Matthew 5:17

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

From Background Notes [BN] for June 30^th / July 1^st written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Obedience, then, means living in freedom under the Word of God.

Deuteronomy 7:6

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

From Background Notes [BN] for June 30^th / July 1^st written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Was Israel the chosen people?  Our answer is a qualified "yes," provided we make clear what it means to be chosen. At no time did God choose Israel for their own sake. Israel was…

Luke 15:23

Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.

From Background Notes [BN] for June 30^th / July 1^st written by Pastor Bob Brown:

What are we to make of "killing the fatted calf" in conjunction with the "feast"? These are all symbols of the reversal of his former condition. Freedom is about reversal.

Luke 15:13

Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

From Background Notes [BN] for June 30^th / July 1^st written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The younger son's plan to request the early withdrawal of his inheritance meets with unmitigated disaster. Everything goes wrong. The verbs highlight the simple fact that the younger son lost control:

Galatians 5:1

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

From Background Notes [BN] for June 30^th / July 1^st written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Yet the Gospels are rich with stories told by Jesus that remind us how freedom is always in peril and constantly in jeopardy. Often, freedom is misconstrued for something we call “license,” and…

Acts 13:25

As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not the one you are looking for. But there is one coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’

From Background Notes [BN] for June 23rd & 24th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Paul wants to stress that John himself denied being the Messiah (see Luke 3:16-17 and John 1:19-27 in this connection). Why was this important for Paul's audience to know?  Apparently, many diaspora Jews had known John from…

Acts 13:15 (NIV1984)

After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.”

From Background Notes [BN] for June 23rd & 24th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Judging from Paul's remarks, those texts might have come from Deuteronomy, as well as from Joshua, Judges and Samuel. When Paul began to develop his Gospel themes ― those concerning Jesus ― he drew from the Psalms (Tehelim), Isaiah and Habakkuk in support of his explanations.

Acts 13:6-7

They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.

From Background Notes [BN] for June 23rd & 24th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

No doubt wanting to speak in a Jewish synagogue, Saul and Barnabas encounter yet another anomaly of Judaism in the diaspora: "a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet." Luke uses the words magos and…

Acts 13:2-3

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

From Background Notes [BN] for June 23rd & 24th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

This parallels Abraham's leaving his father's household for the appointed place where he would eventually go and begin his long-term task of being a light to the nations.

Acts 12:24 KJV

But the word of God grew and multiplied.

From Background Notes [BN] for June 23^rd & 24^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The first half of Luke's account of the early church has been dominated by the work of the apostles and other believers connected with the Jerusalem Christ community ― most especially Peter. With the revelation of Acts 10-11 that the Gospel must be taken to the Gentiles, and that they have full membership in the covenant community of Israel,  fresh momentum builds…

1 Peter 5:1-4

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

1 Peter 4:17-18

For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

1 Peter 3:10-12

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.  They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

1 Peter 2:11-12

Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1 Peter 1:13-16

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.  As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

James 5:16

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Are you righteous?  Are you in good standing with the Holy and Perfect God who created you?  Unfortunately, all of us have sinned and fallen short… none of us are perfect.  However, there was blood shed in one final atoning sacrifice that has made us/you right with the LORD.  You are welcome...

James 4:11

Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.

No cheap grace this week friends.  The price paid for our redemption was costly.  Jesus said…

James 3:9-10

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Midweek checkup:  Have you lived for Jesus thus far this week?  Have you controlled your tongue?  Jesus said…

James 2:10-11

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

Be strong this week brothers and sisters.  Let’s not be lawbreakers found on the wide path that leads to destruction.  Instead…

James 1:13-15

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

You have two choices before you this week… choose wisely. 

 

Philippians 3:12

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

From Background Notes [BN] for June 2^nd & 3^rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

This section of our study has special applicability to graduates. Perhaps graduation looks like the supreme goal, already attained, when in fact, whole new worlds are opening up for our graduates, and those worlds present their own goals and their own attainments.