Archive for category: GAMEtime Sharing

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 10:30-42.  Let’s go!

Luke 10:30-33 (NIV) 
30  In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 
31  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 
32  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 
33  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

On verses 30-33:  In reply to the teacher’s question in verse 29, “Who is my neighbour [that I should love him as I love myself]?” Jesus tells one of his most famous stories: the parable (short story) of the good Samaritan.  Keep in mind that Jesus is telling this story to an audience mostly of Jews at a time when racial tensions between Jews and Samaritans were high.  The fact that Jesus makes the Samaritan the hero of this story would have come as a shock to many Jews listening, challenging them to rethink their views on Samaritans and suggesting that the kingdom of God is not just for Jews but for people of all nations.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 10:1-16.  Let’s go!

Luke 10:1 (NIV) 
1  After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.

On verse 1:  Why did Jesus send out his followers on this mission two by two?  It’s because Jesus understood the importance of team, having someone who shares your goals and mission to work with so that there can be mutual comfort, encouragement, accountability and support.  Similarly, when it comes to the mission God has for you, you weren’t made to do it alone.  You need teammates. 

Luke 10:2 (NIV) 
2  He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

On verse 2:  In Jesus’ eyes, the mission field is full of opportunities and full of people who are needing Jesus (“the harvest is plentiful”).  What is lacking is not people to bless or opportunities to lead people to Jesus, but people willing to be used and to get in on those opportunities (“the workers are few”).  So let’s be praying for God to send people who are willing to go and take advantage of those opportunities.  Let’s also be praying that we would be those people who go too.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 9:37-50.  Let’s go!

Luke 9:37-45 (NIV) 

37  The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 
38  A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 
39  A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. 
40  I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”
41  “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”
42  Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father…….

On verses 37-45:  There are a number of important lessons we can learn from these verses.  I look forward to sharing them with you at a Thrive service today.

Hi GAMErs,
 
Today’s passage is Luke 9:1-17.  Let’s go!
 
Luke 9:1-4 (NIV) 
1  When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 
2  and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 
3  He told them: “Take nothing for the journey–no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. 
4  Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 

On verses 1-4:  Here Jesus sends out his twelve disciples with his power and authority to go from town to town preaching the kingdom of God, driving out all demons and curing diseases (v1-2).  But notice also that Jesus told them to take nothing else for the journey (“no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic” – v3).  What was Jesus doing?  Jesus was teaching his disciples to have faith in God’s power to use them and to provide for their needs, rather than relying on their own smarts, strength and resources. 

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 8:26-39.  Let’s go!
 
Luke 8:26-33 (NIV) 
26  They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 
27  When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 
28  When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 
29  For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.