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<v SPEAKER_00>Good morning.

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<v SPEAKER_00>My name is Nathan, and I'm one of the pastors here at Church of the Grove, and we're so thankful that you're joining us today as we journey through the Gospels together.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We'll be using the acronym BRED for our time today, which stands for Breathe, Read, Encounter, Apply, and Devote.

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<v SPEAKER_00>As we approach the scriptures today, let's remember that we're not called coming to gain more information, but we are wanting to have an encounter with a personal God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He tells us in his word that we will seek him and will find him when we search for him with all of our heart.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So, as we enter into his presence this morning, believe that he wants to meet you with you where you are today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>While you may listen to this on a commute or while you're doing something around the house, I would strongly encourage you to set aside some time to go and be in a place where you can totally focus on being with the Lord.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I would suggest having a journal and a pen handy so that you can take notes for anything the Lord might be saying to you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And with that, let's open up the scriptures to today's assigned passage.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Before we begin reading today, let's first begin by breathing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Let's be silent with Jesus for a few moments.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And let's just pay attention to him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Make sure you remove as many distractions as you can and just take a minute in this stillness to just be with Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Focus your whole self on the Lord this morning.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe even open up your hands to him and then take a deep breath in.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then exhale out.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Maybe take another breath in.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then exhale out.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Calming your spirit.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then just ask for the Holy Spirit to come and to be with you and to lead you as you begin to read through the scriptures together.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.

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<v SPEAKER_00>For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

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<v SPEAKER_00>During that time the devil came and said to him, If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But Jesus told him, No, the scriptures say, people do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Then the devil took him to a holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the temple, and said, If you are the Son of God, jump off, for the Scriptures say, He will order his angels to protect you, and they will hold you up with their hands, so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus responded, The Scriptures also say, You must not test the Lord your God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I will give you all of this, he said, if you will kneel down and worship me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Get out of here, Satan, Jesus told him, for the scriptures say you must worship the Lord your God and serve him only.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Then the devil went away, and the angels came and took care of Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulon and Neptali.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah, in the land of Zebulon and of Neptali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River in Galilee, where so many Gentiles live, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who lived in the land where death cast its shadow, a light has shined.

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<v SPEAKER_00>From then on Jesus began to preach, Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the kingdom of heaven is near.

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<v SPEAKER_00>One day, as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew, throwing a net into the water, for they were fishing for a living.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus called out to them, Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And they left their nets at once and followed him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>A little further up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father Zebedee, repairing their nets, and he called them to come too.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus travelled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the good news about the kingdom, and he healed every kind of disease and illness.

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<v SPEAKER_00>News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing him all who were sick, and whatever the sickness was or disease was, or if they had demon possession or epilectic or paralyzed, he healed them all.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Large crowds followed him wherever he went, people from Galilee, the ten towns of Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is the word of the Lord.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And so we're now moving into the encounter phase of the morning.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So take a moment and think through what verse or verses that the Holy Spirit might have led you to, what stands out to you today?

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<v SPEAKER_00>What's something that resonated with your soul?

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<v SPEAKER_00>As you think about that verse, just ask the Lord, what are you trying to tell me?

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<v SPEAKER_00>What are you saying to me, God?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Does this verse or passage make you feel a certain way?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Does something jump out?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Does it stir some emotions within you?

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<v SPEAKER_00>What do you think the Lord is trying to say to you?

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<v SPEAKER_00>If you have a pen or some journal of some kind, maybe even take a moment and write a short reflection of what the Lord might be trying to say to you now.

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<v SPEAKER_00>As the Lord has maybe spoken to you already, now we're turning our focus outward and we're thinking about how we might actually practically live out what God has been saying to us today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So ask the Holy Spirit now for just wisdom.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Ask, how should you apply this to your life today?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Spend a moment thinking and praying through that.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Just focusing on the Holy Spirit giving you wisdom and guidance.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Again, if you have paper and pen, I would encourage you to write this down.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And take some moments and time just to write a simple prayer of devotion to the Lord.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What do you need to say to him?

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<v SPEAKER_00>What do you need from him this morning?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Just write that down as you devote yourself fully to him today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But I do pray that today, as you go throughout your day, that the Lord would fill you with hope and joy and peace as you commit your day to Him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Thank you so much for joining me today for our reading.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And please join us again tomorrow for our next reading.