Tag Archives: mercy

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

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1 John 1:1-10

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

(PRT) I John 1:1-10

v. 1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen and looked at up close and personally, what we have touched with our hands regarding the Word of Life, v. 2 For that life was made visible and knowable and we have seen it and corroborate and announce to you the life eternal that was with the Father was made known and visible to us. v.3 What we have seen and heard, we announce to you, too. That way you belong in community with us for our very community is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. v. 4 And we write these things so our joy might be full to overflowing. v. 5 For the message we have heard from him and we announce to you is this: God is radiant light and there is not one bit of darkness within him. v.6 If we say that we live in community with him, yet choose to live our lives in darkness we are being deceptive and do not live our lives in truth. v. 7 Since then we live in the light just as He is in the light, we live in community with one another, and the blood of God’s Son, Jesus, cleanses us from all sin. v. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we stray from the truth; that truth is no longer inside us. v. 9 If we agree with Him about our sin, he is faithful and just; and because of that, he can forgive our sins and can cleanse us  from all unrighteousness. v. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Jesus out to be a liar and his word is no longer inside us.

v. 1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen and looked at up close and personally, what we have touched with our hands regarding the Word of Life,

John is reflecting back to the day when Jesus was near physically. They saw him every day, spoke with him, found themselves enraptured with his teaching and  miracles, and touch him.

Could he be reflecting on Thomas needing to place his fingers in the wounds?

v. 2 For that life was made visible and knowable and we have seen it and corroborate and announce to you the life eternal that was with the Father was made known and visible to us.

Made visible is revealed and seen with the eyes. They touched and saw and heard. He speaks to us, reveals Himself to us, brings His presence to be felt today.

v.3 What we have seen and heard, we announce to you, too. That way you belong in community with us for our very community is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

Jesus revealed himself in order to be revealed. What we see, we talk about.

v. 4 And we write these things so our joy might be full to overflowing.

And here is the reason for this chapter.

v. 5 For the message we have heard from him and we announce to you is this: God is radiant light and there is not one bit of darkness within him.

The word for light is what we get phosphorus from – it radiates from the point within and outward  by the source that creates light.

v.6 If we say that we live in community with him, yet choose to live our lives in darkness we are being deceptive and do not live our lives in truth.

Fellowship  means that we choose to stay in community with Jesus and with each other. We work through things and stay the course and our lives will reflect in a greater way the light and the truth.

v. 7 Since then we live in the light just as He is in the light, we live in community with one another, and the blood of God’s Son, Jesus, cleanses us from all sin.

John connects community and Jesus’ forgiveness. Community reminds us of our stubbornness and pride toward others and we then bring it to God for mercy. Without community, we can more readily stay in our pride and stubbornness.

v. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we stray from the truth; that truth is no longer inside us.

The word for “lie” is the same for straying or being led into a trap; sometimes we are complicit. This is a different word than v. 6 deception. The truth here is that one who has an honest relationship with Jesus, and He has poured His truth into us, we would never say “I’m good and righteous on my own.”

v. 9 If we agree with Him about our sin, he is faithful and just; and because of that, he can forgive our sins and can cleanse us  from all unrighteousness.

Confess here means we agree with the Father about what we have done, that it is wrong, and needs His mercy. And because he is faithful to His promises and he is just in the manner in which he handles our cry for forgiveness, he can forgive and he can cleanse. The “can” means that He is there in the moment of possibility we need forgiveness and in the moment of confession and agreement, can forgive.

v. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Jesus out to be a liar and his word is no longer inside us.

Again, the truth here is, our choice to have a deepening and honest relationship with Jesus would never allow us to “not agree” with Him about our need for his mercy. Vv. 8 and 10 nudge us into an honest treatment of v. 9, the Restoration Promise. We are honest when we sin, and we are open to Him to show us where we still have shame and guilt, and we agree with Him. And because of the fact that He is faithful and just, we can be forgiven.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes & Small Group Questions: John 3:16-21

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

(PRT) John 3:16-21

v. 16 For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son so that everyone who puts their faith in Him should not perish but instead have eternal life.

v. 17 After all, God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but for the express purpose that the world could be saved through Him.

v. 18 Whoever puts their faith in Him is no longer under judgment; but whoever has not put their faith in Him already lives under judgment for this very reason: they have not put their faith in the one and only Son of God.

v. 19 This, then, is the judgment: The Light has come into the world, but people more willingly loved the darkness instead of the light for they were occupied with wickedness.

v. 20 For each person continually practicing evil despises the light and does not step into the light; otherwise, what they are occupied with is uncovered.

v. 21 But, everyone who keeps doing what is true steps into the light; that way, the deeds they are occupied with might be revealed for what they are, by the hand of  God.

v. 16 For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son so that everyone who puts their faith in Him should not perish but instead have eternal life.

Some commentators feel that, beginning with this sentence, Jesus quits talking and John begins his comments on the meeting. There is no indication that Jesus has left off; he knows who he is and what he came to accomplish. Jesus is giving us the “establishing shot” of the Good News of the Kingdom. It does read easier as a Johannine aside.

John’s use of agape is his trademark word for what God the Father is doing through Jesus. He loves. That he loves the world, that is all the people of the earth, is news to the religious leaders who assume they are the only lovable ones. Do you ever think of yourself as “loveable?” God. Loves. You. Romans 8:32.

This passage captures the intimacy of the Triune God, the essence of God’s plan, the depth of his love, the reach of his provision, the power of His redemption and the severity of the enemy’s hold on man.

For God – 1 Thess 5:23, So loved – Romans 5:8, The world – 2 Cor 5:19, He gave – dozens of times in John’s Gospel, “the father sent me,” His one and only Son – Hebrews 1:2, whoever – Romans 5:6, believes in Him – 1 John 5:13, not perish – 2 Peter 3:9, have life – John 10:10, John 1:12.

v. 17 After all, God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but for the express purpose that the world could be saved through Him.

Every nation; not just the Jewish people. He came to revolutionize the world, one nation, one tribe, one tongue at a time.

While Jesus’ coming lays out a clear choice for salvation and restoration to all people, and those who refuse or ignore will be separated and judged, it is not for this judgment that Jesus came; it is for salvation, for love, for relationship for a lifetime.

Condemn may be better as judge, in order to fit the rest of Jesus’ argument. He didn’t come to bring judgment; he came to save.

God sent, as it God, the one who enters at the demand of another a new place of people. Apostello – God the Father sends (apostello) Jesus on mission.

v. 18 Whoever puts their faith in Him is not under judgment; but whoever has not put their faith in Him already lives under judgment for this very reason: they have not put their faith in the one and only Son of God.

An interesting aside: the dark isn’t bad when it conceals good deeds from the eyes of evil people who might pursue for harm. Keeping actions in the dark when those very actions might, if seen, bring harm; that is a time when we ask God to make them obscure.

This verse is a dividing line. Those who have light poured in, who have life; or those who keep their pursuits in the darn,

v. 19 This, then, is the judgment: The Light has come into the world, but people more willingly loved the darkness instead of the light for they were occupied with wickedness.

Occupied is the same word for works. Occupied might fit better since this verse is discussing what we keep on working on. If my works are the continual focus of darkness without ever seeking the light, then judgment is certain.

They are enamored with the light and the values it brings; but they hate the Light, the personality of God’s own Son. Could it be that those in darkness want what the light brings but only if they can manufacture it themselves? John 5:35 They loved, that is, they were enamored with, the light for a time, but rejected it in the end.

v. 20 For each person continually practicing evil despises the light and does not step into the light; otherwise, what they are occupied with is uncovered.

Evil in verse 19 is a harsher word than here in verse 20. Here, evil means fruitless or meaningless. If we occupy our lives with things worthless and that have no substance, we are despising light and hope to keep our practices under cover.

“practicing evil” as in the works of the individual that ignore God’s ways and truth.

v. 21 But, everyone who keeps doing what is true steps into the light; that way, the deeds they are occupied with might be revealed for what they are, by the hand of  God.

The word for doing in the context of evil and good is different. One means to keep practicing evil; the other could mean pursuing good.  “Do truth” means that our pursuits are based on the truth of God’s Word morally and of value to the Kingdom.

The deeds are what aligns with God’s ways and are empowered by his hand. When we do good in His name, He empowers it beyond our own capacities.

In the film industry, the establishing shot is the context builder. It establishes the person in context to location and tone as well as the time period and feel of the coming shots. They give sweeping, wide focus to what the main character will face.

Your life and mine is God’s writing his story into us and through us. Our testimony. Our relationship is in context with the Gospel of the Kingdom, the ultimate story.

Small Group Discussion:

  1. Do you have a favorite movie character that, if you could, you would become? Why?
  2. John 3:16 is the possibly the most famous verse in the Bible. When did you first see it? When did you first discover what it means to you? Or are you still trying to find out about it?
  3. Jesus gives everyone the same starting point in life according to v. 18. What does this say?
  4. What is God’s solution in these verses for us to know Him?
  5. Do you ever think of yourself as “loveable?” In light of John 3:16, how does God see you?
  6. What is going on in your life that you need God’s touch or provision for?

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes Mark 5:25-34

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This morning at Renovation Vineyard Church I invited one of my favorite communicators to share the message: Lauren Riddei. Lauren is a long-time friend and she and her husband, a called-out servant of King Jesus in his own right, joined us on Aug. 22. Solidly Biblical in her approach and sharing from a personal longing for mercy and hope to pour out on God’s kids, her message is worth the investment. We will have it up on our YouTube Channel later this week; but you can enjoy and be challenged by this message on Renovation Vineyard’s Facebook page at the link: https://www.facebook.com/renovationvineyardsc/videos/137969685160147

PRT (Pastor Rick’s Translation)

vv. 25-26 And a woman was present with a flow of blood who had suffered often at the hands of multiple physicians to no benefit at all; instead, after spending all she had, she was all the worse. And she arrived,

vv. 27-28 After hearing the stories about Jesus, and going into the crowd and approaching him from behind she touched his clothing; for she said under her breath, “If I just touch only his robe, I will be set free from this suffering.”

v. 29 And straight away, in that moment, her flow of blood stopped where it had begun and she knew inside her body that she was healed from this sickness.

v. 30 Then, in that moment, knowing that power had gone out from him, Jesus turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched me on my robe?”

v. 31 And his disciples said to him, “Look at this throng pressing against you, and you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

v. 32-34 Then Jesus looked around to discover the one who had done this, and the woman, shaking with awe and knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him; and she told him what really happened. He said to her, “Then, daughter, your faith has set you free; go in peace and be whole from your illness.”

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

vv. 25-26 And a woman was present with a flow of blood who had suffered often at the hands of multiple physicians to no benefit at all; instead, after spending all she had, she was all the worse. And she arrived,

The flow of blood was not only a physical suffering but a spiritual and social scourge. The teaching of the day assumed this was the result of great sin. We have this today, when we pray for someone and then tell them they don’t have enough faith to get healing from God. The Vineyard doesn’t scourge someone, but rather, blesses and deposits mercy and grace, when we pray for healing. Socially, she was an outcast since she couldn’t stop the vaginal bleeding.

She arrived is the word “came” but carries an intentionality to it. She arrived at her intended destination.

Her suffering was not helped by the well-paid doctors; her case was chronic.

vv. 27-28 After hearing the stories about Jesus, and going into the crowd and approaching him from behind she touched his clothing; for she said under her breath, “If I just touch only his robe, I will be set free from this suffering.”

And the reason she arrived at her destination was because the word was out. She heard about Jesus and her faith was such that only a confession of faith under her breath and a swipe at his robe ignited God’s grace and healing. The word means she said, but I read it be mean either in her mind (which it doesn’t say) or aloud, but under her breath. The word for “heal” has to do with being freed from the oppression of an illness.

I can’t find in Mark’s passage that it was the “taliths” or fringes of his robe. If this was so, it means that she was already nearly prostrate when she was discovered, and then she fell down at his feet again; however, Luke and Matthew note the fringe or hem.

v. 29 And straight away, in that moment, her flow of blood stopped where it had begun and she knew inside her body that she was healed from this sickness.

The word is literally, “the plague.” This disease had scourged or plague her due to its duration and many ramifications.

v. 30 Then, in that moment, knowing that power had gone out from him, Jesus turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched me on my robe?”

Jesus knew inside that power had left him as a demonstration of the Good News of the Kingdom, just as much as the woman knew inside her body that the flow had stopped “at the source” as the original hints. He knew someone had touched him and his robe. This was a deep healing to the very core of every place this scourge had touched. And he affirmed this deep healing with a word: “daughter” – meaning daughter of the Father, daughter of Israel, one who is beloved.

v. 31 And his disciples said to him, “Look at this throng pressing against you, and you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

The disciples weren’t scornful; they just didn’t imagine what Jesus felt that they didn’t. The throng did what it did, it thronged. The woman did was she came to do, she touched.

v. 32-34 Then Jesus looked around to discover the one who had done this, and the woman, shaking with awe and knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him; and she told him what really happened. He said to her, “Then, daughter, your faith has set you free; go in peace and be whole from your illness.”

Mark’s word is rich here. He turned around, looking and searching for the one. The assumption is that his eyes finally fell on the woman who had been healed.

I chose “awe” because of the context. The word means fear, afraid, etc. But, in light of what had just happened. She knew. She was quite aware of what happened. She may have been afraid that Jesus, a man, would be angry that an impure woman (due to the flow) had touched him. I still would go with awe. And she shook with it and fell at his feet. Reminiscent of Simon Peter after the message from the boat in Luke 5. It says he was afraid and fell at Jesus’ feet. She is painted as a timid, fearful woman; it could be that she was very brave, full of faith that Jesus and only Jesus could heal her.

She told him “the truth” – what really had just happened. I can imagine she couldn’t get the words out rapidly enough.

Jesus not only acknowledged her healing, but her status change, too. Go in peace means go with your life radically altered for the good. Go in shalom, fully in a new way with God.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes Mark 2:13-17

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

v. 13 Then, he went out again beside the sea and all the crowd showed up near to him and he taught them.

v. 14 And as he was passing along the way, he saw Levi, Alphaeus’s son, stationed at the tax collection booth. “Follow me,” Jesus says; and getting up, Levi followed him.

v. 15 Then things worked out so that Jesus and his disciples were dining at Levi’s house and enjoying a meal with many tax collectors and sinners because many of them followed him.

v. 16 When the legal experts of the Pharisees saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why is it that he eats with these tax collectors and sinners?”

v. 17 And having heard, Jesus says to them “Those who are strong and healthy see no need for a doctor, but those who are sick and in a bad way do. I came to call the sinful, not those who consider themselves righteous.” (Pastor Rick’s Translation)

First impressions:

The flow of time means something here. He left the house in Capernaum and headed to the lake (Sea of Galilee). His popularity causes word of mouth to bring the crowd together and he taught them. After, it would seem, he finished teaching as was walking along, he saw Matthew (Levi) in his tax assessor’s booth, either back in town, or near where the fishing cooperatives brought their catch in. Fishing was the main industry in Capernaum.

My guess is that Matthew had heard Jesus teach by the waterfront. In fact, it could be that Matthew has watched Jesus with his other disciples and longed to express his devotion; but was unwilling because he assumed he was an outcast And Jesus knew he was ready.

v. 17 is pivotal. Jesus makes a juxtaposition. And he takes the legal expert-Pharisees at their word assuming they are “the righteous” and the people he gravitated toward are “the sinners.” Yes, he would rather hang out with those who know they need him. A Pharisee who knows he needs Jesus is just as welcome as the greediest tax collector.

 The sick people know their need for a doctor’s visit. The sinners know their need to hear the call for a relationship with the Father. Sinners were defined by the religious structure as outside the rigors of the legal code in their religion. This includes a wide range of people with attitudes, including Roman employees like tax collector.

  • How can you and I discover calling? Steps.
  • What do I bring with me into my calling?
  • Is there a special calling we can experience? At the party, many followed; on the street, one was called.

v. 13 Then, he went out again beside the sea and all the crowd showed up near to him and he taught them.

Jesus loved the seashore and craved fresh air, especially if this is after healing in closed quarters in the crowded house. A few followed him out there, spread the word, and the crowds found him and surrounded him again. It really does look like sheep without a shepherd.

v. 14 And as he was passing along the way, he saw Levi, Alphaeus’s son, stationed at the tax collection booth. “Follow me,” Jesus says; and getting up, Levi followed him.

The word for follow comes from “together plus the road.” Stick together is another translation of this word – together from the road. God is pulling people from all walks, all roads, all destinations, to do life together, to reach those we are on the road with.

The village of Capernaum was a nexus point on the Roman roads between the major cities of Tyre, Damascus and Jerusalem and important for tax collection. The tax booth was not an optional, out-of-the-way spot. If you carried goods, or fish, or other possible taxable stuff, you had to go through their gateway.

Follow me along this different road was significant for Levi. After all, he was the one person among them who most benefited from what traveled down these roads and poured into Rome’s tax system. He overcharges so he could be rich at Simon’s expense, James’ expense, etc. That’s why the tax collector was often listed with sinners, prostitutes.

Levi was probably his known name in Capernaum. He took the name Matthew as the disciples coalesced into a team as Mark 3 mentions his new name.

Matthew was from a despised class. The disciples were not about to relate to a tax collector, but Jesus embraces him. Today, who Jesus saves is not our concern. We might pray “God so and so is such a lovely person, please save him or her.” But Jesus didn’t come for lovely people. He came to love the lost, the hurt, the ugly, etc. Jesus keeps embracing what others push away. Who in your life is the least likely to say yes? That’s who to pray for this week.

Illustration: How God is saving in the other nations? Who he is saving? The gypsy-Roma: While Susan and I lives in Europe, we frequently came across gypsys or Roma people. They were outcasts and mistrusted in every city in Europe. The Roma relate in communities and tribes all over Europe and here in America. Since the 1950’s a growing revival has been moving through the communities in France when a missionary began helping the Roma’s find hope through learning the language and how to follow Christ; and it spread through Spain, and Romania. Many are unable to hold citizenship as illegals, but what many call a “hidden revival” with Roma Gypsy churches forming to help them grow and reach their communities. Jesus looks to the outcast.

v. 15 Then things worked out so that Jesus and his disciples were dining at Levi’s house and enjoying a meal with many tax collectors and sinners because many of them followed him.

A sort of revival had begun in the ranks of IRS agents toward God. The message of Jesus, the changed lives of people like Levi, and the embrace of a Savior who forgives, knows them by name, restores them to the Kingdom, brings salvation to this unlikely group of people

It’s like seeing the Gypsies come to Jesus.

v. 16 When the legal experts of the Pharisees saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why is it that he eats with these tax collectors and sinners?”

Keep in mind that “these sinners” are the very ones Jesus came to feast with and bring to salvation and restoration. It’s these very sinners that the Pharisees sought to separate from. Pharisee means separated ones, as in we don’t associate with the common rabble. The wording indicates they said it rather than ask it – as if it were given that this was a horrid thing to do. I can even hear the entitled and privileged tone “why does he bother to eat with such people and risk being unclean.”

It seems that, since the Pharisees had already passed judgment on Jesus, they had sent their lawyers to begin making a case to condemn Jesus.

v. 17 And having heard, Jesus says to them “Those who are strong and healthy see no need for a doctor, but those who are sick and in a bad way do. I came to call the sinful, not those who consider themselves righteous.”

This passage is wide open for interpretation since Jesus is using a metaphor alongside a repetition of what the scribes said. They considered themselves righteous and without need of a Savior, and everyone not “in their camp” sinners, sinful, and beyond redemption apart from aligning with their code. Jesus took their position and made it clear that he wasn’t “in their camp” when it comes to who he associates with.

Called to salvation, called to love God with all we are, called to be the bridge to reconcile others to the Father, and called to God’s purpose – that is, to make Jesus known through our lives and words.

Moving On…

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We each need to move. Christianity is a faith of mobility. Biologists use the word “motility” to explain how a cells move almost instinctually toward its purpose. Spontaneous. Instinctual. As if responding to an inner call. Christianity is a faith of motility.

Forward (or backward) motion is a given in the life of the Christ-follower. While we may “stay” in place where we live, work, serve, play, worship, and learn; we are not “static” in our faith walk. Even our vocabulary urges us forward: walk of faith, run the race, stretching for the high prize of God’s calling. He speaks and we move toward His Voice.

Jesus made one final and specific demand on our lives… He is the Boss, after all. He told us to “make disciples,” “instruct in the faith,” “baptize new disciples,” and do it all “as we go.” His demand isn’t that we find the mountainside cave and meditate our lives away. He says “go.” We are a people on the move.

Proverbs 3:7 says “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.” The Message captures this movement with this: “Run to God! Run from evil!”

The account of the Prodigal is a story of movement, too. The running from God toward evil that the younger son chooses is quickly followed by the running out of money he faces. Then, he makes a new, timid move back to the father. And the father’s response is both unbecoming and impassioned – he hikes his robes and runs to his son. Then, his next demand is to his servants – restore him to a place of honor and run and set up the party room.

  • Movement in repentance
  • Movement in restoration
  • Movement in celebration

When we move from a place of self-centeredness and sin, we join in the movement…and the Movement. The grace of God is this: He calls, we answer and move toward him, and He runs to us for the grand embrace. And we get to chase after Him in the race of a lifetime!

On the Move,

Rick