Luke 6:38
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Giving is an important part of being a Christian. Our checkbook often reflects our heart. The things that matter most to us are the things on which we spend our hard earned money. When we are struggling about whether we can trust God with our finances, we are sometimes reminded of this verse. While it is true God is trustworthy and we will never be able to out give Him, I think we have missed a key message from this verse. Note with me the context; Jesus has been speaking of the Father’s mercy. He tells us God is kind to the unthankful and the evil, and we should be like our heavenly Father. Rather than being critical of every action, we should forgive one another.

Forgiveness is a simple concept: it means to treat someone as though they had never wronged you. In the U.S., once a person has been acquitted of a crime, they can never be charged for that crime again. It has been forgiven. In the same way, when someone wrongs us, we must forgive them; we must acquit them of all charges, and treat them as if it never happened. A common phrase today is “forgive and forget”, but the reality is, the things that are hardest to forgive, are the things we cannot forget. Forgiveness is a choice. I must determine not to let the wrongs done to me stand in the way of behaving like my Heavenly Father and being merciful and kind to the unthankful. When we choose to forgive, Jesus promises that within us we will experience an overflow.

Perhaps what you need is a release from some past hurt that is holding you back. This morning, will you choose to forgive? Then you will see Him fulfill all He has promised.

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 6

1. Who questioned Jesus about the disciples plucking the grain on the Sabbath?
2. Were the Pharisees happy with Jesus healing the man with the withered hand? Why?
3. How long did Jesus pray on the mountain?
4. How many disciples did Jesus call?
5. What is the repeated word in vs 20-22?
6. What is the repeated word in vs 25-26?
7. What is the key word in vs 27-36?
8. Jesus illustrates the good treasure of the heart with what illustration?
9. What is required of a person to have a life built on a solid foundation of Jesus?

Old Testament:
Leviticus 10- Holy Life
Leviticus 11- Forbidden Food

Luke 5:30
“Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

The scribes and Pharisees are complaining about Jesus’ actions. They do not think He should meet with sinners. I hear this complaint every time we gather as a church for corporate worship. It is not the voice of the Pharisees that I hear, but my own voice. I begin to think of all the reasons why I cannot enter into the presence of God, enjoy access to the throne of Grace or experience His work in my life. I am reminded of my sins, both the things that I have done and what I have failed to do. Along with those thoughts, comes an overwhelming sense of not being worthy to enter His presence. It is at that moment when this great truth rings out from His Word:

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32

Although hidden and unconfessed sin will hinder your relationship with, and experience of, God, Jesus came for sinners. When He entered the synagogue in Capernaum He was drawn to the man with the withered hand. In a room filled with people, He did not avoid the one who needed Him most, but was drawn to Him. He does the same thing today. The very things that we think keep us from being able to meet with Him and experience His grace, are the very things He wants to address in our lives.

If you have sin you have yet to deal with, that you are holding onto, confess it, lay it at His feet, and let Him wash you and empower you for victory. Don’t let your failures keep you from coming to Him, worshipping Him, and experiencing His marvelous grace and power in your life. After all, it was not the voice of Jesus that was keeping the sinners away, He is calling for you.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 5

1. How did Jesus teach the multitudes?
2. Jesus gave Simon Peter a command. Did Peter yield to Jesus right away?
3. What happened to the boats as they brought in the nets filled with fish?
4. What was Peter’s humbling response to the fishing miracle?
5. Who were Peter’s partners in the fishing industry?
6. Peter, James, and John set a good example for us to follow. Are you willing to forsake all and follow Jesus?
7. What example does Jesus set for us in vs 16?
8. What are the repeated word and the main topic of vs 20-24?
9. What was the occupation of Levi (Matthew)?

Old Testament:
Leviticus 8- By The Blood
Leviticus 9- Let’s Worship

Luke 4:18
“He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, . . .”

Since man’s greatest problem is sin, man’s greatest need is for a savior. We don’t have to look too far to see that we are a fallen race. War, prejudice, and crime are all around us. Even within our own homes we have anger, lust, fear and unforgiveness. We are a people desperately in need of God. The great news of the Bible is that God came to save. The Bible speaks of the all-sufficient work of Christ upon the cross. So effective was His sacrifice, that any and all who believe on Him will be saved from the penalty of sin. That my friends is the good news of the Gospel.

But the good news does not stop there. When Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth, He declared to His friends, neighbor, and relative that He had come not only to save us from our sins, but also to repair the damage sin had done to us.

“He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, . . .”

Living in this fallen world, none of us are immune to heartbreak. We have experienced the pain of loss, departure and even abandonment. For some, the pain has been with you for years; you wake up with it. For others, it is seasonal. We function normally until something in our lives stirs up the feelings again and we are transported back in time to the moment of our pain. These times can be difficult, even crippling. Isn’t it encouraging to know that Jesus came to heal your broken heart? Sometimes, the best way to experience His comfort is to lay your burden down at His feet, and pick up His promises. We must make a conscious decision to leave the memories behind and to walk out the door with His promises.

Today, instead of focusing on the cause of your broken heart, focus upon the heart-healer, the one who can restore to you the joy of salvation.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 4

1. Where was Jesus led after He was filled with the Spirit?
2. How many days was Jesus tempted by Satan?
3. How did Jesus respond to the temptation of Satan?
4. How did Jesus return to Galilee after He was tempted by Satan?
5. What book did Jesus read from in the synagogue?
6. In a phrase sum up the message of vs 18 and 19.
7. How did Jesus exit the city of Nazareth after He shared in the synagogue?
8. What was the response of the people after Jesus cast out the unclean demon?
9. Whose mother-in-law was healed by Jesus?
10. Who do the demons say Jesus is?

Old Testament:
Leviticus 6- Always Burning
Leviticus 7- Giving Your Best

Luke 3:8
“We have Abraham as our father.’”

John the Baptist had a thriving ministry. We read that multitudes, or large gatherings of people, came out to hear him preach. We read that this crowd was made up of a cross section of society. There were religious people, tax collectors, and soldiers, as well as what we might call the everyday man; all of whom had come out to hear John speak.

Crowds formed the same way then as they do today. One man tells another, who tells another, and pretty soon a multitude forms. We are not told who the first people were to hear John speak, but we can imagine the message they declared to their friends, “You gotta come hear this guy speak. I listened to him, was baptized and my life has was changed.” One after another, they gathered to hear John. His message was very simple; Jesus is coming and we need to be ready. To get ready required a public declaration that they were sinners in need of a savior. Many responded by walking into the water with John to be baptized.

Not everyone who heard was jumping at the chance to respond. Some said, “I have Abraham as my father.” This essentially meant that they thought they did not need a savior. The same is true today. When a person truly meets the Lord he has a message that he cannot contain. He finds himself telling everyone he knows and inviting them to come hear the message for themselves. The problem is, although we are all equally in need of a savior, some attempt to satisfy that need with religion.

They might say “I don’t need Christ because I…”

* go to church

* was born in America

* was baptized as a baby

* am a good person

* give to charity

The list goes on and on; to which John says, ” do not even begin to say…” Those things will not save you from the righteous judgment of God. Ask yourself, do you trust in Christ for salvation? Have you made a public decision for Christ, declaring your need for Him? Or are you trusting in something else that is keeping you from full surrender to Christ?

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 3

1. When the word of the Lord came to John, what did he do?
2. What is required for the remission of sin?
3. Take some time now and pray, repent of your sins, and then read 1John1:9.
4. Isaiah prophesied that all flesh shall see the salvation of God. In what ways have you seen the salvation of God?
5. Verse 16 we read another reference to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Ask the Spirit to fill you right now.
6. Jesus will gather the wheat into His barn. What happens to the chaff?
7. Who did John rebuke?
8. What happened to John because of this rebuke?
9. Verses 23-38 records a genealogy of Jesus. Do you recognize any names in this genealogy?

Old Testament:
Leviticus 4- Oops
Leviticus 5- Restitution

Luke 2:37
“This woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”

Sometimes, we wonder if our lives could ever really make a difference. We see others who are being used by God, and we think, “of course God uses them, they are so…” But when it comes to us, we think, “God can’t use me because…”

I think Anna is a great example, as well as a source of encouragement. We all know, as we age, the body breaks down. We are not able to do some of the things we did when we were younger. That is true of us and it was true of Anna. I love, that instead of regretting what she could not do, Anna found a way to effectively serve the Lord. She fasted, prayed and hung out around the temple. What a source of encouragement it would be for those coming to the temple, to always see this woman. She was a landmark. Just being there would afford her great opportunities to serve the Lord, and be a blessing to others. We read,

“She spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption. . .” Luke 2:38

I think of Jesus’ words to the church of Philadelphia,

“See I have set before you an open door, . . .” Revelation 3:8

I believe that is true for each of us. What door is open right in front of you? Instead of looking at all the ways we cannot serve the Lord, let’s determine we will look for the ways we can serve. Let’s keep our eyes open for any door that cracks open, and push through it to speak of Him to those who are searching for redemption.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 2

1. Bethlehem is also known in the Bible as the city of_____________?
2. The shepherds set for us a good example when they made widely known the message of Jesus coming.   In what ways could you make the message of Jesus known to those around you?
3. Simeon’s response to seeing Jesus was the response that we should have. It was a response of praise and worship.   In his personal worship he declares that salvation through Jesus was prepared for ______________?
4. What is the key word in that answer?
5. Now turn to John 3:16.   We see who the gospel is for, but what is the key for one to have everlasting life?
6. What was Anna known as?
7. What was Anna’s response to seeing Jesus?
8. Every year Joseph and Mary went where?
9. How long was Jesus separated from his parents when He was in Jerusalem?

Old Testament:
Leviticus 1-Sweet Aroma
Leviticus 2- Leaven
Leviticus 3- Confession

Luke 1:80
“So the child grew and became strong in spirit, . . .”

Every parent has the same goal. We desire the best for our children. We want to see them achieve more than we have. We want them to make it through childhood not having been distracted or derailed by vices, but to be prepared to live godly lives and make good life choices. What a blessing for Zacharias and Elizabeth to read that their son, “grew and became strong in spirit”.

This statement reveals the grace of God, but it is also the byproduct of the way they lived their lives. We read in Scripture, and see in life, there are godly children produced in ungodly homes, however it is much more common for godliness in parents to be transferred to their kids. Notice for a moment the way Zach and Liz lived, we read,

“They were both righteous. . .”

Zach chose a godly wife, she a godly husband.
Zach served the Lord.
Together they were committed to the Word of God.
Even before John was born, they were praying for him.
They were real people with real struggles. Not having children and being older, caused Zach to question the promises of God; yet they continued to faithfully follow and serve the Lord.
They stood up to the culture – because Zach was mute, Liz named their son John. The people opposed her, yet she stood on the Word of God.
They worshipped the Lord. The moment his tongue was loosed, instead of blaming God for the difficulties of the last 9 months, Zach worshipped God.
They were filled with the Holy Spirit. Parenting is perhaps life’s greatest challenge, we cannot face it alone, we need a daily outpouring of the Spirit to succeed.

Perhaps the key to it all, they parented with a purpose. In Verse 76, we read they taught John the Word and ways of God. They taught Him God had a plan for his life, and taught him to live up to that plan.
We all want to see our kids and grandkids walking with the Lord. While we trust them to the grace of God, we also must set an example of walking with the Lord. Let’s commit today to put the things of the Lord first in our lives

Pastor Jim

Questions for Luke 1

1. Who was Zacharias’s wife?
2. What happened to Zacharias after the angel of the lord told him about his wife having a child?
3. When did the angel Gabriel appear to Mary?
4. The angel Gabriel told Mary that Jesus would reign over the house of Jacob and that kingdom would have what?
5. Will you be a part of that kingdom?
6. How did Mary respond to Elizabeth’s affirmation in vs 45?
7. How did Zachariah respond after his tongue was loosed? Is there a similarity to Mary’s response to God’s moving and Zacharias’s response to God’s moving?
8. What can we learn from their responses?
9. Verse 67 says that Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit. When you accepted Jesus the bible says that the Holy Spirit came in you. Read Acts chapter 1:8.   Notice that this passage in Acts speaks of another work of the Spirit. This is called the baptism of the Spirit.   The purpose of this work of the Spirit is so you can be effective in your witness for Jesus.   Make it a habit to wake up in the morning and ask God to baptize you with His Spirit. Pray right now, watch and see how the Lord uses you as you are filled with the Spirit today.

Old Testament:
Exodus 39- Dress For Success
Exodus 40- Glory Of The Lord

Mark 16:15
“Go into all the world and preach the Gospel . . .”

Paul explained to the Corinthian church the simplicity of the Gospel message. He stated that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day; all according to the Scriptures. That was the message the first believers declared to their world. They went into their homes, streets, marketplaces, schools and places of business, declaring the Son of God died for our sins and rose from the dead.

Mary carries the honor of being the first to declare this wonderful news. Upon arriving at the empty tomb she was told,

“You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. HE IS RISEN!”

She responded by running to tell the other disciples. Since Jesus had declared He would rise again, it seems they would hear this wonderful news and rejoice together. Jesus is alive! Instead, we read, they did not believe her. What would cause these men to doubt the Word of God, and the testimony of Mary? I think perhaps, it was the difficulty of their circumstances. They were allowing their difficulty to cloud their view of God, instead of allowing the Word of God to shed light on their situation. This is a common occurrence. We have all been guilty of the same struggle. We look to our hardship, and it casts a shadow of doubt upon the promises of God.

Later that night, the church gathered together. There has been, and always will be, comfort in meeting together with friends in times of hardship. It is worth noting what happens when Jesus shows up. He does two remarkable things. First, He rebukes them for their unbelief. While He is our compassionate High Priest who understands our weakness, He also expects us to lay hold of the promises of God, and live by them. Second, He commands them to go tell the world. I am convinced there is a connection here. When we let our circumstances cloud the promises of God, we fail to share those promises. Also, when we share those promises, it shows we truly believe.

These guys heard from Mary that Jesus was alive. They found this to be true, as they went out into the world and declared the Gospel. When filled with fear, they stood before a crowd and shared Christ, He showed up and people were saved. When they met the needy, the blind, lame, and sick, they prayed for them; He showed up, and they were healed. Often we question whether Jesus really is alive from the dead. I think we will find our answer as we go into the entire world and preach the gospel.

Pastor Jim

05

1. Describe the events of that first Easter morning.
2. Who did Jesus choose to be the first messengers of the resurrection?
3. How does that encourage you to be used by the Lord to share the message of salvation?
4. What is the command given in verse 15?
5. How are you involved in fulfilling that command?
6. How are you encouraged to tell others about Jesus by what is recorded in verse 20?

Old Testament:
Exodus 37- Utensils
Exodus 38- Got Talent

Mark 15:20
“And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.”

We have come to the most solemn and most important of all Biblical events. The entire life and ministry of Jesus, as well as the whole of human history, has been leading up to these events. Jesus declared, no one could take His life, but that He would lay it down (John 10:18). That day has finally arrived. Without a fight, Jesus, the creator and sustainer of heaven and earth, was taken by the mob, condemned by the the courts, beaten by the soldiers, and nailed to the cross. There on a cross of wood, amidst the clamor of the mob, He would bear the penalty for the sins of all humanity. Louder than all the jeering of the mockers, the laughing of the soldiers, the accusations of the pharisees and the weeping of the disciples, rang out the cry “My God, My God why have You forsaken Me?”

The answer to His question is one so great, it is beyond the human experience to understand. The Son of God, the One who always did the will of the Father and heard the Father declare, “This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”, now experienced the greatest horror anyone could ever experience. The penalty of sin, separation from God, was placed upon Christ. When Isaiah wrote, “surely He bore our iniquity”, he was referring to the cross. He was speaking of the weight, the guilt and the penalty of sin being placed on Christ, so we would never have to bear it ourselves. Oh, what amazing grace, that Jesus would bear my sin and yours.

It has always amazed me to observe the reaction of the people around the cross, as Jesus is being crucified. I notice the soldiers at the foot of the cross. Failing to understand the severity of the moment, or the brevity of life, they are playing games for Jesus clothes. How sad that many still treat Jesus in the same way. Instead of seeing Him as Savior, and surrendering to Him as Lord, they look to Him for what they can get out of Him. Their relationship with Jesus is reduced to simply seeing Him as the one who will give them what they want.

I notice the crowd, made up of people from all walks of life. While He is bearing their iniquity, they are asking Him to prove Himself. It is not enough that He lived a sinless life, fulfilled hundreds of prophecies, and transformed the lives of all who received Him; these men wanted further proof. Isn’t it interesting, by ignoring their request to come down from the cross, Jesus is, in fact, proving He is the Savior. What horror would await us had Jesus acquiesced to their request and come down from the cross. Instead of the penalty of sin being placed upon Him, it would still be awaiting us.

I also notice the centurion who stood by watching these events. He had a front row seat as the Son of God breathed His last. Rather than accepting the popular opinions about Jesus, he cried out,

“Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

If we will look to Him, as the centurion did, believing He is the Son of God and Savior of Humanity, then we will see Him transform our lives and find that instead of horror, heaven awaits us.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Mark 15

1. Jesus is taken from the Jewish authorities to the Roman authorities because the Jews did not have the right of capital punishment. If they wanted Jesus to be publically shamed the religious leaders must convince Rome that Jesus has committed crimes worthy of death.
2. How does Jesus respond to the accusation of being “King of the Jews?”
3. Who does the crowd choose to have releases?
4. What strikes you about their choice?
5. Take some time to carefully examine the suffering that Jesus endured. Make a list of all the physical beatings He endured.
6. Look up crucifixion to understand more what Jesus endured for us.
7. Think about the statement, “save yourself, and come down from the cross” Why are you glad Jesus did not do as they asked?
8. What happened after Jesus breathed His last?
9. What do you think gave Joseph the courage to openly be known as a follower of Jesus?

Old Testament:
Exodus 35- Willingness
Exodus 36- Foundations Of Faith

Mark 14:29
“Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.”

Mingled into the fabric of the betrayal, arrest, conviction and crucifixion of Christ, is the story of Peter’s denial. What happened to him? He went from confidently stating he would never deny Christ, to hiding his faith, denying his Lord, and bitterly weeping. While we never start out to fall, the path we walk will always determine our final destination. Peter’s path inevitably led to Peter’s fall. Let’s take a few minutes to notice the steps leading to his failure, that we might avoid these same pitfalls.

First, notice the pride of Peter, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.” Pride will always cause us to put our guard down and open us up to failure.

Second, notice that while he should have been praying, he was sleeping. How often we neglect to make spiritual investments because other things become more pressing.

Third, we read he attempted to do spiritual battle in the arm of the flesh. Having neglected to watch and pray, Peter was left to pull out a sword for battle. How ineffective the flesh is, to battle in the realm of the Spirit.

Fourth, we read, “Peter followed Him at a distance.” Instead of realizing his failure and running to Jesus, Peter’s fear caused him to keep his distance. Satan is so good at getting us to sin, then convincing us that we are guilty and must stay in our sin, rather than running to Christ.

Fifth, notice where Peter is hanging out. Eleven friends had been following Jesus together for over 3 years, yet in a time when his faith is being tested the most, Peter is hanging out in the enemy’s camp. How different the story would have been if these eleven men had returned to the garden for prayer and fellowship.

Finally, Mark gives us an interesting insight into the story that is particularly relevant. He tells us, before the third denial, there was the sound of a rooster crowing. In the 11th hour of temptation, Jesus is still giving warning signs to keep Peter from his fall and the subsequent misery. Instead of heeding the warning, Peter continues down the road until his sin is complete.

Let’s learn a lesson from Peter’s failure and draw near to Jesus today.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Mark 14

1. Why were the religious leaders hesitant to arrest Jesus during the feast?
2. What do you learn about worship from the actions of the woman at Simon’s house?
3. Judas is a sad story. Perhaps what makes it even sadder is how often his story is repeated. People rejecting Jesus for some other gain. Examine your own life. Is there anything in the way of you following Jesus completely?
4. Communion is a time to reflect upon the death of Jesus and the results for us. Set aside time today to partake of communion. Reflect upon the cross and spend some time communing with Jesus. Perhaps gather your immediate family to partake with you.
5. Jesus warns Peter of his coming fall. As you read through the chapter look for anything that Peter did or failed to do that helped to cause his fall.
6. What do you learn from Jesus’ prayer in the garden?
7. Many think that the young man mentioned in verse 51 was actually Mark as a teenager.
8. What promise does Jesus give to the Sanhedrin?

Old Testament:
Exodus 33- More
Exodus 34- Cleft Of The Rock

Mark 13:2
“Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

The stones that formed the Temple were massive. Their sheer size represented permanence. For the disciples, it would be difficult to imagine them ever being destroyed. When Jesus declared that a time was coming when the Temple would be leveled, the minds of the disciples jumped to the future. They asked;

“What will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”

Mark 13 is an abridged version of the Olivet Discourse recorded also in Matthew 24-25. The subject is the signs that point to the return of Christ. Jesus states;

“Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.”

People are fascinated with what the Bible teaches about the future. Many Christians have become students of prophecy, many books have been written on the subject, Hollywood has produced movie after movie depicting their interpretations of eschatology. Sometimes, in the midst of all this, we can miss the repeated exhortation of Jesus.

“Take heed… Take heed, watch and pray… Watch… What I say to you I say to all: watch!”

While it is important to be aware of the events that point to the return of Christ, it is more important to be focussing on your relationship with Jesus. Are you ready? If He were to return today, what will He find you doing? Are you living your life for His glory and Kingdom? Are you watching or have you fallen asleep? When He returns, we will not be tested on our knowledge of prophecy but rewarded for our faithfulness.

Perhaps this is a good time to take inventory of your walk with the Lord. Maybe you need to do a little “house cleaning.”

Pastor Jim

Questions for Mark 13

1. What does Jesus say about the massive stones of the Temple?
2. What questions did the disciples have for Jesus?
3. How does the world we live in today compare to the world Jesus describes in Mark 13?
4. What are we told to do in verse 23 in light of these warnings?
5. What promise does Jesus give in verse 31?
6. What are we told to do in verse 33, in light of these warnings?
7. What are we warned against doing in verse 36? What do you think that means?

Old Testament:
Exodus 31- Fill Me Up
Exodus 32- Past Due