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

October 15: Picturing God Ezekiel 30:1–31:18 ; Revelation 14:14–15:8 If you were to ask five people at random, “How do you picture God ?” you would receive five very different answers. A social network prompt to “describe God in one word” confirms this idea: It resulted in more than 50 answers. For John, that one word was logos or “Word.” Ultimately, God is far too complex to fit into human language. His personality is too diverse to capture in a painting. His intricacy of character far surpasses ours. God is able to feel the full spectrum of emotion and able to articulate who He is using the full spectrum of vocabulary. He is able to encounter us in any way He sees fit. Where we may be able to change only our hair color, glasses, or general way of speaking, He can change anything. Throughout the books of Ezekiel and Revelation , we see diverse descriptions of God . They are so different that they could, by analogy, range from a mannerist painting of Jesus to a surrea...

October 14: Persist, Don’t Just Exist Revelation 13:11–14:13 The phrase “patient endurance” brings to mind the pasted-on smile of a parent regarding a misbehaving child—a parent clinging to the hope that someday this stage will pass. In Revelation the term is used in a much different way. “Here is the patient endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith in Jesus ” ( Rev 14:12 ). The statement is set in the context of judgment. Here the phrase requires more than simply sitting still and enduring persecution. It’s intended to encourage first-century believers to actively abandon the sins of the day: idolatry, pride, oppression. Encouraging patient endurance was a call for early Christ ians to persevere by pursuing righteousness—to follow Christ faithfully even while enduring a period of suffering (Rev 14:12). Patient endurance is active persistence, loyalty, and discernment. We get this sense as John continues: “And I heard a voice from heaven sayi...

Lesson October 13, 2013 A Promise to Sarah  By Sam E. Stone When God originally called Abram (as he was then known) to leave his home in Ur of the Chaldeans, he summarized the blessings that would follow ( Genesis 12:1-3 ). Abram was 75 years old at the time. He and his family went to Canaan and from there to Egypt to secure food during a famine. He and his nephew Lot separated upon their return to the promised land.Once more God reaffirmed his covenant with Abram ( Genesis 15:1-5 ). Sarai, Abram’s wife, still had borne no children. She encouraged her husband to marry her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar ( Gen.16:1-4 ). Hagar conceived and had a son (Ishmael), but Sarai mistreated her and she fled. God appeared to Abram once again when he was 99 years old ( 17:1 ). He told him that his name would now be Abraham, “a father of many nations.” Canaan would be his inheritance. The Lord commanded him to keep the covenant of circumcision with every male among the people. Predictio...

October 13 Lesson 7 A PROMISE TO SARAH DEVOTIONAL READING: Isaiah 51:1–6 BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE : Genesis 17:15–17 ; 18:9–15 ; 21:1–7 GENESIS 17:15–17 KEY VERSE Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.— Genesis 21:2 LESSON AIMS After participating in this lesson, each student will be able to: 1. Describe the reactions of Abraham and Sarah to the promise of a son. 2. Explain the significance of laughing in each section of today’s text. 3. Suggest a way to show God that he or she trusts God’s plans . LESSON OUTLINE Introduction       A.      Making Promises       B.      Lesson Background           I.      Prediction ( GENESIS 17:15–17 )       A.      Name Given ( v. 15 )       Your New Name       B.     ...

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2013 | AFTER PENTECOST PROPER 23 YEAR C              Old Testament       Jeremiah 29:1, 4–7              Psalm       Psalm 66:1–12 (UMH 790)              New Testament       2 Timothy 2:8–15              Gospel       Luke 17:11–19 Vanderbilt Divinity Library. United Methodist Revised Common Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.

SUNDAY , OCTOBER 13, 2013 | AFTER PENTECOST PROPER 23 YEAR C   Old Testament & Psalm , Option I               Old Testament       Jeremiah 29:1 , 4–7              Psalm       Psalm 66:1–12   or   Old Testament & Psalm , Option II              Old Testament       2 Kings 5:1–3 , 7–15c               Psalm       Psalm 111              New Testament       2 Timothy 2:8–15              Gospel       Luke 17:11–19 Revised Common Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009. Print.

SUNDAY , OCTOBER 13, 2013 | PENTECOST PROPER 23 YEAR C              Old Testament       Ruth 1:1–19a              Psalm       Psalm 111               Epistle       2 Timothy 2:1–13               Gospel       Luke 17:11–19 Lutheran Service Book Three Year Lectionary . Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009.