Luke 10:25-37.

Jesus often answered a question with a question. But when asked “Who is my neighbor?,” He answered by telling a story – a story that asks the same question of us.

Today’s study is The Good Samaritan, a 2000 year old parable from Jesus that still speak into our culture today.

This story starts with an expert of Jewish law asking Jesus a question. Jesus answered the question with a question. A tactic Jesus used frequently. Why? Because He knows questions are how one gets to a person’s heart. Questions force one to think things through.

Jesus answers the first few questions from the expert with questions but then He answers the “who is my neighbor” question with a parable (but it ends with a question as well.)

The Parable Jesus tells is about a man that is beaten, robbed and left for dead on the road side and the reactions of three by-passers.

1. Priest – a religious person who just ignored the beaten man and just kept on walking
2. Levite – a church worker, stops to look at the man but decides to walk away without helping
3. A Samaritan – a person not liked by the jewish community, considered the low of the low. The Samaritan cared for the injured man and took him where he received additional help and paid for it all.

Jesus ends the telling of this parable with the question, “Which of the three was a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”

The answer is the Samaritan – the one who knew the heart of God and acted on that – the one who had mercy on the robbed and beaten man.

Jesus said to the expert, “Go and do likewise.” It’s not that we earn our way into heaven by doing nice things. There’s only one way to heaven and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Only One way into eternal life and that is the Lord Jesus Christ – through the willingly shed blood of the Lamb of God who laid down His life the sins of the world – for each of us. And when we know and understand that – it changes us from the inside out, because when the change happens we look at people differently and we’re looking at ourselves differently.

We tend to think we’re “better than so and so,” but what God is saying is – we all desperately need what only He can provide; mercy, kindness, forgiveness and life. These He offer us, not because of what WE do but because of what JESUS has
done.

There’s a realization:
– God is good – so so good
– We can no longer look at ourselves as better than others
– We want to be more and more like Jesus

We put our faith into practice by the things that we do. Fatih is shown by our behavior. It is not a matter of religion. Instead, faith tells us that because of what God has done, we want to do whatever He would have us do.

Jesus is still asking us the question today: “Which of the three was a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?” Do we, like the Samaritan, understand the heart of God and love others as we have first been loved by God. Do we hear Jesus saying
today, “Go and do likewise.”

“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

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The Parables of Jesus is part two of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Jesus is known for telling some of the greatest stories ever told. In telling these stories He uses the form of a parable which is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus’ parables resonate in every culture and in every generation around the world.

This study is great for large group. small group or home group Bible study.

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This teaching is taken from Acts 12. It is a story of Peter being set free from prison chains by an angel, but also set free from the destructive thoughts and emotions and feelings that can rise up inside us during challenging times. Peter shows us how to hold on tight to what we know about God and let Him carry us through difficult times.

In uncertain and challenging times, this story teaches us that like Peter, we are:
1. Set Free from fear – Peter was at peace, sleeping between two guards, not fearing the eminent death sentence awaiting him, when the angel came to rescue him. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
2. Set Free from worry – Peter knew the Lord cared for him. Peter knew the Lord was at work in his life and that God had a plan and that plan is that God will win in the end! Peter did as the verse says, “Cast all your anxieties on God because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 We can rest in God’s arms – at peace – because Jesus is our Victor!
3. Set Free from despair – Peter was at peace not wringing his hands in despair or saying how can this be happening to me… Peter understood that God is in control and that God would give him everything needed to get through the trial. 1 Peter 5:10 “And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
4. Set Free from death, both the fear of death and the finality of death. We are, like Peter, to face our days with confidence and assurance. Heaven/life forever with God is a promise through our faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

God setting Peter free still speaks to us today – Our God sets us free, too!

Cling to the Lord Jesus for dear life!

Scripture: Acts 12, John 14:27, 1 Peter 5:7, 1 Peter 5:10, 2 Peter 1:11

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In the parable of the sower, Jesus compares the Word of God to seed falling on four different kinds of soil – hardened, shallow, thorny, and productive. Which soil does God’s Word find in you?

Pastor shows us a picture of a wheat field in Israel that is actually a battlefield, in the Valley of Elah, where David battled Goliath. It’s an amazing battle in which God won the victory. The picture of this field reminds us that as Jesus tells the story of The Sower, He is speaking about warfare, spiritual warfare. God desires to bring every man, woman and child into His loving presence, but there is a battle raging over the human heart and in the human soul and it is a life or death matter.

Seed has power and that’s how it is with God’s Word. His word that does not change is a powerful word. It is a life-changing word. God’s word is a Living Word, and a word for us today.

Seed= God’s Word

Four kinds of Soil. Which soil are you?
1. Pathway soil – hardened – where God’s Word (seed) cannot grow. God pleads, “break up the hard ground” Jeremiah 4:3
2. Rocky soil – shallow – where the God’s word – the Seed – sprouts and starts to grow but the roots cannot go down deep – shallow faith without deep roots cannot continue to mature. God desires we have deep roots and are firmly planted.
3. Thorny soil – divided – thorny soil is a picture of those who have divided loyalties in their lives. They know the Lord, but are also into this or that, or are enamored with things or stuck in worries about riches, paying the bills, the worries about health, the worries about how is it all going to turn out in the end, etc. These things can so quickly divert your attention from God and His Word and from the only thing that endures, and that is the living God. So He is telling us to weed out all of the thorn bushes in our lives, to make sure that those things are not choking out our faith, or driving us away from Him.
4. Good soil – produces fruit – God’s desire is that we allow His Word to penetrate and permeate our lives, that we are people of prayer, people who practice our faith, that we be faithful, trustworthy, dedicated disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that we produce much fruit. That means that our lives show more and more the power of God at work in us. It means that others can see in us, living examples of what it means to walk by faith in every situation, in the good days and in the difficult times as well. Jesus is calling us to be good soil.

When Jesus told this story, The Parable of the Sower, He wasn’t simply telling a story that people could recount generation after generation. He was speaking profound divine truth. God’s Word has power. It’s transforming. In His word we have the death and resurrection of Jesus, Who gives life to all who repent and believe. His promise is that He will bring forth incredible fruit in our lives as we walk by faith, as we cling to His Word, as we trust Him in every circumstance, as we show His love to others, as we call on God in prayer, and experience daily the joy of His presence and the power His Holy Spirit.

I Peter 1:23, “You have been born again.” You been reborn. You have a new birth. How? Not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.” It is a powerful Word. Seed does amazing things. It imparts life and God’s Word is life. Jesus Christ, the living Word of God is life. In Him there is life and hope and joy and peace.

Scripture sources: – Luke 8:4-9; 11-15; Jeremiah 4:3; 1 Peter 1:23; John 8:31-32

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The Parables of Jesus is part two of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Jesus is known for telling some of the greatest stories ever told. In telling these stories He uses the form of a parable which is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus’ parables resonate in every culture and in every generation around the world.

This study is great for large group. small group or home group Bible study.

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This teaching is taken from the Acts 10, the story of Peter and Cornelius the Centurion. Both Peter and Cornelius experienced divine encounters through visions. Cornelius sees an angel with a message, Cornelius obeys and has Peter brought to his home.

Peter receives a vision in which God gives Peter eyes to see beyond his cultural rules of clean and unclean. Peter was a prisoner of his culture until God gave him a vision of truth and that breakthrough brings Peter to a Gentile’s home, Cornelius’ home, and Peter, going against the culture, obeys God and enters the house of a Gentile. Barriers were broken as Peter allowed God to broke into his heart. Peter understood that God wants ALL people to know and believe in Him.

Peter shares the gospel story with Cornelius and the people gathered to listen. Before Peter was even finished sharing, the Holy Spirit descended onto the group, just like what had happened to the disciples on Pentecost.

The ministry to the non-Jewish world takes off because God has intervened and God has directed it! God uses Peter (the apostle to the Jewish people) to bring the Gospel message to Cornelius and opens up the message of Jesus the Messiah to the Gentile world!

This story still speaks to us today:
1. Culture or Scripture – am I following my culture or am I following the Scripture?
2. Self or Spirit – will we go with our own plans or will we heed the Spirit of God?
3. Home or World – am I concerned about my own little group, the people I’m comfortable with or will I let God use me to reach all?
4. Works or Gospel – It’s not about how good I am, it’s about how good God is!

Remember: It’s about CHRIST ALONE!

It’s easy to mirror your culture, rather than reflect the teaching of the Living God. God calls us to be faithful and obedient, to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and thus reflecting the very teachings of Christ.

Scripture Romans 12:2; Acts 10

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Luke 6:47-49, John 3:16, 1 John 3.
Is your life built on a solid foundation, or on a shifting, unstable one? What did Jesus say was a solid foundation?

In our continued Two Year Study of the Gospels, we now move from the Gospel of Mark into the Gospel of Luke, specifically taking a look at the Parables of Jesus.

The first parable Pastor Dodge examines is the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders. Where we build, how we build and what we build with are important and the foundation makes all the difference.

A solid foundation can withstand the storms that a house built on sand cannot. Today’s parable demonstrates this profound truth: Jesus tells us if we come to Him and hear His Word and put those words into practice, it is like a wise man who dug down deep to get a solid foundation on the rock and when the storms of life came – that house stood strong. But the person who built quickly without a strong foundation, when the storms came that house was totally destroyed.

We want to make sure our lives are anchored and founded on something that can never be shaken, that something is a Person, the Person is Jesus.

We can’t just hear the word of God we need to put it into practice, that’s what it means to build on a solid foundation.

What does a solid foundation look like? What is it build with? What does it mean to build on a solid foundation?
1. Humble heart
   – Is where the solid foundation starts
2. Father’s love
   – The foundation is anchored in the Love of the Father.
3. Son’s Lordship
   – Jesus wants to be Lord of our lives – meaning He leads, guides and directs us.
4. Spirit’s power
   – The Spirit of God dwells within us so we are to live in the power and strength the Holy Spirit provides.
5. Grace and mercy
   – We are to reflect to others the same grace and mercy we have received from God in our own lives.
6. Willing obedience
   – We are called to listen to the Word and follow. God’s Word determines truth. Let His truth guide our lives, let His scripture speak into the now, irrespective of what the world around us may be saying. These six building blocks build a solid foundation which will not crumble.

Unless our lives are anchored on a solid foundation – The Foundation of the Living God – our lives will crumble.

Which are we, a wise builder or a foolish builder? And what are we going to do about it?

–Additionally, Pastor shares excavation information under the Synagogue of Capernaum which is centuries old. This synagogue was built on the foundation stones of another synagogue named, “The Synagogue of Jesus,” which dates back 2000 years based on artifacts found in the excavation.

The Parables of Jesus is part two of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. Jesus is known for telling some of the greatest stories ever told. In telling these stories He uses the form of a parable which is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus’ parables resonate in every culture and in every generation around the world.
This study is great for large group. small group or home group Bible study.

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Watch the video!

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Week 30 – Mark 15:40 – 16:8 (including 9-20). Death and burial of Jesus; The Resurrection; Women, the first witnesses to the Resurrection.
In this study we finish the final chapter of Mark by taking a closer look at the women at the foot of Jesus’ cross when he dies and the women who were on their way to anoint Jesus on Sunday morning and find Him gone and also a look at the woman who was the first to talk with Jesus after His resurrection. This look at these women brings some great insight into who these women were and takes a specific look at Mary of Bethany (Lazarus’ sister) and Mary Magdalene with some exploration into them possibly being the same person.
Pastor puts out the lay of the land, where specific houses were located and where the tomb was along with the look at the women and puts together the resurrection story using the accounts of all 4 gospels and unites them into one cohesive reconstruction of the events of Resurrection Sunday.
Here’s how Pastor takes Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and puts the pieces together:
Scene 1: Very Early Sunday morning
1. Mary Magdalene, Mary (Clopas’ wife) and Salome head to the tomb.
2. They see the open tomb and Mary Magdalene returns to town to tell Peter and John.
Scene 2: Early Sunday morning
1. Joanna (& Susanna?) leave Hasmonean Palace for the tomb
2. Meeting Mary (Clopas’ wife) and Salome, they enter tomb and see 2 angels
3. They return to town to tell the others
Scene 3: Early Sunday morning
1. Peter and John run to the tomb. Mary Magdalene follows shortly thereafter.
2. Peter & John return home. Mary Magdalene lingers. Sees 2 angels.
3. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. (The first eyewitness to see Jesus after His resurrection).
Scene 4: Sunday morning
1. Salome and Mary (Clopas’ wife) and others head to tell the other disciples.
2. Jesus meets them on the way.
Scene 5: Sunday afternoon/evening
1. Cleopas/Clopas and companion head to Emmaus.
2. Jesus meets them on the way
3. They return to upper room to meet disciples
4. Jesus shows up!
The teaching time continues with the story of “Doubting” Thomas. And His words, “My Lord and My God!” Thomas understood that because Jesus was alive, He is who He claimed Himself to be AND He is the One whom the Scriptures claim Him to be: The Son of the Living God come to earth.
Pastor ends with the story of Peter being asked 3 times by Jesus if he loves Him, and Peter being commissioned 3 times by Jesus to feed His sheep. Peter willingly committed his heart to Jesus and would willingly go to his death for his faith in Jesus some 30 years later. Peter was sold out for Christ. Will we too be sold out to Christ and follow Him with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength? Will we love Him with everything we are?
We close out this first of the 4 gospels with Jesus ascending to the Father and letting us know that He is with us always, even until the end of the age. The summary of Mark: God is amazing, He is an amazing Savior, and He does everything He says He’s going to do!
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The Gospel of Mark is the first of the 4 Gospels we are studying. The book of Mark highlights and applies the fundamental teachings of the Biblical faith as encountered through the life and teachings of Jesus as written by Mark.
This study is great for large group. small group or home group Bible study.

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Growing gracefully in obedience is a response to the salvation God has worked in our lives through Christ Jesus. We are called to walk in obedience as a response to our faith in Jesus. Obedience is not necessary for salvation, but obedience is necessary!

Pastor focuses on two important Biblical truths:

Obedience does not save – Jesus saves

Grace of God – eternal life – is a gift – it is neither earned nor deserved.

We cannot be good enough for a holy, perfect God. He is a just God and our sin must be paid for. Therefore, He sent us His Son. Jesus did what we cannot. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father’s will. Then, He willingly went to the cross for each one of us, paying for our sins so we don’t have to fear the judgement of God.

What Jesus did is available to all through faith. Faith is not mere intellectual assent. It is not simply believing that God exists. The devil knows that God exists! Faith means trusting in Jesus as our Savior and Lord, and the one who offers us forgiveness and new life. Not just life with Him in the future, but life with Him now.

Obedience is not optional. Faith and obedience go hand in hand with one another. In a culture where evil is accepted, lauded and touted, how do we behave like followers of Jesus? How do we discern what is right?

Ask yourself these questions:

Does it help me?

Does it control me?

Does it hurt others?

Does it glorify God?

Scripture sources: 1 Samuel 15:22-23, 1 Corinthians 10:31, 1 Peter 1:1-2, Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Corinthians 6:12-13, 1 Corinthians 8:13.

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Mark 15:22-39. Roman crucifixion; meaning of INRI; Crucifixion in Old Testament prophecy; Sacrifice of Jesus.

This study is an in depth look at Jesus’ crucifixion on Golgotha (Calvary). Pastor shares pictures of the present area of Golgotha and the archeological discoveries that are happening. He explains the true nature of crucifixion: a most brutal, demeaning, ghastly, immoral, unholy, merciless, humiliating method of execution ever devised.

One of the intentions of crucifixion being carried out in such a public place outside the city wall was so that many could see and the goal was to fill people/onlookers with fear. But we read in 1 John 4:18 “…perfect love drives out fear…” This verse shows us the very opposite of the actual intention. What does perfect love look like? Mark chapter 15 lets us know.

Pastor finishes today’s teaching with a look at Jesus’ final words and describes the tearing of the curtain in great detail that brings a clearer understanding of this piece of the crucifixion story that changes everything in our relationship with God the Father. As today’s study ends the curtains are “torn open” at the moment of Jesus’ death giving full access to the presence of God and bringing the event full circle back around to Mark Chapter 1’s description of the heaven’s being “torn open” at Jesus baptism as The Father speaks, “This is My beloved Son.”

The closing words of the chapter show us a picture of the measure of the Father’s love for us through the sacrifice of His Son, Christ Jesus. And now we, like the Centurion say, “Sure this man was the Son of God!”

Additional scripture – Psalm 22

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The Gospel of Mark is the first of the 4 Gospels we are studying. The book of Mark highlights and applies the fundamental teachings of the Biblical faith as encountered through the life and teachings of Jesus as written by Mark.

This study is great for large group. small group or home group Bible study.

Check out this episode!

Today’s teaching show us the significance of the Conversion of Paul. Not only is it a remarkable event, it brings forward remarkable truths. New archeological discoveries of Paul’s tomb help emphasize these verses are not just a story. This is an actual account of an actual event, that happened to an actual person, and it changed the world!

This account of Paul’s conversion calls us to a deep relationship with God and demonstrates how God desires to be at work in our lives not just back then, but today in the 21st century as well. God took Paul from being a bulldog for the enemy’s use against those following The Way, Jesus, but Jesus turned Paul into one of His sheep in His flock for His use in sharing the Gospel. God used Paul’s testimony of Jesus changing his life to reach into the hearts of the people of his day and that testimony is still reaching all the way into our hearts today. Paul’s story testifies to the heart of God to be in relationship with each one us no matter who we are or what we’ve done. God’s arms are open to us all.

Come along with us today as we explore Paul’s testimony and allow it to open our hearts to what God wants to do in our own hearts and lives.

Scripture text: Acts 8:1-20

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Mark 15:1-21. Unjust accusations and punishment; Crucifixion; The Cross. If you ever doubt God cares, or if in the midst of difficult times you say, “Does God really care what I’m going through,” take a look at Mark 15. This chapter is short but it is powerful. It says loud and clear, here’s how much He loves us: He stretched out His arms, and He took it all for you and for me. And that is the heart of the gospel story—because that gospel story is the heart of God.
https://www.awakeusnow.com
The Gospel of Mark is the first of the 4 Gospels we are studying. The book of Mark highlights and applies the fundamental teachings of the Biblical faith as encountered through the life and teachings of Jesus as written by Mark.
This study is great for large group, small group or home group Bible study.

Check out this episode!