Teacher devotions: Cabbages and Kings - Mark 1:15

Mark 1:15       "The time has come," Jesus said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

For some absurd reason, this Gospel verse always reminds me of Lewis Carroll’s poem, “The Walrus and the Carpenter” from Alice’s second adventure “Through the Looking Glass.” I think it’s because both Jesus and the walrus use the same words: ‘the time has come.’ Christ uses them to proclaim the beginning of His ministry, whereas the walrus uses them to talk about nonsense:

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."

As an adult, I still enjoy what Carroll has written, but as a Christian I rejoice with what Christ has proclaimed. His ministry began almost two thousand years ago and it is still being fulfilled all over the world today. Sadly, some people will treat Christ’s words as nonsense and miss out on the greatest opportunity to restore themselves to God, as well as extending their existence into eternity. However, billions of people will take up the invitation and one day will be welcomed into Christ’s presence and God’s kingdom. All of our questions will finally be answered and our lives will be completely fulfilled. The time for Christ’s ministry and message to be proclaimed has come; the question we need to ask ourselves is this: with whom can I share this wonderful invitation today?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for proclaiming the Good News of forgiveness and restoration, of healing and new life. You are the Holy One of God who brought all of God’s goodness, mercy, and love to us through Your teaching, Your sacrifice, and Your resurrection. Thank You, Lord Jesus. In Your Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest chess drawings. It’s called “Battle Box” and will be part of a Spring exhibition of his works in a downtown Knoxville coffee shop. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6813390398_0f8e8ddf68_b.jpg

Teacher devotions: Cabbages and Kings - Mark 1:15

Mark 1:15       "The time has come," Jesus said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

For some absurd reason, this Gospel verse always reminds me of Lewis Carroll’s poem, “The Walrus and the Carpenter” from Alice’s second adventure “Through the Looking Glass.” I think it’s because both Jesus and the walrus use the same words: ‘the time has come.’ Christ uses them to proclaim the beginning of His ministry, whereas the walrus uses them to talk about nonsense:

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."

As an adult, I still enjoy what Carroll has written, but as a Christian I rejoice with what Christ has proclaimed. His ministry began almost two thousand years ago and it is still being fulfilled all over the world today. Sadly, some people will treat Christ’s words as nonsense and miss out on the greatest opportunity to restore themselves to God, as well as extending their existence into eternity. However, billions of people will take up the invitation and one day will be welcomed into Christ’s presence and God’s kingdom. All of our questions will finally be answered and our lives will be completely fulfilled. The time for Christ’s ministry and message to be proclaimed has come; the question we need to ask ourselves is this: with whom can I share this wonderful invitation today?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for proclaiming the Good News of forgiveness and restoration, of healing and new life. You are the Holy One of God who brought all of God’s goodness, mercy, and love to us through Your teaching, Your sacrifice, and Your resurrection. Thank You, Lord Jesus. In Your Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest chess drawings. It’s called “Battle Box” and will be part of a Spring exhibition of his works in a downtown Knoxville coffee shop. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6813390398_0f8e8ddf68_b.jpg

Easter devotion: Fact or Fantasy? - Matthew 27:64

Matthew 27:64            “So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

 

This last deception will be worse than the first.

Do we realize that if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, then all of our faith is a tragic lie and inhumane deception? Millions of people will have lived and died for their faith in Christ, but if He was not resurrected, then their lives and deaths will have been in vain. In my opinion, to actually be a Christian is to put all of your belief eggs in that one basket of faith; to be a disciple of Christ means that you truly have to believe that He rose from the dead.

The relevance of our faith all comes down to that one fact in history. If the resurrection never occurred, then Christians could be called the most stupid people in the whole universe. However, if the resurrection did occur, then the converse is actually true - Christians are the smartest people who have ever existed because their faith in Jesus will prove to be the most successful and eternally rewarding belief that has ever been given to humanity.

So, the question of faith seems to be this: either Jesus was deluded and Christianity is the biggest deception in history, or Jesus rose again and our mission is to broadcast that Good News to our families, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, neighbors, and even strangers. The choice about what we do with the Resurrection is ours; the challenge of its truth comes solely from God.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, as Christians we believe that You are the Savior of the world because You died for our sins and rose from the dead. We thank You for Your mercy and forgiveness. We praise You for Your glorious resurrection and heavenly ascension. We eagerly anticipate Your Coming again. In Your Holy Name, we expectantly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment about today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Christ drawings. It’s called “The Baptism” and is a crayon drawing of Christ being baptized in the Jordan with the Holy Spirit descending upon Him. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/6924951609_4fc7a8a94e_b.jpg

Teacher devotions: Lent Begins at 40 - Isaiah 51:11

Isaiah 51:11    The ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Millions of Christians around the world will attend worship services to have the sign of the Cross placed upon their forehead using the ashes of last year’s Palm branches. They do this as an act of penance, beginning a forty day journey of humility and contrition, in order to prepare their hearts and souls, bodies and minds for Holy Week and Easter.

It’s also a time when self-importance gives way to a focus upon God. Self-centered sin is cast side, to be replaced with a deeply spiritual awareness of who Jesus was, is, and ever shall be.

Lent begins at 40. The ashes represent sorrow and shame. The forty days are symbolic of Christ’s fasting in the wilderness just before He began His incredible three year journey of preaching, teaching, and healing. The whole season of Lent is meant to bring us closer to God by aligning our thoughts and acts, our words and ways with those of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. If we are successful in maintaining this focus, then Holy Week and Easter will become incredible too.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, as we begin this forty day journey of Lent, be with us step by step and day by day. Allow us the blessing of Your presence and guidance over everything that we think, do, or say. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is a bulletin cover designed by John for Lent and/or Holy Week. It is called “Purple Reign.” If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6913397537_14e0996d59_b.jpg

Teaching Devotions: God's Smiley Face - Isaiah 49:13

Isaiah 49:13    Shout for joy, O Heavens; rejoice O Earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. 

Like most people, sometimes all that I need are a few kind words and a smile to get me through the day. A little kindness, mixed in with some encouragement, goes a long way. In the busy-ness of our own activities and careers, it’s nice to be applauded and appreciated once in a while.

Sometimes when I’m writing emails, I put one of those smiley faces at the end of what I’ve written. Emails are great, but they often don’t communicate gratitude and grace very well. A little yellow smiley face or even the typed equivalent J helps the recipient to understand that you are pleased with what they are doing and encouraged by what they have written.

I like today’s verse from Isaiah because seeks to bless His people with comfort and compassion. They have endured a lot of suffering through the years of exile in Babylon. Their faith has been stretched to its limit and their beliefs have been battered and bruised. God wants them to know that in the midst of their struggles, He is still with them.

Perhaps today you need a kind word and a smile from God. Through the grace that Jesus Christ brought into the world, we are given God’s comfort and compassion. Come to Him today with your worries and woes, your problems and pressures. His promises will help you; His love will sustain you…. J

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You are the instrument of God’s blessing to the world and the channel of His cherished love. Grant us comfort in the midst of all that unsettles us, and compassion in all that worries us. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. if you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is my latest chess drawing called “Indian King,” featuring Indian designed chess pieces. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7197/6854840939_1a83f370e8_b.jpg

Teacher devotions: I AM - Isaiah 45:5-6

Today’s Bible readings are Isaiah 45:1-7 and Matthew 23:1-12

Isaiah 45:5-6  I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. 

How clear does God have to be? What more does He have to say that will convince the world that He is God alone? How long will we go on thinking to ourselves that this does not matter?

The scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, are consistently clear about God’s exclusiveness. If we believe otherwise, then from where did we garner that belief? Certainly not the scriptures.

Maybe we have to seriously think about our world view and personal philosophies again. Maybe we’ve got it wrong and God, as always, has it right.

Prayer:                        Lord God, You are almighty, unique, and exceptional. There are no other gods. Give us the courage to surrender our hearts and minds in faith to You alone, instead of giving in to the ways of the world. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest winter drawing of the beautiful Northern Lights. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6773836733_67954361dc_b.jpg

Teacher Devotions: Chosen Servant - Isaiah 42:1

Today’s Bible readings are Isaiah 42:1-9 and Matthew 21:1-11

Isaiah 42:1 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on Him and He will bring justice to the nations.”

Last night, at our church’s midweek Bible study, we began using some of the material that has been produced by the World Council of Churches for this year’s Christian Unity week. Much of the material has been written by Polish Christians and their theme for this year is ‘Change through Victory.’

Polish Christians have endured a lot of hardship over the last three centuries. Their land has been invaded and taken over many times by their enemies. Through all of the pain and suffering, powerlessness and oppression that the Poles experienced, the Church has still managed to keep faith alive in the hearts and minds of many Polish people.

The initial focus for the study begins with a look at Christ’s role as Servant. Time and time again in the Gospels, Jesus remarks that He came to serve God in the world and not to be served. In fact, today’s prophecy from Isaiah 42 was fulfilled by Christ centuries after it was written. Jesus was, is, and always shall be God’s Chosen Servant, in whom God delights and through whom justice will at last be brought to the nations of the world.

The Polish writers of the study see the role of the Church as being the Chosen Servant of Christ and that all of our programs and ministries, congregations and missions are meant to be the serving vehicles of Christ’s presence in the world. One day, we will gather together in Heaven as one complete body devoid of denominations and divisions, whose only identity will be that of everlasting servants of Christ.

Question for reflection (taken from the study):         In our community, what can Christians of different traditions do better together than in isolation to reveal the Servant Christ?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You served God completely by perfectly living Your Life, and by obediently sacrificing Yourself for our sins. We can never repay the debt that we owe, but we can rejoice in You by serving You both in this world and in the life yet to come. In Your Holy Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

You can also read this year’s Christian unity material here.

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing called ‘Celtic Spring.’ It’s a stained glass design for a modern Celtic Cross featuring all the colors of a Scottish Spring. Signed limited edition prints are available. You can also view a larger version of the drawing at the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6717914679_f9d8753e34_b.jpg