New/Old Testament in a Year: September 2013

Friday 27 September 2013

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge week 31

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge

4 March 2013 to 28th February 2014

Week 31: 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 31 of the Bible challenge…
and reading Paul’s 2^nd recorded letter to the church in Corinth.

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, September 30, 2013 --- 2 Corinthians 2 --- v15, Paul describes us as ‘an aroma of Christ’, how smelly are you?- v15, we are the aroma of Christ, both to those who want to hear the Gospel and to those who don't...are you aware of your spiritual smell?

Tuesday, October 01, 2013 --- 2 Corinthians 3 --- our lives should reflect the glory of the Lord- v18, if our lives don't reflect the Lord's glory, what impact could that have upon others?

Wednesday, October 02, 2013 --- 2 Corinthians 4 --- v18 ‘we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen’- v14, do you believe you will be resurrected? could that sound odd to someone who isn't a Christian? on what do you base your belief?

- v18, how can we fix our eyes of what is unseen?

Thursday, October 03, 2013 --- 2 Corinthians 5 --- God reconciles Himself to the world through Christ

- v1-4, in what ways can our present bodies be compared to tents?

- v10, although salvation may be by faith alone, does this verse indicate that we will nevertheless be called before the judgement seat of Christ and also judged for our works?

- v20, think about your life, are you an ambassador for Christ along with the message of how we can be reconciled to Him?

Friday, October 04, 2013 --- 2 Corinthians 6 --- v14 ‘…what fellowship can light have with darkness?’

- v14-18, when Paul writes about the need to separate ourselves from unbelievers, is he talking about marriage? friendships? is it within a church (or inter-faith) context? ...in other words, who is it that Paul is telling us not to have fellowship with?

Friday 20 September 2013

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge week 30

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge

4 March 2013 to 28th February 2014

Week 30: 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.

As we enter Week 30 of the Bible challenge…
...we reach the end of Paul’s 1^st recorded letter to the church in Corinth.

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, September 23, 2013 --- 1 Corinthians 13 --- Often called ‘the love chapter’, Paul describes the greatest spiritual gift.- v4-7, think of the person who you are closest to, does your love for them match this definition?
- what about brotherly love?

- v9-12, what is this referring to? 'we know in part'...know what?

Tuesday, September 24, 2013 --- 1 Corinthians 14 --- Paul talks about various gifts and the need for orderly worship.- v1-25, the gift of preaching God's Word/prophesying and the gift of tongues...which is greater?
- have you ever come across someone (or a group) who have elevated the gift of speaking in tongues?

- is speaking in tongues wrong?

- is speaking in tongues helpful to yourself? what about to others?

- what would your reaction be if someone were to start speaking in tongues in your Sunday morning worship?

- v39, what would your expectations of the church leader be in such a situation?

Wednesday, September 25, 2013 --- 1 Corinthians 15 --- This chapter describes the importance of the resurrection!- v12-19, how important to the rest of our faith is a belief in the resurrection?

- try and imagine what life would be like if you didn't believe in resurrection!

- v51-53, 'we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed'...what do you think this means?

Thursday, September 26, 2013 --- 1 Corinthians 16 --- Paul makes some personal requests and final greetings.- v2, the collections were to be made in keeping with one’s income...is your offering in keeping with your income? How do you know?

- v22, what do you make of this verse?

Friday, September 27, 2013 --- 2 Corinthians 1 --- Paul writes again to the church in Corinth, with a change of plans to visit.- v8, why do you think Paul wanted to inform the readers of his hardships?

- v11, do prayers cause God to act in ways that He wouldn't otherwise?

Friday 13 September 2013

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge week 29

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge

4 March 2013 to 28th February 2014

Week 29: 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 on Week 29 of the Bible challenge…

as we remember to consider how these passages are relevant to us.

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, September 16, 2013 --- 1 Corinthians 8 --- Knowledge does not surpass love and concern for others- v2, What do you think this verse means?

- would you agree that the chapter as a whole seems to be talking about the need to keep one's conscience clear, and to help other Christians to keep their consciences clear too?

- what about you? Is there anything you do/don't do which actually is a matter of conscience rather than a matter of obedience? (e.g. with regard to the environment, observing special days, what we eat/don't eat, drink/don't drink etc)

Tuesday, September 17, 2013 --- 1 Corinthians 9 --- “Those who preach the Gospel should get their living from the Gospel” - v3-12, what do you think caused Paul to write these statements/questions?...can you imagine the context which provoked this defence of his rights?

- v19-22, we often hear these words quoted about Paul, but what would they mean if applied to you in a contemporary context?

- v24-27, again, familiar words...but how can you apply these to your own life?

Wednesday, September 18, 2013 --- 1 Corinthians 10 --- The historic warnings, freedom and responsibility of our faith.- v1, 'our forefathers' may indicate that there were some, possibly many Jews within the Corinthian church reading this letter. This can be useful information when considering some of the subjects already touched upon and which come up later.

- v13, these words are most reassuring, and comforting, but also challenging as it leaves us without excuse. Can you think of a time when you felt tempted beyond your control? Did God provide you with a way out?

- v23, the frequent use of the phrase 'Everything is permissible' may indicate that some in Corinth were saying this to excuse their behaviour....possibly as a result of salvation being by faith instead of by works. Can you think of instances within our everyday living when we may recognise that 'everything is permissible'...but that it may not 'beneficial'?

Thursday, September 19, 2013 --- 1 Corinthians 11 --- Paul gives instructions on worship and the Lord’s Supper.- v2, note how Paul praises the readers for ‘holding to the traditions'...and then Paul speaks on the coverings or otherwise required by those who pray and prophesy. Is it possible that Paul is again referring to his Judaic traditions here, rather than settings rules for Gentile churches worldwide too?

- v5 'every woman who prays and prophesies'....this verse should help dismiss the common belief that Paul was sexist and wouldn't allow women to hold positions of authority in the church.

- v17-22, does the Lords Supper here sound like a matter of a wafer and a cup of wine, or is it (as some would contend) more akin to a feast (e.g. the Passover) at which some might even get 'drunk' and those without would go home 'hungry' if it were to be abused?

Friday, September 20, 2013 --- 1 Corinthians 12 --- Paul talks about spiritual gifts, and their inter-dependence.- v8-10, I can count at least 9 separate gifts of the Holy Spirit, which Paul lists merely by way of example....can you spot them?

- how would you summarise the teaching of Paul from this chapter?

Friday 6 September 2013

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge week 28

New Testament Bible Reading Challenge

4 March 2013 to 28th February 2014

Week 28: 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.

As we enter Week 28 of the Bible challenge…we continue reading Paul’s 1^st recorded letter to the church in Corinth.

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, September 9, 2013 --- 1 Corinthians 3 – Paul urges unity and humility within the church- v1-5, is there any modern-day equivalent to the problem Paul is speaking of? Is there a danger of elevating the words of William Booth, or some other great Christian leader to the extent that we sometimes neglect to see what the Bible says for ourselves?

- v13, what is 'the Day'?

- v13, 'The fire will test the quality of each man's work'....What work is Paul talking about? And what fire?

- v14, What is the 'reward, Paul speaks of? We can see that it is evidently more than 'being saved' because those who work does not pass the fire-test may nevertheless be saved (v15)....so what is the reward for those whose work survives the fire-test?

Tuesday, September 10, 2013 --- 1 Corinthians 4 – Paul warns against arrogance- v1, what do you think are ‘mysteries’?

- v10, is Paul being sarcastic?

Wednesday, September 11, 2013 --- 1 Corinthians 5 – the church is advised to deal with internal affairs- v2, what does 'put out of fellowship' mean? Do you think this means that he is told not to come to that particular church any more...or not to associate with him at all (see also v11)?

- v1-5, can this act of discipline be used as a guideline for similar problems within church today?

- v11-12, have we heard folk tell us that we should not judge others? What about this teaching...are there occasions and we should implement judgment regarding internal affairs?

Thursday, September 12, 2013 --- 1 Corinthians 6 – Paul tells the church to settle disputes internally, - v1-6, should disputes between believers be taken to non-Christian Judges, or is this passage trying to help its readers see a bigger picture?

- v9-10 how do you interpret these verses?...if you had to re-phrase them, but get the same message across, what would you write? …are any of the things mentioned acceptable in today’s modern church?...is it legitimate to ‘pick and mix’ our theology based on social acceptability?

- v19-20, can this teaching be expanded to include the need to 'honour God with your body' with regard to drugs, exercise, selfharm, over/undereating, over/undersleeping etc etc?

Friday, September 13, 2013 --- 1 Corinthians 7 – Paul differentiates between his advice and the Lord’s.- How would you summarise (in a few sentences) this whole chapter?

- v10&12&25 What difference does it make when Paul tells us whether it was he or the Lord who gave such and such a command?