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"Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this mancame to Jesus by night and said to Him, 'Rabbi, we know that You have come from Godas a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him'."(John 3:1-2) As we enter the season of Lent, we have been invited to "Step into the Story." These next several weeks, we will...
Keep ReadingJohn 3:1-17 Between now and Easter (April 9), we're in a series called Step into the Story. "The Story" into which we are invited to step is, of course, the story of Jesus. It is a very, very big story, much larger than we know! This week we step specifically into a story about a late-night meeting between two rabbis. One, Nicodemus, is older and a member of the Jewish r...
Keep ReadingBut He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone,but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4). Who remembers AWANA? You know, the ministry whose mission it is to reach children with the Gospel. AWANA is an acronym for Approved Workman Are Not Ashamed based on 2 Timothy 2:15. This verse exhorts us to be "a worker...
Keep ReadingThen Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:1-4) ...
Keep ReadingThen the devil left him, and angels came and attended him (Matthew 4:11). Imagine that! You just spent 40 days in the desert, hungry and alone. The first interaction you have following your abstention from society is with the devil! You are tempted toward sins of various kinds that would quickly bring you nourishment, attention, and power. But you, child of God, are stro...
Keep ReadingJesus' refusal was curt: "Beat it, Satan!" Matthew 4:10a (The Message) Parks and Recreation is one of my favorite shows. I discovered it several years after it actually aired, and thanks to streaming, I was able to binge the entire show during those magical months we were all at home due to Covid. Leslie Knope is the cheerful, outgoing, liberal, and always-working deputy ...
Keep Reading"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desertand the tempter came to Him."Matt. 4:1,3 We read about Jesus' experience in the desert (or wilderness) in Matt. 4:1-11, but is a desolate location the key? No. Satan could have tempted Jesus anywhere. Certainly, though, isolation matters, for Satan quickly capitalizes on Jesus being alone. Have you ever felt alone even whe...
Keep ReadingSo Jesus replied to him, "Let it happen now, for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness."(Matthew 3:15) I love baptism Sundays at church. Usually, my cheeks hurt from smiling while tears of joy roll down them. My hands hurt as I clap and cheer on my brother or sister-in-Christ as they come up out of the water. It takes courage and commitment to take this step. It...
Keep ReadingThen Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.But John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You,and do You come to me?" (Matthew 3:13-14) I have read the account of Jesus's baptism many times, but this time I was struck, for the first time, by John's humility. John the Baptist truly led a supernatural life. It...
Keep ReadingThen Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. "I am the one who needs to be baptized by you," he said, "so why are you coming to me?" But Jesus said, "It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires." So John agreed to baptize him And a voice from heaven said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who ...
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