The Pastor’s Blog
I absolutely love spending time with our 20-month-old grandson Jack. It’s amazing to watch as he learns something new every day and along the way he has taught me some things too.
One day when Jack and I were walking around the outside of the house, when we came to the back door of the garage he wanted to go in. The door was locked and I didn’t have a key with me so I told him we had no way to get in. He immediately said, with all confidence, “Knock.”
Jack knows that every time he knocks on a door it opens for him, so it only made sense to him that if we knocked the door would open for us. Of course, what Jack hasn’t learned yet is that the reason the door opens is because of who is on the other side.
In Matthew 7:7and 8, Jesus invites us to ask, seek and knock; saying that those who ask receive, those who seek find and to him who knocks the door is opened. We receive, find and have the door opened not just because we ask, seek and knock, but because of whom we are asking, from whom we are seeking and who is on the other side of the door.
Jesus invites us to ask, seek and knock, but when we do we need to allow him to give, reveal and open as He chooses. When we do, in His love, Jesus will always give us what is best, reveal what we need to know and lead us to the place where He wants us to be.
Asking, Seeking and Knocking,
Mark
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Home Study for July 29 through August 3, 2013
Monday – Read Proverbs 19:17 and Psalm 41:1
How does God respond to those who help others?
Why is this important to Him?
How does helping others help us to show the love of Jesus?
How do these passages challenge you? How will you respond?
Tuesday – Read I Corinthians 3:5-9
When God evaluates our lives He looks at how faithful we were to do the things He gifted and called us to do.
How does this give you hope?
How does this challenge you?
What will you do?
Wednesday – Read II Corinthians 9:6-11
With what attitude should we give and serve?
Why should/can we give and serve in that way?
How does this passage challenge your views on giving and service?
How will you respond?
Thursday – Read Galatians 6:7-10
Why does God want us to understand that we will reap what we sow?
What will we reap if we keep doing good and do not give up?
How does this passage challenge you?
How does it encourage you?
Friday – Read Colossians 3:23-24
How are we serving Jesus no matter what we do?
Do you feel that way about all that you do?
How should this truth shape our choices and behavior?
How does this truth challenge you?
How does it encourage you?
How will you respond?
Saturday – Read Matthew 5:5-15
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Home Study for July 22 through 27, 2013
Home Study
Monday – Read Romans 5:8 and Luke 23:33-34
In these verses, how does Jesus show His love to people who didn’t/don’t love Him or were/are hurting Him?
How does His example challenge you?
How will you respond?
Tuesday – Read Romans 12:9-13
Which of these things do you find is the easiest for you to do?
Why?
Which do you find are the hardest to do?
Why?
Ask Jesus to help you to grow in the areas you struggle in.
Wednesday – Read Romans 12:14-16
Which of these things do you find the easiest for you to do?
Which do you find to be the hardest?
Ask Jesus to help you to grow in the areas you struggle in.
Thursday – Read Romans 12:17-21
How does verse 17 challenge you?
Why are we to not take revenge?
Why is leaving our anger and thoughts of revenge in God’s hands a much better choice to make?
What hurts or thoughts of anger or revenge do you need to leave in Jesus’s hands today?
Friday – Read Romans 12:8-10
How does loving fulfill the law?
Who is our example of how to love?
How does this passage challenge you?
How will you respond?
Saturday – Read Matthew 6:1-4
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Home Study for July 15 through 20, 2013
Home Study
Monday – Read Jeremiah 17:9 and Matthew 12:33-37
How does the condition of our heart impact what we say?
What does it mean that the heart is deceitful?
How do our hearts get changed? What is our part?
How do these passages challenge you? How will you respond?
Tuesday – Read Leviticus 19:11-16
All of these laws deal with living a life of honesty and integrity.
How does living this way bring glory to God?
What has God given us to enable us to live like this?
How do these verses challenge you? What will you do?
Wednesday – Read James 3:7-11
Why can the tongue be so destructive?
Would you agree that the way to tame the tongue is to tame the heart?
How do we do that?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Thursday – Read Ephesians 4:29-32
How would you define “unwholesome talk?”
How can we tear others down with our words?
How can we build others up with our words?
How can we grieve the Holy Spirit with our words?
What are these verses calling you to do?
Friday – Read Colossians 3:12-17
How does living like this allow us to protect and build up other people?
How do they allow us to live out the truth in love?
Why is that important?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read Matthew 5:38-48
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