DEVOTION: Matthew 8:18-2218 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
20 Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
21 Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
22 But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
Is following Jesus easy? Yes and no. It is easy because it only depends on the Holy Spirit leading us. It is hard because the world is constantly trying to pull us away from the Holy Spirit with temptations and enticements like money, things, physical comforts, and temporary fixes. We end up with the hardship that sin and Satan brings. All the time Jesus is saying, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest for your soul. Take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
All it takes is surrendering our lives to Him. Unfortunately, too many of us don't want to do this. We don't listen to God, and instead listen to man, which always causes us problems. We think we can manipulate, change and even ignore God's Word for man's Word knowing all the time that this only brings trouble.
All it takes is turning back to him, but we are often too proud and too self centered to want to humble ourselves and do what jesus wants us to do, confess, repent, and turn to Him.
And so we pray: Lord God, turn me from sin to You, that I may live in peace and do Your will with my life, so that You may be honored, praised, and enjoyed. Amen.
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TUESDAY'S QUIZ: What does the parable of the yeast mean in Matthew 13:33? The church can grow exponentially if we just let it. All we have to do is mix in the kingdom of God (Jesus).
Here is the answer from Dianne, also a good one.
Parable of Yeast is similar to the Mustard Seed, both are growing but the difference is how much. In the parable of the
Mustard Seed, Jesus says it (the Kingdom of Heaven) will grow to a large size.
Parable of the Yeast is a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven too. The yeast is the Kingdom of Heaven and the
dough is the world. The yeast will slowly grow into something much larger like the Kingdom of Heaven. We should
be like the yeast in the dough and help the Kingdom of Heaven permeate throughout the world.
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20 Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
21 Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
22 But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
Is following Jesus easy? Yes and no. It is easy because it only depends on the Holy Spirit leading us. It is hard because the world is constantly trying to pull us away from the Holy Spirit with temptations and enticements like money, things, physical comforts, and temporary fixes. We end up with the hardship that sin and Satan brings. All the time Jesus is saying, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest for your soul. Take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
All it takes is surrendering our lives to Him. Unfortunately, too many of us don't want to do this. We don't listen to God, and instead listen to man, which always causes us problems. We think we can manipulate, change and even ignore God's Word for man's Word knowing all the time that this only brings trouble.
All it takes is turning back to him, but we are often too proud and too self centered to want to humble ourselves and do what jesus wants us to do, confess, repent, and turn to Him.
And so we pray: Lord God, turn me from sin to You, that I may live in peace and do Your will with my life, so that You may be honored, praised, and enjoyed. Amen.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ: What does the parable of the yeast mean in Matthew 13:33? The church can grow exponentially if we just let it. All we have to do is mix in the kingdom of God (Jesus).
Here is the answer from Dianne, also a good one.
Parable of Yeast is similar to the Mustard Seed, both are growing but the difference is how much. In the parable of the
Mustard Seed, Jesus says it (the Kingdom of Heaven) will grow to a large size.
Parable of the Yeast is a parable about the Kingdom of Heaven too. The yeast is the Kingdom of Heaven and the
dough is the world. The yeast will slowly grow into something much larger like the Kingdom of Heaven. We should
be like the yeast in the dough and help the Kingdom of Heaven permeate throughout the world.
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WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: Where was the man from who was demon possessed and lived among the tombs, and who no one was strong enough to subdue.
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CALENDAR
Wed- Choir 7pm (Note: You know they are serious choir members when they are practicing during the World Series. I love our choir.)
Thurs- Trunk or Treat begins with supper at 5:30-7pm: Trunk or Treat goes till 8pm out on the parking lot
Fri- Assemble newsletter 9am
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
TRUNK OR TREAT THIS THURSDAY 5:30-8pm AT CHURCH