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There are many reasons to divide, but only one thing brings us together
Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” So Peter seeing him said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I want him to…
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The Lord went as an example for us all; that we would follow Him into total self sacrifice
So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire in place and fish placed on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, 153; and although there were so…
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Hypocrisy is the killer that walks in through an open door
To You, O Yahweh, I call;My rock, do not be silent to me,Lest if You are hesitant toward me,I will become like those who go down to the pit.Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help,When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.Do not drag me away with…
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Showing reverence in Church is not sitting there quietly, trying not to fall asleep
After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”…
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God makes His intentions clear: He speaks in order to be known
Therefore many other signs Jesus also did in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30-31 Introduction I was talking…
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God is kind and gracious, even to overcome your unbelief
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put…
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The authority of the Church is bound in the person of Christ
So while it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and while the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” And when He had said this, He showed them both His…
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If we expect God to be silent, it is no surprise we are sad even when He speaks
But Mary was standing outside the tomb crying; and so, as she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?”…
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The Lord is mighty to deliver on all His promises
Yahweh is my light and my salvation;Whom shall I fear?Yahweh is the strong defense of my life;Whom shall I dread?When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.Though a host encamp against me,My heart will not fear;Though war arise against me,In this I trust. One thing I…
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The rejection is worth it for all those who will hear you and believe
Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the…
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Whether in open or in secret, God has a purpose for your life
Now after these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. 39 And Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also…
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All of this is written so that you would believe
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been finished, in order to finish the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. Therefore when Jesus…
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You are blessed to be a blessing
So he then delivered Him over to them to be crucified.They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. And…
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In the end, everyone will serve God; either willfully or unwittingly
Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he became more afraid; and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I…
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Being made clean is only the first part of salvation; there is so much more
Give justice to me, O Yahweh, for I have walked in my integrity,And I have trusted in Yahweh; I will not waver.Test me, O Yahweh, and try me;Refine my mind and my heart.For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,And I have walked in Your truth.I do not sit with worthless men,And I will not go…
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When is a confession not really a confession? How do you measure the sincerity of heart?
Pilate then took Jesus and flogged Him. And when the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and put a purple robe on Him; and they were coming to Him and saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and were giving Him slaps in the face. And Pilate came out…
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The two options might seem the same, but they are entirely different
And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?” So they cried out again,…
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The truth is love, and to love is to tell the truth
Then they *led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered and said to…
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A mistake is not by mistake if it is for the glory of God
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you…
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Scripture as our highest authority this side of death
The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what…
