Bible Study

I hope that you will continue to read and study your Bibles during this time between Christmas and New Years. I'm going to take a break from writing this week and pick up the study again on January 2. If you have a request for which book to begin with in January please leave a comment and recommendation.
Sid

Dec. 26

Read John 8:31-47
 ³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵ Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. ³⁷ I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. ³⁸ I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father. (NIV)






There is no room in the inn we have recently heard in the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke and now today we hear Jesus tell people that they are rejecting him because they don't have any room in their hearts for the word of God that he speaks. We would like to think that we would not have turned Mary and Joseph away from the inn and made them use the stable for Jesus birth. We would like to think that we would have hung on every word that Jesus spoke if we had been there and heard his teaching and seen his miracles. We would have made room we tell ourselves!
But let's be honest, there is still no room. We crowd Jesus out with many things that have much less value and yet have become far more important to us than our faith. It might not be obvious to us but the truth is that we continue to allow ourselves to become enslaved to the things of this world both physical stuff and emotional bondage that keeps us stuck. Jesus words are hard but they are true. The only way to break free from the bondage is to clean house and make room. Would there be a better time to start than today.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• How would the people of God understood their history and God's intervention if they denied the years of slavery in Egypt?
• Where have you seen Jesus crowded out of people's lives this Christmas season?
• What do you need to clear out of your life to make room for Jesus in the coming year?
• What can you begin doing on a daily basis to make sure that Jesus has room in your life?

Dec. 25

Merry Christmas!
^{Luke 2:1-5}About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.

 ^6-7While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.

 ^8-12There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

 ^13-14At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:

   Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
   Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.

 ^15-18As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.

 ^19-20Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told! (The Message)

Dec. 24

Read 2 Corinthians 13

^11-13And that's about it, friends. Be cheerful. Keep things in good repair. Keep your spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable. Do all that, and the God of love and peace will be with you for sure. Greet one another with a holy embrace. All the brothers and sisters here say hello. (The Message)

Yesterday we heard Paul say that we should take responsibility and grade ourselves on our level of faith. Now at the end of the letter Paul again focuses upon what that faith looks like and I'm amazed at how simple it all really should be. Once we get the reality of Jesus putting that reality into focus in our lives should not be as difficult as we often make it. Sometimes it is easier to get caught up in the debate of how many angels can fit on the head of a pin rather than to actually ask ourselves if we are working at getting along with each other.

As you prepare for the end of this calendar year and begin to think about what the new year will hold why not keep it simple and focus upon the basics.  

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What two things have you leaned from Paul as you have read these two letters to the Corinthians?
• Why do you think it is easier to focus upon details rather than the attitudes such as cheerfulness?
• Would people you meet be more likely to think you were cheerful or sour? Why?
• What simple thing might you do in the coming year to be more cheerful on a regular basis?

Dec. 23

Read 2 Corinthians 13
Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. (The Message)

As Paul is closing out this letter he states what should be the obvious but something which many of us miss these days. Paul says without holding much back that our faith is our responsibility. The way we have grown in our faith and express it on a regular basis is up to us. It is easy to blame our parents for not raising us right or giving us the right opportunities. We can blame the preacher for not giving us meaty enough sermons or the teacher for not making the lessons clear enough but these are excuses and not reasons. In all reality it comes down to the way we are responding to the grace and love of Jesus Christ.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• On a scale of 1-10 where would you grade yourself on the faith scale? Why?
• On a scale of 1-10 where would those who know you best place you on the faith scale? Why?
• What do you need to begin doing to raise your grade on the faith scale?
• Who can you ask to help you stay focused upon raising your grade in the coming year?

Dec. 22

Read 2 Corinthians 12

^16-18And why is it that I keep coming across these whiffs of gossip about how my self-support was a front behind which I worked an elaborate scam? Where's the evidence? Did I cheat or trick you through anyone I sent? I asked Titus to visit, and sent some brothers along. Did they swindle you out of anything? And haven't we always been just as aboveboard, just as honest? (The Message)

If you have never been the subject of gossip you either live in a cave and are know by no one or you are delusional and living in a fantasy world. Paul understands the potential damage that gossip can bring because he has seen it's damage to his own ministry and to the lives of others. The problem with gossip is that it never really is able to be confronted. It is often things that can't be proved wrong because it centers around peoples motives and unseen actions. Gossip casts a cloud around peoples intentions and it had very real possibilities of derailing Paul's ministry. In our contemporary language Paul is telling the people to either put up or shut up. He is saying that if they have prof of what they are whispering to show it and prove him wrong. 

When faced with the knowledge that I am being gossiped about I often wonder what is the best response: to call out the gossip and prove it to be wrong or to hope and pray that my integrity and time will show the lies that are being spread. 

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• How do you think Paul felt when he learned that others were spreading lies about him?
• How do you feel when you learned that someone has been spreading lies about you?
• What do you think is the best way to respond to gossip, confront it or hope it goes away?
• How might you be contributing to the spread of gossip about someone else?

Dec. 21

Read 2 Corinthians 12
 ^7-10Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, 

   My grace is enough; it's all you need. 
   My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. (The Message)

Wouldn't you like to know what Paul thought his handicap was? I know I sure would but what difference would it make if we knew? I've often wondered if Paul's handicap was something that we would consider a handicap today? Did he have a limp or a speech impediment? Did he have a physical ailment that kept him from being as active as he would have liked? It could have been any of these things or it could have been non of them. The truth is that whatever Paul's handicap was in his own eyes God used him to an extent far beyond anything that Paul could have anticipated. Paul would have liked to have it gone and prayed for it to be taken away but God intervened and finally Paul was able to let it go and accept his situation. At some point Paul was able to quit using his circumstances as an excuse and instead allow God to shine through his circumstances for God's glory. It is a lessen that each of us could benefit by learning.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What different things have you heard might have been Paul's handicap?
• What do you think finally allowed Paul to quit asking God do take away his handicap?
• Are there things in your life that you have been asking God to take away so that you might be more active in living out your faith life?
• How might your life be different if you accepted your shortcomings rather than praying for them to be taken away?

Dec. 20

Read 2 Corinthians 11

^28-29And that's not the half of it, when you throw in the daily pressures and anxieties of all the churches. When someone gets to the end of his rope, I feel the desperation in my bones. When someone is duped into sin, an angry fire burns in my gut. (The Message)

You might think that with all of the work that Paul was doing in sharing the message of Jesus around the Mediterranean region that he wouldn't have the time or energy to become personally invested in individual groups or people. That assumption would be far from true as can be seen in this chapter in 2 Corinthians. Paul cared and it hurt him to think that people he knew and loved would be suffering or would turn away from Jesus and pick of sinful actions and attitudes again. The more people that Paul met and welcomed into the family of Jesus followers the more his heart seemed to expand. Not only did he care but he communicated that caring to those who needed the encouragement. When Paul writes to the Corinthians he isn't writing as someone who is only giving facts and figures or debating fine points of ethics or morality, he is writing as one who cares and sees the potential hurt and destruction that is possible if things don't change. Paul encourages me to ask if my heart is expanding or contracting in the people I love and care about.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• How do you think Paul was able to care about so many different churches and people?
• What might be signs of a persons heart expanding in love to more and more people?
• As you have read Paul's letters how have you seen Paul's love to others expressed?
• In what ways might God be inviting you to express your love to others in the coming days?

Dec. 19

Read John 8: 12-30
¹²Jesus once again addressed them: "I am the world's Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in." (The Message)

The days are short and getting shorter. It is the time of year when the darkness seems to be ever present and there is just not enough light to get through the day. Into these days comes the anticipation of Christmas and the light of the world coming into the darkness. Advent helps us get from darkness into the light. It allows us to look at ourselves and the world around us with honesty and see again how really dark the world would be without the hope of Jesus Christ.  Unfortunately we have tried to chase the dark away with other things. We have filled the darkness with lighted trees and fancy displays of Santa Claus flying over the wise men as they journey to the stable. When we hear the the words of Jesus, "I am the light of the world!" we just don't get the full impact. The truth is that we have filled the dark with artificial light to the point that we no longer truly marvel at the great light that Christ brings into this dark world. If you want to see the light of Christ in all of His glory turn off the lights of Christmas and allow yourself to come out of the darkness into the light.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• When the people of Jesus day heard him say, "I am the light of the world" what image do you think came to mind first?
• How do the winter days of darkness impact your life?
• What do you do to help your self get ready to celebrate Jesus birth?
• What might you turn off or give up in your life to better allow yourself to experience Jesus coming as the light of the world?

Dec. 18

Read 2 Corinthians 11
^1-3Will you put up with a little foolish aside from me? Please, just for a moment. The thing that has me so upset is that I care about you so much—this is the passion of God burning inside me! I promised your hand in marriage to Christ, presented you as a pure virgin to her husband. And now I'm afraid that exactly as the Snake seduced Eve with his smooth patter, you are being lured away from the simple purity of your love for Christ. (The Message)

There are people who do things and when I see their actions I might be disappointed but I don't give another thought about it. Then there are others whose actions make me immediately want to jump in and get involved. It all depends upon my level of involvement with the individual. Paul had a passion for the people of Corinth that wouldn't allow him to step back and ignore the possibilities of where their actions might take them. He was a part of their accepting Jesus and he didn't want to see anything happen that might lead them astray. Paul's passion for the people drove him to stay involved and it must have made a difference in their lives and faith. Everyone should have someone like Paul who is passionate about their lives and willing to get involved and should also have others who make us become passionate about their lives.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• How does Paul demonstrate his passion for the Corinthians?
• Has anyone ever become passionate about your life and future in a positive way?
• Who has God brought into your life that you are passionate about their faith and future?
• What difference might you be able to make in someones life by becoming more involved in their faith development?

Dec. 17

Read 2 Corinthians 10
 ^7-8You stare and stare at the obvious, but you can't see the forest for the trees. If you're looking for a clear example of someone on Christ's side, why do you so quickly cut me out? Believe me, I am quite sure of my standing with Christ. You may think I overstate the authority he gave me, but I'm not backing off. Every bit of my commitment is for the purpose of building you up, after all, not tearing you down. (The Message)

Over the past year we have seen a number of high profile people fall off the role model platform. We have seen that what they have wanted us to think about them is not in line with what they actually do and say. This of course is disappointing and makes us suspect others. Before we know it we will become so jaded that we won't believe or trust anyone and we will always be looking for the hidden reality behind the public mask that others wear. In fact we usually don't know what to do with someone who truly is transparent and totally honest about themselves including their thoughts and actions. Today we wouldn't know what to do with Paul, he would have a more difficult time being heard today than in his own time because everyone would be looking for the inconsistence in his words and actions. Everyone would want to uncover the real Paul so that they didn't have to pay attention to his words. Paul carried theological and moral authority with him where ever he went. Unfortunately we no longer trust those who might carry the same authority today and our world is worse for this reality.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• How and why do you think Paul's authority was called into question?
• Who do you see today that can speak with moral and theological authority? What gives them this opportunity?
• Who were your role models growing up? Who are they today?
• Who might God have brought into your life to speak with authority about spiritual and moral issues that you need to pay closer attention to?

Dec. 16

Read 2 Corinthians 10
^1-2And now a personal but most urgent matter; I write in the gentle but firm spirit of Christ. I hear that I'm being painted as cringing and wishy-washy when I'm with you, but harsh and demanding when at a safe distance writing letters. Please don't force me to take a hard line when I'm present with you. Don't think that I'll hesitate a single minute to stand up to those who say I'm an unprincipled opportunist. Then they'll have to eat their words. (The Message)

Consistence is something children want from their parents and students want in their teachers. Young people, especially children don't like it when people keep changing the rules or how they are responding to circumstances. The truth is that even adults prefer to deal with others who behave in a consistent way. We don't like to have to spend the emotional time and energy trying to figure out why someone has responded in the way they have that seems different from the norm. In fact when a person is inconsistent in their responses we might call them troubled.
Paul was many things but through out his letters you would find it difficult to build a case against him as being inconsistent. His role is to preach Christ and him crucified and he does everything he can to keep that mission in front of him in all that he does and especially in the ways that he relates to others. Paul's warning here seems  a bit out of place until you understand that what he is saying as a parent or teacher might be to a young child. He is basically saying, "you know the rules and what I've said. If you think I won't remind you of those rules when I'm there in person you are mistaken."

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Why do you think some people might have wanted to portray Paul as wishy washy?
• When the people heard Paul's warning what might have been their first thoughts?
• Has anyone ever accused you of being wishy washy?
• How might you become more consistent in your faith and life?

Dec. 15

Read 2 Corinthians 9
^12-15Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they'll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough! (The Message)

Giving is never a one way street. I'm convinced that those who give with a joyous heart always receive more than than the intended recipient, it just seems to work that way. When I give at the leading of God I'm able to walk away without worrying about how the gift is going to be used. The only thing that matters to me is that I've been faithful to God in my giving. This means that I have to be sure that I'm giving in response to God's leading and not to avoid feeling guilty over my affluence or spending habits. God seems to have wired our hearts to feel positive about doing the right things in assisting others who can benefit by our giving. When we begin to see our giving as an opportunity to participate in praising God there really is no stop to what we are capable of giving.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• How well do you think Paul's appeal to give would have gone over he would have simply stated the need of the poor in Jerusalem?
• Can you recall a time when you experienced great joy by giving? What was special about it?
• Do you give because you want to avoid feeling guilty or because you enjoy giving?
• How might you better align your giving with God's heart for others?

Dec. 14

Read 2 Corinthians 9
^6-7Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. (The Message)

I've heard it all when it comes to people asking for help. I've gotten letters telling me how much I can help by giving even a small amount with the request picture of a pleading child on the front. I've had people tell me that things just won't get done if I don't pull out my check book and write a check to (fill in the blank) before it's to late. But I hardly ever give to these requests any longer. It isn't that I've gotten hardened or fear being taken advantage of by someone. I don't get caught in the sob stories because I know what God has put on my heart for significant giving. I know that I will tithe to my church and then give over and above that to several organizations which I support their mission. I give generously so I don't mind saying no or throwing mass mailings away without opening them. At the end of the year when I tally up the giving for tax purposes I don't have any regrets for how much I have given or to where it has gone because I've planned ahead. In fact because I plan ahead I'm usually able to give to some people or organizations that I hadn't planned on without worrying about it.
I think this is what Paul has in mind here.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• We often hear that God loves a cheerful giver, do you think you are a cheerful giver?
• Why do you think Paul encourages people to plan their giving?
• How do you plan your giving to areas of need?
• Where do you think God wants you to concentrate your giving?

Dec. 13

Read 2 Corinthians 8

So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it. Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands. This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way, your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even. As it is written, 

   Nothing left over to the one with the most, 
   Nothing lacking to the one with the least. (The Message)

When we make a commitment other people begin to count on us following through. Paul is encouraging the people of Corinth to follow through with their commitment to help the poor in Jerusalem. He has reminded them of the grace that they have received and the ways that others have given generously and now he says that it is their turn to finish what they have started.
One of the reasons people make for not committing to things such as giving a certain amount to a church or non-profit is the fear of not being able to see it through. They feel like if things change then they should be able to change their giving as well. While I believe that in principle this is true and I don't personally know any leader in a church or non-profit who would expect people to give while putting their or their families health and security at risk. The problem that Paul was addressing and I think is still true is that we often put our giving behind our own wants. So if we find a car that costs a little bit more than we had planned but we really want it we justify lowering our giving so that we can cover our "need". The reason why commitments in giving and any other area of faith is so important is that without the commitment our chance of following through drops significantly. Over and over again people have shown that those who write down their goals are more likely to achieve them and those who write down their goals and share them with others are the most likely to achieve what they desire.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Do you think the people of Corinth felt guilt when Paul reminded them of what they had committed to do? What do you think was their response?
• How do you go about trying to make sure you achieve your goals?
• What might Paul challenge you to complete that you have wanted to do but not yet finished?
• Who do you need to share your goals for the coming year with so that you are most likely to meet them?

Dec. 12

Read John 8:1-11
 ⁹ At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰ Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

   ¹¹ “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (NIV)

I imagine that we have all been there before. Standing before others who make no bones about pointing out how we have fallen short. Maybe it is for what we have done and we feel guilty ourselves about it and everyone else just piles it on. It could be that it is nothing that people are making us feel shame for who we are and not what we have done. What ever the circumstances might be that feeling of loneliness is intense and when we are there the one thing we want above all else is for someone to simply love us for who we are without judgement or expectation.
Jesus comes to this woman and does not join the crowd in accusing her. He does not even debate with them over her guilt or innocence. He simply points out to them that all of us our guilty of one sin or another. It is a powerful moment for the woman but also for those who set down their rocks and walk away. When we recognize our own sin and how guilty we actually are the need for forgiveness is always in front of us. It is a need that we want to receive and should be a need for us to give as well. Love comes at its deepest level in an act of forgiveness. It is something that we do not deserve and cannot earn on our own. It should be at the heart of our Christmas activities.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What do you think the women first thought Jesus would do when he showed up?
• How might this encounter with Jesus have changed the woman's life?
• What helps you to remember that you need to give forgiveness and grace to others?
• What do you need the most right now, to be forgiven or to forgive? What is keeping you from it?

Dec. 11

Read 2 Corinthians 8
I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could—far more than they could afford!—pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians. (The Message)

Paul is teaching the Corinthians an important lesson with this story. He is telling them about the generosity of people who the Corinthians assumed were some of the poorest of the poor. Behind the story looms the question, if they could give so generously what is keeping you from giving even more? This isn't a unique circumstance however. I regularly come across statistics that show people with lower incomes give a higher percentage of their resources to charity than those with more resources. In fact Paul says they gave more than they could afford!

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Do you think Paul was surprised by the giving of the Macedonians? Why or why not?
• Have you ever been on the receiving end of a gift that was truly extravagant from someone you didn't think could afford it? How did it make you feel?
• What do you think is an appropriate percentage of your resources to give to others on a regular basis?
• Where is God inviting you to give generously even extravagantly to this Christmas season?

Dec. 10

Read 2 Corinthians 7

And now, isn't it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You're more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. (The Message)

There are many things in my life that I would not like to do over. There are plenty of experiences that were not fun at the time and seem to have no redeeming value in and of themselves that I and those close to me have gone through. I don't blame God for any of them but I know now that God was there in the midst of them all. Because of the life I've lived I've been drawn close to a living God who is there in the midst of all things both good and bad. Paul recognizes the ways in which the trials of life invite us to turn toward God and learn things that we would never learn if we could make it on our own. This is a learning that does not come easily or quickly but once you learn it life itself seems to change dramatically. It is to bad that you can't learn this lesson from books or wise teachers. The only way I know to learn this lesson is to spend time reflecting upon your life. By reflecting upon the way you have allowed the events of your life to impact how you laugh, love, and learn you can begin to see the presence of God in the midst of it all. 

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• How do you think the Corinthians felt when they first heard Paul say how wonderful it was that they had undergone the pain that they had experienced?
• What do you think makes a person fully alive?
• What is the hardest thing that you have ever faced but now wouldn't give it up because of what you learned or how you grew in the midst of it?
• What difficult thing are you facing now that you might be able to look at as an opportunity to grow closer to God as a result of? What can you do to help you keep your focus upon growing closer to God during this time?

Dec. 9

Read 2 Corinthians 7
 ^8-9I know I distressed you greatly with my letter. Although I felt awful at the time, I don't feel at all bad now that I see how it turned out. The letter upset you, but only for a while. Now I'm glad—not that you were upset, but that you were jarred into turning things around. You let the distress bring you to God, not drive you from him. The result was all gain, no loss. (The Message)

In Paul's desire to be faithful to Jesus he sometimes found himself having to say unpopular things. It wasn't that he liked conflict (you should probably steer clear of anyone who says they actually like conflict) but that he was willing to face conflict for the greater purpose of being faithful. He knew that without making people face the reality of their choices to follow their own desires rather than God's desires that they would end up falling away from Jesus and losing out on the fullness of life that God wants for us all. By being willing to say the hard things Paul was able to help the people of Corinth return to following Jesus in a deeper and more faithful way. We can only wonder what might have happened if Paul had not been willing to confront the issues that he God made him aware of in the lives of the Corinthians.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• How long do you think it took the Corinthians to be thankful that Paul brought up hard things for them to wrestle with about their actions and attitudes?
• What might have been the result if Paul had been unwilling to say the hard things that the people of Corinth needed to hear?
• Have you ever been confronted by someone about your actions or attitudes in such a way that you were able to change and become more Christ like? How did they do it?
• Is there a conversation that God has been encouraging you to have that might help someone to return to faithfulness in a new and more vigorous way? What is keeping you from having that conversation?

Dec. 8

Read 2 Corinthians 6
Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God's holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. (The Message)

One definition of a partnership is that of two or more individuals working together toward a common goal with both shared risks and rewards. Partnerships are something that is not just found in the business world but is something that each of us enter into on a regular basis both formally and informally. As several of us are working toward the healthy establishment of a new church model we together are entering a partnership with the shared goal of working with Jesus in the furthering of the Kingdom of God in the places we find ourselves today.
Paul warns us of the risks not just in business or ministry but also in relationships when he warns people not to be unequally yoked when it comes to marriage. The basic message behind Paul's warning is that when we don't have a common goal of serving God and following Jesus we are going to run into conflict and trouble. It is that conflict which Paul knows will eventually lead us to make choices about the things that we do and those choices will often times end up not honoring God.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What do you think the difference is between Paul's warning not to enter into unholy partnerships and his encouragement to engage those who don't believe in Jesus?
• Where have you seen unhealthy partnerships take place in the world around you?
• If you could describe the best possible partnership to enter into what would it look like?
• What do you need to do to take stock of the partnerships that you are engage with?

Dec. 7

Read 2 Corinthians 6
^11-13Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!

"I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of." John 10:10 (The Message)

What do we settle for in life and why? It is a question that is ultimately not about things, positions, power, or prestige. The question is one that has to do with right now and the way we live in the midst of life. Paul was asking the Corinthians not why they weren't rich and healthy in the midst of want but rather why they were not filled with joy in the midst of persecution, pain, and poverty.
When ever we confuse abundant life with things we are going to find ourselves stuck. Because things are always temporary and someone else is going to have more things. We can not base our joy upon the stuff around us. We are going to have to look for meaning in our lives beyond health and wealth if we are to live the lives that Jesus promises.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• How do you think the people of Corinth responded to Paul's question of why do you settle?
• What does abundant life mean to you?
• What determines how much joy you have in your life?
• Make a list of the changes that you could make in your life that might allow you to live life more open and expansively and share it with someone else.

Dec. 6

Read 2 Corinthians 5
Because of this decision we don't evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don't look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! (The Message)

First impressions matter! Or at least that is how the popular saying goes and if you are interviewing for a job or going on a blind date or are any where else where you most likely only have one opportunity to make an impression you had  better believe it. Paul knew that his first impressions of the followers of Jesus was wrong. He had persecuted them and  done everything he could do scare them away from their faith and practice because he saw them as a threat to the Jewish way of life. But he had a change of heart when he himself encountered Jesus. He no longer saw the Christians in the same way. He moved from looking at the outside of people and making assumptions about the people to asking the deeper question of what was on the inside. In very simple terms he began to look for the image of God which each person carried within them. This didn't mean that Paul starting looking at everyone as if they were all right. Paul still was able to pass judgement and discern right motives among people but he was looking for something different now. He was letting people's past impact his present view of them. Paul was personally living out a new life of grace and was looking for others who were living the same way.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• If you had had Paul's experience of moving from hunting down the followers of Jesus to being one of the most prominent followers of Jesus how do you think you would look at your past?
• How much do you let people's past influence the way you treat them today?
• What do you hope non of your current friends find out about your past?
• What might you begin doing today to help you look for the image of God that might dwell within people you encounter on a daily basis?

Dec. 5

Read John 7: 45-53
⁴⁷ “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. ⁴⁸ “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? ⁴⁹ No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

 ⁵⁰ Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, ⁵¹ “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

 ⁵² They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.” (NIV)

When the second candle of Advent is lit it is often called the candle of peace. Jesus is often referred to as the Prince of Peace and yet the contemporaries of Jesus would not have thought of Jesus as having a lot of peace around him. In fact Jesus seemed to make people such as the Pharisees angry on a regular basis. The Pharisees seemed to have already made their minds up about Jesus and they weren't going to change no matter what happened. Because of their hardness of heart they missed seeing what God was doing in and through Jesus.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Have you ever had your mind made up about Jesus and refused to consider learning anything else new about him only to be surprised later?
• Where do you need Jesus to bring peace into your world?
• How might you be able to represent Jesus to someone who has made up their mind that there is nothing good to consider about Jesus?
• Where might you need to bring some conflict in order to better represent Jesus as the Prince of Peace?

Dec. 4

Read 2 Corinthians 5
^9-10But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that's what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later we'll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what's coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad. (The Message)

How about if today you try to do one thing and one thing only? During this advent season it would seem appropriate if we tried to live out Paul's directive here to the Corinthians and did everything we could to please God. Spend a day focusing upon pleasing God, not your parents, your spouse, your children, or even the stranger on the street. I'm guessing that all of these people might be impacted by your attempts to please God but that is not the focus of the day.
It will look different for each one of us but it will most like also look different from what we have been doing on a given day. But it is Christmas and why not take the risk. Live today to please God and don't worry about anything else.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What do you see in Paul's life that indicated he was living to please God?
• What difference might it make in the way you live if you focused more upon pleasing God than yourself or others?
• Which would be more difficult giving up trying to please others or trying to please yourself?
• Find someone that will try this out with you on the same day and promise to talk about your experience with each other soon.

Dec. 3

I apologize for missing the last couple of days. Some dental issues made it hard to concentrate and stay on top of things. Hopefully I will be back to writing regularly now.

Read 2 Corinthians 4
 ^16-18So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever. (The Message)

Paul has seen his share of hard times. There were all kind of reasons for him to give up and say that his ministry was done and that he couldn't do any more, but he never gives up. Paul knows that what he is going through is not the end but the beginning, the beginning of the Kingdom of God.
There are many times that we too might be tempted to give up. It could be that we have seen more than our share of physical problems or the relationships we find ourselves in seem to be eating us up and we just don't know how we can continue. None of the things that we face are unique. People have been going through the same things that we face today in different ways for many years. Those who have chosen to place their faith in Jesus have shown that nothing is to great or to overwhelming that with God's help and Jesus' presence it can't be faced. One of the things that those who have gone through these things can teach us is that when we keep our eyes on eternity today is doable.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• When do you think Paul was tempted to give up?
• What do you think kept Paul going through all his trials?
• Who do you know who has persevered through the most difficult trials? What kept them going ?
• What can you do today to remind yourself to keep looking toward eternity?

Nov. 29

Read 2 Corinthians 4
^1-2Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we're not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don't twist God's Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God. (The Message)


One of the problems the early church dealt with was that there were people who spread the idea that there was secret information about Jesus/God that if you knew that information you were guarantied entry into heaven. Paul though makes it clear that there is nothing that he or those with him have done in secret. He puts it all out there and wants to make sure everyone knows that he isn't hiding anything from them.
Paul wanted the Corinthians to know that he is who he is and doesn't play games or put on a false front for them. It is a life that Jesus encourages when he tells his disciples that their yes should be yes and their no should be no. It is also a life that each of us should try to emulate.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Why do you think it was important to Paul that everyone knew that he was always trying to be sure that he was transparent about Jesus?
• When you hear others talk about Jesus do you trust that what they are saying is true or do you look for what is not being said?
• What is easier for you to be transparent or to ware a mask and hide from others? Why?
• What message do you think you send to people when you are not transparent?

Nov. 28

Read John 7:14-24
¹⁴ Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.¹⁵ The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?”

 ¹⁶ Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. ¹⁷ Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. (NIV)

While Advent begins we continue to explore what John has to say about Jesus. The good news is that it isn't just what John or even Jesus has to say about Jesus that we can focus upon. We understand that the whole Bible helps us to see Jesus. It isn't always perfectly clear because we don't understand all of God's ways. Advent is a time when we can look back at the Old Testament and see more clearly what was being said about the promises of God and how Jesus was coming to fulfill those promises. Advent is a time of preparation, waiting, and anticipation. May we all use it for looking to see Jesus more clearly.


Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• When Thanksgiving is over and you begin to look forward to Christmas that Bible stories first come to mind?
• Jesus says that his teaching comes from the same God whose teaching is found through out the Bible. Where do you see Jesus's teaching in the Old Testament?
• When you do what Jesus says we should do what do you learn about life?
• What one teaching of Jesus might you practice regularly during this Advent season in preparation for Christmas?

Nov. 27

Read 2 Corinthians 3
 ^16-18Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.(The Message)

There are times when a person suddenly realizes that they need to take better care of their bodies. They decide to get healthy and they start eating better and exercising and can't wait until they see the results. The problem with changing to a healthy lifestyle is that it takes time to see the full results and it ends up being a lot of hard work. The reality is that because it takes time and work the majority of people give up before they reach their goals. Just knowing that they would be better off if they did these things doesn't change their bodies or behavior. The knowledge and desire has to be joined by the determination and commitment before anything will ever happen.
It is the same way with growing to become like Jesus. Knowing we need to change and wanting to become more like Jesus are good first steps but actually leaving the old person behind and taking on the new person of Jesus within us takes work. We have to leave old behaviors behind and take on new patterns of looking at our time, finances, and relationships. But the good news is that we can and will be changed the more we live for and with Jesus as our focus.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What do you think the phrase seeing God face to face meant for Paul personally?
• Paul's life seemed to be radically changed in a moment but we don't know much about the years he spent away from the crowds before he began his ministry. If Paul had immediately started his ministry after the Damascus Road experience how do you think it might have been different?
• How do the things that you do each day make you more/less likely to reflect Jesus to others?
• What changes in your living do you need to make to begin becoming even more like Jesus?

Nov. 26

Read 2 Corinthians 3
Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it. (The Message)

I don't know if you have noticed but there seems to be a problem with most mirrors. When many people stand in front of a mirror they see themselves as the pudgy young teen with braces and acne who heard every day that they weren't beautiful or they see the young trim athlete who could do anything and everyone cheered their every move. What they see is what they used to be and not what they are today. The problem is that when we let the image in the mirror tell us who we are we are listening to a lie and it keeps us from allowing the reality of our lives from shinning through. The only cure for the lying mirror is the honest love of another. Love that tells us who they see everyday when they are with us. We can hear from them that we are a lovable person of great beauty and joy or even a self centered adult who needs to get over themselves.
We can try to see ourselves as we really are in a mirror but the truth is that a letter cannot read itself it must be read by someone else. But being read does not make a difference unless we are willing to accept the reality. Sometimes the reality is hard to accept because we know that we really are not who we would like to be at this point in our lives. The good news is that we are continually being written by the hand of God who has fearfully and wonderfully made us in His image.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Knowing what you do about Paul's life how do you think others would have seen Jesus within him?
• When you look in  a mirror who do you see?
• What lies from your childhood still impact the way you see yourself?
• Whose honest love do you need to listen to as you  more fully accept who you are today?

Nov. 25

Read 2 Corinthians 2
^14-16In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. (The Message)

Some people who have sensitivities to perfumes can tell you right away when someone has been in the space they are in with a particular scent. They can tell there is a fragrance present that others don't seem to notice. The image can be positive if the smell brings good memories to mind. It might be negative if the person is repulsed by the smell. Paul says that believers leave a fragrance where ever they go. It is a scent that should be sweet both to God and to others.
What do you smell like?

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• How important do you think perfumes were for the people of Paul's day?
• How do you think Paul would describe a person who smelled of Jesus?
• What 'scent' did you leave behind yesterday in the places you were?
• Is there any way you could improve the way you 'smell?'

Nov. 24

Read 2 Corinthians 2
^9-11The focus of my letter wasn't on punishing the offender but on getting you to take responsibility for the health of the church. So if you forgive him, I forgive him. Don't think I'm carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I'm joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us. After all, we don't want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we're not oblivious to his sly ways! (The Message)

Sometimes grudges live on not in those who have been wronged but those who have been close to the one wronged. Maybe it is parent who won't let go of how someone else treated their child or maybe a spouse over the way a boss treated their loved one. Paul says if those closest to the situation forgive then he does as well. It is a lesson that we could learn well. To accept that someone has forgive another and is now ready to move on is a sign of health and joy and Paul says if they have forgive than he rejoices in that forgiveness. What that meant in a very real way was that when Paul came to see the Corinthians he was prepared to treat the person who had been on the outside as if they had not sinned. He was willing to not bring up their short comings and sin just because he hadn't been there to deal with it all.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Do you think it was difficult for Paul to forgive at a distance? Why or why not?
• Paul didn't want to carry around a lot of personal grudges, why do you think this was important to Paul?
• Do you know anyone who has refused to forgive someone even though others have forgiven them? What does it feel like to be around them?
• What grudges do you need to let go of so that you can move on with your relationships and life?

Nov. 23

Read  2 Corinthians 1

^12-14Now that the worst is over, we're pleased we can report that we've come out of this with conscience and faith intact, and can face the world—and even more importantly, face you with our heads held high. But it wasn't by any fancy footwork on our part. It was God who kept us focused on him, uncompromised. Don't try to read between the lines or look for hidden meanings in this letter. We're writing plain, unembellished truth, hoping that you'll now see the whole picture as well as you've seen some of the details. We want you to be as proud of us as we are of you when we stand together before our Master Jesus.

One of the things I have had to tell myself from time to time when going through a difficult situation is, "When this is all said and done the only thing I can make sure I get through it with is my integrity." I've found that you really can't make other people do what God wants done in any given situation. You can bribe, cajole, or even guilt people into doing something but all of those options have consequences outside of what God desires for living a life free in Christ. The only thing that we really have control of is the way we respond within any given situation and sometimes I wonder how free we really are because of the impact of our past experiences upon the ways we respond to people and situations.
Paul is celebrating here the fact that he has ridden out a crises with his head up and his integrity in tact. We aren't told what the circumstance were and that could be for the better because then we can insert whatever it is that is happening in our lives and believe that Jesus will carry us through that just as Paul was sustained through his time of trial.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• In the midst of Paul's journeys do you think he was ever tempted to compromise the way he lived his faith to make it easier for himself or others? Why or why not?
• Where in your life are you most tempted to compromise to make it easier?
• What does living a life of integrity look like for you?
• How might you encourage others going through a difficult time to hold on to their integrity?

Nov. 22

Read 2 Corinthians 1
^3-5All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too.

Starting our study of 2 Corinthians with this passage of praise seems appropriate with it being the week that we here in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving. Praise can be easy when we are in the midst of decent times. When our lives are filled with a few more blessings than the pain we experience praise seems to be able to flow easily from our lips and hearts. When we experience some pain either emotionally or physically it helps us to recognize the many ways we are blessed and it makes the pain easier to manage. But what do we do when the world seems to be weighted against us? What happens when we find ourselves crying out for mercy because the world seems to be crashing down around us and we wonder if there is anything that can possibly be good about life?
Paul says that Jesus uses us to encourage others who are going through what we have been through in those most difficult of times. The flip side of that is that Jesus also uses others who have been there before us to encourage us in the midst of our darkest times. It is a two way street of encouragement and it takes a willingness to open our lives to people so that we might be helped and that we might help others. The good news is that God can and will use whatever you are going through right now for someone else's benefit if you will allow it. Your pain and darkness will not be waisted if you allow it to be used by Jesus.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• How do you think Paul was able to continually praise God with everything that he faced?
• With the treat of torture and death facing the early believers how important do you think praise was for them on a daily basis?
• Which side of the scale do you find yourself on today, with more blessings than pain or more pain than blessings?
• What have you experienced in life that Jesus might use to encourage someone else in the midst of their pain?

Nov. 21

Read John 7: 1-13
^1-2 Later Jesus was going about his business in Galilee. He didn't want to travel in Judea because the Jews there were looking for a chance to kill him. It was near the time of Tabernacles, a feast observed annually by the Jews.

 ^3-5His brothers said, "Why don't you leave here and go up to the Feast so your disciples can get a good look at the works you do? No one who intends to be publicly known does everything behind the scenes. If you're serious about what you are doing, come out in the open and show the world." His brothers were pushing him like this because they didn't believe in him either. (The Message)

"Coincidences are God's way of remaining anonymous." (attributed to Albert Einstein)
There seems to be a necessity for the unknown and unknowable when it comes to faith. Jesus brothers and many of the disciples wanted to see exactly what Jesus was doing and have an answer for the reasons why and how. But Jesus, as we have seen so far, does many things that are hidden. He doesn't parade himself and his miracles out in front of everyone in John's gospel. There is something that would be lacking if we didn't have to take a leap into that which is unknowable when we place our trust in Jesus. It doesn't make it easy at times but that is what makes it faith.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Why do you think Jesus wanted to remain hidden?
• What do you think the disciples thought when they saw Jesus at the feast after he had told them that he wasn't going to go?
• If everything Jesus did today was highlighted by a billboard what would faith look like?
• When you do the work of Jesus is it easier if you tell people what you are doing or doing it silently? 

Nov. 20

On Monday we will start a new study with 2 Corinthians. Please come back and join us then.

Nov. 19

Read 1 Corinthians 16
^13-14Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, and love without stopping. (The Message)

Paul is wrapping up this first letter to the Corinthians and he is trying to find a way to remind them all of what he has said. These two versus happen to be a fairly good way of wrapping up not just what Paul says in this letter but what he says in all of his letters. It is a great reminder for all of us!

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• Having read this letter to the Corinthians do you think that this is Paul reminding them of everything he has said? Why or why not? Is something missing here that you think Paul was wanting to say?
• How do you live out these two versus on a regular basis?
• What do you need to do to more regularly live in the way Paul has encouraged in this letter?
• Where have you been tempted to stop loving this past week?

Nov. 18

Read 1 Corinthians 16
 ^1-4Regarding the relief offering for poor Christians that is being collected, you get the same instructions I gave the churches in Galatia. Every Sunday each of you make an offering and put it in safekeeping. Be as generous as you can. When I get there you'll have it ready, and I won't have to make a special appeal. Then after I arrive, I'll write letters authorizing whomever you delegate, and send them off to Jerusalem to deliver your gift. If you think it best that I go along, I'll be glad to travel with them. (The Message)

Here in this passage is a nugget of truth about giving that is often times glossed over. Paul encourages the people to set aside their giving each Sunday so that they will have what is needed when the time comes for them to give. This is important because unless we set aside what we are going to give we end up giving what we have left and it often times is enough to ease our guilt but usually not enough to meet the real need. Paul is saying set aside what you can an a regular basis so when you are faced with giving to a real need you will be able to do so joyously and without a second thought.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• What do you think Paul meant by, "be as generous as you can?"
• Do you set aside money to give to the pressing needs of others? Why or why not?
• What is keeping you from being a generous giver?
• What might you begin doing today so that you might be more joyous in your giving?

Nov. 17

Read 1 Corinthians 15
 ⁵⁸With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort. (The Message)

Yesterday we pondered the impact the resurrection has upon our faith and life. Today we see that for Paul the resurrection was not just an important part of his faith in Jesus but it was also what allowed him to do what he did without fear. Because Paul trusted in the resurrection of Jesus and the reality of his own being raised with Jesus he was able to throw himself into the work of Jesus with everything he had. It is that same intensity that Paul invites us to consider as well. Elsewhere Paul says that if he lives it is good if he dies it is good. When you can have that kind of an attitude nothing is to difficult or scary because there is really nothing to lose. While I know that I'm not where Paul was at yet I do hope that I'm getting closer to his attitude.

Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:

• In what areas do you think the Corinthians needed to be encouraged to stand their ground?
• Why do you think death is so scary for most people?
• What keeps you from throwing yourself completely into the work Jesus has for you?
• Where could you use a little less fear in your life right now?