Biblical Shakers

  Monday, Acts Chapter 18 Acts 18  Verses 9-10 Jane Jones November 25, 2004  Verses 9-10:  One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: 'Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.' So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. THOUGHT  These verses just stopped me dead in my tracks as I read this chapter last night. Can you imagine how Paul must have felt when he experienced a vision from the Lord telling him not to be afraid that the Lord would be with him and that no harm would come to him?  What reinforcement and reassurance to Paul that what he was doing was right and that the Lord did not want him to keep silent.  How many times have we kept silent when we knew that the Lord did not want us to and that He too would have protected us from harm?  Sometimes we can feel alone or isolated, especially when we se...

  Click on title to view a video Introduction for the week ahead. Monday, Acts Chapter 13 Acts 13 Verses 42-44 Bart Strayer November 18, 2004  Verses 42-44: (The Message) When the service was over, Paul and Barnabas were invited back to preach again the next Sabbath.  As the meeting broke up, a good many Jews and converts to Judaism went along with Paul and Barnabas, who urged them in long conversations to stick with what they'd started, this living in and by God's grace. When the next Sabbath came around, practically the whole city showed up to hear the Word of God.  THOUGHT  As your Bible notes, the latter half of Acts now focuses on Paul's missionary journeys. It is good to reflect on how far Paul has come in such a short amount of time. It amazes me how quickly Jesus can change the hearts of people.  At times I can put limitations on the speed at which Jesus works in the lives of people. For some reason, I anticipate that people will come to Jesus and m...

Click on Blue Title for Video Introduction Monday, Acts Chapter 8 Acts 8  Verse 20 Tanya Ruden November 12. 2004 Verse 20:  Peter answered, “May your money parish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!”  THOUGHT Do you think Faith/Christianity would be easier to achieve or maintain if we could pay monthly dues to attain the gift of grace? God gives us the gift of grace for 'free'. He only asks us to submit to Him and let Him rule in our hearts and lives. He wants to be our best friend and proclaim that relationship to everyone.  Things for ‘free’ sound great, and this 'free' gift has nothing but benefits, but the sacrifices we must make (those things of the world which we often think are most important) to achieve this 'free' gift are often more than many people are willing to make.  To them they would rather ‘purchase’ the gift of grace, own it and be done with it and relieved of any other duties.  Can you imagine what the ...

  Click on blue title for video Introduction Monday, Acts Chapter 3 Acts 3  Verses 6 & 16 Jeanie Boldt November 3, 2004 Verse 6:  Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”  Verse 16:  By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.  THOUGHT  Peter is using the miraculous power from Jesus through his faith. The Man was asking for help. The Lord gave him more than just a small solution to one of his problems. He gave the man a whole new life. When we ask the Lord for help, and He shows us another solution or answer, we must in faith believe that His plan is even more wonderful than what we are asking for.  Sometimes we ask for our 'wants' rather than our 'needs'.  We must remember we can help others also in the ...

Click on Blue Title for Video Introduction Monday, Luke  Chapter 24 Luke 24  Verse 53 Jane Jones October 30, 2004 Verse 53:  "And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God."  THOUGHT Can you imagine how thrilled, excited and happy the disciples, the Mary's, and Jesus' family were when they heard the news about Jesus? The elation must have been awesome. I thought it perfect that they went to the temple, staying continually, praising God. What a great show of appreciation for what God had done through Jesus Christ. They felt the closest to God and Jesus in the temple.  To sum it up, Luke's Gospel portrays Jesus as the perfect example of a life lived according to God's plan...as a child living in obedience to his parents and yet amazing the religious leaders in the temple; as an adult serving God and others through preaching and healing; and finally as a condemned man suffering without complaint.  As believers living according to God's plan, we too ...

  Click on Blue title for Video Introduction for the week. Monday, Luke Chapter 19 Luke 19 Verses 35-38 Bart Strayer  Verse 35-38:  They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.  As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:  "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"  THOUGHT  This passage takes me back to my childhood and the Hudson United Methodist Church. I remember getting palm branches on Palm Sunday and thinking that was cool. Now that I am grown, I ponder the significance of Christ's ride into Jerusalem. I picture the crowds and the feeling in the air. Then I think of Jesus on the donkey looking at the city and knowing His future. What a love Jesus has for the people...

  Click on Blue Title for Video Intro Monday, Luke Chapter 14 Luke 14 Verse 34  Tanya Ruden  Verse 34:  'Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?'  THOUGHT  The Life Application Bible really explains this verse very well.  The following is what is written:  "Salt can lose its flavor. When it gets wet and then dries, nothing is left but a tasteless residue. Many Christians blend into the world and avoid the cost of standing up for Christ. Jesus says if we lose our saltiness we are worthless. Just as salt flavors and preserves food, we are to preserve the good in the world, help keep it from spoiling, and bring new flavor to life. This requires careful planning, willing sacrifice, and unswerving commitment to Christ's kingdom. Being "salty" is not easy, but if a Christian fails in this function, he or she fails to represent Christ in the world. How salty are you?"  Maybe there is a neat name for our study in ...