Matthew 10:38-39 (The Esqualine Gate)

If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. (Matthew 10:38-39) Read: Genesis 31:17-32:12, Matthew 10:24-11:6, Psalm 13:1-6, Proverbs 3:16-18   Relate: The Esqualine Gate was…

Who Are Your Mentors?

Follow the steps of good men instead, and stay on the paths of the righteous. (Proverbs 2:20) Read: Genesis 20:1-22:24, Matthew 7:15-29, Psalm 9:1-12, Proverbs 2:16-22 Relate: One of the first “real” books I read after I got out of college was Christ and Culture by Richard Niebuhr. It forced me to evaluate how I view the interaction between God…

The Cost of Following

A young lady in England was considering becoming a missionary and wrote a letter to Amy wondering what the life was like. Amy simply wrote back, “Missionary life is simply a chance to die.”

As I Have Done

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.…

Desperate

“But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?” “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” (John 19:26-27) Read: Psalm 105 – 106 Relate: The only thing worse than being wrong is insisting…

John 6:2-4 (Paparazzi)

A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick. Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration. (John 6:2-4) Read: 2 Samuel 12:26 – 14:33, 1 Chronicles 20:2-3 Relate: Did you…

Nathanael (John 1:45,47)

Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” (John 1:45,47) Read: Job 38:1 – 40:5 Relate: A true Son of…

Following Is Serious Business (4/2/13)

Read: Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30, Luke 9:51-10:12, Psalm 74:1-23, Proverbs 12:11 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62) Relate: Following is easy these days. I’ve got about 350 followers and follow about 250 people myself. That’s only because I cut off…