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.

John 12:26

Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

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

As Jesus explains to Philip and Andrew, they must make serious changes in the way they regard their own lives, not “loving them” in a frantic effort to save them, but giving them away, if need be, through the sacrifice of death.

1 Corinthians 6:20

For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

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

Human beings are not innocent bystanders of the glory of God, for they owe their very life to Him, having been “bought with a price” that ultimately means Jesus dying on the cross for the salvation of the world. Glorifying God is about “your body,” Paul tells us, and that suggests that we have bodies so that we might embody the nature of God.

John 15:4 (NRSV)

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 March 15th & 16th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The phrase "abiding in Christ" sometimes appears in writings on living the Christian life. To abide has to do with the concept of being instead of doing. Doing in relation to the Christian walk is: reading the Bible, going to church, praying, witnessing, doing good works, fleeing sin, etc.

John 15:1-2

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prune so that it will be even more fruitful.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 15th & 16th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

It is interesting to note that grapevines need proper pruning during the first three years. Once they start producing fruit, annual pruning is needed to maintain the balance between vegetative growth and fruit production.

John 21:6

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 15th & 16th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Was it not the unexpectedness of catching so many fish that compelled these men to “leave everything and follow him”? If that could be true of ordinary things, what hope does that present in Jesus’ strange offer: “from now on you will be catching people”?

Matthew 4:18

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 15th & 16th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

“Walking, he saw …” Thus it is with us if we are to find ourselves in the place of God’s great purposes.

 

Acts 5:14

Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 8th & 9th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Nothing authenticates our witness more than living out, with integrity, supportive community life. The Gospel in action strengthens our witness. In this case, Luke draws a tight connection between the belief that Jesus rose from the dead and the existence of a caring Christian fellowship.

Acts 2:46-47

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

From Background Notes [BN] for March 8th & 9th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Growth belongs to the process of the Holy Spirit in response to faithful witness, both in words and lives. While we might think it can be orchestrated and controlled, the truth is that genuine growth belongs to the essence of life itself ― God's life, resulting from the new birth.

Proverbs 19:2

Desire without knowledge is not good—
    how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

From Background Notes [BN] for March 8th & 9th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Contemporary Christian communities today require solid Bible teaching to remain at the center of Christ's purpose for his kingdom. Every member of a local congregation should be involved in small group study...

Acts 2:42

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer

From Background Notes [BN] for March 8th & 9th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

The Christ fanatic is devoted in this fashion with a firmness and fidelity worthy of one who "takes up his cross and follows" Jesus. These were no "fly-by-night" Jesus groupies, but sincerely committed persons.