Exodus 16 - 4.26.2024

Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.

Exodus 16:35
The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.

Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?

I don’t think I have ever eaten the same thing over and over again for forty days let alone forty years. Even my most favorite foods come close to losing their title of ‘favorite’ when eaten over and over again. But perhaps satisfying Israel’s taste buds at the time of Exodus 16 was low on God’s lists of priorities. As God delivers justice to His people’s cries for it in Luke 18, our Lord Jesus asks,, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” 

My parents provided for me, cared for me, and loved me, but it still took so long, too long, for me to develop a genuine gratefulness and caring for them that went beyond the obligatory “I love you mom” and “I love you dad” statements.  My shortcomings and selfishness were simply overshadowed by their love for me.

And that’s why I identify with the Israelites in exodus 16. While my brain says I would have done so much better had I personally experienced all of those miracles, remembering my childhood and all the various terrible perspectives I’ve had in my life tells me otherwise. As the Israelites had been delivered from slavery, experienced God's miracles, and spent time with God’s literal presence, they were still lacking belief/faith/love. And I am not sure I would have been any different had I been in that camp as a younger less mature version of myself.

Application - How will you apply this to your life?

Lord, what set Joshua and Caleb apart from the rest of their generation? Why were they so quick to have faith in you when everyone else would not? How can I build my faith in you today, Lord? Please show me?

Prayer - Write out a prayer.

Lord, I don’t want to spend the rest of my days grumbling over something that is low priority. Help my spirit to see what the greater goal is. Help me not to be so blind that I miss all the miracles you have sent my way. As the Israelites got to spend all that time in your presence and completely missed it, may I, may my family, may we all not spend our lives that way, like petulant children who spend a lifetime blindly observing miracles, only to have eternity pass us by. Wake me up, please Holy Spirit. Help me to see! Help me to build my faith, please oh Lord! In the name of Jesus do I pray. Amen.

-kenneth lee

Luke 17 - 4.25.24

S - Luke 17:1-3 Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.  2  It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.  3  So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister [a]  sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them (NIV)

O – Jesus is warning the disciples of God’s wrath should they offend, abuse, or lead people astray. We really see in the message translation that this is serious business! “Better to wear a concrete vest and take a swim with the fishes than give even one of these dear little ones a hard time! Wow! That is a pretty clear command. Indifference to the training and treatment of new Christians can leave them theologically vulnerable as well.

A – We may think, “Well I’m good. I’m not offending anyone or causing anyone to stumble and sin.” However, it is important to understand what Jesus meant when He spoke of offenses and stumbling blocks. The ancient Greek word used here for offenses is skandalon, and it comes from the word for a bent-stick — the stick that springs the trap or sets the bait. It also was used for a stumbling block, something that people trip over.

Sometimes skandalon is good — such as the way that people “trip” over Jesus, and are offended at the gospel.

But among brothers and sisters in Christ, a skandalon is bad. It can be false counsel - Matthew 16:23  Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” It can be leading a brother into sin by your “liberty”- Romans 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. Division and false teaching bring a skandalon among God’s people - Romans 16:17-18 (msg) One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They’re only in this for what they can get out of it and aren’t above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents.

Essentially Jesus said: “People are going to take the bait — but woe to you if you offer the hook. People are going to trip up — but woe to you if you set the stumbling block in their way.”

The solution to being a stumbling block to others is love: He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. If we love our brother, we will not bring an offense into their life.

And if/when someone sins against you, address the issue directly (rebuke them). When they repent, extend forgiveness—even if it happens repeatedly. If someone seems ripe for the judgment or discipline of God, let God do it. God doesn’t need you as an instrument of His judgment, only as an instrument of His love. (Bluelettterbible.org)

Are we making follow-through care of recent Christ-followers a high priority in our DSC family? Jesus says that our actions matter both in this life and for eternity. We need to be purposeful in loving on and training up new believer’s within our family…..as a family. It’s not up to the pastor or the leaders alone to make sure they don’t stumble. We are commissioned to walk alongside new believers and gently correct them when necessary, without judging.

P – Lord I pray we would all look at this command to keep others from stumbling in a fresh light. Help us not to be passive or indifferent. May we strive to live in a way that reflects Jesus’ love and grace toward others. Whether that be toward the lost and unchurched, our own Christian brothers and sisters, or the new believers who walk through our doors. In Jesus’ name I pray…Amen!

- Crystal Flory

Luke 16 - 4.24.24

Scripture 

Luke 16:10-11

 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?

Observation

Jesus uses parables about wealthy men in Luke 16 to remind us about true riches.

Application

Luke 16 opens with a story of a manager about to get fired by his rich boss. The manager devises a plan to “make friends” who will help him out when he has nowhere else to go. The rich boss commends the manager for being “shrewd.”  

Shrewd – marked by clever discerning awareness and hardheaded acumen.

Jesus points out that the people of the world are more shrewd than people of the light and suggests that his followers should also plan for their future.

God’s principles remain true in every application. Even if people aren’t following God, they can reap the results of following God’s principles. I find an interesting parallel between what I have read about the habits of highly successful people and what God calls us to as Christ followers:

 Highly Successful People (aka rich) vs. Christ Followers

HS: Get up early to plan, set priorities, meditate without distractions

CF: Get up early to spend time with God, listen for his voice, invite him to direct their day

HS: Passion for their business/career

CF: Passion for the things of God

HS: Constantly learning/reading/seeking improvement

CF: Constantly learning/reading God’s word/seeking growth in their relationship with God

HS: Self-discipline – diet, exercise, time management, etc.

CF: Self-discipline – spiritual practices (Bible reading, prayer, scripture memorization, worship)

HS: Building their network/making connections

CF: Building relationships

Highly successful people are constantly building for their future. And likewise, we should be passionately engaged in growing and building the kingdom of God. Do we want to be trusted with a little of God or do we want a lot?

Prayer

Thank you for speaking to me this morning about the true riches of following you, serving others, and sharing the Good News of your love for them. I am passionate about my work. I need to be even more passionate about the things of God!

- Debbie Dunn