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BIBLE READING: 2 Corinthians 12.1-10 DISCUSSION By the age of 5, Beethoven was playing the violin under the tutelage of his father—also an accomplished musician. By the time he was 13, he was a concert organist. During his lifetime, he wrote nine majestic symphonies and five concertos for piano, not to mention numerous pieces of chamber music. Beethoven was not, however, a stranger to difficulties. During his twenties, he began to lose his hearing. His fingers “became thick,” he said on one occasion. He couldn’t feel the music as he once had. His hearing problem haunted him in the middle years of his life, but he kept it a well-guarded secret. When he reached his fifties, Beethoven was deaf. All of us make excuses at some point in our lives. We are too busy, too young, too old, not equipped, not trained or even worse not motivated. Beethoven is a wonderful example of someone who would not let his circumstances dictate his success. We all have weaknesses, limitations, legiti...

BIBLE READING: John 3. 22-36 DISCUSSION Continuing some thoughts on duct tape: Another lesson we can learn from duct tape is that although we can use it to fix things, it will never be in and of itself a permanent solution. As Christians, we can be the duct tape in peoples’ lives by sticking to them when they are having some struggles, but we alone cannot be their solution. We cannot be everything to everyone; it is just our job to point people to Jesus. Although we know we are to be imitators of others as they are of Jesus, there should still be that moment when we follow in the footsteps of John. Remember what John the Baptist said: “He must increase, and I must decrease” (John 3.30). Although we can be there for some people some of the time, we will never be able to be there for all of the people all of the time. Make sure you are pointing others to Jesus and not just to yourself.

BIBLE READING: Matthew 10. 16-33 DISCUSSION If you were allowed to have only one tool, one piece of equipment in your toolbox, what would it be? I know…that is a no brainer…duct tape! Yes, it is called duct tape, but it originally was called “Duck Tape” when it was created for the military during WW2 (look it up..cool stuff.) You can use duct tape to fix just about anything. In fact, the astronauts used duct tape to help them get home on the Apollo 13 mission. So, why are we discussing duct tape? There are some lessons that duct tape can teach us concerning our faith. Duct tape is a great tool. It is designed to be strong, yet flexible. As Christians we are taught to have a strength about us; “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1Corinthinas 16. 13) We typically think of acting like men as being strong, but we also need a softer side about us to be understanding with those that are weak. There is something to be said for a quiet strength. Paul te...

BIBLE READING: Exodus 7. 1-13 DISCUSSION I grew up in a house where it was common to hear “can never could.” That simply means if you think you cannot do something, you will not be able to do it. Moses told God over and over that he couldn’t. He gave excuse after excuse. God did not let him off the hook that easy. God had a plan and Moses was a part of that plan. Moses becomes a leader we read about doing amazing things. What amazing things are you telling God you cannot do? Do not say no to God. Let Him work through you!

BIBLE READING: John 19. 16-27 DISCUSSION Have you ever put yourself in the place of John standing at the foot of the cross, watching Jesus your friend and your Savior, die. He looks down at you and asks you to take care of His mother. What a responsibility! You do not want to let Jesus Christ down. You want Him to be proud of you. Why is it any different for John than it is for us? Jesus left us with a challenge to spread His word. We should not want to let Christ down. We should not want Him to be displeased with us. We need to take that challenge seriously and spread the word. 

BIBLE READING: Matthew 28. 16-20 My grandfather spent 3 and a half years fighting in WWII. He was one of many men who stormed beaches in the South Pacific. He was wounded in the leg and had malaria seven times during the war. He had little to eat and drink and he thought about death every day. He told me that the worst thing that happened to him was getting a letter that his younger brother had been captured during the war in Europe. He loved his brother. We all want to go to heaven but how bad do we want our family to go? How much do we love them? Do we take them to church on a regular basis so they can grow in their faith? Do we teach them the scriptures so they can have the knowledge they need? If they were physically sick, there is no amount of money or time that would stop us from finding a cure for them. Let’s stop at nothing to make sure they are spiritually well.

BIBLE READING: Luke 20. 45-47 Luke 20. 45-46 says, “And in the hearing of all the people he said to the disciples, Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at the feasts.” No one knew the law as well as the scribes, but they would much rather be seen as important to men, than obey the law that they studied. We can easily fall into this trap. As we study let us all put into practice what we read and not just use it to our benefit for worldly importance.