Tag: scripture

• John 17 17

  Key Truths about John 17:17:

  • Word Equals Truth: Jesus explicitly equates God’s Word with absolute, eternal truth. God is the ultimate source of truth, and His Word (both written in Scripture and embodied in Jesus) is the absolute standard for that truth.
  • Sanctification (Setting Apart): The truth of God’s Word sanctifies, or sets apart, believers for holy service and purpose. Jesus is praying that believers be separated from the corrupt values of the world and transformed to reflect God’s character.
  • Transformation: The truth acts to purify and sanctify believers, aligning them with God.
  • Context: This verse is part of Jesus’ “High Priestly Prayer” in John 17:6-19, in which he prays for his followers to be protected and dedicated to God’s purpose through truth. This prayer teaches that engaging with God’s Word is the primary way believers grow spiritually, gain clarity in a confusing world, and live out their faith.

  John 17:17 (ESV)
  Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

  May 21, 2026

  bible study, scripture

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• Isaiah and Joel

  Joel 1:4
  What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten.
  What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten,
  and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten.

  Isaiah 40:22
  It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
  who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;

  Joel 2:25
  I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
  the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.

  Isaiah 40:24-31
  ²⁴ Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
  scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
  when he blows on them, and they wither,
  and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

  ²⁵ To whom then will you compare me,
  that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
  ²⁶ Lift up your eyes on high and see:
  who created these?
  He who brings out their host by number,
  calling them all by name;
  by the greatness of his might
  and because he is strong in power,
  not one is missing.

  ²⁷ Why do you say, O Jacob,
  and speak, O Israel,
  “My way is hidden from the Lord,
  and my right is disregarded by my God”?
  ²⁸ Have you not known? Have you not heard?
  The Lord is the everlasting God,
  the Creator of the ends of the earth.
  He does not faint or grow weary;
  his understanding is unsearchable.
  ²⁹ He gives power to the faint,
  and to him who has no might he increases strength.
  ³⁰ Even youths shall faint and be weary,
  and young men shall fall exhausted;
  ³¹ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
  they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
  they shall run and not be weary;
  they shall walk and not faint.

  Joel 2:32
  And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

  (ESV)

  April 15, 2026

  scripture

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• Lord’s Servant

  1 Peter 5:1-5
  the apostle Peter instructs church elders to shepherd God’s flock willingly, eagerly, and by example rather than by domineering or greed. He encourages them with the promise of an unfading crown of glory from the Chief Shepherd (Jesus) and calls for humility among all believers.

  Colossians 3:23–24 instructs
  “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ”. It teaches that all work should be done with excellence as service to God, rather than merely for human masters, with a focus on the eternal reward.

  Isaiah 40:29-31 promises that
  God gives power to the faint and strengthens the weak. Even the young and strong may stumble, but those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength, soaring with eagle-like endurance, running without weariness, and walking without fainting, highlighting reliance on divine strength over human effort.

  Isaiah 41:15-16 promises that
  God will transform His people from a weak state into a powerful, new, sharp-toothed threshing sledge, enabling them to pulverize mountains and hills (symbolizing obstacles or enemy nations) into chaff. They will winnow these obstacles away, resulting in rejoicing in the Lord.

  Romans 7:21-23 describes
  an intense internal struggle where the desire to do good is hindered by an abiding presence of evil. Paul highlights a conflict between his inner delight in God’s law and a “law of sin” in his members, which wars against his mind and makes him a captive.

  2 Timothy 2:24-3:1 instructs
  Christian leaders to avoid quarrels, acting with kindness, patience, and gentle, skillful teaching to correct opponents. The goal is to lead those trapped by the devil toward repentance and truth. This passage emphasizes that servants of the Lord must be gentle, even when facing opposition, in order to foster reconciliation.

  Matthew 27:15-26 details
  Pontius Pilate’s attempt to release Jesus during Passover, following the custom of freeing a prisoner. Urged by leaders, the crowd chooses to release the criminal Barabbas instead of Jesus. Despite his wife’s warning and his own knowledge of their envy, Pilate washes his hands of the decision, scourges Jesus, and hands him over to be crucified.

  (All words above came from google search (gemini 3) for each scripture queried, none of the words that appear on this post are of my creation. Every scripture here was given to me by friends and ministers that I have heard this week. I put them together and they make a lot of sense to me.)

  Everything (Song by Lauren Daigle ‧ 2018)

  Even the sparrow has a place to lay its head
  So, why would I let worry steal my breath?
  Even the roses You have clothed in brilliant red
  Still, I’m the one You love more than this

  Even the oceans push and pull at Your command
  So You can still my heart with Your hand
  You tell the seasons when it’s time for them to turn
  So I will trust You even when it hurts

  When I can’t see, You lead me
  When I can’t hear, You show me
  When I can’t stand, You carry me
  When I’m lost, You will find me
  When I’m weak, You are mighty
  You are everything I need

  You give me everything
  You give me everything I need

  March 10, 2026

  bible study, scripture

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• The Great Commission, Do Not Miss It

  The Great Commission is Jesus’ command to his followers, found in Matthew 28:19-20, to go, make disciples of all nations, baptize them, and encourage them to obey everything HE said, empowering them with HIS authority to spread the Gospel without ceasing.

  Follow Christ, not comfort. “Go, therefore, and make disciples,” is for every Christian everywhere. It’s not the Great Suggestion. It’s the Great Commission.

  Proclaim as you go, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” and impart the Good News to those with ears to hear. Jesus loves people. We can love others because He first loved us. When we share the Good News of the gospel it’s both loving others and obeying Jesus!

  John 13:34
  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

  John 14:15
  If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

  When you take Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-16, Luke 24:26-27, John 20:21-22, and Acts 1:7-8 together, you have a solid framework, solely from the words of Jesus, for understanding the Great Commission.

  Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)
  ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

  Mark 16:15-16 (ESV)
  ¹⁵ And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

  Luke 24:26-27 (ESV)
  ²⁶ Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

  John 20:21-22 (ESV)
  ²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” ²² And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

  Acts 1:7-8 (ESV)
  ⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

  Traps to Avoid

  1. Reciting the sinner’s prayer (saving someone) is not the same thing as discipleship, but could be a first step.
  2. Gospel tracts (distributing pamphlets) does not replace sharing the gospel and giving your testimony.
  3. Mission trips (service-oriented) does not replace the Great Commission.
  4. Attending church does not replace being The Church and being a member of the Body of Christ.
  5. Hearing a sermon does not replace diving deep into the Bible and letting God speak to you and draw you into His presence.
  6. Praying does not replace spending time with the Lord in your secret place.
  7. Do not conform to American Christianity, especially where led by worldly desires or political party platforms.

  Snares to Cast Down

  Here are three attitudes that would hinder the Great Commission, the growth of the church body and church unity. These attitudes would render the disciples powerless to carry out the Great Commission and to do the will of God. So, if you find yourselves powerless, prayer-less disciples…

  • Attitude #1. Ego – Who is the Greatest? Luke 9:46: “Now an argument started among the disciples as to which of them might be the greatest.”

  Here, at this point, is where Jesus brings a little child into the scene. Who gets to stand at the right hand of Jesus? An innocent, blameless child becomes the eternal example of greatness in Jesus’ Kingdom (Luke 9:46-48).

  • Attitude #2. Sectarian – He is not one of us. Luke 9:49: “Master,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

  Jesus revealed the Kingdom point of view. The denominational spirit will truly hinder a movement of God and stop the expansion of the Church (Luke 9:50). God’s voice can come from outside your inner circle, but will you reject it?

  • Attitude #3. Judgmental – Destroy them! Luke 9:53-54 “but the people there did not welcome him … When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’”

  Jesus soundly rebukes the disciples for such a judgmental attitude toward the lost, people different from themselves. Jesus simply takes them on a journey to yet another village to proclaim the Gospel (Luke 9:55-56).

  The disciples had bad attitudes toward each other (Who is the greatest?), bad attitudes toward other groups of workers (They are not one of us!), and now we see that they had bad attitudes toward those who do not welcome Christ (Destroy them!).

  Jesus had to deal with these issues before He could ever multiply and send His disciples out on another mission like the one described in Luke 10:1-7.

  The next time we find ourselves lacking spiritual power, unity or compassion, I suggest we do a quick check of our attitude in these three areas. We will probably find the problem.

  https://www.reachavillage.org/in-the-news/3-things-that-will-kill-a-church

  Let’s Ask Google

  GOOGLE AI response:

  Current attitudes, such as apathy, fear of secularism, and political entrenchment, significantly hinder the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Churches often struggle due to a lack of commitment, the belief that evangelism is for professionals only, and a shift in focus from making disciples to, instead, consumer-driven comfort. This results in partial obedience, overlooked local opportunities, and a decline in missional urgency.

  Key attitudes and cultural shifts disrupting the Great Commission include:

  • Apathy and Misunderstanding: Many Christians are unfamiliar with the term “Great Commission” or lack understanding of its requirements. There is a tendency to view it as a task for specialists (missionaries) rather than a mandate for all believers.
  • Political and Ideological Divisiveness: The infiltration of politics into the pulpit and the alignment of churches with specific ideologies create division, eroding the church’s credibility and unity.
  • The “Comfort” Culture: A shift toward “seeker-sensitive” models often prioritizes attendance over deep discipleship, leading to a focus on making churchgoers comfortable rather than making disciples.
  • Secularism and Fear: The rise of secularism and rapid growth of other religions can lead to fear or complacency, causing believers to lose confidence in the gospel message.
  • Misplaced Priorities: Church members sometimes fail to see the need for evangelism in their own communities, focusing only on distant missions, or they may wrongly believe that nonbelievers are not truly lost.
  • Internal Distractions: Pride, fear, and shame can keep individuals from sharing their faith.

  These attitudes, coupled with a lack of proper equipping, contribute to a gap between knowing the command and practicing it.

  https://www.google.com/search?q=current+attitudes+disrupt+the+great+commission

  January 27, 2026

  inspiration, scripture

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• To Live a Life of Love

  Christmas thoughts. Look at what God has done. The shepherds came at once to bear witness.

  Linus’s Speech

  “Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about,” said Linus. “Lights, please.”

  Luke 2:8-14 (KJV)
  ⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
  ⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. ¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

  Linus picks up his blanket and shuffles off-stage. “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

  The angels praising and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭ESV).

  For God loves the world this much. In remembrance of Jesus, we break bread. Jesus broke bread with the gentiles. His ways are not our ways. God is faithful to do something new. God is my strength, He is faithful.

  Colossians 3:14 (NLT)
  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

  Do Not Miss It

  Proverbs 23:6-9, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he,” means a person’s inner thoughts and intentions shape their true character and actions, revealing their real self beyond what they say. While often used to encourage positive thinking, its original context warns against the insincere hospitality of a stingy person (a miser) who invites you to eat but secretly resents the cost, showing their true, calculating heart.

  1 Peter 4:9 (AMPC)
  Practice hospitality to one another (those of the household of faith). [Be hospitable, be a lover of strangers, with brotherly affection for the unknown guests, the foreigners, the poor, and all others who come your way who are of Christ’s body.] And [in each instance] do it ungrudgingly (cordially and graciously, without complaining but as representing Him).

  Hebrews 13:2 (NKJV)
  Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

  Matthew 25:35 (ESV)
  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,

  Ephesians 5:2 (NLT)
  Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

  1 Samuel 2‬:‭3 (NLT)
  Stop acting so proud and haughty!
  Don’t speak with such arrogance!
  For the Lord is a God who knows what you have done;
  he will judge your actions.

  God chose lowly shepherds, not powerful figures, to receive and share the most significant good news. This demonstrates His true love reaches all.

  December 26, 2025

  bible study, scripture

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