 | New Testament Bible Reading Challenge4 March 2013 to 28th February 2014
Week 34: 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 onto week 34 of our New Testament Bible Reading Challenge, as we continue to read through Paul’s letter to the Galatians, and begin his letter to the Ephesians.
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, October 21, 2013 --- Galatians 4 --- Paul worries about the spiritual freedom of the Galatians-
V15, is this further evidence that the ‘thorn in the flesh’ referred to
in 2 Corinthians 12 was his bad eyesight? Would this possibly be a
lasting result of his being blinded when first called? (Acts 9)
- V8-20, Paul seems to be talking about the reality of ‘backsliding’, losing the joy of holiness, and being in danger of turning away from the Gospel of salvation they had once received. Is it possible for us to ‘backslide’ today?
Tuesday, October 22, 2013 --- Galatians 5 --- Paul warns about the possibility of backsliding, and lists the fruit of the Spirit- V1-6, The Gospel of Christ is based on being saved by grace through faith in what Jesus did for us by dying for our sins. To thereafter think it was necessary to be circumcised was in effect turning away from that pure faith and relying on the Jewish law instead. Paul seems to be arguing that no rituals are necessary once you have placed your faith in Christ, and indeed, to say any rituals are necessary questions the integrity of your faith. Are there any rituals today which we may be tempted to feel are necessary to being a Christian?
- V22-23, can you memorise the 9 fruit of the Holy Spirit which we should each be cultivating in our lives?
Wednesday, October 23, 2013 --- Galatians 6 --- “God cannot be mocked”- V11, is this further evidence that Paul’s eyesight was particularly bad (see also Galatian 4:15), and possibly the ‘thorn in the flesh’? (2 Cor 12)
- V7-9, do you find these verses reassuring when considering justice within the world?
- Do you think we ‘reap what we sow’ immediately, in God’s time, or in eternity?
Thursday, October 24, 2013 --- Ephesians 1 --- Paul gives thanks to God for the Ephesian believers- V13 & 17, in the one verse Paul says we have the Holy Spirit and in another he is praying for the Spirit to be given. How would you reconcile these verses?
- V22-23, in what sense are we (the church) the ‘body’ of Christ?
Friday, October 25, 2013 --- Ephesians 2 --- ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – not by works’ v8- V8, how are we saved?
- V9, do our works, rituals, ceremonies, good deeds, church attendance, loyalty to our church….save us?
- V10, as Christians with the promise of eternal life through faith in Christ, can we now sit back and relax and not worry about our behaviour?
- V8-20, Paul seems to be talking about the reality of ‘backsliding’, losing the joy of holiness, and being in danger of turning away from the Gospel of salvation they had once received. Is it possible for us to ‘backslide’ today?
Tuesday, October 22, 2013 --- Galatians 5 --- Paul warns about the possibility of backsliding, and lists the fruit of the Spirit- V1-6, The Gospel of Christ is based on being saved by grace through faith in what Jesus did for us by dying for our sins. To thereafter think it was necessary to be circumcised was in effect turning away from that pure faith and relying on the Jewish law instead. Paul seems to be arguing that no rituals are necessary once you have placed your faith in Christ, and indeed, to say any rituals are necessary questions the integrity of your faith. Are there any rituals today which we may be tempted to feel are necessary to being a Christian?
- V22-23, can you memorise the 9 fruit of the Holy Spirit which we should each be cultivating in our lives?
Wednesday, October 23, 2013 --- Galatians 6 --- “God cannot be mocked”- V11, is this further evidence that Paul’s eyesight was particularly bad (see also Galatian 4:15), and possibly the ‘thorn in the flesh’? (2 Cor 12)
- V7-9, do you find these verses reassuring when considering justice within the world?
- Do you think we ‘reap what we sow’ immediately, in God’s time, or in eternity?
Thursday, October 24, 2013 --- Ephesians 1 --- Paul gives thanks to God for the Ephesian believers- V13 & 17, in the one verse Paul says we have the Holy Spirit and in another he is praying for the Spirit to be given. How would you reconcile these verses?
- V22-23, in what sense are we (the church) the ‘body’ of Christ?
Friday, October 25, 2013 --- Ephesians 2 --- ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – not by works’ v8- V8, how are we saved?
- V9, do our works, rituals, ceremonies, good deeds, church attendance, loyalty to our church….save us?
- V10, as Christians with the promise of eternal life through faith in Christ, can we now sit back and relax and not worry about our behaviour?
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