3 Week Challenge, Day 13

Passage: Matthew 13 (The Parable of the Sower, The Parable of the Weeds, The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast, The Parable of the Weeds Explained, The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl, the Parable of the Net, A Prophet Without Honor)

Memory Verse: "4In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts be silent" -Psalm 4:4

Notes: (v.3-8) A farmer went out to sow seeds:

-SEED TYPE 1: (v.4, 19): The seeds fell along the path, but the birds came and ate it up

The birds: Satan; The seeds: the message of the kingdom

To those who do not understand the message given to them--the devil comes and snatches what is sown

-SEED TYPE 2: (v. 5-6, 20-21) The seeds fell on rocky places with little soil. It sprang up quickly, but since the soil was shallow it could not take root. The sun came and the plants scorched and withered

The seed: The man who receives the news with joy, but does not take root in the gospel--thereby falling away in times of trial

-SEED TYPE 3: (v.7, 22): The seeds fell among thorns that choked the plants

The seed: the man who hears the word, but becomes suffocated by worldly issues and the deceitfulness of wealth. He is not fruitful

-SEED TYPE 4: (v. 8, 23) The seeds fell on good soil and produced abundant and good fruit

The seed: The man who hears and understands the word. He IS fruitful

-(v.24-3o): The kingdom of heaven is like a filed of good seed sown with weed from the enemy. Both kinds will grow together until harvest, where the weed will be burned and the wheat will be brought into the barn

-(v.31-33): The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, and yeast

Though both begin as the smallest of their kind, their continuous GROWTH makes the mustard seed the largest of plants and the yeast becomes mixed throughout the dough

-(v.44-45): The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field or a precious pearl; when one has found it, it is more valuable than anything in this life

-(v.47-49): like fishermen separating the good fish from the bad, so will the angels separate the wicked from the righteous at the end of age

-(v.57) Jesus was unwelcome in his hometown, so He did few miracles there because of their lack of faith

3 Week Challenge, Day 12

Passage: Matthew 12 (Lord of the Sabbath, God's Chosen Servant, Jesus and Beelzebub, The Sign of Jonah, Jesus' Mother and Brothers)

[sidenote: props to Jonathan Liu for the verse. Saw it on the facebook page!]

Memory Verse: "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Mark 14:38

Notes: (v.1-6) Jesus and his disciples were walking through grainfields on the Sabbath, when the disciples got hungry and began to pick grain.

The Pharisees began condemning them, accusing them of doing what is "unlawful on the Sabbath"

Jesus' reply: He references what David did then his companions were hungry: they went into the house of God and ate consecrated bread

The Pharisees did not know the meaning of the phrase, "I desire MERCY, not sacrifice," or else they would not have condemned the innocent

-(v.9-13) Again, the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus by asking, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" (referring to a man with a shriveled hand)

Jesus replied: "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath"

-(v.15-20) The Pharisees began plotting Jesus' death; Jesus withdrew from that place and warned the people that he healed not to tell who he was

Words of the prophet Isaiah fulfilled (ref. Isaiah 42:1-4)

-(v.22-27) Jesus healed a demon-possessed man, and the Pharisees accused Him of being Beelzebub

In turn, Jesus said, "If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?"

(v.30-32) Jesus says, "Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either at this age or in the age to come"

What does this mean?

-(v.33) A good tree produced good fruit

-(v.38-45) The Pharisees ask of a miracle from Jesus, and he responds with the sign of Jonah

Why did the Pharisees want Jesus to perform a miracle?

What does Jesus mean when he compares the evil generation to a spirit that came out of a man?

-(v.50) "For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother"

3 Week Challenge, Day 11

Passage: Matthew 11 (Jesus and John the Baptist, Woe on Unrepentant Cities, Rest for the Weary)

Memory Verse: review day

Notes: (v.2) John asked if Christ was the one who was to come when he was in prison

(v.4-6) Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me"

-(v.11) Jesus talks about John the baptist: "there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he"

-(v.12) the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing

-(v.16) Jesus compares the generation to "children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn"

What does this mean?

-(v.20) Jesus began denouncing cities that he went to and performed miracles in because of their unrepentance, saying that "it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgement than for you"

-(v.28-30) Jesus gives rest to the weary; seek His yoke and learn from Him

3 Week Challenge, Day 10

Passage: Matthew 10 (Jesus Sends Out the Twelve)

Memory Verse: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell" -Matthew 10:28

Notes: (v.2) the twelve disciples: Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew; James (son of Aphaeus) and Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot

-(v.6) Jesus called his disciples to go to the "lost sheep" and to preach the kingdom of heaven

-(v.16) Jesus compares the calling of his disciples to "sending [them] out like sheep among wolves," and tells them to be "as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves"

-(v.23) "You will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes"

What does this mean, exactly?

-(v.32) "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my father in heavin"

-(v.34-35) Jesus said that He has not come to bring peace, but a sword; he will turn families against each other

Jesus emphasizes how important it is to love Him above all and to take up his cross and follow him; for "anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of Me"

-(v.39) Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for His sake will find it

-(v.42) If you give even a cup of water to the little ones in His name, you will not lose your reward

Whom do I fear--those who destroy the body, or the One who can destroy both body AND soul?

Is Jesus my first love and first priority?

What does it mean to take up my cross for Jesus in my own life?

Am I losing my life for Jesus?

3 Week Challenge, Day 9

Passage: Matthew 9 (Jesus Heals a Paralytic, The Calling of Matthew, Jesus Questioned About Fasting, A Dead Girl and Sick Woman, Jesus Heals the Blind and Mute, The Workers are Few)

Memory Verse: "5But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation, 6I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me" -Psalm 13:5-6

Notes: (v.2) some men brought a paralytic to Jesus. He saw their faith and forgave his sins

-(v.3-7) The Pharisees called Jesus blasphemous; Jesus rebuked them and healed the man

What exactly does Jesus mean when he says, "which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk?'"(v.5)

-(v.9) Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, to follow him

(v.10) Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick"

"I desire money, not sacrfice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners"

-(v.14-17) Jesus was questioned about his disciples' fasting:

-Jesus said: (v.15-17) "The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast"

-"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse"

-(v.18) a man came and asked Jesus to revive his dead daughter

(v.21-22) on the way, a woman with hemorrhoids(?) had faith that even just touching Jesus' cloak would heal her. Jesus saw her faith and healed her.

-(v.24) when Jesus arrived at the house, he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep" She got up.

-(v.27-31) Jesus healed the blind and mute because of their FAITH.

(v.30) Jesus warned them to not tell anyone about this, but they did.

Why didn't Jesus want others to know about his healings?

(v.32-34) Jesus drove out a demon; the Pharisees accused him of being the 'Prince of demons'

-(v.35-38) "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field"

-

3 Week Challenge, Day 8

Passage: Matthew 8(The Man With Leprosy, The Faith of the Centurion, Jesus Heals Many, The Cost of Following Jesus, Jesus Calms the Storm, The Healing of the Two Demon-possessed Men)

Memory Verse: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened" -Matthew 7:7-8

Notes: (v.1-4) Jesus healed the man with leprosy with a touch of His hand, but told him not to tell anyone. Instead, the man was instructed to show himself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them

What was the gift of Moses?

Why didn't Jesus want the man to tell anyone?

-(v.10) the faith of the centurion was great:

He trusted that Jesus could heal his servant from his paralysis

Even after Jesus agreed to go and heal him, the centurion said that he doesnt deserve to have the Lord under his roof. He believed that Jesus could heal him with just a word from His mouth

"when Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, 'I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith."

Jesus healed the man

-(v.17) Jesus fulfilled the prophet Isaiah's words (ref. Isaiah 53:4; "He took up our infirmities and carried out our diseases) in healing the sick and driving out demons

-(v.18) a teacher of the law came to Jesus and was willing to follow Jesus

Jesus replied (v.20): "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head" --the cost of following Jesus

-(v.21) another wanted to follow Jesus, but wanted to bury his father first

(v.22) Jesus said: "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead" (leave all else behind)

-(v.23-27) the disciples were on a boat when a storm began to stir; in fear they called out to Jesus to save them, who was sleeping.

Jesus said: "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" and rebuked the winds and waves

-(v.28-34) Jesus encountered two demon-possessed men in the region of Gadarenes, and drove the demons out and into the pigs

-(v.34) When the town heard what had happened, they went out to meet him and "pleaded with him to leave their region"

Why? (is it because they didn't want demon-possessed pigs? were they afraid?)

3 Week Challenge, Day 7

One week down! Wooohoo!

Passage: Matthew 7 ( Judging Others, Ask, Seek, Knock, The Narrow and Wide Gates, A Tree and Its Fruit, The Wise and Foolish Builders)

Memory Verse: "21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?' 22Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times" -Matthew 18:21-122

Notes: (v.1) do not judge, or you too will be judged

-(v.3) don't look at the SPECK of sawdust in your brother's eye when you have a PLANK in your own eye!

How often do I do this?

-(v.7) "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened"

-If a son asks for bread, who will give him a stone? How much more will God give good gifts to those who ask him!

-Do unto others what you would have them do to you

-(v.14) But small is the gate and narrow the ROAD that leads to life, and only a few follow it

Its not just about entering the small gate; its about following the narrow road that leads to LIFE!

-(v.15-20) recognize false prophets by their fruit, for "a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit"

-(v.24-27) build your house on rock so that it may withstand rain, streams, and winds

Foundation of rock (v.26): put His commands into PRACTICE

What am I building my faith on?

3 Week Challenge, Day 6

Passage: Matthew 6 (Giving to the Needy, Prayer, Fasting, Treasures in Heaven, Do Not Worry)

Memory Verse:"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" -Ephesians 4:29

Notes: (v.1) do not do "acts of righteousness" for men, or there will be no eternal rewards in heaven

-(v.3) give to the needy; do not let my "left hand know what my right hand is doing, so that my giving may be in secret"

-(v.6) pray in secret, and the Lord will reward

-(v.14-15) forgive as you have been forgiven by the Lord

-(v.21) where your treasure is, there your heart; do not store up treasures on earth, where "moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal"

-(v.24) no one can serve two master; you either hate one or love the other

-(v.26) "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable?

-(v.28) even Solomon in all his splendor was not dressed like the lilies of the field

-(v.33-34) "But seek first His kingdom and righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own"

-Which master am I serving?

3 Week Challenge, Day 5

Passage: Matthew 5 (The Beatitudes, Salt and Light, The Fulfillment of the Law, Murder, Adultery, Divorce, Oaths, An Eye for an Eye, Love for Enemies)

Memory Verse: "28Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and by burden is light" -Matthew 11:28-30

Notes: (v.3-10) Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who HUNGER and THIRST for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the PEACEMAKERS, those who are persecuted because of RIGHTEOUSNESS

-(v.11) Blessed am I when people insult me because of Jesus, for "great is [my] reward in heaven"

-(v.13-16) be salt and light; never lose "saltiness," and do not let the light be diminished, but let it "shine before men"

-(v.19) whoever practices and teaches these commands will be great in heaven

-(v.22) Murder: anyone angry at his brother is subject to judgement

-(v.23) Before your "offering" [service to the Lord, perhaps] fix any trouble you have with your brother

-(v.30) "it is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go to hell"

-Do not swear (by heaven or by earth); let your "yes be yes" and your "no be no"

-(v.42) "Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you"

-(v.43) LOVE your enemies and PRAY for those who persecute you

-Have I been salt/light, or has it been diminished or covered?

-How much of the beatitudes does my life encompass?

-Am I LOVING and PRAYING for my enemies, or and I committing "murder" (v.23)

-Am I giving to those who ask of me?

3 Week Challenge, Day 4

Passage: Matthew 4 (The Temptation of Jesus, Jesus Begins to Preach, The Calling of the First Disciples, Jesus Heals the Sick)

Memory Verse: "14Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16With long life I satisfy him and show him my salvation" -Psalm 91: 14-16

Notes: (v.2-3) Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before he was tempted

-1st Temptation: food--the devil tempted him with physical food

Jesus answered:(v.4) "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (ref. Deuteronomy 8:3)

-2nd Temptation: the devil used Scripture (ref. Psalm 91:11-12) test him; he wanted Jesus to call upon the angels to save him

Jesus answered: (v.7) do not put God to test

-3rd Temptation: (v.9) the devil offers worldly treasures in return for worship of the devil

Jesus said: (v.10) worship God alone

-Jesus fulfilled prophet Isaiah's words in his moving to Zebulun and Naphtali (ref. Isaiah 9:1-2)

He then began to preacH (v.17); "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near"

-(v.19)Jesus called Simon and Peter, brothers, to be "fishers of men"

-(v.21-22)He then saw James and John, also brothers, to be disciples

-Jesus walked through Galilee preaching and healing the sick.

3 Week Challenge, Day 3

Passage: Matthew 3 (John the Baptist Prepares the Way, The Baptism of Jesus)

Memory Verse: "11The Lord said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain and in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.' Then a great a powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper" -1 Kings 19:11-12

Notes: [on memory verse] the Lord often speaks in a "still small voice" (in the words of Greg Mah), or a "gentle whisper" (v12)

[on passage]

-(v.3) the words of the prophet Isaiah were spoken through John the baptist (ref. Isaiah 40:3)

-(v.8) "produce good fruit in keeping with repentance

-Am I producing good fruit..

~in my school?

~with my studies?

~at church?

~in my family?

~among my friends?

-(v.17) Jesus came to be baptized by John, and God was pleased

-Why was this baptism so significant?

3 Week Challenge, Day 2

Passage: Matthew 2 (The Visit of the Magi, The Escape to Egypt, The Return to Nazareth)

Memory Verse: "17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" -2 Corinthians 5:17

Notes:

-(v.7-8)Herod called the Magi (wise men) to find out where Jesus was born and to kill him (out of jealousy)

-(v.12): The Lord has always protected; the Magi were warned in a dream to not return to Herod

-God can speak through dreams (v. 12, 13, 19, 22)

-Joseph still a man of obedience to His commands

-4 prophecies were fulfilled through Jesus's birth:

1. (v.6) a shepherd of Israel coming from Bethlehem (ref. Micah 5:2)

2. (v.15) the Lord said; "out of Egypt I called my son" (ref. Hosea 11:1)

3. (v.17) prophet Jeremiah--on the killing of innocent children by Herod's orders;

"Rachel weeping for her children" (ref. Jeremiah 13:15)

4. (v.23) "he will be called a Nazarene" (referring to Jesus Christ)

-Where is Nazareth?

3 Week Challenge, Day 1

So, it is the second day after Retreat '10 sans-pine valley.

Though I am sad to have left Pine Valley once again, and it feels like I am thrust into the business of school all to quickly, and that I have too much unnecessary work to be bothered with, and that I desperately wish to do one more QT on the rocks, or have one more meal at the dining hall (maybe..without the gas), and that I miss almost every aspect of retreat--Kay's, cabins, coffee shop, worship, messages and all--

I am sort of excited. (and a tad scared).

Today marks the first day of Greg's three-week challenge, complete with the five P's: Partner, Place/Time, Plan, Prize, Punishment (optional) to encompass the concept of Read, Meditate, and Memorize the S-word. Small group--PAVE, has decided to embark this challenge together by studying the book of Matthew; one chapter per day:

Partner: PAAV (Pat, Abby, Agatha, Victoria)
Place/Time: My desk in the computer room, at some point between 8-11 pm each night
Plan: 1 chapter of Matthew, 1 memory verse, and 1 journal entry (thoughts, questions, etc), followed by prayer (sincere, bold, and with faith)
Prize: TBA. Dinner, perhaps? Or if we're feeling especially festive, Disneyland? Or froyo. Something food related.
Punishment: Skip 1 day of lunch and give the money's worth of that lunch ($5) to Oscar, the church, or some non-profit, Christian-based organization. [per skipped day]

Personally, I liked Greg's suggestion of a journal, so I decided to journal my "Quality/Quiet Times," both via paper and the internet (hence the creation of this blogspot)..

So here goes!


TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2009:
Passage: Matthew 1 (The Genealogy of Jesus, The Birth of Jesus Christ)

Memory Verse: "2My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ" -Colossians 2:2

Notes: [v.1-17]-- Jesus's genealogy consisted of Solomon, the child of David and Bathsheba. David had forced Bathsheba to commit adultery against her husband and his soldier, Uriah (ref. 1 Samuel 11) So why did God still bless David through this particular son, even after such great sin? (adultery and murder). Had David not any other sons?
[v.22-23]--"23All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet" The words of the prophet were fulfilled through Jesus's birth. Which prophet? Reference?
-Immanuel: God with us
-Joseph was obedient to the Lord, even after he considered divorcing Mary.