SOAP Blog

Scripture  "...proclaim the favorable year of the Lord."  Luke 4:19

Observation  Jesus offers a debt relief when he stands and says "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me...He has send Me to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord."  What is "the favorable year of the Lord?"  It is a game changing reference to an ancient principle that states "ALL...

S  "...I thank God, whom I serve...with a clear conscience..."  2 Timothy 1:3

O  Here we have Paul, the Apostle, writing perhaps his final letter to his young protege Timothy.  Pregnant words.  Lasting words.  Encouragement and principles to love, live, and lead by.

A  What got a hold of me in today's reading [2 Timothy 1-4] was that Paul had...

Scripture  "Hold on to the good."  1 Thessalonians 5:21

Observation  My default is to let go of things after the new car smell wears off, or when the flat screen is everywhere, or what I have becomes so common I don't miss it.

Application  So, hold on to the good - what does that mean???  What is it the writer is trying to say?  I think it...

Scripture "...go quickly and tell..."  Matthew 28:7

Observation  Two women came to the empty grave of Jesus and were met by an angel of God and told to "go quickly and tell others."  Note the angel gave clear instructions to these followers of Jesus.

Application  I don't feel particularly contagious about going and telling others.  Three...

S  "Five loaves and two fish."  Mark 6:38

O  This is the story of Jesus feeding five thousand people.  Can you imagine the catering  for feeding that many people?  The miracle of five loaves of bread and two fish is amazing.

A  Amazing things come in small beginnings.  All too often I hold out for big beginnings, stunning promotion,...

Scripture "...pray and not lose heart."  Luke 18:1

Observation  First of all Jesus is talking to regular Christians.  Second, Jesus wants us to learn how to pray even when things are difficule.  And finally, and unavoidably, Jesus is talking to me in the middle of my life as a husband, father, son, friend, and pastor.  When I read this verse...

Scripture  "I am eager to enter your courtyard and come near to the Living God.  And to meet with the Lord."  Psalm 84:2 and 7.

Observation  Do you se the progression of growing intimacy in this Psalm?  We enter through the front door.  We come closer.  We are invited to meet personally with God.  How cool is that?  There is a problem though -...

Scripture  "So Jeremiah returned...and lived in Judah with the people left in the land.  Jeremiah 40:6

Observation  This is a benchmark passage in the Old Testament story of the "chosen people of God" [known also as the Jews, Hebrews, the twelve tribes and others].  After hundreds of years of walking away from God all but a few are exiled from...