“Again Jesus placed His hands on the man’s eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly.” – Mark 8:25 Twice. Jesus placed His hands on him twice before he was healed. Why? Did Jesus not have the power to do it right the first time? Did Jesus not get enough spit […]
Read MoreThe disciples were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. Aware of this, (Jesus) said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact you have no bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Do you have hardened hearts?” Mark 8:16-17 For what are we hungry? The Pharisees were hungry for power and used religious […]
Read More“The Pharisees came and began to argue with Him, demanding of Him a sign from heaven to test Him. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Then He left them…” Mark 8:11-13 Sometimes when you win, you lose. That is usually the case when I […]
Read More“He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff…So they went out and preached that people should repent.” Mark 6:8, 12 Jesus wasn’t sending His disciples out in poverty, He sent them out with urgency. Jesus’ instructions for their attire and provision were just like God’s instructions for the people leaving Egypt […]
Read MoreHe commissioned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits. Mark 6:7 Have you heard these preacher clichés? “God equips the sent not sends the equipped.” “God uses the available not the able.” They are cliché in part because they’re true. The Bible is full of […]
Read More“While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue leader’s house and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the teacher anymore?” When Jesus overheard what was said, he told the synagogue leader, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe.” Mark 5:35-36 “Only believe.” It is what the Greek grammarians call a present imperative. What that means for the […]
Read MoreToday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, “the 40 day period starting on Ash Wednesday and ending on Easter Saturday, during which Christians prepare their hearts for Easter, and draw near to God through the practices of prayer, fasting, and giving. Growing up and into adulthood I considered Ash Wednesday and Lent as […]
Read MoreIn the previous blog post, we explored two passages that teach us the nature, context, and application (in two stages) of discipleship. The goal of this second post is to dive deeper into the second application stage. To meet this goal, we will be exploring four areas of a disciple’s lifethat God has designed for […]
Read MoreThe goal of this post is to introduce you to (or refresh you in) God’s sufficient design for discipleship and to encourage further study and application. To reach this goal, we will examine two passages of Scripture that instruct us about the nature, context, and practice of discipleship. *(To encourage further study, there will be […]
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Think These Things 