When the gospel message is preached, it doesn’t start with the love of God. Let me be clear, God is love and expresses great love towards fallen humanity but that isn’t where the gospel message starts. It starts with the HOLINESS of God.
When we come to this portion of scripture, this is Moses’s final address to the children of Israel just before they enter the promised land. He charges them to walk in all the ways of God and to diligently serve Him. In the midst of charging them, he gives them a stern warning about “forgetting the LORD” when they receive the blessings of God that will come with their inheritance. He reminds them that all the time they were in the wilderness they had to lean upon God because there was nothing. No food, no water, just a barren wasteland. God rained down manna
Godly sorrow is the deep, internal grief over your sin because you realize it has grieved a holy God and damaged your relationship with Him. It does not just weep over the consequences of sin; it creates a fierce desire to turn away from the behavior completely. It flows from a realization of God’s love and mercy, driving a person toward God for healing rather than making them hide in shame.
The last time we went through chapter 20 which records the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His appearance first to Mary Magdalene, then to the disciples minus Thomas. Eight days later, Thomas is with them and Jesus appears again to them. Thomas is made a believer in the resurrected Christ. The chapter closes with John stating the explicit purpose of his entire gospel account: John 20:31
In every gospel where these two events occur (the great storm on Galilee and the Gadarene maniac) they occur right next two each other; which tells me they belong together. When Jesus told his disciples to get into the ship so they could pass over to the other side, he knew where and why he was headed. He knew this man was waiting on the other side of Galilee. He knew his condition and that he would deliver him from demon possession. He knew this man was the key to shedding light in a region dominated by darkness. Jesus was about to invade and assault the devil’s territory, but getting there was difficult.
Last time we went through chapter 18. John chapter 18 records the betrayal, arrest, denial, and trial of Jesus Christ. The narrative shifts from Jesus’ intimate final prayers with His disciples to the chaotic and unjust events leading directly to His crucifixion. Throughout the chapter, John highlights Jesus’ total divine control, dignity, and willingness to fulfill God’s plan.
Chapter 11 of the book of Romans deals with the future of Israel as a nation. Paul addresses the question “Has God cast away his people?” In other words, “Is God totally and completely done with the nation of Israel?” He wastes not time in saying “God forbid”. Then the remainder of this chapter explains where Israel is today spiritually, how they got there, how the Gentiles have benefited from their rejection of Christ, and how ultimately God will save them
This parable is about stewardship. In the Bible, stewardship means managing God’s creation and resources as a caretaker rather than an owner. The core idea is that God owns everything, and humans are the managers appointed to care for His world, time and gifts.
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
Last time we went through chapter 16 where Jesus delivers a crucial segment of his farewell discourse to prepare his disciples for his imminent death, resurrection, and ascension. He speaks directly about the promise of the Holy Spirit, the inevitability of persecution, and his final victory over the world. John 16 serves to comfort a grieving group of disciples by promising that Christ’s departure brings the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit, a direct connection to God the Father, and a guaranteed ultimate victory over earthly hardships.