Matthew 14:22 - 36

Nine: It is amazing that Jesus could walk on water. It is also amazing that He could command Peter to walk on water, but Peter was afraid and started to sink. We should not be afraid when the Lord is with us.

Twelve: It was amazing that Jesus could go on the water. It proved to the disciples that He was God It was cool at the end how He healed all the people who came to Him.

Forty-seven: How easy it is to take my eyes off Jesus and look at my surroundings and sink. 

Luke 9:1 - 36

Nine: Jesus has the power to give others power. Jesus is holy.

Twelve: Jesus i slowly starting to tell his disciples that He has to be killed. We should trust in Jesus and obey his commands because He is holy and all powerful.

Forty-seven: How difficult it is to step out in faith and trust in God. We always want to have some back up that we can see. 

Luke 15:1 - 32

Nine: The older brother if he wanted attention so badly should have done the same as the younger brother. We should listen to Jesus because there is more joy in heaven when one sinner turns to God and believe in Him than in the righteous doing the same.

Twelve: God is looking for people who do not believe in Him. We should help Him by showing through our actions that we are Christians. When someone ask why we act so nice, we can tell them we believe in God and He loves them.

Forty-seven: The mother in my can't help notice that my youngest is ready to put the older brother on the road. I wonder if he thinks his brother acts "nice." But in truth how often do I do the same? How often do I act like God hasn't forgiven me a boatload of sins?

Luke 10:25 - 37

Nine: We should be like the Samaritan who took care of the injured man and paid for his room at the inn. We should treat everyone like our neighbor and love our neighbor as our self.

Twelve: Everybody is our neighbor. We should be nice to everybody and tell them about Jesus.

Forty-seven: Both my boys obviously got the clear message from this parable that anyone you see is your neighbor. How often do I pass by on the other side because I'm too busy or don't believe the story I've been told?

Matthew 13:1 - 58

Nine: We should obey the parables of Jesus. We should take the words of Jesus and listen to them and keep them in our heart like the good seed. So that the possessions of the world won't choke us up like the seed in the thorns.

Twelve: The way to Jesus is tough. We shouldn't let worldly things stop us from getting to him. We have to believe in Jesus because at the end of the age He will weed us out and only those who believe in Him will go to heaven.

Forty-seven: Together these two parables pack a punch. How do we keep ourselves from being choked by the cares of the world? By turning always to Jesus and remembering that harvest to come will be so different from that of this world. 

Matthew 6:5 - 7:29

Nine: We should obey the words of God and not be like the foolish man who built on sand, but like the wise man who built his house on a rock, to build on God. We should not be like the scribes and pharisees who pray in the streets. We should act so God will know not man.

Twelve: We shouldn't do worldly stuff because that will be our reward on earth and nothing in heaven. The way to heaven is tough and we have to make tough choices to get there. We shouldn't be like the religious leaders. We shouldn't be pompous or proud like them.

Forty-seven: So what would I need to cut off to avoid sin? I'm afraid it might be my sinful heart and pride filled brain. 

Matthew 5:1- 6:4

Nine: You should walk in the path of the upright and obey the commandments of the Lord. If you tempt people into evil there will be great punishment on you. Give to the poor and not shout it out in the streets. Keep it silent to get your reward in heaven.

Twelve: Whenever we do something good we shouldn't make a big deal of it. We should be kind to people and help people in need. You should let your faith shine out of you by your acts.

Forty-seven: Jesus can be so counter-cultural even 2000 years later! How are we to do fundraising without those lists that show who gave what in what category?