Fri, Jan 30th - 10:18PM
Luke 18
Luke 18
A disciple knows that he is a sinner (Romans 3:23)
that is saved by the grace of God through his faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8)
and not through his own works.
9He
also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were
righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10“Two
men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax
collector. 11The
Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not
like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax
collector. 12I
fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his
eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a
sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than
the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who
humbles himself will be exalted.”
A disciple doesn’t let anything
hold him back from following Christ.
18And
a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19And
Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good
except God alone. 20You
know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do
not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21And
he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22When Jesus heard
this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that
you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and
come, follow me.” 23But when he heard
these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24Jesus,
seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for
those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25For
it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich
person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26Those who heard
it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28And
Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29And
he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has
left house or wife or brothersor parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to
come eternal life.” (ESV)
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Thu, Jan 29th - 8:39PM
Luke 17
Luke 17
A disciple does not cause others to sin.
1And
he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sinare sure to come, but woe to
the one through whom they come! 2It
would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were
cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin
(ESV)
A disciple forgives others.
3Pay
attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents,
forgive him, 4and
if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times,
saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” (ESV)
A disciple serves God not because
he is looking for an award or blessings or prosperity but because he loves God
and desires to do the will of God.
7“Will
any one of you who has a servantplowing or keeping sheep say to him
when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’?
8Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress
properly,and
serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We
are unworthy servants;we have only done what was our duty.’” (ESV)
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Sun, Jan 25th - 10:28PM
Luke 14
Luke 14
A disciple is humble.
7Now
he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the
places of honor, saying to them, 8“When
you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of
honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your
place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest
place. 10But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that
when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will
be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles
himself will be exalted.” (ESV)
A disciple is willing to give up
all to take up his cross and follow Christ.
25Now
great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother
and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he
cannot be my disciple. 27Whoever
does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down
and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish,
all who see it begin to mock him, 30saying,
‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not
sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him
who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32And
if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks
for terms of peace. 33So
therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my
disciple. (ESV)
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Fri, Jan 23rd - 11:42AM
Luke 12
Luke 12
A disciple fears God.
4“I
tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have
nothing more that they can do. 5But
I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority
to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6Are
not five sparrows sold for two pennies?And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are
of more value than many sparrows. (ESV)
A disciple boldly acknowledges
Christ before the world.
8“And
I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will
acknowledge before the angels of God, 9but
the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
10And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be
forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be
forgiven. 11And
when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities,
do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say,
12for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought
to say.” (ESV)
A disciple avoids greed and is rich
toward God.
13Someone
in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance
with me.” 14But
he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over
you?” 15And
he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all
covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his
possessions.” 16And he told them
a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced
plentifully, 17and
he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’
18And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build
larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for
many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20But
God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things
you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21So
is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (ESV)
A disciple is not anxious about the
things of the world instead he puts his trust in God and seeks the Kingdom of
God.
22And he said to
his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about
your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.
23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither
storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you
than the birds! 25And
which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you
anxious about the rest? 27Consider
the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,yet I tell you, even Solomon
in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28But
if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is
thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!
29And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be
worried. 30For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your
Father knows that you need them. 31Instead,
seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
32“Fear
not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the
kingdom. 33Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with
moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (ESV)
A disciple is ready and prepared for the
return of the Lord.
35“Stay
dressed for actionand keep your lamps burning, 36and
be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding
feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
37Blessed are those servantswhom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he
will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come
and serve them. 38If
he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed
are those servants! 39But
know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was
coming, hewould
not have left his house to be broken into. 40You
also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
41Peter said,
“Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42And the Lord
said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his
master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the
proper time? 43Blessed
is that servantwhom
his master will find so doing when he comes. 44Truly,
I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in
coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink
and get drunk, 46the
master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an
hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the
unfaithful. 47And
that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according
to his will, will receive a severe beating. 48But
the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light
beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and
from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more (ESV)
A disciple knows how to interpret the present
time.
54He also said to
the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say
at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. 55And
when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’
and it happens. 56You
hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why
do you not know how to interpret the present time? (ESV)
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Fri, Jan 16th - 11:50AM
Luke 6
Luke 6
A disciple loves others including his enemies.
27“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who
hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from
one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tuniceither. 30Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your
goods do not demand them back. 31And
as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
32“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For
even sinners love those who love them. 33And
if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For
even sinners do the same. 34And
if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to
you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in
return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High,
for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36Be
merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (ESV)
A disciple does not judge others instead he
forgives others and gives to others.
37“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not
be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38give,
and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running
over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be
measured back to you.” (ESV)
A disciple does not follow blind leaders.
39He
also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man?
Will they not both fall into a pit? 40A
disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will
be like his teacher. 41Why
do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log
that is in your own eye? 42How
can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in
your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You
hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see
clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye. (ESV)
A disciple obeys God and his life is built on
the sure foundation of the Word of God.
46“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? 47Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will
show you what he is like: 48he
is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the
rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not
shake it, because it had been well built.49But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a
house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it,
immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” (ESV)
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Sun, Jan 4th - 10:20PM
Mark 10
Mark 10
A disciple honors marriage.
2And
Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to
divorce his wife?” 3He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4They said, “Moses
allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” 5And
Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote
you this commandment. 6But
from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to
his wife, 8and
the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh.
9What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
10And in the house
the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11And he said to
them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits
adultery against her, 12and
if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” (ESV)
A disciple is willing to put the things of
this world behind him to follow Christ.
17And as he was
setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him,
“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18And Jesus said to
him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
19You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do
not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and
mother.’” 20And he said to
him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21And Jesus,
looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one
thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22Disheartened by
the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23And Jesus looked
around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for
those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24And the disciples
were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children,
how difficult it isto enter the kingdom of God! 25It
is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person
to enter the kingdom of God.” 26And they were
exceedingly astonished, and said to him,“Then
who can be saved?” 27Jesus looked at
them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God.
For all things are possible with God.” 28Peter began to
say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29Jesus
said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house
or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake
and for the gospel, 30who
will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and
sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age
to come eternal life. 31But
many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (ESV)
A disciple serves God and others.
35And James and
John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want
you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36And he said to
them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37And
they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your
left, in your glory.” 38Jesus said to
them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to
drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am
baptized?” 39And they said to
him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I
drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will
be baptized, 40but
to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those
for whom it has been prepared.” 41And when the ten
heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42And Jesus called
them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are
considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones
exercise authority over them. 43But
it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your
servant,44and
whoever would be first among you must be slaveof all. 45For
even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as
a ransom for many.” (ESV)
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Sat, Jan 3rd - 11:58PM
Mark 9
Mark 9
A disciple is a servant of God and others.
33And
they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34But they kept
silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the
greatest. 35And
he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If
anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all (ESV)
A disciple puts whatever causes him
to sin out of his life.
43And
if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life
crippled than with two hands to go to hell,to the unquenchable fire. 45And
if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life
lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47And
if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the
kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ (ESV)
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