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.