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

October 3: Ezra 5-6; Psalm 138; Luke 16

Scripture: Luke 16: 10 "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

Observation: Here we see a progression from being faithful with little to becoming faithful with much. We see the progression from being faithful with temporary worldly wealth to becoming faithful with eternal wealth. There is the progression of working for others to working for one’s self.

Application: I must be willing to start where I am and use what I have. I must keep aware that my future opportunities depend on my faithfulness today.

Prayer: Lord, help me not to become discouraged about my present circumstances but keep faithful knowing that today is preparation for my future. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 2: Zechariah 13-14; Psalm 147; Luke 15

Scripture: Luke 15: 1 ¶ Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering round to hear him.
2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them."

Observation: When something clean and pure comes in contact with something dirty and contaminated, it is expected that the dirty will contaminate the clean. But in this verse, we see the pure sinless Jesus purposefully intermingling with sinners. Jesus even reached out and touched the lepers. He did not get leprosy, but they were made clean! (Luke 5 & 17) Jesus did not become contaminated, but sinners left forgiven and lepers left clean!

Application: When I confessed my sins to Jesus and invited him into my life, He did not become contaminated, but I became forgiven by his love and justified by his sacrifice. He made me just as if I had never sinned! Amazing!!! Now his life in me helps me walk in the world without becoming contaminated also! And when I do, He forgives. (1John 1:9)

Prayer: Lord, I am so glad you are willing to intermingle with sinners. Although you hate sin, you are not afraid of it. Your righteousness is greater than sin! Your death pays for my sins; your love forgives me; and your life lifts me to live as your child! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

October 1: Zechariah 10-12; Psalm 126; Luke 14

Scripture: Luke 14:1 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.

Observation: Jesus was being “carefully watched” by people wanting to criticize him. We know others watched Jesus to get something from him. Some watched Jesus to learn from him. Some watched Jesus because they were grateful for what he had done for them. Others watched Jesus because they loved Him.

Application: Today I am among many people carefully watching Jesus because we love him. We read the gospels because we want to live on this earth as He lived here. I also know that some people watch Jesus as He lives in me. Sometimes they watch me more carefully than I like but I want to live so that He can be easily seen.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to live so that it is easy to see Jesus. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 30: Zechariah 7-9; Luke 13

Scripture: Luke 13:34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

Observation: Jesus was overlooking the city of Jerusalem. He knew their history of rejecting those sent from God. He even knew what was in store for him—that they would soon crucify him. YET HE LOVED THEM! The love of God in Jesus was greater than the dread of the suffering he would soon endure in paying the price for their sin. The love motivating the sacrifice was greater than the drive of self-preservation.

Application: That is how God loves me! O how He loves me! He is willing to forgive me and draw me to himself as a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wing.

Prayer: Lord, such great love motivates me to please you. May I do and say only those things that return and fulfill your love for me. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 29: Zechariah 4-6; Luke 12

Scripture: Luke 12:33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Observation: Why give to missions?
…the opportunity to participate in God’s work
…the opportunity to please God
…the opportunity to sow
…the opportunity to help others
…the opportunity to gain rewards in heaven

Application: A major way one prepares for retirement is to save. A major way one prepares for eternity is to give. God allows me to store up reward in heaven by giving. God allows me to participate in His work by giving.

Prayer: Lord, you have given so much for me and to me. May I follow your example and become generous in my giving. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 28: Zechariah 1-3; Luke 11

Scripture: Luke 11:2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: "‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.

Observation: Many of us can pray the “Lord’s Prayer” without even thinking. If we actually thought about what we were praying, we might want to change some of the words.

Application: I am told to ask for “daily bread;” I would rather have a weekly or, even better, a monthly supply. But God wants me to come to Him daily. If He gave me enough for a week, he might not see me again until next week. He loves me like a Father who desires to see his child every day. He knows I need time with him every day, and so He tells me to pray for daily bread. How phony of me to pray the Lord’s Prayer on Sunday then not talk with Him for a whole week! Duh!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your faithfulness in providing daily bread from your Word. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 27: Haggai 1-2; Psalm 129; Luke 10

Scripture: Luke 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.
2 He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

Observation: Here we see the Sent One being the Sender. Jesus had been sent by the Father into the world and now He was sending his disciples into the world. He told them to pray for workers; then he said, “Go, I am sending you…” Jesus is our example of what it means to be sent.

Application: I must see myself as being sent. I am not in this world for my own pleasure or purpose. I am here to do the will of the One who sent me.

Prayer: Lord, you are the One who sent me. I am here to do your will. My goal today is to make you smile! Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 26: Ezra 4; Psalm 113, 127; Luke 9

Scripture: Luke 9: 18 ¶ Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"
19 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."
20 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

Observation: They all had heard people talking about Jesus and knew what the crowd was saying. But Jesus was more interested in what they had to say. A relationship with Jesus always has to become personal.

Application: The friends I work with might describe my Jesus as the One I visit on Sundays, but never talk about during the week. Can they hear a difference in my conversations? From listening to me, who do they say Jesus is?

And, what about me? Who do I say He is? I know what the preacher says. I even know what some of the verses in the Bible say. But who is Jesus to me? Do I call him, “Lord?” Do I live like He is Lord?

Prayer: Jesus, every day, and all through each day I want my life to demonstrate my confession that you are my God, my Lord and my Savior. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

SOAP from Pastor Leon

Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer

September 25: Ezra 2-3; Luke 8

Scripture: Luke 8:16 "No-one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.

Observation: In Matthew 5:14, Jesus said “You are the light of the world.” From the verse above, we can know that our light is not to be hidden. Anyone who comes near will see our light.

Application: I should not be surprised if people look at my light and make a comment. God intends for my light to be seen. God intends for my light to be helpful to others. As the lamp is place on a stand, so God has placed my life in special places so people can see the light.

Prayer: Lord, you did not put your light in me to be hidden. And you did not place me in some private dwelling. You placed me where people can see my light. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

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

September 24: Ezra 1; Psalm 84-85; Luke 7

Scripture: Luke 7:2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.
3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.

Observation: The miracle that took place in healing the centurion’s servant all began with the centurion hearing about Jesus. Someone had either been talking to the centurion or talking to someone else close enough that he could overhear.

Application: Today I will meet someone who needs a miracle from Jesus. The words that come from my mouth today can either discourage or encourage them to have faith in Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, may the words I speak today cause someone to have faith in you. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!