TwelveTwelve: The Leader Blog of North Wake Church

Who Does This Scripture Apply To? One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.”  He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?”  And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’

A Resolution For 2025: More Weeping One of the things I love most about our Lord Jesus is His practice of and teachings on being a peacemaker.  The passage for this week’s sermon might not immediately strike you as being on that topic.  But here.  I’ll let you decide. As he (Jesus) approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.  The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle

Decorum for Divinity Read:  Luke 19:28-40 28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they

Incarnations Are Forever The "Incarnation" is the label given to the true event that happened when God, who consists of three persons and is the creator and sustainer of the Universe, took on human form. Many Christians are quite clear on this truth, even if it is too grand to be fully understood. We sing and celebrate it repeatedly as a church family. Yet just as amazing but discussed less is that Jesus grew into an adult man made of flesh and bone, and is still an adult man even after his resurrection. Do we doubt this truth --

Your Assignment: Will You Accept? On Christmas Day in 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, beloved American poet, was mourning. A year and a half earlier, he had lost his wife in a horrible accident involving fire (he suffered massive burns himself trying to save her and could not even attend her funeral).  His country was torn in two, embattled in the brutal Civil War.  His son, despite his father’s wishes, had entered the war and recently been wounded.  Longfellow wrote very little in his sadness.  “I can make no record of the days,” he said.  “Better leave them wrapped in

The Blind Won't Gain Their Sight By Opening Their Eyes Read:  Luke 18:35-19:10 Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar 35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 38 And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near,

Choices and Paths Read: Luke 18:15-34 Let the Children Come to Me 15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” The Rich Ruler 18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good?

Directional Gratitude And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O LORD, have given me.’ And you shall set it down before the LORD your God and worship before the LORD your God. And you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you. -Deuteronomy 26:10-11 "Gratitude" is a popular concept right now. Writers at the University of California at Los Angeles report that a practice of regular gratitude has measurable

Read: Luke 18:1-14 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the