#2Corinthians10-13 - Weakness is Strength?

Click here to read 2 Corinthians 10-13:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

Paul spoke a lot about boasting in this chapter. Apparently some of the other people who had come to the city proclaiming Christ, claimed to be something like "super-apostles." They must have rattled off their so-called "credentials" in an effort to impress the church and sway people to their teaching. Paul wasn't about puffing himself up. Rather he was about lifting God's name up and proclaiming Christ. It was kind of fun to listen to him rattle off his own qualifications with interjections like, "I'm out of my mind for talking like this," or "I would never do this, but you forced me to." Many of the things he boasts about aren't even credentials so much as they are evidence of God's calling and authority in his life - things he would never endure if it was just about himself gaining popularity. Paul fully emphasizes this by sharing how God taught him to trust that God's grace was sufficient, and that God's power was actually displayed through our human weaknesses. So weakness is actually strength, when we trust in God's power to work through us and in us despite our weaknesses.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

This concept of God's strength through our weakness is so similar to what Jesus teaches about those who are greatest in the kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 18, Jesus shows a child to the disciples and teaches them that we need to take a low position like a child to be considered great in the kingdom of heaven. In other places Jesus talks about being a servant. It's clear that God is flipping worldly standards and norms upside down in bringing about his kingdom.

3. What does this mean for my life?

I was especially impressed with the passage about Paul having a "thorn in his flesh." We don't really know what that was. It could have been a physical ailment, a struggle with sin, or an attitude issue. Regardless of what it was Paul prayed for God to take it away, but God didn't. He wanted to show Paul that despite his weakness(es), God could still use him. I have had several things in my life (i.e. physical ailments, sin struggles, obstacles to ministry, etc) that I have prayed for God to take them away, but he hasn't. I think like Paul, these are good reminders to me that I'm not perfect - to humble myself and trust that God will still use me and work in me. My weakness is a way to display God's power.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

What did Paul mean when he said that he knew someone who was caught up by God to the third heaven? I realize it was a vision of sorts, but what did he mean by the third heaven?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#2Corinthians9 - Gratitude breeds Generosity

Click here to read 2 Corinthians 9:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

I think it's amazing to think about how fast rabbits can multiply. The average gestation period for a rabbit is 28-31 days, and a rabbit can have anywhere from 1-14 babies (although the conservative average is around 6). That means a rabbit can have 72 babies a year! But then those rabbits can eventually have more rabbits, and the cycle is multiplied. In this chapter, Paul seems to share with us that gratitude is both the origin and the result of generosity. When we think about God's gracious gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, and the magnitude of what he gave to us sinks in, our only real response is to in turn be thankful to God and be generous toward others. But when we are generous toward others, it results in their gratefulness to God (when it "accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ). Pretty soon it becomes a wonderful cycle of generosity breeding gratitude breeding more generosity, and so on.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus encourages his listeners not to worry about what they will eat or drink or what they will wear. He tells them not to worry about storing up earthly possessions, rather that God would provide everything we need. I think fear of not having enough is something that keeps a lot of people from being more generous. But here in 2 Corinthians 9, Paul reaffirms that God will provide for the needs of the giver.

3. What does this mean for my life?

One of my biggest takeaways from this chapter is that giving to God and to others is not meant to be a guilt trip or pressure sale. God wants us to understand his generosity and then joyfully reflect that generosity in our giving. Even though we do plan to give generously each month/year, I still have that lingering question in my mind, "Should we be doing this? Will we have enough?" Although it's not guilt or pressure that motivates our giving, I still need to remember to give joyfully.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

If you're not careful, you could read this passage and think that if you give, say, $10 that God will bless you with $20 or $100. There are some churches that teach a philosophy similar to this, which I think is both biblically inaccurate and creating a greedy motivation for giving which manipulates people to give. But what exactly does Paul mean when he talks about God "increasing our store of seed and enlarging our harvest?"

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#2Corinthians7 #2Corinthians8 - Passing the Plate

Click here to read 2 Corinthians 7-8:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

You know the expression, "Curiosity killed the cat?" After reading chapter 8, I thought of this modification, "Generosity killed the greed." Paul is encouraging the people of Corinth to include generous giving as way of rounding off and completing their faith development. This is not a shameful, guilt-ridden message to pry the money from their hands. Nor is it a begging or pleading for money for a personal project. He is not passing the plate and pressuring anyone. He is asking them to think of the needs of the believers in Jerusalem who were trying desperately to provide for the poor, orphans, and widows with very little. By giving financially, we are breaking the chains of greed that are easy to be had in our society. We're all so afraid of having enough money that we hoard it (even though many of us spend it on unnecessary things). Giving is a blessing to the giver and the recipient when done in love. Paul wants them (and us) to experience this blessing.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Jesus also talked a lot about giving and being generous. In fact, he talked about money a lot. One of the passages that comes to my mind is from the sermon on the mount in Matthew 6. He says that we shouldn't give so that everyone can see our gift and be impressed with it, we should give almost secretly so that God sees it. He even says we should not let our left hand know what our right hand is doing. I always take that to mean that giving should become so natural that we almost don't even think twice about it. We should plan our giving, but not think twice about it. :)

3. What does this mean for my life?

One of the verses in chapter 7 that really hit me was verse 10. "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." I love this passage, because it shows that when we feel guilty because of sin, it is from God. But His desire is then that the guilt would remind us to repent and change our ways to experience God's plan for life and freedom. He doesn't want us to remain in the guilty feeling for long. That is what the devil would want for us, to steal the joy.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

In chapter 8 verse 13-15, it almost sounds like Paul is advocating for a sort of communism within the church. That everyone should have the same. I realize this is an overstatement, but to what extent is it true?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#2Corinthians5 #2Corinthians6 - Father Fix-It

Click here to read 2 Corinthians 5-6:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

We all know at least one guy who can confidently wear and live up to a "Mr. Fix-it" sweatshirt. Almost regardless of the type of thing that's broken, they can restore it back to near perfection. I am NOT one of those guys. If I need more than a Leatherman I struggle. The big churchy word in these chapters is "reconciliation". 6 SYLLABLES! But really reconciliation here is simply about fixing broken relationships. When two people have a fallout, their coming back together is called being reconciled. In 2 Corinthians 5 especially, we see that we all need to be reconciled with God because our relationship has been broken by sin. The good news of the gospel however, is that in Jesus Christ our sins can be forgiven so that our relationship with God can be fixed. In fact, this chapter goes so far as to say that the ultimate purpose of the church is to be messengers and ministers of this message of reconciliation with God through Jesus. It's a big deal. So the title of this blog is not about some handyman priest. Rather it is about our heavenly Father who has made it part of his eternal mission to fix broken relationships. He deserves the ultimate Father Fix-It mug...or something like that. (After all we know that He-brews) :)

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

This whole concept of being reconciled to God, our Heavenly Father, makes me think immediately of the Prodigal Son or Lost Son story told in Luke 15. It's a great picture of a son who walked away from his father, disowning him really. After losing everything he realizes that he was better off with his father and hopes his dad will hire him back as a servant. The father, however, has no intention of doing that. Without hesitating for one second he immediately restores to his son all the love and rights of being a son and celebrates his return. This part of the story really captures God's forgiveness.

3. What does this mean for my life?

We do have a charge in this passage. We are all called to be Christ's ambassadors, "as though God were making his appeal through us." I had to step back and think, what do people think about God's invitation through me? Am I sharing those words at all with people around me? Is my life reflecting the character of God so that people want to be reconciled with him? Am I modeling reconciliation in my own relationships to be obedient to God and to be a good witness for him? Those questions gave me a little pause this morning.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

Paul makes a pretty strong statement. He says, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers." I know the yoke is referring to the tool that links oxen or cattle or horses together so they can pull the wagon or plow at the same speed. But is Paul saying, "Don't marry someone who is an unbeliever?" Or is he saying, "Don't go into business with an unbeliever?" Or is he saying don't be friends with an unbeliever?" Maybe there will be a gray blurry line here no matter what, but a little clarification might help.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#2Corinthians3 #2Corinthians4 - Work In Progress

Click here to read 2 Corinthians 3-4:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

Have you ever gone to an art show or gone inside a building or driven across a road that says "Work in Progress?" It means that even though you can still use it now, it is being transformed piece by piece or section by section or room by room into a much more beautiful or functional space. It's kind of like saying, "Go ahead and enjoy it now, but just wait till you see it when it's finished!" In this chapter, Paul tells us that "we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." When we let God's Spirit work in us and surrender control of our lives to God's designs and plans, it's like we have a big sign on us that says "Work in Progress." In the context of these two chapters, Paul is comparing things that are temporary with things that are eternal. So essentially, Paul is saying, "You think this life is cool? It is, and with God it gets cooler every day. But just wait until God's work is completely finished. Then we'll see instant transformation into something so glorious that nothing in this world can even compare."

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

We had a retreat here at camp called "Aliens," and we based it on Hebrews 11:13 which in some translations says that all these "heroes" of the faith considered themselves to be "aliens  and strangers on this earth." They realized that they were "just passing through." They knew this wasn't their home, and so while they took care of what they had they did not become attached to it. Rather they knew the things of this earth, even their bodies and their lives, were just temporary, but the things of God are eternal.

3. What does this mean for my life?

Chapter 4, verses 7-18 really spoke to me personally today. Paul talks about the difficulties he faces in this life and in ministry. Yet even in doing so he realizes that though he may be down, he's not out of the fight. He realizes that because of the ministry God has called him to, and because he has said yes to follow God's call, the gospel message of God's grace is reaching to more and more people all the time. So Paul's words at the end of the chapter ring true for me. "Therefore we do not lose heart..."

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

What is Paul talking about at the beginning of chapter 3? He talks about letters of recommendation. Were people asking for a letter of recommendation for Paul's credentials? What's that all about?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#2Corinthians2 - Jesus Scented AXE!

Click here to read 2 Corinthians 2:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

Have you ever been around someone, or a group of people, and for better or for worse you detect that someone has put on a touch too much cologne or perfume? If you hang around with groups of middle school boys at camp, I guarantee at some point you'll get a whiff of a whole cabin group that decided to go crazy with AXE body spray. Although I don't appreciate the nature of AXE body spray advertising, the point is that a pleasing aroma will attract people and alert them to your presence. Paul is describing being a Christian in a similar fashion - not first of all that we should live to please people, but rather that we are first to God a pleasing aroma. Our lives should first of all be pleasing to God. When we live with integrity, compassion, authenticity, and love pouring out of us - coupled with the gospel message of Jesus - it is an attractive thing for others to want to be a part of it. The opposite would be saying that we believe in Jesus and the Bible, and then living a life that does not align with the standards God has set for life.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Paul talks about forgiveness for someone who has done wrong, or somehow caused distress in the church in verses 5-11. He says that whatever discipline or punishment was decided upon for that person, it is enough. The church should not keep pouring salt in a wound, so to speak. We are also called to forgive. Why? Because forgiveness is a necessary step toward reconciliation and restoration. If God just kept heaping guilt on us, we would never be able to stand before him or anyone. Rather he lets us feel the guilt of sin, then offers forgiveness through confession and repentance so that we can be restored and keep moving forward. Paul's language here reminds me of Jesus teaching in Matthew 6 in the Lord's Prayer and shortly after, about how our forgiveness for others should reflect God's forgiveness for us. He also tells the disciples in John 20:23, "If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." It sounds like what Paul is telling the church.

3. What does this mean for my life?

I help lead a Christian ministry where we invest in thousands of guests and hundreds of young adult leaders each year. As a leader of the staff, this passage helped me consider when is the time of punishment or discipline, and when is the time for forgiveness. I think if I feel like someone has really felt the weight of their mistake and is truly sorry, then it's time for forgiveness. If they are continuing in a pattern of wrong behavior or attitude, then there needs to be corrective action. The goal is not control, but growth.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

In verses 16, Paul adds, "To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life." At first I wondered how Jesus could "smell" like life and death. But I think for some who are humbled and hungry for the love and forgiveness God has to offer through Christ, it is the hope and life they have been hoping for. For those who are hard-hearted and unwilling to repent, the gospel of Jesus is a message of condemnation and judgement, just like in John 3:16-18. Is this the right way to look at this verse?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#2Corinthians1 - Better than a Snuggie?

Click here to read 2 Corinthians 1:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

I know what you're thinking? What could possibly be better than a Snuggie? What could be softer, more cozy, and more comforting than a Snuggie? Well, Paul would argue that God is the ultimate comforter, because he is a loving Father who is full of compassion. If you are struggling with something, you can go to God. There's a worship song that says, "Come to me I am the comforter. Come crawl up on my knee. Lay your head close against my heart. Find your rest in me." I think that is the image of God I get from reading this passage.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Though the meaning of verses 18-20 is still a little unclear to me, it reminds me of Jesus when he gave the sermon on the mount. While telling us we really have no need to swear oaths, Matthew 5:37 says, "All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." A previous version of the same translation said, "Let your 'yes' mean 'yes' and your 'no' mean 'no'." If you say you will do something, do it.

3. What does this mean for my life?

Even though the passage starts out talking about comfort, there is an implication that there will be troubles in this life. That was a good reminder for me that God never promises that everything will be perfect for us in this life. In fact, Jesus even said, "In this world you will have trouble; but take heart. I have overcome the world." So as I do walk through these troubles, I need to remember that God loves me and promises to stick with me through it all. That is comforting.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

What is Paul talking about exactly in verses 18-20? It almost seems like he went off on a bit of a tangent.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#1Corinthians16 - It's Personal

Click here to read 1 Corinthians 16:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

Although many might skim or skip over this chapter, there is one thing that stood out to me above all else. MINISTRY IS PERSONAL! It's very easy to get caught up in starting more programs, focusing at numbers of participants, talking big theological talk, or thinking about buildings and facilities. But ministry means nothing if it's not personal and relational. After all, the core message about Christianity is about restoring our relationship with our heavenly father through forgiveness of sins. The second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor. There are no commandments about how many programs we're supposed to have, or what mix of new and old songs to play in worship. Paul's series of personal greetings and acknowledgements reminds me that we need to be first and foremost about relationships - with God and others. When the gospel and other teachings of the Bible are encompassed by a loving, caring relationship, it "goes down easier".

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Actually, many of Paul's letters end this way, with personal greetings (Romans 16, Colossians 4, etc.). When Paul visited a city either to start churches or strengthen churches, he spent considerable time there. He got to know people and love people. So in these letters he acknowledges them and mentions many of them with fondness. Even though there may not me a whole lot to meditate on or discuss from these sections, it is a great reminder that people matter to God.

3. What does this mean for my life?

In the middle of these personal greetings, Paul gives a verse of encouragement and exhortation. Verse 13-14 says, "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love." This verse encouraged me today, and reminded me to keep pressing on. Don't give up. Don't give in to pressures and temptations of the world. And above all, do everything in love.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

Some of the people mentioned in this chapter don't appear in other places in Scripture (to my knowledge). I just wonder what role did they have in the ministry of Paul or the ongoing ministry of the churches?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#1Corinthians15 - No More Sting

Click here to read 1 Corinthians 15:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

I once heard a story about a young boy who was allergic to bee stings, and he knew it. One day he was riding in the back of the car with his dad driving. As they were driving a bee flew in the window and was buzzing around the car. The boy became almost hysterical in fear, but suddenly the dad grabbed the bee out of the air and held onto it. He winced in pain as the bee stung him, and he let the bee go. The boy was still frightful until the dad explained that even though the bee is still alive, the stinger was gone - and he showed the boy his hand where the stinger was still embedded. "So you see, son," he said, "You don't have to be afraid of the bee anymore. It can't hurt you." That's the best example I've ever heard of this passage in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57. Death is still a part of life, but as believers we don't have to be afraid of death. The reason people are afraid of death is because they either don't know what happens next, or they know that we will be judged guilty and have not trusted in Jesus for forgiveness of their sins. Death no longer has any sting or power because through faith in Jesus, our sin is paid for and removed from us. He took the stinger for us. Now we can simply enjoy life to the fullest.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

In verses 9-11, Paul humbly acknowledges that he does not even deserve to be called an apostle because of the life he used to live, but because of God's grace he was still chosen to believe and carry out the work of God. That is the very definition of God's grace - that even though we don't deserve it, God still chooses to bless us by giving us the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus, and furthermore he still chooses to use us to advance the gospel and His Kingdom. Paul shares something similar in 1 Timothy 1:12-17. He explains this same concept, even calling himself the worst of sinners. I don't believe he is being smug or sarcastic. I think he just truly feels the depth of God's love and grace.

3. What does this mean for my life?

If I had to choose one word to describe how this passage impacts me and my life, I would choose the word "hope." Paul talks about how if Jesus hasn't been raised from the dead, then none of us will be raised from the dead, and we have no hope but what we can muster up in this life. Yet he goes on to say that in fact, Jesus has been raised from the dead - according to the Scriptures which foretold it's coming and to many eyewitnesses who saw him. Because there is really not much hope to be found in this life, ALL of our hope lies in Jesus. This is good news, because we can count on God to fulfill his promises. So now I am able to life this life to the fullest without fear, and full of hope in the life to come. This is incredibly freeing and allows me to love others, serve others, give generously, and follow God to wherever, knowing who holds my future.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

This isn't a logical question, but rather a curious wondering. What will our heavenly bodies be like? Will I finally be able to dunk a basketball? Will my joints no longer crack and creak? Will I be able to eat whatever I want? I'm not sure any of this will even matter at all in heaven, but I just wonder what it will be like...

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#1Corinthians14 - Order in the Pews!

Click here to read 1 Corinthians 14:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

After explaining about some different spiritual gifts, how we are all one in the body of Christ, and reminding us to do everything in love, Paul speaks specifically about using some of these gifts in worship. What stood out to me is that even though we might think of someone speaking supernaturally in tongues as being a more amazing gift than prophesying, Paul says that prophesying does more to bless those in earshot. He says that speaking in tongues is a miracle and a supernatural gift, so unbelievers may find it amazing and trust in God. But a prophetic word will reach the hearts of all who are listening, as the word from God comes in their own language. That seems backwards, but most of the things of God are like that. :) I also really love Paul's closing plea and lesson. He reminds people that our God brings order out of chaos. He wouldn't give people gifts that throw people into confusion and disorder. God desires order and patience. There's no need for everyone to shout all at once. It's as if Paul were saying, "Order in the Pews!"

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

In Acts chapter 2 the Holy Spirit comes on the disciples, and the sign is that they are all speaking in various tongues. Many who were visiting Jerusalem from other nations were amazed that someone was speaking in their own language. For the Jews who witnessed this, it was a sign that God was at work. However, when Peter stood up and spoke plainly and prophetically, the word of God reached deep into the hearts of many who heard, and 3,000 people became believers that day. Now that's church growth.

3. What does this mean for my life?

As a worship leader, I am so used to having everything planned out and orderly, but verse 30 convicted me a little that I should be open to the Holy Spirit moving during the worship service through anyone else. I know that the point was to bring order to worship, but it sounds like their services were pretty chaotic with everyone chiming in and speaking in tongues at once. I think maybe if Paul were visiting churches today, he would see that in many there is no room for the Holy Spirit to work. The service flows like clockwork, and everyone gets a little edgy if things start to drag a bit or if something has to go to Plan B. So, I really do want to be more open to the Holy Spirit in worship. EXPECT GOD TO SHOW UP!

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I'm going to ask a question that I know separates some denominations from each other, but because this chapter is all about supernatural gifts, I'm going to ask it anyway. "Are all believers suppose to speak in tongues? Or is it just those that the spirit has gifted in that way? Do other supernatural gifts count? How about the other gifts mentioned in chapter 12 that don't "seem" supernatural? I know those are more like spaghetti than real questions, but that's kind of how I was thinking about it. :)

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#1Corinthians13 - The Wedding Passage That Isn't

Click here to read 1 Corinthians 13:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

This is one of the most commonly read passages of the Bible at weddings, because it's all about love and service and sacrifice. Now while all of this is actually really good advice for loving your spouse, the context of the passage actually has nothing to do with weddings. It is sandwiched in between two chapters describing the church as the body of Christ and the gifts that are given to God's people. Paul must have felt that there would be a temptation to focus so much on spiritual gifts, especially the supernatural ones, that the church would forget the main thing. Paul is reminding the believers that our primary focus is to show love to one another, both within the church as a family and outside the church. The Greek word that is translated to love in this passage is "agape" which describes the unconditional love and benevolence of God, who served and sacrificed for us when we didn't deserve it. We are called to show that love to others, even when they don't deserve it.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

I thought immediately of the time in Matthew 22:34-40 the Jewish leaders tried to trap Jesus by asking him what the greatest commandment was. They figured if he picked one of the ten, they could then nail him about why the others weren't important. Instead he gave this answer: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" The Pharisees could not dispute this, but it sounds like 1 Corinthians 13. Paul is trying to keep the main thing the main thing - Love God and Love others.

3. What does this mean for my life?

There are some things in this chapter that are hard for me to do. Oh I can be patient, but "love always trusts." That seems like a good way to get let down quite a bit. "Love always hopes." That seems like a good way to be disappointed often. I need to try and bring out the best in people always, and paint them in the best possible light in an honest way. That's part of showing love. I guess part of loving is being willing to be hurt sometimes. God is hurt almost every day by every person, even those who love him...

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I actually don't think I do have any questions about this passage.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#1Corinthians12 - Paul vs. Picasso

Click here to read 1 Corinthians 12:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

I love this passage about the body of Christ. Paul brilliantly uses the example of a human body to describe how every member of the church is important. Even though some are in positions of more public recognition (like the hands or eyes or mouth), and others virtually go unnoticed until there's a problem (like the liver or kidneys or alveoli), every part of the body is important. God has created each of us differently on purpose. So rather than wishing you were a different part of the body or attached in a different way (like some bizarre Picasso painting), recognize that God made you exactly the way you are, and wants to use your gifts and personality for his kingdom purposes.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

While part of Paul's message here is about individuality and differences within the body, the main point is that though we are different, WE ARE ALL UNITED AS ONE BODY. This is true for each congregation, each denomination, and the whole Christian church worldwide. It's easy to forget that we are one. In John 17, Jesus prays that we as believers would all see ourselves as one. Despite our differences in practices, stylistic preferences, even biblical interpretation, we should all be one in Christ.

3. What does this mean for my life?

One of my biggest takeaways from this chapter is that I can stop trying to be all things to all people, in terms of excelling in everything. I will try my best at whatever I do, but sometimes it is far better to acknowledge a weakness and bring people into your life who can fill that need. As a leader in a ministry organization, that is huge for me to realize.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

What are the greater gifts mentioned by Paul at the end of this chapter? Why does Paul encourage believers to desire the greater gifts after seemingly telling them to be content with who God made you to be?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#1Corinthians10-11 - Freedom for Glory

Click here to read 1 Corinthians 10-11:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

After the last chapters, where Paul was explaining that we are not bound by some old covenant laws anymore, he uses these chapters to explain what that freedom looks like. He starts out reminding us of Israel's past and urges us to learn from them: "Don't grumble like they did in the desert...it didn't turn out so well..." :) He urges us to be cautious of eating food sacrificed to idols, simply because it could be a stumbling block to others. He speaks to appropriate conduct in worship and to appropriate teachings about the Lord's supper. But the most interesting lesson for me from this chapter was when Paul acknowledges the freedoms we have, but says that not everything is beneficial. It's like the freedoms we enjoy in the U.S. I have the freedom of speech, but not everything I am permitted to say is beneficial. It might hurt someone else. It might be taken the wrong way. It might send mixed messages to others. So I choose not to say a lot. :) The freedoms we enjoy, rather, are to be used for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

I thought it was interesting that Paul is the one instructing the Corinthians about Communion, especially what Jesus said on the night he was betrayed. Paul wasn't there, he must have learned from someone. He did spend time with Peter and the other apostles, so it could have been any one of those encounters where he learned it. Luke's gospel records some very similar words during the account of the Last Supper in Luke 22:17-29. It's neat that these words are still the same words many churches use when celebrating communion together.

3. What does this mean for my life?

1 Corinthians 10:13 really stood out to me. "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." Sometimes I feel defeated just because I'm experiencing strong temptation. The truth is that experiencing temptation doesn't mean I have to give in to it. I can say no. That's the power of Christ in me. God will always provide a way out. Sometimes, I'm sure it's simply to say no and move on. :)

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I actually have quite a few, but I think my greatest confusion comes with the head-covering rules. Paul seems to be pretty clear, that men should not cover their head (or have long hair), but women should cover their heads (or have long hair). Does this apply in every church of all time, or was it something specific that this congregation was dealing with?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#1Corinthians7-9 - Running for the Prize

Click here to read 1 Corinthians 7-9:


After a busy weekend I am playing catch-up, so there will be at least one more post with multiple chapters. It's nice that it's easy to catch up and stay on track with this format.

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

Chapters 7 and 8 of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians address some specific questions the church had for him after he had left their company. Although we don't even know the exact questions, we can guess pretty closely by his answers that they had to do with sexual immorality and how it relates to marriage, circumcision versus uncircumcision, and eating food that was sacrificed to idols. Interestingly enough, these would not have been questions for Jews under the old covenant law of Moses. It was clear: DON'T DO THOSE THINGS! But Paul is saying a few things in these chapters. Jesus came to fulfill the law of Moses and the old covenant because we couldn't. In doing so he also brought about the new covenant, which didn't totally do away with the law. Rather we are now freed from the demands of the law, so that eating food sacrificed to idols is now nothing, and circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing. The important thing is that we are preaching the gospel of Jesus and putting as few stumbling blocks in the way of our brothers and sisters as possible. Paul compares this to a race and says that we should "run in such a way to win the prize."

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

In Jesus' famous "Sermon on the Mount" which is found in Matthew 5-7, we hear something very familiar concerning the law and the new covenant. Jesus says, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." (Matthew 5:17) He is essentially telling us that we are no longer bound by the old law, although the law is still there to guide us. Throughout the new testament we see passages that help us see in many ways which parts of the old testament laws are not important anymore. Colossians 2, for example, lists several examples of the kinds of laws that no longer bind us - circumcision, rules regarding eating and drinking, rules regarding specific religious festivals or Sabbath days (think of Jesus healing on the Sabbath), and rules about what is okay to touch (ceremonial uncleanness). From Hebrews we read that the old covenant system of priests and sacrifices were basically fulfilled and no longer binding, since Jesus is our eternal high priest and our perfect sacrifice. However, that doesn't mean that all old testament laws don't still have authority over us. Many of the laws were more about morality and God's design for life, including worship of God alone, sexual purity in marriage between man and woman, stealing, murder, lying, envy, etc. These laws are all re-emphasized in the new testament by Jesus, Paul, and others as being important guidelines that are forever in place by God.

3. What does this mean for my life?

I was personally moved by Paul's desire to share the gospel to all people. 1 Cor. 9:22-23 summed it up, "I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." Paul relates to people, doesn't consider himself worth more than others, and find ways to make the gospel personally relevant to different audiences. His hopes is that some (many) would believe in Jesus and be saved. I especially noted how Paul used to word "all" three times to describe his efforts and then the word "some" to describe the response of his listeners. He knew not everyone would receive the gospel message of Jesus Christ, but he spent his entire life towards that goal regardless. I want that to be true of me too.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

In two different sections of chapter 7, Paul advises people not to be married. He suggests it is better for most that they remain single, unless they can't control themselves sexually (then it's better to be married). What is he really saying and what are his motivations for saying it? Was he addressing this specific congregation and the issues of sexual immorality? Would he say the same thing today? It seems that part of it was a belief that Jesus would come back any day, literally, and that because time was so short we should all dedicate our energy 100% to the work of the gospel. However this presents a problem if every Christian remained single. As that generation died off, there would only be unbelievers left marrying and having kids. If he understood that it would be at least 2,000 years, would he have spoken differently?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#1Corinthians4-6 - Judging others

Click here to read 1 Corinthians 4-6:

**After a busy weekend, I'm going to read three chapters today and three tomorrow to catch up. Anyone who has been following along can just keep moving at the same pace.

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

Next to John 3:16, the next most quoted verse of the Bible by nonbelievers and believers alike is "Judge not lest ye be judged." Although usually quoted without any knowledge of who said it or in what context it was shared, it does connect with a theme throughout especially the new testament. We are not God, and we are supposed to let God judge all people. Yet at what point are we supposed to remind people of behaviors that comply with God's scriptural outline rather than conflict with it? Is that judging? Here in these chapters, Paul makes a helpful (although not easy) clarification. We are not supposed to judge the behaviors of those outside the church, but we are to let God be their judge. However, we are supposed to judge the behaviors among people inside the church. We are not supposed to tolerate ungodly behaviors (specifically sexual immorality in chapters 5-6) within the church. Even though we are not playing eternal judge, we are using judgement to strengthen each other and the church as a whole.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

In Ecclesiastes 3:17 we read, "I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.” The writer of Ecclesiastes also knew, like Paul, that we aren't supposed to pass judgment on every deed of every person, because God will hold every person accountable to what they did. Paul says a similar thing in 1 Cor. 4:4-5.

3. What does this mean for my life?

In 1 Cor. 6:19-20, we are told that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we should honor God with our bodies. Although it is in the context of sexual immorality, I tend to also apply this more broadly to taking care of ourselves. We need our bodies to continue to allow God to use us here on earth, so to take care of them is to honor God who dwells within us.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

Are some of the instructions in this passage meant for a certain church at a certain time? Or are they all timeless? Specifically, I wonder about the idea of expelling someone from the church for certain sins. Is that still something that should happen. If so, how and for what offenses?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#1Corinthians3 - Three Little Pigs in the Bible?

Click here to read 1 Corinthians 3:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

As Paul describes his work in the kingdom of God, he uses language of building and construction. He reminds us that there is only one foundation - Jesus Christ, and everyone is secure on that foundation. However, he also teaches us that there will be a day when everyone will be called to judgement and held accountable for every one of our actions. Our actions, our attitudes, and how we invest our lives in general can be seen as how we each build our lives on the foundation of Jesus. Paul lists several different materials, some that would withstand the test of fire, and some that would burn up. Some of our deeds amount to nothing of eternal significance and will be burned up. Others that give God glory and express his love to the world will not only withstand the test but will shine with eternal significance. I really can't help but think of the three little pigs, who built their houses out of different materials. Some held up to the test of the Big Bad Wolf, and others didn't. :)

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

In the first few verses, Paul encourages the believers to move on to maturity, comparing them to a toddler who is still drinking milk when they should be eating solid food. Another interesting comparison is that a child who is eating solid foods is also able to feed themselves. I think this is also a mark of spiritual maturity, that someone is not totally dependent on someone else to nourish them spiritually. Rather they are able to read the Scriptures themselves, and seek out other ways to be fed and nourished by God's word. This concept reminded me of Hebrews 6:1-3, where the writer encourages the believers to move beyond elementary teachings of the faith and move on towards maturity. It's like saying, "Okay, we've mastered addition, subtraction, and letter sounds. We've been dwelling on it far too long, it's time to move to the 3rd grade to bigger and better things."

3. What does this mean for my life?

The part that caught my attention on a really personal level was 1 Colossians 3:16-17. Paul explains that because God's Spirit lives within us, our bodies are God's temple. I think this is one of the most compelling biblical concepts advocating health and wellness at least in a general sense. There are obviously some things that we can't control that happen to us, but there are SO MANY things we can do to care for our bodies, including sleeping enough, eating healthy, not eating too much, drinking enough water, exercising, taking time to rest and de-stress, refraining from too much alcohol or substance use (or any for that matter), and many other daily decisions affecting our health. Caring for our bodies enables God to use us more for his purposes, and hopefully for a longer time in this life. Verse 17 references that together we are God's temple, but I don't think it is a stretch at all to take it personally as well.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I wonder what things Paul would consider to be elementary versus more mature as far as Christian teaching and living. The Hebrews passage mentioned above sheds some light on that, I suppose. I also wonder what Paul would say to churches today. If he would say, "Wow, 2000 years have passed and we still haven't moved passed ______!" Or if he would say, "Well done, we have moved the church into a mature body of Christ." I think either way, he would encourage us to keep digging deeper. :)

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#1Corinthians2 - A Mystery Revealed

Click here to read 1 Corinthians 2:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

After saying in chapter one that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, Paul then goes on to explain that it is not foolish at all. Rather, the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus was actually what God had planned "before time began." It was simply a mystery to all, even though God spoke about it through the Scriptures and the prophets. It just didn't make sense from a human perspective, but from God's perspective it was the perfect and only plan to redeem mankind from a fallen state of sin. It's like reading a mystery and not really knowing for sure what's going on until the final clues are discovered and the mystery is revealed.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Paul also talks about the gospel being a mystery in Colossians 1:25-27, which says, "I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." He explains that the mystery is not only that Christ would die for our sins, but that he would rise from the dead, and through the power of the Holy Spirit dwell within us - his people. That is still bizarre, a mystery in it's own way, but the plan is now clear.

3. What does this mean for my life?

I really appreciate how Paul begins this chapter, humbly stating that it wasn't with any human wisdom that he came. He simply shared the wisdom of God through God's word, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. He didn't win people over with super speeches, but simply with the loving message of the gospel. I hope and pray that I would have that same humble approach to sharing the gospel, that God's wisdom would guide me and that I would not try to sound super spiritual on my own. Rather, I want to simply point people to Jesus and his love for us.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

What did Paul mean when he said in verse 15, "The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments..."?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#1Corinthians1 - Foolishness!

Click here to read 1 Corinthians 1:

Yesterday concluded my walk through the gospels. Since I have already done Acts, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians, my plan is to read 1 and 2 Corinthians, then pick up in 1 Thessalonians and read the rest of the way through the New Testament. That will take us into August sometime, when we will blow the dust off of the Old Testament and dig into the treasures God has for us there. :)

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." It's interesting to me that the message of the cross would be seen as foolishness to anyone. To me it seems like a heroic rescue or a love story, but when I think about it, almost every good thing in this world comes from the reward of good, hard work and positive performance. We work hard in school, and we get good grades and scholarships. We perform well in sports or music and we receive awards, honors, and opportunities for advancement. We work hard and perform well in work, and we receive a promotion or a raise. However the gospel message is not about rewards for hard work, it is about trusting in the perfect work and person of Jesus Christ to forgive our sins, restore our relationship with our heavenly Father, and fill us with the Holy Spirit. From the world's perspective, that just doesn't make sense.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Verse 25 reminds me a lot of Isaiah 55:8-11, which says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts..." Even God's foolishness is wiser than our wisdom. So what seems foolish to the world might just be the wisdom and plan of God.

3. What does this mean for my life?

Paul encouraged the people in Corinth not to claim any person as the one they follow except Christ. It was clear that whether they were taught primarily by Paul, Apollos, Peter, or another apostle, that they should still be unified and proclaim to follow Christ. I have experienced lots of different teachings from different people, and while I agreed with some more than others, I appreciated having that variety. Overall it has strengthened my faith and helped me. But as long as Christ is proclaimed, we should see how we can be more unified in the other things.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

This isn't really a question, but I'd like to know more about Apollos. The first book I read through doing this chapter a day was Acts, and I know that it explains a bit about him in Acts 18, but what exactly was he preaching, and what happened to him after this?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John20 #John21 - Believe it or not...

Click here to read John 20-21:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

The ending of these two chapters are like little "asides" from the actual story of Jesus. The end of chapter 21 reveals that what we see as recorded in John is not the whole picture. It is an accurate account from an eyewitness, but it does not contain the complete works of Jesus Christ. We know some of the other things, because different eyewitnesses (as recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke) contain some of the same stories but also some different ones. I love how he says, "If every one of [Jesus' works] were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written." (John 21:25). I also really like at the end of chapter 20 that John even tells us the purpose for writing his gospel account, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." John wasn't writing for fame, he wasn't writing for profit; he was writing so everyone who read it would believe in Jesus and receive salvation.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

When I read the story about the miraculous catch of fish, I think back to the beginning of Jesus' ministry when he called the disciples to be fishers of people. It's funny that it begins and wraps up with fish. I don't know that it is incredibly profound, but just interesting.

3. What does this mean for my life?

I really relate to Peter. Just a couple chapters ago, Peter denied Jesus three times after pledging his lifelong support for Jesus. Here in chapter 21, we see Jesus ask Peter three times if he loves him. Jesus knows that Peter loves him, so I think that this exchange is actually more for Peter to be assured that Jesus has forgiven him and restores him to his kingdom work. I know that in my life, I blow it sometimes. There are days, even in the midst of doing ministry, that I feel unworthy to have God use me to change people's lives. But I know that Jesus does forgive sins, and he does claim us as his brothers and sisters and colaborers in the work of God's kingdom. So even though I mess up, Jesus qualifies me to keep on moving forward.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

As I read these chapters, which include multiple descriptions of Jesus appearing to the disciples after his resurrection, my silly question is, "What did Jesus look like after he was raised from the dead?" He must have been in human form, because he still had hands, feet, a recognizable voice, etc. But Mary didn't recognize him at first, the disciples on the road to Emmaus didn't recognize him, the disciples gathered behind locked doors seemed to need some extra convincing, and the disciples at the beach didn't dare ask who he was. There must have been something that was unrecognizable to his face or figure, because it seemed to take people a little while.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John18 #John19 - The darkest day in history

Click here to read John 18-19:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?


These two chapters flow seamlessly together to tell the story of Jesus' arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial. This is the fourth gospel I have now gone through, and this is the fourth account of this part of the story I have read recently. It's not fun. It's hard to read how cruel the leaders were to Jesus, how hard-hearted they were towards God, and how persistently they persecuted him. It was not a pretty picture. In fact, it's safe to say that it was the darkest day in history. There have been others, but putting the Son of God to death seems to top them all. Despite the fact that it was his plan to allow himself to be killed, it was still the sin of all people that he bore on the cross. It's easy to see the ugliness in the people who were plotting against him and shouting "Crucify," but it reminds me that there is an ugly part of me (my sinful nature) that I still need God to take away and transform.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Pilate wrote a sign above Jesus that said "The King of the Jews." The Jewish leaders didn't like it, because they wanted it to say, "This man claimed to be the king of the Jews." But Pilate refused to change it. While here on earth Jesus talked a lot about his kingdom and the Father's kingdom, but he doesn't directly claim to be the king. However, in Revelation 17:14 and 19:16, Jesus is given the title of King of Kings and Lord of Lords that he deserves.

3. What does this mean for my life?

On the night Jesus was betrayed by Judas and deserted by the other disciples, he was denied by Peter, one of his closest friends. I think about Peter a lot, how he made bold claims to follow Jesus to the end and fight for him at all costs. Still he ended up denying Christ three times. I feel like that sometimes. I am bold about my faith in Christ at times, and other times I may shy away from sharing it. I want to be not ashamed of the gospel, as Paul says in Romans 1:16, but I am thankful that Jesus even uses someone like Peter to grow the church.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

My biggest question is, "Did Pilate really believe in Jesus?" In this account, it seemed like he almost became a believer in who Jesus was, but felt powerless to do anything besides sentence him to death. Still, he was the one who had to make the decision, and he caved into the pressure of the crowds.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John16 #John17 - Wisdom from a Stone

Click here to read John 16-17:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

At Ingham Lake Bible Camp stands a chapel building that was built in 1949, even before the first official camp was held. In the front corner of the building, before you walk in the door, there is a verse inscribed on the cornerstone. It comes from John 17:17 and says, "Sanctify them by thy truth; Thy word is truth." That verse has been a prayer and a desire among staff for all who come to experience God at Ingham. I understand sanctification to describe a life-long transformation that takes place when we let God shape us to become more like Jesus. That happens when we are immersed in the truth of God's word, which can be encouraging or convicting, freeing or guiding, revealing or teaching. We need to keep God's word in the center.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

In John 17:3 and 17:26, it talks about eternal life as knowing God, and then making him known is a natural byproduct. Besides being the mission statement of Ingham Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camps, "To know Jesus Christ, and to make Christ known to all", it reminds me of Philippians 3. Paul is describing the things of this world as rubbish and a loss, compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

3. What does this mean for my life?

Jesus talks a lot about the Holy Spirit in these chapters. One of the things he says is that "when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth." As I seek God's truth for my life to be transformed, I need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, who will guide me into truth.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

Jesus prays at the end of chapter 17 that all believers would be one, that we would be brought together in complete unity. Well, that's not what I see happening today. My question is, what does Jesus mean by oneness and unity. Where does it leave room for different interpretations of Scripture? Where does it leave room for different worship practices? Where does it leave room for different emphases in church life? Maybe it doesn't, but it's not very clear then. How then are we supposed to be totally unified?

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

#John15 - Jesus the Spiritual Botanist

Click here to read John 15:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

When Jesus rises from the dead, Mary and the other women actually encounter him after speaking to the angel. Before they realize it's Jesus, they mistake him for the gardener. After reading this chapter, they weren't that far off. I have always been into analogies, because it really causes people to think about spiritual things in common language. The education major in me is jumping for joy at the "higher order thinking skills" that this requires. Jesus sets up this comparison between a vine and some branches. He reminds his disciples that if a branch is not connected to the vine, it cannot produce fruit. He reminds us that we must be connected with the Father through him and that we must obey his commands.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

One thought that really didn't seem to immediately fit with the gardening analogy is when Jesus says, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." It is clear that Jesus never intends for life to be boring. Rather when we are following him and obeying his commands, he tells us that we can be full of joy. This reminded me of Psalm 51, where David (in the middle of repenting and confessing) says, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." There is joy in following Jesus.

3. What does this mean for my life?

This chapter is very convicting. It is a direct reminder to stay connected with God despite a busy schedule. This happens through prayer, scripture reading, worship, fellowship, serving others, loving the people I am in relationship with, enjoying what God has blessed me with, using the gifts God has given me to the best of my abilities, giving generously, and other things. I was also reminded that remaining connected to the vine and bearing fruit comes with a promise that we will be pruned to produce more fruit. If branches could talk, I don't think they would tell us that pruning is particularly pleasant. However, I bet they would say it is always worth it.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I actually don't have any questions about this chapter.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John11 #John12 #John13 #John14 - More Marthas please

Click here to read John 11-14:

With some internet difficulties over the last couple days, I was unable to post anything until now. The beauty of this method and these questions are that you can use them for any length of reading, no matter how short or long. It's easy to play "catch-up." With that in mind, here are my thoughts on John chapters 11-14.

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

Right off the bat in John 11 we get the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Some people might not realize that the Mary and Martha of this story are also the Mary and Martha that host Jesus when he "scolds" Martha for worrying about household chores. I feel like Martha always gets a bad reputation for being a workaholic and worrywart. But in this story, we can see that Martha's faith is far from lacking. In fact she makes a clear, bold claim that few others in Scripture say so definitively. She says, "I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask...Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world." So rather than chide Martha, this story lifts her up as a woman of incredible faith. I wish we had more Martha's in this world.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

In Philippians 2, Paul spends much time describing the humility of Jesus, who understood that God was greater than he was, who humbled himself by becoming a man, and who became like a servant - giving his life to others until his dying breath. I don't know of many other chapters in Scripture that show this characteristic in Jesus than John 13. Jesus does the job that usually a slave or servant would do, and he washes the dirty feet of the disciples. He also shares that if Jesus, their Lord and leader, gives his life in service to others, then they too should take on the same approach. And they do. As the church sparks in Acts 2, we find the disciples sharing what they have to care for the poor. They are following in the footsteps of Jesus.

3. What does this mean for my life?

In John 12:24 Jesus says, "...unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." He then talks about following Jesus to mean serving him and losing your life for him. I don't think he is only talking about dying, like a martyr in a persecuted country. I think his is talking about living your life for God - keeping his kingdom purposes at the forefront of your life and devoting time, energy, and resources to do what God has called you to do. The apostle Paul uses the analogy of being "poured out like a drink offering" to describe how he is spending/investing his life for God's purposes.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

In John 14:13-14, Jesus says, "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." What does he mean by "anything"? I would guess he means anything, but why don't things happen when we pray in Jesus's name? I know some, even many, prayers are answered, but there are a lot left unanswered or the answer is no. So is it because we ask without enough faith? any faith? Is it because of sin in our life? Does "anything" mean "anything that God already wants to do?" I'm just not sure. In the meantime, I'm going to keep praying boldly in Jesus' name and watching for God's hand at work.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John10 - Voice Recognition

Click here to read John 10:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

"When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (John 10:4-5 NIV)" This really stood out to me, to know that sheep follow the shepherd because they know his voice. To know the voice of the Father = knowing the voice of Jesus = knowing the promptings of the Holy Spirit = knowing God's Word (the Bible).

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

It's interesting to me to hear Jesus talk about other sheep that are not yet here. There remains to be people to gather into the flock. He then talks about there being one flock, and he will be the shepherd. In John 17, Jesus prays for unity, that there would be a oneness among believers just as he and the Father are one. The Bible also talks about "Gentiles" which basically describes anyone who was not Jewish by birth. From the beginning God's plan was to make salvation available to them too. Isaiah 49:6 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.”

3. What does this mean for my life?

I think more than being a political-type leader, picturing Jesus as a shepherd is a very comforting thought. A political leader sets policies and works from an office. A shepherd leads by mere presence. A shepherd walks with and talks with his sheep. A shepherd protects his sheep. A shepherd loves his sheep. That's the kind of leader I want to follow.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I have thought about this in general while reading the gospels, but I wonder how much time passes between each section or chapter or event recorded in the gospels. Verse 22 says, "Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter..." So between verse 21 and 22, was it days that passed? Weeks? Months? He seems to talk about almost exactly the same thing, so my gut instinct is that not much time passed. I just think it's interesting to know that Jesus spent about 3 years in ministry, but we don't know much about the timing of each event.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John9 - Was blind but now I see!

Click here to read John 9:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

This chapter centers on a man born blind and his encounter with Jesus. Everyone in the story except Jesus misconstrues the man's "misfortune" as a punishment for something. The disciples assume that it was either he or his parents who sinned. The Pharisees remind him that he was steeped in sin from birth. Jesus is the only one that sees this man for who he is - a beloved creation of God. Jesus heals this man, but since it is on a Sabbath the Pharisees go nuts and grill the guy about Jesus. I love that he asks them if they want to be his disciples too. This man has a testimony that no one can argue with, and in sharing it he is pointing people to Jesus. He is the author of one lyrical line in "Amazing Grace." He says, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!"

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Jesus likes to heal on the Sabbath. Well, actually he likes to heal all the time, and some of those times happened to be the Sabbath. He was proving that there is no end, no pausing, no break for God's desire to help people. Yes, we should stop working on the Sabbath, but when someone needs help it is always time to help them. Here are some other accounts of Jesus healing on the Sabbath: Mark 3, Luke 13, and John 5.

3. What does this mean for my life?

It's easy to try to rationalize why certain things happen, but from a human perspective we are severely limited in our reasoning. Almost every time something bad happens, or someone goes through a challenging time, some well-meaning Christian says something like, "Everything happens for a reason." That kind of reminds me of the disciples. At best, that statement is not helpful. At worst, it leaves people to figure out why they are being punished. Perhaps the reason is you made a dumb choice not to study and now you're failing the test. Perhaps the reason is that this world is just broken. People get sick. Natural disasters happen. Employers have to make hard decisions. But I believe that no matter what the reason (if there is one), God wants to reveal himself to us more in every circumstance. He wants us to trust him in the midst of hardships. He wants to comfort us in times of loss. He wants to be our hope in times of despair. He wants to be our rock and refuge when the world is shifting all around us. I need to remember to turn to God in all circumstances.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

I always wondered why Jesus spit in the dirt to make mud and then put it in someone's eyes. Why didn't he just touch his eyes, or speak it over the man? It's kind of gross. However, if I knew it would make me see, I wouldn't care at all. I would just want him to do it.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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#John8 - Children of the devil!

Click here to read John 8:

1. What stood out to me from this chapter?

For anyone who just thinks that Jesus was a mild-mannered wimp in a white dress kissing babies and walking with sheep all the time, they do not know Jesus. John 8 is a prime display of the powerful paradox of Jesus' compassion and Jesus' strength and fortitude. Jesus is trying to teach the people about the unique relationship between himself and God the Father. The Pharisees come and challenge him with question after question. The ironic thing is that they are asking the right questions, they are just not willing to accept the answers Jesus gives. Because of their hard hearts, Jesus says that they if they were really Abraham's children, then they would believe in him. Instead he says they are children of the devil! That's harsh. Dem's fightin' words.

2. How does this relate to any other Scripture I know?

Jesus talks about being a slave to sin, but if we believe in him we are set free from the bondage of sin. There are other passages that also talk about being a slave to sin and finding freedom in Christ. Romans 6 talks about being freed from slavery to sin and offering ourselves as slaves to righteousness. Galatians 3:22-5:1 also talks about this issue. Anyone who has struggled with sinful addictions would verify right away that slavery to sin is a good way to describe our natural tendancies to please ourselves. The only way to be free is to receive a new life in Christ.

3. What does this mean for my life?

In the story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery, Jesus shines as he wins the day with grace and restores the woman back to the truth. Jesus did not walk around in judgment over others, but he always spoke the truth. He never sugar coated God's plan for life, and he never watered down God's commands. But he stood in direct contrast to the Pharisees who were quick to throw stones (literally) at someone who sinned. Jesus knew while he was here on earth, people didn't need another judge to walk around and tell them what they did was wrong. He knew we would all stand before the judge one day to give an account for our life. He knew we didn't just need another teacher to explain why adultery was wrong. He knew we needed a Savior, someone to free us from slavery to sin. So he did that. I need to also remember that although it's important that we all know and understand God's word to the best of our abilities, we should exercise grace and even stand up for others.

4. What questions do I have about this passage?

At the very end of the chapter, Jesus makes a statement that really sets the Pharisees off. He says, "Before Abraham was, I am!" Now, I don't think that was just a grammar slip. I think what he was doing was using God's holy name of "I AM" for himself. Is this accurate? I know that the New Testament was written in Greek and the Old Testament in Hebrew, so I don't know if that translates perfectly or not. That would be interesting to find out.

Those are my thoughts for this chapter. I'd love to hear yours. God's blessings to you and KEEP DIGGING IN!

In Christ,
Dan

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