WORD up!

Do you like a good mystery?  Have you invested hours of your time reading a book or watching a television show, attempting to figure out whodunit?  Have you been so frustrated trying to figure it out that you have to turn to the end of the book?  Or have you stumbled across a spoiler that ruined multiple seasons of binge-watching?  In our study of Matthew 24 this week, a mystery is revealed as Jesus tells the disciples the signs of the end times . Let’s pray together.   Holy Father, open our eyes to the truth today.   Show us something we’ve never seen before.   Transform our hearts and minds as we read the Scriptures.   Plant Your Word in us and water it so it will grow and give us truth to speak into others and preach to ourselves when times are tough.   I ask this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.   By the time we finish today, I want you to understand that Jesus is coming back for His people and each person must choose if he o...

 Divisions ( run-on sentence OK, direct verbiage from Scripture/Principles are Aims for each Division – a truth about God, a truth about man, a truth about God’s relationship to man;  a sin to avoid, promise to trust, example to follow, command to obey, truth to believe ): 1.Jesus tells the disciples about when the end will come. (Mt 24:1-14) Principle:    Jesus said, “…the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” 2.Jesus tells the disciples about signs before the Son of Man gathers His elect. (Mt. 24:15-33) Principle:    Jesus will return to gather His people and take them to heaven. 3.Jesus tells the disciples to keep watch, be ready and faithful to Him. (Mt. 24:34-51) Principle:    Jesus’ people don’t look like the rest of the world.   Subject Sentence ( 10-word sentence with proper structure showing exactly where you are in Scripture ): Jesus tells the disciples the signs of the end times.   Aim (“ To Cause My Audience To…” Kno...

 Normally, I've been posting devotional content on Sunday for the homiletics I posted on Saturday.  That practice will continue.  Technically, I got ahead of myself this week because BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) is on Spring Break and I shouldn't have my homiletics done for Matthew 24 yet.  :) So, the devotional content for Matthew 24 will be posted NEXT Sunday.  Thank you for your understanding. I also wanted to announce the Summer Study of the book of Hebrews beginning in May right after the completion of the BSF study of Matthew.  If you want to study along, I will be using NT Wright's study guide  "Hebrews (NT Wright For Everyone Bible Study Guides)" (ISBN 0830821953).  I will post my homiletics covering the verses for each chapter of the study on Saturday and devotional content on Sunday, just like I'm doing now.  I won't be posting about the study guide specifically, but the devotional content may address some things I learned in the st...

  Divisions ( run-on sentence OK, direct verbiage from Scripture/Principles are Aims for each Division – a truth about God, a truth about man, a truth about God’s relationship to man; a sin to avoid, promise to trust, example to follow, command to obey, truth to believe ): 1.Jesus tells the disciples about when the end will come. (Mt 24:1-14) Principle:   Jesus said, “…the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” 2.Jesus tells the disciples about signs before the Son of Man gathers His elect. (Mt. 24:15-33) Principle:   Jesus will return to gather His people and take them to heaven. 3.Jesus tells the disciples to keep watch, be ready and faithful to Him. (Mt. 24:34-51) Principle:   Jesus’ people don’t look like the rest of the world.   Subject Sentence ( 10-word sentence with proper structure showing exactly where you are in Scripture ): Jesus tells the disciples the signs of the end times.   Aim (“ To Cause My Audience To…” Know...

  First, I would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank you” to Jen Turano and her publisher for sending me a copy of "To Disguise the Truth" to review for them. I am truly grateful for this generosity. I really appreciate the time, effort and expense it takes to make a reviewer copy available to me. “To Disguise the Truth” by Jen Turano is the thrilling third book in The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency series.   Jen Turano’s writing transports the reader to times past.   Her word choices are period-specific, and put the reader precisely in the time and place of the action of her story.   This book was an absolute joy to read! In this tale, Eunice Holbrooke, owner of The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency, fears that her disguise may be in jeopardy.   In the opening pages of this novel, a man from her past, Arthur Livingston, wants to hire the agency to find an heiress.   Our leading lady, Eunice Holbrook, recognizes potential client, Arthur Livingston, and tries e...

As a child, I used to go fishing with my Grandfather.  Sometimes, we’d fish from his canoe.  Most of the time, we fished on shore.  I still have my tackle box and quite a collection of lures.  Each lure for a specific weather condition and target fish.  I caught a few fish with those lures with my Granddad.  But I caught more and bigger fish with a plain old hook and worms.  Bait is key.  Those fish sure did like a juicy, tasty worm.  Ick.  Someone else would always have to bait my hook.  Ick.  But those fish always fell for that bait!  When have you been baited – and fallen for – a trap?  Have you ever been asked a trick question on a test?  Have you ever set a trap for someone else? Today, we’re going to see the Pharisees and Sadducees try to trap Jesus with words – not worms.   And we’re going to talk about righteous judgment.   Jesus is righteous and compassionate and desires repentance from and r...

When I was a little girl, my Grandmother had a decorative cornucopia in her dining room.  Have you ever seen those?  This one was a woven basket in the shape of a curved horn.  It was full of plastic fruit!  It always looked so inviting.  Gorgeous grapes, plums, apples, oranges, strawberries, peaches – all at the peak of ripeness!  Until you got close to it and saw the shine on it.  And the dust.  I’ve never been fooled to bite into a piece of plastic fruit.  But what about other types of fruit?  Galatians 5:22-23 identifies the “fruit” that a Christian will bear because the Holy Spirit lives inside that person and manifests that fruit in their life.  Those qualities are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  If we back up a few verses, Galatians 5:19-21 reveals the acts of the flesh in stark contrast to those Christ-like qualities.  Paul writes: “The acts of the flesh a...

Divisions ( run-on sentence OK, direct verbiage from Scripture/Principles are Aims for each Division – a truth about God, a truth about man, a truth about God’s relationship to man; a sin to avoid, promise to trust, example to follow, command to obey, truth to believe ): 1.Jesus withers the fig tree and is questioned about authority (Mt 21:18-32) Principle:   Staying connected to Jesus produces fruit including obedience to God’s will. 2.Jesus tells the parable of the tenants (Mt 21:33-46) Principle:   The kingdom of God is for those who produce fruit. 3.Jesus spoke the parable of the wedding banquet (Mt 22:1-14) Principle:   You choose: the King’s wedding banquet or darkness with weeping and gnashing of teeth.   Subject Sentence ( 10-word sentence with proper structure showing exactly where you are in Scripture ): Jesus withered a tree, told tenants and wedding banquet parables.   Aim (“ To Cause My Audience To…” Know, See, Learn, Understan...