Bible Minute

[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 8, 2008
Topic: Obedience/Discipleship

Just Do It

In 1988, the Nike company, the maker of athletic apparel, coined a slogan that was destined to be chosen as one of the top five ad slogans of the 20th century. The slogan was "Just Do It." Not only was the slogan catchy, it held a truth that everybody recognized. There comes a time when you have to stop thinking and planning and talking about something--and "Just Do It."

What's true in athletics and other areas of life is also true spiritually. While good intentions may be the starting point, they aren't worth much unless you "Just Do It." God calls that "obedience." Let's see what the Bible has to say about that.

What Does God Say?

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."(James 1:22-25, ESV)

    * James says that the disobedient person (hearer only) is doing what to himself/herself?
    * To what does James compare the disobedient person?
    * What promise is in these verses for the person who is a "doer who acts"?

My Thoughts

Many people are deceiving themselves. They have prayed a prayer at some point in their lives and feel that all is well. But when their lives are viewed objectively, there is no evidence of change. They have no fruit that comes from obedience.

We can talk about obedience, we can read about obedience, we even can pray about obedience; but what God wants is for us to "Just Do It."

Jesus warns in Matthew 7:21: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven." How will He discern the difference between true Christians and false? He goes on to say: "but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

My Part

Take a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. On one side list the areas where you feel you're being obedient. On the other side, list the areas where you know you are being disobedient. Make plans today to tackle those areas of disobedience one by one. And don't simply plan--"Just Do It."

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 11, 2008
Topic: Prayer, Christian Living/Situational, Sin/Temptation

Temptation Puddles

Temptation is a little like puddles on the sidewalk. You can walk carefully to avoid them, or you can jump right in! Or sometimes, you're so busy paying attention to one puddle, you miss seeing another…and you get wet even if you're trying not to.

When we pray "Lead us not into temptation," we're asking for God's help in walking carefully around those puddles that make us wet with sin. We say, "Lord, as You lead me, help me not to give in to these opportunities to sin."

What Does God Say?

This prayer about temptation is part of what Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 6:9-13.

"'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil'" (ESV, emphasis added).

Praying those words doesn't mean that God will remove every temptation from our paths. It does mean, however, when evil appears (as it does regularly), we need to look to Him to deliver or rescue or pull us back from it. First Corinthians 10:13 teaches us more about temptation: "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (ESV).

What we need to ask for is God's wisdom and guidance. We need His guidance when we encounter the dangers of temptation so that we'll be alert and know how to avoid them. And we need His wisdom to see temptation as an opportunity to turn from evil and hold on to His holiness.

And guess what? Jesus understands our problem with temptation. Hebrews 2:18 tells us "For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted" (ESV). And because of that, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16, ESV).

My Thoughts

Read James 1:13-15.

    * Temptation doesn't come from God. Why not?
    * Where does temptation come from?
    * How does temptation start? What's the process?
    * What is the ultimate end of temptation?

Look at Jesus' temptation in Matthew 4:1-11.

    * How did Satan tempt Jesus?
    * What did Jesus do to stand firm?
    * What can you learn from Jesus' example?

My Part

Think back to that sidewalk of puddles. What are the "puddles" in your life that tempt you to get your feet wet with sin? How do you avoid them? What happens when you're caught off guard?

Jesus used God's Word as His defense against Satan. What about you?

We've looked at several verses today that can help you walk warily around the puddles of temptation. First Corinthians 10:13 is a great verse because it reminds you to seek the "way of escape that you may be able to endure it." When He was tempted, Jesus used several Scripture passages (like Deuteronomy 8:3). Here are a few more you could memorize so you're prepared when temptation comes: Psalm 119:9-16; 119:35-37; 119:105; Proverbs 3:5-8; Ephesians 6:10-19

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 13, 2008
Topic: Salvation

God's Mercy on You

Robert G. Ingersoll was a very outspoken atheist. One night after an inflammatory speech in which he emphasized the folly of believing in God, he dramatically took out his watch and said, "I'll give God a chance to prove that He exists and is almighty. I challenge Him to strike me dead within 5 minutes!" At the end of the allocated time, the atheist exclaimed, "See! There is no God. I am still very much alive!"

After the lecture a young fellow said to a friend, "Well, Ingersoll certainly proved something tonight!"

"Yes, he did," his friend replied. "He proved that even the most defiant sinner can't exhaust the mercy of God in just five minutes!"

From beginning to end, the story of the Bible--measured not in minutes but millenniums--reveals the inexhaustible mercy of God. Let's take a look at what God's mercy means for us today.

What Does God Say?

In Ephesians, Paul sets the stage for us."You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world" (Ephesians 2:1-2, ESV).

Maybe you are acutely aware of just how sinful you are. You want to believe that Jesus loves you but wonder how he could accept someone with a past like yours? Maybe you know exactly what Paul was talking about when he said, "We all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind" (Ephesians 2:3, ESV).

God knows the specifics of your life. He knows the specifics of every single life that

has ever crossed the face of this earth. And nothing anyone has done makes this verse any less true: "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus."

(Ephesians 2:4-7, ESV).

I know I don't deserve any mercy from God. But mercy isn't about what we deserve. Mercy is about God and His love for us.

My Thoughts

As you read Ephesians 2:1-10, think about the following questions:

1. How does Paul describe our lives before we met Christ?
2. Even though we are dead in trespasses and sin, what does God do for us (v. 5)?
3. After salvation, what's the next step for believers?

My Part

Ask questions and find out more.

________________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 14, 2008
Topic: Sin/Temptation, Forgiveness/Unforgiveness

Good News/Bad News

Have you heard the good news/bad news jokes? For example, there was the doctor who called his patient and said, "I've evaluated your condition, and I have some good news and some bad news."

The patient said, "Well give me the good news."

The doctor replied, "You have only 24 hours to live!"

"If that's the good news," the patient gasped, "what is the bad news?"

"The bad news," the doctor said, "is that I couldn't get ahold of you yesterday."

When it comes to the topic of sin, the Bible also has some good news/bad news. Let's see what it is.

What Does God Say?

"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned" (Romans 5:12, ESV).

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24, ESV).

"But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:21-23, ESV).

    * How did sin come into the world (see Genesis 3:1-7).
    * What is the bad news in these verses?
    * What is the good news?

My Thoughts

Have you taken the bad news seriously? Sin is a killer. First, it kills you spiritually. Because we are born in sin, we are born with the part of us that makes contact with God dead--unresponsive to God's spiritual presence (Colossians 2:13). Eventually, it kills you physically. (Read Genesis 5 and count the number of times it says, "and he died.")

But the bad news is not intended to breed despair. It is meant to point you to Christ. Romans 6:23 not only gives us the bad news that sin brings death, it also gives us the good news that God has given us a gift (the word there means a "free gift"), and that gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus.

My Part

If you recognize that you are a sinner and face death, don't wait another moment to accept God's free gift--eternal life in Christ Jesus.

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 15, 2008
Topic: Forgiveness/Unforgiveness, God's Love

God Forgives You

Do you ever wonder if God will really forgive you? Do you worry that, perhaps, you've done something just too awful to be forgiven? Think again. God can and does forgive you. Look at all the things He's already forgiven in His people: adultery, rebellion, murder, lying, disobedience, a lack of faith…the list of forgiven people even includes some of those who killed His own Son!

What Does God Say?

So, why does God offer us forgiveness for our sin or wrongdoing? Well, God forgives because of His boundless love for us.

Isaiah 38:17 says,

"In love you have delivered my life
from the pit of destruction,
for you have cast all my sins
behind your back" (ESV).

Psalm 103 praises God because:

"He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies…
The LORD is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west" (103:3-4, 8-12, NLT).

That sounds like a forgiveness that covers everything!

So, what makes forgiveness available? Jesus Christ, who died to pay the penalty for our sin. Romans 5:8 says, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (ESV). Colossians 1:13-14 adds, "He [God the Father] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom [Jesus] we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (ESV).

Do we have to do anything? Well, yes. We need to be honest about our sin before God and confess it. First John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (ESV). Forgiveness is always there and available for us; God doesn't change His mind or decide to forgive on a case-by-case basis. We just ask, and in asking we recognize how great our need is. We won't be "sin-free" until heaven, but we can live with a lot less sin in our lives now. That's what repentance and forgiveness bring about.

My Thoughts

Look up these verses to see why God forgives you:

Exodus 34:6-7

    * God forgives me because of His______________.

Psalm 51:1

    * God forgives me because of His______________.

Psalm 103:8-12

    * God forgives me because of His______________.

Isaiah 55:7

    * God forgives me because of His______________.

My Part

When Jesus died on the cross, He paid the penalty of our sins, once and for all. His death and Resurrection provided us with salvation and eternal life. That's a fact. When you come to Jesus and accept His salvation, believing that He died for you, God's forgiveness becomes an active fact in your life. Have you done that? Do you recognize and trust that God has forgiven your sin?

But what if you sin again, if you do something you're not sure God will forgive? That's where 1 John 1:9 becomes important. You don't have to be "saved" all over again; you just need God's help to "clean up" what you've done. We often refer to it as "keeping short accounts with God." It's like paying your credit card balance every month--the account stays clear. It's made possible by regular fellowship with God and the Holy Spirit's help so you can live with "clean hands and a pure heart" (Psalm 24:4).

God's forgiveness is a fact; you can count on it, even if you don't "feel" forgiven. Are you tapping into His forgiveness? Do you believe that He can and does forgive you? Are you seeking to turn away from your sin and live in a way that pleases Him? God does His part. Are you doing yours?

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 18, 2008
Topic: God's Love


God's Plan All Along

As Jesus hung, dying on the cross, those who loved Him must have been wondering, What went wrong? Maybe they were thinking about the events of the past week and saying, "If only He had never come to Jerusalem."

Today, because we can read about God's plan in the Bible, we know His death was part of that loving design for our salvation. And even though Jesus' death was a painful and heartrending event, it was absolutely necessary. It was not an unplanned accident.

What Does God Say?

Read John 18 and count the number of events that could have kept Jesus from the cross.

Look, first, at the soldiers who went to the Garden to arrest Jesus. When He identified Himself, "They drew back and fell to the ground" (18:6, ESV). Only after Jesus reassured His disciples that this was God's will did the soldiers seize Jesus (vv. 11-12).

Second, when the High Priests questioned Jesus, it was clear they had no valid charge to bring against Him. The Gospel of Matthew tells us the chief priests "were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward" (Matthew 26:59-60). Jesus had done nothing wrong, and everybody knew it.

The third event occurred when Jesus was brought before Pilate. Pilate asked what the charges against Jesus were and the priests could only answer evasively, "If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you" (John 18:30).

Pilate himself, after he interviewed Jesus declared, "I find no guilt in him" (18:38 ). And chapter 19 tells us that after another interview with Jesus, "Pilate sought to release him" (19:12).

And yet, despite all this, Jesus died. And you and I have God to thank for that. As Paul put it to the Corinthians, "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures…he was buried…he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

We'll look more at what Christ's death and Resurrection mean for us today in the next section.

My Thoughts

As you read John 18:1-40, think about the following questions:

1. What are some of the ways Jesus moved Himself closer to death on the cross?

    * "Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him" (verse 4). How committed would you have to be to purposely step toward something that would cause you great suffering?

3. What did the soldiers do to Jesus before they took Him to Annas?

4. Why did one of the temple guards slap Jesus?

5. Which of Jesus' disciples denied they knew Him while He was being questioned?

My Part

When I look at Jesus' death on the cross and the events that led up to it, I'm encouraged to know that Jesus' death, as tragic as it was, was part of God's plan (from the instant Adam and Eve sinned). Let it encourage you to know that this plan was put into motion for you.

Jesus died as part of God's plan. For your part, do you plan time to draw closer to Him? Time to read His Word? Time to interact with Him in prayer? Write out a plan that will help you take advantage of these ways to draw close to God. Begin to carry out that plan today.

Because of Jesus' death, you now have an option to live with Christ forever. If you'd like to know more about this choice you have, visit our "Meet Jesus" Web page.

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 19, 2008
Topic: Salvation


Was Christ's Death Really Necessary?

You can't understand the reason for the shame and suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ until you realize what the cross meant in the eternal plan of God. For some, the fact that Jesus suffered and died means nothing more than the death of a martyr or the senseless execution of a good man or the sad demise of a misguided zealot.

For the Father, however, the sacrificial death of Christ was central to His grand plan of salvation for sinful mankind. Without the cross, God's eternal purpose for creating man would be meaningless and humanity would be hopeless.

What Does God Say?

Read these verses about the suffering and shame Jesus endured:

"And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, 'Prophesy!' And the guards received him with blows" (Mark 14:65, ESV).

"And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him" (Mark 15:17-20, ESV).

Why did God the Father allow such brutal treatment of His Son? Could God have intervened and prevented it? Could Jesus Himself have prevented it? As He was being arrested, leading up to the events that would result in His death later in the day, Jesus said: "Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?" (Matthew 26:53-54, ESV).

Let's look at the importance of the sufferings of the cross in the mind of Christ and the teaching of the apostles. Go to the following passages, read them and answer the questions.

    * Matthew 16:21-23. What did Jesus tell His disciples about the events that were to happen to Him? What was Peter's reaction? In verse 23, what did Jesus say that indicates that the cross was God's plan?
    * Luke 24:44-46. In verse 44, what three sections of the Old Testament did Jesus say spoke of Him? In verses 45-46, what did He say was written concerning Him?
    * Acts 3:18, 19. In his sermon at the temple in Jerusalem , what did Peter say that all the prophets had prophesied about Christ? What response did he ask for from his audience?
    * Luke 24:26. On the road to Emmaus after His Resurrection, what did Jesus ask the two disciples about His death?

My Thoughts

What should the death of Christ mean to you personally?

    * Look at Hebrews 9:22. What specific requirement did God have for the forgiveness of your sin?
    * According to Hebrews 9:26, what did Christ do to put away your sin?
    * Now read Hebrews 12:2. From His eternal viewpoint, what did Jesus see as the final outcome of His suffering, shame and death? What does the writer say you should be doing?

It is clear that in the purpose of God, Christ 's sacrificial death was absolutely essential to guarantee His forgiveness of your sin and your restoration to eternal fellowship with Him.

My Part

Memorize and keep in mind this great verse about Christ 's death:

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit" (1 Peter 3:18, ESV).

Have you taken the step of trusting completely in Christ for the forgiveness of your sin and God's gift of eternal life?

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 20, 2008
Topic: Jesus, Salvation, New Life, God's Love


Abundance in Jesus

According to the Guinness Book of Records, a fly, depending on the species, can lay up to 250 eggs at a time. In one life cycle, a female fly can produce as many as a thousand offspring. But that's nothing compared to the world of microorganisms. The protozoan Glaucoma, which reproduces by what's called binary fission, divides as frequently as every three hours. In the course of a single day, it can reproduce itself 256 times or 93,440 offspring a year.

But such abundance pales to insignificance when we think of the abundance Christ gave you and me. What Jesus did for us on the cross provided us with more than we could ever hope for. He died for our sins, so we could have peace with God, freedom for today and life forever.

What Does God Say?

Why? Because God is full of mercy and love. Ephesians 2:4-5 tells us, "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved" (ESV). And "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8, ESV).


Second Corinthians 5:21 puts it this way, "For our sake he [God the Father] made him [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (ESV). Jesus died so we could be righteous before God, reconciled to Him instead of lost in sin.

What do we gain because of Jesus and the cross? Look at Colossians 2:13-15: "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" (ESV).

We get so much in return: forgiveness of sins, our debt cancelled, new life, victory over sin, freedom from the demands of the Law. What did we do to deserve such abundance? Absolutely nothing. It's all about what God chose to do through His Son, Jesus, who died for you.

My Thoughts

This generous grace cost Jesus His life through a horrible death by Crucifixion. Read John 19:17-37, and in your own words describe Jesus' suffering.

Jesus went to the cross for you. And because of that, you get everything you didn't deserve. Read these passages to see what Jesus did for you.

Isaiah 53:5-6
John 3:14-15
Romans 3:21-26
Galatians 3:13-14
Titus 2:11-14
Hebrews 9:24-28
1 Peter 2:24
1 John 2:2

My Part

What did Jesus do for you? More than you can probably imagine. He went to the cross and suffered a terrible death so that you could have forgiveness, freedom and life with God here and in the future. So, the big question is:

What will you do with all that Jesus gives to you?

Have you put your faith in Him as the full payment for your sins, and the only One who can give you eternal peace with God? If not, there's no time like now. Come before God and confess your need for Jesus as your Savior and accept this wonderful gift. (You'll find more help when you visit the "Meet Jesus" page on our Web site.)

If you've already accepted what Jesus has done for you, are you living as one forgiven and at peace? Have you thanked Him for this amazing gift? Then take a few minutes to express your gratitude right now. Are you building your relationship with God through His Word? Maybe you've had trouble believing that Jesus offers all this. Then ask for His help in understanding and living what you know from His Word.

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 21, 2008
Topic: Jesus


Fact or Opinion?

If you dust off your old Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and look up the word, opinion, you'll find this definition: "A view, judgment or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter."

Opinions swirl around us constantly. I'm sure you know people with strong opinions about politics, religion, the economy, oil prices, abortion and taxes. You probably have a few of your own!

Opinions are not facts. If the price of a can of beans is $1.13, that is a fact, not an opinion. If you think the price is too high, that is an opinion.

Nowhere will you find more opinions than in the world of religion. If you stopped people on the street and asked them, "Who is Jesus Christ?," you might get answers like these:

    * "He is a man, just like we are."
    * "He is a prophet, like Muhammad but not as great."
    * "He is just a great teacher."
    * "He is a martyr for what he thought was a good cause."
    * "He is a figment of your warped imagination."
    * "He is the divine Son of God."

According to the Bible, your eternal destiny requires that you separate the opinions from the facts. Let's see what help God gives us to do that.

What Does God Say?

Opinions about Christ are by no means recent. Look up each of the following Bible references; identify the person who gave the opinion and write who that person thought Jesus was:

    * John 1:28-29
    * Matthew 3:17
    * Matthew 8:2
    * Matthew 8:18-19
    * Matthew 9:27
    * Matthew 13:54-55
    * Matthew 14:1-2
    * Matthew 27:19
    * John 20:27-28

That list is only partial. There are many other opinions expressed about Jesus in the Gospels. Jesus wanted to hear His disciples confess in their own words who they thought He was. In Matthew 16:13-17 we read:

"Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.'"

How do you know that Jesus considered Peter's statement to be a fact and not a mere opinion?

My Thoughts

Notice that Jesus asked the disciples two questions. First, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" and, second, "Who do you say that I am?"

What people say about Jesus, what opinions they express, are not Jesus' main concern. His second question, "Who do you say that I am?" is of first importance. The first question is answered by many opinions, but the second question must be answered by biblical facts because your eternal destiny hangs in the balance. People are not saved by having opinions about Christ; they are saved by knowing who Jesus Christ truly is and placing their faith completely in His person. Forgiveness of sin does not come through your opinions but through personal knowledge of the one and only Savior.

Who do you say He is?

My Part

Go back through the list of Bible verses at the beginning of this study and see if you can identify:

    * Which persons were most likely simply expressing an opinion?
    * Which persons expressed the facts they knew about Jesus?
    * Which persons may have known some facts but missed who Jesus really is?
    * Which persons expressed an opinion but apparently didn't have the foggiest notion of who Jesus is?

      Ask God in prayer to give you a crystal clear understanding of who Jesus is.

[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 22, 2008
Topic: Other, Christian Living/Situational, God

Tune In to Wisdom

When radios first came out, a person had to manually turn a knob to cause the radio to pick up a particular station. But it often took some delicate adjustments. Too much one way or the other and all you would pick up was static. By carefully adjusting the knob, however, you could tune into some wonderful programming.

The same is true spiritually. If you want to pick up God's program for wisdom, you have to tune your ears and your heart to what God is saying in His Word and listen carefully.

What Does God Say?

In Proverbs 2:1-6, we see that listening helps you discover wisdom from God:

"My child, listen to what I say,
and treasure my commands.
Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.
Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.
Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
For the Lord grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding" (NLT, emphasis added).

Wisdom comes from God's own mouth; it's found in His words. Our job is to sharpen our ability to hear what God has to say--to tune our ears to God's Word just as we tune the radio to hear our favorite stations.

How do you do that? Start with His Word. It's all in there. The knowledge and understanding that comes from His mouth is recorded in God's Word. Like a father teaching his child (as Proverbs does), God teaches us all we need. We just have to ask, as James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (ESV).

But wisdom is more than just knowing things; wisdom offers practical help in living to please God. James 3:17 says this wisdom from above (from God) is "first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere" (NLT). That not only tells us about the nature of God's wisdom but what a wise life will look like.

My Thoughts

Go back to Proverbs 2 and read verses 6-8.

    * Where does wisdom come from?
    * What does God provide for those who seek His wisdom?

Turn to Proverbs 4:1-11.

    * How many ways are we told to listen or pay attention?
    * Why is wisdom worth pursuing? What will it cost you?
    * How do you benefit from this wisdom?

My Part

Remember, wisdom is practical. Tune in, listen up and then put it to work. Read James 1:19-25.

    * What do you miss if you only listen?
    * How will you benefit from practicing wisdom?
    * What wisdom have you found in God's Word that you need to practice today?

That's the hard part, isn't it? Paying attention or listening is fine, but it's only the beginning. It's time to practice what you know. Jot down a few ways you can practice God's wisdom; then ask for His help in doing just that today.

________________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 25, 2008
Topic: Christian Living/Situational, Obedience/Discipleship

Ask for Discernment

Many decisions require discernment. In today's world there are writers, lecturers, preachers and teachers who advocate philosophies that may or may not be the truth, and you need to be able to discern whether they are good philosophies or not. You will want to know if these ideas you hear are cleverly disguised lies that will ultimately lead you away from God or truths that will draw you closer to Him. Let's see what the Bible has to say about gaining and exercising discernment.

What Does God Say?

Having discernment means that you'll know what God would do in a situation or what He considers right or wrong about a decision. As you draw closer to God, as you begin to think more and act more like Him, you'll find your discernment growing.

And you can get closer to Him, get to know Him better, learn to think more like Him by reading His Word consistently. Jesus told his disciples this parable: "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me" (John10:14, ESV). Earlier He said, "The sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A Stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him" (John 10:4-5, ESV).

So, reading God's Word is important to developing discernment because God's Word attunes your ears to the voice of God. It helps you hear Him clearly in a world where everybody seems to be talking. And it gives you the discernment you need to avoid the unwise philosophies you hear on radio and television or read in newspapers and books.

Paul cautions us about "this worlds" opinions in Romans, "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" (12:2, ESV).

The only way to keep from being conformed to this world is to read God's Word. Then when you wonder if something is God’s will for you, you'll know the answer. When you're reading popular self-help books that claim to be "spiritual," you'll be able to discern whether or not the book's ideas are consistent with the truths in God's Word.

My Thoughts

As you read Romans 12:1-2 and John 10:1-18, think about the following questions:

1. What does it mean to be "conformed to this world"?

2. How can you present your "body as a living sacrifice"?

3. How can you discern what is the will of God (Romans 12:2)?

4. What does the Good Shepherd do for the sheep?

5. What will happen to anyone who comes to Jesus?

My Part

The ideas of wisdom, discernment and understanding are all closely related in the Bible. And there's no better place to see that than in the Book of Proverbs. Challenge yourself to spend some time in this book and ask God to help you gain a heart of discernment.

________________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 26, 2008
Topic: Faith/Trust

Father Knows Best

What began as a radio program, Father Knows Best, became a popular and long running (1954-1960) TV sitcom. The plot revolved around Jim Anderson (played by Robert Young), his common-sense wife Margaret (played by Jane Wyatt) and their children Betty, Bud and Kathy. It always turned out that whenever the kids needed advice on anything, they found they could turn to their father because father always knew best.

What may have been only a fantasy on TV is a reality when it comes to God. As our Creator, God knows us better than anyone else. His wisdom is sufficient for all our needs. Let's see what God's Word says about this.

What Does God Say?

"And Solomon said, 'You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?

"It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, 'Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you" (1 Kings 3:6-12, ESV).

    * What kind of an attitude did Solomon have?
    * What did Solomon ask for?
    * Why do you think this pleased the Lord?

My Thoughts

Knowing that you don't know is always a good place to start. Solomon looked at the responsibilities of being king and said, "God, I don't know how to do it. I'm like a child when it comes to handling this job." God honored that kind of an attitude and not only gave him wisdom but a whole lot more (1 Kings 3:12-13).

Are you in a place where you don't know what to do? Then that's good. That's where God wants you to be. As our Creator, He does know what to do; He simply wants us to look to Him for wisdom.

My Part

There is so much in life that leaves us totally confused. Therefore begin each day by admitting to God that you are at a loss for answers and need His wisdom. With that prayer in mind, open your Bible and begin your daily reading of His Word (for a Bible reading guide, go to backtothebible.org). Keep a notebook handy and record the wisdom God shows you. In a very short time, you'll discover that Father really does know best.

________________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 27, 2008
Topic: God

Created in Wisdom

I'm continually amazed by the complexity of Creation. From the majestic spirals of distant galaxies to the incomprehensibly intricate network of neurons in the human brain, every aspect of Creation displays the wisdom of God.

Maybe "wisdom" isn't the word you'd pick to describe God's work of Creation. The word skill seems more appropriate. In fact, in the Hebrew language, the words wisdom and skill are the same. In the next section we'll look at how God exercised that wisdom in creating the world and how we can use that same skill in living our lives.

What Does God Say?

Proverbs 8 is an incredible passage of Scripture because we see that the wisdom God used in creating the universe is the same wisdom you and I need to live our lives. Wisdom is personified in this chapter and speaks directly to us as we read.

"'To you, O men, I call,
and my cry is to the children of man....
My mouth will utter truth….
All the words of my mouth are righteous.…
Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold'"
(Proverbs 8:4,7,8,10, ESV).

Finding wisdom is something we are all called to do. It is the cornerstone of truth, and the path of righteousness. Learning the right way to live, the life that pleases God, is worth more than any amount of money.

This is the same wisdom God used to create the world (verses 22-31). And the next verses tie it all together.

"'Blessed are those who keep my ways…
Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting beside my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the LORD'" (verses 32, 34-35, ESV).

This is all possible because of Genesis 1:27,
"So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them" (ESV).

Sin has made this harder, but it hasn't changed the fact that we still bear the image of God. We can still find the right way to live by listening intently to His voice and choosing the path of righteousness.

My Thoughts

As you read Proverbs 8:1-36 think about the following questions:

1. What are some characteristics of a life lived by wisdom?

2. How do those who reject wisdom live? How do they end up?

My Part

Proverbs is an excellent place to start a Bible reading habit. Proverbs has 31 chapters so, reading a chapter a day, you will finish in only a month. As you read, ask God to give you a mind of wisdom. Ask for His guidance in choosing the right way to live each day.

________________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 28, 2008
Topic: Obedience/Discipleship, Bible Study/Theories

Searching for Treasure

One of the better known treasure hunts in modern times is the search to find the rumored wealth known as the "Beale treasure." The hunt began when an eccentric man, who left Virginia for the gold and silver mines of the West, returned home, supposedly hid a vast amount of wealth and then disappeared forever. All he left behind were several messages written in a mysterious code. One of those messages when deciphered told of the treasure and its approximate location. Other documents were supposed to narrow down the whereabouts of the cache but they are written in code. Since the Beale documents first came to light, thousands of man-hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent attempting to break the code and find the legendary treasure. So far, no one has succeeded.

God's Word tells us that we should search for wisdom with the same diligence. Wisdom's not a treasure hidden in the ground or in some damp and moldy cave but in the pages of the Bible itself. Let's look at some of the ways the Bible says we should search for wisdom.

What Does God Say?

Read Psalm 119:1-16 and consider how the following verses direct us in our search for wisdom:

    * Psalm 119:2
    * Psalm 119:8-9
    * Psalm 119:11
    * Psalm 119:15
    * Psalm 119:16

My Thoughts

Unlike the Beale treasure, God is not trying to make His wisdom difficult to find. Instead, He says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you," (Matthew 7:7, ESV). That doesn't mean there's not work involved, but the results are guaranteed. If you are willing to search, you won't come up empty handed (Proverbs 2:4-5).

My Part

A great place to begin your search for wisdom is in the Book of Proverbs. (Proverbs is part of what is called the Wisdom Literature. The other books in this category are Job and Ecclesiastes. Of course, all the Bible contains wisdom, but these three have the greatest focus on wisdom.) Read a Proverb each day for 31 days. Go back to Psalm 119:1-16 and select one of the ways (meditate, apply, memorize, etc.) it suggests for finding wisdom. Use a different way each day.

________________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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[nChrist]

Daily Bible Study

Date: Aug 29, 2008
Topic: Other, Christian Living/Situational, God

Check the Source of Wisdom

Is it important to you to know where things come from? For instance, do you check the stickers on produce or the labels in clothing to see where they're made or grown? Do you track down the source of a quote you've seen or a piece of music you've heard? Does knowing the background on a writer or film director help you understand what you're about to read or watch? I'm like that. If I know the source, I have an idea what I can expect in quality, taste, values, agenda, etc.

So, when I hear something that sounds wise and practical for living, I have to check the source.

What Does God Say?

The only source for true wisdom, for the practical knowledge that makes godly living possible, is God. Proverbs 2:6-7 reveals,

"For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity" (ESV).

Daniel 2:20-22 shows that God's wisdom is extensive.

"Praise the name of God forever and ever,
for he has all wisdom and power.
He controls the course of world events;
he removes kings and sets up other kings.

He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the scholars.
He reveals deep and mysterious things
and knows what lies hidden in darkness,
though he is surrounded by light" (NLT).

Real wisdom, the kind we need to use every day, comes directly from God. It's recorded in His Word. He offers us wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

Not only does He offer it, He's happy to have us ask for it. In 1 Kings 3, when Solomon became King of Israel, God offered him whatever he wanted. Solomon requested wisdom and "It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, 'Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you'" (1 Kings 3:10-12, ESV).

Go to God for the wisdom you need; seek it in His Word. The Book of Proverbs is a great place to find practical day-to-day help. You may not become quite as wise as Solomon but you will grow in wisdom as you listen to and apply God's Word.

My Thoughts

Job 12:13-16; Job 28:20-28

    * What is the heart of wisdom?
    * How is God's wisdom revealed?

1 Corinthians 1:20-31

    * What does Jesus do to the world's version of wisdom?
    * How does He reveal God's wisdom?
    * What does that mean for you today?

Ephesians 1:3-8, 15-18

    * What did God do for us through Jesus?
    * Where does wisdom fit into this?
    * What does spiritual wisdom and insight help us do? How does it help us live?

My Part

God is the source of the wisdom you can trust. It's dependable for godly living and using it pleases God, helping you become more like His Son, Jesus Christ.

In our world, you can get a lot of opinions on things, books of advice, help and "wisdom" from people who like to think they're wiser than you are. But if it doesn't match up or fit with the wisdom of God, you're settling for less than the best.

If you want to please God today, ask for His wisdom. Seek it out in His Word. Start with Proverbs and see what practical understanding can be used in your life, your choices, your relationships, your priorities.

Evaluate where you get your "wisdom" or help from on a regular basis. Ask yourself, Does it match up to God's Word? Does it help me become more holy or honoring to God? If the answer is no, it's time to get your wisdom from the real source.

________________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
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