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How to Make Jesus Useless
1 Jesus left that place and came to his hometown. His disciples followed him. 2 On the Sabbath, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were surprised. “Where did this man get all this? What’s this wisdom he’s been given? What about the powerful acts accomplished through him? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t he Mary’s…
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Desperate Times and Desperate Measures
A swarm of people were following Jesus, crowding in on him. 25 A woman was there who had been bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a lot under the care of many doctors, and had spent everything she had without getting any better. In fact, she had gotten worse. 27 Because she had heard about Jesus, she came…
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The Collapse After the Victory
1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, how he had killed all Baal’s prophets with the sword. 2 Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah with this message: “May the gods do whatever they want to me if by this time tomorrow I haven’t made your life like the life of one of them.” 3 Elijah was terrified. He…
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Sometimes Prayer is Work
Sometimes? Well, if you’re Elijah, it may seem like a shock. He could pray for rain to stop and it happened. He could pray for fire to fall on the altar and BAM! But then it came time for rain to fall again and it wasn’t as instant. 41 Elijah then said to Ahab, “Get up! Celebrate with food and…
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Hobbling Along
I have been part of the CEB Blog Tour for Advent and now for Lent. It’s been fun to explore this translation. There are times when how this translation turns a phrase is really great to read. 21 Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you hobble back and forth between two opinions? If the LORD is…
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The God Who Answers By Fire
22 Elijah said to the people, “I am the last of the LORD’s prophets, but Baal’s prophets number four hundred fifty. 23 Give us two bulls. Let Baal’s prophets choose one. Let them cut it apart and set it on the wood, but don’t add fire. I’ll prepare the other bull, put it on the wood, but won’t add fire.…
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Elijah and Radical Dependence
2 Then the LORD’s word came to Elijah: 3 Go from here and turn east. Hide by the Cherith Brook that faces the Jordan River. 4 You can drink from the brook. I have also ordered the ravens to provide for you there. 5 Elijah went and did just what the LORD said. He stayed by the Cherith Brook that…
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The Mantle of Elijah
17 Elijah was a person just like us. When he earnestly prayed that it wouldn’t rain, no rain fell for three and a half years. 18 He prayed again, God sent rain, and the earth produced its fruit. (James 5:17-18, CEB) Elijah was a man just like us? Really? I mean… yes, he was a human being. But like me?…
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My Name is Legion
2 As soon as Jesus got out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out of the tombs. 3 This man lived among the tombs, and no one was ever strong enough to restrain him, even with a chain. 4 He had been secured many times with leg irons and chains, but he broke the chains…
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Consider Carefully What You Hear
What you hear in the Kingdom of God is vital. It is not to be taken lightly. If you hear, then do something with it. Grow. Expand. Exercise what has been given to you. Don’t hold onto what has been given you to when that gift is meant to be given away. The Kingdom of God is about us being…
Category: Common English Bible
