Sunday: Commissioning the 70 — Luke 10:1-16
Jesus was preparing to leave His earthly ministry on earth, and He was preparing His disciples to carry on the work after He had gone. When He commissioned the 70, He was establishing a pattern and guidelines for witnessing. The disciples were instructed to go out two-by-two, thus creating foundational support for prayer, doctrine, and accountability. They were told to put their total reliance for sustenance and shelter into God’s hands. Jesus explained to them how to handle situations where they were warmly greeted into a home and how to handle when they

Primary Text: Luke 10:1-11:13

Memory Verse: “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:19-20

Introduction:
Proverbs 20:6 says, “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?” God desires that we have faithfulness in our service towards Him. A faithful person is one who is trustworthy and reliable. If

Sunday: Is This the Christ — John 7:11-31
When Jesus taught in the temple the people were amazed at His knowledge of the scriptures. But they were puzzled as to how He could have such knowledge without having studied at one of the rabbinic schools. He taught with boldness and authority. He proclaimed to them the miracles He had done. He rebuked them for their hypocrisies. Some of the temple-goers actually began to wonder if Jesus was indeed the Messiah. But then they reasoned that He was human—the carpenter’s son—therefore He couldn’t be the Christ.

Monday: Living Water — John

Primary Text: John 7:11-8:59

Memory Verse: Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32

Introduction:
The Word of God is living and powerful. It is infused with the power of the Holy Spirit. It is energetic and active. It speaks to our personal needs and the needs of the world. This is because Its focus is the revelation of Christ. The Word of God draws Its power from that fact. The power of

Sunday: Rivalry Over Greatness — Matthew 18:1-5; Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48
The disciples had developed a rivalry amongst themselves, comparing one another in self-importance. Jesus compared the humility required of a servant of God to a little child. When we have a humble spirit God promises to give us grace, to value us, to honor us, to hear us, and to lift us up. Being humble is a condition of true greatness and a condition for entering the Kingdom.

Monday: Warning Against Causing Believers to Stumble — Matthew 18:6-14; Mark 9:38-50; Luke 9:49-50
Jesus warns the disciples against causing believers

Primary Text: Matthew 18:1-22

Memory Verse: And said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.” Matthew 18:3-5

Introduction:
Jesus told His disciples that unless they changed and became as little children, they would never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. What characteristics were Jesus referring to about children that He wanted His disciples to have? Some

Sunday: The Glory of Christ — Matthew 17:1-5; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-31
The transfigured Christ was not a reflection of the glory of God—the glory of God was within Him. The word “transfigured” comes from the Greek “metamorphoomai,” meaning to transform. Something that morphs does it from out of itself (like a caterpillar into a butterfly), it is not forced from an external power. The very nature of God came from within Jesus. He was being revealed as He really was. It wasn’t something that had to be given to Him on the mount. The glory was something He possessed

Primary Text: Matthew 17:1-27

Memory Verse: Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Matthew 17:1-3

Introduction:
The transfiguration of Jesus marks the culminating event of His public life. The earthly public ministry which began at His baptism, and ended at His ascension, reaches its height in this glorious event.

About a week after travelling

Sunday: Pharisees Seek a Sign — Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:10-12
The saying, “Red sky at morning, sailors take warning; red sky at night, sailors delight,” often seems more accurate than modern-day weather forecasts. From ancient times fishermen and farmers examined the skies to predict the weather. The Pharisees wanted a similar sign as proof of who Jesus was. They looked for some miracle from Heaven. Jesus reminded them that they already had indicators but were unable to interpret them. How often do we look right at a message from God but not see what God is telling us or asking

Primary Text: Matthew 16:5-28

Memory Verse: “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:18-19

Introduction:
Jesus did not openly declare to the general public that He was the Son of God. Prior to His appearance on earth, a number of persons had claimed