Thanksgiving (US) Psalm: 65 Meditation James: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, Who does not change like sifting shadows.” (v. 17) Thanksgiving is that one civil holiday which impels us to be grateful to God for all His abundant blessing. We celebrate the Lord’s …
Tag: James 1
Joy
Listen. Listen to the pre-recorded Children’s Message together. You can find it at pacificunionchurch.org/churchsmallReviewPastor Nate talked about “happy” and “joy” in the children’s message. How is “happy” different from “joy”? [Hint to parents: remember from the children’s message that happiness comes and goes because it is a reaction to what happens to us. Joy stays all the time.]Let’s …
Going Deeper: June 21
Read James 1:1-12 together. Watch the sermon video (available at pacificunionchurch.org/churchsmall)Listen. How does James stretch your understanding of joy? How does James give us a new perspective on suffering?Respond. How would your life change if you embraced God’s view of joy and suffering? Is God asking you to do something or to stop doing something?Is He calling …
Sunday, June 21, 2020
Psalm: 19 Meditation Matthew: This little speech Jesus gave to His disciples after disappointing the rich young man in telling him to sell what he had and to give it to the poor. Well, he probably didn’t do that “because he had great wealth” (v. 22) and he went away sad. Jesus has nothing against …
Tuesday, May 19
Psalm: 78:1-39 Meditation James: Most people, at this time (in Jeru-salem) were either agrarian, fishermen, or merchants. The “first fruits” James speaks of are the very early believers who were a promise of a greater harvest yet to come. The birth spoken of in v. 18 is the one “born of the Spirit” the regeneration …
Monday, May 18
Psalm: 80 Meditation Deuteronomy: For 40 years the Israelites wandered in the desert (wilderness) not knowing where their next meal was coming from. Thing is, the food provided was for each day and no more. The faithless would hoard “extra” only to learn that any food left overnight would then spoil. This is why Jesus, …
Lead us not into temptation
James the brother of Jesus writes this concerning temptations that we face. James 1:13-14 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. God never …
