Bible Minute

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 4, 2009
Topic: Faith/Trust


True Saving Faith

A Flemish sculptor was extremely poor. He frequently went without food and worked in a clammy studio. It was bitter cold the night he finished his masterpiece. The thoughtful and meticulous artist was concerned that the fresh clay of his creation would freeze and crack. He had put too much of himself in the design to run the risk of its being ruined, so he wrapped it in his warmest coat. The sculptor died from exposure during the night. His cherished statuette, however, was found unharmed. The warmth of his sacrifice had saved it.

In a similar way, beyond our ability to comprehend, the cross is God's voluntary cloak of sacrifice draped in mercy over His creation.

What Does God Say?

Let's look at John 3:16 because it sheds light on what the sculptor demonstrated--that God loves you enough to send His Son to die for you.

It's important to understand how much God loves you. But understanding that is not the key to salvation. Let's look at what you must do if you are to be eternally saved: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (ESV).

    * Who is this verse written to?
    * What does it say you must do to receive eternal life?
    * What must be the object of your belief if you are not to perish?
    * What does the verse say God's gift is?

Read also John 1:11-13.

    * According to verse 12, who are those who receive Christ?

In addition, read 1 John 5:11-12.

    * Where do you find eternal life (v. 11)?
    * Who has eternal life? Who does not (v. 12)?

My Thoughts

If you looked carefully at the above verses, you saw that the object of saving faith is God's gift--His Son. Salvation from sin comes "packaged" in the person of Christ Jesus, and in no other way. You may ask, "Why doesn't God save people whether they believe or not?" The answer: Because faith (belief, trust) is the only way you can receive God's gift of His Son. God gave His Son, but you must receive Him. If you don't receive the gift of His Son, you won't have salvation because it comes only in Him.

Christ's victorious bodily Resurrection from the dead proved His authority and power to be the sole object of effective faith. First Corinthians 15:14 (ESV) says, "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain." Faith placed in any other person, system, ideal or power is totally unacceptable to God, the One to whom we must answer. He has excluded all other faith-objects and persons when it comes to the business of salvation.

My Part

Don't tinker with your eternal destiny! Examine your faith. Ask yourself what you are really trusting. Make sure it is God's Gift, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Here is a verse worth memorizing: Acts 4: 12 (ESV) "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."

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 5, 2009
Topic: Salvation, God's Love


From Death to Life

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, ESV). It really couldn't get much simpler than that. God loved; God gave; we believe; we live forever. Let's take a closer look.

What Does God Say?

John 3:16 is the summary statement of the Gospel. It perfectly encompasses God's complete plan for us. But it's not the only verse in John 3.

John 3:17-18 goes on to tell us, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God" (ESV).

While we love to focus on God's love, we can't forget our condition. We were in bad shape; sin had condemned us to be forever separated from the Holy God. It's not like we were in "neutral" and things could go either way; we were hopeless. It was up to God to fix things, and He did so through His Son, Jesus. When we believe that Jesus did what was necessary for our salvation; when we place our trust in Him and His work on the cross, then we make the transition from condemnation to salvation, from death to life. That's why John 3:17-18 are included.

God's love provided us with the Savior. God's love provided us with an opportunity to believe and, thereby, say goodbye to condemnation. Do you see what happens? You don't have to be afraid any longer of God's wrath or punishment or judgment because through Christ you are now one of God's own. And "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"
(Romans 8:1, ESV).

My Thoughts

Ephesians 2:1-10 offers a more detailed "before" and "after" picture of what's summarized in John 3:16-18. As you read these verses, consider the following questions.

    * What were you like "before" (vv. 1-3)?
    * What did God do? Why?
    * What part did Jesus have?
    * What does God want your response to be?
    * How do you tap into this salvation?
    * When "work" shows up, what's it for?

My Part

That God would love us so much He'd be willing to sacrifice His own Son so we could enjoy a relationship with Him today and through eternity future defies description! But it doesn't mean we can't accept that that's the way it is.

That's what John 3:16-17 touches on: believing and accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior, the gift of God's great love, the One who makes eternal life possible and who removes you from condemnation. This isn't just about head knowledge but about belief in action, putting your faith and trust in what Christ has done. Have you done that? Do you realize you can live without fear of condemnation? Have you tapped into God's boundless love and rested in the saving work of Jesus?

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 8, 2009
Topic: Jesus, Obedience/Discipleship, Evangelism


To See as Jesus Sees

Do you see people around you the way Jesus saw those around Him? Maybe it's time to check your spiritual vision. When Jesus looked at people, He saw their hearts and lives. He knew their deepest needs, and that He could meet those needs. He wasn't blinded by the surface details like race or social standing.

What Does God Say?

One great example of Jesus' vision is in John 4, where Jesus talks with a woman by a well in Samaria. She obviously had a need for water or she wouldn't have been at the well. But Jesus looks further. "Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, "Give me a drink," you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water'" (John 4:10, ESV).

She needs more than a quick drink--she needs spiritual life. "Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life'" (John 4:13-14, ESV).

It would've been easy for Jesus to ask her for a drink of water and then go His way. But there's more at stake here--she needs life, eternal life, a life that's transformed forever. Jesus also knew the details of her daily conduct, but instead of an attack, He gave her an opportunity to believe and experience new life. "So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 'Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?'" (John 4:28-29, ESV).

By contrast, when Jesus' disciples showed up at the well, they couldn't look beyond this woman's status, nationality and moral condition. They "marveled" that Jesus was talking with her. When she left the well, the disciples quickly forgot about her. Their minds turned to the physical need for food, and they urged Jesus to eat. But Jesus had an answer for that too: "'My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, "There are yet four months, then comes the harvest"? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest'" (John 4:34-35, ESV). Jesus found His fuel in doing God's will, in changing hearts and lives and meeting spiritual needs.

My Thoughts

Take a look at a few other verses and describe how Jesus saw people.

Matthew 9:36-37
Mark 8:1-10
Luke 19:1-10
John 5:1-15

    * What needs did Jesus see?
    * How did He meet them?

My Part

So, how do you see people? Do you look at how they're dressed or what they drive or do for a living? Do you ever wonder about their spiritual condition? Or are you distracted or even intimidated by what you see? Often, we're so caught up in people's social status, appearance and lifestyle that we write them off and forget they have spiritual needs that only Jesus can meet. Wealth and good looks can disguise spiritual need just as easily as weird clothes and rough language.

The next time you're at the grocery store or some other public place, look at those around you. Take a moment and evaluate how you see people. What do you notice first? What barriers come up based on this quick impression? You may not have opportunity for conversation at this point but start re-training your vision. How would Jesus see this person? What questions might He ask?

Use these thoughts to prepare yourself for other conversations you will have--at work, at the store or salon, when you're waiting at the doctor's office or meeting your teen's new friends. And pray for God to open your eyes and to speak His words when those conversations come up.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 9, 2009
Topic: Love, Christian Living/Situational


Living in View of Eternity

How's your eyesight, your spiritual eyesight that is? We can have perfect 20/20 vision and still not see everything we need to see spiritually. Sometimes we get focused on our daily lives, the problems, the struggles and the successes of this world and live with an exclusively earthly vision when God has called us to live our lives in view of eternity, asking ourselves, What really matters?

What Does God Say?

"The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, 'Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?' So the people came streaming from the village to see him.

"Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus, 'Rabbi, eat something.'

"But Jesus replied, 'I have a kind of food you know nothing about'" (John 4:28-32, NLT).

What were the disciples thinking about?

What was Jesus thinking about?

What happened as a result of Jesus taking the time to talk to the Samaritan woman?

My Thoughts

Because Jesus took the time to meet the need of an immoral woman, who was not even a Jewess but part of a nation shunned by the Jews, a great many people heard about Him and came to see Him. Jesus lived in view of eternity. He lived his life on earth focusing on what really mattered--and what mattered most at that moment was not Jesus' need for physical food (Although that's what the disciples were thinking about.) His eternal view required Him to meet the needs of the woman. Imagine the kind of impact we could have if we did the same

Ask yourself:

Do I take time to look around and see the needs of others?

If I don't, how can I slow down enough to become aware of other people's needs?

My Part

A lot of us have appointment books and electronic calendars. We map out our schedules, and we like to stick to them. In fact, our lives seem to run more smoothly if we do stay in a routine. But a problem occurs when we've scheduled our lives so closely that we don't see another person who needs a little encouragement or a helping hand. Today think about those around you. Who is in need? Who can you help? Pray that God will give you a vision like His--to see the needs of others. In the end, that's what really matters.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 10, 2009
Topic: Jesus, Christian Living/Situational, Evangelism


The Power of One

Many Christian biographies are awesome stories of someone who comes to faith in Christ and not only is that person's life transformed, but he or she goes on to change the world. Look at individuals like John Newton or William Wilberforce who helped take down slavery; Hudson Taylor and Amy Carmichael who dedicated their lives to teach the Gospel and personified compassion in distant lands like India and China. Or consider Dwight L. Moody who called a nation to revival and trained a new generation of leaders. And it all started with just one person--and Jesus.

What Does God Say?

Take a look at John 4. This is Jesus' famous conversation with a woman He meets at a well in Samaria. You can read their discussion in John 4:4-26. But let's focus on what comes next. This woman is so amazed over what Jesus knows about her, that she believes He's who He says He is--the Messiah, the Promised One who'll save her.

And she has to spread the news. "So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 'Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?'" (John 4:28-29, ESV). Based on her words, "the people came streaming from the village to see him" (John 4:30, NLT).

It was important for the townspeople to hear the woman's testimony. They needed to know what Jesus had said and why. But more importantly, they had to meet Him too. John 4:39-41 describes it this way, "Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, 'He told me all that I ever did.' So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word" (ESV).

Faith isn't built just on hearsay. It comes from a personal encounter with Jesus. Look at John 4:42: "They said to the woman, 'It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world'" (ESV).

These people had the advantage of seeing Him face to face and hearing His voice. Today, you can encounter Jesus through God's Word and listen as the Holy Spirit speaks through the pages of this inspired Book. And what starts with you--just one--can change your world too. Jesus told His followers (including us) that we are "'the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 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 5:14-16, ESV).

My Thoughts

It's often this personal one-on-one encounter with Jesus that changes the course of someone's life. God also uses other people to make introductions. Check out these four meetings.

John 1:43-51 John 20:10-18

Acts 8:26-29 Acts 9:1-19

    * Who met Jesus? Was another believer involved?
    * What changed for the person who met Jesus?
    * What did he or she do next?
    * How do you think this meeting influenced or changed each person's world?

My Part

It really only takes one to get things started--and that one could be you. Jot down your personal spiritual biography.

    * How did you meet Jesus? Who introduced you?
    * How has it changed your world?
    * What are you doing to introduce others to Jesus?

You can't "make" someone believe, but you can share your own story and then help him or her find Jesus. That's what Philip did, and what the woman at the well did. And in one case, it changed the life of a friend; and in the other, it changed a whole town.

As you pray today, thank Jesus for introducing Himself to you and ask Him to show you ways to do the same for others. You can change your world!

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 11, 2009
Topic: Jesus


What You Need

Did you learn this phrase as a child: "It doesn't matter what the question is, the answer is Jesus"? As a kid, those words were "warm-fuzzies" for me. They served as a security blanket. They were words that comforted me.

Through my teenage years, I added a hefty dose of sarcasm to the phrase. I'd say things like, "So, two plus two equals Jesus?" It's only been as I've grown a little older (and I hope wiser), that I've begun to understand the profound truth in this simple statement.

What Does the Bible Say?

One of the most important passages in the Bible that tells us why Jesus is the answer to everything is found in Colossians 1. Reading through verses 15-20, here are the facts about Jesus that stand out to me:

    * He is the image of God (verse 15).
    * He is the firstborn of creation (verse 15).
    * He is the creator of all things (verse 16).
    * He existed before anything else (verse 17).
    * He holds all things together (verse 17).
    * He is the head of the Church (verse 18 ).
    * He was the first to be raised to life after death (verse 18 ).
    * In Him all the fullness of God dwelt (verse 19).
    * He brings reconciliation between God and men through His blood (verse 20).

So, does two plus two equal Jesus? Absolutely! Two plus two wouldn't equal anything at all if His very hand hadn't craft this universe. Does Jesus know what's best for your life? Definitely. Verses 21 and 22 say, "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him" (ESV).

Through His death and Resurrection, Jesus laid the foundation for a wonderful life. Not necessarily one without trouble and pain, but one that will ultimately end in victory.

My Thoughts

As you read Colossians 1:15-23, think about the following questions:

    * A lot of people today believe in the power of positive thinking to improve their lives. How would Paul respond to these people?
    * Why is it important to remain "stable and steadfast" (1:23, ESV) in our faith?

My Part

The most amazing aspects of this portion of Scripture aren't the magnificent descriptions of Jesus' power and control over the universe; the most amazing aspects are the descriptions of how He relates with us. He has reconciled us to Himself. He saw that our sin was keeping us from experiencing a relationship with Him, and He took steps to get rid of that sin at the cost of His own life. Take some time today to simply thank Jesus for His love for you. Pray that you would be able to see Him as the answer to all your needs.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 12, 2009
Topic: Faith/Trust


Jesus' School of Faith

If you could teach just one lesson to other people, what would you teach? How would you teach it?

Jesus, the God/Man and ablest teacher who ever lived, walked this earth for about 33 years. For the last three or four years of His life, He taught men and women what He considered to be the most important lessons they needed. Among those lessons, recorded in the Gospels, there is one that stands out. Let's look at that lesson and how He taught it.

What Does God Say?

The lesson Jesus stressed again and again was faith--faith that He was who He said He was; that He could do what He said He could do; and that all He promised was absolute truth.

How would the Greatest Teacher get this lesson across? Let's look at some ways He taught the disciples about their need to trust Him without reservation.

      1. Jesus taught faith by talking about it in the disciples' presence.

          o John 14:1. What did Jesus desire to see in the hearts of His disciples?
          o John 14:10-11. What did Jesus say the disciples should believe?
          o Luke 17:3-6. What response did the disciples have to Jesus' teaching about forgiveness?
          o Luke 24:25. How did Jesus describe those who did not readily believe?

      2. Jesus gave miraculous object lessons to deepen the disciples' faith.

          o Mark 11:12-14 and 11:20-24. What was the visual object Jesus used (11:13-14)? What lessons did Jesus want them to learn (11:22-24)?

      3. Jesus prayed for His students.

          o Luke 22:32. What specifically did He pray for Peter?

      4. Jesus gave His disciples "faith tests."

          o John 6:1-6. How did Christ test Philip's faith?

      5. Jesus reviewed the disciples' lessons on faith in the "laboratory of life."

          o Matthew 14:22-33. How did He prove the reality of their faith (14:24)? Why did Peter sink (14:30-31)? What was the disciples' response (14:33)?

      6. Jesus furnished unquestionable proof that His teachings on faith were true.

          o Acts 1:3 and John 20:27-28. What was the proof?

My Thoughts

Jesus' lessons on faith would mean nothing if they not cause change in the lives of His students. How effective in the disciples' lives was Jesus' teaching on faith? Look at some of the convincing arguments for faith in Christ that later came from the mouths of disciples who started their journey with Him at various levels of trust.

    * John 20:30-31. What John said.
    * Acts 4:12 and Acts 10:43. What Peter said.
    * Acts 8:35. What Philip said.

My Part

Where are you today in the school of faith? Have you studied what Jesus and others say about the necessity of trusting in Him? Has He tested you or put you through a lab course? Is He deepening your faith in God as you learn more and more of His Word? Do you believe He is praying for you, even as He did for His first disciples?

Then, learn this part of Christ's prayer for you in John 17:20-21 (ESV): "'I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word; that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.'"

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 15, 2009
Topic: Joy


An Attitude of Rejoicing

The Bible says a lot about rejoicing. And we have a lot to rejoice about. Because of God's mercy, our sins have been forgiven. Because of His grace, we've been adopted as His heirs. Because of God's love, we have the promise of His care and protection through our lives.

The easiest times to rejoice are the periods of God's blessings. As God said to Moses, "'So you shall rejoice in every good thing which the LORD your God has given to you and your house'" (Deuteronomy 26:11, NKJV). Rejoicing in good times is easy, but we're told to rejoice in bad times too.

In order to do this, we need to have the right perspective when we look at our troubles. Jesus gave this perspective to His disciples after they returned from the villages where He sent them. They were rejoicing because even demons were responding to their authority.

But Jesus warns them, "'Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven'" (Luke 10:20, NKJV). As Christians, whatever we might be going through, we always have a cause to rejoice--our names are written in heaven.

Let's look at how the apostle Paul applied this to his life.

What Does God Say?

Read 2 Corinthians 6:4-10, and think about the following questions.

    * What are some of the troubles Paul experiences while preaching the Gospel?
    * How did Paul's faith help him meet these challenges?
    * In the last few verses, how do you see Paul putting a heavenly perspective on his troubles?

My Thoughts

Where is your perspective today? A lot of the good events in life naturally raise our perspective to include God. But the bad times lower our gaze till we stare only at our feet as we stumble through life. The secret to having an attitude of rejoicing is learning to lift your gaze to God even in the bad times. It's learning to say, "Things may be bad today, but someday God will take me home."

My Part

Are you connected with fellow believers at church? Having a strong group of Christian friends can be an invaluable resource in times of trouble. Their prayers and encouragement can be the difference between rejoicing and despair. If someone you know is going through a tough period in their life, consider how you may encourage them.

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 16, 2009
Topic: Jesus, New Life, Faith/Trust


The Bread of Life

When my mother baked bread, we would devour a loaf in the first 20 minutes it was out of the oven! There's nothing quite as good as a slice of fresh, homemade bread, warm and slathered with butter. Skip the jam. You don't even need a plate. Just get to the good stuff! Let me guess, your mouth is watering right now?

Bread is one of those "building-block" foods. Every culture has some form of bread at the heart of its diet. And no matter how much the "food police" object, we need it, love it and use it to satisfy hunger.

What Does God Say?

So, it's no wonder that Jesus describes Himself as the Bread of Life, satisfying the spiritual hunger of our hearts. He couldn't have picked a better way to illustrate what He brings to our needy souls.

In John 6:1-14, Jesus fed a large crowd of hungry people with a few loaves of bread and a couple fish. Miraculously, it was enough to satisfy them and even provide leftovers. Jesus saw the need for food, and He met it in an extraordinary way. But while it was satisfying at the time, like any good meal (or even a warm slice of bread), people eventually get hungry again. Bread met only the immediate need.

But later, during a discussion about the miraculous signs Jesus did, He offered the long-term solution to our hunger problem. "Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst'" (John 6:35, ESV).

In John 6:47-51, He goes on to say, "'Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh'" (ESV).

What Jesus offers is eternal life; the spiritual food of His presence, His will and His power in our lives. He is the only One who can truly satisfy the deepest longings of our heart: the desire for forgiveness, for purpose, for hope, for love and belonging, for eternal life at peace with God. When you've got the best Bread, why settle for anything less?

My Thoughts

Read John 6:22-59.

    * What were these people looking for? Do you see the same need in people today? How is it demonstrated?
    * What did they find?
    * What does the "bread of life" offer you?
    * What were these people missing in their questions to Jesus?
    * Why do you think it's so hard to understand and accept what Jesus has to offer?
    * What do you learn here about Jesus and the will of God?
    * What does He expect from us?

My Part

So, what are you going to do with the Bread of Life?

    * Do you look to Jesus to satisfy your spiritual hunger? Not just for your salvation but for your daily life?

[nChrist]

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 17, 2009
Topic: Salvation


True Freedom

A computer search program offers 199 million sites that talk about "freedom," 31.4 million where you can study "bondage" and 24.6 million on "slavery."

Turn on the TV, and you are bombarded with your need to be "financially free," free from debilitating diseases, free from clogged drains and free from the ravages of old age.

As a pastor's counseling session ended for a couple planning to divorce, the wife declared angrily, "I don't care what you say about our marriage. I just want to be free to be me."

Humanity's introduction to slavery came about under a fruit tree in the Garden of Eden when Satan offered the first couple freedom from the restraints of their good and righteous Creator. Since that event, like it or not, every one of Adam and Eve's descendants has experienced the grinding bondage of sin. With that bondage comes an inescapable longing to be free. Is there any answer? The Lord has it in today's lesson.

What Does God Say?

"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered him, 'We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?

"Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed'" (John 8:34-36, ESV).

Jesus told His audience that they were not free. They were slaves to sin. The truth is universal: You cannot be freed from sin's bondage until you receive Christ and are set free in Him. You cannot reverse the effects of sin--separation from God and eternal death--unless the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life saves you. There is no other escape from sin's horrible grip.

My Thoughts

As a Christian, you must recognize something further. When Christ frees you forever from the slavery to sin, you become a "bondservant of righteousness." Jesus assures you that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:29-30).
Paul says in Romans 6:17-19 (ESV), "But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification."

    * Look up Galatians 5:1. Why did Christ set you free? What should your response be?
    * In Titus 3:3, how does Paul describe the condition of a lost, enslaved person? How does he contrast the saved person in verses 4-7?

My Part

    * Think about and write down some ways you experienced bondage to sin in your life before becoming a Christian.
    * Are there any remains of that old bondage in your life now? Read Romans 6:19 and compare it to Romans 12:1-2. Confess and ask Christ to take away any slavery to sin that is standing between you and Him. Present yourself to Him as a bondservant of righteousness and a living sacrifice to do His will.
    * If you have not asked Jesus to be your Savior, you're still living in slavery to sin. But Christ is calling you to come to Him for salvation. Ask Him right now to be your Savior.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 18, 2009
Topic: Jesus, Evangelism


Truth Sets You Free

A young man, just turned 18, declared, "I can't wait for graduation so I can be on my own. I'm tired of people always telling me what to do. I'm ready for some freedom and independence." When asked what he was going to do after graduation, he replied, "Join the Army."

According to the Bible, no one is born free and no one lives a life of complete freedom--anymore than a private in the Army.

What Does God Say?

Here's what Jesus has to say about freedom and what really prevents us from living lives of freedom.

"Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living " (Romans 6:16, NLT).

"Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin'" (John 8:34, NLT )

The life of slavery to sin Jesus referred to was described by the apostle Paul to Titus (a friend of Paul's). Paul wrote Titus about the attitudes that existed among people before they accepted Christ and while they lived in slavery to sin.

"Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other" (Titus 3:3, NLT).

And this is what the apostle Peter had to tell us about slavery:

"For you are a slave to whatever controls you" (2 Peter 2:19 NLT).

    * Can you summarize the main truth these Scriptures teach?
    * How does Paul describe those who are enslaved to sin?

No person has ever been able to go where they want, do all they want or have all they want. Whatever freedom we have on earth is always limited.

My Thoughts

Yet Jesus told us there was a way we could experience freedom, more freedom than we have ever known.

"Jesus said to the people who believed in him, 'You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free'" (John 8:31-32, 36, NLT)

Jesus tells us what true freedom is all about--what it really means to be free. "The truth" here clearly means God's special revelation given through the person of Christ and through the work of Christ. Being free in Christ Jesus means realizing we are free through His person--what He did for us on the cross, who He is. He alone is the Savior of the world. We are free through the work that He did.

Obviously, Jesus wants us to see that truth is something that sets us free from the power and the penalty of sin--and that only comes through Jesus.

My Part

Freedom not to be a slave to sin or self or desires and passions is only found in Jesus, God's Son and the Savior of the world. To experience that freedom we must choose to make Jesus the Master of our lives and to follow Him. Then, and only then, will His truth set us free.

"So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free" (John 8:36, NLT).

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 19, 2009
Topic: Obedience/Discipleship


Following the Leader

You've trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. You're a new Christian. You have the gift of eternal life. Now you wonder, Is that all there is? If there's more, what's next?

You've started the greatest adventure of your life, and you want to do it right. What would Jesus tell you to do?

What Does God Say?

Your next step after receiving Christ is to begin growing as a disciple. A disciple is a follower of a teacher, and for a Christian that means Jesus. How do you become a disciple of Jesus? When you trust Christ as your Savior, He calls you to move forward in your Christian life, to follow Him and learn constantly from Him. He calls you to become like Him--to be one of His disciples.

Jesus says that being His disciple involves service: "If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him" (John 12:26, ESV).

But discipleship goes deeper than mere Christian service. Here are some other things Jesus said about being His disciple. Look at the following verses and write down the requirements Jesus gives for being a disciple. Ask yourself how each one affects you as a Christian disciple.

    * John 8:31
    * John 15:8
    * John 13:35
    * Luke 14:33
    * Luke 14:27
    * Luke 6:40

My Thoughts

If you're a disciple, then you've made some choices. You're willing to give up your life for your Teacher; you're willing to be taught, with the goal of becoming like Him; you're willing to hand over the reins of your life to Christ.

There's another word that is closely related to the word, "disciple." It is "discipline." One definition of discipline is "training that corrects, molds or perfects the mental faculties or moral character."

You will learn that there are several disciplines that will make you a better disciple. Let's look at just two of them:

In John 8:31, Jesus mentions abiding or dwelling in His Word. Here is what a noted Bible scholar says about the discipline of Bible study:

*"There can be no real discipleship apart from Bible study. Bible study is no option for Christians. It cannot even be a minor, occasional, or 'vacation time' pursuit. Bible study is the most essential ingredient in the believer's spiritual life, because it is only in study of the Bible as that is blessed by the Holy Spirit that Christians hear Christ and discover what it means to follow Him."

Another discipline that is vital to your growth as a disciple is prayer. *Oswald Chambers said: "The point of prayer is not to get answers from God; the goal of prayer is perfect and complete oneness with God."

My Part

Go before the Lord in prayer right now. Thank Him for the great salvation He has freely given you in Christ, then ask Him to make you the kind of disciple He wants you to be. Ask Him to make your daily time in His Word the core of your life as a follower of Jesus. Ask Him to change and mature you more and more into oneness with Him.

Someone has said "A Christian is a mind through which Christ thinks; a heart through which Christ loves; a voice through which Christ speaks; a hand through which Christ helps."

Does that describe your life?

*James Montgomery Boice, Christ's Call to Discipleship, p. 52.

* Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, (August 6).

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 22, 2009
Topic: Obedience/Discipleship


Just Do It

Advertisers use all sorts of slogans to get us to pay attention to their products and take action, in other words to persuade us to do what they want us to do, to get us to obey them. One of those slogans is "Just do it!" Let's see what happens when you and I apply that slogan to obeying Jesus.

What Does God Say?

In John 9 Jesus meets a blind man. We don't see this man asking Jesus for healing but the need was there. His disciples thought this would be a good opportunity to play the blame game but Jesus spoke up. "'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.'

"Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 'Go,' he told him, 'wash in the Pool of Siloam' (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing" (John 9:3-7, NIV).

Jesus spits in the dirt, makes mud, puts it on your eyes and tells you to go for a walk to wash your face. Not the way you'd expect to have your eyesight restored. How would you respond? "Are you crazy?" "This is disgusting." "There's no way this will work."

Did you see how the man responded? No excuses. No questions asked. This man chose to "just do it"...he obeyed.

When Jesus speaks, people listen. They don't always like what they hear or act on what He says, as the rest of John 9 shows you, but they listen. This man listened to what Jesus said. Then he acted on what he heard--"so the man went and washed"--even though it was really a strange request.

Obedience is our positive response to what God has revealed to us. We may not meet Jesus on the street, but we hear Him in God's Word and He challenges us to obey--no excuses, just faith. In fact, there is "the obedience that comes from faith" (Romans 1:5, NIV), which is how we fulfill God's plan and will in our lives.

My Thoughts

Through John 9, you can see how this blind man met Jesus, obeyed Him and grew in his faith and understanding of who Jesus is. You see, obedience is intertwined with faith and relationship. Take a look at a few examples.

John 14:15,21,23:

    * What does Jesus say is the key to obeying Him? What do you gain for your obedience?
    * How does obedience tie to your relationship with Him?

1 John 2:3 and 5:3:

    * What does obeying Jesus say about our relationship with Him?
    * Does obedience mean your life will be miserable?

Matthew 7:24-27

    * What are the two steps to obeying Jesus?
    * What do you gain when you do what He says?

My Part

As you read God's Word, and listen to what Jesus says about how you live your life...just do it. That's the essence of obedience. The blind man got up, muddy eyes and all, and did what Jesus asked of him. The benefit? He could see.

What is Jesus asking you to do right now? Are you blind to what God wants for your life?

Then you have a choice: Obey. Or stay blind. What's it going to be?

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 23, 2009
Topic: Hope


Anything Good About Death?

You don't have to look far to find bad things about death. A mere drive by a cemetery may remind you that there is a 100 percent mortality rate just because you're human. A quick scan through a historical almanac shows you that even the greatest, richest and most beautiful will breathe a final breath. Mention of the Twin Towers or a roadside bomb in Iraq can fill you with sobering thoughts of the fearsome side of death. Somehow, death goes against the very fiber of your being.

So, is there anything good about death? How does God want us to view this inevitable attack?

What Does God Say?

To look intelligently at death's good side requires you to believe what the Bible says about death, and that you know the Savior who died to free you from its grasp. Death, for an unbeliever, may free him or her from the pain of the moment--but it leads only to an eternity of further suffering, loss and remorse.

Jesus never skirted the subject of death or its consequences, and He made some personal promises that are backed up by His deity.

In John 11:25-26 (ESV) you can read: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'"

My Thoughts

Wouldn't you like to know some of the "good side of death"? Here are some Bible references. Find each of them and look for the corresponding promise below in the bulleted statements. (They are not in the same order.)

Luke 20:36
Romans 6:5
1 Corinthians 15:26
1 Corinthians 15:54-55
Philippians 1:21
Revelation 2:11
Revelation 21:4
Revelation 20:6
Psalm 73:24
Psalm 116:8-9
Psalm 116:15
Romans 8:38-39
Philippians 3:20-21
2 Corinthians 5:8

When you, as a Christian, die:

    * You cannot die again and will be resurrected.
    * Your death will bring gain.
    * You will not be hurt by the second death.
    * You will be imperishable, immortal and victorious.
    * You will be united with Jesus in a resurrection like His.
    * Your tears will be wiped away and there will be no mourning or crying or pain anymore.
    * You will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
    * Your death will be precious in God's sight.
    * You will be at home with the Lord.
    * You will have seen the last enemy, death, destroyed.
    * You will share in the first resurrection.
    * Nothing whatever can separate you from the love of God including death.
    * Your body will be transformed into a body like His glorious body.
    * God will receive you to glory.

My Part

Prepare for your next Bible Minute lesson by reading all of John 11.Write down the things you learn about death from that chapter. If you're a believer, thank the Lord for the sure promises He has given you. If you have not yet trusted Christ and wonder how to know Him, go to the "Meet Jesus" page, and ask the Lord to show you how to be a partaker in the good side of death.

[nChrist]

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Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

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Daily Bible Study

Date: Jun 24, 2009
Topic: Hope, Christian Living/Situational


Jesus Changes Death

Maybe you're familiar with an optical illusion in which a picture portrays an old woman with a large nose or a young woman with her face turned away looking to the side. Which portrait you see depends on the way you view the painting.

Death is the same way. When viewed from the perspective of the world, it's like an ugly hag. But Jesus has changed that perspective. Let's see how Christ can change our view of death.

What Does God Say?

"Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it he said, 'This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.' Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was (John 11:1-6, ESV).

"Then Jesus told them plainly, 'Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him'" (John 11:14-15, ESV.

    * Jesus gave two reasons for not rushing to heal Lazarus. What are they? How might this relate to today?
    * In the first passage Jesus says, "This illness does not lead to death." In the second set of verses Jesus says, "Lazarus has died." What does this seeming contradiction reveal about Jesus' view of death?
    * Although it's not stated in the story, how do you think this experience changed Lazarus, Mary and Martha's view of death?

My Thoughts

If you were to read this story in its entirety, you would discover that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead even though he had been in the grave for three days (the point at which under normal circumstances the body began to decay). Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day as well.

    * What does this tell you about God's power over death?
    * How does knowing this change your view of death?

My Part

Most people fear death. They view it as a permanent severance from everything and everyone they love. But Jesus changed all that. Through the lives of those He brought back from death (In addition to Lazarus, see Mark 5:35-43 and Luke 7:11-15.) and from Christ's own Resurrection, we have the assurance that death is not final. As a Christ follower, you can have a totally different view of death than those who don't know Christ. If you don't have that viewpoint, ask God to help you see death from His perspective--not as an end but as a doorway to a life that is eternal.