As we watch the nation of America fall, our hearts weep with those who are our brothers and sisters of Christ. A time to be reading your Bibles before they come to take them away.
This is a 38-minute interview with Pastor Brian, pastor of 'His Church' in an interview with Joshua Philipp of Crossroads.
Clarifying some key issues. This young man points to the One who provides the grace as the propitiation [full and perfect payment] for our sins - past, present and future. It is our choice to trust Him!
I want to give you a path
into the Bible, to help you enjoy it for your first reading. This will be especially helpful for you if English is not your first language.
The Bible, as you may know,
is not one book even thought it appears to be one.It is not written like
a novel.It is instead sixty-six separate
books.
39 books in what is called the Old Testament,
27 in what is called the
New Testament
It was written to share the Good
News to the world from the beginning of all things. It was also written by a variety of individuals
and over vast amounts of time.
So where should you begin to read!?
When I got my first Bible, I
just thought it was a book; I started reading it from the beginning. It was a long and difficult slog for a
nine-year-old. Much of it did not make
much sense and by the time I finished, the Old Testament, I was thoroughly mad
at God for killing so many animals!
Should you ever manage to
read all the Old Testament you will understand.It is quite an important observation, but more about that
another day.
You can start reading anywhere. For someone just beginning to read it, I would recommend you begin in Mark.
This is the second book in the New Testament section.
It is short, energetic and provides a good understanding of the reason
and the way Jesus came to minister to this world.
Or search YouTube for ‘Overview:Mark' by The Bible Project
To begin, you may want to read only one chapter a day, so you have time to think about what you have read. Mark has only 16 chapters.
Progress Tool
A. Get an index card, a piece of paper or start a Bible reading notebook (more on this in another segment). B. Draw a table (see below) with 16 squares. C. Write the numbers 1 through 16 in each block. D. Cross off each chapter as you complete reading it. This is a great tool you can use to encourage you to keep reading.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
What Bible Version Is Helpful to Start With?
If you do not have a Bible, consider
buying or borrowing a copy of The Life Application Bible (LAB). It comes with many notes, illustrations and maps that make the
geography, individuals and customs make sense, plus it offers some ideas of ways you can apply what you
learn to your everyday life.
Each book of the Bible in this
annotated version comes with an introduction and various important features of each
book.These help you grasp what you are
reading, such as key thoughts, keywords, characters and verses, etc.
You can either read the introduction or
simply dive right into the story.
What Translation?
A good translation to begin
with (especially if English is not your first language) is the New Living
Translation.There are many different
translations (and I'm happy to explain them someday).
This translation is easy to
read.It does not use old-fashioned,
Elizabethan English (‘thee’ and ‘thou’, ‘didst’, ‘knowest’, etc.).Finally, the NEW Living Translation is a true
translation, accurate to the original manuscripts – so trustworthy to study.
Enough for now.Please email me anytime with questions (darlenerichard@gmail.com ) and I
will happily respond.
"For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? "After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard. God also bearing witness with them both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. "For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. But one has testified somewhere, saying, 'What is man, that Thou rememberest him? Or the son of man, that Thou art concerned about him? Thou hast made Him for a little while lower than the angels; Thou hast crowned Him with glory and honour, and hast appointed Him over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet.' "For in subjecting all things to Him, He left nothing that is not subject to Him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to Him. But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. "For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, '"I will proclaim Thy name to My brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing Thy praise.' "And again, 'I will put My trust in Him.' And again, 'Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me. "Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. "Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation [full, complete and perfect payment] for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to and aid of those who are tempted." Hebrew 2:2-18 "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16
Consider the humanity of Jesus
If you have not found time to watch the eight episodes of Season 1 of The Chosen, I encourage you.
I remember as a child, before I had a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, a patient Bible teacher mentioned that Jesus even had blisters! It was a powerful paradigm shift for me as I considered what the Bible meant about Jesus being 'fully human'.
Had Jesus not lived a 'fully human' life, He would not be able to understand and be compassionate with our lives today! Think about how much LOVE He had for us to give up His divinity to be able to relate to the lives we live on earth. Just AMAZING!!
Think of a person you know in real life who has exhibited
humility in their life?What were they
like?
Christ and humility
There is no better example of humility than Jesus! In this study, you can easily review some of the activities of Jesus' life that demonstrate for us what humility and meekness means for us today.
Look up each of the Scriptures and answer the question. If you know the answer, write it down, but look up the Scripture anyway and read it.
a.Where was Jesus born? (Luke
2:1-7)
b.How did He grow up? (Luke
2:41-50)
c.How did Jesus interact with John
the baptiser?(Matthew 3:1-17)
d.In Jesus famous Sermon on
the Mount what does He teach about being meek and humble? (Matthew 5, 6, 7)
e.How did Jesus deal with
children? Matthew 19:14)
f.What was so special of Jesus
meeting the Samaritan woman at the well? (John 4:4-26)
g.What did Jesus know about
those who would stone the woman caught in immorality? (John 8:7)
h.How did Jesus treat His disciples,
even Judas, at the last supper? (John
13:5)
Goldilocks and the dangers of humility
Goldilocks is a
fairy tale that teaches us the practical way to apply humility. And just like Goldilocks, humility has to be 'just right'. Jesus told of how the Pharisees and the Sadducees would practice their righteousness before men, but looking humble to others can also become prideful. It is important to think honourably about the gifts and strengths you've been given and endeavour to use them wisely and ultimately for His glory. On this scale, you need to be in the middle - just right.
HumbleProud
See the first
and second YouTube videos below
for additional
information about this.
Practical and Personal Application
Considering what has been reviewed here, what is one way you
better live out the essence of Jesus’ example of meekness and humility.
Additional Scriptures to Explore about Humility and Meekness
Take time to look
up these verses. You can look one up a
week, one a day or break them into time-manageable clusters.
In the
corresponding column write a keyword or phrase to help you remember what you’ve
learned about humility and meekness in the verses.
Then, take time to pray
these verses and concepts for your life and use your new insights to help
others understand this Christian life characteristic.
Reference
Write a word or phrase that will be
meaningful for you to remember the ‘meat’ of the message.
