Bible Minute

[nChrist]

Bible Study
With Woodrow Kroll

Title: Rewards of Love
Date: Mar 28, 2007
Topic(s): God's Love
Scripture: Romans 8:28, Psalm 5:11-12, 1 Corinthians 2-9, Proverbs 8:20-21, Psalm 145:20



Loving God is easy for a Christian because of His goodness and His grace in our lives. Loving God begins with overflowing gratitude for who He is and what He has done for us. While obedient love for God is its own reward, the Bible tells us that He gives us more--incredibly much more.

What Does God Say?

As you read each Scripture, write down the reward that God promises for those who love Him.

"Let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread Your protection over them,
that those who love Your name may rejoice in you.
Surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous" (Psalm 5:11-12 NIV).

1. My reward for loving God is _____________.

"It is written:
'No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love Him'" (1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV).

2. My reward for loving God is _____________.

"I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
bestowing wealth on those who love me
and making their treasuries full" (Proverbs 8:20-21 NIV).

3. My reward for loving God is _____________.

"The LORD watches over all who love Him"--period, close quote (Psalm 145:20 NIV).

4. My reward for loving God is _____________.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28 NKJV).

5. My reward for loving God is _____________.

My Thoughts

    * Which of the above rewards for loving God mean the most to you?
    * Which have you experienced the most?
    * How do you benefit from God's love for you?
    * List some of what is yours because of the Cross.
    * How do you benefit from loving God?

(Check out again your list of the rewards.)

My Part

With a full heart, take time to thank God that He first loved you, and that you have experienced His love in such wonderful ways. Then thank Him for all the ways that loving Him has touched your life. Last, ask God to help you love Him more as you understand and grow in His love.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study
With Woodrow Kroll

Date: Mar 29, 2007
Topic: Love


Love's Roots and Fruits

You've heard the saying, "You can't see the forest for the trees." Or was it, "You can't see the trees for the forest"?

Well, either way, the proverb fits when you study the Bible's teaching about God's love.

If you look at the "forest" of verses about love in the Bible, you will be amazed at their number--so many that the forest of statements about God's love for His people seems endless.

Then, if you look at the "trees" and take time to explore each Bible passage that speaks of God's love, you will be overwhelmed by the impact His love has upon you and by the ways you should love Him.

But don't lose the forest for the trees or the trees for the forest. You could meditate on a different aspect of God's love every day for the rest your life and still only scratch the surface.

The apostle Paul prayed that you might know God's love intimately as your root and fruit. Think about today's Bible passages!

What Does God Say?

Roots produce nourishment and stability. Paul prayed that you may be rooted in the wide, long, high, deep love of Christ. The source of your love for God is His love for you.

When I think of all this [the wisdom and scope of God's plan], I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Ephesians 3:14-19 NLT)

Fruit is produced as your love for Christ overflows with love for other believers. Paul prayed that your love for God would produce fruit, bringing glory and praise to Him. The outworking of God's love for you and your love for God is your love for other believers.

I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's returns. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God. (Philippians 1:9-11 NLT)

Note: Think about how Paul prayed for other believers. These verses are a good pattern for you to follow as you pray for Christians.

My Thoughts

Read the following verses and answer the questions:

John 13:34, 35. What does Jesus say is evidence that a person is His disciple?

Romans 5:8. How has God shown His deep love for you?

Compare John 3:16 with 1 John 3:16. What do these two verses teach you about God's love and your love? They are both great verses for you to memorize!

My Part

See how many times you can find the words "love" or "loves" in the Book of 1 John.

How many of those times speak of God's love for you?

How many times do they speak of your love for God?

How many times do they speak of your love for others?

____________________

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study
With Woodrow Kroll

Date: Mar 30, 2007
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


How Will They Know?

There's a song that claims, And they'll know we are Christians by our love. Sadly, though, we often see many people who call themselves Christians; but they don't show much love to anyone around them. Instead we see gossip, bitterness, anger and backstabbing--the very characteristics of people who don't know the Lord.

So, what's the story of God's love? Well, let's take a look at what God's Word says about it.

What Does God Say?

"'You must love the L ord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Matthew 22:37-39 NLT).

"Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions" (1 John 3:18 NLT).

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples" (John 13:34-35 NLT).

    * How does Jesus sum up the greatest commandments?
    * How should you show your love for others?
    * What's the proof that you are a disciple (follower) of Jesus?

My Thoughts

When called upon to prove the reality of Christ in your life, what's your answer? According to Scripture, you should be able to point to the love you show to those around you. Your words of encouragement and acts of kindness should testify to the love that is within you, streaming from the Father. There should be a noticeable difference between the way Christians treat those around them and the way others (who don't know Christ) treat people (even, or perhaps especially, those who are difficult to love).

Why? Because God loved you first (1 John 4:19). The glory of His love should overflow into the way you treat others. Christ is our perfect example of what it means to love. He said, "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13, NLT).

    * How is God calling you to lay down your life?
    * What habits is He asking you to give up as a demonstration of His love?
    * What priorities need to be shifted around?

You are a reflection of God. Your love for others comes from an overflow of your love for God. "And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect" (1 John 4:17, NLT).

My Part

Read 1 John 4:7-21. Make special note of how God shows His love for you. What does He ask of you?

How will that look for you? Is there something that you need to do for someone? Something you need to say or maybe not say? Now, go, show His love to those you meet today.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study
With Woodrow Kroll

Date: Apr 2, 2007
Topic: Holiness


Purer Than Snow

Snow ice cream was once a big delight for children. A little milk, some sugar and maybe a bit of vanilla mixed into a dish of pure, new-fallen snow made the best of kids' treats.

But then along came air pollution and atomic bombs. Parents issued dire warnings that the snow was no longer safe for making ice cream. They told the kids there were bad "nasties" in the sky that got into the snow and ended up in the dish with the sugar and milk and vanilla. Suddenly, what was so pure and delicious and fun became downright dangerous!

You know, though, that impurity doesn't end with snow ice cream, don't you? Your peanut butter could put you in the hospital; your beef may give you a dread disease; and even the lettuce on your BLT sandwich might prove to be the last vegetable you will ever eat. We live in a society that is nearly paranoid about food impurities.

But are we as careful about spiritual purity? Let's take a look at God's Word and think about that!

What Does God Say?

"Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the LORD
and righteousness from the God of his salvation"(Psalm 24:3-5 ESV)

    * What is God's standard for fellowship with Him?

      Jesus says: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8 ESV).

    * What blessing comes to those who are pure?

      Paul says: "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12 ESV).

    * Who is affected by our personal purity?

      John says: "Beloved, 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" (1 John 3:2-3 ESV).

    * According to this verse, what is our motivation for purity?

My Thoughts

Do some personal investigation of God's teachings about purity by looking up these references and answering the questions:

What does Psalm 19:8-9 say about the part God's Word plays in purifying your life?

What does Proverbs 30:12 tell you about fake "purity"?

Where does pure wisdom come from according to James 3:17?

What should the pure-hearted person do when faced with sexual temptation? (2 Timothy 2:22) See Psalm 119:9, also.

What positive action does Philippians 4:8 say you should take to keep your thought life pure?

My Part

You can't attain purity of heart by trying to clean yourself up. God must do it. How, then, can you be sure that your heart is pure before God?

The answer is that when you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, God forgives your sin and credits Christ's righteousness and purity to you. Then, as a believer, you seek by God's strength to make His nature and purity a mark of your life. Peter describes it this way: "Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God." ( 1 Peter 1:22-23 ESV)

____________________

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study
With Woodrow Kroll

Date: Apr 3, 2007
Topic: Holiness


Clean Up

On one level, we're obsessed with purity--antibacterial soaps, pesticide-and-chemical-free fruits and vegetables, water "bottled at the source"--everything is sanitized and sterilized with no additives, no preservatives, no artificial anything. On another level, we're wallowing in impurity--morally and verbally. In our motives and actions we're filthy and corrupt. And it's on this level that God is most concerned.

What Does God Say?

Psalm 24 tells us why we need to be morally pure.

"Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
He will receive blessing from the LORD
and righteousness from the God of his salvation" (Psalm 24:3-5, ESV).

Purity--on the outside and the inside--allows us to meet with God, who is perfectly holy and pure. There's no room for dirty hands and a corrupt heart in His presence. This encompasses our actions, what we do with our hands (and our body in general) and our motivations or values, the internal heart which drives us. There's a benefit to purity, too, as we not only enjoy the presence of God but also receive blessing and righteousness from Him.

How do we get clean? We ask God to work on us. In his great prayer of confession, David spoke of several things God needed to do in his heart.

"Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!...Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow... Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:2,7,10, ESV).

We have our part, too: first, to be on guard against further dirt and impurity:

"How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:9-11, ESV).

God's Word is our best guard. When we learn it, obey it, judge our lives by it and let it shape our motives and desires, we'll stay pure and pleasing to God. And just as we wash our hands or take a bath when we get dirty, we can "wash up" with a heart of confession and cleansing before God. Just look at 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (ESV).

My Thoughts

Psalm 51 is David's gut-wrenching confession after significant personal sin. It's also a thorough look at what we need to have cleansed and purified in our lives. Review it with these questions in mind:

    * What needs to be cleaned and purified?
    * Who does the work?
    * What are the benefits of being pure and restored?
    * How will God respond to a purified heart?
    * What parallels do you find for your life?

My Part

No matter how old or young you are, Psalm 119:9-16 guides us in keeping and maintaining purity. Take time to memorize it (if you haven't already). As you do, take it apart and personalize it for your life. Start by putting your name in place of "young man." Jot down what you need to guard against; what you're doing to seek God; what you've "stored up" to keep from sin and so on, through the verses.

Take time to pray this before God and commit yourself to clean hands and a pure heart that pleases Him.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study
With Woodrow Kroll

Date: Apr 4, 2007
Topic: Holiness


Purity

Ivory soap began selling in 1879 as the soap that was 99-44/100 percent pure. Inspiration for the soap's name came to Harley Procter, the founder's son, as he read the words "out of ivory palaces" in the Bible one Sunday in church.

While Procter and Gamble are content with 99-44/100 percent pure, God is not. The Bible teaches that God expects 100 percent purity in our lives.

What Does God Say?

Who may climb the mountain of the LORD?
Who may stand in his holy place?
Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols
and never tell lies (Psalm 24:3-4 NLT).

Who has hands and hearts that are pure? The answer, of course, is no one. We can only be clean and pure when we receive Christ and our sins are forgiven. It's then we become righteous before God through the sacrificial death of Jesus.

"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7 NKJV)

Once we have asked Jesus to be our Savior, then we are to live in purity and intentionally avoid the impure.

The apostle Paul taught his young prodigy, Timothy, about living in purity?

"Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22 NASB).

My Thoughts

Want to stay pure? Live in God's Word: read it, listen to it, study it, discuss it, pray it and apply it.

My Part

Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure and whether it is right (Proverbs 20:11 NLT).

Are you an accurate witnesses to the goodness and purity of God? Is His purity and goodness reflected in your life? Take time to pray now and ask God to purify your hands and heart.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study
With Woodrow Kroll

Date: Apr 5, 2007
Topic: Holiness


Clean Before God

It's a law that the cooks in any kitchen that prepares food for the public must wash their hands. It's also true in many households that, before you eat, you need to wash up. Cleanliness in food handling is important because diseases are spread when people handling the food have tainted hands.

Our spiritual lives need frequent cleansing as well. Only the blood of Jesus is strong enough for that (See Hebrews 9:22-28). Once we accept Christ as Savior, we are saved and forgiven always. But we still sin, and cleansing is still necessary. Just like the child washing before dinner, we don't lose our status as children of God when we dirty ourselves with sin; but we do need to ask to be cleaned to be fit for His service again.

What Does God Say?

One of the most famous examples in the Bible of a righteous man sinning and repenting is David and his affair with Bathsheba. Though the incident was tragic, the psalm David wrote as a result, Psalm 51, gives us a clear example of how to be cleansed.

"Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions" (Psalm 51:1, ESV).

Forgiveness is only possible because of God's love and mercy--and what amazing attributes they are! Without them we'd only be broken slaves toiling for our master. But God's love allows us to be His children, and His mercy in forgiving our sins allows us to be His heirs.

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7, ESV).

Only God can clean a soul. Any attempt to clean ourselves is futile because we work with stained hands. Only the pure hands of God can make us clean.

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will return to you." (Psalm 51:12-13, ESV).

We are cleansed to serve, and it's a joyful service. But our work and our joy are both hindered with sin. Is your ministry bearing little fruit today? Has the joy gone out of your service? Consider then if there are sins you need to be cleansed of.

My Thoughts

Read through all of Psalm 51, and consider the following questions:

What things does David ask?

Why does David expect God to honor these requests?

What has David lost by sinning?

What does he hope to restore?

My Part

The old saying, "Confession is good for the soul," is true. When we confess our sins to God, we not only demonstrate humility, we allow Him to restore us to the way He created us. If there are any sins you have not confessed to God today, why wait?

Additional Scripture: Hebrews 9:22-28

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study
With Woodrow Kroll

Date: Apr 6, 2007
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


Wash Your Hands

Did you know that in 1842 the first bathtub was denounced as a "luxurious and democratic vanity"? In fact, Boston made it unlawful to bathe except on doctor's prescription. In 1843 Philadelphia made bathing illegal between November 1 and March 15.

Unfortunately many Christians have adopted a similar schedule of spiritual cleansing. But let's take a look at what the Bible has to say about cleansing your life.

What Does God Say?

Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!"

Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me."

Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!"

Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you" (John 13:8-10 NKJV).

"So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Come close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world" (James 4:7-8, NLT).

"And the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7, NLT).

    * Jesus' reference to "he who is bathed" refers to our salvation. Once saved, what does a person need to do according to Jesus? Explain.
    * What two areas of our life (as represented by body parts) need cleansing?
    * What is the cleansing agent God uses for our sins?

My Thoughts

Cleansing yourself from sin is a constant process. As long as you sin, you need to be cleansed. Now, there is a key difference here between salvation and cleansing from sin. When you accepted Christ as your Savior, his blood atoned for all of your sin. That part is taken care of. What we’re talking about here is your constant battle with the sin nature (as Paul talks about in Romans 7).

James lays out a strategy for cleansing yourself. It starts by humbling yourself before God. When you recognize God and you see His holiness, His might, His glory, His majesty, His love (And the list goes on and on.), you can’t help but be humbled. As you see those things, you realize how dirty, weak, poor and selfish you can be--you realize your need for God's cleansing. It is in this brokenness and submission that God will work wonders in your life (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Because of Jesus, you can resist the devil. Because of Jesus, you are cleansed from your sins. Confess your sins to Him. Ask Him to show you how to avoid temptations and to give you the strength to stand up under them when they do arise. Only through Him can you "wash your hands" and "purify your hearts."

My Part

Think of those areas in your life that you may still be holding onto because of pride. What things do you refuse to surrender to God?

Now, humble yourself before Him. Offer those things to Him and ask Him to cleanse you of those. Ask Him for strength to resist the devil. Consider some action steps that will help you resist. For example, are there places you should avoid, TV shows that you should not watch or conversations that you should not have? Changing your actions can help to make it easier to change your heart.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study
With Woodrow Kroll

Date: Apr 9, 2007
Topic: Christian Living/Situational


Keys to Purity

What do you do to keep clean? You take a bath or shower and scrub away all the dirtiness, right? Well, as Christians, we are called to be clean not only on the outside but also the inside. We can make sure we are clean on the inside by being careful what we allow to come into our mind and stay there. Notice what God's Word tells us to do.

What Does God Say?

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise" (Philippians 4:8, NLT).

    * What kinds of things are we to allow to remain in our minds? Give an example of at least two of these.

"Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts" (2 Timothy 2:22, NLT).

    * How are we to respond to unclean temptations?
    * What can we do to help avoid situations that get us "dirty."

My Thoughts

As we found in the verses above, God has told us to be careful what we see, where we go and what we think about. While we can sometimes hide our actions and thoughts from others, we cannot hide them from God because He sees everything. Ask yourself these questions:

What are some things in life I see that would cause me to have an impure mind?

Do the places I go each day glorify God?

Are my thoughts ones that keep my mind pure before God?

My Part

Sometimes the most dangerous sins are the ones we can hide from everyone. One of the best ways to make sure that you are keeping your thoughts and actions pure is to be accountable to someone. If you don't already, find another Christian man or woman who can hold you responsible for your daily actions. Share your struggles for purity with them and encourage them to pray for you and hold you accountable.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study
With Woodrow Kroll

Date: Apr 10, 2007
Topic: Holiness


Clean Your Mind

D.L. Moody, a well-known preacher from the 1800s used to say, "You can 't stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair."

When it comes to building purity in our lives, the Bible teaches we may not be able to control the impurity in our world, but we do have a choice about what we allow to stay in our lives.

What Does God Say?

"Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22, NKJV).

What is the apostle Paul teaching Timothy about the keys to purity in this verse?

Paul is warning us what to avoid (youthful lusts) and encouraging us to actively seek those things (righteousness, faith, love, peace) pleasing to God. And notice that he teaches us that we will be much more successful in this pursuit if we do it in the company of other Christians (those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart). We avoid the wrong things by being careful where we go, being careful about what we do and always careful choosing whom we do them with.

My Thoughts

Job said, "I have made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl" (Job 31:1, NIV). Job realized he might not have a choice about looking at a beautiful girl--but he could choose whether to continue to stare with lust in his heart. So he made this covenant with himself. Put this covenant into your own words.

Indicate which of the areas below might cause you to experience impurity. Be specific.

Friends______________________________

Activities___________________________

Places_______________________________

On the other hand, which area below could help you build a sense of God's righteousness in your life? Again, be as specific as possible.

Friends______________________________

Activities___________________________

Places_______________________________

My Part

Long ago, "even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes" (Ephesians 1:4, NLT).

Purity is part of the holiness of God, and God intends that we live in a pure and blameless way so that we might be a witness to the holiness of God. Take a few moments right now to pray and ask God to help you overcome any impurity in your life.

____________________

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study
With Woodrow Kroll

Date: Apr 11, 2007
Topic: Holiness


Christian Living

One of the most commonly used phrases in parenting is "be careful." As kids, we were constantly being told to be careful. Whether it was crossing the street, playing outside or driving a car for the first time, we were reminded over and over again to use caution. It's not because our parents didn't trust us but because they knew that there were things in the world that could harm us. God also wants us to be careful when choosing the places we go and the things we see.

What Does God Say?

"But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure" (1 John 3:2-3, NLT).

    * Why is important that Christians remain pure?

"We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5, NLT).

    * What happens to our relationship with God when we have obstacles such as impurity in our life?
    * How can we "capture rebellious thoughts"?

My Thoughts

Sin and temptation are everywhere. We can't change what the world does, but we can change what we do. It might mean that there are certain movies we don't go to or Web sites we stay away from. It is our responsibility to make sure we have clean hands and a clean heart before God. Ask yourself this:

What are some of the obstacles that I have in my life that are keeping me away from God?

What are some of the places that I need to avoid in order to remain pure?

My Part

Sometimes there is no way to avoid temptation. There are things going on every day that we can't help. If you happen to look at something that is impure, the first thing to do is turn it off or leave. Then, immediately ask the Lord to cleanse your mind of things that are unclean.

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[nChrist]

Bible Study
With Woodrow Kroll

Date: Apr 12, 2007
Topic: New Life


Change Your Mind

You've heard that "you are what you eat," but did you know you are what you think too? Our internal thought life colors, motivates and even sometimes dictates our lives. However, it's often for the worse, not the better. Over and over, God challenges us to change our minds and be careful what we think.

What Does God Say?

Proverbs 23:7 puts it simply, "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he" (NKJV). What goes on in your heart and mind will be evident. And Jesus reminds us that "out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander" (Matthew 15:19, ESV). Thoughts becomes words and finally deeds.

However, God wants something different, something better for us: a renewed mind to go with our new life in Christ. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2, ESV).

How does that happen? Well, start with God's Word. Put it into your mind and let it root out what no longer belongs there. Hebrews 4:12 says: "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (ESV).

God's Word works like a surgical instrument, removing what's diseased and connecting what's good and pure and healthy. Your part is to take it in and integrate it into your thinking. Philippians 4:8 gives you a starting point, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (ESV).

My Thoughts

Putting God's Word into our minds will not only clean out the filth that doesn't belong there, it will begin to reshape our thinking and our actions. Read through Psalm 19:7-11. Remember that words like law, testimony, precepts, etc., refer to the Word of God.

    * How is God's Word described?
    * What can the Word do for you?
    * What are the benefits of desiring and feeding on the Word?
    * For each action the Word takes (reviving the soul, making wise, rejoicing the heart, etc), describe what that could look like in your life , or how you could use that change.

My Part

Ever notice that when you try not to think about something, you can't get it out of your head? But if you think about something else, it often disappears. You can't leave your mind empty, but you can replace the space.

Philippians 4:8 offers a list of things to put into our minds. Jot down a few things that you know are true, that are honorable , and just and pure, etc. Keep your list handy; and whenever you find your mind going places it shouldn't, turn to your list and think on these things. You may want to add Bible verses that refer to the true, honorable, pure things, and add them to your list. That's part of putting God's Word into your mind.

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study
With Woodrow Kroll

Date: Apr 13, 2007
Topic: Holiness


Spiritual Wellness

When you get sick, doesn't everything in life lose its joy? You don't feel like eating or working or going to school or even getting up. You wish you would get well quickly. Most of the time, you are just thinking about how terrible you feel.

But when you are well, it's a whole different story. You tackle life with gusto and can get an amazing amount done.

The same is true with spiritual wellness. If we're going to accomplish the tasks God has given us, we need spiritual health. Let's look at how we can achieve that.

What Does God Say?

Consider what these verses tell us about the relationship between purity and service:

   1. In order to serve God you need a purity of heart. David, when he had sinned, recognized that purity of heart was his greatest need if he was to renew his ongoing walk with God.

      He prayed:

      "Create in me a clean heart, O God,
      and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10, ESV).

   2. God's Word emphasizes that your service for the Lord requires purity of soul.

      "Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart" (1 Peter1:22, ESV).

      "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works" (Titus 2:11-14, ESV).

   3. Jesus stressed the need for purity in your life if you are to experience God's blessing.

      "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8, ESV).

My Thoughts

In 1 Timothy 1:5, Paul says there are three conditions that enable Christian love to flow freely out of your life. What are they? Write them down and ask yourself, "What things do I need to improve in order to deepen my service to God and my fellow Christians?"

My Part

When you think about purity of life, it is vital to understand that you cannot make yourself pure before God. If you could do that, there would have been no reason for Christ to die for your sin. There are two requirements:

    * First, you must receive Christ as your Savior by accepting His sacrifice for you on the cross and believing in Him. Look up these Bible passages and think about them: Hebrews 9:13,14; Titus 3:5.
    * Second, as a Christian believer, you must recognize that ongoing purity comes through daily taking in and obeying God's Word as His Spirit enables you. Think carefully about Paul's prayer for Christians in Philippians 1:9-11 and what John says in 1 John 3:3.

May the Lord grant you spiritual wellness!

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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study
With Woodrow Kroll

Date: Apr 16, 2007
Topic: God's Care


To All Generations

Within a relationship, faithfulness is everything. Whether it's a relationship with a friend, a family member or your spouse, if we can't trust the other person to remain faithful, there's really no way that relationship will grow.

That's why, when it comes to our relationship with God, it's important that we understand what the Bible has to say about His faithfulness to us.

What Does God Say?

After over 400 years of slavery in Egypt, God sent Moses to the Israelites. A dramatic series of events followed resulting in a massive exodus of God's people. The time had come for God to establish His chosen people in the land that He had promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all those centuries before.

This in itself speaks of God's faithfulness. But more than just leading the people out of Egypt, through Moses God laid out the laws that were to govern the people in the new land. These weren't just rules to keep the people out of trouble, they were the system by which God would bless Israel and also reveal His glory to the surrounding nations.

Reminding the people of the Law and His promises, God said, 'Know therefore that the L ord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations' (Deuteronomy 7:9, ESV).

If you're trying to figure out how many generations have passed since the Exodus and wondering whether we're still within that 'thousand,' don't bother. 'A thousand generations' is God's way of saying, 'forever.' We know this because elsewhere in the Bible we read, 'Your faithfulness endures to all generations' (Psalm 119:90, ESV).

My Thoughts

It what ways is a relationship strengthened by faithfulness?

How have you seen God's faithfulness at work in your or someone else's life?

How might the world look if God were not faithful?

We've seen God's faithfulness towards us, what does faithfulness to God look like?

My Part

God's faithfulness reflects the standard we are to strive for. Are there areas of your life where you are not being faithful? How can you change this? Don't think God just wants to watch from the sidelines, though. Spend time now asking God for His wisdom and guidance as you make the any necessary changes in your life.

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Daily Bible Study
With Woodrow Kroll

Date: Apr 18, 2007
Topic: God's Love


Unconditional and Continuous Faithfulness

We live in a world that says, 'I'll help you if you help me.' We are always looking to see what we can get out of a certain situation, and many times we won't help someone unless they do something for us. Often times our loyalty and faithfulness is contingent upon what the other person does or doesn't do. Thankfully, God's faithfulness isn't conditional. He stands by us through every situation, regardless of anything we do. Let's learn more about God's faithfulness.

What Does God Say?

'Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands' (Deuteronomy 7:9, NLT).

' Even when I walk through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me' (Psalm 23:4, NLT).

'But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one' (2 Thessalonians 3:3, NLT).

'But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness' (1 John 1:9, NLT).

'The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure' (1 Corinthians 10:13 , NLT).

In light of these verses, consider the following questions:

When is God faithful?

How is God faithful when I do wrong?

How does God demonstrate His faithfulness when I'm tempted?

My Thoughts

The best thing about God's faithfulness is that it is unconditional. He will be faithful no matter what, even when we mess up. Ask yourself these questions:

How has God been faithful to me in the past?

How has God guided me through the hard times?

Do I show God my appreciation for His faithfulness?

My Part

Because God remains faithful, we should try to live a life that reflects the gratitude we have for His faithfulness. Make sure you confess your sin to Him so He can remain faithful and wash it away. As you think about the ways that God has proved faithful, take some time to thank Him.

Additional Scripture: Psalm 119:90, Psalm 89:1

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