Scripture: Luke 18:9-14 Key Verse(s): But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God be merciful to me, a sinner!” (v. 13) Observation: Luke’s gospel has Jesus presents the parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector to teach a lesson on the… Read More Why Do We Celebrate?

Scripture: Luke 18:1-8 (see also 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5) Key Verse(s): And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes will he find… Read More Fight the Power

Scripture: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 Key Verse(s): For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored? (v. 21-22) Observation: It is because of passages… Read More It’s Not Enough to Know Where to Find Gilead

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:4-13 Key Verse(s): For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water. (v. 13) Observation: God speaks through Jeremiah to charge Israel with failing to maintain their end of the covenant relationship. God… Read More Something in the Water

Scripture: Jeremiah 18:1-11 Key Verse(s): So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. (v. 3-4) Observation: God… Read More The Potter’s House

Scripture: Luke 14:1-6, 12-14 Key Verse(s): And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well… Read More Work It Out

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-7 Key Verse(s): Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. (v. 4-5) Observation: Paul writes to the Philippian church in hopes of restoring unity. Conflict has turned to division and Paul writes reminding… Read More To Harm You is to Harm Me

Scripture: Micah 6:1-8 Key Verse(s): He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (v. 8) Observation: In the first five verses of the sixth chapter of Micah God questions Israel or more to the point, God raises an… Read More What Does It Mean to Do Good?