Daily Bible Reading
16
May '20
May 16, 2020 Bible Reading & Questions
16
May '20
Ephesians 5:6-14A
6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things.[b] 7 Therefore, do not become their partners. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light— 9 for the fruit of the light[c] results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth— 10 discerning what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13 Everything exposed by the light is made clear, 14 for what makes everything clear is
How has redemption made you a light before others?
What areas of “fruitless works of darkness” do you need to expose around you?
In your own life?
How has the light of Jesus made choices and decisions more clear in your own daily walk?
Read more...
14
May '20
May 14, 2020 Bible Reading & Questions
14
May '20
Hebrews 4:12-16
12 For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart. 13 No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked
and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus
the Son of God—let us hold fast to the confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we
are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.
How has God used the Word of God to test your faith?
How does knowing that Jesus has been test in EVERY way that you will ever be tested give
you encouragement and comfort? Or does it?
How can this passage help you when you face testing and trials?
Read more...
12
May '20
May 12, 2020 Bible Reading & Questions
12
May '20
Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.[a] 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Knowing that no one is perfected in our flesh, do you still see evidence of transformation since you were redeemed?
If you’ve been born again for some time now, are you seeing current transformation?
How can you renew your mind daily to be more in turn with what God is doing in your life now?
Read more...
09
May '20
May 09, 2020 Bibile Reading & Questions
09
May '20
2 Samuel 12:16 David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted, went home, and spent the night lying on the ground.
Discovered in sin, David becomes aware that his selfishness is not just affecting his life,
but that of his son. His response is to fast in repentance.
1. How do you react to your won sin? Is repentance a regular part of your acknowledgement of your own sinful nature?
2. What would it look like if you made giving up television, or your phone, or music, or food a regular part of your relationship with God to accept His forgiveness of your sins? These are not things we HAVE to do of course, Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross, but what if we prayerfully added fasting from something to our life to physically remind ourselves of the pain that can be caused by our sin?
3. What will you give up going forward in order to honor God? How can you incorporate fasting into your spiritual walk?
Read more...
07
May '20
May 07, 2020 Bibile Reading & Questions
07
May '20
Matthew 6:16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.
1. I think we can all agree that fasting from something you dislike isn’t really fasting. Giving up broccoli or paying bills or doing dishes wouldn’t really be a sacrifice for God. So if you’re going to give up something you enjoy, what can you do to keep a positive mindset about it?
2. We’re not supposed to make our ‘fast’ obvious to others, but most of us (all of us!) will need some sort of accountability to be able to follow through. Who do you know who would not only hold you accountable, but would hold you accountable with love and encouragement?
3. Giving up food for forty days might not be practical, and in some cases could be downright unhealthy!
Giving up your phone/internet might be very wise spiritually, but if going without it would affect your job and income, and your ability to stay in touch with family it might not be wise to turn your phone off for five or six weeks either!
On the other hand, giving up five minutes of television or Facebook or a half a cup of coffee might not really be a sacrifice that you would miss. You’ve got to find something that you enjoy so much that missing it would give you constant reminders to focus on God, but don’t give it up for so long that it puts your health or financial security in danger.
Maybe skip one meal a week, or leave your phone OFF on Saturday mornings, or every weeknight after 6pm.
What is it you think you could fast from? What could you do without and replace with God? How long do you think would be a wise fast?
Read more...
05
May '20
May 05, 2020 Bible Reading & Questions
05
May '20
Matthew 4: 1-3a Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 Then the tempter approached him
1. What is the longest you’ve gone without something to eat? How do you react when you get overly hungry? Grumpy, irritable, moody? Have you ever gone grocery shopping when you’re hungry and discovered that down every aisle were things that looked TASTY and GREAT?
2. Do you ever notice that you’re most likely to fall into temptation when you feel as if your
fuel tank is empty? (Tired, hungry, thirsty, physically sore, headache, etc)
3. If you made a list of the last five times you said, did, or thought something you shouldn’t
have, how many of them would be because you were stretched too thin in that moment?
4. How was Jesus able to be at His best after 40 days without food, and you and I are often at
our worst after just missing a meal or a cup of coffee or two hours of sleep?
Read more...
30
Apr '20
April 30, 2020 Bible Reading & Questions
30
Apr '20
Do you see yourself as a servant (steward) to God? Why or why not?
Do you ever find yourself fearful of how God will respond to the way you are handling His “talents”? What makes you think and feel this way about God?
What “talent” has God left for you to manage? How are you using them?
Read more...
28
Apr '20
April 28, 2020 Bible Reading & Questions
28
Apr '20
What things do you find yourself regularly worrying about? Do you see any of
these listed in this passage?
How can you learn to rest in God’s promise to provide for us?
What do you think it means to seek the kingdom of God first?
How can you do a better job of this?
How can you do a better job of this?
Read more...
25
Apr '20
April 25, 2020 Bible Reading & Questions
25
Apr '20
Matthew 12:34-35 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
34 Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
35 A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil
person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.
What do you consider a ‘good’ person?
What does God consider a ‘good’ person?
This translation calls your heart a ‘storeroom’. With that as a visual what sort of
storeroom is your heart?
What good things have you stockpiled over the years?
What bad things have you stockpiled over the years?
Which is there more of?
What are some good things you can stockpile this week, to help your ‘storeroom’
stay stocked with good?
Read more...
23
Apr '20
April 23, 2020 Bible Reading & Questions
23
Apr '20
I want to look at the same two verses in three different translations this morning, and then encourage you to spend some time with the questions.
Matthew 12:34-35 King James Version (KJV)
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things:
and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
Matthew 12:34-35 New Living Translation (NLT)
34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right?
34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right?
For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces
good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things
from the treasury of an evil heart.
Matthew 12:34-35 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
34 Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. 35 A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.
34 Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. 35 A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.
How much sin do you think it takes for someone to be ‘evil’ according to the world’s standards?
How much sin do you think it takes for someone to be ‘evil’ according to God’s standards?
What sort of overflow does your mouth speak from?
When life produces sudden stress are you angry and rude and mean to those around you?
Or do handle that sudden tension by asking God for guidance and help?
How would the people around you answer this question about you?
Read more...
