John 15:4

Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me

From Background Notes [BN] for April 5th & 6th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

What we are urged to do during this Lenten season, leading up to Easter, is: “stay close to Jesus” and “don’t wander far.” There is a healthy balance in any ecosystem between closeness and distance; between independence and dependence. As followers of Jesus...

Revelation 5:11-12

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,  singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

From Background Notes [BN] for March 29th & 30th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Beauty is an aesthetic value and not easily nailed down, either in dollars and cents or philosophically. If I want you to appreciate the beauty of a painting, my best strategy is to tell you, “Will you look at that!”

 

John 4:21

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 29th& 30th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Uncoupling the geography of worship from its heart-intention, Jesus tells his conversation partner that God is actually “seeking” worshippers who are less concerned about a monopoly on worship and more committed to aligning their spirits with the true nature of God through worship.

 

Matthew 26:6-8

Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, “Why this waste?

From Background Notes [BN] for March 29th& 30th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Among the critics, Judas is the least persuasive, given John’s comments in 12:6.

John 12:7-9

Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”  When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 29th & 30th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

On the one hand, the raising of Lazarus points to the life-giving power of Jesus, while on the other hand...

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 22nd & 23rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The mind, transformed by the word, Paul finally explains, makes possible the "proving" of the will of God. The Greek expression dokimazein points in the direction of "testing" or "discovery", clearly implying a process, not simply a completed act.

John 12:29-30

The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”  Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 22nd & 23rd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Ancient Scripture arose in the community of Israel in order to bear faithful witness to the voice of God. We wouldn’t be studying the Bible if that weren’t the case. Yahweh authorized the writing of Scripture, even as He authorized the coming of His Son as Jesus of Nazareth.