Posts with the tag “series”

Have you ever denied Jesus, or done anything that distances you from Jesus? Have you ever done something that actually stops Jesus from becoming a savior to someone else? These are hard questions. If ...  Read More

The ascension comes quickly. But we should not forget to mention that they had been filled with the Holy Spirit. The culmination of their submission to Jesus was a gift of the Holy Spirit, so that the...  Read More

Book dedications were common among the Greeks. Luke had dedicated his Gospel to his Greek-speaking friend Theophilus (Luke 1:3). He continues his contact with Theophilus to complete the story from the...  Read More

INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion. Feel free to add or subtract or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPENCan you ...  Read More

Jonah 1:7-177 Then the crew cast lots to see which of them had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm. When they did this, the lots identified Jonah as the culprit. 8 “Why has this awful stor...  Read More

Hebrews 12:5-115 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,  and don’t give up when he corrects you.6...  Read More

Hosea 1: 22 When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate...  Read More

1 John 3:1616 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. What are other types of real love? What does love loo...  Read More

Galatians 2:2020 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave him...  Read More

John 15:1313 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.This is the kind of text that we have come to love. We love the idea that this is the kind of love that we have from...  Read More

INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion. Feel free to add or subtract or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPENHave you...  Read More

1 Corinthians 3:11-1511 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, ...  Read More

John 14:66 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. Here is an uncomfortable truth. And this text has been used often to show the exclus...  Read More

Exodus 7:19-2419 Then the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron, ‘Take your staff and raise your hand over the waters of Egypt—all its rivers, canals, ponds, and all the reservoirs. Turn all the water to bl...  Read More

Exodus 7:14-1814 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pharaoh’s heart is stubborn, and he still refuses to let the people go. 15 So go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes down to the river. Stand on the ban...  Read More

John 2:9-119 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host alwa...  Read More

John 2:1-82 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supp...  Read More

INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion. Feel free to add or subtract or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPENAs we ex...  Read More

Leviticus 9:23-2423 Then Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle, and when they came back out, they blessed the people again, and the glory of the Lord appeared to the whole community. 24 Fire blazed...  Read More

Isaiah 6:1-76 It was in the year King Uzziah died  that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. 2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having...  Read More

Matthew 9:20-2620 Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, 21 for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, ...  Read More

Matthew 5:43-4843 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’  and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as...  Read More

1 Peter 1:15-1615 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” What in the world does it mean to b...  Read More

Exodus 3:1-12"3 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the ang...  Read More

INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion. Feel free to add or subtract or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.OPENHave you...  Read More

Mark 10:37-4537 They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t ...  Read More

Philippians 1:2121 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. Who thinks dying is even better than living? What kind of sense does that make? This statement is deeply uncomfo...  Read More

Hebrews 13:13-1613 So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.15 Therefore, let...  Read More

Mark 8:27-35"27 Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28 “Well,” they replied, “...  Read More

1 Corinthians 1:18"The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God." When he spoke of the Cross, Paul was a ver...  Read More

Every religion and ideology has a visual symbol. Something that illustrates a significant feature or development in its history or beliefs. For the Jewish faith, it is the star of David. For Buddhism,...  Read More

Week 1 of 5INTRODUCTIONThe following is a guide to help facilitate discussion. Feel free to add or subtract or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.O...  Read More

Galatians 2:20My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himsel...  Read More

Luke 9:58But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” Do you like the house where you live?A simple question for you, do...  Read More

2 Timothy 3:12Yes, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.John 15:20Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they perse...  Read More

Luke 9: 59-6259 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury the...  Read More

Matthew 16: 24"Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me." Fleetwood Mac's song "go your own way," Fran...  Read More

John 12:25"Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity" C. S. Lewis once said, “I didn’t go to religion to make ...  Read More

When my daughter was four years old, we lost my mother-in-law's dog at our house. She had been visiting for Christmas break, and her dog, Little Bit, got away. It was one of those little teacup kinds ...  Read More