The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?" Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.  If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.  He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. (John 7:15-18) 

Jesus was not an academic, nor was He self-taught. Rather, Jesus had an exceptional grasp of God’s Word because He learned it to live it, perfectly and completely, to bring glory to His Father. He challenges us to do likewise, not only devoting ourselves to honor our Father by how we live, but in the process learning the truth of our dependence on His grace. Only when we try to set aside our own egos and serve God exclusively do we discover the depth of our need and the value of His redemption!

“Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to do for us what we could not do for ourselves, ransoming us from our sin, death, and the devil. Reinforce our faith with Your Spirit, that we may honor You with our lives, in Jesus, amen.”

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SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS

An experienced teacher was walking down the hall of a middle school.

She noticed the new substitute teacher outside his assigned classroom.

The young teacher was leaning toward the wall with his head against a locker.

The older teacher could hear him mutter, “How did you get into this?”

Knowing the new substitute was dealing with a difficult class, 

the experienced teacher wanted to be supportive. 

So she asked, “Are you okay? Is there anything I can do to help?”

The young teacher looked up and replied, “I’ll be fine.

I just need to get this kid out of his locker.”

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The LORD free you to experience His love in new ways this week!

Pastor Kirk

​“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” (Matthew 7:24-29)
 
The wise are discerning and active. They don’t necessarily know more than others and they are certainly not know-it-alls. Yet they know who can be trusted to tell the truth, and they do not fail to act on the truth. As we begin a new school year, we pray not only for teachers and their students, but for ourselves, that we would be able to sort out the truth in a world of manipulation and misinformation, and that we would act on the truth that God has revealed to us in Jesus.
 
“Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to teach us the truth and act for our redemption. Guide and bless all teachers and students, including us, that we would be wise enough to discern the truth and courageous enough to build our lives on it, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
 
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A burglar broke into a house one night and was searching for valuables.
 
Suddenly, out of the darkness a high voice called, “Jesus is watching you.”
 
The burglar nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked off his flashlight and froze.
 
When he heard nothing more, after several minutes, he resumed his search.
 
Once again, he suddenly heard the voice call out, “Jesus is watching you.”
 
Freaked out, he frantically spun around, searching for the source of the voice.
 
Finally, in the corner of the room, he spotted a parrot in a large cage.
 
Immediately the burglar relaxed, recognizing the voice as that of the parrot.
 
“You’re a pretty bird; what’s your name?” he asked.                           
 
“Moses,” the parrot squawked, and the burglar chuckled.
 
“What kind of people would name their parrot Moses?” he asked aloud.
 
The parrot looked down at a huge black mass beginning to stir beneath it.
 
The bird replied, “The kind that would name their Rottweiler ‘Jesus.’”
 
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 The LORD guide you into all truth this week!
 
Pastor Kirk