John 13:14 says "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet."Here Jesus is telling his disciples that if he washes their feet, then they should do the same to each other. He's mainly talking about being a servant. Jesus tells us that we need to serve one another. If we serve the people we dislike the most, we are showing the kindess of God. They would see something different in us and wonder what we have that they don't. They would see the light that we shine for Jesus Christ.Matthew 5:15-16 "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."Most of us have sang the song "This Little Light of Mine" since we were in preschool. That song comes from these verses. By serving one another, we are shining the light that we have been given from Jesus Christ. When others see that and wonder what's different about us, then will they come to know God as we do.
Kaylie
Monday, March 10, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
John 8
As Jesus goes on teaching the crowds, as he has in the previous chapters, He is tested by the people about His testimony. He basically states that death will come to those who do not believe in Him or His Father because they are one in the same. He also tells the people they are children of the devil. Talk about a slap in the face! The devil is said to be the father of lies and we are his children?!? Ouch! But Jesus does say that whoever believes that He is the truth, is a child of God. Whew! That leaves me with a little comfort :) I've always wondered what Jesus was writing in the sand. John 8 starts out with the Pharisees and an adulteress woman. Jesus says that anyone without sin can throw the first stone to kill the woman according to the Jewish law. Jesus again shows His amazing grace and mercy toward this woman who should have deserved death. BUT, however truly awesome God is, I still wonder what he was writing in the sand. Was He writing the scriptures, or was He simply collecting His thoughts and praying to God for guidance? It is one mystery of the Bible!
Julie Nussbaum
Julie Nussbaum
Monday, March 3, 2008
John 7
Upon reading John chapter 7 I was a little worried when I first starting reading. You know how sometimes you just can't grasp something until all of a sudden, boom it clicks and blows you away? well that's how this one was for me. I read vs. 37 and 38 and instantly stopped and forced myself to read it again, then again, and finally one more time. Jesus had failed to convince the Jews that he was the Christ whom they had heard about and on the last day of their feast stood up and said, "If anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink." That one struck me. "let him come to me and drink" what exactly does that mean? I cant help but think about Danny's message this past Sun night when talking about struggles and hardships and how God uses those times to help bring us closer to Him. He promises that once we have Him in our lives He will continue to fill us using His word to satisfy our hearts. For the past few weeks I have been strong and courageous in not eating any fast food, especially McDonalds because I have given them up for lint. Many people have been asking me why I'm doing it because its a Catholic thing, but in all honesty its really showing me how much I need to fill myself up with the spirit. Its about showing myself that every time I crave french fries or a hamburger, I need to thirst and hunger for the Lord. It becomes so comforting knowing that God will never leave us, He says 'our hearts will flow rivers of living water', we will be quenched by God and He will supply our every need. We must really continue to ask him for everything and realize what an awesome gift of eternal life the Lord has given us. Hope you all are keeping up on your reading and getting a lot out of it, I know I am!
God Bless
In Him,
Jenny
2 Cor 5:7
God Bless
In Him,
Jenny
2 Cor 5:7
Friday, February 29, 2008
John 4
As I was reading this chapter, one verse really stuck out to me. It was the Samaritan woman when she said:
"...Where can you get this living water?"
-John 4:11b
As the Samaritan woman talked to Jesus, this question comes up. I started thinking about it, how many times do I hear this question in a day? While it might not include the words "living water", or really words at all, but people are constantly searching for something.People might not come out and say it, but so many are looking for something to fill the hole in their heart and make them "never thirst again". The thing is, what am I going to do about it?
In this chapter, Jesus sets a great example. He saw a woman who, like most people, was struggling. Instead of just walking by, Jesus stopped and shared his living water with her. He took the time to talk to someone (that he would be looked down on for talking to) when he could have been doing something else. Why is it that I can't even pass out a bringvitation to one of my friends?
I don't know who the Samaritan woman is in your life. Maybe it's the girl who's sitting by herself, or the guy in History class that no one seems to really like. The question is, will you be Jesus to them? Will you take the time to share the living water Christ has given you...or will you be too busy?
Brianne Chrenko
"...Where can you get this living water?"
-John 4:11b
As the Samaritan woman talked to Jesus, this question comes up. I started thinking about it, how many times do I hear this question in a day? While it might not include the words "living water", or really words at all, but people are constantly searching for something.People might not come out and say it, but so many are looking for something to fill the hole in their heart and make them "never thirst again". The thing is, what am I going to do about it?
In this chapter, Jesus sets a great example. He saw a woman who, like most people, was struggling. Instead of just walking by, Jesus stopped and shared his living water with her. He took the time to talk to someone (that he would be looked down on for talking to) when he could have been doing something else. Why is it that I can't even pass out a bringvitation to one of my friends?
I don't know who the Samaritan woman is in your life. Maybe it's the girl who's sitting by herself, or the guy in History class that no one seems to really like. The question is, will you be Jesus to them? Will you take the time to share the living water Christ has given you...or will you be too busy?
Brianne Chrenko
John Chapter 2
The first thing is I like how Jesus didnt say anything when the master of ceremonies complimented the groom on saving the best wine until last and Jesus didnt even take credit for it. Secondly, when most people picture Jesus they picture him as a nice loving man that never became angry. I like this particular passage of scripture because i believe it shows us how God reacts when are doing things that dont bring glory to His name. I also like that fact that he foreshadows that He will rise 3 days after his death.
Seth Mills
Seth Mills
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Reflectors
Well, the journey of the next 21 days has begun…(dum dum dum). I’m amped about this challenge and what God is going to do, not only through the study, but also through the culminating event of the “Passion of the Christ”. Remember to invite your groups and a thousand other people…J (I don’t think that’s too much to ask) Alright, its blog time:
As I read through the first chapter, it was if God was almost not allowing me to move past verses 6-9. No matter how much I read on, I was still thinking of what was said in these verses. Part of this could have been my A.D.D. (lol), but I really think God was bringing some things to light….no pun intended. Obviously when I began to S. O. A. P., these are the truths that stuck out to me. Here is my observation raw and un-edited. We become reflectors of the light of Jesus Christ which is the “true” light. The closer that we (slowly) come to the light, the stronger our reflection is. Let me clarify the word (slowly) used in my last sentence. This is personal. I don’t know if you feel the same way, but I feel as though I grow so slowly and take such baby steps. I’m 27 and I am no where near where I would like to be on my journey. Through much failure and many, many spiritually scraped knees, I am (slowly) becoming closer to this TRUE light. I think this passage points out why it is so important for us to strongly reflect this TRUE light. In verse 7 the Bible says, “He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.” This is why it’s so vitally important for us to be the best reflectors of light we can possibly be. Directly after this in verse 8, I think it is interesting that it’s pointed out strongly again that we are merely the reflectors of the TRUE light. Jesus Christ is the “light of the world.” In my life I have to give way to this light every day or what I find myself doing is trying to work apart from the source.
I want to give one last illustration about the light…I don’t want to beat it to death, but I think these words are used for a purpose. As we are reflecting this TRUE light, this light that “enlightens all,” to other people we have to keep in mind that they may be living in darkness. Stay with me… have you ever had the lights off and you’re about to fall asleep? You’re comfortable and cozy and have been sitting in the room for a pretty long time. Maybe you’re watching a movie and you’re really into it. Out of nowhere someone walks in and turns on the light. It’s bright and uncomfortable…almost annoying. It’s changing the way your eyes operate. It could even be making them do more work which could cause irritation or slight pain. Realize that when we start to reflect this light strongly to our friends, family, people we work with or hang out with, they could be coming from pure, comfortable, almost comatose darkness. So what God showed me is that there may be an adjustment period for people to come along with us and our “bright light” of change. Don’t be discouraged and beat down as a leader when this adjustment is going on, just keep loving people and (slowly) becoming closer to the TRUE light. I hope that you got a lot out of John 1. Keep going and remember…”leaders lead.”
Love God. Love Others.
Shane
As I read through the first chapter, it was if God was almost not allowing me to move past verses 6-9. No matter how much I read on, I was still thinking of what was said in these verses. Part of this could have been my A.D.D. (lol), but I really think God was bringing some things to light….no pun intended. Obviously when I began to S. O. A. P., these are the truths that stuck out to me. Here is my observation raw and un-edited. We become reflectors of the light of Jesus Christ which is the “true” light. The closer that we (slowly) come to the light, the stronger our reflection is. Let me clarify the word (slowly) used in my last sentence. This is personal. I don’t know if you feel the same way, but I feel as though I grow so slowly and take such baby steps. I’m 27 and I am no where near where I would like to be on my journey. Through much failure and many, many spiritually scraped knees, I am (slowly) becoming closer to this TRUE light. I think this passage points out why it is so important for us to strongly reflect this TRUE light. In verse 7 the Bible says, “He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.” This is why it’s so vitally important for us to be the best reflectors of light we can possibly be. Directly after this in verse 8, I think it is interesting that it’s pointed out strongly again that we are merely the reflectors of the TRUE light. Jesus Christ is the “light of the world.” In my life I have to give way to this light every day or what I find myself doing is trying to work apart from the source.
I want to give one last illustration about the light…I don’t want to beat it to death, but I think these words are used for a purpose. As we are reflecting this TRUE light, this light that “enlightens all,” to other people we have to keep in mind that they may be living in darkness. Stay with me… have you ever had the lights off and you’re about to fall asleep? You’re comfortable and cozy and have been sitting in the room for a pretty long time. Maybe you’re watching a movie and you’re really into it. Out of nowhere someone walks in and turns on the light. It’s bright and uncomfortable…almost annoying. It’s changing the way your eyes operate. It could even be making them do more work which could cause irritation or slight pain. Realize that when we start to reflect this light strongly to our friends, family, people we work with or hang out with, they could be coming from pure, comfortable, almost comatose darkness. So what God showed me is that there may be an adjustment period for people to come along with us and our “bright light” of change. Don’t be discouraged and beat down as a leader when this adjustment is going on, just keep loving people and (slowly) becoming closer to the TRUE light. I hope that you got a lot out of John 1. Keep going and remember…”leaders lead.”
Love God. Love Others.
Shane
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