Category: MondayThursday

Today we have MANY options for listening entertainment – Streaming on pandora, Apple Music, Spotify are just a few. Those services are without an DJ.

Radio DJ’s at one time played a bigger role in culture.  These people could be heard on the radio and rarely seen.  One may go an entire lifetime and never see the actual person behind the voice.

BUT if they ever happen to see them, it was always shocking because the voice rarely matched the face.  All that time having never seen them, it was very easy to imagine how you thought they may appear.

Some, who have read the Bible, get confused because it appears that the God of the O.T. differs from the God of the N.T.

It is this God of the O.T. (to some) feels very harsh, judgmental, ready to fly off the handle and kill people and destroy things.

But the God of the N.T. seems gracious and loving and kind.

Then there is Jesus who said in John 14:9:

“If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”

All of the sudden the voice of the O.T. can be seen. What was thought of as a harsh persona changes. 

Hearing Jesus describe the Father this way is like seeing on air voices for the first time. They always looked differently than imagined. 

This is reassuring. Why?

As the Lord set the standard for fallen creation, a standard we MUST keep, it is the Son who fulfilled that standard for those who believe. By this grace our Lord gives us His perfection.

You want to know what the Father looks like? Look at the Son. In all His glory, love, mercy, grace and kindness.  You can see the Father plainly in Jesus.

S.D.G.

I’m at war with the world and they
Try to pull me into the dark
I struggle to find my faith
As I’m slipping from your arms

It’s getting harder to stay awake
And my strength is fading fast
You breathe into me at last

I’m awake. I’m alive
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it’s my time
I’ll do what I want ’cause this is my life
Here (right here), right now (right now)
Stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I’m awake and I’m alive

I’m at war with the world ’cause I
Ain’t never gonna sell my soul
I’ve already made up my mind
No matter what, I can’t be bought or sold

When my faith is getting weak
And I feel like giving in
You breathe into me again

I’m awake. I’m alive
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it’s my time
I’ll do what I want ’cause this is my life
Here (right here), right now (right now)
Stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I’m awake and I’m alive

Waking up, waking up
Waking up, waking up
Waking up, waking up
Waking up, waking up

In the dark
I can feel you in my sleep
In your arms I feel you breathe into me
Forever hold this heart that I will give to you
Forever I will live for you

I’m awake. I’m alive
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it’s my time
I’ll do what I want ’cause this is my life
Here (right here), right now (right now)
Stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I’m awake and I’m alive

Waking up, waking up
Waking up, waking up
Waking up, waking up
Waking up, waking up

³¹ And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ³² I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Luke 5:31-32

Questions and Reflection:

1. There was a comparison made in this video. How do wrecked cars still resemble cars?
2. Romans 5:18 says, “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all people, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all people.” According to this passage how did the sin of Adam and Eve affect you?
3. How has Jesus made a way possible for us to be made new again?
4. Are you planning on coming to the Party HEARTY Party?

Questions to Ponder

1. How often do you spend outside of Church and youth group spend in reading the Bible?
2. Would you like to have a deeper more meaningful relationship with Jesus?
3. Would a more meaningful relationship with Jesus indicate that you are more rooted in him?
4. How do you establish deeper relationships with those you want to know?
5. With the answer to question 4, is it possible to use that same way you establish deeper relationships with others, to get to know Jesus better?
6. Could you commit to reading around ten verses a day, everyday for 14 days?

Below is a reading plan for 14 days. Give it a try, see if you can make it through 14 days of reading Matthew chapter 5, 6 and 7. You can also click the PASSAGE on RIGHT SIDE of the grid below and it will take you to that days reading.

1. January 23	Matthew 5:1-10
2. January 24	Matthew 5:11-20
3. January 25	Matthew 5:21-26
4. January 26	Matthew 5:27-32
5. January 27	Matthew 5:33-42
6. January 28	Matthew 5:43-48
7. January 29	Matthew 6:1-4
8. January 30	Matthew 6:5-15
9. January 31	Matthew 6:16-24
10. February 1	Matthew 6:25-34
11. February 2 (watch for groundhogs today!	Matthew 7:1-6
12. February 3	Matthew 7:7-14
13. February 4	Matthew 7:15-20
14. February 5	Matthew 7:21-27

Questions to Ponder

1. What are some PAST and PRESENT things that are a source of sadness for you?
2. Read Psalm 6 below. The writer was very sad about something. Who did he tell about his sadness?
3. Have you prayed about the things that cause you sorrow?
4. If you have, did you get any relief? Did things at some point improve?
5. What statement of Jesus while he was dying on the cross did pastor Matthew mention?
6. What did Jesus do on the cross for believers?
7. Do you believe that Jesus knows about sorrow?
8. Does this help you trust Him more when you pray?

Amplified Version of Psalm 6 (a little easier to read)

O Lord, do not rebuke or punish me in Your anger,
Nor discipline me in Your wrath.
² 
Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am weak (faint, frail);
Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed and anguished.
³ 
My soul [as well as my body] is greatly dismayed.
But as for You, O Lord—how long [until You act on my behalf]?

⁴ 
Return, O Lord, rescue my soul;
Save me because of Your [unfailing] steadfast love and mercy.
⁵ 
For in death there is no mention of You;
In Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) who will praise You and give You thanks?

⁶ 
I am weary with my groaning;
Every night I soak my bed with tears,
I drench my couch with my weeping.
⁷ 
My eye grows dim with grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.

⁸ 
Depart from me, all you who do evil,
For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.
⁹ 
The Lord has heard my supplication [my plea for grace];
The Lord receives my prayer.
¹⁰ 
Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly horrified;
Let them turn back, let them suddenly be ashamed [of what they have done].

English Standard Version of Psalm 6

O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,
    nor discipline me in your wrath.
² Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
    heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.
³ My soul also is greatly troubled.
    But you, O Lord—how long?

⁴ Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;
    save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
⁵ For in death there is no remembrance of you;
    in Sheol who will give you praise?

⁶ I am weary with my moaning;
    every night I flood my bed with tears;
    I drench my couch with my weeping.
⁷ My eye wastes away because of grief;
    it grows weak because of all my foes.

⁸ Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
    for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
⁹ The Lord has heard my plea;
    the Lord accepts my prayer.
¹⁰ All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
    they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.