Author Archives: chadzaucha

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 13:1-59; Mark 6:1-29; Psalm 39:1-13; Proverbs 10:10.

Mark 6:4-6 (NIV)
Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” [5] He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. [6] And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

That phrase “could not” screams at me.  Jesus “could not”?  God is omnipotent.  All things are possible with Him.  Yet, He has chosen to work in cooperation with our faith.  At Nazareth,there was a lack of faith and so there was a lack of the manifestation of God’s power.  Could the same be said of my life?  Of my church?  Oh, that God would give us a greater faith and a greater experience of His power.

Some families surf on vacation.  Others ride motorcycles in the desert.  Some ski in the mountains.

The Zauchas play shuffleboard.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 11:1-12:8; Mark 5:21-43; Psalm 38:1-22; Proverbs 10:8-9.

Mark 5:35-42 (NIV)
While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher any more?”
[36] Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
[37] He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. [38] When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. [39] He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” [40] But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. [41] He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). [42] Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.

I have a twelve year old daughter, so this one hits close to home.  I can imagine the desperation this man felt over his little girl.  As he seeks Jesus, his daughter dies.  But with Jesus, death is never the end of the story.  Jesus tells him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”  These two actions are diametrically opposed to each other.  You can’t be afraid and believe at the same time.  You will do one or the other.  Even in the face of death, we are called to believe that God has a greater purpose that is for our good and His glory.  Will we believe?

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 9:7-10:20; Mark 4:26-5:20; Psalm 37:30-40; Proverbs 10:6-7.

Mark 4:27 (NIV)
Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.

The longer I am in ministry, the less I understand it.  Why is it that some churches flourish and others do not?  Why is it that some leaders have “success” and others do not?  That question becomes even more difficult when we consider those leaders of questionable character who attain this success.  The one thing I do know is that my job is to be faithful in preaching  the Word, praying, and loving people.  The results are God’s business.

Mark 4:40 (NIV)
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

I have been just like those disciples–fearing and doubting.  The good news is that I am growing–fearing less and trusting more.  Thank you, God.

Looking forward to a great day of worship…

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 7:28-9:6; Mark 3:31-4:25; Psalm 37:12-29; Proverbs 10:5.

Proverbs 10:5 (NIV)
He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son,
but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

Is the church sleeping during the harvest?

Mark 3 includes the parable of the soils.  I am struck by how important it is that when people respond to the Gospel that we help them develop roots.  Without roots there is no lasting fruit.

Here is today’s Bible reading: Leviticus 6:1-7:27; Mark 3:7-30; Psalm 37:1-11; Proverbs 10:3-4.

Psalm 37:4 (NIV) 
    Delight yourself in the Lord
        and he will give you the desires of your heart.
 

This verse is so often quoted and so often misapplied.  It does not make God a genie in a bottle granting us self-centered wishes.  Rather, it grants us one specific wish, and that is to know God intimately–to delight in Him.  It is the wish that God will grant every single time.  It is the prayer that is always answered affirmatively.  Do you find your delight in the Lord, or other things?

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 4:1-5:19; Mark 2:13-3:6; Psalm 36:1-12;
Proverbs 10:1-2.

Mark 2:16-17 (NIV)
When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
[17] On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

I need to spend more time with sinners.

Happy 12th birthday to my daughter Anna!

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Leviticus 1:1-3:17; Mark 1:29-2:12; Psalm 35:17-28; Proverbs 9:13-18.

Mark 1:35 (NIV)
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Any time that you spend with God is good, whether it is in the morning, afternoon, evening, or late at night.  But there is something different about giving to God the firstfruits of the day.  There is something about seeking Him first before the day gets busy and the heart grows distracted.  Like many of you, I continue to wrestle with giving to God the place in my morning He deserves.  It is so much easier to either sleep or instantly get busy.  But the days I give Him first place are always different, always better.  My focus on Him is heightened throughout the day.  May God enable me to make the most of the morning as Jesus did.

We have finished our first New Testament book together.  Great job!  Onward to the book of Mark.

Here is today’s Bible reading:  Exodus 39:1-40:38; Mark 1:1-28; Psalm 35:1-16;
Proverbs 9:11-12.

Mark 1:15 (NIV)
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Any Gospel message that does not include repentance (they are quite prevalent today) is not the Gospel.

Mark 1:25 (NIV)
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”

Mark’s first recorded ministry act by Jesus is a demonic deliverance.  This was a key element to the ministry of Jesus.  Is it a key element to the ministry of the church today?  I fear that much of our ministry is like cutting down weeds without removing the root.  The weeds just come back again, more plentifully.  How would Jesus have us to remove the roots of sin and demonization from the lives of people?

Romans 12:3-8 – “Exercising The Body”

You can find archived sermons at www.fbcojai.org.

One of the Apostle Paul’s favorite ways to describe the church is by comparing it to a human body.  Bodies need exercise, or they become unhealthy.  The church is to exercise three things: (1) Spiritual Gifts; (2) Humility; (3) Faith.