The Good Shepherd

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. (John 10:11) Read: Isaiah 30:1 – 33:24 Relate: I don’t know much about shepherding. Most of what I’ve been taught about sheep and their care has come in the form of sermon illustrations. Until these past few devotionals, it isn’t something I’ve really done…

Running With Assumptions

Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.) For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead…

John 7:1-5 (Pretense)

After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous…

John 6:22-24 (Searching for Jesus)

The next day the crowd that had stayed on the far shore saw that the disciples had taken the only boat, and they realized Jesus had not gone with them. Several boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the Lord had blessed the bread and the people had eaten. So when the crowd saw…

John 6:21 (Immediately)

Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination! (John 6:21) Read: 1 KINGS 1:1-53, 1 CHRONICLES 29:1-22   Relate: I was walking down the street, minding my own business when the sound of it scared me out of my socks. I thought there was blue skies above but the…

John 5:41-43 (The Need For Approval)

Your approval means nothing to me, because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. (John 5:41-43) Read: 2 Samuel 7:1 – 8:14, 1 Chronicles 15:1 – 16:43…

John 5:31-32 (My Father’s Testimony)

If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who testifies in my favor,and I know that his testimony about me is true. (John 5:31-32) Read: 2 Samuel 2:1 – 3:5, 2 Samuel 23:8-39, 1 Chronicles 3:1-4, 1 Chronicles 11:10-47 Relate: I ran cross country for a couple years way back in high…

John 4:4-6 (A Different Road)

Originally posted 3/13/14 He had to go through Samaria on the way. Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. (John 4:4-6) Read: Deuteronomy 3:21 – 5:33 Relate: The…

John 3:36 (Believe and Obey)

And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.” (John 3:36) Read: Numbers 34:1 – 36:13 Relate: I was on a soccer team that was wasn’t all that great. No, let me be honest, we were bad. Real bad.…