Mark 7:1-13 (ESV)

Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,

“‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me;

in vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

Explanation:

To be honest, I love traditions that have been passed down in my family. Growing up, we would vacation at the same camping location every year with my grandparents, which became something we all looked forward to. As I got older, camping was replaced by a hotel waterpark. My entire family would stay overnight, and of course we all had to do things we had done on previous stays. It’s still a family tradition we all enjoy every year. I think traditions are what make families unique and everyone connect. When we get together, we always reminisce about the memories.

Family traditions can be fun, but what if I was never willing to change them? What if I never wanted to do anything else but what I have been doing for years? If I never would have grown or changed my thinking, I would have missed out on a lot of new experiences. Traditions are important, but are they always necessary? Do we ever ask the question, “Why are we doing this?” I grew up in a very traditional Lutheran church. I enjoyed my church experience, but didn’t always understand why we did certain things. On the surface, there is nothing wrong with honoring the past and doing church traditions, but is it always what God wants or even commands?

In our scripture today, Jesus was addressing the traditions of the Pharisees, in particular the ceremonial washing of their hands before they ate. It was not an issue of washing their hands because they were unclean, but an elaborate washing process the elders did before they ate to show they were “more spiritually filled” than others. It was an extensive ritual, often repeated over and over, and then reciting a prayer that was not honoring God from their heart. The religious leaders questioned Jesus, asking “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” They knew these washings were never commanded by God or Scripture, but passed down through the traditions of men. The Pharisees kept these traditions so rigorously that it led to excluding everyone else who didn’t. This discouraged people from a relationship with God, which upset Jesus.

Jesus responds to these religious leaders by calling them hypocrites. This word in ancient Greek language refers to an actor whose image is more important than who they actually are. (Text Commentaries, David Guzik). Jesus quotes scripture from Isaiah prophesying “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart

John 8:2-11 (NLT)

Early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.

“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”

They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Explanation:

You’ve probably seen the T-shirts, signs, memes, and bumper stickers that say, “No Mercy.” It’s pretty popular around big sports rivalry games (ahem, Ohio State vs. the Team Up North) when we rally around our team and support them by telling them to spare no mercy for the other team. It’s the tough guy image that get behind to rally our boys to a win. Merciless attack is the name of the game. Our culture is that way, isn’t it? Even 2,000 years ago culture was that way. The wise leaders, the Pharisees, wanted “no mercy” for this woman who had been caught in adultery. The inside story here is that they were trying to get Jesus in a Catch-22 so that they could arrest Him for being a false teacher and breaking the law of Moses, but that’s a story for another time.

Jesus gave the accusers the ultimate zinger here. In today’s terms, He looked at them and said, “You want no mercy? Fine. If you can show me that YOU are more deserving of mercy because you’re perfect and have never sinned, then we’ll talk about showing her no mercy. For now, though, you probably ought to hush your mouth because we all know you’re not perfect.” Bam. That was the mic drop that caused them all to leave that poor woman alone.

Some of us are old enough to remember a game we played on the school bus or at recess called “Mercy.” Two people would intertwine their fingers, much like you would on a romantic date, but there was no romance involved. Each person would use the strength of their hands to try to bend their opponent’s fingers backward until they couldn’t stand the pain anymore and shouted “Mercy!” I look back at this game and think about how primitive it was, but I also think about it in different context—how many times do we wait until we can’t take the pain any longer and then cry out to God asking for His mercy?

I cannot count the times that God’s mercy has welcomed me back into His loving arms after I’ve done something stupid or made a bad decision. Can you imagine what life would be like without God’s grace and mercy? We would be condemned to death. Like the woman in today’s story, there would be no hope. No promise of a better life after we complete our earthly journey, because we are all sinners. God’s mercy is hope in the darkness, forgiveness of sins, and a love that is greater than we could ever imagine.

Application:

1. What if this woman was on trial today for a crime? How do you think her trial would be handled? Would her accusers give her mercy, or would she be condemned?

2. Think of a time in your life that God has shown you mercy. It can be something as simple as giving you breath in your lungs when you woke up this morning. Reflect on how great God is and take a moment to thank Him for His redeeming love and mercy.

Prayer:

God, thank You for being such a merciful God. We don’t deserve Your forgiveness. We don’t deserve

Luke 11:37-46 (NLT)

As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table. His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom. Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy-full of greed and wickedness. Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.

What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you love to sit in the seats of honor in the synagogues and receive respectful greetings as you walk in the marketplaces. Yes, what sorrow awaits you! For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on.”

“Teacher,” said an expert in religious law, “you have insulted us, too, in what you just said.”

“Yes,” said Jesus, “what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbelievable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden.”

Explanation:

In this conversation between Jesus and a member of the strict sect of Judaism called the Pharisees, Jesus breaks down the old saying: “You can’t see the forest for the trees.”

The first “tree” addressed is ceremonial cleansing (or lack thereof) at the expense of earnest relationship. Presumably, the Pharisee had genuine interest in Jesus’s teachings or, at a minimum, wanted to engage Him in open and honest discourse. But any notion of doing so is dashed when the Pharisee focuses on something “required by Jewish custom,” which really wasn’t required at all. Jesus points this out, explaining that God isn’t concerned whether He has washed well enough, but instead with what is going on in His heart, mind, and spirit.

The second “tree” noted is tithing at the expense of loving God and His people. Once again, Jesus expresses that if what is on the inside of us is driven by ANYTHING other than a desire to please God, the outward expression is pointless. He cares only about the heart behind the act, never the act itself.

The third “tree” is being seen as righteous and important to the world. Engaging only in surface relationships with God and others, refusing to let anyone into your heart or your life, indicates that you are content being alone. BUT that has never been, nor will it ever be, God’s plan for your life. We were meant to love and be loved, and if we choose to disregard this command, we can’t be surprised if, and inevitably when, someone walks right past our life as if it doesn’t exist. As The Message so bluntly puts it: “People walk over that nice, grassy surface never suspecting the corruption that is six feet under.” OUCH.

The great news for us is that even if we see more of ourselves in the Pharisee’s behavior than we ever realized or intended, Jesus wants us to change! He offers us this chance, and God can and will heal us if we offer up what is really inside of us. This story is a cautionary one and included in the word of God for our benefit. These “trees” are only good IF they are PART of the forest of God’s all-encompassing, never-ending love for us. Alone, they simply block our view of just that.

Application:

1. Jesus tells the Pharisee three times that “sorrow awaits” him if he doesn’t change his ways. I can’t imagine a more crushing prediction for someone who truly loves and serves God in this life. Our entire hope is built on knowing that one day we can escape this world, where sorrow is already so prevalent, to an eternity filled with only the good things of God. So, imagine being told by Jesus that only sorrow remains for the

Mark 12:38-40 (ESV)

And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

Explanation:

The scribes and Jesus were in a tension all through the gospel of Mark, specifically in chapter 12 as they continue to approach Jesus with questions, trying to trap and test Him. Jesus is challenging those listening to His teaching to beware of the scribes, going on to explain that their appearance may come across in one way as honor and power, while they damage those around them and pray and follow God falsely. This section of scripture ends with the convicting sentence, “They will receive the greater condemnation.”

Jesus is teaching this to not only point out the wrongs in the false leading of the gospel, but also to tell the people to beware of those that live all for show, for their worldly life on the exterior. We as followers of Christ can read this scripture and be challenged in the ways we live. Are we being fooled by those around us with the best seats and places of honor, and are we falling into the temptation to find power and life in worldly glories? The thing we must draw our attention to is protecting our hearts in order to flee from the greater condemnation and towards who Christ truly is and what He has done for us.

Application:

1. Do you ever find yourself living as the scribes, falling into worldly blessings and turning from the truths of God, or stuck in an “all for show manner?”

2. Why is it important to know the consequence of living in the way of the scribes, and how can that truth pertain to you?

3. How can you ask God to teach you to open your eyes to your heart and to the hearts of others around you?

Prayer:

God, thank You for being not only Father, Savior, and many other names, but also for being our Teacher. We thank You that You love us enough to convict us in times where we need it, and also that You show us the truths to Your blessing and how we should live in order to receive it. We ask that You move in our hearts and minds, teach us more and more each day about Your word and the truths You have for us. Convict us in a way that molds us into a creation that looks more like You. Amen.

Luke 18:9-14 (New English Translation, NET)

Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else. “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’ The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’ I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Explanation:

How many times in our lives have we felt that our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ have judged us unjustly, or have looked down among us because of their self-appointed holiness? It's a tragic affair.

We are all sinners saved by grace. Such were some of us: liars, thieves, drunks, abusers of drugs, indulgers in vile deeds, etc. However, we were saved by grace and mercy. None of us deserve the gift that Christ bestowed upon us at the cross. Every single person in existence, since Adam and Eve committed the first sin against God by taking and eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, is a born sinner. From the moment they did that, man was at enmity with God. We are acting for our own selfish interests unless we decide to put God's kingdom ahead of our own.

It doesn't matter how you were raised. It doesn't matter what you've done in the past. It doesn't matter what kind of person you think you are, whether you think you are good enough or justified in your actions, or even whether you think the world may be better off without you. The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but Christ comes so that you may have life, and life more abundantly (John 10:10). When you humble yourself to the living God, He will change your life. He will intervene on a level you never thought possible. He will do things in your midst that will amaze you and make you even more faithful. He will change your marriage, He will change your workplace, He will change your home life, He will affect your thoughts, He will help you to be a better person through the spirit of the living God, He will change your demeanor, and He will soften your heart. Even if you are the most hated person in your culture, like the tax collector was in the Jewish culture, He will change your entire existence and mark you as His own.

However, on the other hand, if you think that your self-righteousness and self-appointed holiness will save you, you will be sadly mistaken. If God's people will humble themselves, and pray and seek His face, and turn from their wickedness, He will hear them from heaven and He will forgive them and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Application:

1. As a Pharisee should have, lay down your self-righteousness this week. Humble yourself before God, and ask Him to help you see your life as He sees it. Ask Him what you need to do to be more like Christ, our perfect example.

2. As a tax collector did, come back to the cross. Kneel before the living God and recognize that Christ is the only way to heaven. Give yourself to Him, and He will hear you, forgive you, and make you His own.

Prayer:

God, I thank You that I am a sinner saved by grace. I thank You that when I humble myself and pray to You, when I ask You to forgive me for my self-righteousness, and when I ask You to hear me, You do just that. God, show me what I need to do to be changed by You. Show me what relationships I need to work on. Show me how You would treat those around me, so I can be more like Your Son. Help me to show others the love of Christ. Let me help them meet Christ right where they are, in that very moment of need. Help me to

John 2:13-17, 22 (NLT)

It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”

After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.

Explanation:

Rationalization is one of the most dangerous words in the English language. It sums up the process that moves you from

✔️thought,

✔️to consideration,

✔️to action,

✔️to repeated action,

✔️to what becomes practiced sin.

All things gone awry spiritually____ start with rationalization.

The Jews were superior rationalizers.

Visualize the avarice and cheating going on at the temple when Jesus shows up: sordid swindlers taking advantage of those in need of forgiveness of sins, making an extortion business out of God’s house. Animals were needed at that time to offer sacrifices for sins so hey…let’s get people who are exhausted and have traveled from far away, in their deepest point of need (forgiveness of sin), and extract exorbitant amounts of money “to care for our beautiful Temple.”

Jesus always became His angriest over oppression and those who misused their religious standing.

Jesus would eventually die on the cross to take care of never needing an animal again, but until He did, He did what Jesus does best.

He interrupted.

Jesus took the evil acts in the temple as an insult to God, and was consumed with holy and righteous anger against such flagrant disrespect for God.

The temple was for repentance, worship, and prayer…a soothing, holy, set- apart place to realign with God and honor Him.

This isn’t a story recorded just for facts. It’s recorded for application.

Now your body is that temple.

You.

Your body.

It’s a big deal.

1 Corinthians 3:16

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

When you rationalize anything that moves into your heart to defile and capsize your devotion to God, you risk being hoodwinked by the temple sellers. Jesus’s love for you won’t tolerate it.

He will interrupt!

Jesus still clears the temple of our hearts, and it can feel violent. His love is bold enough to cause a spiritual scene. Through repercussions and consequences, His hand moves in our lives in such a way the inappropriate and unsuitable are exposed and toppled. It feels as brutal as the temple cleansing, but the results of restoration and things being set right are a freedom beyond description.

Jesus is zealous for you; the most extreme proof …dying for you.

You can bet He is going to aggressively fight for the courts of your heart.

Application:

1. Jesus single-handedly can overthrow an entrenched system of evil that poses as a spiritual benefit. What does he have His eye on in your heart?

2. When great dysfunction exists, over-correction is what is needed. One doesn’t “wean” out of dysfunction. Open wide your temple courts, and let Him zealously destroy the profane intruders of your heart. Cleansing smells good, tastes good, feels good, sounds good, is good.

Prayer:

Oh Lord, create in me a clean heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within me!

Expose

Crush

Topple

Whip

180

any spiritual impediment in the courtyard of my heart.

Amen!

Matthew 12:1-14 (NLT)

At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”

Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”

Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)

And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”

Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.

Explanation:

What preconceived notions do you hold onto that do not actually reflect the heart of God? Perhaps you have certain ideas about how a church should be, or how family members should conduct their lives, or how we should treat those who don’t believe the same things we do. When we get close to Jesus, He has a way of blowing our preconceived notions out of the water…if we let Him.

The Sabbath was a holy day for the nation of Israel, a day dedicated to God that demanded rest and a turning back of their heart-focus to the things of God. It set the Jewish culture apart from all other people at that time, and inserted the God they served right into their daily lives. If you were a practicing Jew, the Sabbath was an obvious, visual way to proclaim to those around you who you were. Without modern amenities to make life easier, your livelihood and the comfort of your family was dependent on how hard you worked on a daily basis, taking care of your crops, bringing in the water, carrying things, preparing food. Taking a full day off every week was supposed to be a step of faith that honored God’s commands and declared that He would take care of all your needs. Instead, the Pharisees were using the Sabbath as a way to judge and set themselves above others, not as a way to honor God.

How easy it is for us to fall into the same trap! We get so opinionated and judgmental of others that we forget it is possible to be totally right, and completely WRONG at the same time.

Jesus didn’t mind His disciples harvesting some grain to eat while they followed Him because His heart was moved by their hunger. Keeping the Sabbath with your hands and feet but judging others in your heart from morning to evening doesn’t honor Him! Doing good to others is more important than being right all the time, and letting someone suffer while you preach to them doesn’t do any good. The passage shows the stark results of religiosity without love: your hardened heart will not be moved by others’ hunger, pain, or suffering, and you will miss out on the compassionate heart of the Father.

Application:

1. What are some preconceived notions you might have that cause you to look at others a certain way, but actually might not be a reflection of God’s heart?

2. What are some areas in your life that you sacrifice a lot for? Repeated sac

Ephesians 4:11-16 (NRSV)

The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

Explanation:

I find myself in a season of parenting where I am trying to teach my child to problem solve, and in some ways, figure things out for herself. For example, the other day she was physically stuck behind the couch. Although I could have helped her in this instance, I thought it was a great moment for her to problem solve and think of a solution. So, instead of helping her, I told her to “figure it out.” In this instance, having her figure things out for herself was a positive and good learning moment. However, I know there are other areas of her life where I do not want her to “figure it out” for herself; rather, I want to teach her, shape her, and lead her to learn God’s truth and direction for her life.

Our current culture is constantly screaming messages to us. Right now, we are being told to figure things out for ourselves. Discover your truth, your path, what you want for your life. But this message is damaging. Sure, we can “figure” some things out, but it does not always mean it will be the healthiest or best way. Culture does not have our best interest in mind. Culture is run by broken people who are just trying to “figure things out” for themselves.

That is not the case with God. He is constant and never-changing. He is truth. He has always been, and will only lead us down a path that leads to life. Whenever we don’t know what to do, He is where we find true knowledge and wisdom. As humans, we are limited. Limited in our perspective, knowledge, and understanding because we are broken individuals. But we have a God who is full of all wisdom and knowledge. He knows all, sees all, and has our best interest in mind. We no longer have to “figure it out” for ourselves…we can seek God for wisdom and guidance for our lives. Seek Him today. He will give you the wisdom, knowledge, and guidance you need to live life to the fullest…and that is only found in Him.

Application:

1. Why is it harmful and damaging for us to try to figure things out for ourselves?

2. What are some of the messages you feel culture is screaming at you currently?

3. Why is seeking God’s wisdom a better way?

4. Can you think of a time when you sought God’s wisdom instead of your own? How did the situation play out for you?

Prayer:

God, culture is screaming so many messages to us on a daily basis. It can be hard to figure out what is truth and what is not. As we continue to walk with You, will You please speak truth, wisdom, and knowledge into our lives? And when we try to figure things out on our own, remind us that we have You to teach us and walk alongside us. We know Your way is always better. Help us to walk in Your truth today. Amen.

Psalm 25:4-5 (ESV)

Make me to know your ways, O LORD;

teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all the day long.

Explanation:

My favorite type of coach or teacher is one who tells me what they want me to do and are clear with their expectations. I don’t like reading between the lines or trying to figure out if what I’m doing meets the standards. If I’m doing something wrong, I like to be shown the right way to do it and not have to guess what’s best. I love how God operates in this way. In Scripture, God is so clear to us about the way He desires for us to live, and how we can experience the most full life here on earth. His truth is presented over and over in Scripture, and although applying it to our lives isn’t easy, finding out what the truth is, isn’t difficult.

In the verses prior to ones listed above, David is professing his dependence on God, and desires what comes with that type of a relationship with God. He desires to have God defend him, and then goes on to ask God to:

• Make known His ways

• Teach His paths

• Lead in His truth

• Teach him

David is an intelligent and capable man. Yet, he recognizes that doing life on his own isn’t the best way. David knows who God is, and that God’s ways are best. It would have been easy for David to rely on his own intelligence or strength, but he knows that’s not what will make him successful. David recognizes that the best way to live is to follow the path that God lays out, and he is willing to do what it takes to be led by God. And here’s the good news: God was faithful to David’s cries and will be faithful to our cries. When we ask God to help us know His ways and to lead us, He will. He isn’t a cruel God who is trying to make us guess what is truth. He clearly tells us His truth and promises to guide us by His Holy Spirit. Our responsibility is to ask, be open, and obey.

Application:

1. Do you truly desire for God to teach you His truth?

2. Are you willing to do the hard step of applying it to your life? If not, what is preventing you?

3. Do you have a truth that God has revealed to you recently?

4. If so, what are you doing about it?

5. Take a minute to pray and ask God to reveal one step He wants you to take today.

Prayer:

God, I’m so thankful that we serve a God who isn’t trying to trick us or make us confused, but rather a God who is full of truth and is willing to lead and guide us. Hearing Your truth can be tough, and applying it to our lives even tougher. Please help us to be willing to hear Your truth and to trust that You will help us apply it to our lives. Thank You for giving us what we need when we need it.

1 Corinthians 15:1-5 (ESV)

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

Explanation:

There is a common icebreaker activity that is played in group settings called “Two Truths and a Lie.” You probably have played it yourself. Each person in a group comes up with two truths about their lives and one lie. They tell them all to the group at the same time, and the group tries to decide which ones are the truths and which one is the lie. It can be loads of fun and a good way to get to know someone better.

I think there is a part of us, if we are honest with ourselves, that would say we can at times approach God’s word and His commands in our lives with this same mentality. We find ourselves questioning the validity of the words that we hear or read about in Scripture. In fact, Scripture can be very foreign to us, almost as if we are trying to interpret an entirely different language. It is this foreignness that can lead us to question at times.

The truth is that this type of grappling with God’s word is not unique to just us. We are not alone in it. The Apostle Paul finds himself speaking to a group of individuals in Corinth who were feeling a bit of that tension, too…unsure of what maybe they fully believed and why they believed it to begin with. However, Paul ministers to them and reminds them of the power that lies behind the message of the Gospel. Paul speaks as one who is confident in what he believes, because he probably spent a good deal of time wrestling with these tensions himself.

Remember, Paul was a man in opposition to Jesus at one time. I cannot imagine it was a quick turnaround for him to instantaneously believe the Gospel message. Maybe it was. All we know is that faith taught Paul that what Jesus said and what Jesus did was true. This was birthed out of putting God’s word into practice. This is precisely the message Paul is preaching to the church in Corinth. It is not a surprise to God when we find ourselves wrestling with His truths. However, it presents us with an opportunity to, like Paul, keep holding fast in faith to the life-changing message of the Gospel that we first fell in love with. The message that saved our lives.

Application:

1. Why did you first believe in the message of the Gospel?

2. In what ways do you find yourself wrestling with the truths of God’s word?

3. Why do you think Paul was so confident in the message of the Gospel?

4. What are some practical steps you can take each day to shore up your faith in the truths of God?

Prayer:

Jesus, restore to me my hope and love for You and Your message. It truly is the message of salvation, and I want to hold fast to the power that it provides for my life. You are the Good Shepherd, and You guide in each season of my faith. Continue to guide me even when I have a hard time seeing the truth of Your word.