The Pastor’s Blog
The year is 2015. Back in 1989, in the movie “Back to the Future II,” the main characters, Doc Brown and Marty McFly, traveled forward in time from the year 1985 to 30 years in the future, 2015. The movie version of 2015 had among other things, hover boards, flying cars, shoes that affixed at the push of a button, and 3-D billboards. In 1989, 2015 seemed like a long way off and yet, here we are.
Most of what the writers and director of the movie envisioned for 2015 hasn’t yet happened but that doesn’t mean that the world hasn’t changed since 1989. We don’t have to look too far to see smart phones and watches, laptop computers and cars filled with technology that we never dreamed of in 1989. But even so, life isn’t really so much different than it was in 1989.
One way I hope that our lives aren’t the same as they were in previous years is in our relationship with Jesus. Jesus never intended for our relationship with Him to be static, stagnant or unchanging. From scripture we see that our faith and relationship with Jesus are to grow, mature and produce fruit for God’s kingdom. What that looks like is different for each one of us, but the one thing that is common for all of us is continued growth in our knowledge of Jesus and in our relationship with Him.
As 2015 unfolds, may we find ourselves growing in our understanding of who Jesus is, growing in our faith in Him in every area of our lives and growing in the joy we have as we live in the love and power of Jesus. The year 2015 may not be like the movies, but as we grow with Jesus it will be much greater than anyone ever guessed.
God’s Grace and Peace,
Mark
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Home Study for December 29 through January 3, 2015
Monday – Read I Peter 1:13-16
How can we prepare our minds to act for Jesus?
What difference does this preparation make in how we live each day?
What does it mean for us that God is holy?
Can we fulfill this call to be holy on our own? What/who do we need?
How does this passage challenge you? How will you respond?
Tuesday – Read I Peter 4:7-1
Why are we to live clear minded and self-controlled lives?
How does that impact our ability to pray?
How does it allow us to live in love?
How does it help us to live to give God glory?
Wednesday – Read I Peter 5:6-11
How does humility allow us to be self-controlled?
How does being self-controlled allow us to resist the attacks of Satan?
How does this passage encourage you? What will you do?
Thursday – Read I Thessalonians 5:1-11
We do not know when Jesus will return. How should we live in these days?
How does being self-controlled help us to live in the light of Jesus in these days?
How does this passage challenge you? How does it encourage you?
Friday – Read II Peter 1:3-11
How can we escape the corrupt nature of the world?
How are you doing in working with the Holy Spirit to add the qualities of verses 5-7 to your life?
How does this passage encourage you? How will you respond?
Saturday – Read Philippians 3:12-16
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Home Study for December 22 through 27, 2014
Monday – Read Galatians 4:1-7
What is the difference between being a slave and a child?
How does this apply to being a child of God?
What does this mean to you?
Take a moment to express your feelings to God.
Tuesday – Read Romans 4:1-8
What is the difference between wages earned and a gift?
Why has God chosen to make salvation and eternal life gifts?
Why does God make receiving His gift of salvation so easy?
Why do humans complicate it so much?
What is God saying to you? How will you respond?
Wednesday – Read Romans 5:1-5
What brings us peace with God?
Have you received that peace?
When we are living with Jesus, how does He work for good through the difficulties we face?
How does this passage challenge/encourage you?
Thursday – Read Romans 5:6-11
What does this tell us about the timing of Jesus’ life?
What does His death for us tell us about depth of His love for us?
Take time to thank Jesus for what He has done in, through and for you.
Friday – Read Romans 8:1-4 and 9-17
How do these verses encourage you?
What hope do they give you?
What does it mean to you to be a child of God?
Take time to give Jesus thanks for what He has done for you.
Saturday – Read Galatians 5:22-23
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Home Study for December 8 through 13, 2014
Home Study
Monday – Read Matthew 5:1-12
Blessing, God’s favor, comes to us in some of the most surprising ways. What do these verses tell us is important to God?
Take time to pray through this passage and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to your heart.
Tuesday – Read James 4:6-10
Why is God so opposed to human pride?
Why does He honor humility?
What encouragement do you find in verse 7?
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you? How will you respond?
Wednesday – Read Ephesians 4:1-6
How do the qualities of love, humility, patience and gentleness allow us to live a life worthy of God’s call upon our lives?
How do those qualities allow us to live in unity under Jesus?
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you? How will you respond?
Thursday – Read I Peter 2:13-17
What do you find to be the most challenging in this passage?
Why?
According to verse 15, why are these instructions important?
How are the church and God’s people doing at fulfilling this call in the U.S. in these days?
How does living as we read here give our testimony more authority in the eyes of people?
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you? How will you respond?
Friday – Read I Peter 2:21-25
How can we follow Jesus’ example but still proclaim His truth?
How should these verses impact how we view Jesus and ourselves?
How can we live out this challenging call?
Saturday – Read Galatians 5:22-23
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