S- Matthew 4:19 “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’”

O- Jesus invited these men to follow Him – discipleship.  As a disciple, Jesus would teach them catch people and not fish.

A- As a follower of Christ, Jesus wants to make me a fisher of men.  Today, I want to proactively look for the people He wants to use me to catch.  I want to share Christ with them in boldness and love.

P- Lord, give me eyes to see the people you want to use me to bring to saving faith in Christ.  Then, give me the love and the boldness to share.

How can God use you today to be a fisher of men?

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

S: Genesis 5:21-24 (NLT) “When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. 22After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. 23Enoch lived 365 years, 24walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.”

O: Enoch lived (v.22) and walked (v24) in close fellowship with God (2x).

A: I want this to describe me.  Today, I want to “practice the presence of God” (Brother Lawrence).  I want to see how much I can consciously communicate with Him throughout my day.

P: Lord, help me to walk in close fellowship with You.  I know you are omnipresent.  Help me to exercise the open relationship you offer me through Christ.

What helps you to practice the presence of God? 

2013 Bible Reading Challenge: The Bible is the Word of God and the power of God is released in our life when we apply it. We want to challenge you to read it with us in 2013. Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

Check out this link for more info on how to have a personal Bible Study.  I will be following this basic format on my blog.

The challenge is on!”

This is my last day on the Project 345 reading plan.  Thank you to all who have joined us in reading through the New Testament this year!  Join us as we follow the One Year Bible plan in 2013. Links to read digitally can be found online at www.pcbc.org/bible.

(S)cripture – Mark 7:6-7 “And he (the angle in the tomb) said to them (Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome), ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.  7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’”

(0)bservation – Jesus overcame death!  He is alive!  The angle commands the two women to “go and tell” the disciples where to find Him.

(A)pplication – Throughout the Christmas season I have heard the song “Go Tell It On The Mountain.”  This song focused on the birth of Christ.  As I finish the book of Mark, I am reminded that I must “go and tell” people how to find the resurrected Christ.

(P)rayer – “Lord, give me eyes to see the opportunities you give me today to tell people how to find the resurrected Savior.  Give me the boldness to go and tell.”

For information on how to S.O.A.P. journal, click here.

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

(S)cripture – Mark 7:6 “And he (Jesus) said to them (religious leaders – Pharisees), ‘Well did Isaiah (29:13) prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me…”’”

(0)bservation – Hypocrites honor God with their mouth and not their heart.  God is after my heart.

(A)pplication – I must focus on my heart and not my mouth.  If I am not walking with God inside, then my worship on the outside is vain (v. 7).

(P)rayer – “Lord, forgive the hypocrisy in my life.  Show me where I talk the talk and don’t walk the walk.  Draw my heart to yours.”

For information on how to S.O.A.P. journal, click here.

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: (Jesus) said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.

Mark 3:5 “And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.”

Observations:  Jesus looks at hardness of heart (porosis – callused, dulled perception, blunted mind, stubbornness) with anger.  It grieves Him.

Application: “Lord, show me where my heart is hard.  Help me see my callused stubbornness with a righteous anger and give me, through the Spirit, the strength and wisdom to soften it.”

Does Jesus look at you with anger, grieved by your hardness of heart?  What can you do today to soften your heart?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: Jesus returned to Capernaum “preaching the word to them.”  The crowds gathered together in such large numbers that there was “no more room, not even at the door.”

Mark 2:3-4 – “Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.”

Observations: The four men did not heal the paralytic.  Even though it was difficult, the paralytic’s friends found a way to get him to Jesus.

Application:  My mom told me story of a man who was in great pain.  When asked how people could help him, he said, “Through prayer, take me to Jesus.”  Once, an old pastor visited me in the hospital and said, “I can’t help you, but I know Someone who can.  Can I pray with you?”

The primary way I can help people is to bring them to Jesus.  Today, I want to commit to going the extra mile to bring people to the feet of Christ.

How can you bring those around you to Jesus today?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: John, in his prophetic vision, is allowed to see the new Jerusalem where the “Lamb” will be the “lamp.”

Revelation 21:3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God.’”

Observation: As I read this morning, I observe the similarity here to John 1:14.  The first advent anticipated the coming of Christ: “The word became flesh and dwelt among us.”  We are now in the second advent, anticipating the coming of Jesus when “He will dwell with (us).”

Application: I want to spend time today thinking about the second coming.  I need to focus more on the joy found in my future hope.

Are you living in anticipation of the second coming?

Join us in the Project 345 reading plan as we read through the New Testament.

Context: In John’s prophetic vision, the angels and the altar have praised God for His just judgments.  However, those who are living in sin will not repent when the sun burns their skin (v.9).  Now they have been plagued with darkness.

Revelation 16:11”(The people) cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.”

Observation: God will judge people’s sin.  Instead of repenting (turning away from sin), many people will curse God.

Application: I want to stop right now and spend some time looking at my life.  “Lord, keep me from being resistant to repentance.  Show me my sin and give me a repentant heart.”

Will you be the kind of person who repents or curses God when your sin is revealed?