“One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs. Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’ so that the blood of all the prophets, shed from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation. Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭11:45-52‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because one of the lawyers says, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” Some people think Christ was just a really good person and was nice to everyone. However, Christ is truth and sometimes people are insulted by His words. Are we being compassionate to a person if we we speak the truth of Christ or make them feel better about sin? Please pray that we and our friends earn the right to be heard and speak the truth with love. Please pray for all those living in anxiety.

“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭11:9-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Jesus says, “how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Are we asking for the Holy Spirit today? We can’t do anything worthwhile without the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables us to be about God’s purpose today. Please pray that we and our friends ask the Holy Spirit to enable us to do God’s purpose today. Please pray for Jon and Teddy’s group.

“One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:22-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Jesus says, “Where is your faith?” Do we put our faith in our circumstances? Do we believe God has a plan in good and bad circumstances? Do we view life in a temporal perspective or an eternal perspective? If we put our faith in anything other than Jesus, we will not know true peace. Please pray that we and our friends enjoy many things, but put our hope only in Jesus. Please pray for a friend’s brother.

“he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:10-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Jesus says, “As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” This parable strikes me every time I read it because how many times do we let the “cares and riches and pleasures of life” choke out the abundant life Jesus wants for us? Also, I think the fruit here is other disciples, but I think it is also the Fruit of the Spirit(Gal 5:22). Isn’t it odd that the “cares and riches and pleasures of life” CHOKE out love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? Please pray that we and our friends bear Fruit today. Please pray for Ben and Blake’s group as it’s forming.

“And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭4:42-44‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Jesus says, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” Are their other people in your life that need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ? Has God given you a opportunity to build a relationship with them? It may be your purpose to introduce them to the real Christ and not the one they hear about. Please pray that we and our friends have relationships with people who may not really know Christ. Please pray for a friend’s brother who is going through a tough time.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:76-79‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Zechariah says, “to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Paul says that our battles aren’t with men, but spiritual principalities. How great is it to give light to those who sit in darkness? It’s easy to have contempt for a person or group, but they may sit in darkness and need to see the light of Jesus through us. Please pray that we and our friends shine the light of Jesus in our lives today. Please pray for Blake and Ben’s group as it’s forming.

“And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:35-38‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because the Angel says, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Do we doubt God can or will accomplish His purpose? How many stories are there in the Bible where people try to “help” God? God wants obedience and He has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit to guide us accordingly. Please pray that we and our friends obey God’s nudges today. Please pray for Paul Sturtz (kindergartner w cancer).

“And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:18-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Gabriel says, “because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” Is there a promise made by God that you are having a hard time believing right now? He has many of them in the Bible (Romans 8:28, Phil 4:6-7). We can also ask Him to help our unbelief. He wants us to know Him fully. Please pray that we and our friends take the next step in believing God today. Please pray for the Pfohl family.

“And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭14:12-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Mark says, “And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them”. Has God ever put something on your heart that didn’t make sense at the time? Has He asked you to do something you didn’t think would work? Obviously, we don’t have the vision that God does, but we can obey Him and then get to see it unfold. Please pray that we and our friends take the first step in obedience today with whatever God has put on our hearts. Please pray for Paul Sturtz.

““But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭13:9-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Jesus says, “do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.” Do you trust the Holy Spirit will give you what to say? Has this happened before? I find it amazing when it does and I know it doesn’t come from my mind. He has a purpose for all of us in all of our conversations today. Please pray that we and our friends listen to the Holy Spirit when He wants us to say something. Please pray for the Pfohl family.