Sneak Peeks
(note: these small figures below do not
link to a larger image)
Sunday
6/7
Mark 3:20-35
Read the Directions
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6/14/09
All About Farming
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(below)
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Sunday 6/21
Mark 4:35-41
Dramamine Anybody?
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Sunday 6/28
Mark 5:21-43
Parenting 101
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Sunday
7/5
Mark 6:1-13
Loophole?
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Sunday 7/12
Mark 6:14-29
How To Get a Head in Life
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Sunday 7/19
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
Workin' 9 to 5
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7/26
Walking on Water?
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(below)
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Sunday 6/14 .....................................................
Mark 4:26-34
All About Farming
He also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone
would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night
and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know
how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the
head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is
ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest
has come."
He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom
of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard
seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all
the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes
the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so
that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."
With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they
were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables,
but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
Jesus and the Beanstalk
Parables are wonderful things. They communicate a profound
spiritual truth in everyday language and in a way that even disciples
can remember. Do you think that crowds would have stayed out
in the hot sun of the middle east to listen to a lecture? Not
likely. May our mustard-seed-sized faith grow large so that it
provides comfort and service to others.
Sunday 7/26 ......................................................
John 6:1-21
Barley Loaves and Fish Helper
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee,
also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following
him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick.
Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples.
Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near.
When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him,
Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these
people to eat?"
He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was
going to do.
Philip answered him, "Six months' wages would not
buy enough bread for each of them to get a little."
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said
to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves
and two fish. But what are they among so many people?"
Jesus said, "Make the people sit down."
Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they
sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves,
and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who
were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.
When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather
up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost."
So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the
five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled
twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done,
they began to say, "This is indeed the prophet who is to
come into the world." When Jesus realized that they were
about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew
again to the mountain by himself.
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,
got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It
was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became
rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed
about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea
and coming near the boat, and they were terrified.
But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."
Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately
the boat reached the land toward which they were going.
Walking on Water?
William Barclay points out that the Greek used here really
means Jesus was walking along the seashore, not on the sea.
No translation has water skiing, but we can see that it
would be in character for Jesus (okay, okay, I used my cartoonist
privilege). While Jesus let them make their own way across, he
was aware of their struggle and was there to calm and guide them.
May it be so for us in our daily life, and especially in times
of need!
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