Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 12: Job 37, 38; 1Corinthians 12

Scripture: 1Corinthians 12:14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Observation: The Apostle Paul is writing about the body of Christ, the church. He has just finished emphasizing that the body is ONE. Now he emphasizes that this ONE body consists of MANY members. The value of many members is their differences. If they were all the same, there would not be enough opportunities to keep them all useful. And the body would be limited in what it could accomplish It is their difference that makes each member of the body valuable and useful.

Application: I am not designed by God to be an exact copy of another member of the body of Christ. I am useful to the body as I develop the differences that make me unique. The Life of Christ makes me a part of His body; my differences make me a useful part.

Prayer: Lord, it is my desire to be useful in your Kingdom. Help me see my differences as open doors and invitations to opportunities. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 11: Psalm 122; 1Corinthians 9-11

Scripture: 1Corinthians NIV 10:6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
1Corinthians NIV 10:11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
1Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Observation: Since there is a common aspect to every temptation, it is good that we can learn from both the mistakes and successes of others. And even more, we have a God who is faithful not to allow temptation beyond our capabilities! Wow! And even more, we have His presence!

Application: Examples, promise, and Presence. God has set me up to be successful in overcoming temptations!

Prayer: Lord, Thank you for examples. Thank you for your promises. Thank you for your Presence in my life! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 10: Job 35, 36; 1Corinthians 7, 8

Scripture: 1Corinthians 7: 4 The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Observation: Deprive (NIV), defraud (KJV), do not cheat (Phillips), refusing what is due (Williams), heavy words and phrases describing withholding sexual relations from a spouse. Yes, God made sex and protected it by restricting it to the committed relationship of marriage. Yes, God knows how important sex is and designed it to be shared by a man and woman in marriage and not withheld or used as a weapon.

Application: If I value the wonderful gift of sex given by the Lord, I will enjoy it within His set boundaries of marriage and see it as an important ministry to my spouse.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the many wonderful gifts you have given people, among which is the beauty of sexual intimacy. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 9: Job 34; 1Corinthians 4-6

Scripture: 1Corinthians 4:1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.
2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

Observation: A person’s values can be seen in their faithfulness. If they value their work, they will be faithful and dependable in the assignments entrusted to them. Their attitude and performance will show how they value their work. The same is true with one’s spouse and family. Faithfulness demonstrates value.

Application: I have been entrusted with the life of Christ! May I prove faithful. I want my attitude and performance to clearly show how much I value His Presence in my life. And may my faithfulness show how much I value my wife and son—and my church family too.

Prayer: Lord, may my life prove faithful in keeping and displaying what you have entrusted to me. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 8: Job 33, 1Corinthians 1-3

Scripture: 1Corinthians 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

Observation: God created man’s body to give him an avenue of communication with the world, with other men, and with God. When God lives in my body with me it becomes of even greater value. It becomes an avenue for God to communicate to the world and with others.

Application: I must treat my body with respect. It is God’s temple.

Prayer: Lord, in your wisdom, you provided me a body. In your love you have chosen to join me. Through my words and deeds may my body communicate your presence. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November, 7: Job 31, 32; Galatians 5,6

Scripture: Galatians 5:13 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.
14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Observation: Freedom—what a wonderful blessing freedom! Yet what an awesome responsibility accompanies it. Freedom is something to be used! Freedom has to do with choice. The choices are mine to make.

Application: I am free to make choices. Although I can use my freedom to choose what I like, God wants me to prove my love for Him by using my freedom to serve others. God gives me freedom so I can choose to serve Him because I believe He is worthy. God gives me freedom so I can choose to serve others. I have freedom to choose how I respond to what happens to me.

Prayer: Lord, may I use the freedom You have given me to please you by serving others. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 6: Job 30; Psalm 120; Galatians 3,4

Scripture: Galatians 3:24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.
25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

Observation: God gave the law to teach us the evilness of sin and provide sacrifices that would be accepted as token payments. They were acceptable because they looked forward, in faith, to the death of Jesus on the cross. His death, and only His death, has the value to cover the price of sin.

Application: The more I understand the Bible, the more I appreciate God’s plan in dealing with man through history. I believe God created man to have a unique opportunity to express the depths of his love. His love even reaches to cover man’s sin by giving His only begotten Son as a sacrifice. His love reaches me!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are amazing! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 5: Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2

Scripture: Galatians 2:1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also.

Observation: Paul’s first visit to Jerusalem was after three years (note: Galatians 1:18), and now fourteen years later he makes a second visit. Unless we take time to notice the specifics, we might get the idea that Paul was converted in one chapter and then just a short time later was preaching in Antioch and then moving into his missionary journeys. Here we read of 14 years between events.

Application: God often takes His time. He is not in a hurry. It is important for me to have both faith and patience. I need faith that God does indeed have a plan that is worth waiting for. And I need patience to wait for His timing. If I let Him do His work in me I will be ready when His timing is perfect.

Prayer: Lord, I trust your plan and timing. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 4: Job 26-27; Mark 15-16

Scripture: Mark 15:39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

Observation: People watched how Jesus lived, how he taught, how he performed miracles, and finally, how he died. The centurion had probably watched many men die, but this one was different.

Application: Today people are watching how Jesus lives in me. May what they see convince them that Jesus is indeed the Son of God!

Prayer: Lord, when people see how you live in me, may they be convinced that you are God and more than worthy of any sacrifice I may make. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Pastor Leon’s SOAP: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

November 3: Job 25; Mark 13-14

Scripture: Mark 14:70 Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."
71 He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don’t know this man you’re talking about."

Observation: It was probably his accent and/or clothing that indicated that Peter was from Galilee and someone who knew Jesus. When they would not accept his word that he did not know Jesus, Peter began to curse and swear. He was hoping his words would break any identity with Jesus.

Application: My words can identify me as a follower of Jesus or not a follower of Jesus. I need to be careful how I speak. My words can carry the patience of Jesus or the impatience of Leon.

Prayer: Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. (Psalm 141:3) Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!