Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 22, 2026: SOAP #6045: 2Kings 8,9; 2Chronicles 21; 1Timothy 4

SCRIPTURE:  1Timothy (NIV) 4:12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

OBSERVATION:    Paul was writing to Timothy, his young son in the Lord.  He was leaving some instructions on how to lead the church.  Publicly reading the scriptures linked here to preaching and teaching.  It was a part of services in the temple and synagogues, so it would carry over to the gatherings of the early church.  Reading from the scriptures would give a high level of authority to the preaching and teaching.  Doctrine has its foundation in the written Word of God! 

And in a day when scrolls were very few and books not yet being printed, how else would believers get to know the word (letters from Paul, etc.) unless someone read it to them! 

APPLICATION:  Here is a simple ministry that everyone reading this SOAP is qualified and capable of doing:  Reading the Word of God out loud! 

Today, if there are people living in your neighborhood who do not have a Bible, or cannot read, I encourage you to set a time each day or each week for them to come to your home, or yard, to hearers you read the Bible! 

If you are a believer and do not have a personal copy of the Bible, listen carefully as it is read in the gatherings of believers.

For a ministry to elderly people who may have trouble with their eyesight—read the Word of God to them.  For a ministry to your family around the dinner table—read the Word of God.  When visiting the hospital—read the Word of God.

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, use this simple idea to spark ministries that reach the lost and strengthen believers.  May the Word of God, which you inspired, be powerful in the lives of the readers and the hearers.  In Jesus Name,  Amen!

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 21, 2026: SOAP #6044: 2Kings 6,7; 2Chronicles 20; 1Timothy 3

SCRIPTURE:  1Timothy 3:16  Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

OBSERVATION:  The mystery of godliness:  That God wanted people to be “godly” is without question.  The Ten Commandments provided guidelines as to how we were to live.   But along with the commandments God gave instructions for sacrifices to be made when the commandments were broken!   The law did not have the power inherent to enable the people to keep it.  So why would God give a law that surely would be broken?  That is the mystery!  And the answer to the mystery is Jesus!  God would demonstrate both His holiness and His love in sending His Son to die for our sins.  His payment for our sins restores us and His living within us empowers us to live a life of love! 

APPLICATION:  The life Jesus lives within me has already successfully dealt with every temptation I face!  As I learn to rely on His life within, I begin to understand this great mystery of how I can live a life pleasing to God.   

His death on the cross is payment for my sins and restores me; His Spirit-life within empowers me to live a godly life!   Wow!!!  

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for your forgiveness!  And thank you for living in me!  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 19, 2026: SOAP #6042: 2Kings 1-3; Psalm 82; 1Timothy 1

SCRIPTURE:  1Timothy (NIV) 1:12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.  13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

OBSERVATION:  What does God consider important?  God considered Paul faithful.  Faithfulness is far more important than ability.  Ability has to do with skill; faithfulness has to do with character.   Ability is useless without faithfulness.  Someone may have great ability, but if they are not faithful, their ability cannot be depended on.  Faithfulness makes ability available.  God could count on Paul to be where needed and to represent Him truthfully.

APPLICATION:  How God sees me is more important than how people see me.  People may consider my abilities, but God considers my faithfulness.  He has proved many times that His abilities can easily fill in my weaknesses.  However, faithfulness is different.  Lack of faithfulness on my part removes the opportunity for me to use my abilities and for Him to use His abilities through me.

There may be times when I see a task as small and not very important.  I push it aside and leave it for someone else to do.  All the time I am professing that I will be faithful in the big things.  But the size of the task makes no difference in faithfulness.  Faithfulness in that which is little prepares me for faithfulness in that which is large.  And who am I to set importance?  The small thing may have much more importance in God’s kingdom than the thing I consider to be large. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, when I am faithful, I am like you.  I count on your faithfulness.  I want you to be able to count on my faithfulness.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 16, 2026: SOAP #6039: 1Kings 17-19; Colossians 2

SCRIPTURE:  Colossians (NIV) 2:1 I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2  My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

OBSERVATION:  Paul was writing to people he had not met.  They may have had copies of Old Testament books, but the New Testament was not written. Paul, unknowingly, was writing the New Testament as he was sending letters to the early churches. 

        His desire was that his readers would come to appreciate Jesus Christ who had been sent to earth by our Father God.  He had died as the payment for our sins and then had risen back to life with power and authority to impart forgiveness to all who confess and receive Him! 

        In this Amazing Christ is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge! 

APPLICATION:  There are many SOAP readers whom I have never met.  And there are many who have recently come to know this Amazing Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Many have witnessed amazing miracles done in the name of Jesus.  And, like those in the early church, many do not have a personal copy of the scriptures.  They are depending on the Holy Spirit to teach them through people whom the Holy Spirit is using. 

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, make each SOAP reader aware of your presence.  Watch over us as you live with us.  Use these SOAPs to increase their knowledge and understanding of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus, our Savior.  May our lives bring you joy today.   Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 14, 2026: SOAP #6038: 1Kings 16; 2Chronicles 15,16; Colossians 1

SCRIPTURE:  Colossians (NIV) 1:16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.19 For God was pleased to have all his fulness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

OBSERVATION:  What a chapter about who Jesus is and what He has done for us.  In verse 16 we see His work in creation; in verse 20 we see His work in redemption.  He created us and He redeemed us. 

He had the joy of creation and the pain and suffering of redeeming us. 

APPLICATION:  If you have a copy of the Bible, take time and read this whole chapter.  If you have friends who do not have a Bible, gather them around and together read this chapter. 

Consider who Jesus is; how great HE is; what he has done for us; and what we can do to bring Him the honor He deserves. 

PRAYER:  Lord, my heart overflows with love and appreciation when I think about how great you are and what you have done for me.  You died for my sins; you forgave me and cleansed me from all my sins.  You have made me a part of your family.  Your Father is now my Heavenly Father.  May my life bring you joy today.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 08, 2026: SOAP #6031: Ecclesiastes 10-12; Psalm 94; Ephesians 5

SCRIPTURE:  Ephesians (NIV) 5;25  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

OBSERVATION:  Why did Christ “give himself up” for the church?  The first is to make her holy.  Our only hope for holiness is Christ!   We who are stained with sin can never cleanse ourselves.  It must come from another.

We are cleansed by the water that flowed from His wounds and the water of the Word. As we make ourselves available to the Word, the spirit takes the truth and applies it to our lives.  It is not just the Word that cleanses us, but the “washing” action of applying that word.

WE are to be washed by the Word.  These SOAPs take the word and apply it to my life in the application portion. As I apply the word, I am being washed by the word.  Some stains take more scrubbing than others.  The word can be the mild detergent needed on soft hearts. The Word can also be the extra-strength detergent needed to get out hard stains.

APPLICATION:  So, often, as my wife and I go to the market, on our list of things needed is soap.  We buy a large container, but it is always running out.  Sharon uses soap in every load of wash.  We do not get our clothes very dirty, but detergent/soap is needed to get them clean.  When things are “extra” dirty, we use stronger detergent.

And like Sharon, the Holy Spirit uses the word to clean up my life, even the small portions in these SOAPs.  The Holy Spirit is excellent in applying the Word to my heart.  He is the author of the Word.  He knows the Word, and He knows Leon.  He lovingly applies it as needed.   Through the Word, He brings me comfort, encouragement, direction and cleaning.                                                                                                   

PRAYER:  Holy Spirit, wash me in the Word every day.  May my life bring our Father great joy.  May Jesus know how much I appreciate all He has done for me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
June 08, 2026: SOAP #6031: Ecclesiastes 7-9; Ephesians 4

SCRIPTURE:  Ephesians (NIV) 4:8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

OBSERVATION: Since Jesus is God and was in the beginning with God, there could be no possibility of his ascending, seeing as there was no place higher to which to ascend–unless He first descended.  For the ultimate good for man, and for the glory of His Father, He did just that!  (To climb a ladder when you are already standing on the top rung would require you first stepping down.)

Jesus is Worthy of His exalted position, not only because He is God, but because He willingly descended to fulfill the will of The Father, defeated the enemy, and then rose in glory.  Indeed, He is Worthy!    

APPLICATION:  Jesus is God and has always been God.  But we have another reason to worship Him.  He is worthy because of what He has done!  He descended from His high position, took the place as a man within the stream of humanity, lived without sin, suffered and died to pay for the sins of man, rose from the dead, and has ascended to a pace of glory in heaven.  He is worthy because of what He did!   Note:  Revelation 5:9.
Note to someone:  You are called to be like Jesus.  Often you will find your most fruitful ministry will happen once you are willing to “step down.” 

PRAYER:  Jesus, you are worthy of all honor and praise.  You died for me.  You provided for me to be forgiven.  You sent your Holy Spirit to live within me to give me power to live victoriously.  You are worthy of all my praise and worship.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!   
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