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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 22, 2013
Topic: Jesus, Christian Living/Situational

Sufficiency

"Lord Jesus, I thank You for saving me, for forgiving all my sins, for making me a part of God's family and giving me a home in heaven. I know You are busy saving others, so I'll take it from here and do all I can for You."

Good prayer, right? Well, the first part is great--but the last part is not so great. Check out what Jesus told us.

Receive

"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5, NLT).

    Christ compares Himself to the vine and us to the branches. What happens to branches that are not attached to the vine?
    What does this verse mean when it refers to "fruit"?
    What can you do apart from Christ?

Salvation--the beginning (justification or getting saved), the middle (sanctification or living for Jesus) and the end (glorification or being in heaven and being like Jesus) all depends on Jesus: who He is, what He did for me on the cross, what He wants to do in my life now and what He will do for me in eternity.

Reflect

In light of what Jesus told us, read this verse and write out your understanding of sufficiency for a Christ-follower.

"Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5, ESV).

Read it again in this translation: "We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God" (2 Corinthians 3:4-5, NLT).

Now, explain sufficiency for a believer.

Respond

How do you live for the Lord, so He will be the enabler in your life? Perhaps the apostle Paul can help us.

"So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

"We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light" (Colossians 1:9-12, NLT).

Take time to pray this prayer for yourself. Then thank God that because Jesus is in your life, His sufficiency enables you to live in a way that pleases and honors Him and bears much fruit.

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 23, 2013
Topic: Faith/Trust, God

Sufficient for Everything

The story is told of a poverty-stricken lady who had never seen the ocean. After years of scrimping and doing without, she finally saved enough money to take a vacation by the seaside. As she stood on the beach watching the mighty waves roll in, she was overheard to say, "Well, what d'ya know, I've finally seen something there's enough of."

You and I, however, don't need a trip to the beach to see something that there is "enough of"; we only need to look at to our God. Let's see what His Word has to say about that.

Receive

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:7-10, ESV).

    Why was Paul given a "thorn in the flesh"?
    What was the solution to Paul's situation?
    What was Paul's response to God's solution?
    How can we be weak and strong at the same time as Paul claims?

Reflect

Paul's situation is a classic "good news/bad news" scenario. The good news is that God is sufficient for any situation. The bad news is that we have to go through difficult times to experience it. While most of us would prefer to avoid trials and tribulations, God's Word teaches us this is the only way we can prove God's sufficiency.

When we walk in the assurance that God is sufficient for every situation, we project a confidence that only Christians can have. The confidence is not that we will avoid hardships, but that God is able to see us through these difficulties--not simply to survive but to actually thrive.

Respond

This evening, light a candle and then turn off the lights. As you sit basking in the glow of the candlelight, think about these questions:

    When does the candle shine the brightest?
    What does this tell you about God's sufficiency?
    How does this apply to your life?

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 24, 2013
Topic: Service/Servanthood

Who Is Sufficient?

With the world's economy like it is, you're probably hearing the word insufficient pretty often these days. Those long lines to government offices aren't made up of people who are complaining about having all they need. The government can't print money fast enough to answer the pleas of the victims of insufficiency.

Sufficient is a truly biblical word. You can find it in several places. It carries the idea of "having enough" to do a job or an "ample amount" to meet your needs. It refers to "being able" or "having adequate resources or competence" to do what needs to be done.

You may think of money when you think of sufficiency or insufficiency, but let's look at what the Bible teaches about it because the Christian's sufficiency goes far beyond his or her material possessions.

Receive

The apostle Paul wrote about the effectiveness of his ministry, saying, "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Corinthians 3:5, ESV(.

God calls upon all His people to serve Him. The first thought many Christians have about service is that they are insufficient or incompetent to carry out such a holy and weighty task. Humanly speaking, they are right, but that is why God steps in and provides the competency or ability to do any task He calls them to do.

Basically, He enables you to serve by two different means: First, He gifts you to serve; second, He uses other gifted people to impart their skills to you. Let's look at a helpful example in the Old Testament and answer a few questions.

In Exodus, God gave the responsibility to design and craft the parts of the tabernacle, which was to be His temporary dwelling place on earth, to two men. One was named Bezalel and the other, Oholiab. Read Exodus 31:1-6 and Exodus 35:30-35.

In Exodus 31:1-6:

    Who ordered the building of the Tabernacle and its furnishings?
    Who appointed the people to do the task?
    Who provided the ability to get the job done?

Any similarity between the answers to these questions is not a coincidence. What does this tell you about serving God?

In Exodus 35:30-35:

    Besides providing wisdom and skills to Bezalel and Oholiab, what other ability did God give to them (v. 34)?

Finally, read Exodus 36:5-7 to see what else happened in the hearts of all the people.

    Was the provision of God sufficient (v. 7)?

Reflect

You serve the same God as Bezalel, Oholiab and their coworkers did. When you look at the overwhelming tasks God gives you to meet the needs of others, you may sometimes feel what Paul expressed in 2 Corinthians 2:16 (ESV)--"Who is sufficient for these things?"

The Lord's way of making disciples follows the model you see in Bezalel and Oholiab. He enables a believer; then that person teaches and strengthens another. Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV): "You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." The word, "able" is the translation of the Greek word meaning "sufficient."

    Where did Timothy's strength ultimately come from?
    Who had passed his competence on to Timothy?
    What was Timothy to do with his skills?

Respond

One of the pieces of furniture that Bezalel crafted for the tabernacle still remained intact almost 500 years later when Solomon became king of Israel (see 2 Chronicles 1:5).

Service that you do in the power of the Lord's sufficiency, however, lasts eternally and can be like gold, silver and precious gems (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Where do you get the gold and silver to build with? It's not earthly money, but the "works" God provides for you to do in the ministry He gives you (Ephesians 2:10).

Do you need more? Paul didn't.

    Memorize what he said in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 25, 2013
Topic: Hope

Hope

A few weeks ago, you would have heard the word hope thrown around a lot by little kids in toy stores. You may have used it once or twice yourself. But, coupled with that hope, there was a measure of uncertainty: would they really get what they longed for when they opened their presents. I imagine we've all experienced, at one time or another, disappointment on Christmas Day.

The Bible also talks about "hope." Is it the same hope that boys and girls, moms and dads hold onto until the gifts are unwrapped Christmas morning? Let's see what God says.

Receive

We probably all understand the concept of hoping for one thing and planning for another. We know that life is uncertain. So, while we hope for good weather for our weekend vacation, we pack the rain gear as well. But what would hope look like if it was placed in something--or Someone--who was 100 percent reliable?

Paul has an answer for us. "Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant....Since we have such a hope, we are very bold" (2 Corinthians 3:4-6,12, ESV).

Confidence, competence, sufficiency, boldness--these aren't words typically associated with hope. But when our hope is placed in the immortal, unchanging God, we can live with uncharacteristic boldness.

Throughout the pages of the Bible, God demonstrates His trustworthiness. Page after page tells us of wonderful deeds done by men and women acting in confident boldness because of hope in God.

The more you and I get to know God by spending time in prayer and reading His Word, the more our hope in Him will be strengthened.

Reflect

Read 2 Corinthians 3:4-12 and think about the following questions:

1. What does Paul see as deficient in the old Law given by Moses?

2. How has the person of Jesus Christ affected the ministry of the New Covenant?

Respond

There are many believers who like to keep a hymn book next to their Bibles. If you have one nearby, turn to the hymn "The Solid Rock" by Edward Mote. Reflect on the hope the hymnist has in Christ. Where does your hope in Christ stand in comparison? If you don't have a hymnal, the lyrics can easily be found online. But here are the first two stanzas and chorus:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.*

*Public Domain

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 26, 2013
Topic: Hope, Faith/Trust

Faith and Hope

Sometimes a result cannot be achieved without a combination of factors. For example, water requires that two molecules of hydrogen lock onto one molecule of oxygen or the desired results will never be obtained. Neither the hydrogen nor the oxygen by itself can produce water.

Enjoying the promises of God requires a combination of factors as well: faith and hope. Hope needs to lock arms with faith to fully realize all God promises us. Abraham is a good example.

Receive

"In hope he [Abraham] believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, 'So shall your offspring be.' He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was 'counted to him as righteousness'" (Romans 4:18-22, ESV).

    What hope did Abraham have?
    What circumstances might have destroyed this hope?
    What saved him from losing hope?
    What was the end result of Abraham's faith and hope?

Reflect

Sometimes we use the word hope to describe something we desire, but we're not sure whether we'll actually ever get it. That's not the way the Bible use this word. Because hope is always combined with faith in God's Word, biblical hope is never an uncertainty.

It is said that as Winston Churchill lay critically ill, he reflected on the conditions in the world he had helped to rescue. His dying words were: "There is no hope. There is no hope."

As believers, we never have to reach such a level of despair. Because we know what God promises both for us and this world (the Bible tells us), we can by faith look forward to the fulfillment of those promises. This gives us hope.

Respond

Do you have biblical hope? Make a list of the things you hope for. Then turn to God's Word to see what it says about these hopes. If the Bible confirms your hopes, then, by faith, lay hold of them. When you combine faith with hope, the results are always a certainty.

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 29, 2013
Topic: Hope

Genuine Hope

Many of us use the word hope as a synonym for wish. We say, "We hope this or that will happen," but in reality we have little confidence or certainty that it will. What we hope is what we'd like to see occur.

On God's terms, however, hope is a far stronger word. This genuine hope looks forward with confidence; it holds on with certainty; it believes without faltering. It is rooted in the faithfulness and trustworthiness of God.

Receive

Hope is something we usually need when life is rough. It's what keeps us going when everything in us says, "Give up." When trouble, uncertainty, chaos, disaster, depression or any other problem comes into our lives, from outside forces or of our own making, that's when we need hope.

And genuine hope has to begin with God. In Psalm 42:11, the writer pours out his troubles and then says,

"Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God" (ESV).

Only God--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--provides the hope we need because He can be trusted. He is sovereign, and He knows where things are going. He is faithful to His promises and will never fail. He is unchangeable, an anchor that never falters. This is why hope is so tightly tied to faith or trust: You can't enjoy the hope God offers if you don't trust Him or put your faith in Him.

Romans 15:13 says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" (ESV). God is the source; faith or believing is essential; joy and peace are hope's companions; and with the Holy Spirit's power, you can live in abundant hope. Or, as one translation puts it, "That God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." (NLT, emphasis added).

Reflect

How do you tap into this hope? Through Christ. Without Him, there is no hope. Take a look at Ephesians 2:11-13.

    What was it like for the Gentiles or those without Christ (2:11-12)?
    What changes at verse 13?
    How did this happen in your life?

See what Hebrews 6:17-20 says about tapping into hope.

    What makes God trustworthy to provide your hope (6:17-18 )?
    What does this hope bring to our lives (6:18-19)?
    Where does Jesus fit into this picture (6:19-20)?

Respond

The Bible has much to say about hope: hope for the future, the hope of salvation, etc. Use a concordance to do a word study for yourself and see what you discover.

While hope is often one of those intangibles like peace or joy or faith, there is something very concrete about it too. You see, Jesus not only offers hope, He is our hope. By coming and dying as our Savior, He became our hope (see Titus 2:13). Through Him, we have the opportunity to know God; to be forgiven of our sins; to live in faith and obedience; to serve with a joyful, peaceful heart; and to experience hope at its best. If you're looking for hope--or if you know someone who is--you only need to look at Jesus.

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Apr 30, 2013
Topic: Hope, Christian Living/Situational

Real Hope

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. So said Martin Luther King Jr. And the Bible echoes that hope for the Christian. It is a hope not based on finite "Pollyanna" wishes but a reality rooted in Easter Sunday.

Receive

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5, NASB).

1. List the words/phrases which are the basis for hope.

2. In these verses, what truth is the most significant to you?

3. Write out what you think the meaning of "a living hope" is.

Reflect

Hope is only as reliable as the basis for that hope. What does Peter tell us is the basis for living in hope? Before you answer, read the following verse and then re-read the above verses. Now, write down your thoughts.

"Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory" (1 Peter 1:21, NLT).

Respond

If, for the Christian, our hope is a living hope (and it is), then what is the application of this truth? We who are Christ-followers have placed our hope for now and eternity in the God who is the God of the present ("I Am," see Matthew 22:32) and the Jesus who is always with us ("Lo, I am with you always," see Matthew 28:20).

Take time to pray and ask God to show you and help you to live daily in the hope that is yours in Jesus.

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 1, 2013
Topic: Hope, Christian Living/Situational, Joy

Hope & Friends

If you're a fan of the Peanuts comic strip, you recognize certain partnerships like Linus and his security blanket, Snoopy and Woodstock, Charlie Brown and that reluctant kite, Peppermint Patty and the patient Marcie, Pig Pen and a cloud of dust or Schroeder with his piano, Lucy and her psychiatrist's booth or a football, depending on the season...well, you get the picture. Some things just "go together." Even in the Bible you find partnerships like love and truth, faith and trust or hope and... Well, hope has several friends.

Receive

One of hope's partners is joy. In Romans 5:1-2, we read "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (ESV). When you have hope, you have a reason to rejoice. In fact, having hope--in this case hope in Christ, the glory of God--produces joy in our lives.

Hope is not wishful thinking but a confidence in God. A lack of hope produces fear, anxiety, worry; and it eats away at our joy. But when our hope is found in Christ, it produces joy, gives us peace and builds our faith.

Faith is another close friend of hope. Romans 4 talks about Abraham's faith and hope in the promises of God. Look at Romans 4:18-21, "In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, 'So shall your offspring be.' He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised" (ESV). Abraham placed his confidence in God for the future fulfillment of the promised son. That was faith built on hope in God's character.

Reflect

If you want hope, you need to know where to find it. See what the Bible says in the following verses.

Psalm 42:5,11

Lamentations 3:21-24

    Where does hope come from?
    What examples have you seen of hope?
    What does hope produce in your life?

Take a look at hope and its partners. After each verse below, indicate what partner you find there.

Proverbs 10:28

Jeremiah 29:11

Romans 15:13

1 Corinthians 13:13

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Titus 3:7

    Which of these partners do you need most right now?
    How have you seen these partnerships evident in your life?

Respond

We said earlier that hope is confidence placed in God. It's based on who He is and what He can do today and in the future. When do you struggle with hope? Is it when you look at the future or is it a confidence issue? Does hope produce some other benefits in your life, like joy or peace? Or do you have trouble seeing past the circumstances, the worry and the anxiety?

Take time today to consider hope and its place in your Christian life; then ask God to help you to live in hope and enjoy the benefits of joy, peace, faith, security, etc.

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 2, 2013
Topic: Hope

Hope & Purity

Moms are smart, aren't they! My sister and I were occasionally asked to babysit our younger siblings. Plus Mom would always add, "And be sure to clean up while we're gone." But if we asked when she and Dad would be back, she'd say, "We'll be back when we get back."

Mom knew that if we were expecting her to be back at 9:00 o'clock, we'd start cleaning at 8:50--and do a terrible job of it! But if we were expecting her and Dad back at any time, we'd start cleaning right away. And we'd keep the house clean in anticipation of her imminent return.

I find a very similar concept when I read 1 John. Let's take a look.

Receive

John closes out chapter 2 with these words: "And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him" (2:28-29, ESV).

John is reminding us here that Jesus will appear again and that we will all stand before Him. Those who abide in Him--continue on in His work--will be able to stand tall on that day.

In the next verse, John rejoices that we can be called children of God. He goes on to say, "We are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure" (3:2-3, ESV).

Just like we kept the house clean in anticipation of my parent's return, we're to keep our lives clean in anticipation of Christ's return. We're to live lives of purity as children of God.

We'll look more at what this means in the next section.

Reflect

As you read 1 John 2:28-3:3, think about the following questions:

1. What do the words, "abide" and "purity" mean to you?

2. What evidence is there that someone "has been born of Him"?

3. Why according to 3:1 does the world not know us?

4. Why will we be like Jesus when He appears? (3:2)

5. What challenges do you face as you seek to live a life of purity?

Respond

How often do you think about the day Christ will return? I'll be honest, some days it feels more like a fairy tale than a future certainty. But let the reality of that day sink in. Let yourself become excited for the return of Jesus. Then let that excitement spill over into your daily routine.

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 3, 2013
Topic: Evangelism

Tell It Boldly

Americans have a proverbial saying, "He who hesitates is lost." The Chinese put it this way: "He who deliberates fully before taking a step will spend his entire life on one leg."

Sometimes we Christians are very hesitant to talk to an unbeliever about the Lord, so we lose precious opportunities. To put it simply, we just don't have the boldness to share the Gospel.

Why? And what can God's Word teach you about witnessing with boldness?

Receive

Acts 3:1-11 tells how Peter and John, right in front of the crowd going into the Jerusalem temple, miraculously healed a forty-year-old man who had been born lame. He was a beggar known to almost everyone in Jerusalem. When the people saw the man leaping about and praising God, they were astounded.

Peter seized the opportunity to preach a powerful sermon, resulting in his and John's immediate arrest (Acts 3:12-4:7). They then stood before the Jewish authorities. Acts 4:8-14, ESV, tells you what happened:

"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, 'Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.'

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition."

    What did the rulers and elders of the Jews see in the behavior of Peter and John that astonished them?

    What in these verses indicates why the apostles were so bold?

Some people speak with boldness about various topics because of their education, their confidence in their natural speaking abilities or their standing in society. Peter and John had none of those qualities. They were both fishermen from Galilee. The rulers and elders were right. The two were uneducated, common laborers who had no social position. Yet, they had a remarkable boldness to speak out about Jesus and affirm His life, death, Resurrection and sole power to save people from sin.

The New Testament frequently mentions the boldness of the early Christians. Find the following verses in your Bible and answer the questions below.

Acts 4:31. What influences do you find in this verse that gave boldness to the disciples?

Romans 15:15. What does the apostle Paul say gave him boldness to write the things he did?

Ephesians 6:18-20. What did Paul earnestly desire from Christians in order that he might speak with boldness? What does this tell you about his confidence in his own abilities to witness?

Reflect

Boldness for effective witnessing comes from God. That's one of the reasons you need to regularly read and meditate on God's Word--it brings you in touch with the mind and heart of Jesus. Peter and John had "been with Jesus," as the rulers and elders noted. There are two primary ways that you can be with Him today: First, by reading your Bible; and second, by spending time with Him in prayer. The Word of God is the instrument which the Holy Spirit uses to guide your life. Prayer is the means by which you communicate your needs to God and intercede for others including those to whom you've witnessed. In Ephesians 3:12, Paul says of Christ, "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him."

Respond

Make a list of the things that make you shy about witnessing for Christ.

Make another list of people you want speak to about Christ.

Go to the Lord in prayer, asking for godly boldness, and then keep your eyes open for opportunities Christ gives you to share your faith.

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 6, 2013
Topic: Obedience/Discipleship, New Life, Holy Spirit

Boldness

What's the second greatest frustration in the world? Doing something efficiently that does not need to be done at all.

What's the greatest frustration in the world? Trying to live a courageous Christian life apart from the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible tells us how to avoid that frustration.

Receive

"Jesus asked them, 'Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn't you arrest me in the Temple? I was there among you teaching every day. But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about me."

"Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away" (Mark 14:48-50, NLT).

"But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, 'Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too.'

"But he began to curse and swear, 'I do not know this man you are talking about!'"(Mark 14:70-71, NASB).

"The disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders" (John 20:19, NLT).

    Write down the disciples' actions in the above verses.
    After reading the verses, what one word would you use to describe Jesus' disciples at that time?
    Why do you think they were acting in the way they were?

Now, read the following verses and write down the reactions of the disciples to the authorities who'd had them arrested. How are they different from the actions of the disciples in the verses you just read?

"While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees...They arrested them...They brought in the two disciples and demanded, 'By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?'

"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, 'For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures where it says...."There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved."'

"The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus."...

"'What should we do with these men?' they asked each other. 'We can't deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus' name again."....

"But Peter and John replied, 'Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.' The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go." (Acts 4:1-21, NLT).

Reflect

What happened to the disciples between John 20 and Acts 4? What gave them the ability to act confidently and courageously instead of cowering in fear? Take a look at Acts 2:1-4 and then describe in your own words what happened that day.

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."

    Who was there?
    What happened to them that accounts for the dramatic turn-around we see in the disciples after this incident?
    How did they respond?

The Scriptures refer to this occurrence as the Day of Pentecost. Now, look at Acts 4:23-31 for another example of the disciples' changed behavior after the Day of Pentecost.

"As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God...."O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word."...After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:23-31, NLT).

Respond

The boldness that every Christian should experience comes from the Holy Spirit. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit comes from a personal commitment to Jesus as Savior. Is God is calling you to take a bold stand for Jesus on something?

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 7, 2013
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, Holiness

Coming Clean

In the 1850s, cleanliness in all parts of the United States was at Third World levels. It wasn't that sanitation was unknown, but most people just didn't feel it was all that necessary to clean up. After all, dirt brought food, crops, survival. Dirt was good.

But then it was discovered that dirt--and specifically the lack of proper sanitation that often came along with it--also brought germs, disease, suffering and death. It was then America came clean on a scale unequaled in world history.

But just as dirt does harm to the body, the dirt of sinful living does damage to the soul. Let's see what the Bible says about coming clean.

Receive

"But that is not the way you learned Christ!--assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:20-24, ESV).

    How does Paul describe the "old self"?
    What does he urge us to do?

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9, ESV).

    This verse is written to Christians. What are Christians supposed to do when sin gets them dirty?
    What does God promise in response?

Reflect

When we surrender our lives to Christ, the old nature is crucified (see Galatians 2:20). But the habits we formed that belong to our former life are not. It becomes a life-long process of getting our outward actions to conform to our new inward condition.

Our usability to God is directly related to how well others are able to see the new life we claim to possess. Jesus said, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16, ESV).

For this reason also, the apostle Peter says, "Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:11-12 ESV).

Cleanliness may not be next to godliness when it comes to the body, but it is when it comes to spiritual matters. Come clean for Jesus!

Respond

Read the following verses and list the actions/attitudes that we are to "put off" as believers in Christ: Colossians 3:8-9; Romans 13:13.

Now, read the following verses and list the actions/attitudes that we are to "put on" as believers: Ephesians 4:1-3; Ephesians 5:16-21.

Select three from each list to concentrate on in the year ahead. Ask God to help you put off the old life and put on the new life so that He can use you for His service.

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 8, 2013
Topic: Faith/Trust

Wait on God

Have you ever noticed that one of the hardest things to do is to do nothing? We get frustrated when traffic is stopped. When the line at the supermarket isn't moving, we start fidgeting and look for a line that's moving faster.

And, occasionally, when life is getting really rough; and God doesn't seem to be doing anything at all, some people decide it's time to take matters into their own hands. David, whom we read about in the Bible, certainly had a rough life. Let's see how he handled his difficult times.

Receive

Psalm 62 starts out like this:

"For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken" (Psalm 62:1-2, ESV).

If you didn't know any better, you'd think David was in a pretty good place in life. His words sound like the confident assertions of a happy person. The next two verses paint a different picture though.

"How long will all of you attack a man to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse" (Psalm 62:3-4, ESV).

Instead of being on easy street, David was surrounded by liars and backstabbers. They were people with no fear of God who only wanted power for themselves. David knew they didn't care about him, and the situation was getting desperate.

So, when in verses 5 and 6, David repeats what he said in verses 1 and 2, we see that they are not the shallow sentiments of a person who has it easy. These words are the foundation of David's faith. David knows that no one besides God can improve his life; no actions of his own can ease the pressures. David is content to wait on God, even in the darkest of hours.

"On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God" (Psalm 62:7, ESV).

Waiting silently is hard enough in a trivial traffic jam, but it takes a rock solid faith in God to be tranquil at the eleventh hour. This kind of faith and trust in God's character doesn't come overnight, but it can start today. We'll look into that in the next sections.

Reflect

As you read the verses for today, think about the following questions:

1. When David repeats himself in verses 5 and 6, there are small differences from his words in verses 1 and 2. What are the differences and what do they tell you about David?

2. What words does David use to describe God's person and character? How does David see God in this time of his life?

Respond

No one would expect you to put your trust in someone you don't know--not even God. That's why He's given us His Word, the Bible. That's why He's given us the testimonies of our friends and family members who have put their faith in God. That's why He's given us the testimony of a precisely ordered nature so even the stars reveal His faithfulness. Spend some time today, and every day this week, getting to know God. Start in His Word and go from there.

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 9, 2013
Topic: Faith/Trust

Faith-based Expectations

Have you ever had a great expectation dashed? You were sure the small package among your birthday presents was the new iPhone you expected, but it turned out to be a box of Junior Mints. You expected a friend to visit, but he never showed up. You expected a promotion, but it went to someone else instead.

Sometimes human expectations are based on what we want to see happen. But what we want may not be realistic; other times our expectations are based on what another person has promised. But not everyone carries out his or her promises. In fact, some people may have disappointed you so often you no longer believe anything they say.

If you are struggling with unmet expectations, you need to turn to God's Word. Let's see what the Bible has to say about expectations.

Receive

King David, the composer of half of the Book of Psalms, knew the difference between expectations and reality. Though he had been anointed king of Israel, he could not immediately ascend to the throne. Instead, he spent years fleeing from King Saul, who had vowed to kill him. His expectation was to lead Israel, but in reality he was concealing himself in caves and hiding out in foreign countries. David could have found this very disappointing. The promises made by the prophet Samuel and even God Himself appeared unmet. But during this time, David had plenty of time to reflect on what his true expectations should be. In Psalm 62:1 (ESV) he wrote:

"For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation."

In Psalm 62:5 (ESV), he repeated his thoughts in slightly different words:

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him."

David wasn't basing his expectations on his own desires or abilities. He didn't assume that he would someday be king simply because he had been anointed for the task. He saw his future anchored securely in the sure promises of his God.

What are the foundations of your expectations in life? Your education? Your family name? Your abilities? Your connections? Your bank account? Someone's promises?

Can you say with David that your hope is in the Lord? Look at the following verses and write your answers to the questions.

    Isaiah 26:3. What can you expect God to give you when you truly trust in Him?
    Philippians 1:19. Paul expected to be freed from prison. On what did he base his expectation?
    Psalm 62:11. What two things does the writer say belong to God? Why should they give you reason to place your expectations in God?
    Hebrews 13:5. What specific worldly expectation does this verse warn against? Does God give you an alternative?

Reflect

Philippians 4:6-7 gives significant directions about placing your expectations on the right foundation.

    How can your expectations be a cause of anxiety?
    What is to accompany your prayers and supplications?
    What do you need to let God know about?
    What does God promise that His peace will do for you?

Respond

Set aside some time today to simply pray and tell God of your confidence in His power, love and strength. Thank Him for being the solid rock on which your expectations rest.

"We ask less of this life because we know full well that more is coming in the next. The art of living with suffering is just the art of readjusting our expectations in the here and the now." -- Joni Eareckson Tada. Leadership, Vol. 17, no. 3.

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: May 10, 2013
Topic: Faith/Trust

Coping with Change

Have you ever slid out of control on black ice or snow? There's one substance worse: in south Texas, it's known as caliche (a funny word referring to a soft clay soil). When it rains, the caliche turns slick and wheels just spin. Houses built on caliche have a different problem--in the summer heat, the caliche can dry and crack, and a foundation can shift. Wet or dry, hot or cold--you need a solid foundation. Caliche doesn't provide that.

God is different. For life now and for eternity, God is a sure and solid foundation.

Receive

He [God] alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress where I will not be shaken. (Psalm 62:6, NLT)

    Who does the psalmist claim as his source for living "unshaken"?
    What does he compare God to?
    What image does one metaphor conjure up as compared to the other?

God is not only a sure place to stand but He, and only He, is our salvation--our safety and our security.

The song writer said it like this:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand--
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand--
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.*

Reflect

Have you ever felt like life is going nowhere--you're just spinning your wheels? Or that you're walking on quicksand? Or that nothing is nailed down and everything may be coming apart? You need a place to stand, and a foundation you can trust not to move or give way.

Perhaps you would like to get a report about what to do and not do. Read on.

"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.

"When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority--quite unlike their teachers of religious law" (Matthew 7:24-29, NLT).

Respond

What are you building your life on? Have you done a good foundation check? Make a list of the ways life can seem out of control:

Without God, nothing in life can be counted on. In spite of that, folks try other ways. List some of the ways people attempt to provide security for themselves. Beside each choice, list how change can sink such false foundations.

If you want to know how to build your life on the solid foundation, visit the Meet Jesus page.

*Edward Mote and William Bradbury, "The Solid Rock," lyrics Public Domain.