“When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:66-71‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/luk.22.66-71.esv

All,

This stands out because the chief priests and scribes say, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”  C.S. Lewis said we can’t say Jesus was a good prophet, He is either the Son of God or He is a crazy man. Do we have compassion for people who disregard Jesus?  They will be ok if Jesus was crazy, but they will not if Jesus is the Son of God. Their isn’t a neutral. Please pray that we and our friends build a relationship with those who disregard Jesus. Please pray for Connor as he contemplates leading a group. 

“But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:21-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/luk.22.21-23.esv

All,

This stands out because Luke says, “And they began to question one another”.  How did Judas hide his evil intent while sitting around the table? The other disciples didn’t suspect him either. Do you have unrepentant sin in your life?  It has power over you until you bring it to light with a trusted friend or in your CLC group. Please pray that we and our friends see the danger in unrepentant sin. Please pray for CLC gathering tonight. 

“”But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭21:34-36‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/luk.21.34-36.esv

All,

This stands out because Jesus says, “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life”. Ken Boa says, we should keep two important days in mind always. Those days are today and that day. How often do you bring a temporal situation and place it in a eternal view?  Please pray that we and our friends see situations in light of eternity. Please pray for Wes and Brian’s group. 

“One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭20:1-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/luk.20.1-8.esv

All,

This stands out because Luke says, “And they discussed it with one another”.  Do true leaders answer according to opinion polls or to God’s purpose?  We get distracted when we try to read the “tea leaves” of the world, when we have a opportunity every moment to ask God and read the Bible to determine how to view any matter of discussion. Please pray that we and our friends lead from conviction and not opinion polls. Please pray for Darren and Bruce’s group. 

“And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭19:45-48‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/luk.19.45-48.esv

All,

This stands out because Jesus says, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”  What are these robbers stealing?  We know they are the money changers, but certainly Jesus wouldn’t be this mad over money changers. Were the people seeing the fruit of the Spirit at the Temple?  Did they grow closer to God?  Or was it a religious routine that was more of a business transaction?  Whose was responsible for letting it be a den of robbers?  The people or the leaders?  Please pray that we and our friends are leaders leading people to a closer relationship with Jesus and not a religious routine. Please pray for J.H. Ranch and Mark Kessler. 

“And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.'””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭19:5-10, 24-27‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/luk.19.5-10,24-27.esv

All,

This stands out because Jesus says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”  These two points are next to each other in Luke 19 and seem to say different things, but strike a perfect balance of God’s love for us. He loves all His children. But, because He loves us so much, He doesn’t want any of us to hurt ourselves in sin. The world tries to say that if ones loves you, they will let you do whatever you want, whereas God knows we are human and wants to transform us because of His love for us. Please pray that we and our friends choose Gods reign over us. Please pray for John’s group. 

“And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:18-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/luk.18.18-23.esv

All,

This stands out because Luke says, “But when he heard these things, he became very sad”. Does God ever point out something in which you are dependent or you have put above Him. Are you initially sad or glad?  For me, it’s sadness and I really don’t see God’s wisdom in denying it, however, when I do obey, my eyes are opened and I can see. Please pray that we and our friends obey God in the one area where He is convicting us. Please pray for Doug and Michael. 

“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:9-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/luk.18.9-14.esv

This stands out because the tax collector says, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”  Are you more like the Pharisee or the tax collector?  Do we NEED God or are we doing pretty well on our own?  Is some obedience just nonsense or does He really care and thus we really need Him to enable us?  Please pray that we and our friends try to fully trust God today and see how much we need Him to FULLY trust. Please pray for Wes and David’s group.  

“”There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭16:19-31‬ ‭ESV‬‬
http://bible.com/59/luk.16.19-31.esv

All,

This stands out because Jesus says, “And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus”.  Is there someone right in front of you everyday that has a need where you can help?  Do they know the Good news of Jesus?  Most of us will go across town or the country to help a group of people, but this reminds me of the person we see everyday. Please pray that we and our friends will see the people at our gate today. Please pray for Doug and Michael’s group.