March 16, 2014

Second Sunday in Lent 

Genesis 12:1-4a, Psalm 121, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, John 3:1-17 or Matthew 17:1-9

What can we learn from Abraham's faith?

March 15, 2014

Psalm 121, Isaiah 51:4-8, Luke 7:1-10

What can we learn from the faith of the Roman officer? 

March 14, 2014

Psalm 121, Micah 7:18-20, Romans 3:21-31

What has God done about our sins? 

How are we made right with God?

March 13, 2014

Psalm 121, Isaiah 51:1-3, 2 Timothy 1:3-7

In what ways do today's Scriptures remind us of the Lord's help, comfort, and encouragement?

March 12, 2014

Psalm 32, Exodus 34:1-9, 27-28, Matthew 18:10-14

What do you think of the Lord's introduction to himself?

“Yahweh! The Lord!
The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger
and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.
I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.
But I do not excuse the guilty.
I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;
the entire family is affected—
even children in the third and fourth generations.”

March 11, 2014

Psalm 32, Genesis 4:1-16, Hebrews 4:14—5:10

In Genesis, we see an interesting description of sin: it is crouching at the door, eager to control you.

In Hebrews, we see that no one is immune to sin and its effects. In verse 2, speaking of the high priest, it says, "And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses." From those who seem ignorant and wayward, to the high priest, sin is crouching. Waiting. Eager.

How should this influence how we care for others? How should this influence the way we allow others to care for us? So often we say things like, "I am going to help those who are less fortunate..." and usually our hearts are in the right place. But what if we thought, "We are all less fortunate..." and helped others because we are all in the same boat? Maybe I have a certain resource that another person doesn't have, and I can help them. But on the same note, maybe I need help, and the same person I am helping is the one who could provide it? Will I be too proud to accept help if I view another person as less fortunate than I am?

March 10, 2014

Psalm 32, 1 Kings 19:1-8, Hebrews 2:10-18

How does God provide the best pathway for our lives?

How did he prepare Elijah for the journey ahead?

In what ways has Jesus helped us?