⁴⁰ A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. (NKJV)

My thoughts:

-Disciples are not above their teacher

-Blessed life comes by Being- having God like character

-Describes the type of character attributes listed in the Sermon on the Mount

-Luke’s version: Jesus focused on our attitude toward: circumstances (Luke 6:20-26), people (Luke 6:27-38), ourselves (Luke 6:39-45), & God (Luke 6:46-49)

-True Happiness= Faith in God, Love towards others, honesty with ourselves, & Obedience toward God

-Our outward words/actions need to show Christ. If they don’t, then our hearts don’t show Christ. We need to speak/show Christ whenever we can, not just when we are asked what we believe.

BEC NT-

We cannot lead others where we have not been ourselves, nor can we be all that our master is. The more we strive to be like Him, the more we realize how far short we fall. Nothing blinds a person like pride (“Lay Down My Pride”-J)

Believers do sin, but the witness of their words & works is consistently good to the glory of God. In terms of ministry, servants of God who are faithful will produce themselves in people who are in turn true to the Lord (2 Timothy 2:2)

What comes out of our mouths shows what’s in our heart

 Anyone who likes history, music, and or biographies will find this book interesting.  When I first started reading the book, it took a little bit for me to get into it.  After a couple of days off from reading it, I picked it up again and found myself enjoying the history behind several hymns that I grew up hearing when I visited my grandparents’ church plus several that I had never heard of.  The behind the scenes look on how each hymn was written is priceless.  Then there is the indepth behind the scenes look of “It Is Well”.  I knew the shorter version where Horatio Spafford lost his daughters at sea, but did not realize that he had 2 more children after that and had lost 1 of them to scarlet fever.  Most of the stories are a page long and are preceded by the hymn that is being discussed.  Several other hymn lyrics are shared throughout that were also written by the composers or as they fit the subject matter or time period discussed.  If you have ever been curious as to the story behind a hymn or how we have modern classics such “Shout To The Lord” and “In Christ Alone”, this book is worth it.  The history of the Christian hymnody is also rather facinating.  We see the progression hymns have made over the centuries and how that has impacted the church.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 FCR, Part 255. 

¹⁷ When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. (NKJV)

My thought:

Some doubted-check to see if Thomas had touched hands & side yet or if more than 11 may have been there

BEC NT:

Since Jesus has all authority, we may obey w/o fear. He is in control because of His death & resurrection

Christianity is a missionary faith which is demanded by the very nature of God as He is love & is not willingly that any should perish.

I received the book in time for Christmas Eve and started reading it before company arrived.  It then took me three days before I could read it again since it had been left at my parents’ place twice.  Once I got the book back in hand, I started reading it every chance I had.  I found it fascinating reading how we got the first English Bible based off the original languages of Hebrew and Greek not just the Latin Vulgate as Wycliffe translation was based.  With Tyndale we saw a man that had determination and a love for God that ran deep.  Seeing what he went through to get the New Testament translated as  well as portions of the Old Testament kept me captivated.  Also reading some of the potential though likely untrue conversations that happened as a process of trying to end Tyndale’s translation and publishing added a light side to a book that has several dark moments such as Tyndale going into exile and the fact that the catholic church was willing to dispose of anyone who did not blindly follow the teachings of the church and the pope no matter how much error there was in theology.  Anyone who likes biographies, Bible history, or church history will find this book interesting.  This is also good for someone who likes intrigue in the books they read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 FCR, Part 255.  

¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.  (NKJV)

My thought:

-Creating disciples= Teaching them all of God’s commandments and the heart intent of the law as well as servant leadership

As I stated before, I do not know who this woman is that decided to follow me on Twitter, but I have decided to pray for her.  It is obvious that she is hurting somewhere even if it is deep inside and somewhat suppressed.  Join me in this endeavor and maybe the woman will realize what her legitimate needs are and not try to find them in all the wrong places.

²⁷ Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” (NKJV)

BEC NT:

Peter saw contrast between wealthy& poor

Jesus gave them a marvelous promise of rewards in this life & in the next

Anything forsaken would be returned a hundredfold

Essentially an investment instead of sacrifices not all dividends would be received in life.

Is possible to do God’s will but have a wrong heart

Serving for benefits only misses the purpose of serving. We miss His best blessing for us.

“Trust Him unreservedly & believe that He will always give what is best.”

The Tauntons’ adventure in adopting Sasha and the process in which it came about does explain common grace fairly well and does keep it interesting.  Grace is not mentioned very much in the book, but it is explained very well even when it is not mentioned.  The illustration of the international adoption process does explain grace or, in the case of Ukrainian culture, lack of grace effectively.  Throughout his discussions with Hitchens and other atheists and the process of adopting Sasha, Larry made his faith and the faith of his family very clear.  He understood how the system worked and knew when he had to give in to the system and when he did not have to.  There is always an understanding of love, compassion, and grace even when there was frustration with how the Ukrainian government worked.  The book is captivating and is good for anyone who wants a good real world example of how common grace works and what it looks like.  The reader does not need to be a theologian or other type of intellectual to understand common grace.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 FCR, Part 255.

¹³ When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”  ¹⁴ So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”  ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
¹⁶ Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  ¹⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  ¹⁸ 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.
¹⁹ 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.”  ²⁰ Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.  ²¹ From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.  ²² Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”  ²³ But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”  ²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  ²⁷ For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.  ²⁸ Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”  ¹ Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; ² and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.  ³ And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.  ⁴ Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  ⁵ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”  ⁶ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.  ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”  ⁸ When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. (NKJV)

16:13-20=Messiahship

16:21-23=Atonement

16:24-28=discipleship

17:1-8=Eschatology

Bible Exposition Commentary NT:

                           2 approaches to life:

Deny yourself                                  Live for yourself

Take up your cross                        Ignore the cross

Follow Christ                                    Follow the world

Lose your life for His sake          Save your life for your own sake

Forsake the world                          Gain the world

Keep your soul                                Lose your soul

Share His reward & glory            Lose His reward & glory

To deny self is not equal to deny things

To deny self= give yourself wholly to Christ & share in His shame & death

To take up cross is not equal to carry burdens/problems

To take up cross= identify w/ Christ in His rejection, shame, suffering, and death

Suffering leads to glory

Suffering: example= What Christ went through before His death.

²⁴ A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  ²⁵ It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!  ²⁶ Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.  ²⁷ “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.  ²⁸ And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  ³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  ³¹ Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  ³² “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.  ³⁴ “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  ³⁵ For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; ³⁶ and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’  ³⁷ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  ³⁸ And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  ³⁹ He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.  ⁴⁰ “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.  ⁴¹ He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.  ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” (NKJV)

Do not fear those who can kill the body only-fear Him who is able to destroy both soul & body in hell (Him = God/Christ)- Matthew 10:28

Bible Exposition Commentary NT:

vv.32-3 Disciple: Walk & Talk must go together

vv. 40-2 Need for faithful disciples, believers who will learn from Christ and live for Him