New Testament Bible Reading Challenge4 March 2013 to 28th February 2014
Week 24: Bible Reading Plan and Discussion Starters
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Welcome to The Salvation Army's Challenge to read the New Testament from beginning to end within one year, reading just 5 chapters per week.
We are now starting Week 24 of the Bible challenge…as we finish the book of Acts and start Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome.
Great Expectations: Expect
God to speak through the Scriptures, expect to learn new things about
Him, and about ourselves, and expect to read and absorb some familiar
stories and passages.
Top Tip!To get the most out of this challenge, start each daily reading with a short, simple, sincere prayer asking God to guide your thinking as you read. Then open the Bible and read slowly, with the aim of learning something new. After the reading, consider how it may affect your life and relationship with Jesus, and allow your increased knowledge of the Scriptures to shape your character and strengthen your trust in God.Take your time - enjoy this opportunity - and may God bless you as you embark upon this New Testament Bible Challenge.
Captain Phil Layton
Monday, August 12, 2013 --- Acts 27 --- Paul sails for Rome, hits a storm and is shipwrecked!- v2, do the frequent references to 'we' by the author help validate the account?
- is this chapter only useful for historic purposes only? for telling the story of Paul's journeys? or is there something that we can learn and apply to our own lives too?
Tuesday, August 13, 2013 --- Acts 28 --- Paul survives a snake bite on Malta, and finally arrives in Rome.- v4-6, at first it's quite amusing to note how quickly the people change their minds about someone...but then they did the same to Jesus but in reverse...and perhaps many celebrities undergo the same changes of opinion even today! Are you and I as quick to judge people?
- v15, the mere sight of fellow Christians were an encouragement to Paul. Are you an encourager? What response do you think people have when they see you?
- v24, even Paul couldn't persuade everyone...some believed the Gospel and others didn't....so what do you think - was he successful in his ministry to them?
- How do we judge our own success at sharing the Gospel?
Wednesday, August 14, 2013 --- Romans 1 --- Paul begins his letter to the Christians in Rome
- v13, it is evident from this verse that the Christians in Rome are predominantly Gentile....possibly because the Jews had been expelled by the Roman Emperor.
- v16, 'first for the Jew, then for the Gentile'.....right at the start of this letter Paul makes a clear statement to the Gentile Christians about their place in the salvation story. Some think that this may be part of Paul's reason for writing to them, to remind them that they are not greater than the Messianic Jews, and that God does not show such favouritism.
- v20, is it really possible to be a true atheist? (as opposed to agnostic) Is it ever possible to be certain that there is no God?
- v26-27, what are the 'unnatural' and ‘shameful’ acts which Paul is writing about? …is it possible that such acts are no longer wrong in God’s eyes?...why would He have changed His mind about this?...did Paul write into a certain context which is no longer applicable to our society?...or are these verses which we seldom consider because of their consequences if we take them seriously?
Thursday, August 15, 2013 --- Romans 2 --- Paul writes to the Gentile Christians about God's judgement and the Law.
- v9-11, a return to the subject of favouritism, and that as both Jew and Gentile are saved through Christ, so they will be judged by the same measure.
- v28-29, how can Paul's teaching here be applied to our understanding?
Friday, August 16, 2013 --- Romans 3 --- Paul's writes about God's faithfulness and our righteousness through faith.
- v20, 'through the law we become conscious of sin'....can we appreciate this teaching? Does an honest measure against the 10 commandments (moral Law of God) reveal our need for forgiveness?
- v23, 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God'. Does this include you? the General of The Salvation Army? the Pope? Jesus' mother Mary?...if any have not sinned then surely this verse reasons that they must be equal to God...is there any who can make this claim?
- does verse 23 act as further evidence of the divinity of Jesus Christ?
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