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

August 8: Distortion Isaiah 14:24–16:14; Luke 6:1–49; Job 4:12–21 If attending church and small group or even reading the Bible and praying become activities that we do out of obligation, then we have a bigger problem than we might realize. If our hearts are disengaged, our religious motions and listless obedience serve only as a security blanket—something that makes us feel safe and good. The Pharisees faced this dilemma, but they took the error one step further. They took the Sabbath—a practice intended to point people toward God—and twisted it into a heavy burden. So when Jesus wanted to do good on the Sabbath, it’s no surprise that they seized the opportunity to trap Him. Jesus responded to the Pharisees’ accusation by telling them He is “Lord of the Sabbath” (Luke 6:5). But He also showed them the true purpose of Sabbath while at the same time exposing their hearts: “And Jesus said to them, ‘I ask you whether it is permitted on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to sa...

July 14   Behold the man         John 19:5 “Behold the man!” was Pilate’s jeer. That is what all the ages have been doing since, and the vision has grown more and more glorious. As they have looked, the crown of thorns has become a crown of golden radiance, and the cast-off robe has glistened like the garments He wore on the night of the transfiguration. Martyrs have smiled in the flames at that vision. Sinners have turned at it to a new life. Little children have seen it, and have had awakened by it dim recollections of their Heaven-home. Toward it the souls of men yearn ever. Robert E. Speer Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour. Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

SUNDAY , JULY 5, 2015 | PENTECOST SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST YEAR B               Old Testament       Lamentations 3:22–33               Old Testament       2 Samuel 12:11–25 ( Supplemental )               Psalm       Psalm 30               New Testament       2 Corinthians 8:1–9, 13, 14              New Testament       2 Timothy 1:8–14 ( Supplemental )               Gospel       Mark 5:21–24a, 35–43 Christ ian Worship Three Year Lectionary (with Supplemental Lectionary). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.

July 1   He laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not         Rev. 1:17 One of Wellington’s officers, when commanded to go on some perilous duty, lingered a moment as if afraid, and then said: “Let me have one clasp of your all-conquering hand before I go; and then I can do it.” Seek the clasp of Christ’s hand before every bit of work, every hard task, every battle, every good deed. Bend your head in the dewy freshness of every morning, ere you go forth to meet the day’s duties and perils, and wait for the benediction of Christ, as He lays His hands upon you. They are hands of blessing. Their touch will inspire you for courage and strength and all beautiful and noble living. J. R. Miller Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour. Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God 18 a    Reason (17d)                                                             For the 7 message of the cross      b    Affirmation                                                          is a foolishness to b those who are perishing,      c    Affirmation        ...

March 21   He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake         Ps. 23:3 He always has a purpose in His leading. He knows where the bits of green pasture are, and He would lead His flock to these. The way may be rough, but it is the right way to the pasture. “Paths of righteousness” may not be straight paths; but they are paths that lead somewhere—to the right place. Many desert paths are illusive. They start out clear and plain, but soon they are lost in the sands. They go nowhere. But the paths of righteousness have a goal to which they unerringly lead. J. R. Miller Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour. Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

Priesthood of Melchizedek Excerpt The priesthood of Melchizedek is the main theme of Hebrews  7–10 , so we need not enter into the details now. You will want to read  Gen. 14:17–20  for the background. The whole argument of Heb.  7–10  is that Christ is a greater high priest because His priesthood is of a greater order—it belongs to Melchizedek, not Aaron. The name “Melchizedek” means “king of righteousness”; he was also priest of Salem, which means “peace.” Aaron was never a priest-king; but Jesus is both Priest and King. He is a Priest seated on a throne! And His ministry is of peace, the “rest” that was discussed in chapters  3–4 . Christ came from Judah, the kingly tribe, and not from Levi, the priestly tribe. Melchizedek suddenly appears in  Gen. 14  and then drops out of the story; there is no listing of his beginning or ending. Thus, he is compared to Christ’s eternal Sonship, for He too is “without beginning and ending.” Aaron...

AQUILA, PRISCILLA, APOLLOS Lutheran Service Book Historic (One Year) Lectionary

Christ's Ambassadors The nature of Paul’s appointment was to serve as one of Christ’s ambassadors. The verb presbeuō (are ambassadors) means to be “elder” or “first in rank” (Liddell, Scott and Jones 1978). Here we might think of the role of the statesman, where age and high rank often go together. Then as now, an ambassador was someone who represented the interests of his or her nation abroad. In the Old Testament the range of duties included offering congratulations ( 1 Kings 5:1 ; 2 Sam 8:10 ), soliciting favors ( Num 20:14 ), making alliances ( Josh 9:3–7 ) and protesting wrongful actions ( Judg 11:12 ). The Roman counterpart to the Greek presbeutēs was the legate (legatus), who was duly appointed by the emperor to administer the imperial provinces on his behalf. Paul was similarly appointed by God to administer the gospel on Christ’s behalf (hyper Christou ; compare Eph 3:2 ). It is as though God himself were making a personal and direct appeal through Paul ( ...

"I am the Bread of Life" John 6:35 ‎This corrected two more errors in their thinking: (1) The food of which He spoke refers to a Person , not a commodity. (2) And once someone is in right relationship to Jesus , he finds a satisfaction which is everlasting, not temporal. This “I am” statement is the first in a series of momentous “I am” revelations ( cf. 8:12 ; 10:7 , 9 , 11 , 14 ; 11:25 ; 14:6 ; 15:1 , 5 ). “Bread of Life” means bread which provides life. Jesus is man’s necessary “food.” In Western culture, bread is often optional, but it was an essential staple then. Jesus promised, He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty. The “nevers” are emphatic in Greek. Blum, Edwin A. “John.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures . Ed. J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck. Vol. 2 . Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 295. Print.