The Sinner and The Saint

Scripture 7 Jesus’ instructions were clear : Jesus: Fill each water pot with water until it’s ready to spill over the top; 8 then fill a cup, and deliver it to the headwaiter. They did exactly as they were instructed. 9 After tasting the water that had become wine, the headwaiter couldn’t figure out where such wine came from (even though the servants knew), and he called over the bridegroom in ama...

Scripture "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!" Ephesians 5:2 NLT "Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other for love covers a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8 "Love each other deeply, as much as I have loved you." John 15:12 TPT Matthew 5:1...

Scripture   It’s best if a woman learns quietly and orderly in complete submission. Now, Timothy, it’s not my habit to allow women to teach in a way that wrenches authority from a man . As I said, it’s best if a woman learns quietly and orderly. This is because Adam was formed first by God , then Eve. Plus, it wasn’t Adam who was tricked; it was she—the woman was the one who was fooled and disobey...

Scripture So own up to your sins to one another and pray for one another. In the end, you may be healed. Your prayers are powerful when they are rooted in a righteous life. James 5:16 (VOICE) The Gist We don't talk much about confession in the protestant church. James isn't saying we should confess every fault/sin to every person, but instead to certain situations: Where reconciliation i...

Scripture I could speak more of faith ; I could talk until time itself ran out. If I continued, I could speak of the examples of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, of David and Samuel and all the prophets. 33 I could give accounts of people alive with faith who conquered kingdoms, brought justice, obtained promises, and closed the mouths of hungry lions. 34 I could tell you how people of faith d...

Scripture   It wasn’t long after this when Jesus entered a city called Nain. Again all of His disciples accompanied Him, along with a huge crowd. 12 He was coming near the gate of the city as a corpse was being carried out. This man was the only child and support of his widowed mother, and she was accompanied by a large funeral crowd. 13 As soon as the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her. Jes...

Scripture Paul, an emissary of Jesus the Anointed commissioned by order of God our Savior and Jesus the Anointed, our living and certain hope), to you, Timothy, my true son in the faith.  Here’s a statement worthy of trust: Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King, came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of them all. 1 Timothy 1:1-1, 15 (The Voice) The Gist In Part Three of this ser...

Scripture But this beautiful treasure is contained in us— cracked pots made of earth and clay—so that the transcendent character of this power will be clearly seen as coming from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7 (The Voice) The Gist In Part Two of this series, we dive into one of the most spiritually sophisticated heart blocks/traps there is: unworthiness mistaken as humility.  True humility...

Scripture Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God’s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God , a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship. 2 Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be...

Scripture Moses (to God) : 11 Who am I to confront Pharaoh and lead Israel’s children out of Egypt? Eternal One: 12 Do not fear, Moses. I will be with you every step of the way, and this will be the sign to you that I am the One who has sent you: after you have led them out of Egypt, you will return to this mountain and worship God. Moses: 13 Let’s say I go to the people of Israel and tell them, “...

We're all one body of Christ, but let's be honest - we've all got different personalities, and some are just plain hilarious.  Today, we have some fun conversations about the different church denominations, their characteristics, stereotypes, and styles.  Every church has a personality, and if you've been in church long enough, you've probably visited a few of these. 

Lessons from the Well Scripture: John 4:4-30 (Message) Please read the story in its entirety; this is only a portion of the story.  26 “I am he,” said Jesus. “You don’t have to wait any longer or look any further.” 27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. They couldn’t believe he was talking with that kind of a woman. No one said what they were all thinking, but their faces showed...

Lessons from the Well- Part One Scripture: John 4:4-30 (Message) Please read the story in its entirety; this is only a portion of the story.  15 The woman said, “Sir, give me this water so I won’t ever get thirsty, won’t ever have to come back to this well again!” 16 He said, “Go call your husband and then come back.” 17-18 “I have no husband,” she said. “That’s nicely put: ‘I have no husband.’ Yo...

Scripture But let those who run to You for safety be glad they did;     let them break out in joyful song. May You keep them safe—     their love for You resounding in their hearts.   You, O Eternal, are the One who lays all good things in the laps of the right-hearted. Your blessings surround them like a shield. Psalm 5:11-12 (VOICE)  The Gist  Your blessings surround them like a shield. Today, w...

Scripture Love is patient; love is kind. Love isn’t envious, doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about. There’s no arrogance in love; 5 it’s never rude, crude, or indecent—it’s not self-absorbed. Love isn’t easily upset. Love doesn’t tally wrongs 6 or celebrate injustice; but truth— yes, truth— is love’s delight! 7 Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along; it trusts, hopes, and endures...

Scripture: Mark 1:35-38 (Voice) Early in the morning, Jesus got up, left the house while it was still dark outside, and went to a deserted place to pray. 36 Simon and the others traveling with Jesus looked for Him. 37 They finally tracked Him down.  People: Everybody wants to know where You are! Jesus: 38 It’s time we went somewhere else—the next village, maybe—so I can tell more people the good n...

As promised, a fun break from the hard heart work! Take these questions to your next girls' night out or dinner party.  If your friendship were a cocktail, what would it be called and what would be in it? If angels gave "Yelp" reviews, what would they say about you? Which gospel personality would you invite to dinner? If you had a podcast, what would you name it? When do you feel mo...

Scripture - Mark 10:17-22 When He had traveled on, a young man came and knelt in the dust of the road in front of Jesus. Young Man: Good Teacher! What must I do to gain life in the world to come? Jesus: 18 You are calling Me good? Don’t you know that God and God alone is good? 19 Anyway, why ask Me that question? You know the Commandments of Moses: “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not st...

Scripture Watch closely: I am preparing something new; it’s happening now, even as I speak,         and you’re about to see it. I am preparing a way through the desert;     Waters will flow where there had been none. Isaiah 43:19 (The Voice) The Gist What does it look like when community is fractured (family, marriage, friends, church, neighbors, etc.)? We are left feeling disoriented, our identit...

Scripture But that is not the way it will be among you. Whoever would be great among you must serve and minister. 44 Whoever wants to be great among you must be slave of all. 45 Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to be a servant—to offer His life as a ransom for others. Mark 10:43-45 (The Voice) The Gist Staying humble in our spiritual maturity and relationship with God is vital to adop...

Scripture Grumbling broke out the next day in the community of Israel, grumbling against Moses and Aaron: “You have killed God’s people!” 42 But it so happened that when the community got together against Moses and Aaron, they looked over at the Tent of Meeting and there was the Cloud—the Glory of God for all to see. Numbers 16:41-42 (MSG) The Gist Spiritual maturity doesn't erase our humanit...

Scripture: My soul is exhausted awaiting Your rescue, yet I keep hoping in Your word. My eyes are strained as I look for what You promised, saying, “When will You come to comfort me?” Even though I have shriveled up like a wineskin left in the smoke, I still remember what You require. Psalm 119:81-83 (VOICE) The Gist: We often fall into the trap of believing strong faith means always feeling confi...

Scripture: Those people in the wilderness heard God’s good news, just as we have heard it, but the message they heard didn’t do them any good since it wasn’t combined with faith. Hebrews 4:1-2 (Voice) The Gist: There are many of God's promises that we know intellectually, but resist or have difficulty accepting emotionally.  "I am with you." - Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 28:20 "You a...

Scripture Today we explore Genesis 28:10-22, that includes a vision of a ladder/stairway connecting Heaven to Earth and a literary ladder as well. Showing us eleven steps that occur during Jacob's interaction with God.  But we settle on Step Ten, verses 18-19: So early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had put under his head, set it up as a pillar, and then poured oil on top of it to c...

Scripture: That’s why, as long as that promise of entering God’s rest remains open to us, we should be careful that none of us seem to fall short ourselves. 2 Those people in the wilderness heard God’s good news, just as we have heard it, but the message they heard didn’t do them any good since it wasn’t combined with faith. Hebrews 4:1-2 (Voice) The Gist: Melissa takes us through the last questio...