Luke 17:3

So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

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

The key to this saying from the words of Jesus is 17:3, “So watch yourselves.” The Greek has prosechete eautois, literally, “hold to one another,” an interpretation consistent with the title of this week’s study.  “Be connected to each other” might be an alternate rendering. What leads Jesus to issue this instruction to his followers?

Galatians 2:12

For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.

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

When there are so many social challenges to living as a Christian in the present culture, strong connections to other Christians are essential to prevent discouragement, backsliding, anxiety, and loss of faith.

Heb 10:24-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

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

The writer of the Hebrews is anonymous, and that prompted some early church fathers to delay acceptance of the book into the New Testament.

Acts 2:5-7

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.  When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?

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

All of these Jewish worshippers had been in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover and its sequel, Šavuot (Pentecost).

John 15:20

Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

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

A great weakness in our appeals for others to become disciples of Jesus lies in our pandering to human, selfish wants. We give false hopes by telling people, “Come to Jesus and everything will be sunshine and roses.”

Mark 3:13

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.

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

He is Lord of his disciples.

Mark 2:16

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

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

The origin of the Pharisees (Perushim) seems to be in the days after the exile in Babylon (500 B.C.E.) when they were known as the Hasidim.