready. Apparently, Jesus knew we would get distracted.

It is hard to tell which prophecies are about the fall of Jerusalem that happened in 70 AD and what is dealing specifically with the end of time. I guess, to tell you the truth, I don't get real fired up about whether Christians will be raptured or if the world will end all at once or if it is tomorrow or 1,000 years from now. I really sense that God is more concerned with my obedience right now than me figuring out things He said I wouldn't figure out. I think we should have a good sense of what we believe about the end of the world, but if we aren't being faithful to the degree we should be does it really matter what our end times view is?

13:9 - ... On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. - I thought this was such a cool verse that I have missed in the past. The persecution and suffering that Christians will undergo towards the end of time will be their ticket to witness to those in positions of authority. It isn't suffering for no reason, but the doorway to sharing Christ with those who would seem otherwise beyond reach. Maybe the suffering in your life right now is God enabling you to share Christ with someone else - a doctor, judge, teacher, boss, etc.

13:13 - Everyone will hate you because of me, but those who stand firm to the end will be saved. - Faithfulness is required for salvation. We must endure in our faith. It isn't enough to have believed once. We must be in belief now and each day.

13:36 - If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. - Being real honest, are you ready for Christ's return right now or would you get a sinking feeling in your gut if you knew He was at the door?

Love, Michael

Mark 12

12:14 - Man of integrity = not swayed by others
pay no attention to others positions
teach the way of God in accordance with the truth
So, are you a man of integrity?

12:17 - Then Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." - I love this verse. Jesus just hits at the root of everything. what in your life belongs to God? EVERYTHING!

12:24 - Are you not in error because you don't know the Scriptures or the power of God?

12:26 - Jesus attributes Exodus to Moses.

12:27 - God is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living.

12:28-31 - The greatest commandments are the heart of all the commandments - relationship with God and others.

12:41 - Jesus watched people give.

12:44 - They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to love on.

Love, Michael

Mark 11

11:9-10 - I have always believed these to be the same people that days later are screaming CRUCIFY!. I wonder if they were or if a small number of others were. Maybe, the larger number of people failed to stand up. I guess that would be just as bad as being in the crowd. Do you ever not join in the sin and yet sin by not standing up against it?

11:13-14 - It wasn't the season for figs so what is Jesus teaching here? Be fruitful always???

11:16 - There is a time to stand up and stop being passive.

11:17 - house of prayer - What should we be doing to make The Oasis a house of prayer?

11:23 - Doubt destroys the effectiveness of prayer.

11:25 - And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, SO THAT your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. - You forgiving others is a CONDITION of you being forgiven. We use the word UNCONDITIONAL so much with regard to the Bible, but it is a man made idea. It is not that God is finicky, but God also does not write a blank check. God has expectations for us when it comes to all things and we need to search those out instead of accepting a nice, but incomplete truth.

Love, Michael

Mark 10

10:1-12 - Jesus starts by asking what they currently believe/know and then teaches from there. This is a great technique when people have questions and especially when you sense they want a fight and not an answer. You begin by asking them to reveal what they know/believe and then you walk through Scripture (not opinion or experience) to see if that stands up. If it doesn't it is Scripture and not you refuting them.

10:5 - It is because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote this law. - I just found this verse really interesting. Moses had permitted divorce because the people's hearts were hard. Divorce is a matter of a hard heart. If we would see it that way we could push past all the reasons and excuses and emotion and realize if we soften our heart towards God He will enable us to soften our heart towards the other person and we will be reconciled.

10:9 - Marriage is God joining a man and a woman together and no one (not even those in the marriage) have the right to undo that.

10:11-12 - Divorce and remarriage leads to adultery. Adultery is forgivable, but tread lightly. I would encourage anyone who is not yet divorced to fight for the faith to believe God and not to give in or give up or figure God will forgive you. We should not think we can sin knowingly and expect forgiveness and then get it. If you are already divorced and remarried I think Scripture would teach for you to confess your sin to God and the person you were married to and the one you are married to now and then stay with the one you are now married to. I see nowhere where the Bible says another divorce would somehow honor God.

10:14-15 - ... for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.- WOW!

10:21 - The rich young man lacked treasure in heaven even though he had obeyed all of the law. Can you do everything you are supposed to do and still not have done enough? I think it is more about your heart. If we only do what we are supposed to do we have failed to have the kind of change in our hearts that leads us to Jesus.

10:24 - But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God." - It is ironic that the leader of Christianity has said it is hard to enter heaven and yet we try to sell people on how easy it is. No wonder so many are disenchanted. They signed up for something easy and they got something tough. I wonder how many would have still followed Jesus had we been more honest with them on the front end and how many would still be walking with Him today.

10:26 - Who then can be saved?

10:27 - With human beings this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.- NOTHING is impossible for God. NOTHING! Think about that for a minute. Where in your life have you decided something is beyond reach, beyond repair, beyond change? Where in your life have you let something become "just the way it is" when the God of the impossible has said He could and would change it? Never give up on God's ability no matter how convinced you are.

10:29-31 - We will receive a reward for what we give up in our pursuit of God. What will your reward look like based on what you are currently giving up?

10:38 - I wonder how many times we don't know what we are asking for.

10:43-45 - Greatness comes in serving.

10:48 - Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more. - Don't let the crowd determine if you get to Jesus or not. If it is hard yell louder. Don't let them determine your future. God listens for the yells of the blind. Confess you blindness and then yell out for God over the crowd and over the noise of life.

10:51 - What do you want me to do for you?- Would you have an answer for Jesus if He asked you today? What do you want Jesus to do for you? Maybe nothing happens because Jesus is waiting for us to make our minds up.

Love, Michael

Mark 9

9:1-10 - What is the reason for the transfiguration? It seems to have a lot to do with preparation for the crucifixion.

9:5 - How did the three disciples know it was Moses and Elijah?

9:19 - The disciples ability or inability to cast out the demon hinged on the issue of their faith.

9:22 - Satan wants death and pain for people.

9:23 - If you can? Everything is possible for one who believes.

9:29 - This kind can come out only by prayer. - When Jesus says this He seems to be talking about prayer prior to this moment since He doesn't pray here. I wonder if there isn't something here about preparing in prayer so that we have the ability at times when we are away from prayer. Can you imagine praying this morning in a way that made things possible tomorrow or next week?

9:35 - Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and servant of all.

9:43-48 - It is better to dramatically lose a part of your body than to forfeit heaven.

Love, Michael

Mark 8

8:4 - Even the concrete realities of life don't hinder or restrain God's ability and willingness to move. It didn't matter that they were in a remote place and there was no food to buy. When God wants to do something He is not limited by our resources, politics, land, etc. God's will is accomplished wherever He wants it to be. We need to remember that so we leave lots of room for God to do the miraculous instead of having such little faith that God chooses not to move miraculously among us.

The disciples also ask if anyone can get food in a place like this. Well, Jesus isn't just anyone. AND NEITHER ARE YOU!!! When you accepted Jesus Christ and began your walk with Him you were changed. You are no longer just anyone and you need to remember that.

8:17-18 - ... Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ... And don't you remember? - How would you honestly answer these questions if Jesus posed them to you?

8:29 - But what about you? Who do you say I am?

8:33 - Get behind me, Satan! You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns. - I look at this verse and it causes me to believe that when all I can think about are the human concerns I am thinking like Satan would have me think. When there is no room for God in my thinking Satan is winning. To be a follower of Christ is to consider the human, but focus on the godly.

8:34 - To be a disciple of Jesus you MUST: 1) deny yourself
2) take up your cross
3) follow Jesus
I think we are so familiar with this verse that it has lost meaning to us. To be a disciple you don;t pick one out of three. You MUST do all three. You must say no to yourself everyday (how good are you at that?), you must take up your cross, pay the price for your faith (do you carry a cross each day or just drag it around behind you?) and you have to follow Jesus. The last one seems pretty obvious, but what did you do today to actively follow Jesus instead of just checking in with Him and then doing what you had planned anyway?

8:36 - What good is it for you to gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul? - Another way of asking this might be, what good is it to have the biggest church in town and yet lose your soul? Or, what good is it to become fire chief and yet lose your soul? What good is it to become debt-free and yet lose your soul? What good is it to become highly educated and yet lose your soul? What good is it to do ANYTHING and yet lose your soul? The question Jesus is asking is a question of focus and priority. Why do we keep putting other things in front of Christ? We know it won't be worth it in the long run and yet we keep doing it. We keep thinking other things will satisfy more. We know better. It is time we start reminding ourselves with how we make every decision that our souls are more important than whatever we are being offered or whatever we are chasing.

Love, Michael

Mark 7

7:6-7 - He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written;
These people honor me with their lips, but theirs hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain;their teachings are merely human rules."

7:8 - You have left go of the commands of God and are holding to human traditions.

7:13 - Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that. - I wonder where we do this today???

7:20 - What comes out of you is what defiles you. - I have done a lot of searching my own life in this area. It isn't so much what I do, but why I do what I do that is the issue. For instance, it isn't just the lusting, because you could try to stop, but it will be a constant battle. The real question is what belief is broken inside of you that causes you to want to want that way in the first place. There is something in your heart and faith that is broken. When you can dig all the way down to your heart you can figure out why and then you can begin to change that through Christ. Our hearts is the source of sin and when we can focus on that Jesus is glorified.

7:21 - For from within, out of your hearts, come... - This is what God would have you see. It is what is in you that causes sin not just what you experience on the outside. People who are unfaithful, abusive, greedy, angry, apathetic, etc. have a problem inside.

7:24 - ... he could not keep his presence secret. - I love this. Just Him being there caught people's attention. What can we do to help people see Him?

7:24-30 - Healing the Greek woman's daughter. This had always confused me, because it didn't line up with the personality of Jesus to say something like this. I did research on it in college and the general consensus is that Jesus is testing her reaction. He is saying what she would expect to see how she responds and when she responds well He gladly heals her daughter. This isn't Jesus being mean or calloused it is Him testing the quality of this woman's faith and heart.

Love, Michael

Mark 6

6:3 - Jesus had at least 4 brothers and 2 sisters.

6:5-6 - Their lack of faith limited Jesus' ability to do miracles. It is somewhat amazing to think that Jesus would be limited by anything, even while on earth, but the people's lack of faith made it so He could not do many miracles. What is our lack of faith doing to limit the moving of God?

6:12 - They went out and preached that people should repent. - It just blows me away how we have changed the teaching of Scripture over time. So many people now act and teach as though repentance is not necessary but saying a prayer or getting baptized is. One of the major components of salvation is repentance; it is turning away from sin and turning back towards God. There is no salvation without repentance.

6:31 - It is okay for leaders to take time for their team to go to a quiet place and rest.

6:34 - When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.... - When people do not have someone to walk with them, provide for them, protect them and teach them they just go in every direction. Jesus was a good shepherd, because He was willing to take care of the people's needs. We are good leaders when we do the same.

6:41 - When you give thanks for what you do have instead of focusing on what you don't have God makes what you do have enough. If God is in it, God will provide for it, so we need to focus on the task at hand and not the resources we are aware of. Can you imagine how many things don't get done because we focus so much on the material provision?

6:46 - There are times for you as a leader to get away by yourself to pray.

6:56 - ... and all who touched him were healed. - If we can get people near Jesus He will heal them.

Love, Michael

Mark 5

It is interesting to note that the demons drove the man out among the tombs. Satan will do whatever he can to separate you from places of life. He does not want you near other people and definitely not near those who want to bless you.

5:7 - Regardless of what people want to think, those in the spiritual realm recognize who Jesus is.

5:12 - The demons begged Jesus... - This shows that the real authority rests with Jesus. You have nothing to fear, because Jesus has the power and authority to protect you.

5:17 - The people were afraid. It doesn't say why they were afraid. It could have been that they lost money. It could have been that they thought the demons would come back for them. There is no need to be afraid when Jesus does something good. The blessing of God never comes with anything bad.

5:19 - Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how much he has had mercy on you. - This is the call of Jesus to every one of us. have you shown your appreciation to Jesus by doing it or have you decided to go off and do your own thing? Gratitude is shown by obedience.

5:24 - Jesus still goes with us if we will only ask.

5:28 - Does your thinking make room for God to do the impossible? So many of us will not make the mental room for Jesus to do the miraculous. Is it any wonder that it isn't occurring among us? We need to begin to think the very best about Jesus.

5:34 - Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering. - God longs to say this to His daughters and His sons.

5:36 - ... Don't be afraid; just believe. - I am certain that Jesus would say this to most of us today. Quit believing what you can see and what you experience and what you know and just believe. Believe that Jesus is capable of far beyond anything you know. Just believe.

Love, Michael

Mark 4

Mark 4:1-20 - Parable of the Sower
1 - Satan steals the word of God from people's hearts so he can keep them away from fruitfulness. I think many of us get caught up in the idea that Satan is some mischievous little red guy on our shoulder or some gremlin just trying to mess things up. He is not. He is the worst kind of enemy there is. His heart is set not just on your destruction, but on as much pain as he can inflict along the way. His primary way of ruining a life is to separate someone from the word of God, so that they have no hope. We need to fight for the word of God in our own life and in the lives of others. The word of God will bring the truth of God which will set people free. We have to quit trying fancy techniques to save people and just get back to the one thing we know works - give people God's word and do everything we can to protect it in their lives.

2 - No roots means you are not going to make it in faith when troubles and persecutions come, and they will come. You cannot accept Jesus and be inactive about it. It takes an effort to grow and develop deep roots, because trouble will come. I have a friend who no sooner than he accepted Christ he was given an "opportunity" which has come with so much pressure it is killing his faith. We have to help people do the hard work from the moment they accept Christ instead of acting like they have time. Every person that says yes to Jesus should be protected with prayer and taught how to put together a deep life in Christ at the outset and not years later. By the time years later comes around their faith is dead inside of them.

3 - Unfruitful because of worry, deceitfulness of wealth and desire for other things will kill/choke out your faith. You have to keep a tight rein on your desires, your dreams, your wishes and you wants. A person can see a good faith choked out in minutes if they don't give Christ control of their hearts. You can faithfully follow for years and then let greed or materialism or worry or something else creep in and then your faith is choked out and you are left with nothing. Zealously fight for a pure heart and put up precautions all over your life so you don't fall here.

4 - Good soil = fruitfulness. If you are producing fruit you have good soil and if you are not there is a problem with the soil. (Soil = your heart and mind.) Weed your life. Fertilize it to make it healthy. Till it up from time to time to make sure it isn't getting hard. Water it with grace and worship and service. Pay attention and work hard. No successful farmer sits back and waits for the plants to plant and grow themselves. He does everything in his power while relying on God. Become active in weeding and preparing your life for God to move.

4:21 - Light is mean for a stand. The modern idea is to hide your light because it is somehow offensive to others, that is offensive to God. We need to choose who we would rather offend.

4:22 - ... With the measure you use, it will be measured to you - and even more. - Scary and awesome. I need to use a greater measure of grace and love and a lesser measure of criticism and selfishness. What about you?

4:26-29 - We scatter the seed --- God grows the seed --- We harvest the crop. I find myself obsessing about the growing part and yet the most faithful part of the formula is God. I need to focus on planting and harvesting what god grows.

4:38 - ... don't you care? ... (4:40) no faith - I am always amazed at this event. The disciples did what we do when we are in trouble - they believed their circumstances more than they believed their Lord and God. Faith is believing more in the character of God than in the circumstances around you. Faith is trusting Jesus when death is certain because you believe He is truer than what you fear. I wish we could see how different life would be if we trusted the character and nature of Jesus even when He seems to be sleeping more than we trust the things we see and feel.

Love, Michael

Mark 2-3

2:4 - they made an opening - I love this story. You have a guy who has a major need to get near Jesus but he can't. He is paralyzed and their is a crowd. And, the text doesn't tell us, but it isn't even clear whether he wants to get near Jesus. But his friends want him to be healed. His friends love him so much that they want to make sure if healing is even possible that their friend gets his shot at it. When they encounter the crowd they don't walk away and they don't wait. The Bible says they made an opening. They climbed up on the roof and DUG A HOLE IN IT. YES! They were so set on getting their friend near Jesus that they didn't let anything stand in the way. And when the man is lowered in front of Jesus ( a scene I would LOVED to have seen) Jesus tells the man and the crowd that because of THEIR faith the young man is forgiven and then He heals them. THEIR faith. Your faith and the action it creates can help others get forgiven AND healed.
What are you like with your friends? Do you let the crowd or the problems stop you from getting your friends near Jesus? Do you stand around waiting for things to clear out when you know Jesus is close? We have got to become the kinds of friends that dig a hole in a roof so our friends can meet Jesus. We need to start making an opening instead of waiting for one to magically appear.

2:8 - Do you believe God still allows us to know things in our spirit about people and circumstances or was this just for Jesus or just for then? I firmly believe that as we walk with Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit that God continues to allow this to happen. He speaks something clearly in our souls that we would otherwise have no way of knowing. The caution is, we need to be careful that we do not mistake hunches for the Holy Spirit.

2:14 - Do you reason with God when He calls or do you get up and follow?

2:17 - It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

2:21-22 - This passage confuses some people. Jesus is simply teaching that His way of doing life and faith are not an add-on or a patch, but a whole new way of doing life. The change Jesus calls for is a total remaking of your heart, mind and daily living. Anything short of that will only end up tearing you apart.

2:27 - The Sabbath was made for people... - We totally don't get this. God has called us to a day of rest as a gift to us and not as some rule or regulation. It is His gift.

3:2 - Do people watch you closely because they KNOW you will do something righteous or does it surprise them when you do?

3:5 - This passage tells us one of the things that ANGERS Jesus - stubborn hearts. You may think your stubborn heart is no big deal, because of god's grace, but you would be wrong. God is gracious, but you and I need to understand He has little patience for those who know better and yet choose to live like they didn't.

3:29 - The only unforgivable sin I have ever found in the Bible is in this passage. It is not suicide or adultery or drug use or prison or any of that. The unforgivable sin is intentionally attributing what God is doing to Satan for the point of leading others away. I believe it is an intentional sin and not something you accidentally do.

3:35 - Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother.

Love, Michael

Mark 1

1:1 - The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, - It was just the beginning and we are a part of its continuation!!! What have you done today to further the good news about Jesus the Messiah?

1:4 - preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. - The baptism of John was tied to forgiveness.

1:5 - Confessing their sins they were baptized. - I wonder what this looked like. Did they confess all of their sins or was this about them confessing specific sins and characteristics? Would John baptize them if they didn't confess? I just have this picture of confession being very much a part of baptism and wonder if that is something missing from the church today. What if people confessed at their baptism. How much more powerful would that be and what would it do in the person? I would think we would have less people getting wet and more getting baptized.

1:8 - I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. - The difference between Jesus' and John's baptism was that while they both dealt with the forgiveness of sins, Jesus came with the Holy Spirit. Interestingly enough, every person in the New Testament that is called a Christian had the Holy Spirit. The apostles receive it by Jesus blowing on them after His resurrection, others receive it at baptism and when Paul runs into some people who were baptized by john for forgiveness, but who had not been baptized into Christ, Paul says they need the Holy Spirit and he baptizes them. Baptism is tied to the Holy Spirit.

1:11 - It was at His baptism and later at His transfiguration that God spoke from heaven and said He was pleased with Jesus. Those two events then are highly significant.

1:15 - Repent and believe the good news. - It is ironic that we have dropped repent and and completely from our theology. you had to repent AND believe the good news. It was not following Jesus to one or the other. You are called to both.

1:18 - At once they left their nets and followed him. - Have you left your nets (work) behind to follow Jesus or have you told Him you will serve Him from the boat? many good Christian men and women tell Jesus yes and then stay right where they were before He called. To follow Jesus is to leave the boat behind. It doesn't mean you quit your job, because they still fished. It means that Jesus becomes more important than what you were doing and you now do it to support His work and not to support yourself.

1:22 - The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. - Love this verse.

1:31 - Peter's mother-in-law responds to being touched/healed by Jesus by getting up and serving.

1:35 - Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. - We make a million excuses for why we don;t have time to seek God, but Jesus got up before alarm clocks and went out to meet with God while it was still very early and dark. We will find God when we quit making excuses and start working hard to find God.

1:40-41 - If you are willing...I am willing. - Jesus is still willing to cleanse, heal and change your life. Nothing you have done has made Him unwilling. Nothing!

1:43-45 - This is one of the reasons Jesus didn't want people talking about Him healing them.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 16

16:2 - On the 1st day of the week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up so that when I come no collections will have to be made. - The things we can draw from this verse is that they met on the 1st day of the week as opposed to the seventh. This was to celebrate the day of the week when Jesus was resurrected. Each person is expected to set aside money from their income as a gift. God calls us to percentage giving and not just a certain amount ($500, $100, etc.). This lines up with the Bible's teaching on giving a tithe (10%). The people here were saving for a gift to the church in Jerusalem that was struggling.

16:9 - because a great door for effective work has been opened to me and there are many here who OPPOSE me. - I love this. I have to stay because I have good work to do and people are after me. HA! Most of us would think pressure and attacks were a reason to leave, but they convince Paul to stay longer.

16:13-14 - Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.

16:15-16 - Submit to those who devote themselves to the Lord's work and who join the work and labor associated with it.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 15

15:2 - By this grace you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. - No matter what anyone wants to tell you, you need to walk in obedience to God to remain in the grace that will save you. You cannot accept Jesus and then go back to your old life and remain with Jesus. The whole bible teaches that staying in Christ is what counts and not just a moment in time decision that wasn't followed up.

15:3-4 - This is a good synopsis of the entire Gospel: death, burial, resurrection, appearances

15:10 - But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. - What a great verse. The grace of God was not without effect in my life. Is the grace of God having no daily effect on your life? If so, how is that. The grace of God ought to cause such a change in our thinking that it changes our behavior. Our gratitude ought to change how we view our life and our walk with God. How could we not focus our attention on Him more and on the things of this world less? We make excuses about not having time for the Word or prayer or worship or serving or teaching, but the grace of God ought to so change our lives those come first no matter what.

15:14/17 - The resurrection is critical to the Christian faith!!! You cannot have Christianity without it.

15:19 - If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all others.

15:20 - Christ has indeed been raised!!!! - Don't ever forget that and never let that become a fact like George Washington was president is a fact. just those words ought to hijack our day to praise.

15:29 - I have heard a few explanations here, but still not sure what this is talking about.

15:33 - Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.' - This was from a Greek poet. If you hang out with the wrong people you will end up with the wrong kind of heart. Just look back over your own life and you know this to be true. for some of you, the thing holding back your growth in Christ right now is you keep hanging out with the wrong kind of people at work or at play and your faith is held back because of it. Look at every relationship and see if it is causing you to run ahead with Christ or stay back with the world.

15:36 - ... what you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

15:42-44 - Body = perishable to imperishable
= dishonor to honor
= weakness to power
= natural to spiritual

15:49 - so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.

15:55 - Once Jesus conquerors death we will be able to sing: Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? for the time being we rest in the truth that Jesus has already overcome death, even though we still feel the sting.

15:57 - But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

15:58 - Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Give yourself fully because you know your labor is going to make a difference.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 13-14

13:1 - Mentions human and angelic tongues.

13:1-3 - Love is the standard over the whole discussion of spiritual gifts. If you have not love, it really doesn't matter what you end up concluding.

13:4-8 - This passage is used in weddings a lot and so most of us are so familiar with it that we miss the great strength in it. This is a definition of love. You can hold how you are acting, feeling, thinking up against this passage and determine whether or not you are walking in love.

13:11 - ... When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

13:13 - Love is greater than faith or hope.

14:1 - It is okay to be eager for spiritual gifts - especially prophecy. Prophecy here is probably both speaking about the future AND something similar to what we call preaching today.

14:2 - Tongues = talking to God in a way that others don;t understand
= edifies yourself rather than others

14:5 - Tongue can be interpreted for the benefit of the church if they are truly tongues from God.

14:12 - ... try to excel in those that build up the church .

14:17 - Tongues is giving thanks in some way.

14:18-19 - Paul spoke in tongues as something he did outside of church.

14:22-25 - Confusing passage.

14:26 - ... Everything must be done SO THAT the church may be built up.

14:27-28 - If there is not someone there to interpret, the person who speaks in a tongue should keep it to themselves.

14:34 - Is the word law critical to the contest of this passage?

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 12

12:1 - Now about the gifts of the Spirit, I do not want you to be uninformed. - Most of us still are. We need to study the Scripture to see what the truth is and then stand on it instead of hiding from the truth in fear we are going to find out we disagree.

12:4-6 - Different kinds of gifts, service and working, but the same Spirit/Lord/God.

12:7 - The gifts of the Spirit are given for the COMMON good. They are not for the individual, but for the body. I wonder what this speaks to those who believe in a personal prayer language as a gift of the Holy Spirit. Would this indicate that the gifts of tongues is something other than that since that would be about the individual and this gift in context would be about the body? Just a thought.

12:13 - For we are all baptized by one Spirit so to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free - and we were all given the one spirit to drink. - The key throughout this whole passage is the term ONE.

12:18 - In fact, god has placed the parts in the body , every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

12:25 - so that there should be NO DIVISION in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.

12:30 - The answer to the questions here is actually given in the Greek text. It says, "No!". All are not given all of those gifts. To judge someone as not Christian or less Christian because they do not have the same gift you have is not theologically right.

12:31 - Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 11

11:1 - Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. - I think it is ironic how many people complain about being an example when Paul says it is a mature thing to say. Live so well that you can call other people to follow you as you follow Christ so that they can begin to follow Christ better. We need to man up and walk with Jesus well enough for others to follow.

11:2-16 - This whole section has always perplexed me. I am not sure if that is because I have a hard time understanding it because of our culture or because this is an opinion and not a command from Paul. I always wonder if the words tradition and practice somehow have a ton of significance in the understanding and application of the passage.

11:3 - Christ is the head of man and man is the head of woman.

11:9 - neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. - Although this verse rile some people up it is Biblical truth. Woman was created as a partner for man. Man has no right to treat her poorly as she is a gift. If we would function inside of God's truth (both sexes) instead of trying to rewrite it to fit our politically correct world our homes, lives and communities would function a whole lot better.

11:11 - Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.

11:18 - There shouldn't be any division in the church. When there is at least one is (is most likely???) not walking as God has called them.

11:23-26 - Bread = a representation of the body. The Catholic church teaches that the bread actually becomes the body, but Paul does not say that. Using figurative language like he does throughout the whole New Testament, he is expressing that the bread represents that body Jesus offered in our place on the Cross.
Cup = blood that was poured out to cover over and make restitution for our sin.
Both = a proclamation of the Lord's death until He returns.

11:27-32 - Examine yourself when taking communion or you will face judgment. In this church some were getting sick and some had even died because they did not examine themselves when participating in the Lord's Supper. Paul says this judgment is a discipline that works to prevent you from becoming so calloused you end up being condemned with the world.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 10

10:1-5 - Paul explains that you can be deeply involved in spiritual things and still displease God. The root of pleasing God is obedience and motive. When you read, pray, give, serve, but refuse to obey He is not pleased. When you do all of those things and your heart is angry, selfish, proud, etc God is not pleased. If we would understand what God wants from us we would see that the stuff we do is not the issue. It is our heart that is the issue. And if our hearts our right we would do the stuff to help us walk in Christ with a great heart.

10:6 - Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.

10:7-10 - Paul explains that we need to NOT do what the Israelites did. He highlights 4 things to not do or be: idolaters, sexually immoral, testing Christ with our disobedience and grumbling. And then he follows it up with a verse in 12 that reminds us we have to be careful we don't think we are doing good when we aren't. I tie that verse back to these 4 things and say check these in your life carefully, because they are the main sources of stumbling.

10:12 - So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall.

10:13 - Nothing has or will overtake you that you can't find a way through it in Christ. NOTHING!

10:14-22- You cannot mix godliness and sinfulness.

10:23 - We need to make decisions not based on can we or do we have the right or the money, but based on what is beneficial and constructive to our faith and to the lives of others.

10:31 - So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. - How many things would you quit doing if you only did things for the glory of God? How would it change your attitude if you only did things for the glory of God? How would that change the outcome? We say we are doing everything we do for God, but we need to carefully look through our motives. When we do all that we do for the glory of God we will suffer and yet celebrate.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 8-9

8:1 - ... knowledge puffs up while love builds up. - True. If you have ever talked with someone when they think they are right (even if they are) it is really unsatisfying. They keep pushing their opinion and it makes it hard to communicate. On the other hand, when someone is responding in love they listen and you are left with a deep sense of satisfaction. Make sure when you talk it is not out of knowledge, but love first. If the love doesn't lead the way, you are probably walking in pride or control.

8:6 - One God (the Father), one Lord (Jesus Christ)

8:9 - Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. - This verse has been used to manipulate and control people for decades because people misunderstand it. If you follow in the verse 11 you realize Paul is talking about doing something that will lead a weaker Christian to start sinning and walk away from God. This is not about preferences. It is not about whether someone else approves of what you are doing, but if what you are doing convinces them to do something their hearts and minds can't handle. It would be like this. If I drink a beer every once in a while and someone doesn't approve that is not what this verse means. However, if I have a friend who is a recovering alcoholic and I go to the bar a couple times a week, he sees that and starts going to and he eventually ends up drinking again I have done what Paul prohibits. Really it is about loving people enough to consider them even in how you live.

8:13 - Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, SO THAT I will not cause them to fall. - I love that Paul loves his brother in Christ enough to even give up BBQ for the sake of his brother's faith/ What in your life should you give up for the sake of someone else?

9:7-14 - This section is about paying those who minister to you. Love this verse although some percentages would have been helpful. HA!

9:16 - For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! - I definitely feel this way.

9:19 - Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

9:20-21 - I am not under the law, but I am under Christ's law.

9:24 - ... Run in such a way as to get the prize. - All running is not the same. some of us jog through faith and then wonder why we don't get what we are hoping for. You have to run hard and disciplined. We will not see the church in Pueblo West we hope for by running like everyone else around us!!!

9:27 - ... so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. - It is about your walk with Jesus first. You need to have such a well developed and intimate relationship with Christ first, SO THAT you have something to offer others. Why work so hard to make sure others no Him when you don't know Him well yourself. Live a qualified life.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 7

7:4 - The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to the wife. - I know that you can have all kinds of fun at the cost of a verse like this but you can also miss the main point. When a wife gives herself to her husband she protects him from sexual sin and she draws him closer to herself. When a man makes himself available to his wife she is kept from sexual sin and relational sin because she feels closer to him. Sex is a beautiful gift from God that strengthens a marriage. never use it as a weapon and never think that it is insignificant. Work out what each of you needs and offer yourself to each other in a way that fulfills that need. Remember, love never demands something that degrades the other person.

7:5 - Again, I think this section strongly explains that being sexually active with your spouse prevents sexual sin, and temptation to some degree.

7:9 - ... for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

7:10-11 - Christians DO NOT initiate divorce except when their spouse has been sexually unfaithful and even then it is not a command but a chose. Some will argue, what about a bad marriage? Change it. Get counseling, read books, try harder, do something, but don't walk away. I read a study once where couples were going to a last ditch marriage counselor as they were headed to divorce and something like 90% of them were still married 5 years later and said they were happier than they had ever been in marriage. Don't give up on your spouse and don't give up on God's ability to redeem your marriage.

7:12-16 - Christians stay in marriage as long as the other person is willing. Some people ask about spouses who are being abused. Although this passage does not speak to that it seems from Scripture as a whole that they should leave, but not divorce. If they do end up divorcing then the Christian should remain unmarried and sexually inactive for the rest of their life or until the death of their spouse.

7:17 - Nevertheless, each of you should live AS A BELIEVER in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to you, just as God has called you. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. - I have heard this verse in other translations and it doesn't have the focus on living like a believer, but remaining in the situation you are in. I like the emphasis on living like a believer no matter the circumstances. You should live like a believer at work regardless of your job.

7:19 - ... keeping God's commands is what counts.

7:23 - You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. - Debt is slavery.

7:28 - ... those who marry will face many troubles in life ... - This is true. It is not that the relationship is somehow flawed, it is just that with marriage comes added responsibility and therefore the level of potential heartache and stress increases.

7:39 - A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. - I take this verse to mean that Christians should only marry Christians. Many people's faiths have been hurt by marrying someone who does not walk in the Lord with them. Some of the people who initially don't believe come to Christ, but that proves God's grace and yet does not nullify this command. We would save ourselves a ton of heartache if we would marry people who hold the same faith and values we do. I take this so far that I will not marry a Christian to a non-christian. That has made me public enemy #1 sometimes, but I believe it honors God.

Love, Michael

1 Corinthians 5-6

The church in Corinth had a big problem. There was a man who had been sleeping with his mom, or more likely step mom. Everybody in the church apparently knew about it, but no one said anything. This sin between two people began to infect the whole church. Sin that is not dealt with often does that. It begins in one or two people, but as godly people refuse to react in a godly way the blessing of God is removed and the whole body suffers. A lot of these two chapters deals with Paul explaining how the Corinthians should react and why. Bottom line: When you see open sin in the church and do nothing because you don't want to rock the boat or be confrontational or cause an issue, the whole body ends up suffering greatly. The greater act of love is to make someone mad, but help to save their soul.

5:2 - ...Shouldn't you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? - Paul says it should deeply hurt you and not just deeply offend you. Offense for the sake of Christ is okay, but it should go deeper and it should be like a death, because left unchecked it will end in death for someone. Paul says to kick the person out of the church. Right away some will balk at that, but godly wisdom knows best. The intent is to get the person's attention and therefore help them change. To let this exist in the church is absolutely unloving, unwise and wrong.

5:5 - ... for the destruction of the flesh SO THAT his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. - This is about saving the soul even though you have to offend the person to do it.

5:6 - ... a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. - The truth often missed here is that when you leave open sin in the church (we are not talking about going on a witch hunt) it infects and diseases the whole body. If you cannot obey God in confronting open sin you are led to the sin of disobedience. One open act of adultery, drunkenness, greed, etc left unaddressed in the church can devastate a church. Love the body enough to confront the individual.

5:9-11 - Paul has some incredibly strong directions for how we should or should not engage those who are sexually immoral and yet call themselves a Christian. He says not to associate with them and not to even eat with them. The heart of this command is not to unnecessarily hurt the other person, but to help them see the cost if their lifestyle in an effort to help save them. when we rely on human wisdom here we say it doesn't make sense and it won't work, but Paul has already expressed earlier in this letter that God's wisdom can be trusted.

6:1-6 - Paul deals with disputes among Christians ans says when we attack each other, sue each other, fight out in the open with each other we trash the good name of our Lord. His counsel is not to cover it up, but to go to godly men and women and ask them to help us settle the matter. The truth is most of us don't want godly counsel in a fight, because we know we will have a part in the guilt. We want to be justified more than we want to be righteous many times.

6:7 - ... Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? - I love this verse. At the end of the day we want justice not because we are just, but because we don't want to be the one that pays the price.

6:9 - ... Don't be deceived.... - Satan uses deception to lead us to sin. Paul says that people who walk in sexual immorality and other such sins WILL NOT inherit the kingdom of heaven. It doesn't matter how much money they give, how often they go to church or read their Bibles. Open sin leads to a closed door when it comes to salvation.

6:11 - WASHED...SANCTIFIED...JUSTIFIED - You were cleaned up, set apart and God took care of all of your debts.

6:13 - the body is not meant for sexual immorality

6:18 - Flee from sexual immorality. - You have to run away from it like it can kill you in an instant, because IT CAN. You don't get close or linger near it. At the first sign in your head or heart of a temptation or a thought or a feeling you need to confess it to God and run the other way. It is better to overreact when it comes to protecting against sexual sin than to take the risk. So what if they think you are nuts. God will be honored by how sincerely you love Him and desire to remain pure for Him.

6:19-20 - ... You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. - You were purchased. you were a slave to sin and therefore to death. They owned you. Jesus Christ bought you. He has since freed you, but not so you can become a slave again. At the end of the day, if you will not restrain yourself, Paul appeals to the fact that you are still a slave only this time to Jesus. Do not hurt yourself. Honor God with what you do with your body.

Love, Michael