Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Mark 8:14-21 (NIV)
The Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” 16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” 17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied. 20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” 21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”
Identify reasons for coming to church (worship) regularly from today’s texts
Lord, this world is filled with so many conflicting paths. It is so easy to get caught up in what other people say because it sounds good on the surface but when I really discern what they are saying, it is not consistent with Your Word. The best way for me to be sure that my heart doesn’t get hardened by the noise around me is to keep my eyes and ears focused on You. I can’t do that on my own. I need Your church, the pastor, and the church family to help me to remember, to see and to understand what Your Word is telling me. Thank You for giving me the resources of a church family so that I am not alone. Keep me on the correct path that leads me to Your kingdom. Help me remember Your Words so that I follow Your will and not that of this world. Amen.