Quest for Hope
A Surrendered Life 3-19-16
Luke 19:1-10
Yesterday, we studied a passage from Luke about God’s great love and value for humanity. Today, we will read about Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus and how a person who surrenders his or her life to Christ and truly repents is willing to embrace change in order to glorify the Father of Love.
Quest for Hope
Valuable to God 3-18-16
Luke 15:1-7
Yesterday, we read a great passage quoting Jesus about counting the cost of discipleship and remaining committed to his passion to redeem all of humanity. Today, we will invest time on our quest for hope in reading about the parable of the Lost Sheep.
Quest for Hope
Count the Cost 3-17-16
Luke 14:28-35
Yesterday, we read about the narrow gate who is Jesus and the need to remain committed to God’s commands of love. Today, we will read about Jesus’ advice to count the cost before choosing to become his disciple. Jesus invites us to be ready to live out what it takes to make him Lord; it will have an impact and he wants us to be prepared.
Quest for Hope
A Narrow Gate 3-16-16
Luke 13:22-27
Yesterday, we read about the religious blindness that hinders humanity from taking a posture of repentance before God. When we repent, we are choosing to turn to God’s way of doing things. God’s way and purpose for us is for grace to cause us to bear fruit. Today, in our quest for hope, we will explore a statement from Jesus about the “narrow gate” that leads to the Kingdom of heaven, as well as the difficulty humans encounter trying to enter.
Quest for Hope
A Narrow Gate 3-16-16 Intro
Luke 13:22-27
Yesterday, we read about the religious blindness that hinders humanity from taking a posture of repentance before God. When we repent, we are choosing to turn to God’s way of doing things. God’s way and purpose for us is for grace to cause us to bear fruit. Today, in our quest for hope, we will explore a statement from Jesus about the “narrow gate” that leads to the Kingdom of heaven, as well as the difficulty humans encounter trying to enter. I will post the passage this morning, so please read it. We will invest time in interpreting the passage this evening during our Wednesday worship time and I will post the conclusion following our discussion.
Quest for Hope
Religious Blindness 3-15-16
Luke 13:1-9
Yesterday, we read about how the Spirit seals us in Truth, so we can come to God on his terms. It is the work of the Spirit who helps us recognize and apply the Truth of how God intends for us to live. Today, we will read a passage from Luke about repentance. I recently taught on this very passage and look forward to revisiting it. Repentance is paramount to understanding the need for the crucifixion, as well as the power out-flowing the resurrection.
Quest for Hope
Sealed by Truth 3-14-16
Psalm 24:1-6
On Saturday, our focus was on the cost of the cross when entering the Kingdom of God. Jesus will call us to pick up our cross and follow him. Today on our quest for hope, we will read about how our hearts are sealed by truth and we are saved by the righteousness of Christ, yet in his song David reveals there are terms. Let’s read about them.
Quest for Hope
The Kingdom and the Cross 3-12-16
Matthew 16:21-27
Yesterday, the gospel of Matthew guided us to reflect on what actually makes us clean on the inside before God by identifying the human problem. The real problem is we are dirty at the core of our being and outward religious observances cannot make us holy. Only the work of Christ can wash our internal being and make us pleasing to God. Today, on our quest for hope Jesus explains what is involved in following him to that cleansing: a cross for our will as we surrender to the eternal work of the Kingdom.
Quest for Hope
Internal Problem 3-11-16
Matthew 15:11-20
Yesterday, we read Jesus’ example of what makes good soil in the heart for receiving His Word and letting it take root. Today, we will read more wisdom from Christ as he teaches the disciples about what really defiles (contaminates) a person before a holy God.
Quest for Hope
Human Soil 3-10-16
Matthew 13:3-9
Last night, we enjoyed talking about the “rest for our souls” that Christ provides. A rest that includes physical refreshment and a rest that brings spiritual freedom, because we are “joined” with him. Today, we will look at the soil of our hearts, because the seed of the Word will fall there and either flourish or die.
