Sowing Seeds as You Read

The Bible is essential for our walk as a Christ follower.  It is our highest authority.  It is more than a book. God can speak to us through the pages of scripture.

The Reformers knew this, and worked hard to get these pages into the hands of everyone.  Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German so that common people could read God’s word for themselves.

If we are not reading God’s word outside of Sunday morning we are not letting God’s word do all that it can in our lives.  If we are not reading God’s word we will be like one of the people from our scripture passage today.

14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.

18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” -Mark 4:14-20

Make some time everyday to open up the Bible and listen for God’s voice as you read from his word.

Read today entire passage here Mark 4:10-20

One Night ...

Martin Luther nails his theses to the door of the church

READ: Romans 15:1-6

Today marks the 500th anniversary of the greatest division of the body of Christ in history. With his Ninety-five Theses Martin Luther rebuked Catholicism, and Protestantism was born. What was intended to bring reform, brought division. What was intended to return us to the truth of scripture led us to an abandonment of its very essence.

What is the greatest commandment?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-37)

“But I stand upon the truth! Do you not see how wrong my neighbor is?”

1 Corinthians 13:2 says, “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”

500 years of animosity put to rest

Yes, truth is important. Love is more important.

I saw that love on display at One Night, Columbus’s annual citywide worship service, when a Catholic priest and a Protestant minister took the stage, humbled themselves before the Lord, and confessed the sins of their respective denominations to one another. Then they forgave each other on behalf of their churches and embraced to resounding cheers. It was a beautiful display of Christian unity.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

***Learn more about One Night 2018 at www.onenightcolumbus.com

Reformation Sunday, 1 Corinthians 3: 4-17

A couple months ago my husband started bike riding. I’m not talking about riding around the neighborhood on a ten speed, no, this bike is the kind you ride for exercise. It was quiet an investment and the only safe way he can get exercise these days.

After riding for a few weeks his brakes were not working well and his gears were loose. Steve called the bike shop and without hesitation, the owner of the store informed my husband that his new bike was just a little out of whack and needed recalibrating.

As a Christian we see and hear things that want to get us out of whack and off track with God. Today is Reformation Sunday and the perfect time to recalibrate our faith. In today’s passage Paul says, “But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” The Reformers believed as Paul. Luther, Calvin, Wesley all believed that Christ and Christ alone was the true foundation for our faith.

There are many today who would argue with this. Some of the dissidents are fellow Christians who think that Jesus is just a starting point. Our scripture clearly states, “If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light.”

Don’t let your faith get out of whack, if your focus is on anything other than Christ, tune up with God’s word and pray that He recalibrates your view of our salvation.

Read todays passage on Biblegateway 1 Corinthians 3:4-17