John 5:14-15 (Sin)

But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him. (John 5:14-15) Read: 1 Samuel 13:1 – 14:52, 1 Chronicles 9:35-39 Relate: Sin. When the woman…

John 4:27 (Propriety)

Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked to find him talking to a woman, but none of them had the nerve to ask, “What do you want with her?” or “Why are you talking to her?” (John 4:27) Read: Joshua 15:20 – 17:18 Relate: Have you ever known someone who gets so hung up…

Open Invitation (John 1:12-13)

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. (John 1:12-13) Read: Genesis 25:1-27, 1 Chronicles 1:28-34 Relate: OK, I’ve been sitting here now for a good hour…

He Was Rejected (John 1:10-11)

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. (John 1:10-11) Read: Genesis 21:8 – 24:67 Relate: No question, hands down, the worst year of my school years was seventh grade. There were plenty of reasons and looking back now, I…

When the Light Shows Up (John 1:5)

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (John 1:5) Read: Genesis 11:1-14:24, 1 Chronicles 11:24-27 Relate: Good vs Evil. Light vs Darkness. God vs Satan. They two equal and opposite sides forever locked in an eternal struggle for dominance that neither side will ever win. Although it might sometimes seem to tip…

Wake Up and Live (John 1:4)

Read: Genesis 7:1-10:32, 1 Chronicles 1:5-23 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. (John 1:4) Relate: He doesn’t even know he is dead. He is walking around going through the motions of life. He is working, sleeping, walking, and talking, but he is as dead as dead can be.…

Guilty As Sin (12/24/13)

Read: Zechariah 6:1-7:14, Revelation 15:1-8, Psalm 143:1-12, Proverbs 30:24-28 Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you. (Psalm 143:2) Relate: David knew a truth. He was guilty. I am guilty. You are guilty. Each and every one of us are as guilty as sin. There’s no getting around that fact. There is no escaping it. If…

Ezekiel 17:49-50 (I Am Sodom)

Read: Ezekiel 16:42-17:24, Hebrews 8:1-13, Psalm 106:13-31, Proverbs 27:7-9 Sodom’s sins were arrogance, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. She was haughty and committed detestable sins, so I wiped her out, as you have seen. (Ezekiel 17:49-50) Relate: I can be arrogant sometimes. No, lets be honest, I can be arrogant most of the time.…

In The Little Things (10/7/13)

Read: Jeremiah 8:8-9:26, Colossians 3:1-17, Psalm 78:32-55, Proverbs 24:27 Then they remembered that God was their rock, that God Most High was their redeemer. (Psalm 78:35)  And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. (Colossians 3:4) Relate: It isn’t the big things that get me. I’ve had those…

Yeast Infection (8/9/13)

Read: Ezra 8:21-9:15, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Psalm 31:1-8, Proverbs 21:1-2 Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? (1 Corinthians 5:6) Relate: Compartmentalization. That’s a big word for a small idea. I mean small as in, I break my life into small chunks. Also different. For…