Month: March 2019

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A Call to Respond

Tim Farley

  Reading the Word Luke 7:18–35 (ESV) 18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ ” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many … Continue reading A Call to Respond

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God Has Visited His People

Tim Farley

Shaped by the Word is a daily, Bible-reading devotional. We are currently reading through the life of Christ and I invite you to subscribe to this page so you can follow along. I do not publish supplemental material on Sundays, but I do include the day’s suggested Scripture reading. Reading the Word Luke 7:11–17 (ESV) 11 Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12 As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of … Continue reading God Has Visited His People

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Belief in Jesus’ Authority

Tim Farley

Reading the Word Matthew 8:5–13 (ESV) 5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he … Continue reading Belief in Jesus’ Authority

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A House on the Rock

Tim Farley

Reading the Word Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV) 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the … Continue reading A House on the Rock

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I Never Knew You

Tim Farley

Reading the Word Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV) 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Understanding and Applying the Word Many claim to follow the Lord, but many … Continue reading I Never Knew You

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Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

Tim Farley

  Reading the Word Matthew 7:15–20 (ESV) 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Parallel Text: … Continue reading Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing

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The Easy Way or the Hard Way?

Tim Farley

  Reading the Word Matthew 7:13–14 (ESV) 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Parallel Text: Luke 13:23-24 Understanding and Applying the Word In these two verses, Jesus speaks of two “ways” or two “gates”. One way, which Jesus says is wide and easy leads ultimately to a place where no one would want to go. It … Continue reading The Easy Way or the Hard Way?

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Do to Others

Tim Farley

Reading the Word Matthew 7:12 (ESV) 12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Parallel Text: Luke 6:31 Understanding and Applying the Word This verse is commonly referred to as the Golden Rule. Jesus tells us that it is a summary statement for the Law and the Prophets. This means that the Old Testament Scriptures are summarized in this simple, yet profound command. The Golden Rule calls us to action, not just restraint. We are to do what we wish others would do to us, … Continue reading Do to Others

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Knock Knock

Tim Farley

Shaped by the Word is a daily, Bible-reading devotional. I do not publish supplemental material on Sundays, but I do include a suggested Scripture reading. If you would like to follow along each day as we read through the life of Jesus Christ in 2019, please be sure to subscribe to this page or to our Facebook page. Thanks for reading! Reading the Word Matthew 7:7–11 (ESV) 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks … Continue reading Knock Knock

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Pearls before Pigs

Tim Farley

  Reading the Word Matthew 7:6 (ESV) 6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Understanding and Applying the Word This is a short passage and may seem a little harsh. Who are the “dogs” and pigs” Jesus is talking about and what are the “pearls” we should hold onto? The dogs that Jesus refers to are not domesticated pets, but wild scavengers. Pigs, under Old Testament law (Deuteronomy 14:8), were considered unclean and were not to be eaten by the Jewish … Continue reading Pearls before Pigs

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