Bible Commentaries

Psalms 12:1-8 — shame. We try to figure out what to believe today between...fake news, false advertisement, spurious websites...who do we believe? Psalm 12 is a corporate lament. A lament is a passionate expression of grief or sorrow. David wrote 46 out of 59 of the Psalm laments. Individual laments consisted of: Introductory cry to God. Lament. Confession of trust. Petition. Vow/expression of praise. National laments follow the same pattern, but they are usually shorter...like the one we have here. The

Psalms 12:1-8 — shame. We try to figure out what to believe today between...fake news, false advertisement, spurious websites...who do we believe? Psalm 12 is a corporate lament. A lament is a passionate expression of grief or sorrow. David wrote 46 out of 59 of the Psalm laments. Individual laments consisted of: Introductory cry to God. Lament. Confession of trust. Petition. Vow/expression of praise. National laments follow the same pattern, but they are usually shorter...like the one we have here. The

Matthew 11:1-19 — gunpowder. Touch a match to the powder, and if it ignited it was proof that it was good whiskey. However, if there was too much water in the whiskey, the powder would be too wet to ignite. Then you have proof that it’s not good whiskey. About 50% alcohol-water mixtures will allow gunpowder to catch on fire. Thus the 50% alcohol became 100% proof that it was good whiskey, which is why today it is called 100 proof whiskey. [no, I’m not advocating drinking. illust] Proof

Matthew 11:1-19 — gunpowder. Touch a match to the powder, and if it ignited it was proof that it was good whiskey. However, if there was too much water in the whiskey, the powder would be too wet to ignite. Then you have proof that it’s not good whiskey. About 50% alcohol-water mixtures will allow gunpowder to catch on fire. Thus the 50% alcohol became 100% proof that it was good whiskey, which is why today it is called 100 proof whiskey. [no, I’m not advocating drinking. illust] Proof

Matthew 5:33-48 — radical and thus intended to shock the audience to consider the radical nature of Jesus’ ethic. They were not intended to be applied unthinkingly. Each rule is balanced by other scriptural commands. eg. Eph.5:24 Wives subject to their husbands in Everything. What about if asked to lie or murder? Balance is in Col.3:18 (same context)...as is fitting in the Lord. Slide8 MY WORD IS MY BOND (33-37) Integrity, not oaths Swearing Oaths to

Matthew 5:33-48 — radical and thus intended to shock the audience to consider the radical nature of Jesus’ ethic. They were not intended to be applied unthinkingly. Each rule is balanced by other scriptural commands. eg. Eph.5:24 Wives subject to their husbands in Everything. What about if asked to lie or murder? Balance is in Col.3:18 (same context)...as is fitting in the Lord. Slide8 MY WORD IS MY BOND (33-37) Integrity, not oaths Swearing Oaths to

Matthew 5:6 — your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good?(Del Taco) Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. Is.55:1-3 Slide11a Our hypothalamus controls our body temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, sleep, and circadian rhythms (those 24 hour rhythms of our biological or internal clocks)   1 George Lamsa, Gospel Light, pg.27.   3 When

Matthew 5:6 — your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good?(Del Taco) Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. Is.55:1-3 Slide11a Our hypothalamus controls our body temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, sleep, and circadian rhythms (those 24 hour rhythms of our biological or internal clocks)   1 George Lamsa, Gospel Light, pg.27.   3 When

Mark 15:33-47 — life. The Cross and the Manger belong together. It is not possible to accept only a part of the life of Jesus; for everything is connected, everything woven together. Oh that’s what was meant by a body you have prepared for me. Heb.10:5 baby body/man body Oh that’s what was meant by For this cause I was born, & for this cause I have come into the world. Jn.18:37 The cradle involves the cross, the cross illuminates the cradle. It started in the stable...He was Born

Mark 15:33-47 — life. The Cross and the Manger belong together. It is not possible to accept only a part of the life of Jesus; for everything is connected, everything woven together. Oh that’s what was meant by a body you have prepared for me. Heb.10:5 baby body/man body Oh that’s what was meant by For this cause I was born, & for this cause I have come into the world. Jn.18:37 The cradle involves the cross, the cross illuminates the cradle. It started in the stable...He was Born

John 16:1-15 — of Allah! And so continue to slaughter Christians by the 1000’s, in their Holy Jihad. Christians give it a different title but do the same (eg. Serbian Christians vs. Kosovo Albanian/Muslims in 1998,99 Kosovo War; Turning point massacre of 45 Albanians by Serbian Troops; mutilated bodies) Example: 2 weeks ago Sept.28th - Mark had it up on the Persecuted Church Update. Islamic militants shot & killed an underground church leader, Mariam Muhina Hussein (46), in Marerey village,

John 16:1-15 — of Allah! And so continue to slaughter Christians by the 1000’s, in their Holy Jihad. Christians give it a different title but do the same (eg. Serbian Christians vs. Kosovo Albanian/Muslims in 1998,99 Kosovo War; Turning point massacre of 45 Albanians by Serbian Troops; mutilated bodies) Example: 2 weeks ago Sept.28th - Mark had it up on the Persecuted Church Update. Islamic militants shot & killed an underground church leader, Mariam Muhina Hussein (46), in Marerey village,

Romans 10:1-21 — wanted or how to get it. Caution on trying to establish your own righteousness – it can happen here at CM! You could be proud of yourself because you’re a Double-Dipper (you go to church twice a week!) SOURCE! (4,5) Righteousness is found in Christ (4) (4) Christ is the end of the law – in the sense of its aim rather than its termination. (Shepherdʼs Notes; pg.62) Phillip’s Translation, “For Christ means the end of the struggle

Romans 10:1-21 — wanted or how to get it. Caution on trying to establish your own righteousness – it can happen here at CM! You could be proud of yourself because you’re a Double-Dipper (you go to church twice a week!) SOURCE! (4,5) Righteousness is found in Christ (4) (4) Christ is the end of the law – in the sense of its aim rather than its termination. (Shepherdʼs Notes; pg.62) Phillip’s Translation, “For Christ means the end of the struggle

2 Corinthians 5:11-21 — do. If we are not compelled by the love of Christ then the love of Christ is not in us! “Secret love” is a love that never shows itself in action. Open rebuke is better then secret love/love carefully concealed. Prov.27:5 What makes a young families head off to the mission filed? What power enables average believers to go into hospitals & lay hands on individuals with terrible deadly diseases?…The Love of Christ compels them! We’re

2 Corinthians 5:11-21 — do. If we are not compelled by the love of Christ then the love of Christ is not in us! “Secret love” is a love that never shows itself in action. Open rebuke is better then secret love/love carefully concealed. Prov.27:5 What makes a young families head off to the mission filed? What power enables average believers to go into hospitals & lay hands on individuals with terrible deadly diseases?…The Love of Christ compels them! We’re

James 2:1-13 — preoccupation with what people have rather than what they are? Q: Do we love & learn from the rich in faith? James made this a tightly constructed passage: 1st, he introduces a principle(1); then he illustrates his point(2-4); next he explains it(5-11); finally, applies it(12,13). SO SPEAK & SO DO! FAITH & FAVORITISM! (1) Clearly, faith in Christ & partiality are incompatible! Partiality/favoritism/respect of persons defined: It literally means to “receive by face”. It

James 4:1-10 — for the jugular, to giving in. Fighting started just steps outside the front gate of Eden. In the field stands Cain…& there lies Abel! :( World Wide Military Expenditures: (2008 #’s) U.S. Spent 623 Billion; Rest-of-world 500 Billion [next would be China 65 Billion] According to New Internationalist magazine, “Global military expenditure is now running well over $1 million per minute.” Unfortunately, it isn’t much different within the church! Of

2 Samuel 11:1-27 — INTRO: Belize/Machaca: John Gotz. Prayer: (read 1 Kings 15:5) We are thankful our sins are not written down for all to read. May we learn from our friend David, during his darkest hour. Why ch.11 in 2 parts? Last week: Part 1 Redeeming a Mom; center on Bathsheba’s life. This

2 Samuel 11:1-27 — INTRO: Belize/Machaca: John Gotz. Prayer: (read 1 Kings 15:5) We are thankful our sins are not written down for all to read. May we learn from our friend David, during his darkest hour. Why ch.11 in 2 parts? Last week: Part 1 Redeeming a Mom; center on Bathsheba’s life. This