New Teatament Bible Reading Challenge week 11

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge 4 March 2013 to 28th February 2014 Week 11: Bible Reading Plan and Discussion Starters

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 onto Week 11 of our New Testament Bible Reading Challenge....

Keep persevering and setting aside a few minutes each day to read a chapter,

and it'll all be worth it both for the things we'll see along the journey, and for the achievement of reaching our destination.

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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

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Monday, May 13, 2013 --- Luke 7 --- a centurion demonstrates amazing faith in Jesus, and a dead man is brought back to life- v15, do you think Jesus raised the dead man out of compassion for the mother, as a sign to the onlookers, both of these, or some other reason?

- v19, Why do you think John asked this question?

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 --- Luke 8 --- Jesus tells parables, controls nature, and raises yet another dead person back to life!

- according to v10, why did Jesus often use parables?

- v39, you may spot the inference to the deity of Jesus within this verse.

- v47 do you think they had not heard about Jesus' miracle in raising the dead man (previous chapter), or that they had been sceptical about it and so dismissed it, or is there another reason for this lack of faith in Jesus' power.

- v56, how easy would it have been to be Jairus and not tell anyone what had happened?

Wednesday, May 15, 2013 --- Luke 9 --- Jesus sends His disciples on a mission, and describes the cost of following Him

- v5, is it feasible that there may come a point when it is time to shift the target of Gospel ministry if it is not being accepted? If so, how can we know when that time has arrived?

- given the close proximity between Jesus' words in v27 and the following miracle of the transfiguration, is it plausible that v27 indeed is referring to the transfiguration itself and to the witness of Peter, James, and John?

- how would you interpret and apply for yourself v62?

Thursday, May 16, 2013 --- Luke 10 --- Jesus sends out seventy-two more, and emphasises the priority of salvation

- Is it tempting to sometimes imagine Jesus only had a hard-core of about 12 followers?...If so, do these additional 72 help us to imagine the impact His ministry was having?

- v20, how can this verse be understood and applied within our lives and ministry today?

- v38-42, is it possible to become so busy serving the Lord that we neglect to actually spend time with Him today?

Friday, May 17, 2013 --- Luke 11 --- Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, and opposes the established religious leaders

- v5-10 may lead us to assume that God will give us whatever we ask (through persistence if nothing else!)....but does verse 13 remind us that the priority of the Christian should be to ask for the indwelling guidance of the Holy Spirit?....and is this what these verses are really talking about?

- v37-54, Jesus seemed to show little fear of tackling the established religious leaders head-on in their hypocrisy and false teaching...are we as fearless? If not, is this a result of our culture or lack of knowledge/confidence?