Jesus In The Garden

The Last or Lord’s Supper had concluded, and Jesus, with His disciples, was heading to the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane. In verse 40 Jesus tells His disciples. “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” In Matthew 26:31, Jesus told His disciples, “You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered’” quoting from Zechariah 13.

Jesus was their Shepherd, but many followed him with certain expectations: He would overthrow the Romans and be Israel’s next king.

Jesus wanted to be alone, verse 41 states, and withdrew from them. He wanted one-on-one time with His Father. “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”  (more…)

Hosanna!

Time For Good Works!

Read: 2 Timothy 3:17 & Ephesians 2:10

Reflect: The Bible prepares us for the good works that God has called us to. What are the “good works” the Bible is talking about? What good works has God called you to do?

Request (prayer): Father, help me know what good works You want me to do.

When the Bible says “good works” what usually comes to your mind? Is it going to church, reading your Bible, praying, obeying your parents, etc? The Bible definitely clear that we are made for good works. The definition is what we mess up sometimes. look up James 1:27 says. Is that what you think of when you hear “Good Works?” What about Mark 16:15? Are you doing any of those things? If not, why? Whats holding you back? Ask God to change your heart because it is time for good works!

Looking Back – What Is The Bible Good For?

Read: 2 Timothy 3:16

Reflect: Look back at the past few weeks, what have you learned from the verse about the Bible? How has this series changed the way you think about the Bible?

Request (prayer): God, thank you for the Bible!

At the beginning of February we started our series on Sunday mornings titled “The Bible Is Good For:” We looked closely at what the Bible says about itself in 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

You can also listen to the messages from this series. Due to a technical error, we do not have the first message in the series but you can listen to other two that we recored on Sunday mornings in CRUX: Jr. High @ Harvest.

Message #2 –  “The Bible Is Good For: Warning”

Message #3 – “The Bible Is Good For: Correction”

You Got That Right!

Read: Hebrews 12:11

Reflect: As the Bible corrects you it also will discipline you. Have you ever enjoyed being disciplined? What good does discipline do in the end?

Request (prayer): God, thank you for correcting me when I am wrong and loving me enough to save me from myself.

I fully agree with this verse. Discipline hurts! If it doesn’t hurt physically then it hurts my emotions or worse yet, my pride. But, discipline isn’t all bad. Read Hebrews 12:5-11. When God disciplines us it means that He loves us and that we are His children. That is something we can take comfort in. In the end the Lord’s discipline produces righteousness. Heed the Lord’s discipline. Let Him change you into the person He wants you to be!

Righteous Prayers of a Righteous Person

Read: James 5:16

Reflect: What does it mean to be a righteous person? How does righteousness help our prayers?

Request (Prayer): Ask God to make you a righteous person?

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Does that mean that the prayer of an unrighteous person doesn’t have power? Yes. How so? In order to understand this whole idea about a righteous persons prayer being powerful, we first need to understand what the word “righteous” means.

The word, righteous, means, “just and right; free from guilt and sin”. So the righteous person is one who is free of sin and guilt. What person is righteous? It’s the person whose hope and trust is in Jesus. It is the person who has confessed with their mouth and believed in their heart that Jesus is Lord. That’s the righteous person.
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