The Temple: Risking Righteous Anger

Mark 11:12-25 Common English Bible (CEB) 12 The next day, after leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 From far away, he noticed a fig tree in leaf, so he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing except leaves, since it wasn’t the season for figs.14 So he […]

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Internal Corruption

Mark 7:1-23 Common English Bible (CEB) 7 The Pharisees and some legal experts from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus.2 They saw some of his disciples eating food with unclean hands. (They were eating without first ritually purifying their hands through washing. 3 The Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat without first washing their hands carefully. This is a […]

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Inefficient Grace

Mark 4:1-20 Common English Bible (CEB) 4 Jesus began to teach beside the lake again. Such a large crowd gathered that he climbed into a boat there on the lake. He sat in the boat while the whole crowd was nearby on the shore. 2 He said many things to them in parables. While teaching them, he […]

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God is ___ us

Isaiah 7:10-17 Common English Bible (CEB) 10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign from the Lord your God. Make it as deep as the grave or as high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I won’t ask; I won’t test the Lord.” 13 Then Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Isn’t it enough for you […]

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Sour Grapes

Isaiah 5:1-7; 11:1-5 Common English Bible (CEB) 5 Let me sing for my loved one     a love song for his vineyard. My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. 2 He dug it,     cleared away its stones,     planted it with excellent vines,     built a tower inside it,     and dug out a wine vat in it. […]

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Acts 4:32-5:11 Common English Bible (CEB) 32 The community of believers was one in heart and mind. None of them would say, “This is mine!” about any of their possessions, but held everything in common. 33 The apostles continued to bear powerful witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and an abundance of grace was at […]

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Knew | Know | Knowing God

Exodus 3:1-15 Common English Bible (CEB) 3 Moses was taking care of the flock for his father-in-law Jethro, Midian’s priest. He led his flock out to the edge of the desert, and he came to God’s mountain called Horeb. 2 The Lord’s messenger appeared to him in a flame of fire in the middle of a bush. […]

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Draw the Circle Wide

The Outsiders: The Neighbor Luke 10:25-37 Common English Bible (CEB) 25 A legal expert stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to gain eternal life?” 26 Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?” 27 He responded, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, […]

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Jesus Was Homeless

The Outsiders: The Homeless Luke 9:51-62 Common English Bible (CEB) 51 As the time approached when Jesus was to be taken up into heaven, he determined to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers on ahead of him. Along the way, they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival, 53 but the Samaritan villagers refused to […]

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The Outsiders: The Worthy Luke 7:1-10 Common English Bible (CEB) 7 After Jesus finished presenting all his words among the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 A centurion had a servant who was very important to him, but the servant was ill and about to die. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to […]

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