Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 16, 2026:  SOAP #5947:   Deuteronomy 30-31; Psalm 40; 1Corinthians 1

SCRIPTURE:  1Corinthians (NIV) 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

OBSERVATION:  In considering that Jesus was crucified, both the Jews and Greeks had trouble believing.  Jesus did not look very wise or powerful as He hung on the cross.    He looked foolish and weak.  But what a victory was won on Calvary!!!  What wisdom is displayed in the courts of heaven!!! 
This verse is a foundation for Paul’s writing to the Romans (8:28):  we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to his purpose. 

APPLICATION:  God understands; He understands perfectly.  God will not always do what I think best, but He will always do what IS best.  I can trust Him even when I do not understand Him.  The more I read the Bible, the more I know that to be true.  The older I get, the more I know that to be true.   I must be careful not to accuse God of not knowing what to do, or not caring, or not being able to work out what I think is best. 

NOTE:  I am now 78 years old, a senior citizen who has walked with Jesus all my life, I should have the most joy and the greatest faith and be the least selfish.  Knowing God’s faithfulness, I should be patient.  I should be quick to encourage others to step out in faith.  It is easy for me to look back and see the wisdom of God working through my hard times. 

PRAYER:  Lord, everything about you, is greater than anything I have been, or am now, or will ever be.  Obviously, it would be foolish not to trust you.  My life is in your hands.  Amen

Pastor                                        
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 15, 2026:  SOAP #5946:   Deuteronomy 28-29; Galatians 6

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.

OBSERVATION:  There are several verses in the Bible about how we are to treat those around us.  Many know the Golden Rule:  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (Matthew 7:12)   Jesus summarized the last 6 commandments with: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:39)   Then Jesus raised the bar by commanding His disciples:  Love one another as I have loved you. (John 13:34-35)

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul gives some understanding how we are to apply Christ’s command.  We are to carry each other’s burdens. 

Yet we are not to become dependent on the church.  Just two verses later Paul writes:  Galatians (NIV) 6:4 “Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load.”

APPLICATION:  The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write this, so I am confident that the same Holy Spirit can lead me to the burdens God would have me carry for my brother or sister.  And I can depend on the Holy Spirit to help and show me how I can carry my own personal burdens. 

The emphasis is on what I can do for others and not on what I can get others to do for me.  Once the Holy Spirit has helped me to carry my burdens He will start showing me how I can help carry someone else’s burden. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, today help me fulfill the law of Christ.  Amen

Pastor                                        
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 14, 2026:  SOAP #5945:   Deuteronomy 25-27; Galatians 5

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. …
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

OBSERVATION:  Freedom—what an important word!  Freedom—what a desirable state!   Freedom—what a costly privilege!   Freedom—so very important to people. But man’s freedom is even more important to God! 

Being loved and served by those who have no freedom to resist, that would not be a testimony to God’s greatness.  But when those who are free come to experience God’s great love and begin to see God’s unique worthiness—when those begin to love and serve him—when the free ones choose death over denying their relationship with such a loving God—that proves how they consider Him worthy of their devotion. 

APPLICATION:  In a perfect environment Satan chose to rebel against God.  Now in this sinful environment God is gathering a body of believers (the church) who become fully convinced that God is worthy and use their freedom to honor God.  And in so doing put Satan to shame!     

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, thank you for freedom!  Thank you for the freedom to choose you over the world.  Forgive me for the times I have taken that freedom so lightly.  May the choices I have freedom to make every day, in little and big things, bring you honor.  May they demonstrate my love for you.   Amen

Pastor                                        
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 13, 2026:  SOAP #5944:   Deuteronomy 22-24; Galatians 4

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

OBSERVATION:  Why did Jesus come? Why was he born of a woman?  Why was he born under the law?  He did it to redeem us that we might become in every sense His.  We are truly God’s children.  His purpose is for each of us to mature spiritually into “sons.” 

Jesus stood where we stood to enable us to stand where He stands!   He came under the law, to fulfill the law, not for Himself, for He was born without sin, and never committed a sin.  He never needed a sacrifice for His sins. But He became the perfect sacrifice for sins of man. .   

He made it possible for us to receive the FULL RIGHT of sons.  We start as children and begin to grow in understanding the WORD and grow in developing His character.  We each have the FULL RIGHT to be mature sons, but our level of maturity will depend on our yielding ourselves to  the leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

APPLICATION:  Today I am God’s child.  I am a part of His family.   God has brought me into His family and given me the goal to become like His SON Jesus.  Of course, for me to ever realize that goal, I will need the continual guidance of the Holy Spirit leading me, just as He led Jesus. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, may I hear your voice clearly today as you guide me in becoming more like Jesus.  Amen. 

Pastor                                        
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 12, 2026:  SOAP #5943:   Deuteronomy 19-21; Galatians 3

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 3:25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. 26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

OBSERVATION:  My heart rejoices in the truth Paul stated in the above passage.  What Christ accomplished on the cross not only freed those who were “under supervision of the law,” it united all who have faith in Christ into the body of Christ. 

APPLICATION:  SOAP readers, no matter where you live, if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, WE “ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS!!!”   Africans, Asians, Americans, women, men, wealthy, poor—we are one in Christ Jesus!  We are all members of the same body.  We all have the life of Christ within us.  We are all blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit! 

Before long, we will all be together around the throne of heaven! We will all be rewarded there for our faithfulness here.  We may not meet in this life, but surely, we will meet in heaven!  What a day that will be!! 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, to know that “we are all one in Christ Jesus, filles my heart with joy.  Today, bless each one with a joyful awareness of your presence.  Amen.

Pastor                                        
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 10, 2026:  SOAP #5941:   Deuteronomy 16-18; Psalm 38; Galatians 2

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 2:8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.

OBSERVATION: Just as there are different members of the human body with each one doing an assigned part and all coordinated together to cause the body to function, so it is with the body of Christ.  God has different assignments for different members.  Peter and John were sent to minister to Jews; Paul and Barnabas were sent to minister to Gentiles.  God was working through both ministries.  God does not have us all in the same location doing the same thing.  

APPLICATION:  What we read in Galatians (about 50AD) can be easily seen in the church today (2026AD).  I write these SOAPs, and others in the body of Christ forward them on the internet, or print them, or distribute the printed copies.  God has different assignments for us. 

Acknowledge and appreciate the special assignment God has given you.  Use your gifts to fulfill your assignment to glorify God.  Baking, sowing, babysitting, doing what enables someone else to live for God’s glory.  Use your opportunities to give witness to the love and goodness of God in your life. 

PRAYER:  Lord, each of us are a part of your body.  We are here to express your life where you have placed us.  Shine through us.  May people see you living in us, we pray.  Amen

Pastor Leon                                        
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 10, 2026:  SOAP #5941:   Deuteronomy 13-15; Galatians 1

SCRIPTURE:  Galatians (NIV) 1:15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man,

OBSERVATION:  God had a purpose to reveal Jesus to Paul.  It was SO THAT Paul could spread the gospel among the Gentiles.  Fulfilling that calling was a way that Paul could bring pleasure to God!  

APPLICATION:  God has assigned a purpose to each of our lives.  Some have the high calling of being a parent, a mother or father to lives full of potential to please God.  Often assignments change as we grow older or mature.  But fulfilling those assignments is one way that we please God!

We do not earn our entrance into heaven; entrance for us was purchased by the death of Jesus on the cross.  But God has promised to reward us for what we have done for Him while serving Him on earth. 

Rewards will not be so much based on the greatness of the assigned task, but on the obedience and faithfulness of the servant. 

PRAYER:  Lord, your assignment to me for this time in my life is to write SOAPs.  Find me faithful.  By your Spirit, use the little I do to fulfill your purpose.  Bless those working to take the SOAPs to the Muslims in Liberia.  Give them good reward for their efforts.  Bless those baptizing new believers in Sierra Leon.  Bless all those in Africa, Asia, USA, and wherever who are using the SOAPs to bring you glory.  May you be glorified as we each do our assigned “so that.”  Amen

Pastor                                        
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 09, 2026:  SOAP #5940:   Deuteronomy 10-12; Mark 16

SCRIPTURE:  Mark 16:6   “Don’t be alarmed,” he said.  “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.  He has risen!  He is not here.  See the place where they laid him. 
7   But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him, just as he told you.’”  (NIV)

OBSERVATION:  The ladies came looking for a dead body in a sealed tomb.  They found an open tomb with a living messenger telling them that Jesus was alive!  They came prepared to anoint a dead body, but they were sent away with a message!  They were sent to remind Peter that Jesus would do just as Jesus had told Peter.  (Mark 14:28)

APPLICATION:  How important it is for me to remember what Jesus has told me.  Sometimes I need Jesus to send people my way to remind me of what He has said to me.    

But He already knew I would need help remembering S0… He sent the Holy Spirit who lives inside me—He is always that close.  AND He speaks to me.  He helps me remember the words of Jesus.  (John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.)

PRAYER:  Lord, you know how quickly I can forget what you have said to me.  Thank you for the scriptures; thank you for the Holy Spirit; and thank you for people you use to remind me of what You have said!    Amen

Pastor        
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
March 07, 2026:  SOAP #5938:   Deuteronomy 5-6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

SCRIPTURE:  Deuteronomy (NIV) 5:3 It was not with our ancestors that the LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today. 
4 The LORD spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.   

OBSERVATION:  Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Moses in his farewell address reminds the people of Israel that they had personally seen and heard God. 

Every generation needs their own encounter with God.  How right it is that new worship songs are continually being written by people experiencing their own encounters with God.   

Writing out SOSAPs are a good way to emphasize that God is speaking today, to me!  Starting with a sheet of paper that has “SOAP for Saturday, March 7, 2026 at the top.  Make a list down the left side of the chapters you will be reading today.  List the verses that seem to hold special meaning to you.  After completing your reading, choose one to use for your SOAP. 

APPLICATION:  I will always enjoy what God has done in my past.  The songs of the past will continue to stir my heart.  But I desire to continue rejoicing with the younger generation as we together experience God and lift our voices in praise with new expressions of worship.         

PRAYER:  Lord, Continue to remind me of what you have said to me and done for me in the past.  Use me to remind others of your personal involvement in our lives.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
On Facebook:  Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
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