Dan Gould

Category: Bible Challenge

  • John 12:37-50

    “But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. . . . Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue.  For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.” v. 37 & 42-43

    Even though the people heard, saw, and experienced Jesus, many still refused to believe He was the Messiah.  However, some did believe but choose to keep it quiet do to fear of rejection by other religious leaders.  The same happens today.  Some refuse to believe and others seem to be paralyzed by the fear of rejection.  Jesus had strong words for this in Matthew 10:32-33.

    When it comes to what you believe, do you reject Christ, are you affraid for people to find out what you believe about Jesus, or are you a person that is acknowledges Christ with your words and lifestyle.

    Lets strive to be people that aren’t afraid to live for Jesus and acknowledge Him with our words and Lifestyle.  Note to self – this doesn’t mean you have to wear Christian T-shirts, listen to Christian Music only, or stand on a street corner shouting turn or burn.  It simply means that you that you Love Jesus, and you are trying to become more like HIm!

  • John 12:20-36

    “Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.” v. 25-26

    Well, for some reason these words of Jesus keep circling around in my reading.  I think God is trying to get my attention when it come to being His disciple.  Here is what the NLT Life Application Study Bible says,

    We must be so committed to living for Christ that we should ‘care nothing’ for our lives by comparison.  This does not mean that we long to die or that we are careless or destructive with the life God has given, but that we are willing to die if doing so will glorify Christ.  We must disown the tyrannical rule of our own self-centeredness.  By laying aside our striving for advantage security, and pleasure, we can serve God lovingly and freely.  Releasing control of our lives and transferring control to Christ bring eternal life and genuine joy.

    Less of me more of Him!

  • Matthew 21:1-17

    The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.  11 And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” v.10-11

    As Jesus entered the town on a donkey, the crowd covered the road with garments and palm branches.  Many people came to see what was going on and asking “Who is this?” the crowds responded with this answer, ‘It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee”

    Some knew who Jesus was and others didn’t, regardless, Jesus was drawing a crowd and He still does today.  People flock to churches and other places to hear about Jesus to see if they can believe.  When someone asks you Who Jesus is, how do you respond?  Our response could lead them to a relationship with the Jesus.

  • John 12:1-11

    When I read this passage I cant help but think of this song by CeCe Winans.  It really captures the passage!

    How do you respond to Jesus and show your gratitude?  Today, I encourage you to spend some time with God and thank Him for all the blessings He has given you.

  • Luke 19:1-27

    “The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem, he told them a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right away.” v. 11

    Verse 11 is an interesting verse to pick out of this passage but it has major importance and connect and transitions two very powerful story’s that give us insight to the Kingdom of God.  Here are some things to understand.

    • Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem!  I Jerusalem He will be betrayed and handed over to be crucified.  He knows this and that is why the next passage is so big for us as Christ Followers.
    • Jesus address with the encounter with Zacchaeus why He came from Heaven to Earth.  But it also reveals what the power of His Presence in ones life can do.  He changes people from the inside out.  Verses 9-10 give us a clear picture of His purpose and ours.
    • The story in verses 12-27 is an example of Gods Kingdom.  It represents the time period between Jesus Ascension and His 2nd Coming.  Jesus is coming back! He has given us (Believers) gift, talents, and resources to advance His Kingdom and He will hold us accountable to how we used them when He returns.

    So what does this mean for you and me?  Well a couple of things:

    1. People need Jesus. It doesn’t matter where they have been or what they have done, they need Jesus!
    2. We have been given a responsibility to advance the Kingdom of God. Jesus has entrusted us with His resources.  He expects us to use them in a way that others can come to know Him and grow in relationship with Him.

    Here’s the question are you using the resources God has given you to advance His Kingdom?  Do you see the people that need Him and are you willing to reach out to them?  Jesus, I want to be this type of person!

  • Mark 10:35-45

    When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 42 So Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.’” v. 41-45

    It’s easy to want to be recognized for acts of service!  It’s also easy to do stuff to look good in the eyes of others.  In this passage Jesus address the heart more than He does the actions.  When you are moved with compassion by the Holy Spirit, you will do things because it is the right thing to do not for a show, recognition, or other selfish desires.  This is totally opposite of cooperate America and the worlds way, but it is Gods way!  James and John wanted to be at the top, siting next to Jesus in the Kingdom of Heaven.  But Jesus told them that true greatness comes in serving other.

    Today rather than seeking ways to have your needs met, look for ways that you can minister to the needs of others!

  • Matthew 20:1-16

    “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage[a] and sent them out to work.

    3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.

    6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’

    7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’

    “The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’

    8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’

    13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

    16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

    From the NLT Life Application Study Bible:

    This parable is not about rewards but about salvation.  It is a strong teaching about grace,  God’s generosity.  We shouldn’t begrudge those who turn to God in the last moments of life, because, in reality, no one deserves eternal life.

    Many people we don’t expect to see in the Kingdom will be there.  The criminal who repented as he was dying will be there along with the people who have believed and served God for many years.  Do you resent God’s gracious acceptance of the despised, the outcast, and the sinners who have turned to him for forgiveness?  Have you ever been of what God has given to another person?  Instead, focus on God’s gracious benefits to you, and be thankful for what you have.

  • Mark 10:17-31

    “As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” v.17

    Have you ever asked this question.  If you haven’t it is a question you should consider asking.  In this passage we know that this man had a lot of money and seemed to be a good person because he was doing a lot of good things.  But Jesus tells him it wasn’t enough and that he needed to sell all of his possessions to the poor in order for him to have eternal life.

    So does that mean that all a person has to do is be good and sell all thier stuff?  No.  Jesus explains this later with these verses,

    “’Yes,’” Jesus replied, ‘and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.’” v. 29-31

    Having eternal life comes from having a relationship with Christ.  Being a Christ Follower, is not necessarily made up of a check list of things I do and things I don’t.  Yes, these things can be good, but being a Christ Follower means that I am completely sold out to Christ.  Being sold out means that nothing stands in the way of my relationship with Him.  The question that has to be asked is this, I am willing to give up everything for Him and the sake of the Gospel.  The way you answer this will tell you a lot about what yourself and your relationship with God.  Jesus is teaching that there should be nothing that stands in the way of a relationship with him! This is what it means to be sold out and that’s the type of person I want to be.

    Today, is there anything you are holding on to that might be getting in the way of your relationship with Jesus?  Are you willing to give it up for His sake and the sake of the Gospel?

  • Mark 10:1-12

    “But Jesus responded, ‘He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts. 6 But ‘God made them male and female’[b] from the beginning of creation. 7 ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife,[c] 8 and the two are united into one.’[d] Since they are no longer two but one,9 let no one split apart what God has joined together.’” v. 5-8

    The Pharisees are trying once again to trick/corner Jesus by asking a controversial question.  This time the question is centered around the concept of Divorce.  If you have ever experienced divorce you know how difficult it is.  The Pharisees looked at divorce more as a legal matter where Jesus addresses it more as a spiritual matter.  Here is what the Life Application Study Notes said today,

    God allowed divorce as a concession to people’s sinfulness.  Unfortunately, the Pharisees used Deuteronomy 24:1 as a proof text for the sanctioning of divorce.  Jesus explained that divorce was not God’s ideal; instead, God wants married people to consider their marriage permanent.  Don’t enter marriage with the option of getting out.  Tour marriage is more likely to be happy if from the outset you are committed to permanence.  Don’t be hardhearted like these Pharisees, but be hardhearted in your determination, with God’s help, to stay together.

    That said, we know that in our world, divorce is sometimes necessary (for physical survival, for well-being of children, etc.).  Jesus clearly gave God’s ideal for marriage priority over Moses’ permission for divorce.  Jesus did not cancel Moses’ teaching, however.  For possible exceptions, see Matthew 5:32 and 19:9, where Jesus permitted divorce when the spouse had been unfaithful; and 1 Corinthians 7:15, where Paul recognized divorce when the unbelieving partner leaves the marriage.  Divorce is wrong; it serves a holy union.  But divorce is permitted.  Jesus did not elaborate on the permissible reason, but his high view of marriage surely requires that divorce be a last resort to avoid greater disaster.

  • Luke 18:1-14

    Then the Lord said, ‘Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man[a] returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?’” v. 6-8

    How often do you pray for the things that are disturbing you, once, twice, more?  The lady was relentless in her request for justice and the unjust judge answered her request.

    God cares so deeply for us and wants us to bring our request to Him so He can answer them.  Yes we tend to go to God in the bad times, but God also wants us to go to Him in the good times with thanksgiving.  What Jesus is really teaching here is an attitude of prayer and the victory that we will see one day when He returns and God brings justice.  It is going to happen, do you believe?  So the questions I am asking myself and would pose to you are these – Hows my/your prayer life?  How could it be better?  What need to change?