Dan Gould

Category: Bible Challenge

  • Luke 13:22-35

    “And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.” v. 30

    Jesus is answering the question, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”  This is a great debate even today.  There are many people who know about God, but don’t know God.  This is a big difference.  Jesus goes on to teach that Gods Kingdom may have many surprises.  People who are despised now will be greatly honored then, some influential people here now will be left outside the gate.

    The lesson for all of us is to make sure the condition of our heart is sort to Gods grace, forgiveness, and salvation offered to us through Jesus.  If we will trust God with the details of our lives and live according to His plans, accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will enter through the narrow road Jesus is describing.

    Today, may we be mindful of the things we say and do.  May we live for an audience of One, allowing our public and private self be the same regardless who is around!

  • John 10:1-18

    “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” v.10

    This happens to be one of my favorite verses.  It explains so much in so little.  Many time people want to argue the existence of God with this statement.  “If God is a loving God, why do bad things happen?”  or better yet, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”  Have you ever heard or asked that question yourself?  Well John 10:10 is the answer.  Just as much as there is a God who loves us, there is a thief, Satan himself, who want to Steal anything good God wants to give us, Kill our peace, joy, and other things God blesses us with, and Destroy our effectiveness, influence, reputation, faith, eternity.

    But Jesus says He has come to give us a rich and satisfying life!  Sometimes we may have to go through some rough stuff to get to this, but in the end, we will be able to enjoy life to the fullest. Gold at it’s purest form has to go though fire.  While in the fire, all the impurities in the gold are burned off making it more valuable.  This same thing happens to us as we allow God to purify us. Don’t be afraid to let God purify you.

    Today, may we excperience what Jesus is talking about by making sure we are following the Good Shepherd, klinging to His voice and following His way!

  • Luke 12:22-34

    “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” v. 25

    Jesus commands us not to worry.  But how can we avoid it?  Only faith can free us from the anxiety caused by greed and covetousness.  Working and planning responsibly is good; dwelling on all the ways our planning could go wrong is bad.  Worry is pointless because it can’t fill any of our needs; worry is foolish because the Creator of the universe loves us and knows what we need.  He promises to meet all our needs but not necessarily all our desires.

    Fear and worry are very serious and overcoming them can be difficult, but possible.  Here is what it is going to take:

    1. Simple trust in God, your Heavenly Father! This trust is expressed by praying to Him rather than worrying.
    2. Perspective on your Problems. Look at and develop a strategy for addressing and correcting your problems.
    3. A Support Team to Help. Find some believers who will pray for you to find wisdom and strength to deal with your worries.

    Taken from the NLT Life Application Study Bible

  • Luke 12:1-21

    Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. 2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!

    4 ‘Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell.[a] Yes, he’s the one to fear.’” v. 1-5

    Awesome stuff this morning from the NLT Life Application Study Bible!

    As Jesus watched the huge crowds waiting to hear him he warned his disciples against hypocrisy – trying to appear Holy when ones heart is far from God.  The Pharisees could not keep their attitudes hidden forever.  Their selfishness would act like yeast, and soon they would expose themselves for what they really were – power hungry impostors, not devoted religious leaders.  It is easy to be angry at the blatant hypocrisy of the pharisees, but each of us must resist the temptation to settle for the appearance of respectability when our hearts are far from God.

    What are the signs of Hypocrisy?

    1. Knowing the Truth and Not Obeying it! People can say they follow Jesus but not be obedient to His Word.
    2. Living a Self-Serving Life! People may desire leadership only because they love position and control, not because they want to serve others.
    3. Reduces Faith to Rigid Rules! People can end up worshiping thier own rules and regulations about what they think God wants instead of worshiping God Himself.
    4. Outward Conformity without Inward Reality! People can obey details but still be disobedient in general behavior.

    Many non-Christians use the supposed (or real) hypocrisy of Christians as an excuse to stay away from God and the church.  Look carefully at your life.  You are not perfect; therefore, at times an action or behavior might provide the ammunition for someone to label you a hypocrite.  However, you must discern your own heart.  Consider the signs of hypocrisy noted above and make sure you are not guilty.  Then ask God to help you live rightly.

  • More than life – Hillsong

    These words are so powerful!  My prayer is that my life would be a reflection of the words.  This truly is my hearts desire. Enjoy!

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  • Luke 11:33-54

    “Then the Lord said to him, ‘You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness! 40 Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? 41 So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.

    42 What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens,[c] but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

    43 What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you love to sit in the seats of honor in the synagogues and receive respectful greetings as you walk in the marketplaces. 44 Yes, what sorrow awaits you! For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on.’” v. 39-44

    Jesus is more concerned with what is going on on the inside than how you look on the outside.  I remember growing up as a teenager, I could look like a Christian on Sunday.  I could say the right answers, act the right way, and even pray the right prayers, but my heart wasn’t right.  That was shown by how I lived everyday besides Sunday.  When Jesus got a hold of all of me, my heart included, he started changing me from the inside out.  Thus the name for this blog.  I want to be changed from the inside out not from the outside in.  I love what the NLT Life Application Study Bible says in its notes for this passage.  Check it out:

    Jesus criticized the Pharisees and the experts in religious law harshly because they

    1. Washed their outsides but not their insides.
    2. Remembered to give a tenth of their garden herbs but neglected justice.
    3. Loved praise and attention.
    4. Loaded people down with burdensome religious demands.
    5. Would not accept the truth about Jesus.
    6. Prevented others from believing the truth.

    They went wrong by focusing on outward appearances and ignoring the inner condition of their heart.

    People do the same when their service comes from a desire to be seen rather than from a pure heart that is full of love for others.  People may sometimes be fooled, but God isn’t!  Don’t be a Christian on the outside only.  Bring your inner life under God’s control and your outer life will naturally reflect Him!

  • Hillsong – Nothing But the Blood (Legendado Portugal)

    As I was hanging out with the Lord today, this song captured my heart. It’s an old hymn but still very powerful words and meaning. Enjoy!!

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  • Luke 11:14-32

    “He knew their thoughts, so he said, ‘Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.’” v. 17

    The great debate continues!!!  People are seeing Jesus do these miracles, but they are questioning who He is, asking him to prove that He is “really” from God and not from the Devil.  Jesus explains that if He was from Satan he wouldn’t be casting our Demons.  It seemed that the crowd was trying to find every reason why they couldn’t or shouldn’t believe what Jesus was saying.

    Doesn’t this sound like our world today?  People are searching . . . and sadly, people are rejecting Christ and trying to believe something else in their hopes to become “spiritual”!  However, Jesus didn’t come to make us spiritual, He came to restore us to a right relationship with God.  Some of His teachings are hard and require us to have faith and discipline because we live in a sinful fallen world.  But, He does give us a choice.  Some people will choose to believe Jesus is who he says He is, while others will reject Him, His claims, and His teachings.  Others will choose not to choose, meaning they haven’t rejected Christ, but they haven’t accepted Him either.  However, the Bible says it is pretty clear:

    “‘Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.’” v. 23

    So, where are you?  Do you believe Jesus is who He says He is?  Does your life style match your beliefs?

  • Luke 11:1-13

    Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’

    2 Jesus said, ‘This is how you should pray:[a]

    “Father, may your name be kept holy.
    May your Kingdom come soon.
    3 Give us each day the food we need,[b]
    4 and forgive us our sins,
    as we forgive those who sin against us.
    And don’t let us yield to temptation.[c]‘“

    Can you picture this scene.  Jesus is praying and one of the Disciples is watching!  He is watching How Jesus talks with God.  Once Jesus is done, the disciple asks Him to teach them how to pray.  And Jesus does.

    He teaches them a simple prayer that is not to complicated.  Notice it doesn’t have big words and isn’t supper long.  Prayer is simply talking to God.  Many times we make it harder than it is.

    You don’t have to use big words, you just simply need to talk with God like you would talk with a friend.  He wants to listen . . . will you give him a call?

    Gods Phone Number: Jeremiah 33:3

    “‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’”

  • Influence

    Tomorrow, we are wrapping up our series called “The Epistle”, which was our summer Bible study of 1st-3rd John, with a two part talk on Influence.  Here is our theme verse for the next two weeks:

    “Dear friend, don’t let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God’s children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God. ” v.11

    Would you consider yourself to be a person of influence?  How are you an influence?  Who are you influencing?  Are you a good or bad influence?  Who is influencing you?