“And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:15-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mrk.4.15-20.esv
All,This stands out because Jesus says, “But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit.” This is a pretty convicting parable. Which one of these is us? The seed among the thorns of riches seems very familiar. How about the seed that falls away once persecution comes. Are you forced to “support” some unbiblical group because there is shame involved if you don’t? Please pray that we and our friends are the seed that hear the Word, ACCEPT it and BEAR fruit. Please pray for Buddy’s family.

“Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he 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. 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. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭3:1-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mrk.3.1-6.esv
All,This stands out because Mark says, “And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart”. Do we really believe the Gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ? If we believed we had the cure for cancer, we would tell everyone. Satan wants to stop us from telling people about Christ because he knows it will heal them. How many times is it inappropriate in today’s world to bring Jesus into the conversation? “It’s never quite the right time”. Please pray that we and our friends truly care for our loved ones and tell them about the ultimate cure. Please pray for Brian’s group as it’s forming.

“And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” —he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭2:1-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mrk.2.1-12.esv
All,This stands out because Jesus says, “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”. C.S. Lewis said that we either believe Jesus is Christ or believe him to be a lunatic. It doesn’t make sense to see Jesus as just a good teacher. He says He is God. Since He is God, He knows what’s best for us here and eternally. Do we believe Him? Please pray that we and friends have a sense of absolute dependence on Jesus today. Please continue to pray for Buddy as he is still on a ventilator.

“So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27:41-46‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mat.27.41-46.esv
All,This stands out because the chief priests, etc. said, “He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him.” Are we guilty of thinking we know the purpose of God in our lives? Do we mourn when things don’t seem to be going well? Christ came to do exactly what He was doing here, yet the priests didn’t see it that way. Jesus even references Psalm 22 when He says, “ My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” and they still didn’t want to see. Please pray that we and our friends be about God’s purpose and drink the cup He gives us. Please pray for Buddy as he continues to get better.

““But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:36-44‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mat.24.36-44.esv
All,This stands out because Jesus says, “for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Ken Boa often says to live life in light of THIS day and THAT day. Christ can come back today and we can certainly die today. None of us know. Are we ready if today is that day? Is our name written in the Book of Life? If so, how about our loved ones? Please pray that we and our friends see in light of THIS day and THAT day. Please pray for Connor and Knox’s group.

““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23:23-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mat.23.23-26.esv
All,This stands out because Jesus says, “For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” Are we rich? Andy Stanley says we are rich if we have a house for our cars. If half the world makes less than $1,500/year, then everyone in the US is rich. Can our lifestyles seem self-indulgent by the half that makes less than $1,500/year? If we are in the judgement seat tonight, could we be convicted of self-indulgence? I think I would be. Please pray that we and our friends see ourselves as managers of God’s resources and not owners. Please pray for Wes and David’s group.

“Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23:1-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mat.23.1-4.esv
All,This stands out because Jesus says, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.”. Do we practice what we preach? Do we know AND live the Word? It’s easy to know, but difficult to live. Please pray that we and our friends live out our faith in Jesus by His power. Please pray for men interested in CLC.

“And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20:17-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mat.20.17-19.esv
All,This stands out because Jesus says, “the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death“. If your loved one told you news like that, how would you respond? Would you hear the last part about being raised on the third day? Would you think God has a purpose in this? Would you ask all your friends to pray for this horrible thing to not happen? How do we know when a seemingly bad thing is actually bad or good? I can promise you that God is never surprised at anything. Please pray that we and our friends seek God’s purpose. Please pray for Jon and Teddy’s group.

“And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:16-22‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mat.19.16-22.esv
All,This stands out because Matthew says, “When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Notice how Jesus starts with the 6th commandment and leaves out commandments 1-3 and 5 which say to put God first. Only after the young man asks which ones, does Jesus point out his particular idols that impede him from putting God first. Please pray that we and our friends see our particular idols and make them secondary to Christ. Please pray for Brad and Jeff’s group.

“And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17:14-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/bible/59/mat.17.14-20.esv
All,This stands out because Jesus says, “if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Has God put something on your heart that He wants you to do, but you doubt you can do it? God uses us to do His purpose and we can accomplish it through faith that He will enable us. Please pray that we and our friends take the next step in faith with that that Jesus has put on your heart to do. Please pray for Steve’s friend Lisa who is going through tough cancer treatments.