Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” —Matthew 28:19-20 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.…

Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. —Matthew 27:1-5 Suicide… when life…

Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. —John 17:18 They were sent to the front lines in the battle. This was to advance the cause and not to retreat. When they were sent they were expected to take ground and not to give it up. Those who sent them had great anticipation for them to succeed. So it is with Jesus. He was sent into the world by His Father with a plan to succeed and He did accomplish all He was intended to. According to the verse above Jesus has now sent us into the world. Matthew 28:16-20 says, “Then the…

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. —John 16:33 What is a promise? It is when someone gives their word about something— “I take you as my wife/husband until death parts us. It is a verbal or written contract— marriage license. It is an assurance— I will be there at 10am. When a person gives a promise it is a pledge that they will absolutely do something. Jesus gives us 3 promises in the verse above: 1- We can have peace in Him. 2- In this world we…

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. —John 15:5 Take away the branches from the main stem of a tomato plant and you will not get any tomatoes. Take away the branches from the main stem of a pepper plant and you will not get any peppers. Take away the branches from the trunk of an apple tree and you will not get any apples. Take away the branches from the trunk of an oak tree and you will not get any acorns. Take away the…

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. —John 14:21 Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. —John 14:23 “Yes, dad” the child said when asked to clean his room and off he went to do so. “Yes, mom” her daughter said when asked to do the dishes and off she went to do what was asked of her. When asked to do something by a parent, by a teacher, by an employer and the answer is yes shows at least respect. A blatant “no” would surely bring conflict between the one requesting something to be done and the one being asked to do…

But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” —-Matthew 26:24 They had been friends from their youth, but John always seemed to have better things happen to him. He was well liked, had a very pretty girl friend and a good job. Troy became jealous and when an opportunity presented itself to betray his friend for money and have John sent off to prison for life, Troy did it. He thought that he not only would have the money, but also have an opportunity to “comfort” John’s girl friend and maybe end up marrying her…

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” —John 13:34-35 Spend time with a person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a year and you will know what that person stands for, their likes, dislikes etc. So it is with a person’s vocation. Follow them around long enough and you will know what it is they do. People can claim to be this or that, but when you spend time with them, you will really come to know who they…

You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. —Matthew 22:29 A compass is a great guide… if you are reading it correctly. This summer we set up a compass course for some teens. Overall they did really well, but there was a moment when one of the teams was not reading the compass correctly and they were actually going in the opposite direction from what was intended. They had gone some distance before they realized their mistake and had to back-track to end up at the correct destination. So many people wind up with the wrong conclusions because they do not know…

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. —Luke 19:10 Hide and Seek is still a game children like to play. They look and look and look for those who are hiding until they find them. Some are easy to find and others are much harder to discover where they are. But the one seeking continues until all are found. It takes concern, compassion, empathy, endurance, persistence and patience in seeking out those who are lost. Jesus told us that one reason He came was “to seek and to save the lost.” This should be our desire as well. But to seek the lost we…