Bible Commentaries

Mark 1:9-13 — busy days on planet earth. An ordinary workman, honing His craft, mastering His tools, meeting carpentry deadlines. Bearing ordinary human responsibilities & entering into ordinary human experiences. This morning we’re biting off only 5 verses that are given to explain his Ministry Prep If Jesus needed Ministry Prep do you think you do? Do you or will you willing submit yourself to that? What is ministry prep for? God was well pleased with John’s ministry that He gave

Mark 16:9-11 — archeological digs going on right now Her Family? No record of parents, marital status, or her age. Statistics: She is mentioned 14 x’s in the gospels. 8 of the 14 she is named w/the other ladies and she is always mentioned 1st. The 5 x’s she’s mentioned alone are in connection w/ Jesus’ death & res. And in only 1 verse is mentioned after Mary(Jesus mother)& the aunt of Jesus. Prostitute? Was she? ​​​​​​​Not a shred

Mark 5:1-20 — His emotions responds to its impulses; & his will is dominated by the demon. Everybody is going to be possessed by something or somebody. God didn’t design the human heart to be a vacuum but to be occupied by Jesus. (5) Cutting himself – Self mutilation [Self-harm (SH) deliberate self-harm (DSH) self-injury (SI)] Today - The most common way of self injury is cutting oneself, often repeatedly, with sharp objects like knives, razor blades, or sharp glass.

Luke 12:13-21 — Mrk, & Lk discuss right handling of material goods. He emphasizes the principle of INVESTMENT! “you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.” Mt.25:27 COVETOUSNESS! (13-15) Imagine being so greedy that you would interrupt a sermon to ask for help to get more money! (Warren Wiersbe; With The Word; pg.677.) Breaking in on Jesus’ conversation…this brother cries JUSTICE! But

Luke 15:11-32 — the very poor. So what did he do wrong? – How about disregarding his responsibilities as a son toward his Father. - Misusing his God-given freedom to seek freedom from a responsible relationship to God. (Shepherd’s notes; pg.57) It feels Free…for a time! How many a college students have moved away to a distant land, away from mom & dad, away from accountability, away from watchful eyes, enjoying there new felt freedoms; that often landed them right on their

Luke 18:15-30 — prayer should humble us & make us love others more. We learned last week prayer shouldn’t be like an attorney bringing an indictment against another man; but that we should be like children coming to a Father. KINDERGARTEN KINGDOM! (15-17) ​​​​​​​REBUKED BY THE DISCIPLES! (15) As Seals & Croft sang, “We may never pass this way again” I think this fueled the same urgency, of those who feared Jesus wouldn’t be passing

Luke 2:21-35 — Thomas) This HOPE was shared by this morning’s guest…Mr. Simeon! “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Rom.15:13 Pray! PRESENTATION & BABY DEDICATION! (21-24) The Temple was central in Israel’s worship & hopes. (Shepherd’s Notes; pg.11) 3 Rites/Ceremonies: [1] Circumcision (21) – as prescribed in Gen.17:9-14 Circumcision

Luke 22:35-53 — heart of accomplishing things for God must be that regular experience of calm followed by an unobstructed flow of energy. 1st we’ll finish up one last short teaching at the dinner table. THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT LACK! (35-38) Last bit of instructions in the upper room. (35) On their earlier mission the disciples went w/o provisions & depended entirely on the hospitality of their hearers.  (Shepherd’s Notes; pg. 82.) His promise to them was that

Luke 3:1-38 — day(1); God bypasses the Spiritual leaders of the day(2a) & gave His Word to an unfamiliar Jewish Prophet in the wilderness. (Warren Wiersbe; Outlines on the NT.) ​​​​​​​Annas was high priest from 6-15ad; deposed by Roman authority; his son-in-law Caiaphas was placed in the position18-36ad. The Jews still recognized Annas as the rightful High Priest. (2b) John the Baptist is back on the scene from ch.1:80. And we find

Luke 4:1-13 — of Victory over temptations? Temptation/Testing = “is a difficult situation, a pressure that brings a reaction through which the character or commitment of a believer is demonstrated.” [The Expository Dictionary of Bible Words; pg.593] God permits such situations to prove & improve our faith. The evil is not in the situations God permits, but in responding sinfully to them. Temptations are not designed to trap, but to approve us. God even provides

Luke 5:33-39 — of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” Outline: [1] Messiah’s Merry Men [2] Spandex Stretch Pants [3] Bota Bag Believers! WHY ARE YOUR DISCIPLES HAVING SO MUCH FUN? (33-39) MESSIAH’S MERRY MEN! (33-35) Intro: Still at the feast in Levi’s house. Important side note: Mark 2:18 “The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting”J Think about it, ever been fasting when everyone else is feasting? Bummer time

Luke 6:1-16 — Intro: Outline: Sabbath-tage; & Team Eclectic! SABBATHTAGE! (1-11) LORD OF THE SABBATH! (1-5) Keeping the Sabbath was near the top of the list of Pharisaic virtues. But wasn’t keeping the Sabbath also important to Christ? Was Jesus throwing off the 4th commandment? The difference? The Pharisees enjoyed heir own rigid definition

John 2:13-25 — Temple ½ Shekel was accepted at the Temple(tax). Roman & Greek coin was not accepted. Solution: Money was exchanged right there at the temple. Abuse: Exchange wasn’t the problem. The RATE was! {sometimes up to 50% above the face value of the coin being exchanged} Like the “foreign currency exchange” right in the airport. You exchange $ for a fee, & if you have any left over they...get you again! They were using God, religion,

Acts 1:1-3 — Univ) At least 10% of New England was converted in the 1st Great Awakening. 2nd Great Awakening (late 1700’s) [due to Concerts of Prayer set up with diff pastors] Finney Revival’s (early 1800’s) N.Y. The revival of 1858 – Quite different. No great names attached to it, laymen were most responsible. Some say it was the Business people of N.Y. because of a bank panic, scared people into a new dependence on God. But the 1st outbreaks in U.S. in Virginia & the Carolina’s

Acts 13:1-12 — taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries.On such a full sea are we now afloat; And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures. (Bits & Pieces, March 2, 1995, pp. 16-17) Read: 11:30; 12:25; Then 13:1-3. OPPORTUNITIES COME TO THOSE WHO SERVE! (1-3) CHOSEN BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD! (1,2) The missionary call came when? When they were busy serving the Lord. You might ask, How should I participate

Acts 8:1-25 — the 1st evangelistic tour; with Philip as the 1st evangelist; resulting in the 1st mass evangelism. Exit the churches 1st martyr…Stephen; Enter Saul of Tarsus. MESSIANIC SAMARITANS! (1-8) SAUL’S HOLY CRUSADES! (1-3) Read vs.7:58 “laid down their clothes at Saul’s feet”. I wonder if Stephen’s mantle were there? [He didn’t pick it up right away, but he sure did later!] (Spurgeon At His Best; Acts 7:58; pg.311) Stephen’s witness made

Acts 8:26-40 — the magnet. Jesus said, “if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” Jn.12:32 Jesus also said, “These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” Jn.5:39,40 Let’s watch one more come to the magnetic draw of Christ! After Philips public ministry in Samaria, we now have his private ministry in Gaza. HIS MESSAGE FROM AN ANGEL! (26) From ministering to multitudes (vs.6,7)

Romans 15:1-13 — overcame great obstacles. By direct Scriptures that call for endurance & speaks encouragement. It gives us Hope – God has promised us a wonderful future. The O.T. underlines, highlights, & illustrates that promise! Our Application! (5,6) (5) Jesus Christ is our model for Christian conduct. Check out all other deities, from the Assyrians, Babylonians, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans…check out all other Holy Books…No holy book calls God by such

Romans 8:12-17 — all debts and this new member of the family would all rights and privileges of son ship. Abba, Father – “An intimate & endearing term used in both prayer & in the family circle.” (Linguistic Key to the Greek N.T., pg.365,366.) Opps wrong Abba! Abba is the Greek & English transliteration of the Aramaic word for father. Only used 2 other times in scripture: The H.S. uses it in Gal.4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son

1 Corinthians 12:12-31 — overwhelmed by water. The water was in the ship, as well as the ship being underneath the water. Paul’s saying that Christians are in the H.S. & that the H.S. is in the Christians. 1 BODY, WITH DIVERSITY! (15-19) ​​​​​​​(15-17) Often times we struggle with exactly the opposite thinking(not, I’m too important but)…“My ministry isn’t that important”, “I’m only a (hostess,