Word Keeper

Betty and Burl Traylor started a ministry called Sidewalk Funday School in the inner-city areas of Jacksonville. Many families and children don’t attend church, so the Traylors bring church to the children. They have a big trailer that is used for storage and a stage (at least, that’s how it looks in the video). They sing songs, play games, and study the Bible with the children. For more information on Sidewalk Funday School, visit the website; the video is at the bottom. … Here’s their prayer request posted on the NAMB site:

Betty and Burl are the founders of Sidewalk Funday School, a children’s ministry serving inner city youth. Please ask that God would send more volunteers to come alongside our ministry. We need people with passionate, willing hearts to help us as we expand our ministry. Praise God for the provision of a building in which to do our ministry. Please pray that we would use this pace to do what God desires as we minister to the children and families of Jacksonville.

Jason Missionary Monday, Prayer

2 Samuel 6

David wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant to his new capital, Jerusalem. David threw a big party. They hauled the Ark on an oxcart, guided by Ahio and Uzzah, the sons of Abinidab, in whose house the Ark had been kept throughout the reign of Saul. The oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out and touched the Ark to steady it. God struck him dead. The parade ended. The Ark did not make it to Jerusalem. (2 Samuel 1-10)

What went wrong? … A key ingredient was missing was missing from David’s efforts. It is the same ingredient that is missing from American Christianity in our generation.

The missing ingredient is careful obedience to God’s Word that comes from a healthy respect for God’s holiness

Sincerity is not enough. … Many people are sincere in what they believe and in their actions, but that doesn’t mean they are right. Just because two people are sincere in their belief in different faiths, does not mean both will make it to Heaven. … Just because someone does something with good, sincere intentions, it does not make it right.

Obedience is required. … The Israelites had lost the Ark to the Philistines, who sent it back on an oxcart. The Philistines did not know the law about how to transport the Ark. However, David and the Israelites had the law that had been revealed through Moses. The law specified exactly how the Ark should be transported from place to place. It wasn’t by oxcart. So God was angry with Israelites for not obeying the law He laid out for them.

When a new king was appointed for Israel, he was to copy the law by himself. The new king had to write every word in the books of the law, the first five books of our Bible. After copying the law, he had to read from it everyday. This was so that the king would know it by heart and be less likely to stray from God’s will. (Deuteronomy 17:18-19)

When Uzzah touched the Ark and died, David left it in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. The Ark stayed there for three months and the house of Obed-edom was blessed. When David heard how the Ark had blessed the House of Obed-edom, he tried bringing it to Jerusalem again. This time he followed every detail that the law laid out about how to transport the Ark. David even made a sacrifice (or a lot of sacrifices, we’re not sure) that wasn’t specified in the law and then “David danced before the Lord with all his might”. (2 Samuel 10-15)

See Exodus 25:12-15; Numbers 4:15 for laws concerning how to treat the Ark

See Leviticus 18:4; 25:18; Deuteronomy 6:3; Joshua 23:6 for commands on following the law that was presented to the Israelites.

See 1 Chronicles 15-16 for more on how the story of David bringing the Ark to Jerusalem.

Jason religion, Series, Sunday Sermon, Year of the Bible

Sunday:

The Sunday Sermon was entitled “How God Accomplishes His Purposes” and was about God being able to use anyone to accomplish His purposes.

Monday:

The Monday Missionary was Melanie Watt, who works at a ranch for troubled youth. At the ranch, youth are taught about Jesus and receive help for whatever is wrong in their lives.

The #YearOfTheBible scripture was Psalm 6, 9, 10, 14, 16, 21. … David asks a few questions of God, and but he never turns away. … I may have a hard time choosing just 1 passage to share today.

Tuesday:

The #YearOfTheBible scripture was 1 Chronicles 1, 2 & Psalm 43, 44. … Genealogies and Psalms that like sound mourning.

Wednesday:

The Wednesday Worship song was “My Deliverer” by Mandisa.

The #YearOfTheBible scripture was #Psalm 49, 84, 85, 87. … More Psalms that praise God.

Thursday:

The #YearOfTheBible scripture was 1 Chronicles 3 – 5. … More genealogies.

Friday:

The #YearOfTheBible scripture was 1 Chronicles 6; Psalm 36, 39, 77-78. … Information on the Levites. … God’s steadfast love. … Review of the Israelites wandering in the dessert and how they rebelled against God.

Saturday:

The #YearOfTheBible scripture was Psalm 81, 88, 92, 93. … Four really great Psalms.

Jason News, Weekly Wrapup

This week we have Mandisa singing “My Deliverer” for us. Jesus is our deliverer. He can deliverer us from anything that holds us captive.

Jason Fun, Music, Video, Wednesday Worship

Melanie Watt is the director for Hope Remains Youth Ranch, a ranch where struggling youth go and hopefully gain “a new sense of confidence, responsibility, accountability, sensitivity to others and discipline in their conduct.” Their mission statement is “Hope Remains Youth Ranch is a place where children and youth are transformed through the hope found in Jesus Christ.”

Here’s Melanie’s prayer request as posted on the NAMB website:

 Melanie is the director of Hope Remains Youth Ranch. Our organization has purchased 24 acres of land on which to build a new facility. Pray that the Lord will provide donors and support for this huge project. Ask that God provide summer mission teams to assist us in building each of the buildings and structures we hope to provide. We can only afford the materials for the build and are trusting God to provide the hands to assist us in the labor. Please pray also for the youth that we serve to find the peace and strength of Christ in their lives.

Check out their website and Facebook for more info.

Jason Missionary Monday, Prayer

2 Samuel 2-3

We’re starting a new period of history in our Year of the Bible campaign: the United Kingdom (no, not the UK with England and all the other nations, but the period of time in which all of Israel was united under one king.)
Books include:

• 2nd Samuel
• 1st & 2nd Kings
• 1st & 2nd Chronicles

1st Chronicles covers 2nd Samuel but from a later viewpoint, as a reflection.
2nd Chronicles covers 1st & 2nd Kings in the same way.

We will also read more books of wisdom/poetry – mostly written by David and Solomon

• Psalms
• Proverbs
• Ecclesiastes
• Song of Solomon

1. God accomplishes His purposes over a period of time (2 Samuel 2:11). … David was anointed to be king as a young men, but Saul didn’t give up the throne. Then when Saul died about 15 years later , Abner made someone else, Ish-Bosheth, king of Israel. David did become king of Judah though after Saul’s death. … Then 7 more years went by before he became king over all of Israel. … David waited about 22 years to become king of Israel as he was anointed when he was young. … God lives in eternity. He’s in no hurry. … God knows when you are ready. Spiritual growth takes time. It takes time for us to become spiritually mature. God takes His time to prepare us with experiences.
2. God accomplishes His purposes in spite of–and even through–difficult people (2 Samuel 2:18-3:39). … The 3 nephews of David: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel were generals in David’s army and great warriors. Abner, Ish-Bosheth’s general, killed Asahel. When Abner tried to make peace with David, Joab killed Abner. David got upset because his nephews were a thorn in his side. … We all have people like this in our lives, people who are hard to get along with and always causing trouble. God can use these people to help you grow. God can use you even though there are difficult people who you thing may be standing in your way.

All of God’s plans go through Jesus. God desires for everyone to intimately know Jesus as your savior and as your friend.

Jason religion, Series, Sunday Sermon, Year of the Bible

We finished out 1 Samuel this week in the Year of the Bible readings and started 2 Samuel. We also read a lot of Psalms and the first chapter of 1 Chronicles.

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Sunday:

Easter Sunday! I shared Mark 16:1-8 in a special Easter 2012 post. The post also had a cool video on the bottom.

The Sunday Sermon was titled “Four Things Jesus Wants to Say to You This Easter” and was about Jesus appearing to people

Monday:

The featured missionaries were Paul and Lila Murdock. They live in a part of  West Virginia where a lot of people don’t attend church, so their mission is to reach those people.

The #YearOfTheBible scripture was Psalm 56; 120; 140 – 142. … More psalms of David as he flees enemies. David praises God in harsh times.

Tuesday:

The #YearOfTheBible scripture was 1 Samuel 25 – 27 & Psalm 17 & 73. … Samuel dies. David takes 2 wives. David spares Saul and flees to live with the Philistines.

Wednesday:

The Wednesday Worship song was “Glorious Day” by Casting Crowns. Yeah, Easter is awesome. … I posted two videos of it because one of the videos had some graphic scenes from The Passion of the Christ.

The #YearOfTheBible scripture was Psalm 35, 54, 63, & #8220 18. … Psalms of David as he continues to flee his enemies and is delivered from their hands by God. … David seems to always praise God, even as he is fleeing for his life.

Thursday:

The #YearOfTheBible scripture was 1 Samuel 28 – 31 & 1 Chronicles 1. … Saul seeks for help from a medium and summons Samuel from the dead. David has success as he rescues his wives and others. Saul dies.

Friday:

The Today’s #YearOfTheBible scripture was Psalm 121, 123 -125, & 128 – 130 … Each is a song of ascent and has an uplifting tone.

Saturday:

The #YearOfTheBible scripture was 2 Samuel 1-4 … David mourns for Saul & Jonathon. David becomes king of Judah. Ish-Bosheth becomes king of Israel. Ish-Bosheth gets murdered.

Jason Weekly Wrapup

I still got Easter on the mind. So, this week’s song is “Glorious Day” by Casting Crowns.

That video is pretty good, but here’s one that I think is a little better if you can stomach the scenes from The Passion.

Jason Holidays, Music, Video, Wednesday Worship

This week’s missionaries are Paul and Lila Murdock, a couple working in West Virginia, trying to reach people who don’t attend church. Here is Paul’s prayer request as posted on NAMB website.

Paul is a pastor serving in West Virginia. Please pray for myself and my wife Lila as we pastor and serve a small, struggling church in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Please pray for Paul and Lila Murdock as they pastor a small, struggling church in Pocahontas County WV. Less than 14% of residents in the county attend church. Pray for us as we attempt to reach the many unchurched people living in our community. Ask that God give us a renewed strength to be faithful to the calling He has given us.

Jason Missionary Monday, Prayer

It’s Easter! So, we’re extending the break from the Year of the Bible series.

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After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to various individuals or groups of disciples at least ten times over a span of forty days. There were at least four purposes in His appearances. Listen for the four things Jesus wants to say to you:

1. Jesus says, “What happened to me was always part of God’s plan” (Luke 24:25-27). … Easter Sunday afternoon … Jesus walked with 2 of His disciples in disguise. … They weren’t sure what to make of everything that had happened. Jesus explains to them the scriptures in the Old Testament that foretold of Jesus’ suffering and death. … God took the evil actions of humans and turned it into something amazing. God took the worst thing mankind could do and turned it into the greatest event in history. …. God can take the worst thing in your life and turn it into something great! … It’s easy to see God’s plan in retrospect, but looking forward makes it harder to see what’s unfolding.
2. Jesus says, “I want to help you believe I am alive ” (Luke 24:38-43; John 20:27-29). … Also on Easter Sunday. … Ten of the disciples in a locked room. Jesus appears. They thought He was a ghost. So Jesus proves to them that He is really Jesus, the Son of Man who was crucified on a cross. He showed them His scars and they still didn’t believe! So he ate some food and they saw it disappear, so they believed. … Thomas wasn’t there and didn’t believe when the others told him, but as soon as he saw Jesus with his own eyes, he believed! … Jesus said that Thomas believed because he saw, but that blessed are those who believe without seeing.
3. Jesus says, “There is a place for in my church even though you have failed” (John 21:15-17). … The disciples grew restless and went fishing without success. Then Jesus comes and tells them to try the other side of the boat. … Later on, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him 3 times, just like Peter denied Him 3 times. … You’re not going to just forget the failure, but Jesus can help you overcome it. No failure is insignificant, but no failure is insurmountable.
4. Jesus says, “I have a mission for your life” (Matthew 28:18-20). … The great comission. … Go and make disciples of Christ throughout all the world. Spread the Gospel to your family, your neigbors, your friends, even your enemies.

Jason Holidays, religion, Sunday Sermon