Acts 15
1. What stuck out to you from this chapter?
As my blog title shares today, I noticed that both during the council meeting in Jerusalem and in the conversation between Paul and Barnabas, there was disagreement. Some people thought one thing and some thought others. I find this disagreement incredibly refreshing. Sometimes it's hard to see the similarities between the church in Acts and our Church today, but one thing we have in common is disagreement. What you don't see in this chapter is name-calling, curses, rejection, or any crazy thing like that. Yes, Paul and Barnabas split up, but neither one left the other by calling down curses from heaven or excommunicating them.
2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture I know?
In Peter's address to those gathered, he concludes his thoughts with these words: "we believe that it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." This makes me think of two specific verses. One is, of course, in Ephesians 2:8-9 which says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." The other passage is in Romans 3:22-24 which says, "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Salvation is offered through God's grace, given to all who believe and put their faith in Jesus. The wording from the Romans passage especially (written by Paul) seems to echo Peter's exact words from Acts 15.
3. What does this mean for my life?
Humility. I need Jesus. I am not saved by going to church. I am not saved by working in ministry. I am not saved by reading so many verses in the Bible or blogging about them. :) I am not saved by how many mouths I feed or how much money I give. I am saved because Jesus died in my place, rose from the dead, and offers me the gift of eternal life through faith in him. Psalm 40:1-3 is also a great passage that helped me remember that I am helpless on my own.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
The apostles didn't have the "New Testament" to resolve their doctrinal disagreement (they wrote it later). So they were basing their decisions both on the Old Testament (which really does compliment the New) the teachings of Jesus and the unity of the Holy Spirit. Today, we have the New Testament, but there are still a lot of disagreements about doctrinal issues. My biggest question from this chapter is about living life today. When are disagreements something that should be resolved by separation? Are there certain "issues" that are non-negotiable? What constitutes modern-day "heresy" that should be rebuked rather than accepted? I'm sure everyone who reads this would have different answers, so it's not necessarily something I expect to be resolved here. But it's a question I have. Just being real.
God's blessings!
In Christ,
Dan
Friday, October 31, 2014
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Acts 13-14 - Receiving and Rejecting
So today I am playing catch-up from yesterday, so I am reading two chapters. Both chapters are descriptions of Paul and Barnabas in their early journeys. They went from city to city, explaining the Scriptures and pointing to Jesus as the Messiah. I am still amazed, but shouldn't really be, that everywhere they went they were met with a large number of people who were receptive to the gospel and believed in Jesus. Yet there were also a few who rejected the teaching. In each city there were those who received and those who rejected.
Acts 13 - Acts 14
1. What stuck out to you from this passage?
Things have not changed much in 2000 years. The gospel message is the same, the proofs of Jesus as Messiah are the same, and people are still receiving and rejecting Jesus. What stood out to me is that even though there were these two groups emerging in each city, the group that received Jesus as Messiah was not out to dispose the Jewish leadership. Paul and Barnabas were not teaching the people to hate the Jewish leaders or stone them or persecute them. In fact Paul and Barnabas were speaking this message of sin, grace, and salvation to them as well as everyone else. On the flip side, in every city, the group of Jewish leaders who rejected the gospel ALWAYS began to "plot", to "win the crowd over", to "mistreat them and stone them", to be motivated by "jealousy", to "stir up persecution against them." I really hope that this is the way it is today as well.
2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?
This is an interesting correlation, but as I read these two chapters I noticed this repeated act of preaching and teaching, followed by persecution and rejection. It reminded me of reading the book of Judges, where the people would turn away from God and worship other "gods", then God would allow the nations to rule over them and mistreat them, then the people would return to God and cry out, then God would rescue them, and they would repeat the whole cycle.
3. What does this mean for my life?
As we teach and preach the gospel, I pray that we are more like Paul and Barnabas (and Jesus) offering life and salvation, and receiving both acceptance and persecution. I pray, like the early apostles, that we would teach and preach the Bible with boldness in a way that is winsome and inviting to all people. I also pray that we would be willing to accept both the fruit of the gospel and the persecution that might come with it.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
In Acts 13:48, there is an interesting concept of those who responded to the gospel favorably, and it states also that "all who were appointed for eternal life believed." I know there are some who strongly believe in predestination and others who believe in the freedom of all to reject or receive. This is one of the incongruences of Calvinism and Arminianism. But the more I read the Bible I tend to see both appearing all over the place. Each "side" can find verses to support their point of view and sound convincing, but I'm leaning more and more toward realizing that somehow both are true and a part of the mystery of how God works. Maybe that's a cop-out answer, but it's how I feel. (That was more of an observation/wondering than a direct question.)
Anyone is welcome to post any comment about the reading or about my response. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
In Christ,
Dan
Acts 13 - Acts 14
1. What stuck out to you from this passage?
Things have not changed much in 2000 years. The gospel message is the same, the proofs of Jesus as Messiah are the same, and people are still receiving and rejecting Jesus. What stood out to me is that even though there were these two groups emerging in each city, the group that received Jesus as Messiah was not out to dispose the Jewish leadership. Paul and Barnabas were not teaching the people to hate the Jewish leaders or stone them or persecute them. In fact Paul and Barnabas were speaking this message of sin, grace, and salvation to them as well as everyone else. On the flip side, in every city, the group of Jewish leaders who rejected the gospel ALWAYS began to "plot", to "win the crowd over", to "mistreat them and stone them", to be motivated by "jealousy", to "stir up persecution against them." I really hope that this is the way it is today as well.
2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?
This is an interesting correlation, but as I read these two chapters I noticed this repeated act of preaching and teaching, followed by persecution and rejection. It reminded me of reading the book of Judges, where the people would turn away from God and worship other "gods", then God would allow the nations to rule over them and mistreat them, then the people would return to God and cry out, then God would rescue them, and they would repeat the whole cycle.
3. What does this mean for my life?
As we teach and preach the gospel, I pray that we are more like Paul and Barnabas (and Jesus) offering life and salvation, and receiving both acceptance and persecution. I pray, like the early apostles, that we would teach and preach the Bible with boldness in a way that is winsome and inviting to all people. I also pray that we would be willing to accept both the fruit of the gospel and the persecution that might come with it.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
In Acts 13:48, there is an interesting concept of those who responded to the gospel favorably, and it states also that "all who were appointed for eternal life believed." I know there are some who strongly believe in predestination and others who believe in the freedom of all to reject or receive. This is one of the incongruences of Calvinism and Arminianism. But the more I read the Bible I tend to see both appearing all over the place. Each "side" can find verses to support their point of view and sound convincing, but I'm leaning more and more toward realizing that somehow both are true and a part of the mystery of how God works. Maybe that's a cop-out answer, but it's how I feel. (That was more of an observation/wondering than a direct question.)
Anyone is welcome to post any comment about the reading or about my response. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
In Christ,
Dan
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Acts 12 - Miraculous Escape
Everybody loves a sensational story, a miracle that's almost too good to be true. And as soon as the story gets past the eyewitnesses to become second and third-hand hearing, people like me tend to be extra skeptical. I usually ask questions like, "Well how do you know?" If the answer is something like, "He said that she heard that he saw it," I'm pretty well checked out of the conversation. Acts 12 is one of those stories. But here's what convinces me that it is true. The author of the book of Acts is Luke. Luke was a physician, a Gentile believer, a record keeper. He investigated the facts by spending time with Paul, with Peter, and with the other apostles. In his stories, they don't sound like exaggerated "fish tales." They sound more like police reports. If you've already read the chapter, go back and read it again and look at all the details Luke includes about which night this happened, what the circumstances were, what the other people said, and all of the other unimportant details that only solidify the reality and truth of the whole story.
Acts 12
1. What stood out to me from this passage?
I know the story is mainly about Peter, but I was drawn to the character of Herod. Herod was presumably the same Herod that was ruler when Jesus was crucified (not the same Herod from the Christmas story). So at that point Herod was amused by Jesus, but at this point in the story Herod seems annoyed by Jesus' followers. Now this thing was shaping into a cultural and political force and that threatened his leadership. So he "tested the waters" so to speak by killing one of the disciples. When that was met with cheers by the Jewish religious leaders, he ramped up his game. It seemed all along like he was a coward, trying to maintain political leadership. I am even more disgusted with him than I was before, and I found myself happy when he was struck dead. Almost as immediately as I felt happy, I repented and found myself saddened that he never turned from his rebellious ways to embrace Jesus as Lord.
2. How does this relate to any other scripture you know?
I thought of two things, the first is Paul and Silas escaping from prison later in Acts 16. The second is actually the order to place 16 guards over Peter, a fisherman turned preacher who never committed a crime in his life. A little overkill right? It reminded me of the guard posted to Jesus' tomb. The leaders convinced Pilate in Matthew 27:62-65 to post a guard and seal the tomb "just in case." Peter's arrest seems to have that same flavor of "just in case something happens" (which it did).
3. What does this mean for my life?
This passage is more story than theology or doctrine. It's not so much about shaping my beliefs as helping to reveal how God works, namely, however He wants. Looking at Herod's death, though, was a great reminder to make my life about God's glory. It was Herod's failure to give glory to God that caused God to judge Him at that moment. Herod liked being thought of like a god, but God didn't. :) Are my words giving God glory? When I receive compliments and encouragement, do I humbly say thank you and give God glory, or do I soak it in and put myself on a pedestal? That was convicting for me.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
Well, not much that really matters. I do wonder where Peter went after visiting the gathered disciples? I suppose I also have questions about how the prayers of the people made an impact on Peter's escape. Would God have rescued Peter if the people had not prayed? Were their prayers the difference maker? The fact that it was noted more than once that people were praying makes me think there's more of a connection than not.
This is a fun story, especially for us skeptics to just say, "PRAISE THE LORD!" I would love to hear your comments.
In Christ,
Dan
Acts 12
1. What stood out to me from this passage?
I know the story is mainly about Peter, but I was drawn to the character of Herod. Herod was presumably the same Herod that was ruler when Jesus was crucified (not the same Herod from the Christmas story). So at that point Herod was amused by Jesus, but at this point in the story Herod seems annoyed by Jesus' followers. Now this thing was shaping into a cultural and political force and that threatened his leadership. So he "tested the waters" so to speak by killing one of the disciples. When that was met with cheers by the Jewish religious leaders, he ramped up his game. It seemed all along like he was a coward, trying to maintain political leadership. I am even more disgusted with him than I was before, and I found myself happy when he was struck dead. Almost as immediately as I felt happy, I repented and found myself saddened that he never turned from his rebellious ways to embrace Jesus as Lord.
2. How does this relate to any other scripture you know?
I thought of two things, the first is Paul and Silas escaping from prison later in Acts 16. The second is actually the order to place 16 guards over Peter, a fisherman turned preacher who never committed a crime in his life. A little overkill right? It reminded me of the guard posted to Jesus' tomb. The leaders convinced Pilate in Matthew 27:62-65 to post a guard and seal the tomb "just in case." Peter's arrest seems to have that same flavor of "just in case something happens" (which it did).
3. What does this mean for my life?
This passage is more story than theology or doctrine. It's not so much about shaping my beliefs as helping to reveal how God works, namely, however He wants. Looking at Herod's death, though, was a great reminder to make my life about God's glory. It was Herod's failure to give glory to God that caused God to judge Him at that moment. Herod liked being thought of like a god, but God didn't. :) Are my words giving God glory? When I receive compliments and encouragement, do I humbly say thank you and give God glory, or do I soak it in and put myself on a pedestal? That was convicting for me.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
Well, not much that really matters. I do wonder where Peter went after visiting the gathered disciples? I suppose I also have questions about how the prayers of the people made an impact on Peter's escape. Would God have rescued Peter if the people had not prayed? Were their prayers the difference maker? The fact that it was noted more than once that people were praying makes me think there's more of a connection than not.
This is a fun story, especially for us skeptics to just say, "PRAISE THE LORD!" I would love to hear your comments.
In Christ,
Dan
Monday, October 27, 2014
Acts 11 - Even to the Gentiles
The big news of this chapter...God's gift of grace that leads to life is not just for a small group of people, but to everyone who believes and turns to the Lord. This is a big deal. In the Bible, the language of "Jew and Gentile" or "Jew and Greek" is used a lot to describe those who are "in" and those who are "out" of God's covenant promise. So the fact that these disciples recognize that God's gift is given "even to Gentiles" is HUGE. I know I am thankful for this promise, because I'm not Jewish. That means that even I can be included in God's plan for salvation. We have known this for for 2,000 years now, but reading this chapter brought a new level of gratitude for God's provision.
Acts 11
1. What stuck out to me from this chapter?
Two things, one small thing, and one small thing with huge implications. First, this time through the chapter, I caught the part where the "disciples were called Christians first at Antioch." That's cool. The believers were also referred to as disciples, or followers of The Way. Second, the phrase in Acts 11:21 really stood out to me: "...a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord." The descriptive, visual language of turning to the Lord is very powerful to me. "Believing" implies a heart change, but can often be reduced to a head knowledge or acknowledgement of what is true. However the language of "turning to the Lord" implies a life change, a new direction, a departure from the old way of living and embracing of the new life in Christ. For most people, "believing" something new might not be visible to others, but "turning to the Lord" would mean that things look different. It means that your walk lines up with your talk. It means that the Holy Spirit living in you should produce new (and improved) fruit. That phrase really came at me with a lot of meaning as I read it today.
2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture I know?
About 10 years ago is when my journey with reading the Bible began seriously. I dove in to a couple books initially, and one was Isaiah. Ever since then I remember a very powerful verse from Isaiah 49, in verse 6, which says, "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." I LOVE THAT! It is TOO SMALL A THING for the Messiah to only redeem Israel. That seems like a big thing to me, but God's vision is bigger than mine (go figure) and thankfully includes the whole world. Acts 9-11 is largely the fulfillment of this prophecy from Isaiah, or at least the beginning of it.
3. What does this mean for me?
This was the first question I wanted to answer. In verse 17, Peter says, "...who was I to think that I could stand in God's way?" That phrase cut straight to my heart. I wonder how many times I have "stood in God's way" of sharing the gospel message with someone. Maybe I prejudged them. Maybe I was "too busy." Maybe it was inconvenient. Maybe I just didn't want my life to get more complicated at that moment. Ughh. Lord please help me to be more sensitive to your Spirit's leading and let you speak through me despite my feelings.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
In verse 27, there is a reference to "some prophets" who came from Jerusalem. I know there were prophets in the old testament, and a lot more than just the ones who have Bible books named after them. :) But how long had these prophets been prophets? Since Pentecost? Or had there been a group of prophets all the way from Malachi to Jesus' birth? If so, didn't they have some word from God? That would be interesting to find out.
I'm really enjoying these blog entries. I can already tell the Spirit is using it to renew my mind in God's Word. I hope that whether you read a chapter here or there, or join me for the daily chapter, that you feel the same way.
In Christ,
Dan
Acts 11
1. What stuck out to me from this chapter?
Two things, one small thing, and one small thing with huge implications. First, this time through the chapter, I caught the part where the "disciples were called Christians first at Antioch." That's cool. The believers were also referred to as disciples, or followers of The Way. Second, the phrase in Acts 11:21 really stood out to me: "...a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord." The descriptive, visual language of turning to the Lord is very powerful to me. "Believing" implies a heart change, but can often be reduced to a head knowledge or acknowledgement of what is true. However the language of "turning to the Lord" implies a life change, a new direction, a departure from the old way of living and embracing of the new life in Christ. For most people, "believing" something new might not be visible to others, but "turning to the Lord" would mean that things look different. It means that your walk lines up with your talk. It means that the Holy Spirit living in you should produce new (and improved) fruit. That phrase really came at me with a lot of meaning as I read it today.
2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture I know?
About 10 years ago is when my journey with reading the Bible began seriously. I dove in to a couple books initially, and one was Isaiah. Ever since then I remember a very powerful verse from Isaiah 49, in verse 6, which says, "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." I LOVE THAT! It is TOO SMALL A THING for the Messiah to only redeem Israel. That seems like a big thing to me, but God's vision is bigger than mine (go figure) and thankfully includes the whole world. Acts 9-11 is largely the fulfillment of this prophecy from Isaiah, or at least the beginning of it.
3. What does this mean for me?
This was the first question I wanted to answer. In verse 17, Peter says, "...who was I to think that I could stand in God's way?" That phrase cut straight to my heart. I wonder how many times I have "stood in God's way" of sharing the gospel message with someone. Maybe I prejudged them. Maybe I was "too busy." Maybe it was inconvenient. Maybe I just didn't want my life to get more complicated at that moment. Ughh. Lord please help me to be more sensitive to your Spirit's leading and let you speak through me despite my feelings.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
In verse 27, there is a reference to "some prophets" who came from Jerusalem. I know there were prophets in the old testament, and a lot more than just the ones who have Bible books named after them. :) But how long had these prophets been prophets? Since Pentecost? Or had there been a group of prophets all the way from Malachi to Jesus' birth? If so, didn't they have some word from God? That would be interesting to find out.
I'm really enjoying these blog entries. I can already tell the Spirit is using it to renew my mind in God's Word. I hope that whether you read a chapter here or there, or join me for the daily chapter, that you feel the same way.
In Christ,
Dan
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Acts 9-10 - Two Changed Men
It happened. I didn't get to my blog yesterday. The busy day and late night got the best of me. So to stay on track, I'm just reading two chapters. I'll still just use the four questions and just consider the two chapters as one (especially since they originally didn't have any chapter verse divisions anyway). These were two interesting chapters to read together too. One is about Saul's 180 degree turnaround from persecutor of the church to prominent preacher of Jesus Christ as Messiah. He was appointed as God's apostle to the Gentiles (everyone in the world who isn't Jewish). In chapter 10, we see a major change in Peter, as God reveals to him how broad his love and acceptance go. God's salvation and Holy Spirit reach beyond Jewish customs and laws, to all who believe in Jesus Christ and honor God with their life. As we'll find out later, this mental shift and attitude change was necessary for Peter to later lead the church in accepting Gentiles as brothers and sisters in Christ. So let's dig in.
Acts 9 & Acts 10
1. What stuck out to me from these chapters?
This summer at our camp, we studied the story of Saul's conversion to talk about how we find significance for our life in fulfilling God's purposes. But the surprising story of Ananias really emphasizes the point. This is really all we hear about him, and he has to really overcome some fears and doubts. But his faith in God helped him step into those fears and play a crucial part in God's plan for Saul. I love that he goes from questioning God about Saul's history in verse 13-14, to addressing Saul as "Brother Saul" in verse 17. That is faith. When Jesus said to love our enemies, he meant it. :)
2. How does this passage relate to any other scripture I know?
An interesting connection came into my mind that I might not have thought of, except that I read these two chapters together. In Galatians 2, Paul writes about an incident where Peter was eating with Gentiles (after having this vision in Acts 10 that God would bless that), but when some highly respected Jewish Christians came around, Peter pulled back and must have tried to put on a show that he was still Jewish enough for them. Paul said in Galatians that he opposed Peter and called him out, because even though he had received the vision and had experienced the freedom to eat "unclean food" he was starting to act differently around the Jewish friends. So even though God uses both of these men to reach Gentiles, Paul still had to remind Peter that we are not saved by the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised.
3. What does this mean for my life?
I often wonder what the equivalent of "eating unclean foods" would be for us Christians. I suppose it is something like drinking alcohol or watching movies that are somewhat inappropriate. Can we do these things? Yes. Should we do them a lot? It's not good for us. But even more than whether or not it is good for us, we have to be careful not to let that be the new "law". It's easy to become self-righteous and think that someone who does "those things" could never be a Christian, or would never be accepted by God. But just like Jesus, who ate with "sinners" and tax-collectors, sometimes being around "those things" is the only way to build bridges with "those people". I use quotes because the language is even silly, and as Paul reminds us in that Galatians passage, I need to remember all the time that, "in seeking to be justified in Christ, we...find ourselves among the sinners." I am a sinner saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and everyone can relate to that.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
After reading the book of Acts earlier in my life, I had a lot of questions about the relationship between the Holy Spirit, baptism, and salvation. It seemed like most of the time they were all linked (i.e. someone believed and was baptized, then received the Holy Spirit). But a few times, the three come at different times. In Acts 10, the people believe, then God sends the Holy Spirit. As a response, Peter orders that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. So my question is a complex one, but what exactly is the relationship between the Holy Spirit, baptism, and salvation. I guess this leaks into other complex faith conversations about infant baptism, "believers baptism", and being baptized with the Holy Spirit. I don't even know what specific questions would be, just a lot of wondering.
Okay, hopefully I don't miss another day, but life happens. Thanks for anyone reading this to keep me on track. God bless.
In Christ,
Dan
Acts 9 & Acts 10
1. What stuck out to me from these chapters?
This summer at our camp, we studied the story of Saul's conversion to talk about how we find significance for our life in fulfilling God's purposes. But the surprising story of Ananias really emphasizes the point. This is really all we hear about him, and he has to really overcome some fears and doubts. But his faith in God helped him step into those fears and play a crucial part in God's plan for Saul. I love that he goes from questioning God about Saul's history in verse 13-14, to addressing Saul as "Brother Saul" in verse 17. That is faith. When Jesus said to love our enemies, he meant it. :)
2. How does this passage relate to any other scripture I know?
An interesting connection came into my mind that I might not have thought of, except that I read these two chapters together. In Galatians 2, Paul writes about an incident where Peter was eating with Gentiles (after having this vision in Acts 10 that God would bless that), but when some highly respected Jewish Christians came around, Peter pulled back and must have tried to put on a show that he was still Jewish enough for them. Paul said in Galatians that he opposed Peter and called him out, because even though he had received the vision and had experienced the freedom to eat "unclean food" he was starting to act differently around the Jewish friends. So even though God uses both of these men to reach Gentiles, Paul still had to remind Peter that we are not saved by the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised.
3. What does this mean for my life?
I often wonder what the equivalent of "eating unclean foods" would be for us Christians. I suppose it is something like drinking alcohol or watching movies that are somewhat inappropriate. Can we do these things? Yes. Should we do them a lot? It's not good for us. But even more than whether or not it is good for us, we have to be careful not to let that be the new "law". It's easy to become self-righteous and think that someone who does "those things" could never be a Christian, or would never be accepted by God. But just like Jesus, who ate with "sinners" and tax-collectors, sometimes being around "those things" is the only way to build bridges with "those people". I use quotes because the language is even silly, and as Paul reminds us in that Galatians passage, I need to remember all the time that, "in seeking to be justified in Christ, we...find ourselves among the sinners." I am a sinner saved by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, and everyone can relate to that.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
After reading the book of Acts earlier in my life, I had a lot of questions about the relationship between the Holy Spirit, baptism, and salvation. It seemed like most of the time they were all linked (i.e. someone believed and was baptized, then received the Holy Spirit). But a few times, the three come at different times. In Acts 10, the people believe, then God sends the Holy Spirit. As a response, Peter orders that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. So my question is a complex one, but what exactly is the relationship between the Holy Spirit, baptism, and salvation. I guess this leaks into other complex faith conversations about infant baptism, "believers baptism", and being baptized with the Holy Spirit. I don't even know what specific questions would be, just a lot of wondering.
Okay, hopefully I don't miss another day, but life happens. Thanks for anyone reading this to keep me on track. God bless.
In Christ,
Dan
Friday, October 24, 2014
Acts 8 - Scattered Seeds
As a kid, I loved to blow dandelions when they turned white and watch the fluffy white seedlings scatter in the wind. I also liked to kick them or hit them with sticks and watch the seeds scatter. At the time it was fun, and I even thought I was helping by getting rid of the seeds and destroying the dandelions. Little did I know that those scattered seeds from the one dandelion would produce 25 more dandelions nearby. I think Saul and the other religious leaders thought that maybe if they persecuted the apostles, scattered the believers, and destroyed the church, they would see the end of Christianity. On the contrary, wherever the apostles went, they taught with authority about Jesus, performed many miracles to help people, and baptized many more believers into the faith. That's the part of the story that starts here.
Acts 8
1. What stuck out to you from this chapter?
Simon the Sorcerer is an interesting character. We don't know much about him except that he practiced sorcery for some time in Samaria, and that he was pretty good at amazing people. But when Philip, Peter and John show up and do miracles, teach with authority, and share the Holy Spirit, the tables are turned and Simon finds himself in awe of "their" power. Figuring that he wants in on this racket he offers to pay for this service of receiving the Holy Spirit. Peter and John have a special insight into his heart it seems, but to me they come across as harsh. I figure Simon just didn't know any difference, and he really just didn't understand God's love for him. Nothing about any of his comments makes me think he had largely impure motives. I never paid much attention to Simon before today.
2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture I know?
When Philip asks the Ethiopian if he knows what he is reading, and the Ethiopian asks, "How can I unless someone explains it to me?," it reminds me of the verses in Romans 10:14-15 which make the point of, "How can people call on someone they have not believed in, and how can they believe in someone unless they have heard of them? And how will they hear unless someone preaches, and how will they preach unless they are sent?"
3. What does this mean for my life?
I think the part that challenged me the most was realizing that this whole story of Philip and the Ethiopian started with Philip hearing the Spirit say, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Philip was listening closely enough to God to hear Him speak through the Spirit. That was a challenge to me in my busy life. I do take time to read, I do spend time in prayer, but I rarely take time to listen. Maybe if I did that more I would hear God more, and stay in step with him more.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
Well like I mentioned in number 1, I wonder what happened to Simon the Sorcerer after verse 24. He seemed repentant. How did God use him beyond that? Also, after Philip baptized the Ethiopian he was "suddenly" taken away by the Spirit and then returned to somewhere else to keep preaching. What was that like? Nobody ever mentions it again, nobody comments on it that is seems miraculous, and not even Philip shares it with anyone else as recorded. What's up with that?
Great stuff, feel free to leave comments on here. I love hearing other's thoughts.
In Christ,
Dan
Acts 8
1. What stuck out to you from this chapter?
Simon the Sorcerer is an interesting character. We don't know much about him except that he practiced sorcery for some time in Samaria, and that he was pretty good at amazing people. But when Philip, Peter and John show up and do miracles, teach with authority, and share the Holy Spirit, the tables are turned and Simon finds himself in awe of "their" power. Figuring that he wants in on this racket he offers to pay for this service of receiving the Holy Spirit. Peter and John have a special insight into his heart it seems, but to me they come across as harsh. I figure Simon just didn't know any difference, and he really just didn't understand God's love for him. Nothing about any of his comments makes me think he had largely impure motives. I never paid much attention to Simon before today.
2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture I know?
When Philip asks the Ethiopian if he knows what he is reading, and the Ethiopian asks, "How can I unless someone explains it to me?," it reminds me of the verses in Romans 10:14-15 which make the point of, "How can people call on someone they have not believed in, and how can they believe in someone unless they have heard of them? And how will they hear unless someone preaches, and how will they preach unless they are sent?"
3. What does this mean for my life?
I think the part that challenged me the most was realizing that this whole story of Philip and the Ethiopian started with Philip hearing the Spirit say, "Go to that chariot and stay near it." Philip was listening closely enough to God to hear Him speak through the Spirit. That was a challenge to me in my busy life. I do take time to read, I do spend time in prayer, but I rarely take time to listen. Maybe if I did that more I would hear God more, and stay in step with him more.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
Well like I mentioned in number 1, I wonder what happened to Simon the Sorcerer after verse 24. He seemed repentant. How did God use him beyond that? Also, after Philip baptized the Ethiopian he was "suddenly" taken away by the Spirit and then returned to somewhere else to keep preaching. What was that like? Nobody ever mentions it again, nobody comments on it that is seems miraculous, and not even Philip shares it with anyone else as recorded. What's up with that?
Great stuff, feel free to leave comments on here. I love hearing other's thoughts.
In Christ,
Dan
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Acts 7 - The Story
When Stephen was put on trial in this chapter, he could have begun with theological arguments about Jesus and tried to convince them of his divinity. Instead he spends almost his entire speech talking about the story of God's provision and the Israelites repeated turning away. Good move.
Acts 7
1. What stuck out to you from this chapter?
Stephens recounting of the story of God and the Israelites is great. We all need that reminder of who we are, where we've come from, and what God has done for us.
2. How does this relate to any other passage I know?
Stephen's last words were, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Those are basically the same as some of Jesus' last words on the cross. Luke 23:34 says, "Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34 NIV) Stephen not only had Jesus' heart for calling sin what it is, but he had Jesus' heart for forgiveness.
3. What does this mean for my life?
I want to be able to share the story of the Bible in the same way Stephen did. On the spot, without missing a beat.
4. Do I have any questions bout this passage?
I honestly don't this time
If love to hear the thoughts of others. Sorry this is so late in the day
In Christ,
Dan
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Acts 6 - Spirit-filled Hospitality
The first group of "church ladies" were men. :) When I grew up, there was a steadfast group of mostly women who consistently helped with hospitality and food ministry in our church. I loved them, and they were fantastic. I thought about them as I read this chapter.
Acts 6
1. What stuck out to me from this passage?
I've read this before but never put it together that the first committee created in the church (other than "elders" which was the apostles) was a hospitality team dealing with food. That's kind of funny. No youth board, no children's ministry, no stewardship committee, no worship committee, no property and finance committees… So the ministry of food must have been a pretty big deal.
2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?
I'll switch gears and look at the story of Stephen for this question. When you see how the religious leaders treated Stephen, it almost exactly parallels how they treated Jesus. They couldn't stand him, but they couldn't stand up to his wisdom either. So they got some people to lie about him and worked it out for him to be arrested, and killed. It's like yesterday's thoughts of considering it an honor to suffer in the way of Jesus for the name of Jesus.
3. What does this mean for my life?
Well, in my role at camp, I have to hire and train staff to do a lot of the work I couldn't do by myself. This reminded my why it's important to find Spirit-filled, Godly people to fill those role: so that those important and seemingly mundane tasks can get done well. That allows the focus to be more on the ministry of the word of God.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
This ministry of distributing food seemed to be a main component of "church". Not some secondary thought we support once a year. Why was that so important? What does that look like today?
There it is, my thoughts for the day. God's blessings.
In Christ,
Dan
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Acts 5 - Worthy of suffering
This was a longer chapter, with several different stories and angles. God was very active in this chapter: judging the disobedient, setting apostles free from jail, teaching and healing through the apostles, etc. I'll share a few of my thought and then I'd love to hear some thoughts from others.
1. What stuck out to you from this chapter?
I think the response of the Jewish council is interesting. Gamaliel has some wise words, but when Christianity didn't "just go away" I wonder if any of them thought, "Hmmm, maybe this is of God, and maybe I should stop fighting it." They were upset that they were being pointed at as being guilty of killing Jesus, but really, Peter was still giving them a chance to repent. Yes, they were guilty of killing the Son of God, but they had a chance to repent like all the rest of the people (us included) and receive God's grace and forgiveness through Jesus.
2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?
Two connections formed from different parts of the chapter. The first story in the chapter is a troubling one, no doubt. When Ananias and Sapphira keep back a portion of the field they are killed, not by people, but by God. To me, it seems very harsh and "overkill". But there must be more that we don't really know about. But it reminded me of Malachi 3:8, "Will man rob God?" It's in the context of holding back from God what is rightfully his, in terms of tithes and offerings.
The other connection is from Acts 5:31, where the disciples counted themselves worthy of suffering for the Name. In Philippians 3:10, Paul writes about the desire to know Christ, the power of the resurrection, and participation in suffering. The apostles (and later Paul) considered it joy to suffer in the same manner and for the sake of Jesus, who suffered greatly for each of them (and all of us).
3. What does this mean for my life?
Actually the verse that really spoke to me as a challenge for my own life was the last verse of the chapter, which says, "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah." Similar to yesterdays desire for boldness in preaching, this verse challenged me to talk about Jesus when I'm at church, or camp, or at home, or at the doctor, or at someone else's house, etc. Not that I shouldn't use discretion and tact, but I hope that I am not ashamed when the opportunity arises to talk about Jesus.
4. What questions do I have about this chapter?
I really would like to know more about Ananias and Sapphira. I mean, it seems like they did a really good thing. They sold a field that they owned, and gave almost all of it to God. That's more than 10%. We can't blame the apostles (the church) for being greedy or manipulative because they neither pronounced the death sentence nor carried it out. It was all God. However there was something about they way that they "lied to the Holy Spirit," and to men, that God pronounced judgment. I just wish God would have given us more specific insight so I don't do the same thing. I'm like the disciples who always asked Jesus, "Explain the parable, cause I didn't get it." :)
Lots of great stuff in this chapter. Feel free to leave a thought or a comment. Maybe you just want to reply to one of the four questions, or maybe you want to respond to one of my comments. Either way, join in the reading and the conversation. God's blessings. Thanks for praying for me and supporting me in this journey.
In Christ,
Dan
3. What does this mean for my life?
Actually the verse that really spoke to me as a challenge for my own life was the last verse of the chapter, which says, "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah." Similar to yesterdays desire for boldness in preaching, this verse challenged me to talk about Jesus when I'm at church, or camp, or at home, or at the doctor, or at someone else's house, etc. Not that I shouldn't use discretion and tact, but I hope that I am not ashamed when the opportunity arises to talk about Jesus.
4. What questions do I have about this chapter?
I really would like to know more about Ananias and Sapphira. I mean, it seems like they did a really good thing. They sold a field that they owned, and gave almost all of it to God. That's more than 10%. We can't blame the apostles (the church) for being greedy or manipulative because they neither pronounced the death sentence nor carried it out. It was all God. However there was something about they way that they "lied to the Holy Spirit," and to men, that God pronounced judgment. I just wish God would have given us more specific insight so I don't do the same thing. I'm like the disciples who always asked Jesus, "Explain the parable, cause I didn't get it." :)
Lots of great stuff in this chapter. Feel free to leave a thought or a comment. Maybe you just want to reply to one of the four questions, or maybe you want to respond to one of my comments. Either way, join in the reading and the conversation. God's blessings. Thanks for praying for me and supporting me in this journey.
In Christ,
Dan
Monday, October 20, 2014
Acts 4 - Preaching with Boldness
I have had the privilege of meeting Christians from countries where it is not allowed or not accepted to preach the gospel, organize a church, or own a bible. I've also learned a lot from an organization called Voice of the Martyrs, which shares stories from and provides support to the persecuted church all over the world. One of the things that has most surprised me about their prayer requests, is that they don't often ask for safety. Instead, they ask for boldness, to keep proclaiming the good news of the gospel even in the face of danger or persecution. Wow! It seems likely that they get a lot of their inspiration from Acts 4. Here goes:
Acts 4
1. What stuck out to me from this chapter?
It is just a little funny to me that the high priests and Sadducees could not think of anything the disciples had done wrong, nor could they do anything anyway because the people had already witnessed the healing miracle. They just didn't want this Jesus thing to keep growing. So they "shook their proverbial finger" and hoped that the disciples would remain quiet. Ha! Peter's response is a perfect example of proper religious disobedience. As a principle, we believe God has placed rulers and authorities over us, and we are to obey the laws of the land. But this was not a law, rather it was a self-motivated plea that directly contradicted God. They told them straight out that they would obey God and keep preaching.
2. How does this relate to any other scripture I know?
To stick with the idea of preaching boldly, I think of Colossians 4:2-6. Paul is asking as a prayer request that God would open doors for him to proclaim the mystery of Christ, and that he would proclaim it clearly, AS HE SHOULD. It reminds me a lot of the disciples prayer to God that they would be empowered to speak with great boldness (v.29).
3. What does this mean for my life?
I have the opportunity often to teach/preach about God, and I should pray more often that God would empower me to speak with boldness. It's easy to shy away from certain topics in Christianity because they are politically incorrect. Why, one of the most politically incorrect verses in all of Scripture is found in Acts 4:12. After sharing that the man was healed in the name of Jesus Christ, Peter says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
I just want to know why the religious leaders just had such a hard time accepting who Jesus was. I know some of it was some unmet expectations of what the Messiah would look like, but why didn't more of them see what was happening? That's not really an answerable question, just one I wonder about.
I'd love to hear what you think. Feel free to share your own thoughts and discussion, along with any constructive criticism or ideas you have for me specifically about this blog. God's blessings.
In Christ,
Dan
Acts 4
1. What stuck out to me from this chapter?
It is just a little funny to me that the high priests and Sadducees could not think of anything the disciples had done wrong, nor could they do anything anyway because the people had already witnessed the healing miracle. They just didn't want this Jesus thing to keep growing. So they "shook their proverbial finger" and hoped that the disciples would remain quiet. Ha! Peter's response is a perfect example of proper religious disobedience. As a principle, we believe God has placed rulers and authorities over us, and we are to obey the laws of the land. But this was not a law, rather it was a self-motivated plea that directly contradicted God. They told them straight out that they would obey God and keep preaching.
2. How does this relate to any other scripture I know?
To stick with the idea of preaching boldly, I think of Colossians 4:2-6. Paul is asking as a prayer request that God would open doors for him to proclaim the mystery of Christ, and that he would proclaim it clearly, AS HE SHOULD. It reminds me a lot of the disciples prayer to God that they would be empowered to speak with great boldness (v.29).
3. What does this mean for my life?
I have the opportunity often to teach/preach about God, and I should pray more often that God would empower me to speak with boldness. It's easy to shy away from certain topics in Christianity because they are politically incorrect. Why, one of the most politically incorrect verses in all of Scripture is found in Acts 4:12. After sharing that the man was healed in the name of Jesus Christ, Peter says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
I just want to know why the religious leaders just had such a hard time accepting who Jesus was. I know some of it was some unmet expectations of what the Messiah would look like, but why didn't more of them see what was happening? That's not really an answerable question, just one I wonder about.
I'd love to hear what you think. Feel free to share your own thoughts and discussion, along with any constructive criticism or ideas you have for me specifically about this blog. God's blessings.
In Christ,
Dan
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Give Me Jesus - Acts 3
"In the morning, when I rise...and when I am alone...and when I come to die, give me Jesus. Give me Jesus, give me Jesus. You can have all this world, just give me Jesus." These words from one of my favorite simple worship songs kind of sum up how the apostles did their ministry, especially in this chapter. Not focusing on much of anything else but giving people Jesus through preaching, teaching, and healing ministries.
Acts 3
1. What stuck out to me from this chapter?
As I read through the chapter this time, I loved how Peter asks two questions of the people who witnessed the healing of the lame man. "Why does this surprise you?" and "Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?" This question seemed to me to imply two convicting answers: 1) We should not be surprised at all that God would/could do something like this because nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37, Mark 10:27), and 2) Neither the healing nor the preaching nor the teaching come from their own strength or godliness, but from the power of the Holy Spirit they had just received in the last chapter. :)
2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture passage I know?
In John 14, another passage where Jesus describes the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples prior to his death, Jesus says, "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified." (John 14:12-13) In the healing, Peter specifically said, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Obviously Peter and John were paying attention to Jesus earlier lesson. There is power in the name of Jesus, for the glory of God.
3. What does this mean for my life?
I can really relate to Peter and John walking through the temple. My bank accounts are not overflowing (although even in monetary terms I consider myself rich compared most of the world and thank God for his provision), so although I wish I could financially support every charity and every person that needed help, I can't. But I need to remember that I do have Jesus in my life, and that is the greatest gift I could ever give to someone - to love them in Jesus' name, and share the good news of Jesus for all.
Also, I've never thought about the opportunity to repent specifically as a blessing, but the very last verse of this chapter says that Jesus was sent to the Jews to bless them by turning them from their wicked ways. I want to be more thankful to God for the very option of repentance (and then do it daily). :)
4. What questions do I have about this chapter?
I have lots of questions about healing, that I have asked different people and have gotten different answers. First, does God always desire healing for everyone that's sick? Is he always just waiting for someone to come along in Jesus' name to command healing? What about all those times you or I have prayed for healing and it didn't come? Or maybe it didn't come right away, like in this story (and most of the healing stories in the Bible. Even if we do pray for healing, we're not going to live forever. Those are most of my questions about that.
I'd love to hear any thoughts from any other readers.
In Christ,
Dan
Acts 3
1. What stuck out to me from this chapter?
As I read through the chapter this time, I loved how Peter asks two questions of the people who witnessed the healing of the lame man. "Why does this surprise you?" and "Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?" This question seemed to me to imply two convicting answers: 1) We should not be surprised at all that God would/could do something like this because nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37, Mark 10:27), and 2) Neither the healing nor the preaching nor the teaching come from their own strength or godliness, but from the power of the Holy Spirit they had just received in the last chapter. :)
2. How does this passage relate to any other Scripture passage I know?
In John 14, another passage where Jesus describes the coming of the Holy Spirit to the disciples prior to his death, Jesus says, "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified." (John 14:12-13) In the healing, Peter specifically said, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Obviously Peter and John were paying attention to Jesus earlier lesson. There is power in the name of Jesus, for the glory of God.
3. What does this mean for my life?
I can really relate to Peter and John walking through the temple. My bank accounts are not overflowing (although even in monetary terms I consider myself rich compared most of the world and thank God for his provision), so although I wish I could financially support every charity and every person that needed help, I can't. But I need to remember that I do have Jesus in my life, and that is the greatest gift I could ever give to someone - to love them in Jesus' name, and share the good news of Jesus for all.
Also, I've never thought about the opportunity to repent specifically as a blessing, but the very last verse of this chapter says that Jesus was sent to the Jews to bless them by turning them from their wicked ways. I want to be more thankful to God for the very option of repentance (and then do it daily). :)
4. What questions do I have about this chapter?
I have lots of questions about healing, that I have asked different people and have gotten different answers. First, does God always desire healing for everyone that's sick? Is he always just waiting for someone to come along in Jesus' name to command healing? What about all those times you or I have prayed for healing and it didn't come? Or maybe it didn't come right away, like in this story (and most of the healing stories in the Bible. Even if we do pray for healing, we're not going to live forever. Those are most of my questions about that.
I'd love to hear any thoughts from any other readers.
In Christ,
Dan
Saturday, October 18, 2014
Pentecost - Acts 2
Acts 2
1. What stuck out to me from this chapter?
What amazes me about this is how Peter went from a "foot-in-his-mouth" impulsive speaker while Jesus was around to deliberate, authoritative Bible teacher after receiving the Holy Spirit. All of a sudden Peter is pulling out "Old Testament" Scripture (which is what everyone learned from then) and tying them together to apply directly to Jesus. Even though some of his words were "warning them" about the "corrupt generation", his tone was very much "pleading with them". He wasn't putting himself on some self-righteous pedestal, condemning everyone as they walked by. He was persuasive and pleading with people to acknowledge the truth.
2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?
This is really the birth of the early church. When the Holy Spirit comes, the church is given life. It's like when God breathed life into Adam and Eve. In fact, I've heard before that the word in Hebrew for "breath/breathed" is the same word that is translated at "Spirit". So when the "Spirit descended" it would be literally the same concept as God breathing life into the apostles.
3. What does this mean for me?
Verses 42-47 hold a lot of truth about what fellowship among believers could and should look like, but what really hit home personally for me was this: apart from the Holy Spirit and the work of God, ministry is lifeless. I need to be more patient more often for God to lead and guide and fill and strengthen me for personal ministry.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
One question I have about verses 44-45 is, "What does this look like today?" What does it mean to have everything in common?
There's Acts chapter 2. I'm excited about going through the whole book one chapter at a time. Please feel free to respond, even if you disagree with some things I say. :)
1. What stuck out to me from this chapter?
What amazes me about this is how Peter went from a "foot-in-his-mouth" impulsive speaker while Jesus was around to deliberate, authoritative Bible teacher after receiving the Holy Spirit. All of a sudden Peter is pulling out "Old Testament" Scripture (which is what everyone learned from then) and tying them together to apply directly to Jesus. Even though some of his words were "warning them" about the "corrupt generation", his tone was very much "pleading with them". He wasn't putting himself on some self-righteous pedestal, condemning everyone as they walked by. He was persuasive and pleading with people to acknowledge the truth.
2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?
This is really the birth of the early church. When the Holy Spirit comes, the church is given life. It's like when God breathed life into Adam and Eve. In fact, I've heard before that the word in Hebrew for "breath/breathed" is the same word that is translated at "Spirit". So when the "Spirit descended" it would be literally the same concept as God breathing life into the apostles.
3. What does this mean for me?
Verses 42-47 hold a lot of truth about what fellowship among believers could and should look like, but what really hit home personally for me was this: apart from the Holy Spirit and the work of God, ministry is lifeless. I need to be more patient more often for God to lead and guide and fill and strengthen me for personal ministry.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
One question I have about verses 44-45 is, "What does this look like today?" What does it mean to have everything in common?
There's Acts chapter 2. I'm excited about going through the whole book one chapter at a time. Please feel free to respond, even if you disagree with some things I say. :)
Friday, October 17, 2014
A New Beginning - Acts 1
Today's blog marks a new beginning for me, as I move away from the previous 5 blogs about our Fall Recharge theme and begin reading through the book of Acts one chapter at a time. It also marks a new beginning because the chapter is about the birth of the Christian church. Acts is an exciting book to read. In a way, it's kind of like the Genesis story specifically of how God created the church. So, feel free to join me for a chapter here and there, or take up the challenge to read a chapter a day. If you feel led, I encourage you to share your thoughts about the passage in the comments section. Here we go!
Acts 1
1. What stuck out to you from this passage?
Today, there were three things that really stuck out to me about the disciples' decision to replace Judas. First, they just felt the need to have 12 elders/apostles in the group of about 120. I believe it was both because of the Jewish heritage of having 12 tribes, but also simply because Jesus chose 12. If Jesus wanted 12 in the group, let's not try to do it with 11. :) The second thing that stuck out was that they were praying constantly (v.14). They didn't try to do anything apart from God's guidance. The third is that, initially, the casting of lots to choose the next apostle seems really loosey goosey - like they're leaving a lot up to chance. But because they prayed and declared that the Lord knows everything, they really believed that they had two qualified men and let God decide. I think rather than gambling, it just revealed a lot of faith in God.
2. How does this passage relate to any other passage of scripture I know?
In John 7, Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit, which he proclaims in Acts 1:8. The passage from John 7:38-39 says, "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.' By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive."
I love that description of the Holy Spirit.
3. What does this mean for my life?
Well, similar to #1, I really feel like I need to trust God with the big and little decisions in my life. If I truly commit my life to prayer and seeking God's will, I can trust that He will indeed guide me.
4. Do I have any questions?
I guess I have a lot of questions about Judas? Why did God choose him for destruction? Was Judas' remorse a sign of repentance? I don't know.
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Acts 1
1. What stuck out to you from this passage?
Today, there were three things that really stuck out to me about the disciples' decision to replace Judas. First, they just felt the need to have 12 elders/apostles in the group of about 120. I believe it was both because of the Jewish heritage of having 12 tribes, but also simply because Jesus chose 12. If Jesus wanted 12 in the group, let's not try to do it with 11. :) The second thing that stuck out was that they were praying constantly (v.14). They didn't try to do anything apart from God's guidance. The third is that, initially, the casting of lots to choose the next apostle seems really loosey goosey - like they're leaving a lot up to chance. But because they prayed and declared that the Lord knows everything, they really believed that they had two qualified men and let God decide. I think rather than gambling, it just revealed a lot of faith in God.
2. How does this passage relate to any other passage of scripture I know?
In John 7, Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit, which he proclaims in Acts 1:8. The passage from John 7:38-39 says, "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.' By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive."
I love that description of the Holy Spirit.
3. What does this mean for my life?
Well, similar to #1, I really feel like I need to trust God with the big and little decisions in my life. If I truly commit my life to prayer and seeking God's will, I can trust that He will indeed guide me.
4. Do I have any questions?
I guess I have a lot of questions about Judas? Why did God choose him for destruction? Was Judas' remorse a sign of repentance? I don't know.
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
EPIC Life - Daniel 3
Daniel is actually the first full book of the Bible I read when I was in High School. I picked it because it was my name. :) But I grew to love Daniel as one of my favorite Bible characters because of his EPIC, unwavering, uncompromising life he lived in obedience to God. EPIC Life is our last theme for the Fall Recharge season at Ingham Okoboji, and it really has to do with obedience, integrity, and living out the small things in life to point the spotlight to God. Daniel 3 is about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three contemporaries of Daniel who followed his example of uncompromising devotion to God.
1. What stuck out to you from this chapter?
Obviously God's miraculous rescue was pretty amazing, but I know (like they stated in verse 17) that God is able to do that. What really stood out to me was their 100% commitment to obey God despite their impending destruction. I love their statement, which paraphrased might sound something like this, "I know God COULD save us if he chooses; He is TOTALLY able to do that. But if he chooses not to, He is still good and worthy of our lives and our praise. So we will not bow down." That is how I want to live my life, even if it might cost me status, money, popularity, or whatever.
2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?
Well, their story is very similar to Daniel's close encounter with the lions in chapter 6. But overall it reminds me of how Jesus described living an EPIC life in Matthew chapter 6 when he said, "Let your light shine before all men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven." Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not out to make a name for themselves, they were out to keep God's name holy and revered above all. It led to a kingdom-wide (albeit temporary) revival of worshipping God. It also reminds me of Jesus's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Father if it's possible, please remove this cup (of suffering) from me. But not my will but yours be done." His life ended in death (and then later in eternal life and glory).
3. What does this mean for my life?
It's very similar to my answer to #1, but I want to not compromise on the small things. This might included infringing on copyrights by burning music, not telling little "white lies" that cast a better picture on myself, making sure to use my time effectively at work, not promising things I can't deliver on, making sure I deliver on promises, not losing my temper at my kids, not gossiping about a coworker, etc. I want to make sure to be faithful in the little things in life.
4. What questions do I have about this passage?
Nebuchadnezzar was quick to switch his allegiance to God after seeing this miracle, but I wonder what made him switch back so quickly? Did he truly believe in God? Was he just a nominal, band-wagon follower while it was cool? It seems he has a similar disposition to Pharaoh in Egypt, that is believing after the wonders are shown, but hard-hearted and habitual in worship to self and other "gods".
I'd love to hear anyone else's thoughts. Thanks for reading and keeping me accountable. Tomorrow I will begin reading in the book of Acts, starting with chapter 1 and going through the whole book in 28 days. Join me for a chapter or two, or the whole book!
In Christ,
Dan
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
EPIC Rescue - Exodus 14
I never like needing to be helped or rescued, but I'm always grateful when it happens. Today is day 4 of 5 reflecting on our Fall Recharge theme, "EPIC," and today's theme is EPIC Rescue. There many rescue stories of epic proportions in Scripture, but none so widely acclaimed as the Exodus from Egypt. Read chapter 14 of Exodus and join me in reflection and conversation.
1. What stood out to me from this chapter?
Although there are many really cool elements to the rescue story itself, the verse that stood out to me this time was verse 31. Israel saw God's redemptive power and they feared the LORD and believed in the LORD. God's desire was ultimately for his glory and to bring people to a greater level of belief in him.
2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know of?
Let's see, people were stuck in slavery, powerless to save themselves, so God sent his servant, who provided a way to be saved when there was no other way and destroyed the enemies along the way. I can't think of anything else that relates...oh wait...Jesus. He did the same and more to free us from slavery to sin and lead us into the promised life.
3. What does this mean for me?
I was just reminded as I read this chapter that when I come to a place in my life where I feel like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place, I can always trust that God will provide a way to get through it. I just need to trust him more.
4. Do I have any questions?
Why did God harden Pharaoh's heart? Why not soften Pharaoh's heart toward repentance?
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
EPIC Fail - 1 Samuel 4
EPIC Fail - 1 Samuel 4
I never thought I would become a tea-drinking blogger, but here I sit - drinking tea and blogging. :) Today is day 3 of 5 in reflecting on our Fall Recharge theme at Ingham Okoboji. These youth retreat weekends start on Oct. 24 and run 5 weekends in a row until just before Thanksgiving. So I'm just sharing some of our main thoughts for the upcoming weekends. Beginning Friday, Oct. 17, I'll start reading the book of Acts, one chapter at a time. I hope you'll join me for that, but here's today's reading:
1 Samuel 4
1. What stuck out to you from the chapter?
The main part of the story we're using for the recharge is v. 1-11, but what stuck out to me as I read the chapter this time is that when both Eli and his daughter in law received news of the loss, it was the loss of the ark of the covenant that devastated them the most. As hard as hearing the news of his son's deaths, the news of the ark being captured was what made him flip (literally, falling over backward and breaking his neck). What it shows me is not that Eli didn't love his sons, but that he loved God and treasured God above all else. He couldn't bear to think that the object in which God chose to manifest Himself to the Israelites was carelessly used and lost for a battle that doesn't seem like it was led by God.
2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?
The use of the ark in this careless manner reminds me of how Esau carelessly and flippantly traded away his blessing and inheritance for a bowl of stew. Something that should have been treasured was used to satisfy his fleeting desires.
3. What does this mean for my life?
I often catch myself making plans, moving forward with them, and pray that God would bless me in that. That is very similar to what the Israelites did. They decided to go into battle, without the specific "go-ahead-I'll-win-this-battle-for-you" blessing of God. Then when things weren't going well, they decided to bring God into it, still without God's blessing. This was the EPIC fail they experienced. I have to be careful to remember not to just ask God to bless my own plans. Rather, I need to seek God's plans and will for my life as best I can. Then I need to be obedient to His desires. In that situation, we don't even need to ask for God's blessing because it will be His leading all along. He will bless it.
4. Do I have any questions about this chapter?
Why would anybody name there kid Ichabod after reading this? (just kidding) I think a real question I have is this: Why didn't God say something when they started to bring the ark down? Like a simple, "Why are you doing this? I haven't blessed this battle. You're going to lose 30,000 people if you keep moving forward." That would have been nice.
Thanks for reading, please share your thoughts. May God bless your day as you seek to orient yourselves to his will.
In Christ,
Dan
I never thought I would become a tea-drinking blogger, but here I sit - drinking tea and blogging. :) Today is day 3 of 5 in reflecting on our Fall Recharge theme at Ingham Okoboji. These youth retreat weekends start on Oct. 24 and run 5 weekends in a row until just before Thanksgiving. So I'm just sharing some of our main thoughts for the upcoming weekends. Beginning Friday, Oct. 17, I'll start reading the book of Acts, one chapter at a time. I hope you'll join me for that, but here's today's reading:
1 Samuel 4
1. What stuck out to you from the chapter?
The main part of the story we're using for the recharge is v. 1-11, but what stuck out to me as I read the chapter this time is that when both Eli and his daughter in law received news of the loss, it was the loss of the ark of the covenant that devastated them the most. As hard as hearing the news of his son's deaths, the news of the ark being captured was what made him flip (literally, falling over backward and breaking his neck). What it shows me is not that Eli didn't love his sons, but that he loved God and treasured God above all else. He couldn't bear to think that the object in which God chose to manifest Himself to the Israelites was carelessly used and lost for a battle that doesn't seem like it was led by God.
2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?
The use of the ark in this careless manner reminds me of how Esau carelessly and flippantly traded away his blessing and inheritance for a bowl of stew. Something that should have been treasured was used to satisfy his fleeting desires.
3. What does this mean for my life?
I often catch myself making plans, moving forward with them, and pray that God would bless me in that. That is very similar to what the Israelites did. They decided to go into battle, without the specific "go-ahead-I'll-win-this-battle-for-you" blessing of God. Then when things weren't going well, they decided to bring God into it, still without God's blessing. This was the EPIC fail they experienced. I have to be careful to remember not to just ask God to bless my own plans. Rather, I need to seek God's plans and will for my life as best I can. Then I need to be obedient to His desires. In that situation, we don't even need to ask for God's blessing because it will be His leading all along. He will bless it.
4. Do I have any questions about this chapter?
Why would anybody name there kid Ichabod after reading this? (just kidding) I think a real question I have is this: Why didn't God say something when they started to bring the ark down? Like a simple, "Why are you doing this? I haven't blessed this battle. You're going to lose 30,000 people if you keep moving forward." That would have been nice.
Thanks for reading, please share your thoughts. May God bless your day as you seek to orient yourselves to his will.
In Christ,
Dan
Monday, October 13, 2014
EPIC Beginning - Genesis 1
EPIC Beginning - Genesis 1
So as I continue on to Day 2 (out of 5) with reflecting on our upcoming youth recharges at Ingham Okoboji, we decided to start where Maria from The Sound of Music advised is "a very good place to start" - at the very beginning. So our EPIC Beginning takes us all the way back to Genesis 1. It was fun to re-read a chapter of the Bible that is very familiar.
GENESIS 1
1. What stuck out to you reading this chapter?
As I was reading this chapter I was struck by hearing that everything God had made was "good". I'm sure you'll agree that sometimes it's hard to look around at the world today and think, "Wow this is good." It's hard because, of course, something happened and humanity walked away from the perfect goodness of God for our own desires. So our world today reflects that compounding investment in our selfishness and sin. But it was refreshing to be reminded that God's design was initially "very good." In fact, God's design for life is always very good.
2. How does this relate to other scripture I know?
Genesis 1 isn't the only book of the Bible that starts out with the words, "In the beginning..." The gospel of John also begins that way. Here's what it says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." It goes on to say that the Word is Jesus, who was with God in the beginning. It's why we believe that Jesus was present in creation.
3. What does this mean for my life?
My two daughters love the song "Speak Life" by TobyMac. When God created the world, it doesn't say that he used tools, or his hands, or hired out a contractor. :) He SPOKE life into deadness and darkness and chaos and brought everything into existence. Since we are created in God's image, I also believe that our words have the power to bring life into someone else. This chapter was a great reminder for me to use my words to bring encouragement into other's lives, rather than negativity - to build others up rather than tear them down.
4. Do I have any questions?
I have hundreds of questions about God creating the world, most of which I'm sure I'll never have answered until I sit in the presence of God in heaven for all eternity. I hope he caught it on camera though because it sure would be fun to watch over and over again. It would sure make for some great Vine videos. :)
I would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter. Respond below, share your thoughts on Twitter or Facebook. Also, because I'm new I would be very open to suggestions about this blog. Is is too long? Too boring? Does it need more or less of something? Does it leave enough room for people to respond? Feel free to share those thoughts and comments as well. God's richest blessings on your day.
In Christ,
Dan
So as I continue on to Day 2 (out of 5) with reflecting on our upcoming youth recharges at Ingham Okoboji, we decided to start where Maria from The Sound of Music advised is "a very good place to start" - at the very beginning. So our EPIC Beginning takes us all the way back to Genesis 1. It was fun to re-read a chapter of the Bible that is very familiar.
GENESIS 1
1. What stuck out to you reading this chapter?
As I was reading this chapter I was struck by hearing that everything God had made was "good". I'm sure you'll agree that sometimes it's hard to look around at the world today and think, "Wow this is good." It's hard because, of course, something happened and humanity walked away from the perfect goodness of God for our own desires. So our world today reflects that compounding investment in our selfishness and sin. But it was refreshing to be reminded that God's design was initially "very good." In fact, God's design for life is always very good.
2. How does this relate to other scripture I know?
Genesis 1 isn't the only book of the Bible that starts out with the words, "In the beginning..." The gospel of John also begins that way. Here's what it says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." It goes on to say that the Word is Jesus, who was with God in the beginning. It's why we believe that Jesus was present in creation.
3. What does this mean for my life?
My two daughters love the song "Speak Life" by TobyMac. When God created the world, it doesn't say that he used tools, or his hands, or hired out a contractor. :) He SPOKE life into deadness and darkness and chaos and brought everything into existence. Since we are created in God's image, I also believe that our words have the power to bring life into someone else. This chapter was a great reminder for me to use my words to bring encouragement into other's lives, rather than negativity - to build others up rather than tear them down.
4. Do I have any questions?
I have hundreds of questions about God creating the world, most of which I'm sure I'll never have answered until I sit in the presence of God in heaven for all eternity. I hope he caught it on camera though because it sure would be fun to watch over and over again. It would sure make for some great Vine videos. :)
I would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter. Respond below, share your thoughts on Twitter or Facebook. Also, because I'm new I would be very open to suggestions about this blog. Is is too long? Too boring? Does it need more or less of something? Does it leave enough room for people to respond? Feel free to share those thoughts and comments as well. God's richest blessings on your day.
In Christ,
Dan
Sunday, October 12, 2014
EPIC Reflections - Psalm 107
EPIC Reflections - Psalm 107
My intention for this blog is to read through books of the bible, one chapter at a time, but occasionally I will diverge and do a few side readings. The next five (and actually the first five) blog entries, including this one, will be some reflections on the main texts for our upcoming Fall Recharge youth retreat weekends at Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camps. Here's the first one. If you haven't read the chapter yet, feel free to click on the chapter reference to read it online.
PSALM 107
1. What stuck out to you reading this chapter?
Everyone has a story. This psalmist was trying hard to keep the stories of God's people alive. There are so many amazing stories in the Bible, but they are all connected. In fact, the whole Bible is one big EPIC narrative, telling of God's power, might, mercy, and love. It's amazing to think of how God has worked in countless ways to bring glory to himself, and blessing for his people. The verse that stuck out to me is Psalm 107:2, which is the main verse for our Fall Recharges. "Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story!" What a powerful command.
2. How does this relate to other scripture I know?
The prophet Jeremiah stated this desire to tell about God's goodness in a really great way.But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." (Jeremiah 20:9). I also think of Jesus's command to the disciples in Acts 1:8, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." What does a witness do? Tells the story of how God has worked in their life.
3. What does this mean for my life?
This chapter really helps me to do two things. First, to see every story in the Bible as a part of a larger story. In fact, my own life story is a part of a larger story of God at work in the world. Second, this chapter encourages me to tell my story. God has redeemed my life, lifted me out of the slimy pit, rescued me from the dominion of darkness, and given me hope and the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. I want to tell that story.
4. Do I have any questions?
Well, verses 23-32 describe merchants going out on the seas and encountering storms. To what incident(s) was this was referring? I'm not familiar with any Bible stories (that would have happened prior to this Psalm being written) other than Noah's where God calmed the seas and rescued a ship. Maybe it's a story that was commonly known in the day, but just didn't make it into Scripture. That's my question.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter. Respond below, share your thoughts on Twitter or Facebook. Also, because I'm new I would be very open to suggestions about this blog. Is is too long? Too boring? Does it need more or less of something? Does it leave enough room for people to respond? Feel free to share those thoughts and comments as well. God's richest blessings on your day.
In Christ,
Dan
My intention for this blog is to read through books of the bible, one chapter at a time, but occasionally I will diverge and do a few side readings. The next five (and actually the first five) blog entries, including this one, will be some reflections on the main texts for our upcoming Fall Recharge youth retreat weekends at Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camps. Here's the first one. If you haven't read the chapter yet, feel free to click on the chapter reference to read it online.
PSALM 107
1. What stuck out to you reading this chapter?
Everyone has a story. This psalmist was trying hard to keep the stories of God's people alive. There are so many amazing stories in the Bible, but they are all connected. In fact, the whole Bible is one big EPIC narrative, telling of God's power, might, mercy, and love. It's amazing to think of how God has worked in countless ways to bring glory to himself, and blessing for his people. The verse that stuck out to me is Psalm 107:2, which is the main verse for our Fall Recharges. "Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story!" What a powerful command.
2. How does this relate to other scripture I know?
The prophet Jeremiah stated this desire to tell about God's goodness in a really great way.But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." (Jeremiah 20:9). I also think of Jesus's command to the disciples in Acts 1:8, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." What does a witness do? Tells the story of how God has worked in their life.
3. What does this mean for my life?
This chapter really helps me to do two things. First, to see every story in the Bible as a part of a larger story. In fact, my own life story is a part of a larger story of God at work in the world. Second, this chapter encourages me to tell my story. God has redeemed my life, lifted me out of the slimy pit, rescued me from the dominion of darkness, and given me hope and the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. I want to tell that story.
4. Do I have any questions?
Well, verses 23-32 describe merchants going out on the seas and encountering storms. To what incident(s) was this was referring? I'm not familiar with any Bible stories (that would have happened prior to this Psalm being written) other than Noah's where God calmed the seas and rescued a ship. Maybe it's a story that was commonly known in the day, but just didn't make it into Scripture. That's my question.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter. Respond below, share your thoughts on Twitter or Facebook. Also, because I'm new I would be very open to suggestions about this blog. Is is too long? Too boring? Does it need more or less of something? Does it leave enough room for people to respond? Feel free to share those thoughts and comments as well. God's richest blessings on your day.
In Christ,
Dan
Saturday, October 11, 2014
The Birth of a Blogger
Have you ever planned something out, thought through it a whole lot, decided to go for it, and then thought, "What on Earth was I thinking?" That's how I feel right now, but I don't think it's necessarily what I was thinking "on Earth" that pushed me to do this. I'll be frank. I've been very poor in my personal dedication to reading the Bible. I have read a lot in the past, and I realize that Bible reading time is not the only measure of one's relationship with God, but I really, REALLY want to learn more about God and what He desires and what He wants me to do with my life.
So here it is. This is what I have felt "led" or "prompted" to do. Dig into the Bible, a little at a time, and process it. Here's my plan:
- Read one chapter of the Bible a day.
- Reflect on the chapter or verse(s) from the chapter. I will use the following 4 questions to guide my reflections:
- What stuck out to you from this chapter? Something funny? Strange? Interesting? Profound?
- How does this chapter (or parts of it) relate to other Scripture you know? Does it link names? Places? Theology?
- So what? (Not like "Who cares?", but like "So what does this mean for my life?") What behaviors do I need to correct? What truths do I need to believe? What people do I need to forgive? Etc.
- What questions do I have about this passage? (The questions may be answered or may be unanswerable.)
That's it. Simple. This blog will be both my accountability to God (and others) to follow through with this "prompting", and an invitation to you, the reader, to join me in my quest. Read one chapter a day. Reflect on it. Share your thoughts.
If nothing else, subscribe to the blog and just read it. I'm planning to post these in the morning, so whoever wants to subscribe will have a daily scripture and thought to start their day with their eyes fixed on Jesus. Once I get this all figured out, I'll share the blog on Facebook and Twitter, so you can access them that way too. Please pray for me as I figure out this whole blogging bit (I am very open to suggestions from more experienced bloggers and readers). God's blessings to you and me as we seek him together.
In Christ,
Dan
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