SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 10:2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep.
3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice….
11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Observation: The Good Shepherd does not go behind the sheep to drive them, but goes ahead of them to lead them.

Application: I am finding that following Jesus insures that He arrives first. He is already there when I arrive! He already knows what I will be facing. He already knows what I will be doing when I arrive. He knows the purpose for my being there because He is the one who led me there. If I am to be a good leader, I must be a good follower.

Prayer: Lord, gently remind me not to run on ahead. You have called me to follow. Amen.

August 8: Jeremiah 1-2; John 10

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 9:4 NIV As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no-one can work.

Observation: The King James Version uses "I" here where other translations use "we." I do not understand the difference; however the use of "we" includes us in the urgency of the day. There was urgency for Jesus to complete His assignments in the day in which He lived. The same is true for all believers. There is urgency for us to complete our assignments in the day in which we are living. Future generations will not be able to reach our generation. It is for us to do!

Application: The sense of urgency felt by Jesus should also affect my relationships and how I live my daily life. I have no promise of tomorrow. Those around me have no promise of tomorrow.

Prayer: Lord, find me faithfully doing each day what you have given me to do. Help me not to put off till tomorrow what I should be doing today. Amen.

August 7: Zephaniah 1-3; John 9

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 8:31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Observation: It is not difficult to understand. It is quite simple. The ones who make Jesus’ teaching their way of life are truly his disciples.

Application: The Bible has to have a place of great value to me if I claim to be a disciple of Jesus. To do his teachings, I must know his teachings. To know his teachings, I must read the Bible, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, them into practice in my life.

Prayer: Lord, it is not the Bibles sitting on the shelf at home, but the scriptures hidden in my heart that affect the way I live. May I truly be your disciple! Amen.

August 6: Habakkuk 1-3; John 8

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 7:28 Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, "Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him,
29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me."

Observation: Jesus is more than just my example; he actually lives inside me. His words take on very special meaning. Some apply to his coming to earth and his purpose, but some can become personal to me: “I am not here on my own…” and “…he sent me.”

Application: My life takes on purpose when I remember that God lives in me. “I am not here on my own.” My life provides opportunity for God to demonstrate how he is able to maintain joy and peace in my circumstances. My life will not demonstrate how God is greater than ALL circumstances. God will use someone else to demonstrate his grace and power in their circumstances. But my life can show he is greater than my circumstances.

Prayer: Lord, I am not here on my own. You have sent me to my world. I want you be seen in me. Amen.

August 5: 2Kings 23; 2Chronicles 35; John 7

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 6:38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

Observation: Jesus knew where He was from (heaven) and where He was (on earth). He knew why He was here (He had been sent.) He knew who had sent him (his Father). He knew what He was to do (the Father’s will).

Application: My Heavenly Father is sending me today into my world not to do my will but to do His will.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, my purpose today is to do Your will. Amen.

August 4: 2Kings 22; 2Chronicles 34; John 6

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 5:20. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these.
21. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
22. Moreover, the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,
23. that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

Observation: The Father entrusting the giving of life and judging to the Son is so that the Son will receive the same honor as the Father. It is the Father’s desire that we give honor to Jesus, the Son! As earthly fathers love to see their sons honored, so our Heavenly Father loves to see His Son honored. In fact the Heavenly Father is offended when we do not honor His Son, as are many earthly fathers.

Application: Today I honor my Heavenly Father by honoring His Son, Jesus, my Lord. Today I honor Jesus by listening to Him and obeying Him. A child once described a friend as “a person whose name is safe in my mouth.” So I speak His name and speak of Him with respect. If I am going to call Him “Lord,” then I should live like it is true.

Prayer: Lord, today help me to hear your voice in my spirit, understand what you are saying, and do it! Your name is safe in my mouth. Amen.

August 3: Nahum 1-3; John 5

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 4:7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, "Will you give me a drink?”
8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

Observation: In this passage, and in chapter three, we have Jesus revealing wonderful truths, not in a message to thousands of people (like the Sermon on the Mount), but each to a single person. In chapter three “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son…” is spoken to Nicodemus who came at night. And in this chapter, “I who speak to you am he (the Messiah)” is revealed to this Samaritan woman at the well. Everyone needs to hear these important messages so it is proper to include them in messages to crowds, but every “one” needs to hear them personally so they must be shared “one to one.”

Application: For me, ministry to a group of people usually involves presenting comments prayerfully prepared ahead of time. Ministry to individuals more often centers on answering questions (as in John chapters 3 and 4). Answering questions is more personalized and focuses on what the Holy Spirit is emphasizing in their lives. I may not be able to answer their questions very well, but if God brought us together, he knows of something in my life that will be good for them.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, today help me to say what is beneficial to your plans. Amen.

August 2: 2Kings 21; 2Chronicles 33; John 4

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 3:28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.’
29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
30 He must become greater; I must become less.

Observation: The mission of John the Baptist was closing down. He had accomplished his assignment of preparing the way for Jesus. He had introduced Jesus. The crowds that once came to hear John preach were now going to hear Jesus. John was not jealous because this was the very reason for his ministry. He understood his purpose—his assignment. John was now moving to the background. Jesus was getting the attention. John’s joy was complete.

Application: As I grow older, I see my generation laying the foundation for the next generation. As we decrease and we want our children and grandchildren to increase. As to the world’s economy and political leanings, there is great trouble ahead. It is so important that we introduce the next generation to Jesus. It is so important that they grow to love and trust Him so much that when we are moved out of the picture, their faith continues and becomes stronger than our faith ever was.

Prayer: Lord, may your influence become greater and stronger in my heart and mind every day. And may I pass that on to others. Amen.

August 1: Isaiah 65-66; Psalm 62; John 3

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 2:11 This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. (NOTE: verses 1-11)

Observation: This first miracle was the turning of water into wine at a wedding when they ran out of wine. But someone in the planning phase for this banquet had made a wise decision to invite Mary and her son Jesus. (I remember when we were first married; Sharon invited someone to dinner because she knew they could make the gravy.) So, the master of the banquet received the wine, and Jesus received the glory. He is still receiving the glory for this miracle! (And Sharon has been making good gravy for years!)

Application: Notes to myself:
#1. Make sure Jesus is a part of everything I plan.
#2. When something goes wrong, go to Jesus first.
#3. Do exactly what he says.
#4. Make sure Jesus gets the glory!

Prayer: Lord, help me make plans that will please you because I want you to enjoy being a part of the things I plan. Amen.

July 31: Isaiah 63-64; John 2

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

Scripture: John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Observation: As someone is chosen to introduce the main speaker at a conference, or the players in a sports contest, so John was given the privilege of introducing Jesus to the world. The day before John had told the people that one greater would soon appear. And now that one was present! Israel would never be the same. The world would never be the same.

Application: And to me is given the privilege of introducing Jesus to people whose lives will never be the same.

Prayer: Lord, What a special privilege is mine to introduce you to those nearby. Amen.

July 30: Isaiah 60-62; John 1

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!