GET SMART - Week 6
How to Build Something for Your Kids
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR AUGUST 16-20, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. According to Proverbs 14:26-27,
    home is to be a "refuge." Explain,
    then consider some practical
    examples of how this can be true
    in your home.

2. Explain the phrase "fountain of life."
    Also read Proverbs 10:11; 13:14;
    16:22; 18:4; Psalm 36:9; Jeremiah
    2:13; 17:13.

4. Read Psalm 127:3 and discuss the
    meaning of these three words as
    they apply to the place of children
    in the home: heritage, fruit and
    reward.

Day Three
1. Parents are to be an example to their
    children. How does Proverbs develop
    that theme? (20:7; 31:28; 14:26)
    What does the New Testament tell us
    about the importance of being an
    example? (1 Peter 2:21; Philippians
    3:17)

2. Parents are to be the primary instruc-
    tors of their children. Explore this
    idea using the following texts: Pro-
    verbs 1:8; 6:20; 19:27; 7:1; 5:12-13;
    10:1; 15:20; 23:15-16, 25-26; 27:11;
    29:3; 13:1.

Day Four
1. Parents are to lovingly discipline
    their children. Discuss this state-
    ment, referring to the following
    passages. (Proverbs 22:6; 3:11-12;
    13:24; 22:15; 19:18; 23:13-14; 29:15,
    17) Define the word "discipline" in
    light of what you read and also sug-
    gest what it is not. Compare the
    teaching of Deuteronomy 8:1-6 and
    Hebrews 12:5-11.

2. Examine more closely the familiar
    verse in 22:6. Suggest two or three
    possible meanings. What misread-
    ings of this passage have you heard?

GET SMART - Week 5
God Doesn't Like . . .
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR AUGUST 9-13, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. Read Proverbs 6:12-19. Explain what
    it means for God to hate something.
    Read the following passages to help
    clarify: Deuteronomy 17:3-4; 18:
    10-11; 25:13-16; Psalm 5:5; 11:5;
    Proverbs 16:5; Isaiah 1:13-14;
    Amos 5:21.

2. The Bible tells us that "God is love"
    (1 John 4:8) and that He loves people
    who are sinners (Romans 5:8; John
    3:16). Discuss the relationship be-
    tween love and hate in the character
    of God. See Luke 16:13 and Psalm
    97:10 as they apply to the way we
    love and hate.

3. Create two columns and label them
    Proverbs 6:12-15 and 6:16-19. List
    the key ideas in each passage and
    then draw lines between similar
    concepts. What do you learn from
    this exercise? Consider the con-
    nection between wicked people
    and evil actions.

Day Two
1. According to this passage, where
    does evil originate in human beings?
    Compare this with Proverbs 26:
    23-25; 27:19; Jeremiah 17:9-10;
    Matthew 15:18-20; Romans 2:5;
    Hebrews 3:10-12; 4:12; and 10:22.

2. In 6:12, what do the words "worth-
    less" and "wicked" mean? How do
    they apply to human beings?

3. Specific parts of the body are
    listed in this week’s passage
    (6:12-19). List each one and
    then explain the ways that part
    of the body becomes the servant
    of sin. Compare this with
    2 Corinthians 7:1.

Day Three
1. With respect to the "tongue," what
    else does Proverbs tell us about how
    it can be abused? (12:19; 21:6; and
    26:28) How does the New Testament
    expand on this theme? (1 John 1:10;
    2:22; 4:20; 5:10)

2. What do 6:13 and 6:17 teach about
    the sinful use of the eyes? Compare
    with 1 John 2:16, Romans 3:18;
    11:8; 11:10 and Revelation 3:18. How
    do God’s "eyes" differ from ours, and
    how does He give us an example of
    what we should do with ours? (Pro-
    verbs 5:21; 15:3; 22:12; Genesis 6:8;
    Deuteronomy 11:12; 2 Kings 12:2;
    2 Chronicles 16:9; 1 Peter 3:12)

3. How are the "feet" misused in 16:13
    and 16:18? To what proper use
    should they be put? (Isaiah 52:7;
    Romans 10:15; Ephesians 6:15;
    Psalm 17:5; 119:106; Proverbs
    4:26; Hebrews 12:13)

Day Four
1. What is the connection between
    "pointing the finger" and being a
    "false witness" in 6:13 and 6:19?
    How is this connection clarified by
    25:18? Consider the seriousness of
    the false witness (12:17; 14:5;
    19:5, 9; 21:18)

2. What is the outcome of doing the
    things which God hates according
    to 6:15 and 6:19? How serious is
    this outcome? Read Jude 1:16-19,
    Galatians 5:19-21, and Romans
    16:17-18.

3. Though God hates our sins, He
    loves us. What remedy does He
    provide for our sins? (Romans 5:8)
    What must we do in response to
    God’s provision? (1 John 1:9;
    Acts 2:38)

4. What should our lives look like as
    a result of accepting God’s pro-
    vision? (Psalm 97:10; Romans
    12:9; Galatians 5:22-23)

GET SMART - Week 4
Dollars and Cents
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR AUGUST 2-6, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. Read Proverbs 10:15. Is this proverb
    a command or a simple observation?
    Why does the rich man treat wealth
    as a "fortified city," and what dangers
    lurk within such an attitude? Read
    Luke 12:16-21; 1 Timothy 6:17-19;
    and Proverbs 18:10-11.

2. What does this proverb tell us about
    the vulnerability of the poor? Read
    Leviticus 25:1-34 and compare it
    with the warnings of 1 Chronicles
    36:20-21. Consider the reasons for
    poverty. Use the following texts to
    shed additional light on the plight of
    the poor. (Proverbs 10:4; 20:13;
    21:17; 23:21; 13:18; 14:23; 21:5;
    6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 22:26-27; 22:7;
    13:23; 18:23; 28:8)

Day Three
1. Examine the following passages
    from the Old Testament which
    address our responsibility to the
    poor. (Isaiah 10:1-4; Amos 2:6-7;
    4:1; 5:11-12; 8:4-10) Compare to
    Proverbs 14:21, 31; 22:2, 22-23;
    29:7; 28:3; 31:9; 29:14; 19:17;
    21:13.

2. Read the warnings of the New
    Testament, found in James 5:1-6,
    as they pertain to the rich in their
    treatment of the poor.

3. How important is planning in matters
    of wealth? (Proverbs 15:22) What
    character trait is necessary? (21:5)
    Read Proverbs 22:29; 10:4; 14:23;
    13:11; 16:11; 20:10; and 20:23.

Day Four
1. What should we know about using
    credit? (Proverbs 22:7) Read Philip-
    pians 4:11; 1 Timothy 6:8; Hebrews
    13:5; and Proverbs 30:7-9.

2. Read Proverbs 15:16. Why is "fear
    of the Lord" compared with "great
    wealth?" How does Jesus’ parable
    in Luke 12:13-21 help us interpret
    this proverb?

3. What impact can wealth have on
    relationships? (14:20; 19:4, 7;
    28:11; 22:1-2, 7; 13:7)

4. According to Proverbs 22:1, what
    takes precedence over wealth?
    The New Testament teaches us
    about a different sort of wealth.
    Read the following passages to
    discover what it is. (Romans 11:
    33-36; Philippians 4:19; and
    Colossians 2:2-3)

GET SMART - Week 3
Known for Words
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR JULY 26-30, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. Consider a few examples of the differ-
    ent ways you use words in your daily
    life. In what sense are words the
    sources of action? How do words
    make things happen? What possible
    dangers are inherent in this use of
    words? What benefits? What are
    some examples from your own life?

2. What did Jesus say about the use of
    words? (Matthew 15:18-20; 12:34-37;
    John 6:63; 12:47-50) How did people
    view the speech of Jesus? (Luke
    4:22) What did Jesus view as the 
    function of his own speech?
    (Matthew 24:35; Luke 6:47-49)

Day Two
1. Read Proverbs 4:24; 5:2-3; 7:21;
    8:6-7; 12:13, 19, 22; 13:3. What
    role do the "lips" seem to have in
    these passages?

2. Read and study Proverbs 16:21-32.
    What different terms does the writer
    use to refer to speech?

3. Focusing on the following verses, 
    consider the power of speech for
    good and also for evil.
    (16:21, 23-24, 27, 30, 32)

Day Three
1. What example in the life of Solomon
    revealed that, as king, he used words
    for good purposes? (1 Kings 3:16-28)
    Remember that Solomon wrote many
    of the Proverbs we are studying.
    (1 Kings 4:32)

2. In the New Testament, the book of
    James handles speech in ways sim-
    ilar to Proverbs 16. Read James 3:
    1-18 and consider the parallels. Do
    you see any distinctively Christian
    "spin" in James that is missing from
    Proverbs?

Day Four
1. Read Proverbs 10:6-32. Focus on the
    following verses, and consider the
    power of speech for good and for evil.
    (10:6, 8, 13-14, 18-21, 31) Which of
    these proverbs is especially meaning-
    ful to you? How might you apply it to
    your own life?

2. In what ways does the book of Job
    illustrate what Proverbs tells us about
    the potentially destructive use of
    words? (Job 13:1-5; 16:1-5; 38:2)

3. Compare the teaching of Ecclesias-
    tes 12:9-11 with the Proverbs texts.
    What key ideas are similar?

GET SMART - Week 2
What Good Is Wisdom to Me?
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR JULY 19-23, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Each day, read and memorize Proverbs 3:5-6.

Day Two
1. What are the instructions of father to
    son? How is this passage an invita-
    tion to spiritual education? What good
    does the father state will come from
    following his words? (2:1)

2. What attitude of the child is required
    to maximize the benefits of his
    father’s wisdom? (2:2)

3. In what sense must we "take the ini-
    tiative" if we are to be enriched by
    wisdom? (2:3-4) What can hinder that
    process? (see also Malachi 1:6-14)

4. What are the immediate benefits
    which come from wisdom according
    to 2:5?

Day Three
1. In what sense is "seeking wisdom"
    identical to "seeking God?" (2:6)
    What does God promise in return
    for those who seek wisdom from
    Him? (2:7-8)

2. What two kinds of dangers face the
    father’s son in 2:12-19? How are each
    of these unique, and what specific
    temptations do they introduce? How
    does wisdom benefit the son in his
    battle with these dangers?

3. In 2:20-22, the writer tells us about
    "the way of the good." What is it,
    and how do we stay faithfully on it?
    How do goodness and righteousness,
    the fruits of wisdom, benefit us?

Day Four
1. Read Proverbs 3:1-6. What seems to
    be the key command which gives
    unity to all the other instructions?

2. What specific virtues (permanent
    character traits) does this passage
    emphasize, and how do they become
    a consistent part of our lives? Why
    does the writer speak of "the tablet
    of the heart?" (see also 7:3) How is
    something written on the heart? (see
    also Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10;
    10:16; 2 Corinthians 3:3) Discuss
    this concept in light of Jesus and the
    Gospel.

3. What does it mean for wisdom to give
    us "favor and skill in goodness?" (3:4)

GET SMART - Week 1
The Fear of the Lord
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR JULY 12-16, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. What do the following Old Testament
    texts teach us about "wisdom," both
    the false and the genuine? (Genesis
    3:6; Deuteronomy 4:5-6)

2. In what ways did Solomon exemplify
    wisdom? (1 Kings 3:5-14; 4:29-34)

3. What special features does wisdom
    have from the standpoint of the New
    Testament and the Gospel? (James
    1:5; 3:13-18; 1 Corinthians 1:17-25;
    2:1-16; Colossians 2:3)

4. What do the following Old Testament
    texts teach us about "wisdom," both
    the false and the genuine? (Genesis
    3:6; Deuteronomy 4:5-6)

5. In what ways did Solomon exemplify
    wisdom? (1 Kings 3:5-14; 4:29-34)

6. What special features does wisdom
    have from the standpoint of the New
    Testament and the Gospel? (James
    1:5; 3:13-18; 1 Corinthians 1:17-25;
    2:1-16; Colossians 2:3)

Day Two
1. Briefly scan through the book of
    Proverbs, noting the following
    sections:
    1:1-9:18
    10:1-22:16
    22:17-24:22
    24:23-34
    25:1-29:27
    30:1-33
    31:1-31

Day Three
1. According to Proverbs, wisdom should
    guide the "way" we live our lives.
    Using the following passages, consider
    the "way of wisdom" and its opposite,
    the "way of folly." (1:15, 31; 2:8, 12, 20;
    3:23; 4:11, 14, 19; 5:8; 6:23; 7:27; 8:2,
    13, 20; 9:6, 15)

2. Our main text this week is Proverbs 1:
    1-7. Read through it, and then list the
    purposes the writer gives for using
    proverbs. What does the passage tell
    us about the meaning of "wisdom?"

Day Four
1. Offer a definition of "wisdom," in-
    cluding what it is, how we acquire it,
    why we need it, where we can apply
    it, and who gives it to us.

2. What is the relationship between
    wisdom and knowledge?

3. In Proverbs 1:3, what three skills does
    wisdom cultivate in us? Where are
    they most applicable?

SPEAK OF THE DEVIL - Week 3
Victory Over Temptation
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR JULY 5-9, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. When Satan attempts to control our
    wills through pride, what should we
    do? (1 Corinthians 2:12; Philippians
    2:12-13; James 4:4-6; 1 Thessa-
    lonians 2:13; Romans 12:3;
    1 Corinthians 4:7)

2. When Satan attempts to accuse our
    consciences through false guilt, what
    should we do? (1 John 2:1; Romans
    8:34; Isaiah 59:16; Revelation 12:
    10-11)

3. Carefully read Ephesians 6:11-18.
    What image does Paul use to des-
    cribe our preparation for Satan’s
    attacks? Compare this passage
    with the following Old Testament
    texts: Joshua 1:5-9 and Isaiah
    59:14-17.

Day Three
1. What does Ephesians 6:10 tell us to
    do, and how does 6:11 show us how
    to do it?

2. What features of our struggle with
    Satan does Paul emphasize in 6:12?
    List the different words he uses to
    describe the "powers" we face in our
    battle with temptation. What seems
    to be the distinctive feature of each
    one?

3. What specific command does 6:13
    give, and how does it unify our efforts
    against Satan?

Day Four
1. Read Ephesians 6:14-17and list
    each piece of armor Paul mentions.
    Consider the idea which each piece
    of armor represents and why the
    association with that particular
    piece is appropriate.

2. Which piece of armor is offensive in
    nature, while the rest are generally
    defensive? Compare Hebrews 4:12;
    Isaiah 49:2; and Revelation 19:15.

3. In what sense is "prayer" a part of
    the Christian’s defense arsenal
    against temptation and Satan (6:18)?
    What language is used in this verse
    which links prayer directly to a
    soldier’s work?

SPEAK OF THE DEVIL - Week 2
The Devil Is In the Details
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR JUNE 21-25, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. Satan uses specific weapons as he
    tempts Christians. For each trait
    from Day 1, discover the weapon.
    a. John 8:44; Romans 1:25;
        compare Genesis 2:16 & 3:2;
        Genesis 2:17 & 3:3;
        2 Corinthians 11:13-14
    b. Job 2
    c. Matthew 4:8-9; 1 John 2:16;
        1 Peter 5:5-6; Proverbs 16:18
    d. Psalm 38:20; 71:13; Daniel 6:24

Day Three
1. What purposes does Satan have in
    tempting us—purposes which grow
    out of his character?
    a. Acts 22:14; Ephesians 5:17;
        Colossians 1:9; Ephesians 6:6
    b. James 5:11; 1:2-3; Hebrews
        6:12; Galatians 5:22-23
    c. Romans 1:25; 2 Chronicles 26:
        15-16; Deuteronomy 6:10-12
    d. 1 John 3:19-21; 2 Corinthians
        2:7-8, 11

2. According to the parable Jesus told
    in Matthew 13:24-43, what is God’s
    attitude toward the persistence of
    evil (and temptation) in His world?
    What key statement does the
    parable make in 13:28?

SPEAK OF THE DEVIL - Week 1
Satanology, Who is the Devil?
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR JUNE 14-18, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. Read Job chapters 1 & 2. What
    information do these passages give
    us about Satan? How did he relate
    to God in the story of Job? What
    are we told about the latitude he
    had in afflicting Job’s life? Does
    this tell us anything about the way
    evil operates in the world?

2. Read Isaiah 24:21 as it pertains to
    the invisible causes of evil. What
    does this tell us about Satan? Read
    Daniel 10, and then note the role of
    angels, good and evil, in the affairs
    of the world.

Day Two
1. Read Zechariah 3:1-5. What is
    Satan’s role in this passage, and
    who is his intended target? How
    does God intervene? How is this text
    significant in our understanding of
    Satan and his activities?

2. Read Isaiah 13-14, focusing on
    14:9-11. Though addressed to the
    king of Babylon, how does this pas-
    sage reveal a deeper, darker source
    of evil in the world? What clues do
    we have that this passage is not
    talking about just the king of Baby-
    lon? Compare this text to Ezekiel 28,
    especially 28:12b-19, and answer the
    same questions posed above. Con-
    sidering both passages, what do they
    teach us about the history of Satan?

Day Three
1. Jesus begins his public ministry by
    being tempted by the Devil (see
    Matthew 4 and Luke 4). Compare the
    temptation of Jesus with that of the
    first human pair (Genesis 3). What
    similarities do you see? How does
    the serpent act like Satan, and what
    are his strategies and ultimate goal?
    Compare these stories with John 2:
    15-17, and consider how we are
    affected by Satan in similar ways.

2. What do we learn about Satan from
    the earthly life and ministry of Jesus?
    (Mark 3:22-26; Mark 4:15; Matthew
    25:41; John 8:44; Luke 22:31; John
    17:15; Matthew 6:13; Mark 8:33;
    Luke 22:4; John 13:2, 27; Luke
    13:11, 16; Luke 10:18; John 12:31;
    16:11; 14:30)

HOLIMESS - Week 6
Final Instructions, Final Promise
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR MAY 31 - JUNE 4, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. Why is the imagery of "the shep-
    herd" appropriate for Peter to use
    in his letter? Compare to John 21:
    15-23. What was Peter’s original
    profession? (Mark 1:16-18) How
    are the two professions different?

2. What is the significance of "elder"
    in this passage? Is this about age,
    experience or maturity? Explain.

3. According to this first section, what
    is the real enemy of the flock? How
    does he threaten the church? What
    should be our response to him?

Day Three
1. How does Peter envision the church
    in 5:9? What does this tell us about
    the connection between the local
    church and the church universal?

2. What sort of literary form does Peter
    use in 5:11-12 as he begins the
    second section? What four promises
    does God give to His suffering church
    in 5:10? Define each idea and sug-
    gest a practical example of how they
    operate in our lives.

HOLIMESS - Week 5
Remember Our Example
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR MAY 24-28, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. As you read 1 Peter 4, label the fol-
    lowing sections with appropriate
    titles: 4:1-6; 4:7-11; and 4:12-19.
    What do all of them have in
    common?

2. What relevance does the example of
    Christ’s suffering have for us? What
    does Peter mean by being "done with
    sin" in 4:1? What specific forms of
    sin does he emphasize? (4:3) How
    does Christ’s example help us stop
    living in the "old ways?"

3. Explain Peter’s distinction between
    the "evil desires" and the "will of
    God" in 4:2.

Day Two
1. How do our "old friends" react when
    our lives start looking more like
    Christ? (4:4) What helps us handle
    this reaction? (4:5)

2. When events rush forward toward a
    crisis, what impact should this help,
    favorably, on our lives? List the differ-
    ent qualities which hardship cultivate,
    and comment briefly on them.
    (4:7b-11a)

3. How did hardship impact the life of
    Jesus? (compare Hebrews 5:7-9 and
    2:10-18)

Day Three
1. What goal does Peter envision for
    Christ followers as a result of living
    a disciplined life? (4:11b)

2. Why might Christians be surprised by
    suffering, and how might they grow
    beyond this initial reaction? (4:12-13)

3. What is the Christ-like response to
    suffering? (4:13-14) Do you find this
    difficult? Why? How does the exam-
    ple of Jesus help us in doing so?

4. Under what circumstances might a
    Christian "suffer as a criminal?" In
    America? World-wide? What tempta-
    tions brought on by circumstances
    might invite them to do so?

HOLIMESS - Week 4
Value-Added Living in a Very Messy World!
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR MAY 17-21, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. Read 1 Peter 2:13-17, which empha-
    sizes living by the "will of God."
    According to Peter, what is the will
    of God, and how do we best follow
    it? Not the specific instructions he
    gives for doing so.

2. Values lead to the formation of
    virtues in our lives. Define the word
    "virtue." Read 1 Peter 3:8-22. The
    main sections of this reading are:
    1) Integrity (3:8-12); 2) Sovereignty
    (3:13-17); and 3) The Cross (3:18-22).

3. What is integrity? What might be its
    opposite? What contributes to the
    building of integrity? To its loss?
    Based on the reading, list the vir-
    tues which come from a life of inte-
    grity. How do they apply in our lives?

Day Three
1. In 3:13-17, explain the question Peter
    raises: "Who is going to harm you?"
    What kind of question is it, and how
    does it point to God’s sovereignty?
    What does it mean for God to be
    sovereign? When we are in distress,
    how does God’s sovereignty help us?

2. How is God’s sovereignty expressed
    in the following ideas found in this
    section: protection, peace, prepara-
    tion, and purity?

3. In what ways is 1 Peter 3:18 a key
    verse? What does it tell us about
    Christ’s work on the cross? How
    does Christ’s suffering related to our
    suffering, and how is this relationship
    a source of encouragement to us?
    What sort of suffering, experienced
    by his readers, does Peter describe
    in this passage? How is their suffer-
    ing like Christ’s suffering?

Vision Renewel Weekend
DEVOTIONALS FOR MAY 10-14, 2010

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

I suggest the newness is never to wear out. The newness is intended to be a perpetual condition, a daily condition.
• Read Romans 12:1-2. The word "renewing" appears in this scripture suggesting
  an on-going "newness."
• Read Colossians 3:1-17.

Because the world pulls at us so much to conform to its values, we are occasionally in need of being reminded that we are to be "new." In the coming weekend, we will focus on just that—reminding ourselves and one another that we are to live lives as new creatures. Do you want some "How To…" steps on accomplishing this in your life?
• Step #1 - Be in God’s presence. Read these promises about seeking God and 
  His presence: Jeremiah 29:12-14; Philippians 4:6-7; Hebrews 4:16; James 4:7-8;
  and Revelation 3:20.

• Step #2 - Keep doing Step #1 until you understand, and reflect on Philippians
  1:21. Allow God to use the services of the upcoming weekend to help you in
  your journey of "newness" and renewal.

HOLIMESS - Week 3
Holiness in the HoliMess
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR MAY 3-7, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

4. What guidance does Peter offer his
    readers in working through the dif-
    ferent "power-based" relationships
    in which they find themselves?

Day Two
1. The following texts which talk about
    the Christian community as a
    "household:" Ephesians 2:19;
    1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 4:17. What
    other uses of this term do we find
    in the New Testament? What sig-
    nificance does each one have?
    (Acts 16:15, 31, 34; 18:8; 1 Corin-
    thians 1:16; 16:15; 2 Timothy 1:16;
    4:19; Philippians 4:22).

2. What opportunities did a newly
    converted Christian husband,
    father and master have in a house-
    hold consisting of largely non-
    Christians? What problems did he
    face? How would this change for a
    Christian wife? Christian slave?
    Households in the first century
    were top-down and power-based.
    How might that apply today in a
    highly egalitarian culture?

Day Three
1. According to 1 Peter 2:18-20, what
    is the supreme model for working
    out conflict in human relationships?
    List the ways this model applies to
    the relationships mentioned in this
    section of 1 Peter. Based on this
    model, why do you suppose Peter
    began his household code section
    by talking about the slaves (do-
    mestic servants)? Refer to Mark
    10:42-45.

2. According to 1 Peter 2:19, what
    opportunity does unjust suffering
    within a relationship offer to a
    Christian? Compare this to Jesus’
    teaching in Matthew 5:39-48 and
    Paul’s remarks in Romans 12:20-21.

Family Weekend
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR APRIL 26-30, 2010

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. What is the purpose of the church?
    Why does it exist today?

2. What are some misconceptions of
    the church to anyone who doesn’t
    attend?

3. What were the purposes of the
    seven churches in the Book of
    Revelation? (Revelation 2-3) Make
    a list of things they were successful
    at and a few things that John
    "had against them."

4. What is the purpose of our church
    in the community?

Day Two
1. Read Romans 12:1-8 and
    1 Corinthians 12:12-31.

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

3. Of the gifts listed in Romans 12:6-8,
    which one is most evident in your
    life? How will that affect what you
    do for your local church?

4. When the day ends, do you feel
    more conformed or transformed?
    (Romans 12:2)

Day Three
1. God does not count "living sacrifices"
    the same as the slain animals of the
    old system, but rather wants Chris-
    tians to live in fullness of life. Read
    John 10:10. What does it mean to
    have life, and life to the fullest?
    Make a list of 3-4 things.

2. "Prosperity gospel" consists of the
    following formula: sacrifice + absti-
    nence + prayer = my blessing of
    choice. Why is this dangerous?

3. Is it possible that the list you com-
    posed from question 1 could be a
    formula for worshiping God? What
    is the difference?

HOLIMESS - Week 2
Holiness in the HoliMess
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR APRIL 19-23, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. In what sense is 1:3-12 a "blessing?"
    What does it mean to "bless God?"
    How does our blessing God relate to
    His blessings on us?

2. Where do hope, trial, and scripture
    promises fit into the blessing of God
    in this section?

3. According to 1:13 we are to "pre-
    pare our minds for action." What
    specific actions does Peter identify
    in 1:13-2:3?

Day Three
1. What important command sets the
    tone for this section? (1:15) Review
    the key Old Testament passages
    which relate to the theme of holiness.
    (Isaiah 6:3; 57:10; Leviticus 11:44-45;
    19:2; 20:7)

2. Explain the use of the word "fear" as
    it is used in 1:17-21. What possible
    meanings does the word have, and
    which meaning best applies in this
    case? (See also Psalm 34:11;
    111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 8:13; 9:10;
    10:27; 14:26-27; 15:33; 23:17;
    Isaiah 33:6; Micah 6:9) What rela-
    tionship does "the fear of the Lord"
    have to the holy life?

3. How does holiness have a horizontal
    dimension, according to 1:22-25?
    What sort of "love" does Peter en-
    vision for his audience? Not the key
    characteristics he mentions.

4. What dose it mean to "purify the
    soul?" What role does truth have in
    this process? Compare John 17:17
    and James 1:22-25.

HOLIMESS - Week 1
Welcome to the Messy Life!
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR APRIL 12-16, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. The letter 1 Peter speaks to the
    question of living a holy life in a
    messy world. Read through the whole
    letter at one sitting. What large
    themes appear throughout the book?

2. How does becoming a Christian com-
    plicate our lives? How does living the
    Christian life help overcome the diffi-
    culties? Consider the Christian life as
    the place where holiness and "messi-
    ness" meet each other. In what ways
    has that interaction affected your life?

3. What do we know about Peter from
    1:1? Based on your memory of inci-
    dents in the Gospels, what do you
    know about Peter? List several facts
    about him. How was he acquainted
    with the "messy life?" ((Matthew
    4:18; 14:23-33; 16:16-23; 18:21;
    John 13; Luke 22:31; Mark 14:37;
    John 18:10; Matthew 26:58, 69-75;
    John 21; Acts 12)

Day Two
1. In 1 Peter 1:1 what words does the
    writer use to describe his readers?
    Why do you think Peter chose to
    use them? (see also Genesis 23:4;
    Hebrews 11:13; Ephesians 2:12,
    19) Compare these place names
    with the list found in Acts 2:9-11,
    and then suggest a possible con-
    nection between the events of
    Acts 2 and Peter’s audience in
    this letter.

2. According to 1:2 what is the basis
    for the three-fold structure of God’s
    relationship with Peter’s audience?
    Consider the terms foreknowledge,
    sanctification, and obedience as
    they appear in this passage. Com-
    pare the following additional scrip-
    tures: Romans 8:28-32, 35, 38-39;
    Romans 6:19, 22; 1 Thessalonians
    4:3-4, 7; Romans 5:19; Hebrews
    5:8; 1 Peter 1:14, 22a; and Romans
    6:16, 19. How might these words
    have been helpful to Peter’s chosen
    but scattered readers?

Day Three
1. In 2:9-10 Peter gives five descriptions
    of his readers. List them and suggest
    ways that each one might have en-
    couraged the scattered people of God
    who lived in a messy world.

2. What does it mean for Christians to
    be a "royal priesthood?" Compare
    Exodus 19:5-6 as you think about
    your answer.

3. Explain the phrase "special (or
    treasured) possession." Refer to
    Malachi 3:16-18, Acts 20:28 and
    Ephesians 1:13-14 for background.

The Sacraments: Baptism and the Eucharist
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR APRIL 5-9, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One - Baptism
1. What importance did Jesus place on
    the baptism of his followers? (Mat-
    thew 28:18-20) What important com-
    mitments does baptism require of us?
    What promise comes along with
    Jesus’ commission to baptize his
    followers?

2. What is the purpose of baptism?
    (1 Peter 3:20-22) What does baptism
    not do? Why do you suppose Peter
    used the metaphor of Noah’s flood
    and the ark to talk about baptism?
    What gives baptism its power?

Day Two - Baptism
1. In what ways does baptism fulfill
    the intention of Matthew 6:10?
    (Luke 11:2)

2. How is baptism a dramatic way of
    communicating the truth of
    2 Corinthians 5:17?

3. Read Romans 6:1-10. What does
    Paul teach about the symbolic
    significance of baptism? What
    connection does he draw between
    what happened to Christ and what
    happens to us? How does baptism
    say that?

4. In what ways does baptism replace
    circumcision in the new covenant?
    (Colossians 2:11-15)

Day Three - Eucharist
1. Look up the word "Eucharist," and
    explain how this meaning is an
    appropriate way to refer to the Lord’s
    Supper or Holy Communion.

2. Why do we take Communion? In what
    way is doing so a "re-telling" of the
    original story of Jesus’ death for us?
    Why are such re-tellings important
    events in our Christian experience?

3. Paul has preserved for us the main
    traditional account of the first Eucha-
    rist meal, embedded as it was, in the
    Passover Seder. Read what he wrote
    in 1 Corinthians 11:23-28. Briefly list 
    the key purposes for taking the Lord’s
    supper, as set forth in Paul’s
    account.

THE CASE FOR CHRIST - Week 7
Jesus as Body Resurrected
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR MAR. 29 - APR. 2, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. Read Luke 24:45-47. What did Jesus
    specifically need to do for the disci-
    ples which allowed them to believe
    in his resurrection?

2. What unique role would the disciples
    have because they saw Jesus bodily
    alive after his resurrection? (24:48)
    What would they require in order to
    carry it out? (24:49)

3. Why was it important for the disciples
    to witness the empty tomb, the ap-
    pearances of Jesus, and his ascen-
    sion to heaven? (24:50-51)

4. How was their outlook changed from
    what it was at the beginning of Luke
    24 to what it was in 24:52-53?

Day Three
1. Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-23, 35-58.
    What question seems to drive Paul’s
    discussion? (15:12) List the implica-
    tions of not believing in the resurrec-
    tion of the dead. (15:13-19) What fact
    overturns doubt that human beings
    can rise from the dead? (15:20-23)

2. What analogies does Paul use to
    explain what he means by the "resur-
    rection body?" (15:35-41) How are
    these helpful comparisons?

3. According to Paul what two kinds of
    bodies are applicable to human
    beings, and what are the main dif-
    ferences between them? (15:42-50)

THE CASE FOR CHRIST - Week 6
Jesus as "Unkingly King"
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR MAR. 22-26, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. What promise did God make to David
    about his descendents being kings?
    (Psalm 89:4, 29, 36; 2 Samuel 7:13,
    16; 2 Chronicles 7:18; 21:7; Jeremiah
    33:19-22) In what sense then, is
    Jesus the "son of David?" (Matthew
    1:1; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30-31)

2. Read 1 Samuel 8 and identify the
    main theme. What did the people of
    Israel ask Samuel to do? What were
    their reasons? What problems did
    God warn Israel would have with their
    future kings?

3. In 1 Samuel 15, what was King Saul’s
    major failing? What did God do
    because of Saul’s actions? What
    does this tell us about God’s expec-
    tations for those who would be his
    kings?

Day Two
1. When Samuel looked for Saul’s
    replacement, what qualities did God
    require of him? (1 Samuel 16:7)

2. What special relationship did God
    want to have with the kings of Israel?
    (Psalm 2:6-8; 2 Samuel 7:12-16)
    How should they respond to Him in
    return? (Isaiah 55:3-4)

3. Read Matthew 21:1-17. Compare
    the parallels in Mark 11:1-19,
    Luke 19:48 and John 12:12-19,
    2:13-22) What is the significance
    of his method of transportation into
    the city, and under what circum-
    stances did he acquire it? (Zecha-
    riah 9:9; Genesis 49:8-12; 2 Kings
    9:12; Psalm 118:25) What does
    this tell us about Jesus’ own view
    of being Israel’s king?

Day Three
1. What kingly action did Jesus perform
    in the Temple, and what significance
    did it have? (Matthew 21:12-17) What
    similarities are there between what
    Jesus did and what Jeremiah said?
    (Jeremiah 7:1-11) How do Jesus’
    words also fulfill Malachi 3:1-5?

2. Read Philippians 2:1-11. The pas-
    sage’s two main sections are 2:1-4
    and 2:5-11. What characterizes the
    "mind of Christ" in this passage?

3. Before Jesus became a human being,
    what was his position in relationship
    to God? Consider the language Paul
    uses to express this idea.

4. When Jesus became a human being,
    what sacrifices did he make? Why
    were they necessary?

THE CASE FOR CHRIST - Week 5
Jesus as Love Redefined
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR MAR. 15-19, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. One prominent Hebrew word for love
    is hesed, often translated "loving-
    kindness" or "steadfast love." Read
    the following passages where the
    word occurs: Genesis 19:19; 39:21;
    Psalm 6:4; 25:7; 51:1; 86:13;
    109:26; 119:41; Micah 7:20; Deu-
    teronomy 7:9-12; 2 Samuel 7:15.

2. The primary New Testament word
    for "love" is agape, a word seldom
    used in secular Greek literature.
    What do the following New Testa-
    ment texts tell us about this
    Christian-style love? Matthew 5:
    43-44; 22:36-40; John 3:16; 13:34;
    15:12; 17:16; Romans 5:5; 13:10;
    1 Corinthians 13:1-13; 2 Corinthians
    5:14; Galatians 5:6, 22; 1 John 4:7.

Day Three
1. What key statement is made about
    love in 1 John 4:8 & 16, and how is
    this important to our understanding
    of why Jesus came?

2. Read John 3:16-21. What is the
    supreme evidence of God’s love? For
    what purpose did he express his love
    for the world? What is the greatest
    offense we can show to God’s love?
    In what ways is God’s love an evi-
    dence for the authenticity of Jesus?

3. Read John 15:9-17. What persons are
    involved in God’s love-community?
    According to Jesus, what is the
    supreme evidence that his love is
    genuine?

4. Consider the nature of Jesus’ new
    "commandment."

THE CASE FOR CHRIST - Week 4
Jesus as Teacher
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR MAR. 8-12, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. According to Mark 1:21-22, what
    opinion did the synagogue-goers form
    about Jesus, and what were their
    reasons for doing so? How do 1:27
    and 11:18 reinforce this perception?

2. Identify the various contexts in which
    Jesus "taught." (Matthew 5:1-2; 11:1;
    Mark 4:1; 6:6; Luke 4:15; 5:3; 13:22,
    26; 23:5; John 7:28) What does this
    tell us about how Jesus viewed his
    role as teacher?

Day Two
1. Read Luke 8:4-15, "The Sower" para-
    ble. What are "parables," and why did
    Jesus teach using them? How does
    this parable reveal some of the impor-
    tant teaching "aims" of Jesus? (Note:
    Compare the other versions of this
    parable in Matthew 13:1-23 and
    Mark 4:1-20.)

2. In what ways do Isaiah 6:8-13 and
    55:10-13 provide an Old Testament
    background to this parable?

Day Three
1. Read Luke 10:25-37. Explain the
    question of the lawyer and the way
    Jesus handled it. How does the
    parable "grapple" with the question?
    What does this tell us about Jesus’
    methods as Teacher?

2. What surprising turnabout in the
    story gives it its "edge" and effec-
    tiveness? In what way is this evi-
    dence for the genius of using
    parables as Jesus did?

THE CASE FOR CHRIST - Week 3
Jesus as Son of Man
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR MAR. 1-5, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. Jesus surrendered the independent
    exercise of his divine nature when he
    became a human being. How do the
    following passages support that state-
    ment? (John 17:5; 5:20, 36; 8:28, 38;
    10:18; Acts 10:38; Matthew 12:28;
    Acts 1:2; Hebrews 9:14)

2. What does Jesus share with us and
    why was this necessary? (Romans
    8:3) Jesus became "flesh" - John
    1:14; 1John 4:2; 2 John 1:7; 1 Timo-
    thy 3:16; Galatians 4:4; Hebrews
    10:5; Colossians 2:9.

3. Even after his resurrection, Jesus
    exhibited human qualities. What
    evidence did he offer his disciples of
    this fact? (Luke 24:39; John 20:27;
    1 John 1:1)

4. Why was the true humanity of Jesus
    essential to our salvation? (Hebrews
    2:10-18)

Day Three
1. What human needs did Jesus plainly
    have? (John 4:6; Matthew 4:2; 21:18;
    John 19:28; Matthew 8:24; Hebrews
    2:18; 4:15; Mark 11:13; 13:32;
    5:30-34; John 11:34; 1 Corinthians
    13:9, 12; Mark 1:35; John 6:15;
    Hebrews 5:7)

2. In 1 Timothy 2:5-6, what special role
    did Jesus have as both a human
    being and the Son of God?

3. Who judges the world, according to
    Paul in Acts 17:31?

4. What evidence do the Gospels give
    us of the historicity of Jesus? (John
    1:46; 7:41; Mark 6:3; John 7:27)

THE CASE FOR CHRIST - Week 2
Jesus as Son of God
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR FEB. 22-26, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. What does the central tenet of
    Judaism tell us about God in
    Deuteronomy 6:4-5? How do you
    interpret, "The LORD our God, the
    LORD is one," and what signifi-
    cance does it have for our belief
    that Jesus is God’s Son? Compare
    this with 1 Corinthians 8:5-6.

2. Consider Israel’s understanding of
    God as "Father" and Israel as His
    "son" based on: Exodus 19:4;
    Hosea 11:1; Psalm 27:10; 68-5-6a;
    89:26; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Isaiah
    63:16; 64:8; and Malachi 2:10.

3. In what ways does Jesus more
    completely fulfill the rose as God’s
    Son? Read Hebrews 1:1-9 and
    Psalm 2:7.

Day Two
1. What unites Jesus with the Father
    and the Spirit in Matthew 28:19?
    Consider what "the name" means
    in this context?

2. Read Luke 4:1-13. What claim about
    Jesus is the Devil trying to disprove
    in his testing of Jesus? How does 
    Jesus establish that claim by the
    way he responds to the devil’s
    temptations? What function does
    the Word of God have in Jesus’
    response, and what does this tell
    us about the relationship of Jesus
    to God?

3. Read John 14:1-11. How does Jesus
    speak about God? What is the sig-
    nificance of the unique relationship
    that Jesus has with God? Consider
    the questions raised by Thomas
    and Philip.

Day Three
1. How do the following statements
    support the case that Jesus is God’s
    Son: "Believe in God; believe also in
    me" (14:1); "I am in the Father and
    the Father is in me" (14:10-11, used
    twice)?

2. Study John 8:48-58 in the larger
    context of John 8:12-58. What key
    question is put to Jesus in 8:25 and
    8:53? Skim through 8:12-58 and list
    the different ways Jesus answers that
    question. Pay special attention to
    statements which begin "I am…" How
    do each of these statements support
    the view that Jesus is the Son of
    God? How do they contribute to a
    deeper understanding of what "Son
    of God" actually means?

THE CASE FOR CHRIST - Week 1
Jesus as Expected One
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR FEB. 15-19, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. How is John the Baptizer tied into the
    history and culture of Israel? (See
    Luke 1:5-11)

2. Read Luke 3:1-6. How did John begin
    his ministry, and what connection did
    it have to the prophecies of the Old
    Testament? (See Isaiah 40:3-5) What
    expectations are fulfilled in John’s
    coming? Why is the wilderness
    (desert) an appropriate place for Israel
    to make a fresh start? How does bap-
    tism fit into the desert experience?
    (Hint: think about the geographical
    placement of the Jordan River.)

Day Three
1. "Expectation" has to do with "Good
    News." Isaiah 40:9-11; 52:7; and
    61:1-2.

2. What signs accompanied the baptism
    of Jesus, and in what sense were
    they evidences for his identity? (Luke
    3:21-22) What is the significance of
    the "heavens opening?" Matthew
    3:16; Luke 3:21; John 1:51-52; Acts
    10:11; Acts 7:56; Revelation 4:1ff;
    11:19; and 19:11.

3. To whom is the "voice" addressed?
    What does this tell us about Jesus’
    own awareness of his identity?
    Isaiah 42:1; Psalm 2:7; 1 Chronicles
    17:13-14; and 22:10.

HOT TOPICS - Week 6
Marriage and Divorce
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR FEB. 8-12, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. From your own observations, what are
    the common causes for divorce? Do
    you think Christians are more or less
    likely to experience divorce?

2. In what ways should the Christian
    community be of help to those
    contemplating divorce and to those
    already divorced?

3. When do you think divorce is permis-
    sible? What about remarriage after
    divorce?

4. Read Genesis 2:18, 21-35. What are
    God’s reasons for establishing
    marriage? How does God view each
    partner in the marriage relationship?
    Why is shame discussed in this
    passage, and what does this tell us
    about a healthy marriage?

Day Two
1. Genesis 3 tells the story of the
    human fall into sin. Discuss the
    ways both man an woman shared
    responsibility for this event. What
    were the first signs of "trouble in
    paradise?"

2. After they sinned, what further actions
    by the man and the woman deepened
    their alienation? What remedy did
    God provide in order to restore their
    relationship?

3. What does Deuteronomy 24:1-4 tell
    us about divorce in the Hebrew
    culture? What role did the "bill of
    divorce" have in the process? (See
    also Jeremiah 3:8 and Isaiah 50:1.)

Day Three
1. In Malachi 2:13b-16, what key ideas
    about marriage do you discover? Why
    does the prophet oppose divorce?

2. In Matthew 19:3-9, what question is
    Jesus discussing with the religious
    teachers? What essential ideas about
    marriage does he emphasize? What
    guidance does he offer to persons
    contemplating divorce? (See Matthew
    5:31-32 and Luke 16:18.)

3. According to Exodus 21:10-11, in
    addition to adultery, what "causes"
    seemed to justify a divorce in Israel?

4. What kinds of marriage-related prob-
    lems does Paul address in 1 Corin-
    thians 7:10-17, 20, 27, and 39? What
    is the over-riding principle that Paul
    espouses about marriage and
    divorce?

HOT TOPICS - Week 5
Sex
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR FEB. 1-5, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. In what ways is gender associated
    with God? (Psalm 27:10; Isaiah
    42:14; 46:3-4; 49:14-15; Numbers
    11:12; Isaiah 66:12-13; Deuteronomy
    32:11-12, 18; Hosea 11:1-4) How is
    this significant for human sexuality?

2. Read Genesis 2:21-25. What impli-
    cations does this story have for the
    way we understand and practice
    sexuality?

3. Explain Jesus’ understanding of
    human sexuality in Matthew
    19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9. On what
    did he base his conclusions?

Day Three
1. What evidence do we have that Jesus
    grappled with his own sexuality?
    (Luke 7:37-39; John 4; Matthew 19:
    10-12; Matthew 5:28; 15:18-20; Mark
    7:21-23; Hebrews 4:15)

2. What is "shame," and are there both
    good and bad senses of shame?
    (see Genesis 1:24=5; 3:7, 10-11)
    What is the relationship between
    shame and privacy?

3. How is sexuality perverted in the
    following texts: Genesis 4:19-24;
    6:1-12? Discuss the ways sex is
    used as a means to power.

HOT TOPICS - Week 4
Abortion & Euthansia
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR JAN. 25-29, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. In what ways have issues surrounding
    abortion and euthanasia affected you
    personally? Briefly describe your
    present views on these topics and
    offer your reasons for holding them.

2. The Nicene Creed calls the Holy
    Spirit "the Lord and Giver of Life."
    Now read Genesis 1:2; John 3:5;
    2 Corinthians 3:6; and Galatians 5:5.
    What relevance does the Holy Spirit
    have, therefore, to human life?

3. Read Genesis 1:26-28. What specific
    language in this passage gives
    human life its special sacredness?
    Explain the key phrases "in our
    image, in our likeness." Compare
    this text with Ephesians 4:24 &
    John 1:4.

4. Consider also the following passages:
    Genesis 5:3; 9:6; Exodus 20:4; Isaiah
    40:18-19; and Ezekiel 1:26-28?

Day Two
1. What sort of language does the Bible
    use to describe the unborn in the fol-
    lowing passages: Genesis 25:21-22;
    Job 3:3, 16; Numbers 12:12; and
    Luke 1:36-43?

2. Read Psalm 139. List the various
    phrases which depict God’s work
    in making us, pre-partum. Notice the
    psalmist’s use of personal pronouns
    to underscore his view of himself as
    unborn. In what sense does he speak
    about the "pro-tection" God placed
    over him in the womb? How is this
    relevant to "life issues?"

3. How does Isaiah 46:3-4 demonstrate
    respect for life from "womb to tomb?"
    Read also Isaiah 44:2, 24 and
    49:1, 5.

4. How does the sanctity of life affect our
    view of human equality? Read Job 31:
    13-15 for some hints.

Day Three
1. In what ways does our "vocation"
    begin before we were born, and what
    relevance does that have to this
    week’s topic? Read Jeremiah 1:4-5;
    Galatians 1:15; Judges 13:5, 7 and
    16:17.

2. Read Exodus 20:12 and Mark 7:6-13.
    What obligation, under the Gospel,
    do we have to aging parents?

3. How does our perspective on suffering
    affect our valuation of human life?
    What do the following passages tell
    us about God’s perspective on suffer-
    ing: Isaiah 53:3-5; Romans 5:1-5; and
    Exodus 3:7-8?

HOT TOPICS - Week 3
Alcohol & Gambling
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR JAN. 18-22, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. According to Romans 6 how do
    we know if we are bound by an
    addiction?

2. What provision has God made to
    liberate us from our addictions?
    How do we apply that provision
    to our lives?

3. In what way do we "let sin reign" in
    our lives?

4. How can "passions," "strong desires,"
    or "lusts" lead us into destructive
    addictions? See Mark 4:19; John
    8:44; Romans 1:24; 7:7-8; 13:14;
    Galatians 5:16, 24; Ephesians 2:4;
    4:22; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalo-
    nians 4:5; Philippians 3:19; 1 Timo-
    thy 6:9; 2 Timothy 2:22; 3:6; 4:3;
    Titus 2:12; 3:3; James 1:14-15; 
    1 Peter 1:14; 2:11; 4:2-3; 2 Peter
    1:4; 2:10, 18; 3:3; 1 John 2:16-17;
    and Revelation 18:14.

Day Three
1. In the same place, Paul writes about
    "presenting ourselves" to God. What
    does he mean, and how does that
    enable us to be free from addictions?

2. The grace of God not only accepts
    us, it also empowers us to change.
    How does 6:14 make that point?
    Read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Acts
    4:33; 6:8; and Ephesians 3:7. How
    is grace a better helper than the law?

3. What’s the difference between being
    a slave to sin on the one hand, and,
    on the other, "obeying from the
    heart?" (6:17) In what ways do slav-
    ery to an alien power de-humanize us,
    while obeying God humanizes us?

HOT TOPICS - Week 2
Pop Goes the Christian - Culture
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR JAN. 11-15, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. As we explore the topic of Christians
    and culture, read Daniel 1. How did
    Daniel and his three friends, all Jews
    in exile, relate to the pagan culture
    around them? What lessons can we
    learn from their examples?

2. Israel spent 400 years in Egypt before
    the Exodus. Scan Exodus 31-39.
    There we learn about some of their
    experiences after they were set free
    from a pagan culture. What two radi-
    cally different "building projects"
    appear in these chapters, and how do
    they illustrate two distinct kinds of
    culture?

Day Two
1. What is the primary command in
    1 John 2:15-17? Define the word
    "world" as it is used here. Refer
    to these texts: Matthew 4:8;
    5:14; 16:26; 18:7; John 8:12;
    12:46; 1 Corinthians 1:20, 27,
    28; 2:12; 3:19; 2 Corinthians
    1:12; Galatians 4:3; Colossians
    2:8, 20. What does "the world"
    have to do with popular culture?

2. What does Paul tell us about "the
    world" in Romans 12:1-2? What is
    the difference between being
    "conformed" and being "trans-
    formed?" Which of these is the
    primary method of popular culture?

Day Three
1. What are the three main methods
    used by the world to entice and con-
    form according to 1 John 2:15-17?
    Relate those methods to the influ-
    ences of the surrounding culture.

2. Define "lust," keeping in mind its
    wider application. Compare James
    4:2-3 and Proverbs 1:10 in their de-
    scriptions of lust. In what ways does
    the world rely on this capacity within
    human beings?

3. What general principle did Paul give
    to guide the relationships we have
    with our culture. See Philippians
    2:14-15.

Day Five
1. Using John 17:14-16, consider the
    relationship Jesus wanted his fol-
    lowers to have with the world.

2. Consider the favorable interactions
    we can have with our culture if we
    follow biblical guidelines. Use the
    following passages to elaborate
    your answer:
    1 Corinthians 9:22;
    2 Corinthians 10:5;
    1 Timothy 4:4-5; 6:17.

3. How can the church wisely "use"
    culture without being "used" by it?
    Do you think it is possible to
    redeem the culture?

HOT TOPICS - Week 1
Creation and Evolution
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR JAN. 4-8, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. How important is the affirmation that
    God is the Creator of all things?

2. Explain the statement: "Before
    creation, God was and the world was
    not." Why is that important to believe
    as an article of faith?

3. Read Genesis 1:1-2:3, examining the
    text as if you had never read it.
    Assume for a moment that you had
    no knowledge whatsoever of science
    as it pertains to the question of
    origins. What key ideas does the
    Genesis passage teach that seem to
    be absolutely essential to the idea of
    creation?

Day Three
1. What kind of literature is Genesis 1:
    1-2:3? Consider options like narrative,
    story, poetry, epic and myth, etc.
    What about the text led you to clas-
    sify it in the way you have? What
    features did you reject as completely
    inapplicable to the passage?

2. From whose point of view is this pas-
    sage told? How does knowing the
    point of view change the way you
    understand some of the key elements
    in the text?

3. Explain the following words or
    phrases: heaven, earth, beginning,
    without form, void, day. How does
    the passage arrange those
    concepts in telling the story of 
    creation?

Day Five
1. Compare the six days of creation.
    What "pattern" is duplicated in each
    of these days? Why does the writer
    arrange his material in this fashion?

2. When the New Testament makes
    reference to creation, what specific
    features does it emphasize? (see
    John 1:1-5; Hebrews 1:1-4; 11:1-3;
    Colossians 1:15-17; and Romans
    1:19-20) How does this help us in
    sorting through the essentials found
    in Genesis 1:1-2:3 and avoid getting
    distracted by peripherals?

3. What affirmations about God the
    Creator appear in Psalm 100:3 and
    Romans 11:36, and what do they
    lead us to do?

JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING - Week 6
Hidden God Revealed
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR DEC. 28, 2009 - JAN. 1, 2010
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. Our focus this week falls primarily on
    John 1:18, which comes at the end
    of John’s Prologue (1:1-18). Read the
    entire passage, concluding with 1:18.
    In what ways does the last verse
    summarize and climax the general
    theme of the Prologue?

2. Think about the bold statement: "No
    one has seen God at any time." In
    what sense might we say that God
    is a hidden God? What is responsible
    for His hiddenness? Using Isaiah 64:
    1-9 as a background text from the
    Old Testament, suggest ways God
    was hidden from His people.

Day Two
1. Read Exodus 33:18-23 and 34:
    29-35 and consider the experi-
    ence of Moses and Israel with
    respect to God’s concealment.
    Why did God not show Himself
    fully to Moses? How was Moses
    able to reveal something of God’s
    glory to the people? Compare this
    with Paul’s understanding in
    2 Corinthians 3:12-18.

2. Isaiah saw God and was terrified.
    Consider that statement in the
    light of Isaiah 6:1-5.

3. How did Jesus himself experience
    the hiddenness of God? (see Mark
    15:34)

4. What promise did Jesus make about
    "seeing God," and what precondition
    did he give? (Matthew 5:8) Compare
    this with Hebrews 12:14. In what
    sense is "seeing God" an experience
    yet to be had in the future?
    (1 John 3:2)

Day Three
1. Read Hebrews 2:5-9. What do we not
    see, and what do we see according
    to this passage? Explain what this
    "seeing" actually means.

2. Applying this text to the New Year,
    in what sense is the hidden future
    like the hidden God? Using Revela-
    tion 21:6 and 22:13 for additional
    insight, suggest ways that Jesus,
    the revealer of God, helps us face
    an unknown future. Take note also
    of Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:26
    and Luke 12:2-3.

3. The Word reveals what else accord-
    ing to Hebrews 4:12-16? According
    to 4:16, how does the grace of God
    come into our lives?

JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING - Week 5
Grace and Truth
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR DEC. 21-25, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. In what ways are "grace" and "truth"
    contrasting features of God’s charac-
    ter? Complementary ones? How
    might these ideas get "out of
    balance?" What keeps them "in
    balance?"

2. "The fullness of grace and truth is the
    fulfillment of grace and truth in Jesus
    Christ." Consider that statement in
    light of this week’s reading.

3. How does Jesus change the way we
    experience "the Law," according to
    2 Corinthians 3:7-18. Compare
    Exodus 34:28-35 as you work out
    your answer.

4. What does 1:16 mean by the phrase
    "grace upon grace?"

Day Three
1. Paul develops the relationship be-
    tween Law and grace in Romans 8:
    3-4. What was the Law (Torah)
    "unable to do," and how did God
    remedy that weakness? In what
    ways is Torah transformed because
    of the Advent of Jesus? What role
    does the Spirit have in the trans-
    formation?

2. In Hebrews 10:1-18, the writer further
    develops the theme of Torah’s prelim-
    inary role which ultimately reached
    fulfillment in the coming of Jesus.
    Why were the rituals of Torah even-
    tually "abolished?" Does that mean
    Torah was abolished? How does
    grace shine more brightly because
    of Jesus Christ?

JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING - Week 4
The Word Became Flesh
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR DEC. 14-18, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. Read John 1:14. Though brief in its
    number of words, it is great in what
    it claims took place. What did it
    mean for the "Word to become
    flesh?" Compare John 1:1 with
    1:14 and note the parallels and
    also the dramatic contrasts.

2. What key results follow from saying
    that "the Word became flesh,"
    according to 1:14?

3. Read the following passages. Con-
    sider how they contribute to our
    understanding of the Word taking on
    human form. Romans 1:3; 8:3;
    1 Timothy 3:16; Philippians 2:7;
    and 1 John 4:2-3.

Day Two
1. According to Galatians 4:4, why is
    the incarnation so important? Com-
    pare this with Matthew 1:20-23.

2. When John 1:14 says that the Word
    "dwelt among us," it uses a word
    which literally means "to tabernacle"
    among us. What images might that
    conjure up in the minds of John’s
    first readers? How does Jesus’ in-
    carnation fulfill the symbol of the
    Tabernacle / Temple? Refer to Mark
    14:58; 15:29; Matthew 26:61; 27:40;
    John 2:19. What special meaning 
    do you find in Revelation 21:3,22?

Day Three
1. What implications does Jesus as
    the New Temple have for us? Read
    2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Corinthians
    3:6; 6:19; Ephesians 2:22; and
    1 Peter 2:5.

2. We are told that when Jesus be-
    came a human being, "we beheld
    his glory." How do you understand
    the meaning of the word "glory?"
    How did God reveal His glory to the
    ancient Israelites (Exodus 13:21-22;
    14:19, 24)? In what ways did Jesus
    reveal God’s glory through his incar-
    nation (John 1:11; 7:18; 11:4, 40;
    12:23, 28; 13:31-32; 14:13; and
    17:1, 4)?

Day Five
1. Consider how Exodus 34:6-7 sheds
    light on the phrase "full of grace and
    truth."

2. How does grace differ from truth? Are
    these words in some sense comple-
    mentary to each other?

3. How does Jesus in his Advent reveal
    the grace and truth of God? Why are
    those fitting words for the Advent
    season and for Christmas Day in
    particular? How do our celebrations
    exemplify them? Detract from them?

JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING - Week 3
Receive Him
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR DEC. 7-11, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. In 1:10 the writer describes a paradox
    or an irony. What is it?

2. Consider the paradox found in 1:11.
    Who are the people referred to as
    "his own?"

3. Did all of Jesus’ "own" reject him
    according to 1:12? How did people
    show that they "received him?"
    Explain what that means, using the
    whole verse as part of your answer.

4. What special status does the Word
    confer on those who "receive him?"
    Using the following texts, show how
    this status grows out of the teachings
    of the Old Testament: Exodus 4:22;
    Isaiah 45:11; 43:6; Jeremiah 3:19;
    31:9; Deuteronomy 32:8; 14:1;
    Hosea 11:1; 1 Chronicles 22:10; 28:6;
    Psalm 2:7; and 103:13.

Day Three
1. What does the New Testament teach
    us about being "children of God?"
    Read the following passages as you
    consider your answer: John 11:52;
    Romans 8:14, 16, 21; 9:8; Ephesians
    5:1; Philippians 2:15; Galatians 3:26;
    1 John 3:1, 10; and 5:2.

2. John’s Gospel provides a more
    detailed explanation of becoming
    "children of God" in 1:13. Identify and
    explain the negative and positive
    meanings of that idea as described
    in the verse.

3. What images do terms like "blood,"
    "flesh," and "male" conjure up when
    applied to human status? How are
    God’s children dramatically different
    from those images?

JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING - Week 2
The Prelude
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR NOV. 30 - DEC. 4, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
Read Mark 6:16-20, along with Matthew 11:1-19 and 3:1-12.

1. In what difficulty does John find
    himself as his ministry comes to
    an end?

2. What religious and political forces
    seem to be at work in John’s world,
    leading to his troubles? Does this
    sort of thing happen today to God’s
    messengers?

3. John faces his doubts from a very
    dark place. Why do you think John
    had second thoughts? How does
    he express them in the Matthew
    11 passage? Have you had similar
    doubts?

4. Is there anything in John’s preaching
    (see Matthew 3:1-12) that might help
    us answer question #2?

5. Do any of John’s doubts bother
    Jesus? How does Jesus answer
    John? How does he honor John?

Day Three
Read Luke chapter 1.

1. What does Luke tell us about the
    parents of John? The circumstances
    of his birth? Does any of this seem
    familiar? How important is a godly
    upbringing?

2. In what ways is the future relationship
    of John and Jesus foreshadowed in
    this chapter?

3. Read Zechariah’s song (1:67-79). How
    does he connect John and Jesus?

4. In the same song, does Zechariah
    say things that show his priestly
    background? What does he want for
    God’s people more than anything
    else? Did John follow in his foot-
    steps?

5. Where did John go when he left
    home? Why is this significant, do
    you think?

JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING - Week 1
Word & Wisdom
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR NOV. 23-27, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. Read John 1:1-18. What function do
    verses 1-5 have in shaping the
    theme?

2. When you see the phrase "in the
    beginning," what other scriptures
    come to mind? Consult the following
    texts as you think about our
    response: Genesis 1:1-5; Hebrews
    1:1-2; 1 John 1:1; 2:13-14; and
    Revelation 21:6.

3. What is the meaning of "the Word"
    (Greek=logos) as it appears in John
    1:1? Why does John choose to intro-
    duce his Gospel by using this desig-
    nation? What function do "words"
    have? Apply this insight to the role
    of "the Word."

Day Two
1. How does Psalm 119:105 help us
    understand the connection between
    "the Word" and "the Law" (Torah)? In
    what ways does Jesus make the
    same association in the following
    texts: John 10:35-36; 5:38-39; 15:25;
    and Matthew 5:17?

2. The word "Wisdom" appears in
    Proverbs 8:22-36 in a personified
    form.What similarities do you see
    between "Wisdom" and "Word" in
    that passage? Notice how Jesus
    has the same designation in these
    passages: 1 Corinthians 1:23-24;
    2:7; and Colossians 2:2-3.

3. Read Isaiah 55:8-11. How is God’s
    "Word" described? Could you sub-
    stitute the "Jesus" in place of "Word"
    in this text?

Day Three
1. Why does 1:1 tell us that the Word
    was "with God?" Compare this phrase
    with John 17:5; Proverbs 8:39; John
    8:38; 16:2; 1 John 1:2; 2:1; and
    Revelation 3:21. How do these addi-
    tional texts enhance its meaning?

2. Because 1:1 says that "the Word was
    God," what conclusion can we draw
    about the relationship of Jesus to
    God? How can the Word both be with
    God and be God at the same time?
    What Christian doctrine eventually
    emerged from passages like this
    one?

3. According to 1:3, what has the Word
    achieved in relationship to the uni-
    verse? See also Hebrews 1:1-4; 11:3;
    Colossians 1:15-17; 1 Corinthians
    8:6; Romans 11:36; and Hebrews
    2:10.

Day Five
1. The contrast between "light" and
    "darkness" is treated in 1:5. Explain
    the nature of the conflict between
    these two realities. How does Jesus
    confront darkness and with what
    outcome? See Ephesians 4:17-19;
    Romans 1:21; and Psalm 82:4-5.

2. How does Genesis 3:15 portray that
    conflict, and what symbols does it
    use to do so?

3. For a further study of light vs. dark-
    ness see: Romans 13:12-14;
    1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians
    6:14; Ephesians 5:11-14; Colossians
    1:13-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5;
    1 Peter 2:9-10; 1 John 1:5-7; and
    1 John 2:8.

MISSIONS WEEK
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR NOV. 16-20, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. Thanksgiving is not primarily about
    how we feel about God, but is,
    instead, a way of praising Him.
    Define "praise."

2. There is no specific word for "thanks-
    giving" in the Hebrew Bible. The idea
    of thanksgiving appears in several
    places as a form of praise. Some-
    times in our English Bibles words
    for praise are translated by the word
    "thanks" or "thanksgiving." Based
    on this fact, read the following Old
    Testament passages: Genesis 29:35;
    Leviticus 26:40; Psalm 32:5; 1 Chron-
    icles 16:4, 34; 2 Chronicles 5:13; and
    2 Samuel 22:50.

Day Two
1.  In what ways do we "declare the
    character and deeds of God"
    through praise and thanksgiving?
    (Psalm 89:5; 105; 106; and 145)

2. Who offers praise / thanksgiving
    to God? (Psalm 140:13; 106:47;
    45:17; 138:4; and 89:5)

3. What does it mean to "magnify"
    the Lord, and in what ways does
    thanksgiving help us to do so?
    (Psalm 69:30 and 34:3)

Day Three
What roles do each of the following have
in the praise / thanksgiving of God?
1. Words (Psalm 109:30-31; 34:1;
    40:3; 71:8)
2. Music (2 Chronicles 5:13; Psalm
    33:2; 43:4; Psalm 150)
3. Leaders (1 Chronicles 16:4;
    23:26, 30)
4. Heart (Psalm 86:12; 111:1; and
    119:7)
5. Offerings (Leviticus 7:12-15; 22:29;
    Jeremiah 17:26)
6. Joy (Psalm 95:2; 33:11)

NO ONE KNOWS - Week 5
The Eternal Party
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR NOV. 9-13, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. "The Last Judgment" appears in 20:
    11-15. How is the event portrayed and
    who is involved? Once the judgment
    takes place, what are the results?

2. The language "New Heaven and New
    Earth" appears in 21:1. Compare to
    Isaiah 65:17 and 66:22. Notice how
    2 Peter 3:13 uses these phrases.
    What is God’s future for the cosmos?

3. According to 21:2-4, which of the
    following is true? The future is
    1) going to heaven, or 2) heaven
    coming to earth. What will the
    arrival of "The New Jerusalem" on
    earth mean for the human race?

4. The statement "It is done" appears
    in 21:6. Based on 21:7-8, explain
    this statement.

Day Three
1. According to 21:9-27, what is not
    found in the city? Who is the bride?

2. How important is "light" in the vision
    of God’s new creation? Compare
    Genesis 1 and note the connections
    between the first creation and the
    new one. Does God simply put things
    back together, or does He move His
    creation forward in truly new ways?

3. According to 22:7, 12 and 20, Jesus
    "is coming soon." Why is this
    promise repeated three times?
    What significance does Jesus place
    on His "coming?"

Day Four
1. What invitation is extended in 22:17,
    and to whom is it offered?

2. Based on 22:10, should Revelation
    be an open book or a closed book?
    What command and warning about
    the book appears in 22:18-19?

3. In this closing chapter (22), what
    picture does Jesus give us of
    Himself?

4. In light of the message found in 
    Revelation, list five things worthy of a
    "New Creation Celebration." How
    might these become part of our
    regular habits of prayer, worship and
    service for Jesus Christ? How might
    His coming be a strong motivation
    for us in the present?

NO ONE KNOWS - Week 4
Breaking the Code - Signs and Symbols
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR NOV. 2-6, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. Why do we use "signs and symbols"
    to communicate ideas rather than
    plain prose? Think about the "signs
    and symbols" you see nearly every
    day. How are they sometimes
    superior as means of conveying
    truth?

2. Read Revelation 4-5 and write down
    as many symbols as you can iden-
    tify. What meaning do you find in
    them, and how are they an effective
    way of telling us about God and the
    future? What images are central?

3. What large question do these two
    chapters attempt to answer?
    Based on this heavenly scene,
    what should be our main focus in
    studying the book of Revelation?
    What role does music and worship
    have in these chapters? List and
    count the number of unique hymns.

Day Two
1. As you read Revelation 6-8:1, list
    and then try to determine the mean-
    ing and purpose of the seven-sealed
    scroll. What is the content of the
    seventh seal, and how is it drama-
    tically different form the others (8:1)?
    What question ends chapter 6, and
    how is it answered in chapter 7?
    What people groups appear among
    the New People of God in chapter 7?
    How are they and their future des-
    cribed? Read chapter 14 as a parallel
    text.

2. Read Revelation 8:2-10:7, 11:15-19.
    What purpose did trumpets/shofar
    horns have in the days of John?
    What images do the symbols bring
    to mind, and how might they have
    been understood by John’s readers?
    What role does the seventh trumpet
    have (10:1-7; 11:15-19)?

Day Three
1. Evaluate the use of numbers for time,
    comparing 42 months, 1,260 days,
    and 3½ days (11:2, 9, 11). Why
    would the master symbol-giver refer
    to the same period of time using dif-
    ferent numbers and units of measure?
    In what ways does this suggest a
    non-literal view of time?

2. Notice how the seventh trumpet
    climaxes in 11:15-19. What two
    hymns appear in these verses,
    and what is their emphasis?
    What unexpected object appears
    in 11:19, and where does it
    appear? What significance does
    this have in terms of the worship
    themes in Revelation?

3. What new characters appear in
    12:1-18:23? What is the purpose
    of 12:10-12, 15:3-4 and 18:2-8?
    What kind of literature do these
    passages represent?

NO ONE KNOWS - Week 3
Seven Churches, Seven Messages for Us!
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR OCT. 26-30, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. Notice the way Jesus introduces
    himself to each church. Look for
    connections to chapter 1. How is
    each description appropriate for
    each church, based on that
    church’s character or situation?

2. Explain the repeated expression,
    "He who has ears to hear, let him
    hear what the Spirit is saying to
    the churches." Read the following
    passages that shed light on it:
    Ezekiel 3:10; 12:2; 40:4; 44:5;
    Zechariah 7:11; Matthew 11:15;
    Mark 4:9, 23; Luke 8:8; and 14:35.

Day Three
1. Respond to this statement: "Jesus
    sent letters to seven churches so
    that they might be heard by every
    church." In what ways are the
    seven churches like every church?
    Or, every church like the seven
    churches?

2. Jesus begins each letter with
    "These are the words . . ."
    Compare with Exodus 19:6;
    Deuteronomy 1:1; and Jeremiah
    30:4. What force or significance
    do these opening words have?

3. In general terms, what are the
    greatest strengths and the greatest
    weaknesses of the seven churches?
    Identify some contemporary parallels
    in the life of churches today. How
    might Jesus counsel us in our
    church?

NO ONE KNOWS - Week 2
Who's in Charge and What's Happening?
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR OCT. 19-23, 2009
vided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. Our emphasis this week is Revela-
    tion 1:1-20, the first study in the
    Revelation given to John on the
    isle of Patmos. Using a Bible atlas,
    locate Patmos and the seven
    churches mentioned in 1:4, 11,
    and 20.

2. Who gave John his revelation, and
    what reasons are given for doing so?

3. Those who receive the Revelation
    have an immediate responsibility
    toward it. Describe that obligation
    based on 1:3. What does Jesus
    promise to the readers? What seems
    to be the basis of the promise?

Day Two
1. Read the entire chapter (1) and make
    note of all references to time relative
    to John the writer. Where do the
    events of Revelation fall on John’s
    time horizon? On ours?

2. How is God described in 1:4a? How
    is the Spirit described in 1:4b? How
    is Jesus Christ described in 1:5a?
    What relationship does the Triune
    God have to the full sweep of time?

3. According to 1:5b-6, what has Jesus
    Christ achieved for God’s people?
    What role do they have because of
    his achievement?

4. Read 1:7-8. Consider this statement:
    "In one sense, the ‘Coming of Jesus
    Christ’ is both a present and future
    event."

Day Three
1. What does John tell us about himself
    and his situation in 1:9?

2. Under what circumstances did John
    receive the Revelation? (1:9-13)

3. How did Jesus Christ appear to John
    in his first vision? (1:14-16) Notice the
    use of "son of man" language in 1:13
    and compare it once more with
    Daniel 7:13-14.

4. What effect did the vision have on
    John (1:17a), and how did Jesus
    respond to what John did?

NO ONE KNOWS - Week 1
No One Knows
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR OCT. 12-16, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. Would you say the primary emphasis
    is near-term future or far-term future
    based on the opening verses? What
    would we expect Jesus to talk about
    next in Matthew 24, based on this
    frame of reference?

2. Whose future is Jesus talking about
    in 24:4-14? What information does he
    disclose about the shape of things to
    come?

3. What should the disciples be doing
    according to 24:14? What dangers
    face them as they "weather the
    storm" which gathers on their
    horizon?

4. What instructions does Jesus give his
    disciples in light of this coming
    crisis? (24:16-26)

Day Three
1. The phrase "coming of the Son of
    Man" appears in 24:27. Read Daniel
    7, paying special attention to 7:13-
    14, 26-27. According to Daniel,
    where does the "Son of Man" come?
    Compare Daniel 7 with Matthew 24:
    27-31. From the perspective of the
    disciples who first heard the words,
    is this about the Second Coming or
    another "coming" of Jesus?

2. As a result of Jesus’ coming in 24:31,
    what do the angels do?

3. How should the disciples view "that
    day or hour" according to 24:36, 42
    & 50?

4. What important counsel does Jesus
    give the disciples in 24:44? What
    guidance does the parable in 24:
    45-51 offer them?

ON A MISSION FROM GOD - Week 5
from Noncommittal to Commissioned
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR OCT. 5-9, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles..

Day One
1. Suggest 3 purposes for Christian
    baptism. If you have already been
    baptized, how did baptism function
    in your life? Were there any tangible
    results which followed that experi-
    ence? If you have not been baptized,
    what expectations might you have
    as you consider taking this impor-
    tant step?

2. According to Matthew 28:18-20, what
    purpose did Jesus give for baptism?
    What is the relationship between
    baptism and being a disciple?

Day Two
1. Baptism is about public testimony
    and commitment. Using the follow-
    ing passages as your basis, discuss
    the importance of commitment in the
    Christian life. Matthew 6:24; Luke
    16:13; and Luke 12:8-9.

2. To what does Peter compare bap-
    tism in 1 Peter 3:20-22? How is that
    an appropriate comparison? Accord-
    ing to this passage, what does bap-
    tism do? What does baptism show?

3. In baptism we announce to the world
    that our loyalties have changed. In
    what way?

Day Three
1. How does baptism dramatize the
    words of Matthew 6:10 (Luke 11:2),
    "Your kingdom come, your will be
    done on earth as it is in heaven"?

2. Relate 2 Corinthians 5:17 to what
    we proclaim in our baptism.

3. Consider the meaning of baptism in
    Romans 6:1-10.

4. Why does Paul compare baptism
    to circumcision in Colossians 2:
    11-15? How does baptism function
    under the New Covenant as circum-
    cision did under the Old Covenant?

ON A MISSION FROM GOD - Week 4
from Isolated to Connected
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR SEPT. 28 - OCT. 2, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. Pretend you are Paul and complete
    the following statement in at least
    five different ways: "I have the right
    to . . ." Do you think that anybody
    in Corinth would object to Paul
    using any of these rights?

2. What unexpected statements does
    Paul make in 9:12b and 9:15?
    Having listed all of his rights previ-
    ously, what makes this statement
    particularly effective? How might the
    Corinthians have reacted to it? How
    do you react to it? What impact
    does Paul’s decision have on his
    mission for God?

Day Three
1. Why does Paul say, "Woe is me if I
    do not preach the Gospel!" in 9:16b?

2. How does Paul view being "rewarded"
    for pursuing his mission for God?

3. In 9:19, what does Paul do with his
    freedom? Is this surprising?

4. In 9:20-23, Paul makes a series of
    statements which have the formula,
    "To the x I become a y." Explain
    what he means by each one. In
    9:22b what rationale does Paul
    offer for this series of statements?

ON A MISSION FROM GOD - Week 3
from Dormant to Fruitful
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR SEPTEMBER 21-25
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles. Note: The Background Notes are especially useful in working through some of these questions. A copy can be downloaded from the Current Sermon Series web page.

Day One
1. Read John 15:1-17. What main image
    does Jesus use to illustrate his rela-
    tionship to the disciples and to the
    world? Why is this a fitting "mission"
    metaphor?

2. The background to this image is
    found in the Old Testament.
    Examine the following passages
    and suggest some connections
    with our reading: Isaiah 5:1-7;
    27:2-6, 10-11; Jeremiah 2:21; and
    Psalm 80:7-19. What was Israel’s
    primary failure and how did God
    intend to remedy it?

Day Two
1. In what sense is Jesus the "true
    vine?" What relationship does
    Jesus have with the Father, and
    what role does the Father have
    in this relationship?

2. To what does Jesus compare his
    followers? How is this a fitting image?
    What responsibility do the branches
    have to the vine? The vine to the
    branches? The Father, as vine-
    dresser, to both?

3. What is the primary purpose of the
    vine-branch relationship as "tended"
    by the Father?

Day Three
1. The word "fruit" appears several times
    throughout John 15. What words are
    closely associated with this term?

2. How is "fruit" used elsewhere in
    John’s Gospel? See the following
    passages: John 4:36 and 12:24.
    Compare these uses of the word
    with some other New Testament
    texts: Philippians 1:22 and Colos-
    sians 1:5-6. What do the following
    passages in Acts tell us about the
    growing Christian community: Acts
    2:41, 47; 5:14; and 11:24? In what
    sense is the early church fruitful?

ON A MISSION FROM GOD - Week 2
from Fearful to Courageous
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR SEPT. 14-18, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. According to Colossians 1:15-23,
    Jesus has a certain relationship to
    "all things." What is it? List the
    various roles Jesus has within
    Creation, as Paul discusses them.
    How is the gospel proclaimed
    according to 1:23? In what sense
    does this happen and what part do
    we have in it? Explain how our
    understanding of who Jesus is
    gives us courage.

2. What does the word "reconcile"
    mean in Colossians 1:20, and
    how does Jesus achieve it?
    Compare this with 2 Corinthians
    5:17-21. What is God’s goal in
    the mission of reconciliation?

Day Three
1. Read Matthew 28:16-20. This 
    passage is commonly called "The
    Great Commission." Why is this
    an appropriate title? Briefly sum-
    marize the main components of
    this commission. Consider this
    statement: "The commission
    begins the mission."

2. What special promise does Jesus
    give to His followers in order to
    alleviate their fears and impart
    courage (28:20)?

ON A MISSION FROM GOD - Week 1
From Confused to Focused
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR SEPT. 7-11, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. Our series is about "mission" and
    what that looks like in the life of
    God’s people. Offer a definition for
    "mission" as it applies to Christians.

2. The mission of Israel seemed a
    failure because of the Babylonian
    exile. Ezekiel was God’s chosen
    prophet to help Israel recover their
    mission. According to Ezekiel 1-3,
    what was God’s first strategy to
    give Ezekiel a fresh vision of
    Israel’s mission?

3. Read Ezekiel 36:16-38. What
    words or phrases are repeated
    throughout this passage?

Day Two
1. Fill in the blanks for each of the
    following main divisions:
    A. 36:17-19 God’s land was ___.
    B. 36:20-21 God’s name was___.
    C. 36:22-23 God’s holiness must
        be ___.
    D. 36:24-32 God’s people must
        be ___.
    E. 36:33-38 God’s honor must
        be ___.

2. Consider God’s mission in terms
    of His honor and His name.
    Compare Ezekiel with the following
    texts: Numbers 14:15-16 and
    Exodus 32:12. Comment on
    these connections.

3. What does Ezekiel tell us about
    the holiness of God in 36:22-23?

Day Three
1. In 36:24-30, several statements begin
    with "I will." What does God intend to
    do for Israel. Are God’s intentions in
    any way dependent on what Israel will
    do?

2. What does God promise to do for
    Israel’s heart in 36:26-27? Compare
    these verses with the following:
    Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4;
    Ezekiel 11:19-21; and Jeremiah
    31:33.

3. Explain the symbol of the "heart of
    stone." How does the heart of stone
    relate to "images of stone" which
    Israel had falsely worshipped?
    Related passages: Ezekiel 11:
    19-21 and Psalm 115:2-8. Con-
    sider this statement: "You become
    what you worship."

4. Consider this statement: "God
    shames His people with His
    blessings."

Be Still and Know That I Am God
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR AUG. 31 - SEPT. 4, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. Read 1 Kings 19:11-12. In what ways
    does Elijah not "hear" God speak?
    How does the prophet hear God’s
    voice?

2. Read chapters 18 & 19 of 1 Kings.
    Think of these chapters as two
    dramatic acts.

3. ACT One (1 Kings 18:17-46): Des-
    cribe the "excitement" level in this
    act and Elijah’s level of confidence.
    Contrast the two ways "God" is
    approached, first by the Baal wor-
    shippers and then by Elijah. What
    was the outcome of this act? How
    should Elijah have felt about it?

Day Two
1. ACT Two (1 Kings 19:1-18): How does
    the mood change in this act? How
    does he react to the new circum-
    stances? Where does he go and why?

2. What does God do to teach Elijah
    about the relationship between
    "mighty works" and "stillness"?

3. Consider key verses: 19:11-12.
    How did God speak to Elijah?

Day Three
1. Read Psalm 46.

2. What specific instruction is the reader
    given in verse 10? What sorts of
    "loud" activities are described? Who
    is responsible for "quieting things
    down"? List some specific ones the
    Psalmist mentions. Why are we
    asked to be "still"?

3. What information does the Psalmist
    provide the reader about "who God
    is?" In what ways does the Psalm
    teach us the relationship between
    what God does and what we should
    do in response?

Day Five
1. Read Matthew 11:28-30. What
    promises does Jesus offer to
    those who "labor"? Compare this
    with 1 Corinthians 15:58. What
    hope does Paul offer in the midst
    of our work?

2. Carefully read and meditate on the
    following passages: Isaiah 30:15;
    Lamentations 3:26; and
    Habakkuk 2:20.

NAZAREMIX - Week 3
We Are Open to All
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR AUG. 24-28, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. How important is the idea of "lost-
    ness" to the theme of Jesus’ three
    parables? What is it about being
    "lost" that moves the hearts of
    people in those parables? How
    does this relate to God’s perspec-
    tive on human beings? Read
    Matthew 9:36, 23:37, and Mark
    2:17 for related themes.

2. Compare the parable of the "sheep"
    to the parable of the "coin." How
    does each story end? Why is that
    important to the message Jesus
    wants to convey? How does each
    ending relate to what we learn in
    15:1?

Day Three
1. When Jesus begins telling the third
    parable, how does he change his
    approach (compare the pronouns)?

2. When the younger son asks for his
    inheritance, what does that imply
    about the way he sees his father?

3. When the younger son "loses" every-
    thing, what definite needs surface in
    his heart? How does he plan "to go
    home"? What motivates his
    rehearsed speech? What is his
    strategy?

4. How does the father respond to the
    younger son’s return? Does this
    surprise you? How do we know that
    the father still regards the young
    man as his "son"?

Day Five
1. With the circumstances in 15:1-2
    involving the religious leaders and
    Jesus, how are the three parables
    appropriate? With whom might the
    Pharisees relate in "The Father
    Who Had Two Sons"?

2. Based on the parables in Luke 15,
    what applications might we make
    in the way we undertake Christian
    mission? In what ways are we like
    the younger son? The elder son?

3. List three ways the third parable
    impacted your understanding of
    Christian mission and acceptance.

NAZAREMIX - Week 2
Christ Centered
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR AUG. 17-21, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. How does 1 Corinthians 1:30 & 6:11
    support the fact that we are "Christ
    centered?"

2. Read Romans 4:16-5:2. Before
    examining this passage in detail,
    make sure to read the material that
    precedes and follows it. What
    seems to be the main idea?

3. The phrase "counted to him as
    righteousness" appears in 4:22,
    applied both to Abraham and to us
    (see 4:23-25). How is the word
    "righteousness" used in this pas-
    sage? What does the word
    "counted" mean in this context?

Day Two
1. We also discover the phrase "justi-
    fied by faith" in 5:1. In what ways
    does Paul connect "righteousness,"
    "justification," and "justify" in this
    passage? Look up "justification"
    in the dictionary.

2. In what sense is justification about
    our new standing or status before
    God? What makes this possible?

3. What does God declare about us
    when He "justifies us," according
    to this passage?

4. On what basis does God the 
    Righteous One declare sinners to
    be "not guilty" in His courtroom?
    What role does Jesus Christ have
    in this courtroom drama?

Day Three
1. The second reading this week is
    from John 17:13-20. As you study
    these verses, place them In the
    large context of chapter 17. What
    is Jesus doing in this chapter? At
    what point does this take place in
    Jesus’ life? What role does Jesus
    seem to assume as he talks to
    His Father?

2. According to Jesus, where are his
    disciples now, and where will they
    be in the future?

3. What special "work" does Jesus
    ask the Father to do for the disci-
    ples in order to protect them while
    they are "in the world?" See also
    1 John 2:15-17. Can the disciples
    be in the world but not of the world?

NAZAREMIX - Week 1
Bible-Based
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR AUG. 10-14, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. In what ways does the Bible
    serve as the medium through
    which God exercises His
    authority (Psalm 33:6; Jere-
    miah 23:29; Isaiah 40:8;
    Isaiah 55:10-11)?

2. How did Jesus describe his
    relationship to the Scriptures
    (Matthew 5:17-18; Mark 14:49;
    Luke 24:27, 44-45)?

3. Using 1 Corinthians 2:9-16,
    discuss the process by which
    Scripture is produced. Who is
    responsible for its creation,
    according to this passage?

4. What does 2 Peter 1:19-21 and
    3:15-16 tell us about the origin
    of the Bible? What does it tell
    us about the writings of Paul
    and why is this significant?

Day Three
1. Read 2 Timothy 3:1-17.

2. What sorts of challenges to "truth"
    does Paul list in 3:1-9? How do you
    interpret the phrase "last days"? Do
    you think that throughout human
    history, "last days" have occurred
    more than once?

3. How does the Bible address the
    problems created by these "last
    days"?

4. Consider 3:10-13 how the "teaching"
    of Scripture impacted Paul’s life and
    how Scripture is to have a continuing
    effect on Timothy’s life (3:14-15).

5. What term does Paul use to describe
    Scripture in 3:16? What does it mean
    for Scripture to be inspired by God or
    ‘God-breathed’?

WHAT IF - Week 15
. . . We Spoke Up?
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR AUG. 3-7, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. Once Paul and Silas are in Berea,
    what seems to be different? Explain
    the statement: "These were more
    noble than those in Thessalonica."
    In what sense were they more noble?

2. Under what circumstances does
    Paul go to Athens alone?

3. What deeply affects Paul as he
    surveys the culture of Athens?
    Why does it affect him in this
    way? How does he manage his
    feelings as he continues to minister
    in the city? What lesson might we
    take away from Paul’s response?

Day Three
1. Who engages Paul in the market-
    place?

2. What specific "charges" do they
    bring to Paul, and how do they
    propose Paul answers them?

3. How does Paul bridge the cultural
    distance at the beginning of his
    speech? What specific observation
    does Paul make about the Athe-
    nians, which serves as his "opener?"

4. List the main statements Paul
    makes about "God" in his speech.
    Do you think Paul expected the
    Athenians to "know" these things
    about God?

WHAT IF - Week 14
. . . We Have Holy Spirit-Led Influence?
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR JULY 27-31, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day One
1. Using the following section divisions,
    create an outline for this week's
    reading: (1) 15:36-41; (2) 16:1-5;
    (3)16:6-12; (4) 16:13-40.

2. What caused the disagreement
    between Paul and Barnabas in
    15:36-39? What role had John
    Mark played in Paul's life? What
    changed all of that? Do you think
    this was a right vs. wrong conflict?
    Read 1 Corinthians 9:6; Colossians
    4:10-11 and Philemon 1:24. What
    do these future texts tell us about
    Paul, John Mark and Barnabas?
    Offer your analysis of how this all
    turned out.

3. What role does Silas have at this
    point in Paul's mission?

Day Two
1. Having lost John Mark, who does Paul
    gain for his future missions (16:1-5)?
    Read the following passages and
    summarize what we know about this
    young man: Acts 16:1-3; 17:14-15;
    18:5; 19:22; 20:4ff; Romans 16:21;
    2 Corinthians 1:1, 19; Philippians 1:1;
    2:19; Colossians 1:1; 1 Thessalo-
    nians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1;
    Philemon 1:1; 1 Corinthians 4:17;
    16:10; 1 Thessalonians 3:6; Hebrews
    13:23; 1 Timothy 1:2, 18; 2 Timothy
    1:2.

2. How do you square Paul's circumci-
    sion of Timothy with the less strin-
    gent requirements of the Jerusalem
    Council in Acts 15? How are the
    circumstances different?

3. What unusual events take place in
    16:6-10, and how do they affect
    Paul's future missions?

Day Three
1. Carefully re-read 16:6-10 and pay
    attention to the pronouns used in that
    passage. What change takes place
    in the way Luke refers to the charac-
    ters in his story? Hint: Compare
    16:9 with 16:10. How do you
    explain this change?

2. What did it mean for a city to be a
    Roman colony? Refer to the Back-
    ground Notes or other resources as
    you give your response.

3. Whom do Paul and Silas meet "by
    the river" in Philippi? What seems to
    be missing from this city which was
    found in previous places visited by
    Paul? Does it strike you as signifi-
    cant that the primary objects of
    ministry were women?

4. What does Luke tell us about Lydia?
    Based on the material in Acts 16:
    11-15, what sort of person was she?

WHAT IF - Week 13
. . . We, the Church, Can't Get Along?
DAILY DEVOTIONALS FOR JULY 20-24, 2009
provided by Bob Brown

We encourage you to use these readings to learn more about next weekend’s message. We pray that you will use your devotional time as an opportunity to grow closer to God and discover practical life principles.

Day Two
1. Why did the scene shift from Antioch
    to Jerusalem? Who were the primary
    participants in what has come to be
    known as the Jerusalem Council?

2. What claims did the antagonists
    make in 15:1b and 15:5? Does it
    surprise you that there were
    believers among the Pharisees?
    Based on what you know about this
    Jewish sect, why did they demand
    the specific requirements for the
    Gentiles?

3. What specific contribution did Peter
    make to the discussion, and on
    what basis did he make his
    arguments?

Day Three
1. Why do you think Luke gave Paul and
    Barnabas "brief coverage" (15:12)?
    What was the content of their report?

2. How did James approach the main
    issue differently from the other
    leaders? How important was
    Scripture to his argument? Explain
    his use of Amos 9:11-12.

3. How did James propose resolving the
    conflict, and what will the solution
    mean for the Gentiles?

4. What "prohibitions" did James recom-
    mend for Gentile behavior? Compare
    these with Leviticus 17-18.