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The Church, Kingston, NY (2025)

08/16/2025

Matthew 13:1-9
New International Version
The Parable of the Sower
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

08/16/2025

Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

08/12/2025

Grieving the Holy Spirit refers to the act of causing sorrow or distress to the Holy Spirit, who dwells within a believer. The concept is rooted in the biblical passage of Ephesians 4:30, where the apostle Paul writes, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
The context of this verse is crucial for understanding what grieving the Spirit entails. Paul is speaking to Christians, urging them to "put off their old self" and "put on the new self." He then lists specific behaviors that are contrary to this new life in Christ. These include:
Dishonest or corrupt speech: Using "unwholesome talk" or slander.
Uncontrolled anger and bitterness: Allowing rage, brawling, and malice to control one's actions and heart.
Lying and stealing: Engaging in deceit and dishonest practices.
Lack of forgiveness: Failing to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving toward others.
In essence, grieving the Holy Spirit is about living in a way that is inconsistent with the new life God has given us. It's a loving parent being saddened when their child makes self-destructive choices. The Holy Spirit is a person, not an impersonal force, and He has feelings. When we, as believers, engage in sinful thoughts or actions, we are essentially hurting the very Spirit who is meant to guide us, comfort us, and empower us to live righteously.
It is important to note that grieving the Holy Spirit is different from "quenching" the Holy Spirit, as mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:19. While both are negative impacts, grieving is often seen as a more personal offense against the Spirit's character, while quenching is about stifling His work or influence in a person's life or in the church.

08/12/2025

Melchizedek was explicitly identified as a king in the Bible.

The primary scripture that establishes his royal status is Genesis 14:18:
"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High."
Here, he is clearly named "king of Salem." Most biblical scholars and theologians believe that "Salem" was an early name for the city of Jerusalem.
The New Testament reaffirms this status in Hebrews 7:1-2, which serves as a commentary on the Genesis account:
"For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him... First, his name means 'king of righteousness,' and then he is also 'king of Salem,' which means 'king of peace.'"
The author of Hebrews not only confirms that Melchizedek was a king but also explains the theological significance of his title. What makes Melchizedek a unique and significant figure in Scripture is that he held the dual offices of both king and priest, which was not the case in the later Israelite system where the kingship and the Levitical priesthood were kept separate.

08/12/2025

This painting depicts "The Meeting Between Abraham and Melchizedek," a biblical scene from Genesis 14.
The painting shows Melchizedek, the King of Salem and a priest, offering bread and wine to Abraham after Abraham's victory in battle.
This scene is often interpreted as a prefiguration of the Last Supper and the Eucharist in Christian theology, with Melchizedek's offering foreshadowing Christ's offering of bread and wine.
The artist of this particular rendition is Peter Paul Rubens, and it dates to around 1616-1617.
The painting is known for its dynamic composition and use of chiaroscuro, a technique that enhances the three-dimensionality of the figures.

08/01/2025

Isaiah 11:6-9 (NIV):
The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.

07/31/2025

The Way of Life

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. James 4:17 (NLT)

Daily Bible Reading

On Thursday, July 31, 2025, the Bible reading is from James 4:13-17(NLT).

Commentary on the Verse of the Day

The letter from James, found in the New Testament, is overflowing with practical wisdom for our daily lives. James was the brother of Jesus, and his writings are full of teachings similar to how Jesus taught in the Gospels. James 4:17 provides us with a very simple definition of sin. James says that sin is when we know what we ought to do and we do not do it. It's when we have knowledge of what's right, but we deliberately choose not to do it.

There are many ways that we learn what the right thing to do is. When we read Scripture, we are constantly learning how God wants us to live, and what He wants us to do with our lives. We also have the Holy Spirit within us who guides and teaches us. We have no excuse for not knowing the right thing to do in almost every situation—because God has told us how He's designed things to work and how we should act. So when we decide not to live according to God's ways, we are sinning. But the beauty of the gospel is that when we sin against God, we can still come to Him and confess our sins. God's Word says that when we confess our sins to God, He is faithful to forgive us—and He doesn't count our sins against us.

Today, take some time to think about an area where you know you're not following God's best for your life. Confess your sin to God and ask Him for forgiveness. Then, walk in the assurance that God loves you, has forgiven you, and provided a way for you to walk in the newness of life. Thank Him for His faithfulness today!

(Today's commentary by Your Version)

07/29/2025

Cast it Off

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 (ESV)

Daily Bible Reading

On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, the Bible reading is from Psalm 55 (ESV).

Commentary on the Verse of the Day

Are you overwhelmed by the weight of a burden you were never meant to carry? Let the timeless words of King David in Today's Verse of the Day, inspired by the Holy Spirit, sink deep into your soul. The word cast in Hebrew means to throw, hurl, shed, or fling. To propel something as far as possible. To sling something out of your sight. We know that the author, King David, had plenty of burdens to cast off. Not only did he carry the weight and responsibility of being King of Israel, but he also had an explicitly muddy record. And yet, even with David's downfalls and heartaches, he knew where to cast his burdens. He knew who to turn to for help. He knew how to humble himself, repent of his sins, and cling to God's mercy and grace.

So, what about you? What burdens are you carrying? The big ones, the little ones, and everything in between. The everyday worries, the soul-crushing fears, the agonizing shame. Did you know that you can surrender all of them to the Lord—rather than crumbling under their pressure? God wants to carry your burdens, but you have to cast them off.

So today, don't just half-heartedly set down your burdens or passively give them to God; cast them at His feet. You can trust that He will sustain you and give you the strength to stand.

(Today's commentary by Your Version)

07/25/2025

What God Loves

He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord Psalm 33:5 (NLT)

Commentary on the Verse of the Day

Psalm 33 is a beautiful chapter of the Bible. The writer's motivation is clear: praise. Praise God for how powerful He is, how good He is, how righteous He is. Praise Him for His steady plans, His all-knowing faithfulness, His love for His people. Praise God.Early on in this outpouring of praise, the psalmist says our Verse of the Day about God He doesn't just appreciate, tolerate, or approve of justice and righteousness. He loves them.If we, like God, love righteousness and justice, that means we cannot also love anything that is unrighteous or unjust. The world is full of dark things that call for our attention and affection. But God, in His steadiness, never stops loving the exact same things: righteousness and justice.Is the earth full of darkness, evil, and sin? Yes. But don't forget, this verse reminds us of something else the earth is full of: His unfailing love.

Today, take a moment to read all of Psalm 33 below. Look for how you can add your praise of God to this psalm of praise. Has God brought justice for you? Has He helped you turn from sin and toward righteousness? How has God been good to you? Let the last three verses put your heart at ease, washing over you and encouraging you today:

"We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone." Psalm 33:20-22 NLT

(Today's commentary by Your Version)

Daily Bible Reading

On Friday, July 25, 2025, the Bible reading is from Psalm 33 (NIV).
��1 Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord;� it is fitting for the pure to praise him.�2 Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre;� make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.�3 Sing a new song of praise to him;� play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.�4 For the word of the Lord holds true,� and we can trust everything he does.�5 He loves whatever is just and good;� the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.
6 The Lord merely spoke,� and the heavens were created.�He breathed the word,� and all the stars were born.�7 He assigned the sea its boundaries� and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.�8 Let the whole world fear the Lord,� and let everyone stand in awe of him.�9 For when he spoke, the world began!� It appeared at his command.
10 The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations� and thwarts all their schemes.�11 But the Lord's plans stand firm forever;� his intentions can never be shaken.
12 What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord,� whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.
13 The Lord looks down from heaven� and sees the whole human race.�14 From his throne he observes� all who live on the earth.�15 He made their hearts,� so he understands everything they do.�16 The best-equipped army cannot save a king,� nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.�17 Don't count on your warhorse to give you victory—� for all its strength, it cannot save you.
18 But the Lord watches over those who fear him,� those who rely on his unfailing love.�19 He rescues them from death� and keeps them alive in times of famine.
20 We put our hope in the Lord.� He is our help and our shield.�21 In him our hearts rejoice,� for we trust in his holy name.�22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,� for our hope is in you alone.

07/25/2025

No One Else

No one is holy like the Lord! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2 NLT

Daily Bible Reading

On Thursday, July 24, 2025, the Bible reading is from 1 Samuel 2:1-11 (NIV).

Commentary on the Verse of the Day

Hannah desperately wanted a child, but she wasn't able to conceive. Year after year, she was mocked, tormented, and left heartbroken because of her infertility.

Have you ever known an unfulfilled longing? Maybe you have desperately wanted something: a godly marriage, a healthy body, a thriving family, a hard-earned title, a close community, a restored relationship. Maybe you've looked around at everyone else's seemingly full lives and wondered why your arms were empty.

Eventually, after years of waiting, God answered Hannah's prayer. And because of that, she was filled with wonder and worship, saying Today's Verse of the Day. Despite the excruciating years of longing and disappointment, Hannah knew there was no replacement for God. There's no one else who's able to create something from nothing. There's no one else who holds the power of life.

There is no other Rock on which to build our faith. There's no one else who sees the worst of us and loves us anyway. There's no one else who has compassion for our deepest longings. There's no one else who can be trusted with the most tender part of our dreams. There's no one else who's there to guide, teach, and comfort—when it feels like everyone else has left. There's no one else who has the power to save.

Because God is holy, He is always good. Most of all, He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Rest assured, there is no one else who's more worthy of your trust, your respect, and your heart.

(Today's commentary by Your Version)

07/23/2025

Your Battle is Won

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

Daily Bible Reading

On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, the Bible reading is from Ephesians 6:10-20 (NIV).

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Commentary on the Verse of the Day

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your circumstances or wondered why you keep fighting the same struggle?

Jesus taught us that life as a Christ-follower will be difficult. Our world is filled with broken people—ourselves included—who do broken things. There will be trials and challenges. When Adam and Eve decided to pursue something "good" apart from God, their decision allowed evil to enter the world. This means there is a spiritual battle that we cannot see, and it impacts our everyday lives.

When we give our lives to Jesus, we join His team—but this also means we become a target of the devil, our enemy. Every bad thing that happens to us is not necessarily a direct attack from Satan—sometimes it's just a result of living in a fallen, broken world. But there is a spiritual element to every situation because the devil is always trying to draw the world away from God, and he is looking for people to destroy. When struggles happen, the devil will try to get you to believe lies about God, your situation, yourself, or other people. He will try to get you to doubt your identity and your God-given authority. But God, who has victory over Satan, is always fighting for you. Nothing can overcome God, and so when we rely on God—nothing can overcome us. In every situation, we are more than conquerors because God deeply loves us. This is why we don't have to be afraid of the spiritual fight—God has already won it. We need to remind ourselves of this truth so that way we can withstand the attacks from Satan when they come. But attacks will end—because God will win. And know that no matter what you face—God is already fighting for you. He is in control, and He will never leave you. When you belong to God, you have the power to subdue, crush, and overthrow anything the devil throws at you. God's power makes you more than a conqueror.

So today, fill your mind with truth. Hold fast to your faith and guard your heart. Walk in peace toward everyone and memorize Scripture so that way you can wield it as a weapon against any spiritual attack that comes your way.

(Today's commentary by Your Version)

07/14/2025

Let There Be Light

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:3,4 (NIV)

Daily Bible Reading

On Monday, July 14, 2025, the Bible reading is from Genesis 1 (NIV).

Commentary on the Verse of the Day

The word "light" appears hundreds of times in the Bible. It first appears just three verses into the first book, Genesis, during the Creation story as written in Today's Verse of the Day. Later, when the prophet Isaiah foretold Jesus' coming, he framed the Messiah as a "great light" that would dawn on those who were "walking in darkness" (Isaiah 9:2). Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in John 8:12 when He declared, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Darkness cannot exist where there is light. Genesis 1 says that God "separated" the light from the darkness that covered a formless, empty earth. The two things cannot coexist. The same is true of sin and perfection. The world fell into darkness when sin entered it. But the world wasn't completely consumed by darkness–we were only separated from God. That's why He sent Jesus, the Great Light, to guide us back to Him.

Just as a flame burns brightly, its fire also spreads. When He returned to Heaven, Jesus gave His Spirit to us, so that we might also be light to others! The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 5:8, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." As a child of light, you can be a light in our dark world by the way you live, speak, and act.

Today, ask yourself: how will I continue to walk in step with Jesus as my guiding light? What will I do to be a light in my world? Who will I share His light with?

(Today's commentary by Your Version)

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