Mark 1:19-20

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

From Background Notes [BN] for Nov 1st & 2nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Until Jesus showed up, all of these brothers shared in the good life for persons with their commercial opportunities.

 

Mark 1:16-17

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

From Background Notes [BN] for Nov 1st & 2nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The purpose driven life does not proceed with fits and starts.

Mark 1:15

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

From Background Notes [BN] for Nov 1st & 2nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

If God is becoming King once again, then “the time has come. The kingdom of God is near” (1:15a), according to Jesus’ public announcement.

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

From Background Notes [BN] for Nov 1st & 2nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

More personally, however, the logos (the purpose-maker) gave power for human beings “to become children of God” when they receive him with genuine trust (1:12).

 

John 1:46

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

From Background Notes [BN] for Oct 25th & 26th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

We do know that Galilee, if not Nazareth in particular, was a hotbed of revolutionary activity in the 1st century as evidenced by uprisings of the sort exemplified by Judas the Galilean. Was Nathanael alluding to this fact, even though he too was from Galilee? It’s hard to say.

John 3:29-30

The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.  He must become greater; I must become less.

 

From Background Notes [BN] for Oct 25th & 26th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

 

Consider it a potpourri of future followers in just a few verses of John’s Gospel.

 

John 6:67-69

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

From Background Notes [BN] for Oct 25th & 26th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

What this series ultimately asks is “Will you follow Jesus?” What you won’t hear is “Will you accept this list of basic beliefs?” or

 

John 1:38-39a

Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

From Background Notes [BN] for Oct 25th & 26th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Few Christians in the west (including the U.S.) are innocent in their religious choices, even if they check “No” on the recent census when asked about affiliation.

 

Luke 18:9-10

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:  “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

From Background Notes [BN] for Oct 18th & 19th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The Pharisee prays largely about himself. The attention falls on himself, and he uses prayer as a means for judging the inadequacy of other people.

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

From Background Notes [BN] for Oct 18th & 19th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

What is “the crown of righteousness”?

Psalm 65:3

When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.

From Background Notes [BN] for Oct 18th & 19th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

“We were overwhelmed by sins” (65:3). But … our “carts, grasslands, meadows overflow with abundance” (65:11-13).

Joel 2:28

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

From Background Notes [BN] for Oct 18th & 19th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

We will get beyond “as before” and land in “afterward” when God pours out, not rain, but His Spirit. Material blessings discover their deep rootage in the long-term purposes of God for “all people”.

2 Timothy 2:8

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel

From Background Notes [BN] for Oct 11th & 12th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The heart of the Gospel is the hopeful promise of new life. Not just an ethereal existence beyond this world, but the real possibility of new creation within this world. Hard to imagine this world as a transformed, renewed place of well-being. That’s what the resurrection of Jesus Christ makes possible.

2 Timothy 2:10

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

From Background Notes [BN] for Oct 11th & 12th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Setting: Timothy is Paul’s young protégé. Paul is moving rapidly to the end of his life, and suffering is more frequent. He is “bound with chains as a criminal.” His condition is not unlike the Jews taken in Babylonian captivity.

Psalm 66:1-2

Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious.

From Background Notes [BN] for Oct 11th & 12th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The world wants to keep us in fear and paint a dismal picture of the present crisis. The church can easily fall into the same attitude. Not the psalmist:

Jeremiah 29:4-5

This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:  “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.

From Background Notes [BN] for Oct 11th & 12th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The well-being of the chosen ones is tied to the well-being of that hated metropolis, which the chosen people fear and resent.

Genesis 50:24

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

From Background Notes [BN] for Oct 4th & 5th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

But the great drama signaled by Joseph's life does not end. God, Israel's true hero, waits patiently for the next amazing act, which would unfold at a time when...

Genesis 50:20

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

From Background Notes [BN] for Oct 4th & 5th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

This Joseph left his impression on history, not because he was any kind of hero, but because he knew where God stood in relationship to him. God was Joseph's hero, bringing good out of intended evil.