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Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. Luke 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. Luke 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. Luke 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance...

Psalms 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalms 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Psalms 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalms 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest...

Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Genesis 15:2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? Genesis 15:3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. Genesis 15:4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but...

Lesson Passages: Genesis 1:27, 9:6; Matthew 5:21-22, 22:36-40; Mark 10; 46-52 Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without...

Lesson Passages: Psalms 7:1-17 Psalms 7:1 Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite. O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: Psalms 7:2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. Psalms 7:3 O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; Psalms7:4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered...

Lesson Passages: Genesis 8:15-17, 20-22, 9:1-3, 8-13Background Passages: Genesis 8:15 – 9:29 Genesis 8:15 And God spoke unto Noah, saying, Genesis 8:16 Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. Genesis 8:17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth. Genesis 8:20 And Noah built an altar unto the LORD; and took...

Lesson Passages: John 1:1-18 John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. John 1:7 The same came for a...

Background Passage: Genesis 5:1 – 8:14; Lesson Passages: Genesis 6:9-18, 22 Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:10 And Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Genesis 6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. Genesis 6:12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. Genesis 6:13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me;...

Being “caught red-handed” is a Scottish phrase made popular by writer Sir Walter Scott in 1819. It seems to describe the situation in which man finds himself in Genesis chapter three. The phrase simply means being caught in the act or with positive evidence of a crime. Adam and Eve fit the mold as God found them hiding in the Garden of Eden after accepting the temptation and committing the sin of disobedience. Struggles with resisting temptation are a constant challenge to us in our daily Christian lives. 1. Temptation Lures Us Genesis 3:1-5 A subtle, cunning, shrewd serpent appeared...

"Affirm God’s Good Plan" Background Passage: Genesis 1:1 – 2:25; Lesson Passages: Genesis 1:1, 26-28,31; 2:15-18, 21-25 Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male...

Matthew 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. Matthew 27:36 And sitting down they watched him there; Matthew 27:37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama...

Matthew 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: Matthew 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: Matthew 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from...

Matthew 19:1 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judea beyond Jordan; Matthew 19:2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. Matthew 19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? Matthew 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, Matthew 19:5 And said, For this cause...

This final chapter of Hebrews brings many exhortations to the Jewish people. So what exactly is an exhortation? It's encouraging, challenging, comforting and guiding other people so that they can reach their full potential. Chuck Swindoll says it is the ability to bring encouragement, to help others see the relevance of Scripture, to give insightful counsel, to motivate, to comfort and to offer hope that prompts action. That's a big "to do list," don't you think? The Apostle Paul was always the teacher -- giving us lists of things to do and ways we can minister to others. So what...

It's important in this chapter to differentiate "punishment" and "discipline." Punishment makes sure that a certain behavior will not continue. Discipline makes sure that a behavior will continue. For instance, if we are speeding up and down the highways, eventually we'll get a speeding ticket -- as a punishment. Speeding tickets are punishments. They're a way of making sure speeders stop speeding. Discipline is a little trickier to define. Making a child sit down and do homework is discipline. Discipline breeds self-discipline and eventually the child develops good study skills that come up out of parental discipline. Discipline sets up...

Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh! Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in...

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.openbible.info%2Fgeo%2Fkmls%2Fheb.11.kml&t=k This link will let you see the trek of the Israelites from the time they left Egypt, where they crossed the Red Sea, and finally to the promised land. This chapter in Hebrews is known for its testaments of faith. In fact, it is often referred to as the "Hall of Faith." Faith is defined in verses 1-2: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what...

We are reminded again in this chapter, in verse 4b, that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to redeem a person from sin. Then in verses 5-7, Christ addresses his father directly: Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, "Here I am -- it is written about me in the scroll -- I have come to do your will, O God." These words are actually the same as David's in Psalm 40:6-8. The Hebrews are reminded...

Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? Matthew 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Matthew 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath...

This chapter of Hebrews will speak to all of you who feel like you are not forgiven for something or other that you've done in your life. Read it. And read it again. Copy the verses that are particularly meaningful to you -- those verses that bring you peace when their meanings flow like a river through your consciousness. This particular chapter is one of my favorites in the entire Bible. I hear God speaking to me especially through these verses. I feel Christ looking over my shoulder as I write about him. I feel the comfort of the Holy...