Day 7

John 4

Samaritan Woman

Have you ever been in a place where you have felt like an outcast? This is the situation of Samaritans. They were looked down on because of their race. They were seen as people who were avoided. Most people traveling from Judea to Galilee would travel around Samaria even though it would save them a bunch of traveling time. Except Jesus is not most people. He does not avoid anybody.  When he went to the well he had an encounter with a woman, that would impact her life forever. He offered her living water so she would thirst no more. He offered her himself. 

They get into a conversation about worship. Worship the Father in Spirit and Truth. These are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. Then he says he is the Messiah.

The woman leaves and tell others what had happened, how he knew everything about her life. Because of her testimony many became believers in Christ.

Jesus leaves and goes back to Galilee, and is approached by a royal official whose son is close to death. He asks Jesus to come and heal his son. But Jesus told him his son would live. The official returns home and found out that his son's fever broke at the time Jesus and him talked. 

What a great story to talk about first a spiritual healing and then a physical healing.

Hope you have a great week. See you all tonight.

Day 6

Luke 5:1-39

Calling of the Disciples

This is one of the passages I use to talk about a follower of Christ. It is an amazing story of sacrifice for the disciples that gave up everything to follow Christ. 

vs 1-3 Jesus preached to the crowds sitting in a boat over the water. This acted as a natural amplifier so the crowd could hear easily. 

vs 4-7 Jesus after preaching asked Simon Peter to put out in deep waters and cast out nets. Simon Peter followed request even though he had fished all night and caught nothing. This shows his obedience. They caught more fish than they could handle that their nets were breaking and called for backup.

vs 8-10a Astonished with this catch Simon dropped to his knees and admitted he was a sinner. 

vs 10b-11 Jesus redefined there life with this line, "don't be afraid, from now on you will catch men. They left everything and followed Christ. 

They left their boats sitting there, they left the huge catch of fish that would have provided food and money to survive, they left their family business and family. They were probably still young at this time. We are unsure if they were married, but probably not. They changed everything about their lives, their priorities. Jesus redefined who they were.

Healing of a man with leprosy

vs 12-15 A man asks Christ "if you are willing, you can make me clean." Christ touched him answered "I am willing, be clean." This had to be huge for the man. He had not been touched by another person since he had leprosy. Touch can be a powerful thing. Jesus told him not to tell anybody, just go show the priest that he was clean and to make a sacrifice to show his thankfulness. Yet many people came to Jesus to be healed. This must be the way to get people to tell other people about Christ, tell them not to talk about Christ. Yet everyone knew what happened and came to him for healing. 

vs 16 Jesus withdrew to a lonely place to pray.

Healing of a paralytic

vs 17-19 Jesus was teaching in a house. Some men took their paralyzed friend to Jesus. When they realized it was crowded they made  a hole in the roof, to lower him down.

vs 20-26 Jesus saw their faith and forgave his sins, Pharisees were thinking blasphemy, "who can forgive sins, but God alone. Jesus called them out on their thoughts. And told the man to stand up and walk.  This was obviously a pretty good day for him. He had a life altering encounter with Jesus Christ and it forever changed his heart and his physical disability. Everyone praise to God.

Calling of Levi

vs 27-31 Jesus told Levi to follow him, Levi got up, left everything and followed Christ. Levi threw a banquet for Jesus with his friends. The Pharisees yet again complained about his actions of eating with sinners. Jesus responded the sick need a doctor, the sinner needs repentance. 

Questions about fasting

vs 33-35 Jesus was asked why don't your disciples fast? His answer was their was a time for this and it was not it. 

vs 36-39 Do not patch an old garment with a new one. It would tear and make it worse. The new wine in an old wineskin would burst. 

 

Day 5

John 3

This is one of those passages that amazes me every time I read it. There is so much depth and truth to this passage it will be hard to sum up everything for you. 

vs 1-2 Nicodemus was a Pharisee, unlike most Pharisee's Nicodemus recognized that he came from God.

vs 3 a man must be born again to see the kingdom of God.

vs 4 Nicodemus asks a valid question of how can a man be born again if he is old? We can't reenter our mother's womb.

vs 5-8 The rebirth is of water and spirit. This is a spiritual rebirth that is mysterious just like the wind. 

vs 9-13 Jesus explains to Nicodemus that it is hard enough for him to believe in earthly things of course it will be harder for him to believe in heavenly things that he has never seen. Only God has seen these things.

This is where things get interesting. I love how Jesus always brings up what has happened with God's people in scripture. When we learn to do this in our lives our faith will be so much stronger.

vs 14-15  This is a reference to Numbers 21:4-9 While in the desert people were dying from venomous snake bites. God did something here to rescue them from the poison. He told Moses to make a snake and put it on a pole. All the Israelites had to do was to view the symbol and they would be rescued from certain death. This is where the symbol of modern day medicine came into play. What a story of redemption which brings us into the second half of the verse. 

The Son of Man will be lifted up to rescue us from death and an eternity away from the presence of God in hell. 

vs 16-18 One of the most recognized verses in all of scripture is verse 16. Put your faith in the one and only Son of God and you will have eternal life. Jesus was sent here to save the world. If you do not have faith in Christ you will be condemned. 

vs 19-21  Stay in the light, light= truth, darkness is where people go to hide their actions.

vs 22-36 Jesus is baptizing his disciple and people go to complain to John the Baptist about this, John however uplifts the Son of God. He tries every thing in his power to take the attention away from himself. "He becomes greater, I become less." It is all about giving Christ glory. He ends the passage with "whoever believes in the Son has eternal life."

This is a great chapter. It is all about Jesus being lifted up for the salvation of all humanity.

Day 4

Luke 4:1-44

This chapter is one of the reasons I gave this challenge in the first place. 

vs 1. Jesus is full and led by the Holy Spirit.

vs 2-13 Jesus was tempted by the Devil. In each and every response Jesus gave was the answer of scripture. 

Many times we are going through life and fall into temptation because we are not prepared for what we would do if this were to happen. Sure at times it is easy to say no. But what if we receive pressure from some of the people closest to us. How will we get through these times if we are not in the word and do not know what we believe. We need to have an answer for why. One of the most interesting things is Jesus had not eaten during these 40 days of temptation. I know when I have not eaten for 4 hours I start to get weak and temperamental. I have a lack of energy and become tired.  When I become tired I make stupid decisions that I would not normally make when I am myself.  So what do I do? I do not allow myself to get in situations like that. When I am hungry, I eat. When I am tired, I sleep. I do not have deep conversations when I am tired because I know I might say something I regret.

vs 14-15 Jesus had the power of the Spirit.

vs 16-19 Jesus taught  about the prediction of Christ and talked as if it were him.

vs 20-27 People were angered and ready to throw Christ of a cliff for heresy. But He walked away and continued to quote more scripture and talk about other stories in scripture.

vs 32, 36-37  Jesus message had authority

vs 33-35 Jesus drove out an evil spirit.

vs 38-41 Jesus healed many.

vs 42-44 said He came to preach the good news of the kingdom of God.

I hope you continue in this process of reading scripture. Jesus was able to avoid falling into temptation because his values came straight from the heart of God and He aligned his heart to what was written in scripture. 

Call me if you have any questions or leave a comment here.

Day 3

Mark 1:1-11

This chapter brings us a little more information on John the Baptist and his relationship with Christ. One thing we learned/reminded of in December is that John the Baptist is the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. This would make John and Jesus cousins. 

vs 2-3 We find out that Isaiah tells us there will be someone to prepare the way for the Lord.

vs 4-5, 7-8 John preached and baptized people. His message was someone will come more powerful than I.

vs  6 John was a man of all men. He wore rough clothing, ate crazy food.

vs 9-11 Baptism of Christ. Holy Spirit came in the image of a Dove, and the voice of God the Father "you are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

What a story of affirmation given to Christ by John, His Father and the Holy Spirit. This was a sign that His ministry was ready. It was time to accomplish the things He had come to earth to achieve. 

Day 2

Luke 2:1-52

This chapter should be easier for you, since we have gone through it the last 3 weeks at church. I hope you continue to learn from this and recall what the pastors have spoken about the last few weeks.

vs 1-7 Birth of Christ

vs 8-12 Angel reveals Christ to Shepherds

vs 13-14 A bunch of Angels praising God.

vs 15-20 Shepherd go to Bethlehem to see Baby Christ.

vs 21-24 Jewish Purification, and sacrifice at the temple- a ceremony all 8 day old Jewish boys have. 

vs 25- 27 Intro to Simeon-Holy Spirit upon him, knowing who Christ was.

vs 28-35 Simeon's Blessing on Jesus. "eyes have seen your salvation." I really like this quote, it really opens up the door for what Christ means to the world.

vs 36-38 Anna telling about the redemption of Israel through Jesus.

vs 39-40 Jesus grew in strength and wisdom

vs 41-47 Jesus learning from the teachers in the temple. Everyone was amazed at his understanding.  

vs 48-50 Parents finally find him after searching for a while. Jesus response was, "why wouldn't you think about looking here first? This is my Father's house."

vs 51-52 Jesus continued to grow in wisdom and stature. 

Day 1

John 1:1-51

John 1 is an awesome chapter but for new Bible readers might be a little difficult. I will walk through it for you and give some thought to spark thought. 

vs 1-5 The first thing you need to know is the Word is Jesus. He was there in the beginning with God and He is God. Everything was created by God. So everything was created through Jesus. 

vs 6-13, 15-18 John came as a witness of the light in order to reveal the light to the world.

vs 14 Jesus became human. This is known as the incarnation. 

vs 19-28 John the Baptist answers priests and levites questions that he is not the Christ

vs 29- 34 John reveals Jesus as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.

vs 35-42 John reveals to his disciples the Lamb of God. Andrew goes and tells his brother Simon Peter.

vs 43-51 Jesus calls Philip and Nathanael to be his disciples. Jesus saw there was nothing false in Nathanael. Nathanael calls Jesus the Son of God.