Bob DeLong, Kid’s Hope and Houston reVision Mentor, Joy and Genesis Class member Matthew 13: 1-8 (NIV) That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did [...]

Steve Biegel Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV) 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Reflection: During a recent men’s study group session, our pastor made a distinction between [...]

Catherine Washington Matthew 12:1-8 (The Voice) The Sabbath came, and Jesus walked through a field. His disciples, who were hungry, began to pick some of the grain and eat it. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they reacted. Pharisees: Look! Your disciples are breaking the law of the Sabbath! Jesus: 3 Haven’t you read what David did? When he and his friends were hungry, 4 they went into God’s house and they ate the holy bread, even though neither David nor his friends, but only priests, were allowed that bread. 5 Indeed, have you not read that on the [...]

Jim Mayo Matthew 12:9-14 He left that place and entered their synagogue; a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked them, "Is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath?" so that they might accuse him. He said to them, "Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep? So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." Then He said to the man, "Stretch out [...]

Rachel Fisher Matthew 14:13-21 (NIV) 13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You [...]

Ted Weiss Matthew 4:12-17 (NRSV) Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:             “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,  and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” From that time Jesus began [...]

Rev. Michelle Manuel Ecclesiastes 8:1-9 1 Who is like the wise man?     And who knows the interpretation of a thing? Wisdom makes one’s face shine,     and the hardness of one’s countenance is changed. 2 Keep the king’s command because of your sacred oath. 3 Do not be terrified; go from his presence, do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, for he does whatever he pleases. 4 For the word of the king is powerful, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 Whoever obeys a command will meet no harm, and the wise mind will [...]

Lavonne Baker, Sister in Christ Ecclesiastes 7:15-29 NIV “In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these:  a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.  Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise-why destroy yourself?  Do not be a fool-why die before your time?  It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other.  The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.  Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city.  There is not a righteous man on earth who [...]

Mackenzie Rice Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. It is better for a man [...]

Vicki Keiser, Church Council, Stephen’s Ministry  Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 (NIV) I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on mankind: 2 God gives some people wealth, possessions and honor, so that they lack nothing their hearts desire, but God does not grant them the ability to enjoy them, and strangers enjoy them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil. Reflection: You know the person who seemingly has it all—success, wealth, health—but they are not happy? As a matter of fact, they even may seem to be disgruntled most of the time.  Nothing seems to be enough [...]