Church Life Overview

Our fiscal year ends on April 30th. Today is our last Sunday of this past year and this message is an overview of the things we will focus on at the beginning of our 2014/2015 Fiscal Year. There will probably be 8-10 messages in this series.

Click here for the audio of this message on PodBean. It will be titled "Church Life Overview."

Reflections on the past year....

- Challenging winter

- Painful losses of people

- Continuing transition from what was to what we believe should be (Men of Issachar)

Celebrations of this past year...

- Greater levels of involvement and commitment from individuals

- More people involved in ministry

- new people choosing to follow Jesus HALLELUJAH

- two trips to Guatemala with great teams

- paying off all indebtedness

2014-2015 Our Next Twelve Months

- Small Churches launched and existing ones flourishing

- Disciple Makers bearing fruit - GROWTH spiritually and relationally

- Love abounding

- Joy expressed

- Holy Spirit working

- Financial commitment to this local expression of the church

- Fresh resolve and commitment to UNITY

- Increased desire and boldness for WITNESSING

- Greater involvement in MINISTRY

- KNOWING JESUS as a church and as individuals  CHRISTLIKENESS

DISCIPLE MAKERS reproduce in others everything they have learned as passionate and obedient followers of Jesus.

1 Chronicles 12:32 (NIV) men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do—200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;

SUMMARY....

The eight ideas below represent the focus for our church. 

Disciple Makers - reproducing in others everything they have learned as passionate and obedient followers of Jesus.

Bearing fruit

Growing spiritually and relationally

Big Church - Sending

Commitment to regular attendance

Commitment to financial support

No Indebtedness

Small Church - Sent

Existing small churches flourishing

New small churches being planted

Unity

Fresh resolve to be one in the Lord

Love abounding in diversity

Joy expressed

Holy Spirit working

Witness

Testifying to what Jesus has done

Praying for great boldness

Ministry

Everyone involved in ministry

Ministering with spiritual gifts

Knowing Jesus

Commitment to prayer

Engagement in learning

Sharing the Journey with one another

The Invitation

Wholehearted participation with us in this journey

GOOD FRIDAY - April 18th of Holy Week

Matthew 27:11-55 (NIV)

 [11] Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
 “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.
 [12] When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. [13] Then Pilate asked him, “Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” [14] But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
 [15] Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. [16] At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. [17] So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” [18] For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
 [19] While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
 [20] But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
 [21] “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
 “Barabbas,” they answered.
 [22] “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked.
 They all answered, “Crucify him!”
 [23] “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
 But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
 [24] When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man's blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
 [25] All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”
 [26] Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

 [27] Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. [28] They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, [29] and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. [30] They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. [31] After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

 [32] As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. [33] They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). [34] There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. [35] When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.* [36] And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. [37] Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. [38] Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. [39] Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads [40] and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”
 [41] In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. [42] “He saved others,” they said, “but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. [43] He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” [44] In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

 [45] From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. [46] About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi,* lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”*
 [47] When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He's calling Elijah.”
 [48] Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. [49] The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him.”
 [50] And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
 [51] At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. [52] The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. [53] They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
 [54] When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son* of God!”
 [55] Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.

THURSDAY, April 17th of Holy Week

Matthew 26:47-75 (NIV)

 [47] While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. [48] Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” [49] Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

 [50] Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.”* 

 Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. [51] With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

 [52] “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. [53] Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? [54] But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

 [55] At that time Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. [56] But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

 [57] Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. [58] But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

 [59] The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. [60] But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. 

 Finally two came forward [61] and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”

 [62] Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” [63] But Jesus remained silent. 

 The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ,* the Son of God.”

 [64] “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

 [65] Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. [66] What do you think?” 

 “He is worthy of death,” they answered.

 [67] Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him [68] and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?”

 Peter Disowns Jesus

 26:69-75pp—Mk 14:66-72; Lk 22:55-62; Jn 18:16-18, 25-27

 [69] Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

 [70] But he denied it before them all. “I don't know what you're talking about,” he said.

 [71] Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

 [72] He denied it again, with an oath: “I don't know the man!”

 [73] After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.”

 [74] Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don't know the man!” 

 Immediately a rooster crowed. [75] Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

WEDNESDAY, April 16th of Holy Week

Matthew 26:17-45 (NIV)

The Lord's Supper

 26:17-19pp—Mk 14:12-16; Lk 22:7-13

26:20-24pp—Mk 14:17-21

Mt 26:26-29pp—Mk 14:22-25; Lk 22:17-20;

1Co 11:23-25

 [17] On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

 [18] He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” [19] So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

 [20] When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. [21] And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

 [22] They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?”

 [23] Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. [24] The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

 [25] Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” 

 Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”*

 [26] While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

 [27] Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. [28] This is my blood of the* covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. [29] I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom.”

 [30] When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

 Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

 26:31-35pp—Mk 14:27-31; Lk 22:31-34

 [31] Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: 

“‘I will strike the shepherd, 

and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’*

 [32] But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

 [33] Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

 [34] “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

 [35] But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

 Gethsemane

 26:36-46pp—Mk 14:32-42; Lk 22:40-46

 [36] Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” [37] He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. [38] Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

 [39] Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

 [40] Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. [41] “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

 [42] He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

 [43] When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. [44] So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

 [45] Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 

TUESDAY, April 15th of Holy Week

Romans 5:1-21 (NIV)

 [5:1] Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we* have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [2] through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we* rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. [3] Not only so, but we* also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; [4] perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

 [6] You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. [7] Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. [8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 [9] Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! [10] For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! [11] Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

 [12] Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— [13] for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. [14] Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.

 [15] But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! [16] Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. [17] For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

 [18] Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. [19] For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

 [20] The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, [21] so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

MONDAY, April 14 of Holy Week

Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (NIV)
The Suffering and Glory of the Servant
[13] See, my servant will act wisely*;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
 [14] Just as there were many who were appalled at him*—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
[15] so will he sprinkle many nations,*
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
 Isaiah 53
 [53:1]
Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
[2] He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
[3] He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
[4] Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
[5] But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
[6] We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
[7] He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
[8] By oppression* and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.*
[9] He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
[10] Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes* his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
[11] After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light [of life]* and be satisfied*;
by his knowledge* my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
[12] Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,*
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,*
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY - Days 39 & 40, April 12 & 13

Take some time over this weekend to review, finish, and reflect on this journey through Matthew on the Kingdom of Heaven. Share with us your thoughts and insights about this time in the Word and what you have learned as you have contemplated the teachings of Jesus on His Kingdom. Monday, we will begin a weeklong journey with the Cross as our primary focus. On Resurrection Sunday we will focus on the resurrection. On Good Friday we will gather at 11am for a focus on the cross. Hope to share some of these times with you over this coming week.

DAY THIRTY-EIGHT - Friday April 11

Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV)

 [31] “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. [32] All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. [33] He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
 [34] “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. [35] For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, [36] I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
 [37] “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? [38] When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? [39] When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
 [40] “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
 [41] “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [42] For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, [43] I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
 [44] “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
 [45] “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
 [46] “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Heads Up

We are almost finished with our 40 days in Matthew. Friday, tomorrow, will be our last assigned reading for these passages about the Kingdom of Heaven. Next week, Holy Week, we will focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus. The blog title will change over the weekend but the url will remain the same. I have been pleased about the level of participation we have experienced with this journey in Bible reading. Let's keep it up.
If you are looking for today's reading from Matthew just scroll down to the next blog. It is still here.
Much blessing and love,
Dave

Day Thirty-Seven - THURSDAY, April 10

Matthew 25:14-30 (NIV)

 [14] “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. [15] To one he gave five talents* of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. [16] The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. [17] So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. [18] But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
 [19] “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. [20] The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’
 [21] “His master replied,’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!’
 [22] “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’
 [23] “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!’
 [24] “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. [25] So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
 [26] “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? [27] Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
 [28] “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. [29] For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. [30] And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
[46] “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Day Thirty-Six - WEDNESDAY, April 9

Matthew 25:1-13 (NIV)

 [25:1] “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. [2] Five of them were foolish and five were wise. [3] The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. [4] The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. [5] The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
 [6] “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
 [7] “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. [8] The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
 [9] “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
 [10] “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
 [11] “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’
 [12] “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don't know you.’
 [13] “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Day Thirty-Five - TUESDAY, April 8

Matthew 22:1-14 (NIV)

 [22:1] Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: [2] “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. [3] He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
 [4] “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
 [5] “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. [6] The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. [7] The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
 [8] “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. [9] Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ [10] So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
 [11] “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. [12] ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.
 [13] “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
 [14] “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

Day Thirty-Four - MONDAY, April 7

Matthew 21:33-46 (NIV)

 [33] “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. [34] When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
 [35] “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. [36] Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. [37] Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
 [38] “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.’ [39] So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
 [40] “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
 [41] “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
 [42] Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone*; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’*?
 [43] “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. [44] He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”*
 [45] When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. [46] They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

Days Thirty-Two & Thirty-Three - SATURDAY & SUNDAY, April 5-6

Reread a previous days reading or catch up on some you missed. We are coming down the home stretch. 

Day Thirty-One - FRIDAY, April 4

Matthew 21:28-32 (NIV)

 [28] “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

 [29] “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.

 [30] “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.

 [31] “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” 

 “The first,” they answered. 

 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. [32] For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Day Thirty - THURSDAY, April 3

Matthew 20:20-28 (NIV)

 [20] Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
 [21] “What is it you want?” he asked.
 She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
 [22] “You don't know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
 “We can,” they answered.
 [23] Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
 [24] When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. [25] Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. [26] Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [27] and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— [28] just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Day Twenty-Nine - WEDNESDAY, April 2

Matthew 20:1-16 (NIV)

 [20:1] “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. [2] He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
 [3] “About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. [4] He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ [5] So they went.
 “He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. [6] About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
 [7] “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
 “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
 [8] “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
 [9] “The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. [10] So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. [11] When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. [12] ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
 [13] “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? [14] Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. [15] Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
 [16] “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”