Today’s reading is John 8:1-20
“The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” ]]”

‭‭John‬ ‭8:3-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.8.3-11.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” Jesus always strikes the perfect balance of truth and love. He neither condemned her nor promoted her to keep sinning. At the end of the day, she is a child of God and Jesus loves her. Because Jesus loves her, He says “sin no more”. In most of society today, people think you don’t love someone if you call a behavior a sin. Please pray that we and our friends introduce people to the love of Jesus. Please pray for Scott as he is building his group. 

Today’s reading is John 7:32-53
“On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”

‭‭John‬ ‭7:37-39‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.7.37-39.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” The Fruit of the Spirit is the end game of what we all desire here. Christians and non Christians. The difference is Christian’s know it’s from the Holy Spirit and non-Christians believe it comes from some other god where one can “earn” it or worldly “success”. God gives us “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”. We cannot earn it or get it from some worldly pursuit. Please pray that we and our friends seek the living water today. Please pray for Michelle, Nichole, Torrie and Annie Thrash. 

Today’s reading is John 7:1-31
“Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.””

‭‭John‬ ‭7:21-24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.7.21-24.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” Is it ok to judge? The world will tell you it’s not ok to “judge” and some Christians state that also. Christ gives us the ability to judge or discern his will. However, we are not to “condemn” anyone. Often times the lines are blurred between judging and condemnation. Please pray that we and our friends “judge with right judgement” and ask God to guide our decisions. Please pray for Sean Doughtie as he forms his group. 

Today’s reading is John 6:45-71
“After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the Twelve, was going to betray him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭6:66-71‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.6.66-71.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.” Jesus says some wild things. He just spoke about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. Jesus loves everyone, but He doesn’t candy coat anything. Jesus knows we have to deny ourselves to follow Him and anything less isn’t abiding in Him. Please pray that we and our friends deny ourselves today, pick up our cross and chose to follow Jesus in every decision. Please pray for Darren and Bruce as they are building their group. 

Today’s reading is John 6:22-44
“Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.””

‭‭John‬ ‭6:26-29‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.6.26-29.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” Is believing in Jesus work? Is it a sacrifice? Is it easy? When we believe Jesus, it implies that we know what Jesus wants us to do in situations. How do we know that? Spending time with Jesus? Reading the Bible? Spending time in a community of believers? Yes, yes and yes. The hardest thing to me about believing Jesus is that it often conflicts with what I think is best. Then a choice needs to be made and it’s never easy. Please pray that we and our friends “believe” Jesus today in every situation. Please pray for John and Brack as they are building their group. 

Today’s reading is John 5:1-24
“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.”

‭‭John‬ ‭5:2-3, 5-9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.5.2-3,5-9.esv
All,
This stands out because the sick man says, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Do we only see our solution to our problem? Do we want Jesus to do what we want Him to do or do we just want to be healed? Jesus wants to heal all His children, but it will probably not be the solution we think it will be. Often times, I think money will solve a problem or a certain decision by a key player. However, Jesus plainly asks if we want to be healed. Please pray that we and our friends seek healing from Jesus for whatever ails us. Please pray for Drew Parsons family. We have another CLC brother with Jesus now. I’ll send information later this morning. 

Today’s reading is John 4:31-54
“Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.””

‭‭John‬ ‭4:34-38‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.4.34-38.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” Are there people within your circle of influence that do not really know Jesus? Who was the person that made you want to know Jesus more? Are you glad they cared about you? Have you prayed for your friend who doesn’t know Him? Are you letting fear prevent you from God’s purpose with your friend? Please pray that we and our friends pray for our loved ones who do not know Jesus and follow God’s nudges. Please pray for Stephen and Hunter as they are building their group. 

Today’s reading is John 4:1-30
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.””

‭‭John‬ ‭4:23-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.4.23-26.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “I who speak to you am he.” I need to remind myself exactly who Jesus is and why I worship Him. He is God. He sees the future like it’s the present. He created all the earth. He knows us completely since He created us. He transforms us. We have this wonderful opportunity today to abide in Christ if we chose. Is He worthy of that trust? Can He handle your issues today? Jesus can keep us on the right path if we trust Him. Please pray that we and our friends abide in Christ today. Please pray for Debbie, Makenna and Kole. 

Today’s reading is John 3:22-36
“The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3:35-36‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.3.35-36.esv
All,
This stands out because John says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” This doesn’t seem very nice. I know a lot of people that are very nice and giving, but do not put their trust in Christ. Does God’s wrath remain on them? Are we brave enough or trusting enough to follow God’s nudges when we are in a conversation with that person? Do we have a chance to help that friend? Please pray that we and our friends put our trust in Jesus and pray for the friend that doesn’t know Him. Please pray for Sean Doughtie as he is building his group. 

Today’s reading is John 3:1-21
“”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3:16-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jhn.3.16-18.esv
All,
This stands out because Jesus says, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already”. Do we have any loved ones who do not know the transforming power of Jesus? Do they know the peace of trusting completely in Him? Jesus came to save them also. You may be able to participate in His purpose by following His nudges today. Please pray that we and our friends be about God’s purpose today. Please pray for Stephen and Hunter as they are building their group.