Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

Acts 14

Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. Acts 14:15

While I have completed my study of Zechariah and it's time to transition to Malachi (as part of my study of the last four books of the OT using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book), I pause before moving to Malachi to study Acts 13-14 as preparation for my Sunday school discussion this upcoming Sunday.  In Acts 14, we once again see Paul speaking boldly.  Many believed (v1) but we also see opposition and persecution from the Jews (v2).  But Paul and Barnabas remained in Iconium and continued speaking boldly despite opposition and threats (vv3-4), including an effort to stone them (v5).  Undeterred, similar to Peter and John's response to the Jewish leaders who called them before the Council (see Acts 4:20), Paul and Barnabas pressed forward in their mission to share the gospel (vv6-7).  After healing a crippled man (vv8-10), those in the crowd felt compelled to worship Paul and Barnabas (vv11-13).  Yet Paul's response in vv14-15, draped in humility, exhorted the crowd to believe in the One who sent them and gave them the power of the Holy Spirit to perform such signs, wonders, and miracles.  Once again, opposition arose and Paul was dragged out and stoned (v19).  But Paul rose up and moved on - continuing to preach (v20)!  Amazing Paul and Barnabas could not be stopped!  This is clearly the hand of God.  As they continued the text shares how Paul encouraged the believers to endure in their faith despite how they will experience many tribulations (v22).  The believers (vv23-28) encouraged one another and glorified God in what He had done. Key themes in the text include (1) how Paul and Barnabas continued to preach boldly despite the threats to their physical safety; (2) how Paul and Barnabas remained humble despite having the great power of the Holy Spirit working in them (this is the same power that raised Christ from the dead - see also Ephesians 1:19-20 (NLT)); (3) fellowship among believers remained critical for encouragement and discipleship; and (4) how believers will face trials and challenges as we strive to live on mission (we will overcome - see John 16:33).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Father God, thank You for the example of Paul and Barnabas and Your Word.  I spend time with You, grow closer to You, and I am prayerful that I can become more like You and please You.  I am not deserving of how You love, save and bless me with Your Word.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Timothy 1

To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Timothy 1:2

I continue with my study of 1 and 2 Timothy leaning on DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for these two books, this morning watching the video for 1 Timothy 1:1-2, Part 3. 

John Piper begins the video by examining, as the title of the video explicitly implies, 1 Timothy 1:2, and why Paul is referring to Timothy as his child. 

Excerpts from the video entitled How Is Timothy Paul's Child?:

• The word true in v2 is used because of how Timothy came to faith, due to Paul's work in missions and ministry.  In many senses, Paul feels that a Timothy is more truly an offspring of him than of Timothy's own biological father due to the faith relationship he has with Timothy and this relationship is deeper and eternal. See also Philemon 9-10, 1 Corinthians 4:15.
• 1 Peter 1:23 describes how the Word of God is causing someone to be born again, bringing you back into union with Jesus Christ.
• See Acts 16:1-3 for how Paul in his second missionary journey took Timothy under his wing having already been a believer and identified as someone with great promise as a church leader; see also Acts 14:5-6 where it is inferred that Timothy became a believer in Paul's first missionary journey to the same places Derbe and Lystra referred to in both Acts 16 and 14.
  
• 1 Corinthians 4:17 and Philippians 2:19-22 describe how Paul refers to Timothy as a trustworthy and extraordinary value as a man of faith.  Philippians in particular shares an endorsement where Paul states that he has "no one like him" and also once again as a son.  This says much considering others in Paul's company such as Luke and Barnabas. 

Incredible text about an apostle and a discipleship relationship this apostle has with someone under his tutelage.  This text offers incredible encouragement for young believers to seek discipleship relationships with older believers and for older believers to pour into younger believers (or other believers with less spiritual maturity).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus You are an incredible God who serves as the ultimate disciple maker as You pour into me daily with grace and compassion that knows no limits.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You pour into me and how You place others in my life to pour into me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Please give Lisa and myself wisdom, energy and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

But all things should be done decently and in order.

 1 Corinthians 14

But all things should be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians, moving on to an unassisted review of 1 Corinthians 14. Here, building on guidance provided in the previous two chapters on spiritual gifts, Paul provides guidance about how to exercise the spiritual gift of prophecy vs that of speaking in tongues.  My review of the text:

• V1: Love - as Paul expounds on in the last chapter - is most important to demonstrate with spiritual gifts.
• Vv1-2: Paul acknowledges the gift of speaking in tongues, but seeks for believers to be understood which is a concern for those speaking in tongues. 
• Vv3-5: On the other hand, offering prophecy is typically done to encourage, console, and to build up the church. Writings of the major prophets in the Old Testament often serve to warn but also to encourage Israel of God's faithfulness and of the coming Messiah. 
• Vv6-32: Paul poses a series of rhetorical questions exploring the value of prophecy vs speaking in tongues - coming down on the side prophecy and building up the church. 
• Vv33-35: Paul offers guidance on women's role in speaking in church.
• Vv36-40: Paul concludes the chapter by challenging those who challenge him by stating that he acknowledges he has the gift of prophecy and at the same time he knows this gift comes from God so anyone with this gift should recognize this and similarly recognized that they should not challenge Paul.  Paul's final words express a desire for the church to do things "decently and in order."  Paul's repeated use of "build" or "building" up (5x - v3,4,12, and 26) the church is key and expands on how Paul defines "decently."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion. I am not deserving of such grace and love.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

1 Corinthians 8

[F]or us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 1 Corinthians 8:6

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - aided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 8.  The main idea offered by the commentary*: "[t]he spiritual good of others should always govern what we Christians do." The introduction* shares how Paul writes in this chapter how believers are to be "keepers of our brothers and sisters in Christ specifically. We are to always seek their good and avoid any action or word that defiles their consciences (v. 7), destroys their faith (v. 11), or that might prove a stumbling block to their walks with the Lord Jesus (v. 13)."  The following divisions are provided to unpack the text:

1. All My Actions Are Regulated by the Principle of Christian Love (8:1-3): Paul responds to another inquiry to the church in Corinth about food offered to idols - a common practice at the time.  Conflict and uncertainty within the church arose about whether to purchase or consume such food. While this specific conundrum is not prevalent today, it does have parallels for today's church that struggles with how to respond to worldly influences that emphasize paganism. In his response, Paul sees the inquiry for what it is and it is not particularly about food offered to idols. Its about how to meet non-believers who may be immersed in sin, including idolatry, but need to be loved and encouraged in their faith although such faith may be immature and prone to "error" due to lack of strong doctrinal understanding that comes from spiritual maturity.  Paul first starts by admonishing the proud and arrogant within the church at Corinth who "flaunt" their knowledge of God and in so doing, fail to reach non-believers as their arrogant posture prevents them from seeing them and loving them exactly where they are.  These arrogant believers need to demonstrate love not knowledge. The commentary* then emphasizes that [Paul] tells us it is not what we know that is of utmost importance—though it is important; cf. 5:6; 6:2,3,9,15, 16,19—but who knows us! The ultimate issue in all of life is this: “Does God know you?” Verse 3 ties together loving God and being known by God."   
2. All My Actions Are Regulated by the Truth of Christian Worship (8:4-6): Here, the commentary* makes it clear that we must understand that although believers know the One True God, we cannot deny "the existence of the many gods and lords falsely worshiped in this world."  At the same time we MUST live by and worship the One True God "from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist (v6)."
   
3. All My Actions Are Regulated by the Guideline of Christian Deference (8:7-13): Here, the commentary* first refers us to Philippians 2:3-4 where "Paul explains to us what it means to have the mind of Christ: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, interests, but rather to the interests of others.” Paul will apply this principle to the controversy that was raging in Corinth." The commentary continues by describing Christian deference, which would have - instead of being arrogant - led those in the church in Corinth to see how those worshiping idols is an influence that is sinful and that we all have sin so in an effort to gain believers to save them, don't pretend their sin (i.e. idols) doesn't exist.  Instead come beside them and love them as worthy of salvation by sharing the Good News - allowing the Holy Spirit to work within them to call them to Himself (election).  This is a convicting message for believers - we must be prepared to go INTO the world full of sinners and sin in an effort to love and save them (and to encourage and love those who may believe but are spiritually immature).  We should not throw a stumbling block into the journey of a "weaker" believer.  These "weaker" believers need encouragement and love!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - even when I am sinful and arrogant!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings. My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

*Akin, Dr. Daniel L.; Merritt, James. Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

I continue my study of Hebrews, and today my focus is Hebrews 13:7-14, and and I am assisted in my understanding by the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary Series for Hebrews. The commentary outlines four divisions for this text:

I. Remember Your Leaders: Here, the commentary surmises that the use of "remember" vs "honor, respect or greet" is used likely due to how many leaders likely were martyred at the time Hebrews was written; it also emphasizes how discipleship is not just learning from the teaching of leaders but also from their practices in their daily living.

II. Remember Your Savior: We also encouraged to see - in v8 - how Jesus does not change.  We are referred to Malachi 3:6, one of many scripture references that make this point.  The commentary shares: "[w]e can rest in the absolute confidence that he will never change."

III. Do Not Be Led Astray: V8 provides a foundational truth for us to avoid being led astray by either clinging to Old Testament external practices (i.e. with foods) that no longer apply for readers of Hebrews, or to fashionable trends that seek to change our faith to suit the times. 

IV. Go Outside the Camp: Here, the commentary describes how the text uses the Old Testament practice of burning sacrificed food outside the camp, and how that directs us to follow Jesus as He was sacrificed outside Jerusalem.  It shares: "[f]ollowing Jesus means joining him outside the camp. The writer’s people were tempted to find their identity in Judaism and the old covenant."  The commentary wraps by pointing to the last verse of today's text - v14 - and how "we anticipate an everlasting city. Our hope is not in the fading city of man, it’s in the enduring city of God. We wait for an eschatological city, the heavenly Jerusalem."

Comment and discuss this this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You are worthy of worship and imitation - You are spotless, and full of grace and compassion for how You offer the only path to forgiveness and eternal life.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless as You do.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience[.]

Romans 15

In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience[.] Romans 15:17-18a

This morning, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I continued with chapter nineteen Great Commission Christians, which covers Romans 15:14-15:33.  My focus today is v15:16-18, which my commentary refers to under the heading "See Life and Mission Through the Lens of Worship."  Building on my post yesterday, where Paul's focused on characteristics of a healthy gospel-centered church, in this morning's verses, Paul moves to describe his role in preaching the gospel to the Gentiles and how Paul attributes the growth of the church through the Gentiles to God working through him.

My commentary highlights how Paul's words describe a "priestly service" (v15:16) to the Gentiles. He was a Jesus "worshiper who sought to make more worshipers.  He was a living sacrifice who sought to see more living sacrifices."  We are encourages to "see our mission through this lens of worship." 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has brought disciple makes into my life to develop me into more of a disciple - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of this and the many other blessings You pour out for me.  My sin of worry and other sins continue.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

Acts 16-17 and 1 Thessalonica 1-2

 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This morning, I continue with the story of "Paul: Never Too Far Gone for a Turnaround*".

*Title of lesson ten from the Max Lucado study.

Max Lucado's commentary* for day three focuses on Paul's first missionary journey, and the various converts made during this journey, including Lydia, Paul and Silas' jailer, and the Bereans. Lucado reminds us of how God and the Holy Spirit work - that we are not converting anyone but either planting or watering a seed but God is the one responsible for growing and harvesting the seed.  Lucado also wants us to keep in mind that we are never fully aware of the impact others have had on our lives and the impact we have had in others' lives yet we may come to more fully understand this impact when we reach Heaven. We are encouraged to plant and water seeds. 

Whatever our role in the Great Commission and in spreading the gospel, we all have a role and it is to be a light. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and I am deeply grateful for the many brothers and sisters in Christ You placed in my life to plant and water seeds in my life for my faith.  Thank You Jesus!  I do hope that I can be that same blessings for others.  Yet I am undeserving of the many blessings You pour out for me - I worry and I am often harsh with others.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Romans 12-16

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:8-10

Day 342 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this evening the focus is chapters 9-11 of Paul's letter to the believers in Rome. In these chapters, Paul starts but pointing us to "true and proper worship" by "offering our bodies as a living sacrifice" (vs empty ritualistic/ceremonial sacrifices - see also Hosea 6:6, Matthew 9:13). The implication here is that we are to develop healthy spiritual disciplines of daily Bible study, prayer, corporate worship, service, etc. and seek Him (see also recent post on daily renewal). Paul then moves on to how are to form the church through use of our different gifts and how these gifts mutually support each other.  We are instructed to love above all, including to our enemies.  We are to show respect and support to civil authorities as these are authorities placed above us by God.  We are to support those with weaker faiths by building them up (discipleship).

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an amazing God - the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  You came to earth to seek and save me...and You suffered a brutal and humbling death, even though You lived a sinless life.  Of course I am grateful but I am undeserving of all that You are and do for me. My sin continues...selfishness, etc.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

John 15-17

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

Day 317 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as I move further into the New Testament - this morning focusing on what my commentary* refers to as The Final Discourse "with His chosen disciples...."Each word Jesus speaks reflects the burden which he feels in leaving these men to finish the work which he has begun. Jesus encourages them in their faith and promises that in his name they will perform great works. Again he calls them to mutual love in order to withstand the inevitable persecution which awaits them. Explaining the necessity of his going away, Jesus promises that they will not be left wholly on their own. Jesus reassures them that the Holy Spirit will be with them and will guide them in their mission....[Jesus also] prays for the 11 disciples, and finally for all his disciples, that they might love one another and thereby be a continuing witness to the world."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

In this morning's scripture, Jesus begins with a discussion (John 15) of how it is important to "remain in Him" as "He is the Vine and [believers] are the branches" and God made us to bear fruit and to glorify Him. He warns us about persecution and how believers are not of this world (instead we are citizens of Heaven).  He encourages (John 16) us by letting us know that He will leave us with the Holy Spirit. He (John 17) then prays for the disciples and for all believers.

For anyone in a position of leadership that seeks to grow disciples to stand firm in their own faith, this is a powerful message.  As a Father, I think also of Solomon's words deposited into his children:

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

This is certainly my prayer for Zach and Dustin.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gave me faith the Holy Spirit so that I could understand The Word and have You with me always to guide me and so much more.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of all the ways You bless me.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.