Student Devotional Week 22: Rooted or Rootless? Parable of the Sower

"Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop-thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown" (Mark 4:20).
Jesus spoke in parables so that everyone would understand, right? Then why did they have to ask for an explanation everytime he spoke? Did you catch what is going on when Jesus delivers this parable? There were crowds gathered around Jesus, so much that he got into a boat and tried to get away from them for a while, but they would not go until Jesus gave them a message or word. So he tells the parable from the middle of the lake about the parable of the sower and the seeds. There are 4 types of people you basically says:
1)The Path- Those who hear the word but it passes between their ears, it doesn't sink in at all. 2)The Rocky Path- Those who hear the word but it doesn't take root and the first hardship (the blazing sun) they die away.
3)The Thorns-Those who hear the word but they are unfruitful listening to the world rather than God.
4)The Good Soil-Those who hear the word and it takes root and they produce fruit multiplying the sower (God's) investment (30X, 60X, 100X).
So, the question is what type of person are you: Path, Rocky, Thorny, Good Soil? I would guess the majority of that crowd was like the path, going from one ear out the next. Why? Because only the 12 disciples came to Jesus later to ask what the parable actually meant. That means the rest of the crowd had no clue what he was talking about. I know this because in verses 10-12 Jesus explains why he taught in parables, not so everyone would understand him, but to confuse them. What? This is not what I have been taught my entire life about parables, but read it for yourself, the point of teaching parables is so that those who really want to know what Jesus is saying and meant would ask Him, those who were not truthfully seeking Him would go about their business. Do you seek what Jesus is trying to teach us in scripture or do you hear the words and they pass through you? Jesus wants us to be good soil, but we have to let the words take root first in order to be useful and produce good fruit.

Student Devotional Week 21: Bad News/Good News-Jesus Predicts His Death

"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:2).
It is pretty deep to think a persons purpose in life was to die, but the reality that we face as Christians is the Jesus came with that ultimate purpose and that was to die for all of us! Jesus tried to tell the disciples over and over again that he was going to die soon, that it was God's plan for His life that he would die for our sins. Why didn't they hear what He was trying to tell them? Maybe they wanted Jesus to establish His kingdom on earth like other kings had done, maybe that thought it would go away if they ignored what He was saying, or maybe they simply could not comprehend why anyone would give their lives for people that don't even know Him and don't even deserve it! The reality is none of us deserve eternal life, but that is the point of why He had to do what He did. Jesus exemplifies this type of servant leadership throughout His life; always thinking of others needs above His needs. Matthew 20:28 puts it this way, "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." His ultimate purpose was to die for all of our sins as a ransom or payment for all the bad we have done and will continue to do. But, until that time of death Jesus served as many people as He could. How about you, do you put others needs above your own? Would you sacrifice your life for someone who you didn't know or who you knew as enemy? Will you choose to serve Christ?

Devotional Week 20: See God For Who He Is-The Transfiguration

"While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Matthew 17:5

Have you ever been out in God's creation and thought wow, God has created some awesome things. Three of the disciples: James, John, Peter experienced what we might call a God moment as they saw the Glory of God shine upon Jesus and actually heard the voice of God speak to them. The word Glory in Greek dokeo means "to reflect." Take a few moments this week to reflect on the Glory of God around you. You might want to take a walk outside and ponder the amazing things God has created!

"Like A Rock" The Church - Devotional Week 19

Jesus declared to Simon that "you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Matthew 16:18) The Catholic Church uses this as a proof text of Apostolic Lineage began with Peter as the first Head or Pope of the Church. Anyway, the significance in this verse is not so much the establishment of leadership, but the establishment of the church as an important part of God's plan. God never intended us to go about our lives alone, but for us to be actively working together in a community of believers called the church. Catholic means universal, so the catholic church is representative of all Christians all over the world not just the Catholic church in Rome. All of this points to unity and working together for one common goal in mind which is to further God's Kingdom here on earth and in heaven as new believer's come to faith in Christ. Are you actively involved in church? Do you think church is an important part of being a Christian?

Hungry? Student Devotional Week 18

Can Jesus really meet all my needs? Ever wondered why some people have a lot and some have very little? The Bible teaches us that God will provide all of our needs. Did you pick-up on the word "need." Needs are not I-pods and x-box 360 or whether or not you have a date for Friday night. But, there are Christians that do not have enough food to eat or clothes to wear or shelter to protect them from the harsh elements of the world; what about them? In "Jesus for President", Shane Clayborne says that God didn't make a mistake and create too many people, but rather we have plenty if we are willing to share. In the Gospel of Luke 9:10-17, you read about Jesus feeding the 5,000. After sending out His disciples on their first preaching and healing mission, Jesus took the Twelve to a remote place so they could be alone. A crowd followed them, however, and Jesus spent time teaching and healing them. Late in the day, when the people were hungry, Jesus miraculously used five loaves of bread and two fish to feed the crowd of over 5,000, and 12 baskets of food were collected after the meal. So, there is enough for everyone if we use the resources as God intended them to be used, shared equally. How about you, do you have what you need? Can you do a better job of sharing the resources God has provided?

Difficulties & Doubts, Week 17

How many of you have ever doubted God? It's alright we all have done it at some point in our faith journey. Many things happen to us that cause us to question our faith such as illness, death, war, relationship struggles, but the one constant is that no matter what happens in life God never changes, He is the one and only consistent thing in our lives we can always count on. Does this mean we won't struggle with the things of life, by no means, but God will be there to see us through it all! Jesus on the cross uttered this phrase on the cross, "My God, My God, why have you foresaken me?" Many of us have felt as Jesus did on the cross, that God has foresaken us. David in the Psalms expresses the same feelings that God was "hidden" from him. I have just read the book "The Shack" and among many other theological themes it challenges the idea that on the cross Jesus was foresaken. The author describes each member of the Trinity suffering along with Jesus on the cross. The traditional understanding is that God has turned away from Jesus on the cross because He has taken on the sins of the world. However, just becasue we feel something doesn't mean that it is actually happening. Just like David felt foresaken by God in the midst of his sin with Bathsheba, when in actuality God was still there and it was his sin that caused him to feel and think that way. In other words, how cold and unloving of a God would He be if during the most difficult of times He turns His back on us. I think there is something to that idea and it is alright if you don't want to go there, but at least know this that God is always there even if you doubt that He is and question Him for a season of your life; He is there and will be waiting for you to call upon His name. You are going to read about John the Baptist and the doubts he had about God during a time of heavy persecution and struggles in his life. How about you, do you ever doubt God? How does faith in Jesus help you in your times of doubt? Do difficulties in your life ultimately make you stronger and closer to the Lord? Have you shared your faith story and struggles with others opening and honestly?Memory Verse: "The blind receive sight, the lame walk,those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor." Matthew 11:5

Sight Unseen: The Centurion's Faith, Devotional Week 16

Sometimes seeing is believing, many want to see proof that Faith in a Living God is Real. Some will look to science for answers, still others are skeptical about the whole thing, but Jesus said, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Faith is a very complex topic to cover, but at it's core is believing that no matter what God is ultimately in control. Our key memory verse comes from Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." What do you hope for? What are your dreams? Does Faith play a part in your decision making?