Scripture:  Mark 10:42-45 42Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first…

Scripture: Mark 7:8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men. Observation: Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees and other teachers of the law here, explaining that they may be following traditional custom and guidelines, yet these traditions often conflict with the commands of God.…

Scripture: Mark 4:20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a good crop-thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown. Observation: Here Jesus is explaining the parable of the four soils. This last soil is good soil and produces an abundant harvest. You can choose to…

Scripture: Mark1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Observation: Jesus was sure to rise early, get away from others and pray where he could in peace. Application: It has become more difficult for me to…

Scripture: Acts 27:25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Observation: Here Paul is on a boat headed for trial and the boat is experiencing bad weather and danger. Paul is explaining to the crew that God sent an angel to…

Scripture: Acts 21: 12-13 12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. Observation:…

Scripture: Acts 20: 24 However I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. Observation: Paul is sharing his thoughts with the Ephesian elders as he prepares to leave…

Scripture: Philippians 1:6 … that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Observation: God, who is at the beginning of all good works, will continue his work until it is complete. (And only He will know when that time is.) Application: This…

Scripture: Acts 15: 7-8 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know sometime ago God made a choice among you that Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them,…

Scripture: Acts 13: 38-39 38“Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. Observation: Paul was speaking in the synagogue, explaining how Jesus was the…

Scripture: Acts 12:5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Observation: Peter had been seized and Herod had him guarded well by 16 soldiers. However, an angel came to him in the night, released his chains and walked him past all the guards and through the…

Scripture: Acts 7:60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Observation: This verse concludes the story of Stephen, who was chosen to minister by his peers because he was known to be full of Spirit and wisdom.…

Scripture: Acts 5:41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Observation: The apostles had just spent some of the night in jail, until they were released by an angel and instructed by this angel to go teach at the temple courts. Then they were…

Scripture: Acts 4:29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Observation: Here Jesus’ believers are praying to God, asking them to guide them in being bold in their faith. The Sadducees were not happy with all that Peter and John had been doing, stirring up dissent…