The Gospel According to Yeeks

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes that it may bear more fruit. John 15:1-2

There are days when Scripture is especially difficult to read because it points out explicitly all your failures in every single way. Today is one such day.

A follow up to the previous Homework done for the Singapore Expository Preaching Course. I recorded my  preaching presentation so that I could send it to my family members.  The transcript of the sermon (I didn't follow it word for word) and the sermon audio file is here. Transcript: Link Audio file: Link

Singapore Expository Preaching Course homework

God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” (Exodus 3:14) "I am" in the gospel of John 1. Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” (The Messiah) - John 4:26 2. Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. - John 6:35 3. Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12 4. Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” - John 8:58 5. So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. - John 10:7 6. "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture." - John 10:10 7. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. - John 10:11 8. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live...

The Lord's word to Moses when he spoke to him from the burning bush: "Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites." (Exodus 3:7-8) And further on in Exodus 29:  " They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God. " (Exodus 29:46) --- God's judgment on Israel's Idolatry in Hosea: "When she had weaned No Mercy, she conceived and bore a son. And the Lord said, “Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God. ” (Hosea 1:8-9...

"I do a lot of work for seminary students. I like seminary students. They seem so blissfully unaware of the inherent contradiction in paying somebody to help them cheat in courses that are largely about walking in the light of God and providing an ethical model for others to follow. I have been commissioned to write many a passionate condemnation of America's moral decay as exemplified by abortion, gay marriage, or the teaching of evolution. All in all, we may presume that clerical authorities see these as a greater threat than the plagiarism committed by the future frocked." http://m.chronicle.com/article/The-Shadow-Scholar/125329

This poem by General Douglas MacArthur was shared to me TWICE this week by two very different people. One as I was pouring through one of my friend's dad's book in which he quotes this and another by a friend who shared this in our small group email thread. I suppose this is God's way of telling me that He really wants me to hear this. And maybe to grow up: Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory. Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge. Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail. Build me a son whose heart will be...

I love this vide - the beautifully crafted poem, the convicting delivery of it and the music. And also because the gifts that have been given were truly used to serve the Body.

Sharing a link to what seems like a pretty awesome blog: http://deadpastorssociety.wordpress.com/

I felt compelled to blog down new insights gained into this passage. It happened in one of the classrooms of the very beautiful St. George's Church, and it was right there in the late evening that I think this passage came  alive with such clarity for the first time. The text is separated into three paragraphs in the ESV. I'll try to explain the significance of the text in four sections separately: And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, “ My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live .” And he went with him. The first part can be explained as the  "The Request Made In Faith" . At this point in Mark's gospel, Jesus' fame was spreading everywhere. News of him had bee...

Jesus Has Authority over Creation and He wants us to have faith in Him A Gobbet on Mark 4:35-41 I believe that this passage is written to demonstrate for us the authority that Jesus has over creation. In Mark, early on, he tells us why he is writing this book, Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Up until this point we have already seen, amongst other things: ·          Jesus is the Son of God, through the voice of God after the baptism ·          Jesus’ authority to forgive sins ·          Jesus’ ability to heal diseases ·          Jesus’ authority over demons ·          Jesus’ authority over the Sabbath Here I believe, Mark is about to show us another facet of Jesus and tell construct for us who Jesus is. In some sense, the pas...