“”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

http://bible.com/59/mrk.13.9-13.esv

All,

This stands out because Jesus says, “And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake.” This seemed so foreign several years ago, but now it’s seems inevitable in my lifetime. There are many parts of the Bible that you can’t quote without being labeled hate speech by some already. We obviously do not know the immediate future, but we do know it ends well for eternity. Please pray that we and our friends are more concerned about God’s thoughts than the worlds. Please pray for Doug’s group.

“As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.””

Mark 11:20-25 ESV

http://bible.com/59/mrk.11.20-25.esv

All,

This stands out because Jesus says, “And whenever you stand praying, forgive”. Does this seem odd to transition from faith to forgiveness? Why is forgiveness so important to Jesus? He knows it hurts us more than it hurts the other person. It’s been said, “it’s like taking poison and hoping the other person dies”. Unforgiveness also shows our pride and our lack of understanding for what Christ did for us. Please pray that we and our friends forgive. Please pray for Mike Hepler as he recovers from Brain surgery.

“And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.”

Mark 10:46-52 ESV

http://bible.com/59/mrk.10.46-52.esv

All,

This stands out because Jesus says, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” There is a age old question in the story. Where is the line between faith and doing? First, Bartimaeus has faith by referring to Jesus as the Son of David (basically saying he believes Jesus is the Messiah in a public way. Second, he makes a request of Jesus fully believing Jesus is the Son of God. When we talk to Jesus, do we REALLY believe we are talking to God or do we have some doubts? Obviously all requests do not line up with God’s purpose and are not received, but are their requests that are asked with un-belief? Only we know in our hearts. Please pray that we and our friends ask ourselves if we fully believe Jesus, and if not, ask Him to enable us to believe. Please pray for Brad and Jeff’s group.

“And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and 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 murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

Mark 10:17-22 ESV

http://bible.com/59/mrk.10.17-22.esv

All,

This stands out because Mark says, “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him”. Jesus corrects him because He loves him. Notice, Jesus states the last 6 commandments and thus leaves out the first 4 about God being first. How many of us struggle with the first four? Ask Jesus to point out something you have put above Him. Please pray that we and our friends believe Jesus and put aside the things that we are tempted to put above God. Please pray for Darren and Bruce’s group.

“”Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.”

Mark 9:42-43 ESV

http://bible.com/59/mrk.9.42-43.esv

All,

This stands out because Jesus says, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” Why would a leader cause someone to sin? I doubt they want someone to sin, but they get tripped up in sympathy and attempt to water down the Gospel in order to make it more accepted. It doesn’t seem to end well for such a leader. Please pray that we and our friends seek to please God. Please pray for Hunter and David’s group.

“The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.”

Mark 8:11-13 ESV

http://bible.com/59/mrk.8.11-13.esv

All,

This stands out because Jesus says, “Why does this generation seek a sign?” I wonder if Jesus is thinking that if they really knew the scriptures, it would be apparent to them that He is the messiah? Do people of our generation know what the Bible says about Jesus or have they just heard from someone else? Please pray that we and our friends pursue a personal relationship with Jesus. All we have to do is let Him in. Please pray for Doug’s group.

“And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.””

Mark 7:17-23 ESV

http://bible.com/59/mrk.7.17-23.esv

All,

This stands out because Jesus says, “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts”. The world will tell you that most people are basically good. I hear the refrain to “follow your heart” all the time. Jesus knows what’s in man’s heart. Only through Jesus can man be transformed into good. Please pray that we and our friends look to Jesus and not ourselves. Please pray for Danelle.

“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.””

Mark 7:5-8 ESV

http://bible.com/59/mrk.7.5-8.esv

All,

This stands out because Jesus says, “You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” Do you know the difference between “tradition of men” and the “commandment of God”? Most of our society is confused about what the Bible actually says. Most Christians are confused also. A Barna study says that 95% of Christians have not read the whole Bible. How does someone know if they believe Christ(not believe “in”) if they haven’t read the Bible? Please pray that we and our friends read what the Bible actually says. Please pray for the Pritchard family today as they memorialize Bill Pritchard.

“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.””

Mark 6:34-38 ESV

http://bible.com/59/mrk.6.34-38.esv

All,

This stands out because Jesus says, “You give them something to eat.” Does Jesus ever ask you to do the “impossible”? Doesn’t He know that it’s impossible without Him, but doesn’t He also need us to understand that before we can move forward? We should be thrilled when he puts a impossible or difficult task on our hearts. It just means we are about to witness a miracle. Please pray that we and our friends understand our full reliance on Jesus today for His purpose. Please pray for Wes and David’s group.

“He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.”

Mark 6:1-6 ESV

http://bible.com/59/mrk.6.1-6.esv

All,

This stands out because Mark says, “And they took offense at him.” Have you experienced any resistance from people once you gave your life to Christ? Of course you have. There are multiple reasons why, but the fact is that it happens. What are we to do? There was much wisdom in the CLC group is visited this morning. It was determined that we are to depend on the Holy Spirit in these moments and to treat the person with love, seasoned with salt. Please pray that we and and our friends speak the Truth in Love. Please pray for Mike Lister’s Brother and his brothers wife as they are set for delivery today.