Biblical Shakers

  Click on Title for Video Introduction Monday, I Samuel Intro I Samuel Intro Delores Little THOUGHT The first book of Samuel covers 125 years from the birth of Samuel, the last judge, through most of the reign of Saul.  Samuel grew up in the home of Eli who was both judge of Israel and high priest in charge of the Tabernacle at Shiloh, the center of Israel’s worship.  All Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established (confirmed) to be a prophet of the Lord.  When Samuel assumed both civil and spiritual leadership, the Israelites were entrenched in apostasy and were politically fragmented. Through his loyalty to God and His Word, Samuel restored the nation’s moral and spiritual condition to the level since the days of Joshua. Samuel founded the first school of the prophets and taught God’s Word. Because Samuel was a man of prayer and obedience to the Word of God, he was able to unite the tribes of Israel into one nation.  But, as he grew old...

Click on the Title for Video Introduction Monday, Mark Chapter 14B (Verses 26-31)  Mark 14B Verses 30-31 Matt Strayer Verses 30-31:  “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today--yes, tonight--before the rooster crows twice, you, yourself will disown me three times.”  But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”  And all the others said the same. THOUGHT Throughout the Bible I just love the stories of Peter. He is such an inspiration to me because he demonstrates such courage; yet, his humanness is real. I think of Peter when I read the verse, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Peter tries so hard, yet many times falls short.  With reference to the verses above (Mark 14:30-31), Peter is the only one of the twelve that the Bible mentions following Jesus down into the city.  Where were the other ten, excluding Judas of course?  It’s almost as if his courage and boldness got him into situ...

Click on Title for Video Introduction Monday, Mark Chapter 12A    (Verses 1-27) Mark 12A Verse 17 Bart Strayer Verse 17:  Then Jesus said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” THOUGHT I must admit, paying taxes used to put me in a pretty bad mood. It is still no picnic, but over the years this verse has helped me understand a couple of things.   God knows that I have to pay taxes. He knows how much I need to pay and when. (Which can be valuable information all by itself) He is not surprised by tax liabilities.  And more importantly, according to Mark 12:17 he wants me to pay my taxes. These two points have helped me as I continue my mission project. They helped me understand that it is not God and I against the government. And more importantly, the government is not trying to steal what is God’s.  Obedience to our governmental authorities is a Godly act. I would submit to you that the most important part of this verse has...

  Click on Title for Video Introduction Monday, Mark Chapter 8 Mark 8 Verse 11 Jane Jones Verses 11:  The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. He sighed deeply and said. “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.” Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. THOUGHT Have you ever tried to convince someone of something? I can remember growing up as a child and trying to convince my sister that it was her turn to wash dishes and MY turn to dry them. I can’t at this particular moment remember whose turn it really was, but facts, verification from Mom, and double verification from Gare still did not shake Jeanie’s mind. Or maybe it was the other way around.  This scripture shows us that the Pharisees tried to work hard at explaining justification for the miracles Jesus performed. They wanted a sign from Heaven…from God Himself. An...

  Click on Title for Video Introduction Monday, Mark Chapter 4 Mark 4 Verse 34 Jeanie Boldt  Verse 34:  He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when He was alone with his disciples, He explained everything. THOUGHT Gosh, I could have chosen almost every verse in this chapter. The Lord filled it with many parables about our faith, how it grows, how receptive we will be and what we will do with the information. He used many parables about seeds. I couldn’t help but think of Sierra who planted an apple seed with her Papa Rich and prays that it will grow into an apple tree each and every night when she goes to bed. She has faith that the Lord will hear that prayer and act.  I wonder what Tanya is thinking?  Our faith - Where are we as individual Christians? It was hard to choose one parable that stood out from another so I chose the verse that touched me closer than any other.  Parables are wonderful stories but I would have had to have Jes...

  Click on Title for Video Introduction Monday, Mark Intro Mark Intro Tanya Ruden Mark was written by John Mark. He was a Jew and was not one of the 12 disciples, but he did accompany Paul on his first missionary journey. The book was probably the first Gospel written. The other Gospels quote all but 31 verses of Mark. This book records more miracles than any other Gospel. Mark 10:45 states, “for even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” This is the message of Mark. It was written to encourage Roman Christians and to prove beyond a doubt that Jesus is the Messiah. Mark presents a rapid succession of vivid pictures of Jesus in action-his true identity revealed by what He does, not necessarily by what He says. It is Jesus on the move. Mark takes us directly into Jesus’ public ministry. We see Jesus confronting a demon, healing a leper, and forgiving and healing the paralytic lowered into Jesus’ presence by friends. The bo...

Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, Judges Chapter 19 Judges 19 Delores Little THOUGHT In this chapter we have a Levite who did not follow the laws of God, but did what he wanted. He took a concubine for a wife.  In Lev. 21:7 it says, “They must not marry women defiled by prostitution or divorced from their husbands, because priests are holy to their God.” In Judges 19:2 it says, “But she was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her father’s house in Bethlehem, Judah.”  Well this priest isn’t named but he went back and got her and after many days of drinking and partying they left and ended up in Gibeah. An old man took them in, and while they were enjoying themselves, wicked men came and wanted the priest to have sex with him.  Another law was broken.  In Lev 20:13 it says, “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”  Can you see...