New/Old Testament in a Year: July 2013

Friday 26 July 2013

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge week 22

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge

4 March 2013 to 28th February 2014

Week 22: 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 starting week 22 of the Bible challenge…and we're reading about Paul's missionary travels.

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, July 29, 2013 --- Acts 17 --- Paul's missionary journey takes him to Thessalonica, Berea, and Athens- v5, why do you think the Jews were jealous?

- v11, how can the noble character of the Bereans be something that we can acquire today?

- v22f, at the meeting of the Aeropagus Paul begins his message by starting with something that was familiar to the members. How can this be used as a model for our witness today?

Tuesday, July 30, 2013 --- Acts 18 --- Paul takes the Gospel and encourages the churches in Corinth, Ephesus, Antioch, and Galatia.- v2, this bit of historical information helps us to date Paul's travels. This news about the Jews being expelled from Rome will also help us to understand Paul's letter to the Christians left in Rome, as we read through the book of Romans in a couple of weeks.

- v3, another snippet of information as we learn that Paul was a tentmaker.

- v6, 'when the Jews became abusive'...is there a time when we can legitimately say that we have tried all we can to witness, and may leave the matter with God?

- v11, Paul stayed a relatively long while in Corinth, which may be reflected in his letters which we shall read in coming weeks.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013 --- Acts 19 --- Paul spends considerable time in Ephesus, but there is resistance to the Gospel.- v13-17, what can we learn about using the name of Jesus from this story?

- v19, what does this tell us about what Paul's views and teaching may have been on sorcery/witchcraft?

- v23-27, what do you think, were the locals worried about their beliefs or their income?

Thursday, August 01, 2013 --- Acts 20 --- Paul continues his travels, through Macedonia and Greece, and revives a dead man!- v3, interesting that Paul was willing to change his plans according to threat levels.

- v7-12, a short but amazing story, demonstrating how God was using Paul powerfully....but v9 should be a comfort to any preacher who has experienced the dozing listener!

Friday, August 02, 2013 --- Acts 21 --- Paul finally returns to Jerusalem, and after being greeted soon gets arrested!- v13, compared to v3 in the preceding chapter, why do you think Paul is so unconcerned about the threat levels this time?

- v18, given that James the apostle was killed by this time (Acts 12:2), who is this James (who appears at this time to be one of the leaders of the elders)?

- v24, despite becoming a Christian it is clear that Paul was still a Jew, and met all that is required of being a Jew.

- v39, again, Paul is clear about being a Jew, despite being a Christian too. What does this mean with regard to the various Jewish feasts and commandments?

Friday 19 July 2013

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge week 21

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge

4 March 2013 to 28th February 2014

Week 21: 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 starting week 21 of the Bible challenge…

...and this week we see the transformation of Paul,

from Persecutor of Christians to Ambassador of Christ!

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.

Monday, July 22, 2013 --- Acts 12 --- The Apostle James is killed, and Peter makes a miraculous escape from prison!- v1-19, The believers rejoiced at Peter's miraculous escape, but would have still been mourning the death of James who had been executed. This is quite a contrast of outcomes for these 2 apostles...what can we learn from this to apply to our own lives?

- v14, This must have been highly frustrating for Peter at the time...but with hindsight is fairly amusing!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013 --- Acts 13 --- Saul is called Paul and together with Barnabas they set of on a missionary journey- v16-41, As we saw with Stephen earlier, so we read that Paul begins his witness with a summary of what his hearers would have already known. Why do you think he did this?

- v45, Can jealousy still overpower the desire for truth in today's world?

Wednesday, July 24, 2013 --- Acts 14 --- Paul & Barnabas proclaim the Gospel and perform miracles as proof of Jesus’ power- v8-20, A great example of how fickle people can be!...Could this still be true for today? Can you think of any examples?

- v21, Despite being nearly killed in Lystra, Paul and Barnabas return there to encourage the new believers. Is there someone we could be encouraging who might be facing hard times?

Thursday, July 25, 2013 --- Acts 15 --- Christian leaders meet to discuss the terms for Gentile membership- At first Christianity was a Jewish sect. For a Jew to become a Christian did not mean that they stopped being Jews...but merely that they'd acknowledged and accepted the work and teaching of the Jewish Messiah, Jesus. The trouble some Christians had, then, was for Gentiles to become Christians without also subscribing to everything that the Jews subscribed to, including the law and, of course, circumcision. Would you agree, then, that the problem was not the acceptance of Gentiles...but the terms on which they might join the fellowship of believers?

- What would the implications have been - then and now - if the final decision had gone in favour of the Judaisers?

- Are there any areas today within Christianity in which, we too, are overly legalistic?...Perhaps obliging new believers to subscribe to various rituals or practices before being fully welcomed into the Church?

- By contrast, do we fully appreciate the Jewish roots of our faith?

Friday, July 26, 2013 --- Acts 16 --- Some stories about Paul’s missionary journeys with Silas and Timothy.- v10, for the first time the author of Acts includes himself in the travels of Paul (saying 'we', and 'us' instead of 'they')...did he join the journey at Troas perhaps?

- v31-34, the simplicity, joy, and peace of the Gospel. How joyful are we? Does this story remind us of the need to continually ‘restore the joy of our salvation’ (Psalm 51:12)?

Friday 12 July 2013

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge week 20

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge

4 March 2013 to 28th February 2014

Week 20: 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 starting week 20 of the Bible challenge…

...and this week we see the amazing transformation of Paul, from persecutor of Christians to Ambassador of Christ!

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.

Monday, July 15, 2013 --- Acts 7 --- Stephen proclaims the Gospel and is stoned as a result, and we’re introduced to Saul.- v1-50, Why do you think Stephen went to such lengths of summarising Old Testament history in this way, and to Jewish leaders who would have already known this information so well?

- v59-60, Stephen's final prayer may remind you of someone else who said similar words...who?

- What can Stephen's final witness, prayer, and death teach us for today? Is it merely history which the author of Acts is passing on to us, or is there a lesson we can learn?

Tuesday, July 16, 2013 --- Acts 8 --- Some of Philip’s ministry is described, while Saul sets out to destroy the early Church.- v4, Can this verse remind us that sometimes God allows evil in order to encourage what is good?

- v15-17, there is an interesting order of events here. What can this teach us about the nature of baptism, prayer, and the laying on of hands?

- v39-40, how do you interpret the act of Philip being 'taken away' and then 'appearing' elsewhere?

Wednesday, July 17, 2013 --- Acts 9 --- The amazing story of Saul and his calling to follow Jesus Christ!- v1-18, Given that Saul was a devout Jew who knew all about Jesus, but persecuted Him...and later became a devout Jew who knew all about Jesus, and now worshipped Him...is this actually a conversion or is it a calling? If conversion...a conversion from what? If a calling....a calling to what?

- v31, Is it important to note that although the church spread through persecution, here it seems to have been strengthened by a period of peace? If so, how may this enhance our understanding of contemporary issues within the church and also for individuals?

Thursday, July 18, 2013 --- Acts 10 --- Peter begins to understand that the Gospel is for Gentiles as well as for Jews.- v16, It seems Peter often does things in threes!!!

- v44-48, again we have an interesting order of events. They hear the message, they receive the Holy Spirit, and then they are baptised. Can this tell us anything about the nature of proclamation, salvation, and baptism?

- v45, why do you think the Jewish believers were so surprised that the Gentiles were being saved?

Friday, July 19, 2013 --- Acts 11 --- Peter explains his actions to the Church leaders, as the persecution spreads the Gospel.- v16, As Peter is re-telling the story of the Gentile converts, he contrasts the baptism of the Holy Spirit with water baptism. One could argue that the Holy Spirit being poured onto the Gentiles was their baptism, and so to additionally baptise with water may have been helpful, but unnecessary. What do you think?

Friday 5 July 2013

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge week 19

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge

4 March 2013 to 28th February 2014

Week 19: 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 starting week 19 of the Bible challenge…as we continue reading about some of the Acts of the Apostles.

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.

Monday, July 08, 2013 --- Acts 2 --- The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost, and Peter addresses the crowds that gathered- v1, What is Pentecost?

- v5 & v41, Why were there so many Jews from every nation? Was this a brilliant part of God's plan, so that they would take the Gospel back with them to their homelands?

Tuesday, July 09, 2013 --- Acts 3 --- Peter heals the crippled beggar and uses it to witness to the onlookers
- v1-10, Why don't we see more of these miracles within our churches today?

- It would appear at this early point that Peter and John are very active in proclaiming the Gospel. What about the other apostles? Could the author of Acts have written everything down, or only what he observed or was told about?

- Is the record of Peter's speech here a verbatim (word for word) account, or an accurate summary of his words?

Wednesday, July 10, 2013 --- Acts 4 --- The number of believers greatly increases, and Peter and John are questioned
- v4, the number of male believers was already at 5,000...an amazing growth-rate...is it any wonder that they were arrested, questioned and threatened by those who had hoped Jesus' death would be the end?

- within this chapter as a whole we see that the Apostles' faithfulness to the Gospel and boldness in preaching brought them hardship on the one hand, but reason to thank God too. How might we consider this account and its relevance to our lives and Gospel mission today?

Thursday, July 11, 2013 --- Acts 5 --- Ananias and Sapphira are struck down, and the apostles face fierce persecution
- v1-10, at first the story of Ananias and Sapphira may seem heavy-handed, but v8 indicates that it wasn't the fact that they kept some money for themselves which was the problem, but that they had lied about it. From this event, what was/is the main lesson for a) those believers and b) for us?

- It has sometimes been claimed that the God of the Old Testament was a wrathful God, and the God of the New Testament is a loving God, making it difficult to understand how God can be so changeable. Does this account act as a reminder that He is the same...both a God of love and holiness in both eras?

- v17, is it easy to see how jealousy was the root of so much of the following persecution?

Friday, July 12, 2013 --- Acts 6 --- The number of believers continues to grow, but Stephen is falsely accused.

- v1, Is it strangely reassuring that even the very early church had practical and administrative problems which needed addressing?

- v7, Again we see how quickly the Jews were accepting the Gospel, and even priests were believing

- v15, how do you interpret this? Was it a permanent physical feature, or a temporary one as Stephen is witnessing faithfully, or something else?