DAILY, WEEKEND, AND HOLIDAY INTERNET EVANGELIZE TO THE WORLD MINISTRY

June 30 By Your Example Esther 8:1–10:3 ; 3 John 5–15 ; Psalm 118:17–29 By nature, we are creatures of imitation. Children mimic the traits of their parents, and even in later life we are influenced by the habits of our friends. People naturally imitate, even if they don’t realize it or intend to. This is one reason why “lead by example” is such a powerful principle. It’s also why leaders can change the direction of a whole community—for better or worse ( Jas. 3:1 ). Diotrephes, an ambitious member of the early church who misused his power, was unwilling to heed the advice of John and others who reprimanded him. In his letter to Gaius, a church leader known for his faithfulness and love, John gives this advice regarding Diotrephes: “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God ; the one who does evil has not seen God ” ( 3 John 11 ). Throughout his letters, John emphasizes that people’s actions reflect their heart. Diotrephes’ ac...

SUNDAY , JUNE 29, 2014 | AFTER PENTECOST PROPER 8 YEAR A   Old Testament & Psalm , Option I               Old Testament       Genesis 22:1–14              Psalm       Psalm 13   or   Old Testament & Psalm , Option II               Old Testament       Jeremiah 28:5–9              Psalm       Psalm 89:1–4, 15–18              New Testament       Romans 6:12–23              Gospel       Matthew 10:40–42 Revised Common Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.

SUNDAY , JUNE 29, 2014 | AFTER PENTECOST PROPER 8 YEAR A               Old Testament       Genesis 22:1–14              Psalm       Psalm 13 (UMH 746)               New Testament       Romans 6:12–23               Gospel       Matthew 10:40–42 Vanderbilt Divinity Library. United Methodist Revised Common Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.

SUNDAY , JUNE 29, 2014 | AFTER PENTECOST PROPER 8 YEAR A On the same date: SS. Peter and Paul               Psalm       Psalm 89:1–18 or Psalm 89:1–4 , 15–18              First Reading       Isaiah 2:10–17              Second Reading       Romans 6:3–11              Gospel       Matthew 10:34–42 __________________________________________________________ ON THE SAME DATE | HOLY DAY SS. PETER AND PAUL YEARS ABC On the same date: Proper 8              Psalm       Psalm 87              First Reading       Ezekiel 34:11–16              Second Reading       2 Timothy 4:1–8              Gosp...

SUNDAY , JUNE 29, 2014 | TRINITY SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY On the same date: St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles               Old Testament       Proverbs 9:1–10              Psalm       Psalm 34:12–22               Epistle       Ephesians 2:13–22 or 1 John 3:13–18               Gospel       Luke 14:15–24 __________________________________________________________ ON THE SAME DATE | FEAST ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL, APOSTLES On the same date: Second Sunday after Trinity              First Reading       Acts 15:1–12 ( 13–21 )               Psalm       Psalm 46              Epistle       Galatians 2:1–10       ...

June 29 Behind the Scenes Esther 3:1–7:10 ; 3 John 1:1–4 ; Psalm 117:1–118:16 Sometimes life can look so bleak that it seems as if all hope is gone. This was the situation for Esther and Mordecai: “Letters were sent by couriers to all the provinces of the king to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children” ( Esther 3:13 ). Genocide was upon Esther, Mordecai, and their people, and it seemed that little could be done. Yet God unexpectedly used Esther to do His work and made Mordecai a hero for thwarting the enemies’ plan to destroy God’s people ( Esther 5–7 ). As a result, the people who wanted to kill Mordecai ended up dead ( Esther 7:7–10 ). But these events depicted more than poetic justice; they provide an example of hope in the midst of adversity. This story shows that God is at work even when we don’t realize He is there—when even prayer feels like a waste of energy. While God is not a “character” in the book of Esther , H...

Today's Verse of the Day is From Titus  2:12 KJV Translation: Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; N KJV Translation: Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Explore Thomas Nelson's King James Bibles and take your Bible reading further. © Copyright Thomas Nelson Publishers.

June 28 Meet and Greet Esther 1:1–2:23 ; 2 John 7–13 ; Psalm 116:1–19 “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not speak a greeting to him, because the one who speaks a greeting to him shares in his evil deeds” ( 2 John 9–11 ). This passage is sometimes used as support for forming exclusive communities—ones that don’t interact with people who don’t believe in the gospel or who have a different faith. Based on this passage, some believe that we as Christ ians are not permitted to interact with nonbelievers. Is that what John is really teaching? John issued this warning during a time when false teachers were spreading confusing doctrines about Christ . He exhorted believers to “test the spirits” to see if these teachers were actually from God ( 1 John 4:1 ). They would know if these teachers were from God if they confessed the true message of Jesus Christ —specifically that He had come in the flesh and was from God...

Care for Those in Need 1 John 3:17 Excerpt ‎While laying down one’s life for another is the supreme example of Christlike love, John moves to a more practical, everyday scenario to emphasize the type of love he describes previously. The adversative conjunction “but” (de), absent in the NIV , introduces a negative example that contrasts the positive one of v. 16. Clearly, the more difficult call is to lay one’s life down for another. It is a lesser demand to help a brother in need. The apostle knows, however, that not many are required to perform the heroic deed of giving one’s life for another, but the opportunity to help a needy brother is constant. The challenge for John’s hearers is to apply their Christ ian love to a context that is true to everyday life, one in which they repeatedly find themselves. Akin, Daniel L. 1 , 2 , 3 John . Vol. 38 . Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2001. Print. The New American Commentary .

Signs Excerpt ‎Although John also recognizes the problems inherent in signs and in the demand Excerpt ‎Although John also recognizes the problems inherent in signs and in the demand for signs ( 2:18 , 23 ; 4:48 ; 6:2 , 14 , 30 ), he nonetheless calls miracles σημεῖα because through them Jesus manifests his glory and reveals his mission as the Son of God ( 2:11; 20:30f .). Whereas the Baptist performs no signs ( 10:41 ), many great signs characterize Jesus’ activity ( 3:2 ; 7:31 ; 9:16 ; 11:47 ; 12:37 ); the appearances of the resurrected Jesus are to be understood similarly ( 20:30 ). The Johannine miracles point beyond themselves to the eschatological Savior ( 6:14 ; 7:31 ; 12:18 ) and provoke faith in him ( 2:11 , 3 23 ; 4:5 ; 9:35 ; 11:47f .; 20:30f. ). But this faith can remain superficial and egocentric ( 4:48 ; 6:14 , 30 ) or can be rejected ( 12:37 , 39 ); and signs cannot always defeat the conviction that Jesus is a deceiver ( 11:47f. , following Deut 13:1–4 ); ...

2 Samuel 1:10 Armlets     “And I took the crown that was on his head and the band (bracelet, KJV ) on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.” The Hebrew word etsadah, translated bracelet in the KJV , is more properly an anklet than a bracelet, but since it is here spoken of in our text-verse in connection with the arm it doubtless means an armlet; that is, an arm band. The word occurs also in Numbers 31:50 , where it is associated with tsamid (bracelet), and is rendered chains in the KJV and armlets in the NIV . Saul’s armlet is believed to have been a part of the insignia of his royalty. Egyptian monarchs are often illustrated on monuments wearing armlets and bracelets. The Persian kings often wore them, and they were common among the royalty in several Middle East countries not many years ago. Many of the bracelets and anklets were elaborately wrought and richly ornamented with jewels. From Song of Songs 8:6 , it appears that the signet was sometimes...

Spirit and Flesh in Paul's Letters Excerpt ‎In Romans 6 , Paul asks a rhetorical question about continuing to sin in order that grace might be multiplied. He answers this question with another: “How can we who died to sin still live in it?” ( Rom 6:2 ). This raises the question of why believers still struggle with sin. Are believers somehow defective? ‎Jesus’ death and resurrection not only conquered death once and for all, it enabled believers to have new life as well ( Rom 6:4 ; Col 3:1–3 ). Paul describes a twofold division between the flesh and the spirit. The flesh refers to God’s originally perfect creation, which is now mortal and in decay as result of sin entering the world through Adam ( Rom 5:12 ). The spirit is the essence of who we are, the part of us that lives on after our physical bodies die. In 2 Corinthians 4:16 , Paul contrasts the two, stating that our outer person is being destroyed as our inner one is being renewed. Our physical bodies will cont...

I, Paul, A Prisoner of Christ Jesus Excerpt ‎Prisoner here is meant literally of physical imprisonment, not figuratively of the writer’s complete submission to Christ’s will ( see also 4:1 and verse 6:20 ). ‎It may also be possible to translate the prisoner of Christ Jesus as “a prisoner because of what I have done for the sake of Christ   Jesus ,” or “I am in prison because I serve Jesus Christ .” There is, however, a problem in some languages in having a kind of triple apposition, namely, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus. This must be broken up in some languages to read “I, Paul, who am a prisoner for Christ Jesus’ sake .” In order that people may understand that prisoner is not to be taken in a figurative sense, one may translate I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus as “I, Paul, am in prison because of Christ Jesus ”. For the sake of you Gentiles: this is a further reason; Paul is a servant of Christ Jesus working for the good of the Gentiles. So the two...

Armor of God: Sword Armor of God: Sword ‎The sword was carried on the right side and hung from the belt or a leather strap over the shoulder.

To Make Holy John 17:19 Excerpt ‎The vb. ἁγιάζω [ 'to make holy' ] is used 17 times pass. and 11 times act. The following are made holy or are holy (pass.): the name of God ( Matt 6:9 par . Luke 11:2 ); those who believe ( John 17:19b ; Acts 20:32 ; 26:18 ; 1 Cor 1:2 ; 6:11 ; 7:14 [twice]; 2 Tim 2:21 ), who are all consecrated through the one Son ( Heb 2:11b ; cf . 10:10 , 14 ); everything which God has created ( 1 Tim 4:5 ); and, finally, Christ himself , who is consecrated through the blood of the covenant ( Heb 10:29 [ referring to Exod 24:8 ]). In pass. constructions God is very frequently to be understood as the subject of the consecration (divine passive). Balz, Horst Robert, and Gerhard Schneider. Exegetical dictionary of the New Testament 1990– : 17 . Print.

John The Baptist's Disciples Excerpt ‎Two of John the Baptist’s disciples were present with him; one of these was Andrew ( verse 40 ), but the other is not definitely known. All four Gospels agree that John the Baptist had a group of close followers, called disciples. He taught them specific prayers ( Luke 11.1 ; compare 5.33 ), and they had their own rules for fasting ( Mark 2.18 ). ‎Terms for disciples are normally of two types: the first based on the meaning of “learning” or “being taught” ; the second based on the concept of “following,” “being associated with.” or “being an adherent of.” It is important in such a context to be able to use exactly the same term for the disciples of John as for those of Jesus , even though the Greek term often rendered  “disciples” must be translated in some portions of Acts as “believers.” Though an expression based upon the concept of “learning” or “being taught” is often useful, it may suggest a kind of classroom relationsh...

Matthew  16:25 King James Version For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Read at Bible Gateway Read all of  Matthew 16

June 27 The Truth about Truth Nehemiah 12:1–13:31 ; 2 John 1–6 ; Psalm 115:1–115:18 John the Evangelist’s letter to the “elect lady” presents a picture of joy and hope, as he “rejoiced greatly to find some of [her] children walking in truth, just as we were commanded by the father” ( 2 John 4 ). One word keeps reappearing in John’s letter, focusing his message: truth. John says that he loves the elect lady and her children “in truth” ( 2 John 1 ). He says that all who know the truth also love them. His reason is simple: “the truth … resides in us and will be with us forever” ( 2 John 2 ). When John speaks of truth, he’s referring to Jesus ( John 14:6 ). After his initial greeting, John goes on to express his wishes: May “Grace, mercy, [and] peace … be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father in truth and love” ( 2 John 3 ). In acknowledging the source of truth, John acknowledges his connection to it. All believers live in truth because they ...

Today's Verse of the Day is From Mark  10:44 KJV Translation: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. N KJV Translation: And whoever of you will be the most chief, shall be servant of all. Explore Thomas Nelson's King James Bibles and take your Bible reading further. © Copyright Thomas Nelson Publishers.

June 26 A Famous God Nehemiah 10:28–11:36 ; 1 John 5:17–21 ; Psalm 113:1–114:8 Fame can have startling effects on people. Those who attain power and influence suddenly become less available: They’re selective with the phone calls they take, the emails they answer, and the people they associate with. Those who receive their attention tend to feel special. When we call on God , we expect Him to answer us and help us. Sometimes, we are so confident that He wil l or should help us that we forget how amazing it is that He interacts with us in the first place. Psalm 113 reminds us that God is beyond our comprehension. The psalm praises the power and glory of God , who is “high above all nations.” God isn’t just ruling over the earth, though. His realm of power extends even “above the heavens” ( Psa 113:4 ). Both earthly and heavenly powers are subject to Him . His power is astounding, but what is most confounding is His nature and character . Psalm 113 points out that even in ...

June 25 From Concern to Action Nehemiah 9:1–10:27 ; 1 John 5:13–16 ; Psalm 111:1–112:10 When I approach God , I often to try to persuade Him that I am worthy of something or that He should act on my behalf. But there is no reason God should act on our behalf—none is worthy of His intercession When we pray, we often need a change in focus. Ultimately, it’s not about our rightness or goodness; it’s about His . It’s about what He can do, who He is, and why we know He can do something about the situation we’re in. We should still be honest and open with God , telling Him how we really feel (even though He already knows), but instead of focusing on our own righteousness, we should focus on God and what He’s already done for us. When I shift my attention to God and His goodness , many of my previous concerns fade. Before I even begin to pray, gratitude reminds me of God’s care and provision for me, allowing me to move from what I think matters to what matters to God . Throughout...

Today's Verse of the Day is From Matthew 28:19 KJV Translation: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: N KJV Translation: Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Explore Thomas Nelson's King James Bibles and take your Bible reading further. © Copyright Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Logos Verse of the Day

June 24 It’s Simple Nehemiah 7:66–8:18 ; 1 John 5:6–12 ; Psalm 110:1–7 I tend to complicate matters. Determined to understand the nuances of a problem, I spend more time constructing a solution than I need to. Often, delaying a simple solution is my way of avoiding action that requires me to be courageous, intentional, or perhaps admit I’m wrong. John’s first letter addresses a complication of the gospel message. False teachers were causing division in the community by spreading incorrect doctrines about Christ’s humanity and divinity . Without understanding that Christ is both man and God , some people in the community were in danger of diminishing Christ’s saving work and confusing the gospel. John spends the greater portion of the letter guiding his readers through the murky doctrines the false teachers had introduced. However, John’s climactic point at the close of his letter is far from complex. First John 5:11–12 contains a statement about belief that is both simple an...

TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014 | HOLY DAY NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST YEARS ABC               Psalm       Psalm 85 or P salm 85:7–13              First Reading       Isaiah 40:1–11              Second Reading       Acts 13:14b–26              Gospel       Luke 1:57–80 The Episcopal Church. Book of Common Prayer (1979) Sunday Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010. Print.

TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 2014 | FEAST THE NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST YEARS ABC              Old Testament       Isaiah 40:1–5               Psalm       ( Psalm 85:1–6 ) 7–13               Epistle       Acts 13:13–26              Gospel       Luke 1:57–80 Lutheran Service Book Three Year Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.

Today's Verse of the Day is From Romans 10:8 KJV Translation: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith , which we preach; N KJV Translation: But what said it? The word is near you, even in your mouth, and in your heart: that is, the word of faith , which we preach; Explore Thomas Nelson's King James Bibles and take your Bible reading further. © Copyright Thomas Nelson Publishers.

June 23 Discernment and Prayer Nehemiah 6:1–7:65 ; 1 John 5:1–5 ; Psalm 109:16–31 “For all of them sought to frighten us.… And now, God, strengthen my hands” ( Neh 6:9 ). While God calls us to “love [our] enemies and pray for those who persecute [us]” ( Matt 5:44 ), he also calls us to act with discernment and prayer. Loving others doesn’t mean we should be weak or passive. Part of loving others means discerning their hearts and motives. “Blessed are the meek, because they will inherit the earth” ( Matt 5:5 ). When Jesus spoke about being meek, He wasn’t referring to weakness. Instead, He was teaching us to focus on others rather than ourselves. That doesn’t mean we should be passive toward those who wish to harm us. Part of practicing meekness is being aware of our enemies and dealing with them cautiously. Doing so successfully takes strength and discernment—necessary components of any godly work. Nehemiah demonstrates these traits in his interactions with his enemies. Wh...

SUNDAY , JUNE 22, 2014 | AFTER PENTECOST PROPER 7 YEAR A   Old Testament & Psalm , Option I              Old Testament       Genesis 21:8–21              Psalm       Psalm 86:1–10 , 16–17   or   Old Testament & Psalm, Option II              Old Testament       Jeremiah 20:7–13              Psalm       Psalm 69:7–10 ( 11–15 ) 16–18               New Testament       Romans 6:1b–11              Gospel       Matthew 10:24–39 Revised Common Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.

SUNDAY , JUNE 22, 2014 | AFTER PENTECOST PROPER 7 YEAR A              Old Testament       Genesis 21:8–21               Psalm       Psalm 86:1–10 , 16–17 or Psalm 17 (UMH 749)              New Testament       Romans 6:1b–11              Gospel       Matthew 10:24–39 Vanderbilt Divinity Library. United Methodist Revised Common Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.

SUNDAY , JUNE 22, 2014 | AFTER PENTECOST PROPER 7 YEAR A              Psalm       Psalm 69:1–16 or Psalm 69:6–9 , 14–16              First Reading       Jeremiah 20:7–13              Second Reading       Romans 5:15b–19               Gospel       ( Matthew 10:16–23 ) 24–33 The Episcopal Church. Book of Common Prayer (1979) Sunday Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010. Print.

SUNDAY , JUNE 22, 2014 | PENTECOST PROPER 7 YEAR A               Old Testament       Jeremiah 20:7–13              Psalm       Psalm 91:1–10 ( 11–16 )               Epistle       Romans 6:12–23              Gospel       Matthew 10:5a , 21–33 Lutheran Service Book Three Year Lectionary. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.

June 22: Love and Peace Nehemiah 4:1–5:19 ; 1 John 4:16–21 ; Psalm 109:1–15 “You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it finds rest in you.” Augustine’s prayer, spoken so many years ago, is still poignant for us today. It appeals to our created purpose: bringing glory to God . When we’re living outside of that purpose, we try to fill that void through other means. In his first letter, John shows how the love of God and communion with Him ultimately brings a sense of peace and confidence: “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love and the one who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him. By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as that one is, so also are we in the world” ( 1 John 4:16–17 ). God Himself has addressed the great rift we created between ourselves and Him . Through the sacrifice of His Son , He has made it possible for us to ...

Today's Verse of the Day is From Colossians 3:1 KJV Translation: If ye then be risen with Christ , seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God . N KJV Translation: If you then be risen with Christ , seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God . Explore Thomas Nelson's King James Bibles and take your Bible reading further. © Copyright Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Logos Verse for Today

June 21 Position, Prayer, and Strategy Nehemiah 1:1–3:32 ; 1 John 4:13–15 ; Psalm 108:1–13 Trying to make a difference in the world can be disheartening; it’s easy to feel like merely a drop in the bucket. When Nehemiah first heard about the suffering of His people , he could have been discouraged. When he learned that the returned exiles were “in great trouble and shame,” living in a city with no walls ( Neh 1:3 ), he could have said, “I’d love to help, but what can I do from this far away?” Instead, he decided to take action ( Neh 1:3 ), and he did so thoughtfully. Rather than making a rash decision, he prayed ( Neh 1:4–8 ). He then volunteered to be the one to help God’s people ( Neh 1:9–11 ), even though doing so meant risking his life. As the cup-bearer to the king, Nehemiah recognized his unique place of influence and acted upon it ( Neh 2:1–3 ). He chose to appear saddened before the most powerful man in the world by hanging his head. His actions could have been perc...

Prayer By: Rev. Lynwood F. Mundy Lord, have mercy on us. In  Jesus' name . Amen. https://www.facebook.com/lfmundy

Today's Verse of the Day is From Proverbs 31:30 KJV Translation: Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD , she shall be praised. N KJV Translation: Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fears the LORD , she shall be praised. Explore Thomas Nelson's King James Bibles and take your Bible reading further. © Copyright Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Logos Verse of the Day

June 20 Man vs. Nature Ezra 9:1–10:44 ; 1 John 4:7–12 ; Psalm 107:23–43 As a teenager, I devoured stories about men and women at odds with nature. These man vs. nature struggles always told of a battle of wills. Nature was always at its most magnificent and most frightening: untamed, unwieldy, and heartless. The characters seemed to be living on the edge of human experience—they were not focused and resolute, anticipating the next turn of events like a typical Hollywood action film, but frightened and helpless before an uncaring force. If we read Psa 107 , we’ll find this genre isn’t unique to contemporary novels. Biblical writers also used the man vs. nature theme to show battling wills. Psalm 107 reads like a riveting short story: “Those who went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the high seas; they saw the works of Yahweh , and his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and raised up a stormy wind, and it whipped up its waves. They rose to the heavens; they plu...

Today's Verse of the Day is From Hosea  13:14 KJV Translation: I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes . N KJV Translation: I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be your plagues; O grave, I will be your destruction: repentance shall be hid from my eyes . Explore Thomas Nelson's King James Bibles and take your Bible reading further. © Copyright Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Logos Verse of the Day

June 19 The Story behind the Story Ezra 7:1–8:36 ; 1 John 4:1–6 ; Psalm 107:1–22 The Bible is full of unexpected moments. Some events seem almost coincidental, where people are in the right place at the right time. This is exactly the case with Ezra. In ancient times, it was unusual for a king to honor a foreigner with a decree. It was even stranger for a king to offer his own wealth to help such a foreigner. Yet that’s what happened to Ezra: King Artaxerxes of Persia sent Ezra, and any Israelite willing to go with him, to his own land (and the people living there) with the blessing of silver and gold ( Ezra 7:11–28 ). The Bible doesn’t give the reason for Artaxerxes’ spontaneous generosity. He may have been motivated by politics, trying to gain the allegiance of the Israelites, govern the population in Babylonia, or inhabit a new land to control the native people there. Yet the most convincing reason for his actions seems to be that his heart was moved. While the text doe...