Friday, March 30, 2012

Celebrate Jesus

March 31 and April 1


People Rejoice as Jesus Enters Jerusalem

You can review the story in Mark 11:1-11. The Bible memory verse is "Jesus Christ is Lord", Philippians 2:11b


Questions for review with your child:

1. Why does Jesus deserve special treatment from us?

2. How can you celebrate Jesus with others at school? at Friends? at Home?

3. What kind of celebration would you have if Jesus were here right now?

4. Why is it important that we celebrate Jesus?

5. What things remind you to celebrate Jesus?

_____


In Worship and Wonder at 11:00 am on Sunday, the kindergarten class will be studying the following:


Jesus' Trial

Verses for this lesson are Matthew 27:3-5; Mark 15:1-15; Luke 22:66-71

Questions to wonder about with your child:

1. I wonder how Jesus is feeling while he is on trial?

2. I wonder why the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders do not believe Jesus is the Christ?

3. I wonder why they want him dead?

4. I wonder why they want to kill Jesus just because they do not agree with him?

5. I wonder how they could have settled their differences besides wanting to hurt or kill?

6. I wonder what it is like for Judas to know that Jesus will be killed?

7. I wonder how Judas feels when he confesses to the chief priest and elders that he had sinned?

8. I wonder why the chief priests and elders will not listen to Judas?

 



In Worship and Wonder on Saturday night, 9:00 am Sunday and
3's and 4's W & W at 11:00 am on Sunday, we will be studying the following:

Jesus' Last Passover

Verse for this lesson is Matthew 26:26-28

Questions to wonder about with your child:

1. I wonder how it felt to be around this table and to hear Jesus say, "Take. Eat. This is my body broken for you"?

2. I wonder how the disciples felt eating the bread and drinking the wine?

3. I wonder how they felt when Jesus died?

4. I wonder how they felt when they heard God made Jesus alive?

5. I wonder if you have ever been close to a table like this?

Hunger and Thirst - March 30, 2012

Pray:  Ask god to give me an open mind and open heart in hearing God’s word.
Read:  What is the point of the scripture?
Reflect:  What is God telling me through the passage?
Practice:  How does the scripture apply to my life today?
Matthew 1:13-28
 
Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah

 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
   15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
 
Jesus Predicts His Death

 21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
   28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Hunger and Thirst - March 29, 2012

Pray:  Ask god to give me an open mind and open heart in hearing God’s word.
Read:  What is the point of the scripture?
Reflect:  What is God telling me through the passage?
Practice:  How does the scripture apply to my life today?
John 15:1-11
 
The Vine and the Branches

 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
   5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
   9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Hunger and Thirst - March 28, 2012

Pray:  Ask god to give me an open mind and open heart in hearing God’s word.
Read:  What is the point of the scripture?
Reflect:  What is God telling me through the passage?
Practice:  How does the scripture apply to my life today?
John 8:12-20
 
Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony

 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
 13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
 19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”
   “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words while teaching in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Hunger and Thirst - March 27, 2012

Pray:  Ask god to give me an open mind and open heart in hearing God’s word.
Read:  What is the point of the scripture?
Reflect:  What is God telling me through the passage?
Practice:  How does the scripture apply to my life today?
John 6:35-40
 
I am the Bread of Life

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Friday, March 23, 2012

Mar. 24 & 25: Give Your Best to God

This Weekend in MC Park, in Sunday School and Elementary Worship, your child will learn the story of the Widow’s Mite.

Jesus Notices a Widow’s Giving

You can review the story in
Mark 12:41-44. A great memory verse for your family this week is 2 Corinthians 9:7b – “God loves a cheerful giver”

Questions for review with your child:

1.    How can you tell when you’re giving your best effort?
2.    If you could give Jesus any gift, what would it be?
3.    Why do we say the poor woman gave her best to God when she gave only a tiny bit?
4.    How can giving to others help us give our best to God?
5.    Does God care what our gifts to him look like?
6.    What’s one thing you could offer God that would be your best?
7.    What gifts that don’t cost any money can you give?
8.    How do you think Jesus feels when we give our best to him?
9.    What is one action that shows you’re giving your best to God?
10. How can you tell if someone is not giving his or her best?

_____

In Kindergarten Worship and Wonder at 11 a.m., this week's lesson:

Too Afraid to Follow Jesus

Verses for this lesson: Mark 14; Matthew 26:31-75

Questions to wonder about with your child:

1.    I wonder why Jesus’ friends run away when Jesus is in trouble?
2.    I wonder why Judas, who is one of the twelve disciples, would lead the soldiers to arrest Jesus?
3.    I wonder how Jesus feels when he sees his friend Judas?
4.    I wonder why Peter says he is not a follower of Jesus?
5.    I wonder how Jesus feels when the people questioning him slap him?
6.    I wonder how the people in the courtyard feel as they listen to what is happening to Jesus?
7.    I wonder why Peter denied Jesus three times?
8.    I wonder what Peter will do when stops crying?
9.    I wonder how Jesus is feeling about being alone and without any friends?
_____

In Worship and Wonder on Saturday night, 9 a.m. Sunday, and 3s and 4s W&W at 11 a.m. on Sunday, this week’s lesson:

Jesus the King

Verses for this lesson:
Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 1:1-11; Luke 91:29-44; John 12:12-19

Questions to wonder about with your child:

1.    I wonder how Jesus felt when the crowd wanted him to be their king?
2.    I wonder who the people were who shouted, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”?
3.    I wonder why Jesus the King rode on a donkey instead of a horse?
4.    I wonder what kind of king Jesus would be?
5.  I wonder what it would be like to live in Jesus’ kingdom?

Hunger and Thirst - March 26, 2012

Pray:  Ask god to give me an open mind and open heart in hearing God’s word.
Read:  What is the point of the scripture?
Reflect:  What is God telling me through the passage?
Practice:  How does the scripture apply to my life today?
John 10:1-8
 
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

 1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.

Hunger and Thirst - March 23, 2012

Pray:  Ask god to give me an open mind and open heart in hearing God’s word.
Read:  What is the point of the scripture?
Reflect:  What is God telling me through the passage?
Practice:  How does the scripture apply to my life today?
Luke 15
 
The Parable of the Lost Sheep

 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
 
The Parable of the Lost Coin

    8 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
 
The Parable of the Lost Son

 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
   13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
   17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
   “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
   21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
   22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
   25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
   28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
   31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Hunger and Thirst - March 22, 2012

Pray:  Ask god to give me an open mind and open heart in hearing God’s word.
Read:  What is the point of the scripture?
Reflect:  What is God telling me through the passage?
Practice:  How does the scripture apply to my life today?
Matthew 25:31-46
 
The Sheep and the Goats

    31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
   34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
   37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
   40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
   41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
   44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
   45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
   46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Hunger and Thirst - March 21, 2012

Pray:  Ask god to give me an open mind and open heart in hearing God’s word.
Read:  What is the point of the scripture?
Reflect:  What is God telling me through the passage?
Practice:  How does the scripture apply to my life today?
Luke 10:25-37
 
The Parable of the Good Samaritan

 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
   26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
   28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
   36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
   Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Hunger and Thirst - March 20, 2012

Pray:  Ask god to give me an open mind and open heart in hearing God’s word.
Read:  What is the point of the scripture?
Reflect:  What is God telling me through the passage?
Practice:  How does the scripture apply to my life today?
Matthew 20:1-16
 
The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

 1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
   3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.
   “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
   7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
   “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
   8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
   9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
   13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
   16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Monday, March 19, 2012

Hunger and Thirst - March 19, 2012

Pray:  Ask god to give me an open mind and open heart in hearing God’s word.
Read:  What is the point of the scripture?
Reflect:  What is God telling me through the passage?
Practice:  How does the scripture apply to my life today?
Matthew 13:1-23
 
The Parable of the Sower

 1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”
 10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
 11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
   “Though seeing, they do not see;
   though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
   14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
   “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
   you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
   they hardly hear with their ears,
   and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
   hear with their ears,
   understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’
   16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
   18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Friday, March 16, 2012

Jesus Came For You

 
March 17 and 18


Jesus Explains Why God Sent Him

You can review the story in John 3: 12-21. A great memory verse for your family this week is John 3:16 - "God loves us so much he sent his Son, Jesus"


Questions for review with your child:

1. How should we treat others knowing that Jesus came for everyone?

2. Why do some people not know about Jesus if he came for everyone? What can we do about that?

3. How does Jesus coming to earth make you feel?

4. How can we pass along this important message to others?

5. Who else do you know who can help you understand verses you don't understand?

6. How can we show Jesus we're thankful?

_____


In Worship and Wonder at 11:00 am on Sunday, the kindergarten class will be studying the following:


A Woman Anoints Jesus for Burial

Verses for this lesson are Mark 14: 3-9, Matthew 26:6-13 and John 12:1-8

Questions to wonder about with your child:

1. I wonder how Jesus feels about her?

2. I wonder how the woman feels anointing Jesus?

3. I wonder why the disciples don't like what the woman is doing for Jesus?

4. I wonder how the woman feels being scolded?

5. I wonder why the woman believed Jesus when he said he was going to die and that God would make him alive again.

6. I wonder why the disciples did not believe this?

7. I wonder how the woman feels giving away something so precious?

8. I wonder what this woman is like?

9. I wonder if she has a name?

10. I wonder how people who hear this story today feel about this woman?

11. I wonder how it feels to know someone you love is going to die and you can't do anything about it?

In Worship and Wonder on Saturday night, 9:00 am Sunday and 3's and 4's W & W at 11:00 am on Sunday, we will be studying the following:

Jesus and Zacchaeus

Verse for this lesson is Luke 19:1-10

Questions to wonder about with your child:

1. I wonder what it is like to be so short that you can't see what you want to see?

2. I wonder how Zacchaeus felt when Jesus called him by name?

3. I wonder what Jesus and Zacchaeus said as they walked together?

4. I wonder if it was hard for Zacchaeus to give back what didn't belong to him?

5. I wonder how he felt when he gave half of his things to the poor?

6. I wonder how the poor felt?

7. I wonder how Zacchaeus felt when he was right with God and right with people?

8. I wonder what Jesus meant when he said he came to find the lost?



Hunger and Thirst - March 16, 2012

Pray:  Ask god to give me an open mind and open heart in hearing God’s word.
Read:  What is the point of the scripture?
Reflect:  What is God telling me through the passage?
Practice:  How does the scripture apply to my life today?
Luke 19:1-10
 
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

 1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Hunger and Thirst - March 15, 2012

Pray:  Ask god to give me an open mind and open heart in hearing God’s word.
Read:  What is the point of the scripture?
Reflect:  What is God telling me through the passage?
Practice:  How does the scripture apply to my life today?
Matthew 14:22-33
 
Jesus Walks on the Water

 22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
   29 “Come,” he said.
   Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Hunger and Thirst - March 14, 2012

Pray:  Ask god to give me an open mind and open heart in hearing God’s word.
Read:  What is the point of the scripture?
Reflect:  What is God telling me through the passage?
Practice:  How does the scripture apply to my life today?
Mark 10:17-27
 
The Rich and the Kingdom of God

 17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
   18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”