Posts

Mountain Tops and Valleys | A SOAP Devotional by Pastor Jamie

Image
  Read Matthew 17 https://www.biblegateway.com/ passage/?search=Matthew%2017& version=NLT   Matthew 17:9, 14a- As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them.    Three of Jesus' closest disciples experienced an incredible and glorious sight in the transfiguration of Jesus; that is, the reality of who Jesus really was on the inside was shining through with amazing clarity on the outside. Peter suggested they stay there and build a memorial to capture the moment, but Jesus in and abundance of wisdom and grace once again ignored him. Jesus also instructed these disciples to hold this memory of transfiguration in their hearts and minds until after they experienced His resurrection. Soon they were all coming down the mountain together, and a crowd of people met them with their deepest needs.   Often times in God's...
Read more

The Apostles Testified Powerfully | A SOAP Devotional by Pastor Jamie

Image
  Read Acts 4 https://www.biblegateway.com/ passage/?search=acts+4& version=NLT   Acts 4:32-33- All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.    The growing Jesus movement, called the Way, was literally on the move. Peter, the one Jesus renamed "The Rock" before He denied even knowing Jesus three times the night before his friend went to His death on a cross, in this chapter featuring extensive confrontation from enemies boldly and fearlessly declared the Good News as clearly as he know how in front of the religious leaders: "There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” When the religious leaders asked Peter and John to never speak of Jesus again, Peter was both gently bold and completely clear- they ha...
Read more

It Seemed Like Nonsense | A SOAP Devotional by Pastor Jamie

Image
  He Is Risen!   Read Luke 24 https://www.biblegateway.com/ passage/?search=Luke+24& version=NLT   Luke 24:11-12- But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.   The women who came the tomb to tend and honor Jesus' lifeless, dead body with ointments were startled to find a different experience. The body of Jesus was not there, and they had an encounter with a couple of angels who proclaimed Jesus' resurrection from the dead. The women told this story to the disciples, but the men who had followed Jesus didn't believe what they were hearing. It seemed far too good to be true. In this gospel Peter was only willing to go investigate, but all of the closest, most committed, male followers of Jesus didn't believe the initial report of these reliable witnesses to the truth.   I do...
Read more

Serve Like Jesus | A SOAP Devotional by Pastor Jamie

Image
    Read Matthew 20 https://www.biblegateway.com/ passage/?search=Matthew+20& version=NLT   Matthew 20:24-28- When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”   As Jesus was preparing Himself and His followers for His death on the cross His closest associates were busy going high and asking for special favors. The ten other disciples were indignant only because John, James, and their mother had beaten them to the punch to ask for such special consideration. We see the disciples engaged in a game of "one-u...
Read more

The Light Shining in Our Darkness | A SOAP Devotional by Pastor Jamie

Image
  Read Isaiah 29 https://www.biblegateway.com/ passage/?search=Isaiah%2029& version=NLT   Isaiah 29:13, 19- And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote. The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord. The poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel .   In 1 Laodicea 2:4 it says, "Don't humble yourself. Don’t stand out. Hide who you are. Blend into the culture as much as possible. Play it safe. Live out your faith as quietly as possible and so no one can see it.” Of course, I'm joking as this isn't a book of the Bible and there is no verse like this! Isaiah declared there was plenty of evidence of the people he was speaking to of having a significant gap between what they said and what they actually did, a gap between their words and deeds. In order to experience "fresh joy" humility and repentance was re...
Read more