Scripture: Acts 6:7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. Observation: Despite efforts to stop the Gospel by arresting the apostles, the word of God is spreading. After choosing deacons to serve, the apostles continue to preach and many pe...
Keep ReadingScripture: Acts 5:38-39 - "So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice Observation: In Acts chapter 5 the disciples of Jesus are facing difficulty bec...
Keep ReadingScripture: Acts 4:1-4And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard...
Keep ReadingScripture: Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Observation: Peter heals a lame beggar and then uses the opportunity to preach the Gospel. Like Jesus, Peter had been given the power to heal. There was a significant difference, however, in that power. Jesus healed by his ow...
Keep ReadingScripture: Acts 2 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And the...
Keep ReadingScripture: Acts 1:3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. Observation: Jesus did not only come alive again after the cross, but walked the earth for 40days appearing to his followers and continuing to teach about the kingdom. Application: Sometimes it is easy to...
Keep ReadingScripture: You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night. You have tested me-and You will find nothing. I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. With regards to the works of man, by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to Your paths; my feet have not slipped. Ps 17:3-5For I have kept the ways of the Lord ...
Keep ReadingScripture: Psalm 14:1-2 - The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. Observation: Paul tells us in Romans 1:20, "For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine ...
Keep ReadingScripture: Psalm 11:7For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face. Observation: The psalmist states that The Lord is righteous and that he loves when people act righteously. Those who walk in righteousness will see his face. Application: Righteousness is natural to God. What He says, thinks and does is always right. Righteousn...
Keep ReadingScripture: Psalm 9:15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. Higgaion Selah. Observation: David is giving thanks and praise to God for who He is and what He does. He urges others to join him in his praise of God. In this verse, David is thankful for God's judgement. He judges us fairly and judges by our...
Keep ReadingScripture: Psalm 6 3My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, OLordhow long? 4Turn, OLord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love. 6I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. 9TheLordhas heard my plea; theLordaccepts my prayer. Observation: David is absolutely ...
Keep ReadingScripture: Psalm 4:7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. Observation: David explains the security of the righteous in God. He describes lying in bed in peace though the world is in turmoil. Praising God, though circumstances seem rough. In this verse he describes the joy found in God as exceeding the joy that others find in...
Keep ReadingScripture: Blessed is the man (who does not) walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffers. [But] his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night. Ps 1:1-2 Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together a...
Keep ReadingScripture: Mark 16:6-7 And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him just as he told you." Observation: The angel tells the women to be calm, everything has happened...
Keep ReadingScripture: Mark 15:11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. Observation: The religious leadership of the first century used their influence to stir up the crowd into making a decision they wouldn't have made without their leadership. Application: Leadership and influence can't be overstated. People in positions of lea...
Keep ReadingScripture: Mark 14:4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment wasted like that? Observation: People thought that the woman's expensive sacrifice was a waste. Application: We learn in this story that no matter how much is given; time, energy, money, stuff, it is never wasted on Jesus. Why? A couple reasons... -Jesus is worthy of ever...
Keep ReadingScripture: Mark 13:1-2 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." Observation: The disciples were marveling at the temple buildings....
Keep ReadingScripture:12 And they (religious leaders)were seeking to arrest him (Jesus) but feared the people, 14 And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God.24 Jesus said to them, "Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scrip...
Keep ReadingScripture: Mark 11:8-9And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Observation: As Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time, people lay their cloaks and palm branches on the road as th...
Keep ReadingScripture: And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan and crowds gathered to Him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them. Mark 10:1 Observation: Our Lord had a custom? There was something He did regularly and on purpose? Application: Rhetorical questions are funny. Of course Jesus did things on purpose. But the question I hav...
Keep ReadingScripture: Mark 9:35 - And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." Observation: The disciples, who were yet to fully understand the Kingdom of God, were arguing about who was the greatest. Jesus tells the disciples that the one who puts all others before him and serves would be greate...
Keep ReadingScripture : Mark 8:24-25He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around." Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Observation: Jesus heals the blind man in a unique way. Instead of just speaking sight over him, or touching him, Jesus uses spit and dirt. I...
Keep ReadingScripture: Mark 7:15 15Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them." Observation: After confronting the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, he clarifies that "defiled" things come from the inside/out not from the outside/in. Application: Man made rules typically address behaviors. However Jesus add...
Keep ReadingScripture: Mark 6: 37 But he answered them,"You give them something to eat."Andthey said to him,"Shall we go and buy two hundred denariiworth of bread and give it to them to eat?" Observation: Jesus was tired and probably hungry. Yet he had compassion for the many people that wanted to hear him preach and teach. He didn't have to preach but he did. They were lost. But,...
Keep ReadingScripture: Mark 4:40He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Observation: Jesus responds to his terrified disciples with a question; Do you still have no faith?" This seems a little harsh until you realize that they only reason they were on the boat in the storm in the first place is because Jesus led them that way. Application: L...
Keep ReadingScripture: (Jesus healed the demon possessed man.) 2 ... a man with an unclean spirit. 3He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, ... 15And (the people) came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. ... 18As (Jesus) was ge...
Keep ReadingScripture: Again he entered the synagogue and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath-so that they might accuse him. And (Jesus) said to the man with the withered hand "Come here." And he said to the (Pharisees): "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm; to save life or to kill?" But (the Ph...
Keep ReadingScripture: Mark 2:14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus siting at the tax collector booth, and he said to him, "Follow me." And he rose and followed him. Observation: Jesus calls us right where we are in our most need, not when we are all "put together correctly." Jesus wants us to follow him as he tells Levi, a despised tax collector. Levi's response ...
Keep ReadingScripture: Mark 1:12-13The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. Observation: After Jesus is baptized by John, the Spirit of God that descended on Him like a dove, then led Him in to the wilderness to be tempted. App...
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