STANDARDS You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. (John 8:15 NLT) When I think of the word standard, what comes to mind are opinions, knowledge and experiences that make up the way of thinking when judging and making a decision over something or someone. These people were judging Jesus based…
STAGES Then Abram continued traveling south by STAGES toward the Negev.(Genesis 12:9 NLT) Stages tells me about segments, pieces, stretches, distance, etc. God told Abraham to make a long journey and it strikes me that he did not make the journey in one effort, but by STAGES. Then Abram continued traveling south by STAGES toward…
TEST He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do. (John 6:6 NLT) When I was a child, I was required by school to pass tests, (also called exams). As a young man at school I also had to take tests, that is, exams. As an adult in my studies…
MULTITUDE In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.(John 5:3 NKJV) We can think of a multitude of sick people, but we can also think of a multitude of people who have been healed and who now serve in our church. Also, we can…
THIRSTY Jesus replied: “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again…(John 4:13-14 NLT) Human beings are always thirsty for something, but we don’t know what it is. People try to fill or quench that internal emotional thirst with temporary things,…
ORDER The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Gen. 1:2 NKJV The earth was without order and the first thing God did was place order, so that later on it could be fruitful….
REWARD Part 2 Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. (Revelation 22:12 NLT) Yesterday we learned that everything we have done for God and for people has its reward and each one will receive what is fair. And today we will talk about what…
REWARD Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. (Revelation 22:12 NLT) When I read the word “reward,” it leads me to think about prizes, pay, recognition, remuneration and also, in the word: consequence. Our actions have negative or positive consequences. 1. I think that…
HOW ARE BONDS FORMED? For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross. (Ephesians 2:14-16 NLT) Bonds are formed when we have a vision bigger than ourselves. When we unite in Christ we are able to create deep bonds, because…
WE VALUE GOD AND PEOPLE For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”…