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     Six Steps for Biblical Decision-Making Observation: The passage presents six clear, sequential steps for making biblical decisions in pursuit of God’s dream for one’s life. It begins with three examples of biblical figures (Moses, Noah, Abraham) who received God-given dreams but had to make bold decisions to fulfill them. The central idea is that fulfilling God’s dream requires action and decision-making guided by faith. The Six Steps (As Observed): Pray for Guidance Seek God's wisdom before doing anything else . Proverbs 28:26 is cited as a warning against self-reliance. Get the Facts Faith and fact are not in conflict . Proverbs 13:16 supports acting with knowledge. Ask for Advice Consult others who have experience and understand your weaknesses. Proverbs 24:6b emphasizes the benefit of multiple sources of good advice. Calculate the Cost Every decision comes with a cost (time, resources, etc.). Proverbs 20:25 warns a...

    Matthew 25: 31-46 Observation: Jesus is depicted coming in His glory, accompanied by all the angels, and He will be sitting on Hi glorious throne, signifying the majesty and authority of Jesus as the ultimate judge. The gathering of all nations indicates that this judgement will apply to everyone; Jesus will separate people, like a shepherd with sheep and goats. Jesus will place all the righteous (the sheep) on His right and the all the unrighteous (the goats) on His left. The righteous are welcomed into the kingdom as a reward as it was prepared for them long ago. The righteous are commended for their acts of mercy and compassion. This response indicates their humility and unawareness that their actions had such eternal significance hence genuine compassion. Jesus identifies himself with the needy and marginalized, teaching that serving others is equivalent to serving Him. The judgement for the unrighteous is severe--eternal separation from God and punishment. The "eterna...

1 Samuel 24: 1-7 Observation: Saul has returned from fighting the Philistines and is informed that David is in the Desert of En Gedi. Saul takes 3,000 chosen men from all Israel to search for David. Saul enters a cave to relieve himself, not knowing that David and his men are hiding farther back in the cave. David's men interpret Saul's vulnerability as a God-given opportunity for David to kill Saul and fulfill what they believe is God's promise to deliver Saul into David's hands. David is conscience-stricken after cutting off a corner of Saul's robe. David tells his men that he would not harm Saul because Saul is the Lord's anointed. He expresses a profound conviction that it is not his place to harm the one chosen by God. David persuades his men not to attack Saul, and Saul leaves the cave unharmed. Interpretation: Providing some context, Saul, the King of Israel, has bene relentlessly pursuing David because he sees David as a threat to his throne. After a bri...

Acts 7: 54-60 Observation: Stephen was speaking to a Jewish council and after listening to Stephen's speech, the council was enraged and expressed their anger physically ("gnashed their teeth"). Stephen's state described as "full of the Holy Spirit" looks up and sees a vision of the "glory of God" and Jesus "standing at the right hand of God." Stephen then shares his vision with the Jewish council, specifically nothing "heaven open" and "the Son of Man" standing at God's right hand. The Jewish council's reaction was violent as they covered their ears refusing to hear and shouted loudly at Stephen. The Jewish council then dragged Stephen out of the city and began to stone him. Thos participating in the stoning laid their coats at Saul's feet. While Stephen was getting stoned, he prayed to Jesus, calls outs to Jesus asking Jesus to "receive my spirit." Stephen's final act was praying out loud to...

   Luke 10: 30-37 Observation: Jesus tells a parable to a lawyer (expert in the law) who asks, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus starts off with a man travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho. The man was attached by robbers and left in a vulnerable state, highlighting his dire need for assistance. The priest, a religious figure expected to exhibit compassion, chooses to ignore the wounded man, avoiding him entirely by passing on the opposite side. Similar to the priest, the Levite, another figure associated with religious duties, also chooses to avoid the injured man, demonstrating a lack of compassion. But a Samaritan showed compassion towards the ignored man by going above and beyond to care for him. The Samaritan provided immediate medical attention and ensured the man has a safe place to recover. Also, the Samaritan commits to covering the ongoing costs for the man's recovery.  Jesus turns the question back to the lawyer, prompting him to reflect on the actions of the characte...

Mark 5: 25-34 Observation: A woman had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years. Despite consulting many doctors and spending all her money, her condition only worsened. Upon hearing about Jesus, she approached Him in the crowd, believing that touching His cloak would heal her. Immediately after she touched His cloak, her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed from her suffering. Jesus immediately sensed that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" His disciples were puzzled and pointed out the large crowd pressing against Him, implying that many people were touching Him. Despite the crowd, Jesus around to see who had done it. The woman, knowing what had happened to her, approached Jesus with fear and trembling. She fell at His feet and told Him the whole truth, acknowledging her act and healing. Jesus responded with "Daughter, your faith has healed you and go in peace, freed from yo...

  Acts 16: 25-34 Observation: Despite being in prison, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns while other prisoners were listening to them. A miraculous event suddenly occurs, a great earthquake shakes the prison, opening all the doors and unfastening everyone's bonds. The jailer, assuming that the prisoners have escaped, prepares to kill himself, as he would be held responsible for their escape and likely face severe punishment. Paul intervenes, shouting to stop the jailer from harming himself, and assures him that all the prisoners are still present. The jailer, trembling with fear, calls for lights and rushes in to find Paul and Silas, and the jailer falls before them. The jailer directly asks Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved. Paul and Silas respond with the simple but profound message of salvation that the jailer and his household must believe in Jesus. Paul and Silas share the gospel message with the jailer and his entire household, teaching them about the wor...

Romans 8:1-7 Observation: Believers who are in Chris Jesus are free from condemnation. The last of the Spirit of life has set believers free from the law of sin and death. God sent His Son, Jesus, in human form to condemn sin in human nature. Thos who live according to the flesh has a mindset focused on worldly desires, which leads to spiritual death and hostility toward God. Interpretation: For those who are believes in Jesus are free from any condemation because of Jesus' sacrifice; therefore, there is no guilt, or punishment for sin for those who have accepted Him as Savior. The "law of the Spirit of life" refers to the Holy Spirit's work, which brings life and freedom. The law has liberated believers from the "law of sin and death", meaning the binding power and consequences of sin and spritual death. This freedom is now found in Jesus. The law in the Old Testament could not save people because it was "weakened by the flesh" (human nature's...

John 21:15-23 Observation: Jesus has a conversation with Simon Peter and asks him three times if Peter loves Him and instructing him to feed His sheep. After each affirmation of love from Peter, Jesus responds with a command. Jesus further explains to Peter with the utmost importance that in Peter's earlier life there were his youth and freedom of movement but when Peter gets old, he will have to stretch out his hands and someone will dress him and force him to go places Peter does not want to go. Jesus predicts that Peter will face his own persecution. Peter then asks about the fate of another disciple, to which Jesus responds that it's not Peter's concern and that Peter simply must follow Jesus. The prediction of Peter's future became known among the other disciples, which may have caused speculation and discussion among them even regarding the fate of the beloved disciple. Jesus did not actually say that the beloved disciple would not die, rather Jesus emphasizes tha...

    John 19: 17-31 Observation: Jesus was made to carry His own cross to the palce of crucifixion, which is called Golgotha. Jesus is crucified along with two other criminals. The inscription placed on His cross reads, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." The chief priets of the Jews requested Pilate to change the sign show that Jesus rather claimed to be king of the Jews, which Pilate rejected as he claimed, "What I have written, I have written." Soldiers cast lots to divide Jesus' clothing among themselves. Near the cross, Mary, the mother of Jesus, is present along with other women. Jesus entrusts the care of His mother to the disciple whom He loved. Jesus expresses His thirst, fulfilling the scripture. A jar of sour wine is given to Him, and after taking it, He says, "It is finished." Jesus bows His head and gives up His spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation and the following day was to be the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders did not want th...

   Acts 5: 1-11 Observation: Ananias and Sappira sell a piece of property; however, they conspire to keep back a portion of their revenue for themselves while pretending to give the entire amount to the apostles for the benefit of the community. Peter saw this and confronts Ananias about why he lied to the Holy Spirit. Peter makes it clear that Ananias didn't lie to the men but to God. At that moment, Ananias fell down and breathed his last when he heard the words from Peter. Roughly three hours later, Sapphira enters, unaware of what happened to her husband. Peter questions her about the sale price of the land, giving her an opportunity to be truthful. Sapphira also lies, claiming the price they received is the full amount. Peter confronts her, revealing the scheme, and she too falls down dead. Throughout this time, great fear comes upon the whole church and all who heard about the occured events. Young men in the community carried out the bodies and buried both Ananias and S...

   Acts 8: 26-40 Observation: An angel of the Lord speaks to Philip instructing him to go toward the south from Jerusalem to Gaza. Philip obeys and encounters an Ethiopian eunuch who was a high official and in charge of the treasury of the queen of the Ethiopians. The Ethiopian came to Jerusalem to worship, and as the eunuch was returning home, he was seated in his chariot reading the book of Iasaiah. The Spirit instructs Philip to join the eunuch's chariot and when Philip runs to the chariot, he hears the eunuch reading Isaiah. Philip asks the eunuch if the eunuch understands what he's reading. The eunuch replies that he needs someone to guide him, and he invites Philip to join him in the chariot. The passage the eunuch reads a passage that speaks of a suffering servant, and he asks Philip about whom the prophet is refering to, himself or someone else. Philip begins with that Scripture and shares the good ndews of Jesus. They go along the road, they come to some water, and th...