Hebrews 9:27-28

²⁷Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, ²⁸so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Reincarnation is the main belief about death for a Buddhist. They believe that people do not have their own individual soul, but that one’s desires and feelings may be reincarnated into another person.

• According to that verse what do Christians believe about death?
• Does it sound like there is any security in what a Buddhist believes about death?
• How would you communicate what you believe about death and eternity?

Daily Devotional--10/14/2010

Luke 3:1-6

¹In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— ²during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. ³He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁴As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
"A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
⁵Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
⁶And all mankind will see God's salvation.' "

Salvation for a Buddhist is to discover the Eightfold path with the goal of nirvana. Nirvana is to eliminate all desires or cravings. The path is a system to free them from any desire and eventually achieve nonexistence.

• Where will all mankind see God’s salvation?
• Christian view of salvation is very different from that of a Buddhist. How would you describe salvation through Christ alone?
• How would you describe the need for what Christ did on the cross?

Daily Devotional--10/13/2010

1 Timothy 2:3-6

³This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

Buddhists do not generally believe in the person of Jesus. Those who do generally view him as an enlightened teacher. They do not believe him to be God.

• What does that verse say about the person of Jesus?
• Why would that verse seem irrelevant for a Buddhist?
• How would you describe to a Buddhist the aspect of Jesus as a ransom for all?

Daily Devotional--10/12/2010

1 Samuel 2:2

²"There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.

The Buddha himself did not believe in the existence of God.

• What does that verse say about the uniqueness of our God?
• Can that verse be accurate and other religions be accurate at the same time?
• How would you have a conversation with someone who does not believe that there is a God?

Daily Devotional--10/11/2010

Buddhism

Gautama Siddhartha (563-483 BC) is the founder of Buddhism. He is also known as Buddha or Enlightened One. He was a spiritual teacher from ancient India. He is regarded as the Supreme Buddha of our age. Buddists believe that you can become a Buddha by attaining nirvana. Buddha is not a name, but an epithet of those who have achieved enlightenment. It is what Buddhist seem to strive towards.

• What are you striving towards?
• Who do we look towards as the supreme authority in our lives?

Daily Devotional--10/6/2010

Philippians 4:8-9

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

It took me a long time to realize that being a Christian meant more than just saying you believe in Jesus. As I've often heard said, Satan believes but that doesn't make him a Christian.

For many years I was what I now refer to as a John 3:16 Christian. Perhaps the most oft quoted verse of the New Testament, it was probably the only verse I could quote verbatim for some two decades after I walked down the aisle and professed my faith in Christ. Looking back, it seems I regarded this verse as a free pass to behave any way I liked because I was not going to "perish, but have eternal life." I drank, smoked, and committed many other sins thinking none of it really mattered because my price had been paid--I had already fulfilled the conditions laid out to receive salvation so I could party on!

It wasn't until I was midway through my 30's when it dawned on me I'd had it all wrong. I had been charging through life, believing nothing more was required of me. I'd walked down the aisle, been baptized, and believed Jesus walked on Earth, was crucified, and was resurrected. So I was good.

But then one day, after years of achieving worldly success in almost everything I'd ever attempted, it hit me. I had never been TRULY saved. I'd only gone through the motions to make the world believe I was saved.

You see, though the world looked at me and considered my life a success, I wasn't happy. It was as if I just couldn't be satisfied. It didn't matter how much money I made, or had saved. I always needed just a little more. Though I had a beautiful wife and two beautiful daughters, I practically never saw them. Never spent time with them. Work was my life and it consumed me. The quest for another dollar kept me a virtual stranger to those who mattered most.

Then one day, it became clear as glass. Driving to work it dawned on me that I'd never truly been saved, because I'd never truly been transformed. I realized that if I had truly believed the teachings of the Bible, that Jesus was my savior and he had died for my sins, it would have necessarily changed me to be a different person. If I'd been truly transformed, I'd never have continued repeating the same blatant sins over and over and over and over again.

That's not to say I would never have sinned again, because none of us can ever be perfect. We're all born sinners and are doomed to a life of sin, try as we might to be good. But the important revelation that came to me that day on the road is that, once truly saved, a person would always WANT to do the right thing. At least to some degree, any person honestly changed by accepting Christ as their savior would try to do the right thing.

Ephesians 2:8-9

⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.

But even though we're not perfect, and our works can't get us into heaven, the Holy Spirit residing within us will force us to TRY to live right. We certainly won't purposely sin simply because we believe our debt is paid. Real faith in Christ will compel us to lead a life that "puts into practice" the teachings of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

James 2:17-18

¹⁷In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

¹⁸But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

Now, though I am nowhere close to perfect, I realize that every day I MUST try to do what's right. If my conscience nags at me, I must resist doing what I know is wrong. I must, at all times, try to live my life according to the example set by Christ. Though I know at the outset that I will at times fail, this I now realize is how I can be an example to others, and hopefully encourage those who are lost to long for the same "God of peace" that provides for all my needs and allows me to finally be truly happy and satisfied with my place in the world.

---

Lord Jesus, please give us the strength and wisdom to recognize that being saved is more than simply mouthing a few words, standing before a crowd, and allowing someone to dunk us under the water. Help us to strive to be a true Christian model to those who are lost. May the peace we find in you encourage others who seek to fill the void that can only be filled by your grace. Please help us take your teachings to heart and put them into practice so that the world might seek You and that You will be glorified. Amen.

Daily Devotional--10/5/2010

We're a week behind in our study of other religions, so the daily devotionals I'm receiving via email that I normally post are a little out of sync with our Sunday morning lessons. So this week, I'm going to try a little something different to allow us to catch up to the devotionals.

This week I'll let God select a few verses each day that I open the Bible to and write a little about what those verses mean to me. Now I'm no Biblical scholar, and this is the first time I've ever tried something like this. So please feel free to offer criticism, or your own interpretation of these verses in the comments.

Mark 6:1-3

¹Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. ²When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! ³Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

We as Christians are always called upon to witness and spread the good news that Jesus Christ died so we could have eternal life. Most opportunities to witness appear right in our own back yards, among family, friends, and neighbors who've known us all our lives. They know where we came from, they know what our families are like, and perhaps most significantly they know what we were like before and after we became Christians.

Sometimes, our witness is damaged by our own reputation. I don't know about everyone else, but I've often avoided witnessing to people because I knew the things they knew about me. When I became a teacher, my sister was asked by an old high school acquaintance what I was up to these days. She told him I was a teacher and his response was, "John Allison ain't no teacher." He couldn't believe it because he knew me in school, he knew the way I behaved and it wasn't what you'd expect out of a future high school teacher. I can only imagine the number of people who knew me before I was saved who doubt the sincerity of my Christian beliefs.

It's hard to approach those who knew us in that other life, before we became messengers for Jesus, but He tasked us with spreading His promise. So we MUST go forth and spread the good news, even to those we suspect will "take offense" at us. Remember the words of Matthew 11:15.

¹⁵He who has ears, let him hear.

As long as we keep living for Christ, spreading His good news, even among those who know our past sins, people will be reached. Jesus gave us the model, and even He was rebuffed by those who knew Him in His younger days. Yet he went and preached among them, knowing they would turn away. He laid down His life so that we might live. And all He asks in return is that we believe in Him and spread the good news to others.


Jesus, thank you for sacrificing yourself so that we might live. We pray that you will give us the strength and fortitude to go forth and carry the news of your sacrifice to others, both strangers and our acquaintances. Help us to follow your model and to strive daily to live according to your will.

Amen

Daily Devotional--10/1/2010

Hebrews 9:27

²⁷Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Hinduism does not believe in Judgment Day. According to Hinduism man is a victim of his own karma and the laws of dharma judge him continuously. Christianity believes in a final judgment day.

• How can we point a Hindu person toward understanding the person of Jesus Christ?
• Why do Christians believe in a final judgment day?
• How would you explain away karma?

Daily Devotional--9/30/2010

Romans 6:23

²³For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

Four major barriers exist between the teachings of Hinduism and Christianity. First, Hindus are syncretistic, believing that all religions lead to God. Second, Hindus vary in their perception of sin, believing either that sin does not exist, or that it is just bad karma. Third, Hindus believe in the doctrine of karma which means that past behavior determines present fate and that present fate determines the future. Lastly, Hindus believe that salvation is liberation from rebirth based upon the belief in karma.

• What does Romans tell us about sin?
• If sin did not exist or was bad karma, would there have been a need for Jesus?
• What do you feel about the term syncretistic-all religions lead to Heaven?

Daily Devotional--9/29/2010

Hebrews 9:27

²⁷Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

The spiritual goal of a Hindu is to become one with Brahma, thus ceasing to exist in its illusory form of “individual self.” This freedom is referred to as “moksha.” Until moksha is achieved, a Hindu believes that he/she will be repeatedly reincarnated in order that he/she may work towards self-realization of the truth (the truth being that only Brahman exists, nothing else).

• What is the spiritual goal of Christianity?
• What does the Bible say that gives us clear indication that there is no reincarnation?

Daily Devotional--9/28/2010

NOTE: We are beginning a study that will compare our Christian beliefs with those of the other major religions of the world.

Hinduism

Though Hinduism is often understood as being polytheistic, supposedly recognizing as many as 330 million gods, it also has one “god” that is supreme—Brahma. Brahma is an entity believed to inhabit every portion of reality and existence throughout the entire universe. Brahma is both impersonal and unknowable and is often believed to exist in three separate forms: Brahma—Creator; Vishnu—Preserver; and Shiva—Destroyer. These “facets” of Brahma are also known through the many other incarnations of each. It is difficult to summarize Hindu theology since the various Hindu schools contain elements of almost every theological system.

Brahma, the supreme Hindu God, is described as impersonal and unknowable.

• How is Jesus personal?
• How is Jesus knowable?

Daily Devotional--9/27/2010

Hinduism is one of the oldest known organized religions—its sacred writings date as far back as 1400 to 1500 B.C. It is also one of the most diverse and complex, having millions of gods. Hindus have a wide variety of core beliefs and exist in many different sects. Although it is the third largest religion in the world, Hinduism exists primarily in India and Nepal.

1 Samuel 2:2

^{2 "There is no one holy like the LORD;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.}

• What do you think about the idea of millions of God?
• What does this verse say about the God of the Bible?
• What does polytheistic mean?
• What does monotheistic mean?
• When you pray, who do you pray to? Is it one God or many?

Daily Devotional--9/24/2010

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

³For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. ⁶After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

John 2:18-22

¹⁸Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"

¹⁹Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

²⁰The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" ²¹But the temple he had spoken of was his body. ²²After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

In 1 Corinthians 15 we find a “nutshell” of the gospel message while in John 2 we find Jesus make a bold declaration about his death and resurrection.

• How does the connection of the John & 1 Corinthians texts give validity to Jesus claim in John’s gospel?
• How does the 1 Corinthians gospel presentation and the subsequent affirmations of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances confirm His identity?

Daily Devotional--9/23/2010

John 8:48-56

⁴⁸The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"

⁴⁹"I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. ⁵¹I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."

⁵²At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. ⁵³Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"

⁵⁴Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. ⁵⁵Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. ⁵⁶Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."

In this text we drop into the middle of a dispute between Jesus and the religious leaders of His day regarding His identity.

• In verse 48, who does it appear Jesus is to these religious leaders?
• Who does Jesus claim to be in verses 54-58?
• How does Jesus affirm he is greater than Abraham and the prophets who came before Him in verses 56 & 58?

Daily Devotional--9/22/2010

John 3:25-36

²⁵An argument developed between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. ²⁶They came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—well, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him."

²⁷To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. ²⁸You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' ²⁹The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. ³⁰He must become greater; I must become less.

³¹"The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. ³²He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. ³³The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. ³⁴For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. ³⁵The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. ³⁶Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."

In this text we find a conversation between John the Baptist and some of his disciples regarding the ministry of Jesus.

• What things does John say in verses 27-30 that diminishes his role and enhances Jesus role in God’s purpose?
• How does John identify Jesus in verses 35-36?
• What is the non-negotiable John lays out in verse 36 regarding faith in Jesus?

Daily Devotional--9/21/2010

John 1:1-18

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning.

³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

⁶There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. ⁸He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. ⁹The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

¹⁰He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹²Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

¹⁴The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

¹⁵John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " ¹⁶From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

In this text we find John’s philosophic depiction of the incarnation.

• What do verses 1-4 tell us about the identity of the one called the “Word”?
• What do verses 9-13 tell us about the response of the world to the one called the “Word”?
• What do verses 14-18 make explicit regarding the identity of the one called the “Word”?

Daily Devotional--9/20/2010

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

¹These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, ²so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. ³Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.

⁴Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. ⁵Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

In this text we find Judaism’s basic confession of faith.

• What is the central affirmation made about the nature of God’s existence in verse 4?
• What are the implications drawn from the unity of God’s nature in verses 5-9?
• What evidence exists in your life that you love God with all your affections, abilities, and intellect?

Daily Devotional--9/17/2010

Zechariah 12

¹ This is the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him, declares: ² "I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. ³ On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. ⁴ On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness," declares the LORD. "I will keep a watchful eye over the house of Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations. ⁵ Then the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts, 'The people of Jerusalem are strong, because the LORD Almighty is their God.'

⁶ "On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will consume right and left all the surrounding peoples, but Jerusalem will remain intact in her place.

⁷ "The LORD will save the dwellings of Judah first, so that the honor of the house of David and of Jerusalem's inhabitants may not be greater than that of Judah. ⁸ On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the LORD going before them. ⁹ On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem.

¹⁰ "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. ¹¹ On that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. ¹² The land will mourn, each clan by itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house of David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and their wives, ¹³ the clan of the house of Levi and their wives, the clan of Shimei and their wives, ¹⁴ and all the rest of the clans and their wives.

In this text we find the prediction of a coming salvation for the Jewish people. Zechariah says that the Jews will one day see God for who He is in all of His fullness.

• How is it that Zechariah says people from a Jewish background will look upon Jesus?
• How might this prophecy be pertinent to sharing the gospel with those who are of a Jewish faith?

Daily Devotional--9/16/2010

Luke 22:14-20

¹⁴When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God."

¹⁷After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. ¹⁸For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

¹⁹And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

²⁰In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Exodus 24:3-8

³When Moses went and told the people all the LORD's words and laws, they responded with one voice, "Everything the LORD has said we will do." ⁴Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said.
He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. ⁵Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD. ⁶Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. ⁷Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, "We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey."

⁸Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."

Jeremiah 31:27-34

²⁷"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will plant the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the offspring of men and of animals. ²⁸Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant," declares the LORD. ²⁹"In those days people will no longer say,
'The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
and the children's teeth are set on edge.'

³⁰Instead, everyone will die for his own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—his own teeth will be set on edge.

³¹"The time is coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.

³²It will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,"
declares the LORD.

³³"This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time," declares the LORD.
"I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.

³⁴No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,'
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,"
declares the LORD.
"For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more."

In this text we find the Jesus sharing a meal with His disciples during which He inaugurates the new covenant. In Exodus 24 we find Moses affirming that even the old covenant God had established with His people was inaugurated with blood. In Jeremiah we find the prophecy of a new covenant that would come between God and His people.

• How does Jesus pull the Jeremiah & Exodus texts together in Luke 22?
• How might this be a means of witness to the identity of Jesus with people from a Jewish background?

Daily Devotional--9/15/2010

Acts 4:5-12

⁵The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. ⁷They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"

⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! ⁹If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, ¹⁰then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹He is
" 'the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone.' ¹²Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

Psalm 118:19-24

¹⁹ Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.

²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.

²² The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;

²³ the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

²⁴ This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

In this text we find Peter and John before Jewish ruling council of their day giving a defense of their ministry.

• What strategy do Peter and John employ in defense of their ministry before the Jewish ruling council?

The reference to the rejected cornerstone in verse 11 comes from Psalm 118:22. The preceding verse, Psalm 118:21, praises God for “becoming my salvation” and verse 22 tells us how God has become our salvation: through the rejected cornerstone.

• How do Peter and John use Psalm 118 to demonstrate Jesus identity to their Jewish counterparts?

Daily Devotional--9/14/2010

Acts 2:29-36

²⁹"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. ³⁰But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. ³¹Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. ³²God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. ³³Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. ³⁴For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
³⁵until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet." '

³⁶"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Psalm 110:1-7

¹ The LORD says to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet."

² The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion;
you will rule in the midst of your enemies.

³ Your troops will be willing
on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy majesty,
from the womb of the dawn
you will receive the dew of your youth.

⁴ The LORD has sworn
and will not change his mind:
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."

⁵ The Lord is at your right hand;
he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.

⁶ He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead
and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.

⁷ He will drink from a brook beside the way;
therefore he will lift up his head.

In this excerpt from Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter is again addressing a predominately Jewish crowd regarding the identity of Jesus by appealing to David’s words in Psalm 110 and applying them to Jesus.

• What is the relationship between the first phrase in verse 33 and Peter’s quote from Psalm 110 in verse 34?
• How has Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation fulfilled Messianic pronouncements of Psalm 110?
• What connections between Psalm 110 & Acts 2 would you focus on in sharing the gospel with a person from a Jewish background?

Daily Devotional--9/13/2010

Acts 2:22-24

²²"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. ²³This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. ²⁴But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

In this excerpt from Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, Peter addresses a predominately Jewish crowd regarding their role in the crucifixion of Jesus. In this text we find one of the age-old tensions of the Christian faith: God’s Sovereignty & Man’s Responsibility.

• Who does Peter say planned Jesus’ crucifixion and delivered Him up to be crucified?
• Who does Peter say carried out the crucifixion thereby killing Jesus?
• How does Peter say God has attested the validity of Jesus identity before the Jewish people?

Daily Devotional--9/10/2010

1 John 5:12-13

¹²He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

¹³I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

In this text John indicates that the purpose for which he has written this letter is to give assurance of eternal life to his readers.

• What does John say is the key to being assured of eternal life?
• Upon what do you base any assurance you have that you possess eternal life?
• Take a moment and thank God for the simplicity of knowing we have eternal life.

Daily Devotional--9/9/2010

1 Timothy 2:1-7

¹I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— ²for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. ⁷And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.

One way to think of the role of a mediator is as an individual who brings about reconciliation between two estranged parties.

• How many mediators does Paul say exist between God and man?
• How has Jesus brought reconciliation between you and God?
• Take a moment to thank God for the gracious gift of the reconciling work of His Son.

Daily Devotional--9/8/2010

Acts 4:1-12

¹The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. ²They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. ³They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. ⁴But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

⁵The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. ⁷They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"

⁸Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! ⁹If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, ¹⁰then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹He is
" 'the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone.' ¹²Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

In Acts 4 Peter and John find themselves before the proverbial “Jewish Supreme Court” because they had been proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus from death. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly asserts that Jesus is the only way of salvation.

Consider today what boldness would look like for you in our culture regarding the unique role of Jesus as the only means of salvation.

• What inhibits you from being bold?
• Take a moment to pray for grace to move beyond your inhibitions.

Daily Devotional--9/7/2010

John 14:1-7

¹"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. ²In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴You know the way to the place where I am going."

⁵Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

⁶Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."

In this text Jesus makes a promise to his followers regarding His preparation of a place for them with the Father. Thomas makes an assertion indicating that they don’t know where he is going and therefore don’t know how to get there. Based on the immediate context, Thomas is asking how to get to the Father.

• How does Jesus respond to Thomas’ question about getting to the Father?
• How does Jesus claim of exclusivity “play” in our culture?
• Are you willing to affirm the Exclusivity of Christ in the face of a “religiously tolerant culture”?

Daily Devotional--9/6/2010

Numbers 21:4-9

⁴ They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; ⁵ they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"

⁶ Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. ⁷ The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.

⁸ The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." ⁹ So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.

As Israel travels through the wilderness they become impatient and begin to grumble against God so He sends fiery serpents among them and many die from the snake bites. God judges their sin with a severe penalty but also provides a means of salvation.

• What was the only way to survive the venom of the serpents?
• How does Jesus compare Himself to the serpent Moses lifted up?
• To whom are you looking for life?

Daily Devotional--9/3/2010

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

³For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. ⁶After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

1 Corinthians 15:12-19

¹²But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. ¹⁵More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁷And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. ¹⁹If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

In these texts the apostle Paul indicates that the credibility of the resurrection is a necessary cornerstone for the Christian faith.

• How does Paul ground the resurrection as a historically verifiable event for his initial readers?
• Why does Paul say that the reality of the resurrection is essential to the Christian faith?
• Why is our preaching & faith in vain if the resurrection of Jesus did not happen?
• What comfort or courage do you draw from the reality of the resurrection as you face “daily living”?

Daily Devotional--9/2/2010

John 20:24-29

²⁴Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

²⁶A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

²⁸Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

²⁹Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

In this text Jesus appears to His disciples a second time following His resurrection. This time there is a skeptic among them named Thomas.

• How does Thomas portray the mindset of many skeptics in our world?
• What appeal does Jesus make to this skeptic in verse 27?
• What appeal does Jesus make to the rest of the world in verse 29?
• What skeptics in your life do you need to appeal to in the coming weeks?

Daily Devotional--9/1/2010

Luke 24:1-12

¹On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. ²They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " ⁸Then they remembered his words.

⁹When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. ¹⁰It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. ¹¹But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. ¹²Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

As Christian people we affirm that even the faith we place in the Lord Jesus is a gift of God’s grace. If anyone in human history should have had a “leg up” on the rest of us in the realm of faith, it would have been the apostles. They walked with Jesus through His earthly ministry, listened to His teaching, observed the miracles, and heard the predictions of his death & resurrection.

• The apostles would later suffer for their faith in Christ, but in this story, how do they respond to the report of the women who returned from the tomb?
• Why do the eleven consider the women’s words “an idle tale” while Peter “rose, ran, stooped, looked in, saw, & marveled”?
• We thank God often for the many gifts He bestows on us His children. Have you thanked Him for the gift of faith lately? Take a moment to do so now.

Daily Devotional--8/31/2010

Mark 16:1-8

¹When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. ²Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

⁴But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

⁶"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "

⁸Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Mark 1:40-45

⁴⁰A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

⁴¹Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" ⁴²Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

⁴³Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: ⁴⁴"See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." ⁴⁵Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

Mark 7:31-37

³¹Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. ³²There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.

³³After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. ³⁴He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!" ). ³⁵At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

³⁶Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. ³⁷People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Compare Mark 16:7-8 with Mark 1:40-45 & Mark 7:31-37 where Jesus commands people to say nothing about who He is but they say something about Him to everyone they meet. Now, when they are commanded to say something, they say nothing.

• What reason does Mark give for the women saying “nothing to anyone”?
• How does fear paralyze us from “saying something”?

The only thing that can release us from the paralyzing grip of fear is the liberation we find in the gospel. The gospel says, “Even if they reject me He has received me”, “Even if they mock me He will love me”, “Even if they kill me He will raise me”.

• Who do you need to “say something to” this week?

Daily Devotional--8/30/2010

Matthew 28:1-10

¹After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

²There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

⁸So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

The Greek behind our English translation of the angels’ words “for he has risen” in verse 6 is in the passive voice. In other words, Jesus did not actively raise Himself from the dead but was acted upon by someone else who brought Him to life. Historically Christianity affirms that God the Father, by means of the Holy Spirit, raised Christ from the dead.

• Have you entrusted yourself to the one who is able to raise you from death?
• What difference might it make if you were to fully entrust yourself to the one who possesses the power to raise your life from the dead? How might that be freeing & liberating?
• How might that move you to greater involvement in God’s redemptive mission in His world?

Daily Devotional--8/27/2010

John 1:4

⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

Jesus is the Light. He offers us life. But for those who do not understand, they remain in darkness.

• Think of those close to you who still remain in darkness (friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors.)
• Make a list of those people and begin to pray for them daily. Will you be the one who shows them the light?

Daily Devotional--8/26/2010

Psalms 24

¹ The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;

² for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters.

³ Who may ascend the hill of the LORD
Who may stand in his holy place?

⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false. [a]

⁵ He will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God his Savior.

⁶ Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, O God of Jacob. [b]
Selah

⁷ Lift up your heads, O you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.

⁸ Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle.

⁹ Lift up your heads, O you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.

¹⁰ Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty—
he is the King of glory.
Selah

This Psalm celebrates the Lord’s entrance into Zion. This week we have looked at Jesus as the Messiah and Jesus as our returning King. A portion of the lyrics of the Mercy Me song I Can Only Imagine are listed below. This song captures a picture of seeing our King. Read the lyrics and think of what your own response will be when you see Jesus.

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in honor of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

Daily Devotional--8/25/2010

John 1:1-14

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning.

³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

⁶There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. ⁸He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. ⁹The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

¹⁰He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹²Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

¹⁴The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 8:58-59

⁵⁸"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" ⁵⁹At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

John 8:12

¹²When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

• If the Word is another name for Jesus, what does John 1: 1-4 tell you about Jesus? Try replacing “Word” with Jesus and read the passage again.
• What does John 8: 58-59 tell about Jesus?
• What does light refer to in John 1:4-5?
• What is the assurance of John 8:12?
• Have you made the decision to follow Jesus? Thank the Lord, today, of that assurance that you will never walk in darkness.

Daily Devotional--8/24/2010

John 1:13-14

¹³children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

¹⁴The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• What observations can you make about the Messiah from John 1:13-14?
• Do these observations impact you today as you think about your walk with the Lord?

Imagine that our great God humbled himself to become a man and live among us. Spend some time thanking the Lord for what he has done.

Daily Devotional--8/23/2010

Daniel 7:13-14

¹³ "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. ¹⁴ He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

Daniel 8:25-26

²⁵ He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.

²⁶ "The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future."

Matthew 24:30-31

³⁰"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. ³¹And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

John 1:10-12

¹⁰He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹²Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

• What do both of the Daniel passages point to?
• Based on these passages, the people expected a king to come. What do you think they imagined?
• Why don’t you think the people recognized their Messiah when he came to earth? (John 1:10)
• Matthew 24:30-31 reminds us that we are waiting on a king to return. Do you think you will recognize him? What do you imagine that day will look like?

Daily Devotional--8/20/2010

Matthew 1:22-23

²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

Matthew 2:5-6

⁵"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:

⁶" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"

Matthew 2:17-18

¹⁷Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:


¹⁸"A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more."

Matthew 3:1-3

¹In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea ²and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." ³This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
"A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.' "

Matthew 4:12-16

¹²When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. ¹³Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— ¹⁴to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁵"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way to the sea, along the Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles—
¹⁶the people living in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned."

• What do each of these passages have in common?
• The primary purpose in the gospel of Matthew is to convince Jewish readers that Jesus is the Messiah. How do these verses support this concept?
• Matthew has about 50 direct quotations from the Old Testament. These would capture the attention of Jewish readers. There are over 300 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Take some time today to process that. How does that impact your life personally?

Daily Devotional--8/19/2010

Matthew 1:1-17

¹A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:

²Abraham was the father of Isaac,
Isaac the father of Jacob,
Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

³Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,
Perez the father of Hezron,
Hezron the father of Ram,

⁴Ram the father of Amminadab,
Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,

⁵Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse,

⁶and Jesse the father of King David.
David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah's wife,

⁷Solomon the father of Rehoboam,
Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,

⁸Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,
Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,

⁹Uzziah the father of Jotham,
Jotham the father of Ahaz,
Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

¹⁰Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,
Manasseh the father of Amon,
Amon the father of Josiah,

¹¹and Josiah the father of Jeconiah[a] and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

¹²After the exile to Babylon:
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

¹³Zerubbabel the father of Abiud,
Abiud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,

¹⁴Azor the father of Zadok,
Zadok the father of Akim,
Akim the father of Eliud,

¹⁵Eliud the father of Eleazar,
Eleazar the father of Matthan,
Matthan the father of Jacob,

¹⁶and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

¹⁷Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

• What is the source of scripture according to 2 Timothy 3:16?
• How does scripture effect the life of a believer? (II Tim 3:16)
• Have you recently allowed God to use his word to rebuke you, correct you or train you in righteousness? What was the effect on your life?
• If all scripture is profitable, reread Matt 1:1-17 & look at the people God chose to include in the genealogy. What is remarkable about them?

Daily Devotional--8/18/2010

John 20:31

³¹But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John 3: 1-18

¹Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. ²He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

³In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

⁴"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

⁵Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. ⁶Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' ⁸The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

⁹"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.

¹⁰"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? ¹¹I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. ¹²I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? ¹³No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. ¹⁴Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

¹⁶"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

Whether the gospels are trustworthy is essential. However, that information falls short if you have not personally been changed by the message of the gospel.

• What did the Pharisee Nicodemus believe about Jesus? (Verses 1-2)
• What was Jesus response to Nicodemus in verse 3?
• How is a person born again? (verses 16-18)
• Are you like Nicodemus and believe about Jesus or have you placed your faith in Him?

Daily Devotional--8/17/2010

Mark 8:27-30

²⁷Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"

²⁸They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."

²⁹"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Christ."

³⁰Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

• Why do we need confidence in the gospel?
• From where does that confidence come?
• In verse 27, Jesus asks his disciples, “ Who do people say that I am?” Who do you say that Jesus is by your lifestyle & testimony? Does your character & life represent accurately who you claim Christ to be?
• What one change do you need to make today?

Daily Devotional--8/16/2010

Are the Four Gospels Trustworthy?

Luke 1:1-3

¹Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, ²just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. ³Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

2 Peter 1:16

¹⁶We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

1 John 1:3

³We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

John 19:35

³⁵The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.

• What does each of these verses attest to?
• What does it mean to be an eyewitness?
• How would it change your walk with the Lord if you were a first hand witness of the ministry of Jesus Christ? Why not live as if you were?

Daily Devotional--8/13/2010

Philippians 2:25-30

²⁵But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. ²⁶For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, ³⁰because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

James 1:2-4

²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Epaphroditus was in a key role of encouragement and service to Paul. He was valued and affirmed for his ministry. Yet, he suffered.

• What hardships did Epaphroditus face? (Verses 26, 27, 30)
• Often Christians think that if they are believers and serving the Lord that everything should workout easily for them. Does this passage support that concept?
• What does James 1:2-4 teach about trials?

Daily Devotional--8/12/2010

Philippians 2:29-30

²⁹Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, ³⁰because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

2 Corinthians 8:23-24

²³As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. ²⁴Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.

Paul guided the Philippian church in bringing honor to Epaphroditus & others like him.

• Is there someone that gives sacrificially to others that you could honor or bless this week?
• Do you take opportunities to give good news of the ministry of others to encourage believers?

Daily Devotional--8/11/2010

Philippians 2:25-30

²⁵But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. ²⁶For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, ³⁰because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

Sometimes our area of ministry or service may be interrupted.

• What occurred during the ministry of Epaphroditus to interrupt his ministry? (verses 25-27)
• Has there been a time when you were removed from ministry to others for a period of time?
• How did God use that time for good in your life?

Daily Devotional--8/10/2010

Philippians 2:25-30

²⁵But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. ²⁶For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, ³⁰because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

Epaphroditus was a man whose Christian relationships were strong. He took the work of the ministry seriously and with great value.

• What was his relationship with Paul? (verse 25)
• What was his relationship with the Philippian church? (verses 25-26)Who is an Epaphroditus in your life?
• Are you an Epaphroditus in someone else’s life?

Daily Devotional--8/9/2010

Philippians 2: 25-30

²⁵But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. ²⁶For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. ²⁷Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. ²⁹Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, ³⁰because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

II Corinthians 9:6-8

⁶Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Epaphroditus served the Lord by caring for Paul, almost to the point of death.

• Can you think of a time that your service to another caused personal pain or loss?
• This kind of serving is sacrificial. What is different about giving out of your excess as opposed to giving out of your need?
• It’s not just about serving. (You can serve with a bad attitude.) What does II Cor. 9:6-8 say about giving?

Daily Devotional--8/6/2010

Colossians 3:1-17

¹Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ⁷You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

¹²Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Romans 12:2

²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Paul offers a reminder of how to live well. We have been called as believers to holy living.

• What does vs. 2 tell about where to have your focus?
• Colossians 3:5-11 provides a list of reminders of what should not be part of your life. How are you doing in these areas? Commit to change at least one area.

Colossians 3:12-17 illustrates what we should be striving for in our Christian walk. Pick one area to focus on this week. Allow God to renew you & grow you in this area.

Daily Devotional--8/5/2010

Romans 8:35-39

³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." ³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 20

¹ May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.

²May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.

³ May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
Selah

⁴ May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.

⁵ We will shout for joy when you are victorious
and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the LORD grant all your requests.

⁶ Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;
he answers him from his holy heaven
with the saving power of his right hand.

⁷ Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

⁸ They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.

⁹ O LORD, save the king!
Answer us when we call!

• What does it mean to be a conqueror?
• What does it mean to be more than a conqueror (vs. 37)?
• Can anything separate a believer from the love of God?
• Do you ever feel like God is just not there?
• What do verses 35 & 39 teach about being separated from God?
• Psalm 20 is a prayer for a king prior to going into battle. Are you facing a battle in your life? What does Psalm 20 teach about the power & strength that is available to you?

Daily Devotional--8/4/2010

2 Corinthians 1:12

¹²Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace.

Romans 12:2

²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Philippians 4:8

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

• List ways that you are tempted to conform to worldly patterns. (These patterns can be subtle.)
• Do any of these patterns conflict with what you know of scripture?
• What does Romans 12:2 explain is the solution to changing from the patterns of this world?
• How do you renew your mind?

Daily Devotional--8/3/2010

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

⁷To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul was an example of a man who ministered in the face of tremendous trials.

• What trial or hardship are you experiencing in your life?
• How are you handling the trial? Complaints? Worry? Anger?
• Do you feel the trial is too big for you to handle?
• What does vs. 8 teach about weakness?
• Are you willing to admit your weakness in this trial & trust God to be your strength?

Ask God to be your strength in this trial. Watch for his provision.

Daily Devotional--7/30/2010

Matthew 25:31-46

³¹"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. ³²All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

³⁴"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

³⁷"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

⁴⁰"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

⁴¹"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴²For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

⁴⁴"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

⁴⁵"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

⁴⁶"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Revelation 5:11

¹¹Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.

• When Christ returns who will accompany Him when He comes in glory and in judgment?
• How many angels will come with Him?