“And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.””‭‭Mark‬ ‭2:16-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mrk.2.16-17.esv
All,
This sticks out because Jesus knows we are sinners and wants to transform us. He doesn’t tell the “sinners” that they are “sinless” and to continue sinning, but eats with them to transform them. Please pray that we and our friends see our sin, repent and ask Jesus to transform us. Please pray for the U.S. to see our sin, repent and ask Jesus to transform us. God Bless America. Happy 4th of July. 

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:35‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mrk.1.35.esv
All,
This sticks out because Jesus needed time with the Father. Jesus is the Son of God and if He needed to spend alone time with God, think how badly we need it. The great thing about time with God is it becomes your favorite part of the day. The difficult part is getting rid of the distractions, because they will always be there trying to keep you away from God. Please pray that we and our friends spend good time with God alone today. Please pray for Robert and Jim’s group. 

“And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.”‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:11-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mrk.1.11-13.esv
All,
This sticks out because the Holy Spirit drove Jesus into a “uncomfortable” situation, but it was for a greater plan. Satan was tempting Him and there were the worldly problems of wild animals, but He had angels ministering to Him. The Holy Spirit may lead us into uncomfortable situations, but we know that everything if for His purpose and he will give us the strength when needed in Faith. Please pray that we and our friends spend time alone with Christ today to be encouraged to follow His will. Please pray for Jonnell, Cedric and Devon’s group. 

“So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.””‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:8-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.28.8-10.esv
All,
This sticks out because Jesus feels the need to start out saying, “Do not be afraid”. The main reason I am tempted not to trust Jesus is being afraid of a certain outcomes. Spending time with Him by praying, reading the Bible and meeting with friends enables us to constantly be encouraged but also challenged to walk with Him in “fear and joy”, but not “afraid”. Please pray that we and our friends spend alone time with Jesus this morning and give Him this day. Please pray for Tyson and Donny’s group. 

“The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:62-66‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.27.62-66.esv
All,
This sticks out because the chief priests and the Pharisees felt secure with this plan. They thought they can control this outcome and wouldn’t worry about Jesus anymore. Just because they didn’t think Jesus was the Son of God, didn’t make it so. We know who Jesus is and we know He controls every situation and can turn it into glory for Him. Please pray that we and our friends believe in the promises of God and trust them daily. Please pray for Jeremy and Gary’s group. 

“Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!””‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:22-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.27.22-23.esv
All,
This sticks out because Pilate asks “what evil has He done”. When Christ challenges the set authority of the day, He is no longer considered this “nice” teacher, but evil. The same thing will continue to be done today. People will be ok with Christ or Christians until we speak truth in a situation and then we may be called evil if it doesn’t go along with the authority of the day. Please pray that we and our friends seek Christ and speak truth in Love in every part of life. Please pray for the victims in Charleston. 

“Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?””‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26:52-54‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.26.52-54.esv
All,
This sticks out because it reminds me that even things that seem to be bad are within the will of God. Jesus is being taken to be crucified and He says, “how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled”. Knowing that God has a greater purpose for what seems “bad” at the moment is a key to our faith growing. Jesus didn’t want to drink “from this cup”, but He was willing to do the will of the father for God’s greater purpose. Please pray that we and our friends have Faith in God in ALL circumstances. Please pray for the United States of America. 

“Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26:14-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.26.14-16.esv
All,
This sticks out because I am a lot more like Judas than I thought I was. Judas thought Jesus was going to produce a certain outcome and when He didn’t, Judas turned to the people who he thought could help now. How many of us know someone who will follow Jesus as long as Jesus will help them. What do we or they do when it gets tough and true faith is needed. Some will increase their faith and some will look to something else(money, job, status) to get a certain outcome. Please pray that we and our friends seek Jesus first and His purpose and outcomes, not ours. Please pray for our nation to wake up and seek God. 

“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:37-40‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.25.37-40.esv
All,
This sticks out because Jesus says the “least” of these. Many of us go to Bible studies to “fix” ourselves, when Christ has already saved us if we trust him. Wouldn’t it be wise to take what we’ve been given and help the “least” of these at our doorstep. We have plenty of friends that have a “poor” relationship with Christ. Does Jesus want us to “feed” them today by bringing Christ into the situation? Christ is ultimately the only one who can actually “fix” anything. Please pray we preach with our compassion today. Please pray for the Charleston victims and this country. 

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:23-25‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/mat.25.23-25.esv
All,
This sticks out because the master says,”enter into the joy of your master”. When God gives us opportunities to serve people, we get a joy that we cannot create. The more we step up to those opportunities, the more He gives us. There doesn’t seem to be a neutral here. Once we know, we are either compelled to serve God or not. Both is a choice that will be talked about at the judgement seat. Please pray that we and our friends take the opportunities given to us today to be in God’s purpose. Please pray for the person in your circle of influence who most needs God today and serve him or her.