Category Archives: Folders
January 13: “The Return of the King” (Matthew 2:1-6, Ezekiel 34:11-12, 23-24)
The kings of Israel were not good shepherds. The Roman rulers were not any better. God’s people longed for the return of God as their king, which the prophets had foretold. They longed for the theocracy their fathers had rejected. In Jesus, God Himself returned to rule as king not only of Israel, but of […]
Continue readingJanuary 6: “Sixth Mark: A Spirit of Servanthood” (John 13:1-17)
We serve others because we have been served by Jesus our Lord. Jesus served us because he was a humble king. We are to serve others with humility. We can also serve with our money. A good steward recognizes that everything belongs to God and uses resources for the sake of the owner.
Continue readingDecember 30: “Fifth Mark: A Mouth That Tells the Good News” (Luke 15:1-7)
A fifth mark of a disciple is having a mouth that shares the good news. Sharing the gospel is not really a matter of technique but a matter of the heart. Do we care for the lost? Do we even believe that people are lost without God? Jesus came to seek and save the lost. […]
Continue readingDecember 23: “The Genesis of Jesus” (Matthew 1:1-17)
The genealogy of King Jesus shows that his beginning goes all the way back to the promise given to Abraham in Genesis. Israel’s history reveals the God of mercy, judgment, and faithfulness. The genealogy tells that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Promise.
Continue readingDecember 16: “Fourth Mark: Knees for Prayer” (Philippians 4:6, Luke 22:42)
The fourth mark of a disciple is having the knees for prayer. In our spiritual childhood, we tend to pray self-centered prayers. In our young adulthood, our prayers become more God-centered. In our adulthood, our prayers become more like that of Christ: “Not my will, but yours.”
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