1 Timothy 4:7-8

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

1 Timothy 3:8-11

In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

1 Timothy 2:5-7

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

1 Timothy 1:8-11

We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
 

2 Thessalonians 3:11-13

We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.  Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.  And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

Mark 8:38

Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels

From Background Notes [BN] for August 24^th & 25^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

In honor/shame-based culture, people are expected to show reasonable sensitivity to their own reputations and to the opinions of others. Such sensitivity is actually a favorable value; to have shame means this kind of sensitivity.

 

Luke 12:15

And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions"

From Background Notes [BN] for August 24^th & 25^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

That said, people still decide to acquire “the whole world.” Such dreams turn into nightmares, as the collective wisdom of history testifies. Perhaps the ironic story of Alexander the Great says it best, when, after his eastward conquests, the famous ruler wept, “there are no more worlds to conquer.”

Matthew 16:23

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

From Background Notes [BN] for August 24^th & 25^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

That is, Peter is weighing the gains and losses involved in the prospect that Jesus would end up dead. We might even translate this text as, “You are looking at your bottom line, but not God’s bottom line by opposing my decision to die.”

Matthew 16:26

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

From Background Notes [BN] for August 24^th & 25^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Are you so focused on your career, your raise and your ambitions for the future that you fail to realize the gift of relationships that God has given you today? Do people come before possessions and positions? Will you find yourself getting near the end of the game and discover that you have no one to share it with? 

Matthew 20:9-11

“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So  when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius.  When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.

From Background Notes [BN] for August 17^th & 18^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Jesus has in mind the late-comers to his Kingdom message, those the first-comers can’t stand to be around and refuse to treat as their equals.  They are the outcasts, yet they come to Jesus by invitation, which is “the way of the Kingdom.”

John 21:20-22

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

From Background Notes [BN] for August 17^th & 18^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Jesus then proceeds to tackle Peter’s deflection by asserting, “If it is my will…” and, in so doing, reminds the vacillating disciple that the only crucial issue remaining between them was the “will” of Jesus and whether Peter would accept that will in his own life. 

John 21:18

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

From Background Notes [BN] for August 17^th & 18^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Using the familiar formula, “Truly, Truly” (amēn amēn), Jesus swears a solemn oath to Peter in which he contrasts “when you were young” with “when you are old.”  This contrast has serious theological significance to it. 

John 21:17

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

From Background Notes [BN] for August 17^th & 18^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

By taking the initiative, Jesus proves his own agapē love for Peter, though he addresses him as “Simon” and not as “Peter” in each case.  He is saying, “Simon, I accept you where you are and as you are.

1 John 2:1-2

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

From Background Notes [BN] for August 10^th & 11^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The translators of the NRSV have carefully chosen the word “Advocate” to render the Greek word, paraklētos, which can also mean “Counselor,” an equally appropriate legal term. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus exercises a new advocacy, counter to the older prosecutorial role of Satan in the book of Job.

Revelation 12:10

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

From Background Notes [BN] for August 10^th & 11^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

What Revelation wants the church to understand is that the birth of a special Son (12:5) and a war in heaven (12:7-8) have resulted in the expulsion of Satan from heaven and from the monotonous accusation of God’s people. Heaven is now free of Satan’s presence on the council.

John 8:11b

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

From Background Notes [BN] for August 10^th & 11^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Beyond the favorable judgment in her favor, Jesus has bigger plans for her. We would say because of Jesus the woman experienced justification — she was put to rights in the eyes of the Judge and before the Court of heaven. Jesus had the authority to grant that to her. But the woman is not released from her sentence because she was sinless.

John 8:9-10

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

From Background Notes [BN] for August 10^th & 11^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

When Jesus stands with us, in solidarity with our humanity, we never stand alone. When Jesus stands with us, in the midst of our guilt, we never stand accused: only forgiven. When Jesus stands with us, our accusers leave, for they cannot successfully bring a legal claim against us.

John 5:22-23

The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

From Background Notes [BN] for August 10^th & 11^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

When Jesus stands up in the presence of the accusers, he speaks with the authority of God Himself. Jesus delivers the ruling of God on His throne, issuing righteous sentences, taking up the cause of those who do not have a voice to speak for themselves. He stands up to plead the cause of widows, orphans, and a woman charged with adultery (Isaiah 1:17). No one is allowed to lift a stone in judgment unless Jesus authorizes it.

John 13:14-15

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

From Background Notes [BN] for August 3^rd & 4^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

In John 13 the Gospel reminds us that Jesus is, in fact, doing something in our lives which preempts our dearest occupations.

John 13:12

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.

From Background Notes [BN] for August 3^rd & 4^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The question alone is worth pondering in its own right, as we do this week! Might we not argue that the whole of one's life as a Christian is spent answering that question?