John on Music

illustration

Playing Second Fiddle

Author

Keywords

Scripture

1 Peter 5:5, 1 Corinthians 12:25-26, John 3:30, Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 4:2-3, Mark 9:35, Romans 12:10

An Admirer once asked Leonard Bernstein, celebrated orchestra conductor, what was the hardest instrument to play. He replied without hesitation: “Second fiddle. I can always get plenty of first violin...

Quote

Author

Howard Thurman

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 4:18-19, Luke 15:3-7, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 25:35-40, Galatians 5:13, Matthew 5:9, John 13:34-35, Philippians 4:4-7, Matthew 5:14-16

When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with the flocks, then the work of Christmas begins: to find t...

liturgy

Fire of the Spirit, life of the lives

Author

Hildegard von Bingen

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 2:7, Romans 8:10-11, John 16:13, Isaiah 11:2, Galatians 5:22-23

Fire of the Spirit, life of the lives of creatures, spiral of sanctity, bond of all natures, glow of charity, lights of clarity, taste of sweetness to sinners, be with us and hear us. Composer of all ...

illustration

We Are What We Love

Author

James K. A. Smith

Keywords

Scripture

Galatians 5:22-23, Ruth 1:16, Luke 10:38-42, Luke 10:25-37, Colossians 3:17, 1 John 3:18, Matthew 22:37-40

Identities—what makes us who we are, the kind of people we are—is what we love. More specifically, our identity is shaped by what we ultimately love or what we love as ultimate—what, at the end of the...

illustration

Modern Man

Author

Tom Howard

Keywords

Scripture

Galatians 5:13, John 8:36, Isaiah 30:1, Proverbs 14:12, Genesis 3:6-7

Modern man is “a bleak business…To our chagrin we discover that the declaration of autonomy has issued not in a race of free, masterly men, but rather in a race that can be described by its poets and ...

Quote

Author

Peter J. Leithart

Keywords

The Holy Spirit

Scripture

Ephesians 5:18, Ephesians 4:1-6, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 5:22, John 14:17

Follow the Spirit. Walk in the rhythm of the Spirit. Sing in the Spirit. Pray with the Spirit. Be filled with the Spirit. Sow to the Spirit. Reap from the Spirit. Preserve the unity of the Spirit. Be ...

liturgy

Living by God's Word Daily

Author

Laura B. Murray

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 139:7-10, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 14:26, Psalm 51:1-2 , Galatians 5:25, Romans 10:17, Revelation 3:20

Our gracious God, you come to us in the everyday. You give us your Word and your Spirit so that we can hear your voice and follow your ways. We confess that we have neglected your Word and the Sp...

illustration

Sin and Trees

Author

John Stott

Keywords

Scripture

Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 6:6, Galatians 5:16-17, Psalm 51:10, Jeremiah 17:9, John 8:34

Sin not only alienates; it enslaves. It separates us from God and it also brings us into captivity. We need now to consider the ‘inwardness’ of sin. It is more than the wrong things we do; it is a dee...

liturgy

Go in peace to love and serve the

Keywords

Scripture

Acts 13:28, John 13:12-17, Micah 6:8, Matthew 28:19-20, Galatians 5:13, Philippians 4:7

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.

Quote

Author

Hans Urs von Balthasar

Keywords

Love

Scripture

Galatians 5:6, Luke 10:38-42, Ephesians 3:17-19, John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 13:2, 1 John 4:7-8

Lovers are the ones who know most about God; the theologian must listen to them.

liturgy

Forgive Us, Renew Our Spirit

Keywords

Scripture

John 15:16, John 1:12, 1 John 3:1, Psalm 119:37, Galatians 5:22-23

Pastor: Gracious Father, You have chosen us for a purpose – that we might bear lasting fruit for Your Kingdom. You call us to walk humbly before You and to share in the struggle with the least of thes...

Quote

Author

Kevin DeYoung

Keywords

Scripture

Colossians 1:10, 1 John 3:18, Titus 3:8, John 15:5, Galatians 5:6

Faith and good works are both necessary. But one is the root and the other the fruit.

liturgy

How we praise and thank You for the

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 8:14, Galatians 5:25, Luke 24:13-32, Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 119:18, John 16:13, Colossians 2:3

How we praise and thank You for the holy Scriptures which You have caused to be written for our learning. Thank You for Your written Word, which reveals to us the living Word of God, in the Person of ...

Quote

Author

Vincent van Gogh

Keywords

Love

Scripture

Colossians 3:14, Luke 10:25-37, Galatians 5:22-23, 1 John 4:16, John 15:12-13

Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.

liturgy

God's Blessing Through Holy Spirit

Author

Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Illinois

Keywords

Scripture

Acts 2:1-4, Romans 15:13, Ephesians 3:16-17, John 14:26, Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 5:5

Pastor: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful, People: and kindle in us the fire of your love. Alleluia. Pastor: Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust i...

liturgy

A Prayer of Absolution for the Overchallenged

Author

David Zimmerman

Keywords

Scripture

1 John 4:18, Galatians 5:22-23

Good God, We have a lot going on. You are a God of grace, And we are made in your likeness. Let us then be people of grace. Meet our human concerns with the fruit of your Spirit: Love for ourselves...

illustration

Mistaken Identity

Author

John Ortberg

Keywords

Scripture

Colossians 3:12, Matthew 23:27-28, Titus 1:16, 1 John 3:18, Romans 12:2, Galatians 5:22-23, Matthew 7:21

A man is being tailgated by a woman who is in a hurry. He comes to an intersection, and when the light turns yellow, he hits the brakes. The woman behind him goes ballistic. She honks her horn at him;...

illustration

When We Are Like Piñatas

Author

Bob Goff

Keywords

Scripture

Proverbs 4:23, John 15:12, 1 Peter 4:8, Colossians 3:12-13, 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, Romans 12:21, Galatians 5:22-23

When my kids were little, I used to hang piñatas from our favorite tree in the backyard as often as possible. Sometimes we did it for their birthdays, but sometimes we did it because it was Saturday, ...

liturgy

Holy Spirit, Holy One

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

John 3:1-17, Ephesians 1:13-14, Acts 8:26-40, Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 8:14-16

ONE: People of God, Rejoice! Our Eternal and Beautiful God is near The One who gives us new birth by water and Spirit The One who names us beloved The One who delights in our very existence Come and w...

Quote

Author

Mother Teresa

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

Matthew 22:37-39, Luke 10:25-37, 1 John 3:18, John 13:1-17, Matthew 25:31-46, 1 John 4:7-12, Acts 2:44-45, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Mark 6:30-44, Galatians 5:22-23

It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you.

Quote

Author

Edgar Cayce

Keywords

Scripture

Galatians 2:20, Acts 9:1-19, Genesis 45:1-15, Luke 10:25-37, Colossians 3:12-14, John 15:5, Galatians 5:22-23

Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness, love, gentleness, fellowship and endurance...

illustration

Why does a tree bear fruit?

Author

Christopher H. J. Wright

Keywords

Scripture

Jeremiah 17:7–8, Deuteronomy 30:19–20, Ezekiel 36:26–27, John 15:4–5, Romans 7:4–6, Psalm 1:2–3, John 15:1-8, Matthew 7:17-23, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 1:10, Galatians 5:22-23

Why does a tree bear fruit? Not because there is some law of nature that says it must. But simply because of the life within it, rising up from the soil and water that feed its roots and flowing in th...

scripture guide

Scripture Guide, Ephesians 4:1-16 (Guide A)

Author

Gabe Fung

Keywords

Scripture

Ephesians 4:1-16, 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a, Psalm 51:1-12, John 6:24-35, Galatians 5:22-23, Psalm 68:18, Philippians 2:5-11, Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 1 Peter 4:10-11, Acts 14:4, Romans 16:7, 1 Corinthians 15:7, Galatians 1:19, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:6, Romans 12:3-5, 1 Corinthians 12:14-27

Background to the Letter and Passage Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was probably intended for wider distribution and use among the various churches around Ephesus. As such, there is no particular cri...

illustration

The Scorpion and the Turtle

Author

Source Unknown

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 6:6, Galatians 5:17, Ephesians 4:22, John 8:34, Romans 3:23

One lazy afternoon day a turtle was swimming happily along a lake. As the turtle was nearing land he heard a scorpion hail it from the muddy shore. A scorpion, being a very poor swimmer, asked the tur...

Quote

Author

Gerard Manley Hopkins

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 2:1-12, Titus 3:5-6, 2 Corinthians 5:17, John 8:12, Matthew 5:3-10, Romans 12:2, Galatians 5:1, Genesis 12:1-4, Ephesians 4:22-24, Isaiah 1:18

Moonless darkness stands between. Past, the Past, no more be seen! But the Bethlehem-star may lead me To the sight of Him Who freed me From the self that I have been. Make me pure, Lord: Thou art holy...

Quote

Author

Stuart Briscoe

Keywords

Christmas

Scripture

John 1:1-5, John 14:16-17, Hebrews 1:8-12, John 11:25-26, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 1:27, Hebrews 9:15, John 4:13-14, Matthew 28:20

The spirit of Christmas needs to be superseded by the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal. The spirit of Christmas is sentimental; the Spirit of Christ...

Quote

Author

Eugene Peterson

Keywords

Scripture

Galatians 5:14, Luke 10:25-37, John 13:34-35, 1 John 3:18, Ephesians 5:1-2, 1 Corinthians 14:1

Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does.

Quote

Author

Chuck DeGroat

Keywords

Scripture

Colossians 3:5, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, 1 John 2:16, James 1:14-15, Romans 8:1-2, Galatians 5:16-17

The early church fathers named the primary sin patterns “passions,” borrowing a Latin term that could also be translated “sufferings ” As we live out a unique pattern or “face” of sin, we begin to thi...

liturgy

Beloved of God, go now in peace to love and serve

Author

Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

Keywords

Scripture

Acts 8:26-40, John 4:4-42, Luke 10:1-12, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Matthew 28:19-20, Galatians 5:13, Mark 12:30-31

Beloved of God, go now in peace to love and to serve, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

illustration

Why Can’t We Be Good?

Author

Timothy Keller

Keywords

Scripture

John 15:5, Isaiah 64:6, Ecclesiastes 7:20, James 4:17, Galatians 5:17, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 7:24-25

Jacob Needleman has been a secular philosopher and a professor of philosophy of religion for many years at San Francisco State University. Some years ago he wrote a remarkable book called Why Can’t We...

illustration

liturgy

illustration

illustration

liturgy

illustration

liturgy

liturgy

liturgy

liturgy

liturgy

illustration

illustration

liturgy

illustration

scripture guide

illustration

liturgy

illustration

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

L

M

P

S

U

W

Psalm

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Ezekiel

Micah

Matthew

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

2 Timothy

James

1 Peter

1 John