Here we are in the middle of the week. This week we are reading The Book of James. Using  the “Paraphrase It” method, let’s look at our passage of scripture for today which is found in James 1:22-25. The first verse will sound familiar as it was our memory verse from last week:

Let’s look at  James: 1:22-25 (NIV):
 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do.”

Again, Let’s take the five steps, from the “Paraphrase It” method of Bible meditation, thinking of it as a two part conversation, focus on what God may be showing you through His Word…
Step 1:  Read the verse or passage over and over.
Step 2:  Think about what God is saying to you.
Step 3:  Put it into your own words.
Step 4:  Search your heat to see how the verse applies to you.
Step 5:  Talk to God about it.
* What will you do about it?
* How willing are you, really, to let the Word of God do its work in you?
* Respond to Him with your thoughts and prayers, basing everything on the
   passage you just read.

May God continue to bless you richly as you seek to serve him in all that you say and do today.

God bless,
Pastor Todd Fabiano

Remember This Weeks Memory Verse is…

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 (NIV)

* For a further devotional on Day Twenty-Four sign up at www.40ditw.com

We are using the PARAPHRASE method of bible study this week as we read through the Book of James. The purpose of this method is for you to be able to explain the entire verse or passage in your own words. We want to go beyond just knowing what the Bible says and really understand what the Bible means.So let’s do it together:

Let’s do it together:

THE “PARAPHRASE IT!” METHOD OF BIBLE MEDITATION:
Step 1: Let’s read it two times this passage:
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”
James 1:19-20 (NIV)
Step 2:  Think about what God is saying to you.
Step 3:  Put it into your own words.
Step 4:  Search your heat to see how the verse applies to you.
Step 5:  Talk to God about it.

Let’s look at James: 1:2-4 (NIV):
” 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Take the five steps, mentioned above, and think of it as a two part conversation:
(1) Read the verse several times.
(2) What is God saying to you in this passage?
(3) Put it in your own words.
(4) Search your heart to see how the verse applies to you.
(5) Talk to God about it.
* What will you do about it?
* How willing are you, really, to let the Word of God do its work in you?
* Respond to Him with your thoughts and prayers, basing everything on the
   passage you just read.
 
 
This Weeks Memory Verse is…
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 (NIV)
 

I pray God will use this passage to speak to you in a special way today.

Pastor Todd Fabiano

* For a further devotional on Day Twenty-Two sign up at www.40ditw.com
 

This week we are reading The Book of James. It is just five chapters long. We will also be using the fourth devotional method of Bible study – the “Paraphrase It” method. We will be discussing this at length in our small groups this week but for now let me share with you just five simple steps that we will be practicing:

THE “PARAPHRASE IT!” METHOD OF BIBLE MEDITATION:
Step 1:  Read the verse or passage over and over.
Step 2:  Think about what God is saying to you.
Step 3:  Put it into your own words.
Step 4:  Search your heat to see how the verse applies to you.
Step 5:  Talk to God about it.

The purpose behind this method is for you to be able to explain the entire verse or passage in your own words. We want to go beyond just knowing what the Bible says and really understand what the Bible means.

Let’s look at James: 1:2-4 (NIV):
“ 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Take the five steps, mentioned above, and think of it as a two part conversation:
(1) Read the verse several times.
(2) What is God saying to you in this passage?
(3) Put it in your own words.
(4) Search your heart to see how the verse applies to you.
(5) Talk to God about it.
* What will you do about it?
* How willing are you, really, to let the Word of God do its work in you?
* Respond to Him with your thoughts and prayers, basing everything on the
   passage you just read.

This Weeks Memory Verse is…

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 (NIV)

I pray God will use this passage to speak to you in a special way today.

Pastor Todd Fabiano

* For a further devotional on Day Twenty-Two sign up at www.40ditw.com

We trust and pray that you’ve had a blessed week so far. This morning, let’s take a moment to look at today’s passage of Scripture.

Today’s devotional is found in
Mark 15:33-39:

33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” 36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. 37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. 38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

As you wait upon the Lord, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal his truths for your life today here are some incredible things to ponder. In all, Jesus spoke seven times from the cross. Mark records only this one. Jesus was experiencing the alienation from God which sin inevitably brings. He tasted both physical death and spiritual separation from God’s manifest presence, feeling the bitter desolation of alienation from a holy God. He was a ransom for many (10:45). Yet, in His deepest sense of abandonment, He still said “My God…” There was no renouncing of His absolute faith in His Father.

In verse 38 it tells us that the inner veil of the temple, separating the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place, was split from top to bottom. This shows that it was God’s mighty hand that had done so. It was the final day of Atonement, making useless all other sacrifices for sin. The way to Holy of Holies was now being opened for all.

Read Mark 15:33-39 again and ask yourself these three questions:

1. What did it mean then?
2. What is the timeless truth?
3. How does it apply now?     

Use the acronym S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S to apply to your life, what you’ve learned:  

S – Is there a sin to confess?

P – Is there a promise to claim?

A – Is there an attitude to change?

C – Is there a command to obey?

E – Is there an example to follow?

P – Is there a prayer to pray?

E – Is there an error to avoid?

T – Is there a truth to believe?

S – Is there something to praise God for?  

Remember our memory verse for this week:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”- James 1:22 (NIV)

 May God bless you richly,

Pastor Todd Fabiano

* For a further devotional on Day Twenty sign up at  www.40ditw.com

So I am doing my devotional today (Quiet Time, as Rick Warren calls it). I usually do it together with my wife in the morning but since I had to be in the office earlier, I had to do it by myself (together with her is much better because of among other reasons, the power of agreement taught by Jesus in Matthew 18 and the fact that the married couples have a power of unity). I go to the prayer room and read the last two chapters of Mark and meditate in the passage in Mark 14: 3 – 9 where a woman anoints Jesus with an expensive perfume as part of the 40 Days in the Word Devotional for today. Then I go to Our Daily Bread Devotional and find a great article. Let me share it with you:

A few years ago I read an article saying that, on February 17, 2009, millions of old TV sets in the United States would stop working unless they were able to receive digital signals. Notices appeared in electronics stores, and the government even offered a free $40 coupon toward the purchase of a converter box.

I suspect that most people took the necessary steps to make sure their TV set would work when they turned in on that day. We usually respond well to warning tied to specific dates. Yet we often fail to prepare for an event that will come “some day”.

When the disciples asked Jesus about the date of His return (Matthew 24:3). He told them that only God the Father know: “But on that day and hour no one knows, not even the angles of heaven, but My Father only” (v. 36). Then He urged them to be prepared so that they would not be taken by surprise. “Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect”(v.44).

We don’t know when Jesus will return. He may come at any time. Dr. M. R. DeHaan, founder of RBC Ministries, kept a two-word motto in his office:  “Perhaps Today.”

When we make our daily plans, are we aware that Christ may return? Are we prepared to meet Him?    – David McCasland

I just thought I would share my devotional with you and ask you what I was asked today: IF CHRIST COMES TODAY, WILL YOU BE READY TO MEET HIM? I am, by His grace. How about you?

Pastor Fernando Carvalho

The PROBE method is a very practical method as we ask questions to apply God’s Word to our lives.

Let’s look at the passage for today found in  Mark 14: 3 – 9:

3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

 4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages[a] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

   6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you,[b] and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Now, this passage certainly had a meaning then, very different than today as we don’t usually go around anointing people’s feet with perfume.

But remember the application bridge:

1. What did it mean then?  – INTERPRETATION  
2. What is the timeless truth? – IMPLICATION  
3. How does it apply now?    – APPLICATION  

Try to answer these three questions and “do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”- James 1:22 (NIV)

Have a great day,

Pastor Fernando Carvalho

We’ve been learning together, six different ways to meditate on God’s Word using the “devotional method” of Bible study. Using what Pastor Rick Warren referred to as the “Probe It” method, let’s look at today’s passage of Scripture.

Today’s devotional is found in Mark 11:25:

25 “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

I have a question for us today? What law (Scriptural truth) guarantees the possibility of accomplishing impossible things? It is the “law of miracles” that guarentees the performance of impossible things. Miracles take place in Jesus’ name, with power flowing from God through man to the world around us. But a condition must be realized. Jesus reminds us to not doubt in our hearts (Mark 11: 22-24). Those who do will not receive anything (James 1:6-8). Jesus goes on to explain in our verse this morning (Mark 11:25) that if we have anything against anyone, we are to forgive that person so that we can stand before Him forgiven. A road block to answered prayer for you, may lie in a lack of forgiveness towards others. Whether or not the attitude we have is justified by the circumstances, there must be freedom from bitterness and resentment or there will be no “mountain-moving miracles”. There can be no resentment, no bitterness, no jealousy, no envy. To see miracles, there must be forgiveness and love.

Read Mark 11:25 again and ask yourself these three questions:

1. What did it mean then?
2. What is the timeless truth?
3. How does it apply now?     

Use the acrostic S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S to apply to your life, what you’ve learned:  

S – Is there a sin to confess?

P – Is there a promise to claim?

A – Is there an attitude to change?

C – Is there a command to obey?

E – Is there an example to follow?

P – Is there a prayer to pray?

E – Is there an error to avoid?

T – Is there a truth to believe?

S – Is there something to praise God for?  

Remember our memory verse for this week:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”- James 1:22 (NIV)

God bless you,

Pastor Todd Fabiano

* For a further devotional on Day Eighteen sign up at  www.40ditw.com

We come today to an interesting one. It is found in Mark 10: 17 – 31 when a rich young man came to Jesus and said:  “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

His question is a universal question. What do we have to do to make sure we have eternal life?

Jesus not only gave him the answer to the question, albeit not the one he expected, but a great teaching on priorities, self-denial and the character of God.

Read the whole passage today (even if you already read Mark 10, as we are reading chapters 8 to 16 this week) and ask yourself the three questions:

1. What did it mean then?
2. What is the timeless truth?
3. How does it apply now?    

Then, if you have time, use the acrostic to apply what you learned to your life.  

S – Is there a sin to confess?

P – Is there a promise to claim?

A – Is there an attitude to change?

C – Is there a command to obey?

E – Is there an example to follow?

P – Is there a prayer to pray?

E – Is there an error to avoid?

T – Is there a truth to believe?

S – Is there something to praise God for?  

And remember our memory verse:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”- James 1:22 (NIV)

Have a great day,

Pastor Fernando Carvalho

Today’s passage of scripture is found in:

Mark 9:33-35 (NLT)

“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of God? “ 

33 After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?” 34 But they didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

Using  the third devotional method of Bible study: The “Probe It” method – Read the passage again asking yourself these three questions:

1. What did it mean then?
2. What is the timeless truth?
3. How does it apply now?    

Rick Warren suggests also to use the acronym S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S to further apply this passage of Scripture to your life. Keep in mind, you may not be able to answer every question below and that’s o.k. Answer the ones that you can and move on. 

S – Is there a sin to confess?

P – Is there a promise to claim?

A – Is there an attitude to change?

C – Is there a command to obey?

E – Is there an example to follow?

P – Is there a prayer to pray?

E – Is there an error to avoid?

T – Is there a truth to believe?

S – Is there something to praise God for? 

   
Take a moment to write down your observation as well as what God is speaking to you through His Word. Meditate on the principles found here in his word throughout your day today.

I want to leave you with this quote this morning…The great preacher and renowned Christian author, A. W. Tozer, makes this observation regarding this passage of God’s Word:
“Before the judgment seat of Christ my service will be judged not by how much I have done but by how much I could have done!… In God’s sight, my giving is measured not by how much I have given but how much I have left after I made my gift… Not by its size is my gift judged, but by how much of me there is in it. No man gives at all until he has given all! No man gives anything acceptable to God until he has first given himself in love and sacrifice”

Keep in mind our memory verse for this week is:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”- James 1:22 (NIV)

May God bless you richly as you seek to serve Him in all that you do today,

Pastor Todd Fabiano

* For a further devotional on Day Sixteen sign up at  www.40ditw.com 

This week we are reading Mark 8 through 16 and we are going to use the third devotional method of Bible study – PROBE method – that will be discussed in small groups this week.

In order to help you with your Quiet Time, I want to give you some instructions:

The purpose of this method is to apply the Word to our lives, that is why our memory verse this week is:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”James 1:22 (NIV)
 

When we read a passage we should ask ourselves three questions:

1. What did it mean then?
2. What is the timeless truth?
3. How does it apply now?

Today we are going to meditate in Mark 8: 34 – 38, Jesus teaches about taking up your cross:

 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”  

 Ask the three questions above.

Rick Warren suggests also to use the acronym SPACEPETS to further apply the Word to your life:

S – Is there a sin to confess?

P – Is there a promise to claim?

A – Is there an attitude to change?

C – Is there a command to obey?

E – Is there an example to follow?

P – Is there a prayer to pray?

E – Is there an error to avoid?

T – Is there a truth to believe?

S – Is there something to praise God for? 

 
I pray God will use this passage to speak to you in a special way today.

Pastor Fernando Carvalho

* For a further devotional on Day Fourteen sign up at  www.40ditw.com