4.1 – Assurance of Strength – 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

Memorize 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (NRSV)

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (NIV).

Reflect on 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

  • Read Paul's teaching on Jesus' resurrection in the NRSV, the NIV, or The MESSAGE.
  • The many "fear nots" ("do not be afraid" in the NIV) in the Bible are mirrored in today's prideful advertising slogan "No Fear!"  Paul tells us that we can live without fear because God through Jesus has already won the victory for us.  What do you fear?
  • What about death?  Do you fear death?  Does USAmerican culture fear death?
  • What one risk will you make for God this week?

Zan Holmes on “Do We Look Like Our Picture?”

On Sunday February 20, 2005 the Sanford District of The United Methodist Church welcomed Dr. Zan Holmes to its Lay Rally.  He offered some challenging words around the question: “Do We Look Like Our Picture?” He recalled a moment in his life when he almost missed a ride at a strange airport because he “did not look like his picture.”  Let’s center on to several verses from the book of Acts:

After his suffering Jesus presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God; While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy
Spirit not many days from now" (Acts 1:3-5, NRSV, also see Acts 2:1-12).

What does the picture of the early church look like? 

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SOAP on Matthew 5:7 – What’s Love Got to Do with It?

Colorcover_1Scripture:  "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy" (Matthew 5:7, NRSV).

Observe the Context:  This is the fifth of eight beatitudes (see Matthew 5:1-12) and reflects a portion of the spiritual journey when one learns to love others as Christ first loved us (Len Sweet calls this the Titanium Rule).  The spiritual journey laid out in the Beatitudes looks something like the following:

  1. Blessed are the poor in spirit … those who know their lives are messed up.
  2. Blessed are those who mourn … because they know there has to be a better way to live.
  3. Blessed are the meek … because they seek for the real thing — God!
  4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness … who after encountering the Living God for a moment continue in their quest to follow the One Who Is!
  5. Blessed are the merciful … because in response to the great love shown to them they love others as God loves them.
  6. Blessed are the pure in heart … for as they draw close to their neighbor in love they are also drawn closer to the giver of life.
  7. Blessed are the peacemakers … who understand that one day we shall be called to account and they therefore desire to help us learn the way of Love made known not through aggression, but in persistent peace.
  8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake … because no good deed ever goes unpunished by those who live by the world’s standards.

John Wesley expounded on the Beatitudes in the first three of thirteen sermons on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7 (See Wesley’s Standard Sermons: Discourse 1 – Sermon 21, Discourse 2 – Sermon 22, and Discourse 2 – Sermon 23). 

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2.4 Fill My Cup, Lord

02_4Read Matthew chapter 8.  There are several healing stories in today’s reading.  A leper approaches Jesus with a “I hope heals me” attitude, a centurion’s solid faith reveals an “only command it and it will be done” attitude, and Peter’s mother seems to busy herself in the role of the hostess with a “who knew I could be healed so quickly” attitude.  Which character do you most identify with?  What healing do you need from Jesus this week?

2.3 Fill My Cup, Lord

02_3Read Matthew chapter 7.  At the end of today’s reading you will have heard Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in its entirety.  What one saying really grabbed your attention?  Where did you want to know some more?  Where were you challenged?  Where were you comforted?  Bring your questions to Jesus remembering to “ask and it will be given you, search, and you will find, knock, and the door will be opened for you” (Matthew 7:7).

2.2 Fill My Cup, Lord

02_2Read Matthew chapter 6.  Someone once approached a teacher and asked her
how to cultivate a deeper life of prayer.  The teacher’s response was quite simple, “Say the Lord’s Prayer, but take an hour to say it.”  Today might be a hard day to take an hour to pray the Lord’s Prayer, but consider repeating it several times throughout your day. Records your thoughts at the end of this day … where was God made known to you in a special way?

Countdown to Easter – Family Activities

Forty ways to celebrate the greatest event in history by Annette LaPlaca

Lent is the 40 days,
not counting Sundays, before Easter. These Scripture readings, fun
activities, discussion points and hymns to read or sing will help your
family focus on the most pivotal Christian truth: Christ died and rose
to save us from sin!

Continue reading “Countdown to Easter – Family Activities” →

Countdown to Easter – Family Activities

Forty ways to celebrate the greatest event in history by Annette LaPlaca

Lent is the 40 days,
not counting Sundays, before Easter. These Scripture readings, fun
activities, discussion points and hymns to read or sing will help your
family focus on the most pivotal Christian truth: Christ died and rose
to save us from sin!

Continue reading “Countdown to Easter – Family Activities” →

Coffee May Help Protect Against Liver Cancer

Link: MSNBC – Coffee may help protect against liver cancer.

A cup of joe a day reduces risk of disease, study finds.

WOW!  Great news for coffee addicts.  Personally, I trust in the "Coffee Drinker’s Verse" which avoids snake-handling to say: "And these signs will accompany those who believe … if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them" (Mark 16:17-18).  You may want to jump over to MSNBC and check out "How much caffeine is too much?" before you start binging on the lattes.  By the way, National Geographic has an excellent survey on coffee in its January 2005 issue (the online guide has some great links as well).  Here’s to another cup of joe …   

Continue reading “Coffee May Help Protect Against Liver Cancer” →