Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll…
Tag: lessons
Lessons Learned: Good News
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:15 OUR HUMAN CONDITION Like the disciples, we do not understand who Jesus is. Sometimes we half understand, or misunderstand, or refuse to understand. We especially close our eyes and ears to his call for self-denial and suffering….
Lessons Learned: Threat
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit…
Lessons Learned: Disciple
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9 OUR HUMAN CONDITION We are anxious, tied up in the status quo. We conform to our culture, knowing all the while that it is sick…
Lessons Learned: Context
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:1 OUR HUMAN CONDITION We experience times when, though life goes on and activity is all about us, we need and desire something…
Lessons Learned: Hope
Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge.I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.”The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods. I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or…
Lessons Learned: Suffering
Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning;my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak. Psalm 31:9-10 OUR HUMAN CONDITION Life isn’t fair. Sometimes the wicked prosper and the good are cut down. Some…
Lessons Learned: Right Living
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wickedor stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in seasonand whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.Not…
Lessons Learned: Worship
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.Such knowledge is too wonderful…
Lessons Learned: Consequences
OUR HUMAN CONDITION We think we can sidestep the consequences of our actions, but we cannot. We deceive ourselves. We think religious practices will save us. We think wealth or prestige will protect us. But we are held accountable. We usually respond to punishment with denial, blame on others, anger, depression, and despair. Disciple Turn…
Food for Thought 