17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Cor 5:17 (KJV)
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Wednesday Wisdom: Springtime
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Timeline Tuesday
We have 3 new books listed on the Bible reading schedule this week.Today's timeline will deal with just the New Testament books. Next week we'll discuss the Old Testament book of Joshua.
Saturday we completed First Thessalonians and yesterday we began reading the epistle of Second Thessalonians. This second letter to the believers in Thessalonica was written by the same three men as the first, namely, Paul, Silas, and Timothy. Paul did the actual writing (3:17), but Silas and Timothy were given credit by Paul for contributing (1:1).
It appears to have been written shortly after the first letter, probably in AD 51 while Paul and company were still in Corinth.
One of its purposes was to explain future events more clearly. The believers in Thessalonica were still experiencing persecution for their faith and they desired the quick return of the Lord Jesus to alleviate their suffering.
Many Christians around the world today can identify with these belilevers.
* * *
Speaking of Corinth, later this week we will begin reading the first epistle that Paul wrote to the church there, which means that while Paul was in Corinth writing letters to Thessalonica he was establishing a church there. That should be obvious since that's what Paul, the missionary, did. Also obvious is that he eventually left Corinth in order to preach and establish churches elsewhere. (You will read about that later this week in Acts chapter 18.)
The epistle of First Corinthians was written by Paul in approximately AD 55 when he was at Ephesus (16:8). It is a meaty letter.
Corinth was a Greek city that became part of the Roman empire, as was the case of much of the known world of the New Testament era. Idol worship with its accompanied temple prostitution and meat sacrifices was one of their religious traditions. Paul made it clear that a believer's body is the true temple and that the living God (not an idol made by hands) inhabits it. As such it is to remain pure of all fornication and adultery. A culture that had no basis for morality obviously had to be taught Godly marriage principles as well.
The Greeks were also known as wisdom seekers. Their philosophies from the Classical Period that gave way to the Hellenistic Period were not far removed from the time of Paul. We still study these teachings. Paul had to instruct them in the issue of Godly wisdom.
One of the most beloved passages is found within this letter. I Corinthians 13 is known as the "Love chapter" and is widely used in weddings, and on greeting cards and decorations. When you read it next week focus your attention upon how it describes Jesus. Only by imitating the life of Christ can we show true love to others.
Many churches (and their members by default) bear a striking resemblance to the fornication-saturated, idolatrous one that Paul addressed at Corinth. (Professing [ourselves] to be wise, [we] became fools (Rom 1:22) but that's from another Pauline epistle that we'll read in the future). May we put away our own ideas of what is wise and desire Godly wisdom so that we can present to all a true representation of love.
Saturday we completed First Thessalonians and yesterday we began reading the epistle of Second Thessalonians. This second letter to the believers in Thessalonica was written by the same three men as the first, namely, Paul, Silas, and Timothy. Paul did the actual writing (3:17), but Silas and Timothy were given credit by Paul for contributing (1:1).
It appears to have been written shortly after the first letter, probably in AD 51 while Paul and company were still in Corinth.
One of its purposes was to explain future events more clearly. The believers in Thessalonica were still experiencing persecution for their faith and they desired the quick return of the Lord Jesus to alleviate their suffering.
Many Christians around the world today can identify with these belilevers.
* * *
Speaking of Corinth, later this week we will begin reading the first epistle that Paul wrote to the church there, which means that while Paul was in Corinth writing letters to Thessalonica he was establishing a church there. That should be obvious since that's what Paul, the missionary, did. Also obvious is that he eventually left Corinth in order to preach and establish churches elsewhere. (You will read about that later this week in Acts chapter 18.)
The epistle of First Corinthians was written by Paul in approximately AD 55 when he was at Ephesus (16:8). It is a meaty letter.
Corinth was a Greek city that became part of the Roman empire, as was the case of much of the known world of the New Testament era. Idol worship with its accompanied temple prostitution and meat sacrifices was one of their religious traditions. Paul made it clear that a believer's body is the true temple and that the living God (not an idol made by hands) inhabits it. As such it is to remain pure of all fornication and adultery. A culture that had no basis for morality obviously had to be taught Godly marriage principles as well.
The Greeks were also known as wisdom seekers. Their philosophies from the Classical Period that gave way to the Hellenistic Period were not far removed from the time of Paul. We still study these teachings. Paul had to instruct them in the issue of Godly wisdom.
One of the most beloved passages is found within this letter. I Corinthians 13 is known as the "Love chapter" and is widely used in weddings, and on greeting cards and decorations. When you read it next week focus your attention upon how it describes Jesus. Only by imitating the life of Christ can we show true love to others.
Many churches (and their members by default) bear a striking resemblance to the fornication-saturated, idolatrous one that Paul addressed at Corinth. (Professing [ourselves] to be wise, [we] became fools (Rom 1:22) but that's from another Pauline epistle that we'll read in the future). May we put away our own ideas of what is wise and desire Godly wisdom so that we can present to all a true representation of love.
Memory Verse Monday
Here are a few of the verses found within this week's schedule that you might know or want to commit to memory:
- Deuteronomy 29:29
- Deuteronomy 316
- Joshua 1:8
- I Corinthians 1:18
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Bible Reading Schedule: April 16-22, 2012
April 16-22, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Deuteronomy 26, 27
II Thessalonians 1
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Deuteronomy 28-30
II Thessalonians 2,3
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Deuteronomy 31, 32
Acts 18
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Deuteronomy 33, 34
I Corinthians 1
Friday, April 20, 2012
Joshua 1-3
I Corinthians 2
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Joshua 4, 5
I Corinthians 3, 4
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Attend church!
Catch up any readings that were missed.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The Consolidated "Everything" Post
Getting things posted lately has been a task of mega proportions. Getting ready for a new grandchild, having a new grandchild, helping with the new grandchild's older brother, holding my new grandchild as much as possible, Easter preparations, and waiting while the electric company trapped another squirrel who could turn the gerbil wheel that generates the power to our home all worked against getting this blog updated recently. Okay, I made that last reason up, but it sure seemed to take a long time for them to fix the power outage last week!
Anyway . . . this post covers material that would have appeared last Tuesday (April 3), Saturday (April 7), Monday (April 9), and yesterday so go get a snack and settle into a comfortable chair because this is gonna be a long one. :)
Hallelujah! Amen!
Anyway . . . this post covers material that would have appeared last Tuesday (April 3), Saturday (April 7), Monday (April 9), and yesterday so go get a snack and settle into a comfortable chair because this is gonna be a long one. :)
April 9-15, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Deuteronomy 9, 10
Acts 17
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Deuteronomy 11-13
I Thessalonians 1
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Deuteronomy 14-16
I Thessalonians 2
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Deuteronomy 17-19
I Thessalonians 3
Friday, April 13, 2012
Deuteronomy 20-22
I Thessalonians 4
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Deuteronomy 23-25
I Thessalonians 5
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Attend church!
Catch up any readings that were missed.
* * * * * *
Memory Verses
I omitted Galatians 2:20 from last week's list so add it as one of the possibilities this week.
Here are a few verses from this week's reading schedule that you might like to memorize:
- Deuteronomy 10:12
- Deuteronomy 11:19-21
- Acts 17:3
- Acts 17:24-28
- I Thessalonians 4:13-18
- I Thessalonians 5:2
- I Thessalonians 5:1-8
* * * * * *
Timeline
1. We finished reading Numbers and began Deuteronomy last week. This book was written to the younger generation of Israelites as they prepared to take possession of the Promised Land by Moses immediately prior to his death. It was a repetition of the Law, hence the name Deuteronomy, which means "second law" although technically it was not a "second" law but the same that their now-deceased fathers received.
On the timeline of events this book would cover the last month of Moses' life and would have been written in approximately 1400 BC. Most of the Jews at that time were less than 60 years old since anyone over the age of 20 years died in the wilderness after rebelling when the original spies returned with their report. The exceptions were Moses, Joshua, and Caleb but even Moses was about to die at the age of 120 due to his own disobedience. Joshua and Caleb were the only "senior citizens" of the Children of Israel allowed to inherit land in Canaan.
2. In the New Testament we read Paul's epistle to the Galatians following Acts chapter 16 where we were introduced to them during his missionary journey. Paul mentioned in Galatians chapter 1 that he was amazed at how quickly the churches in that region turned from the teaching of grace to that of a perverted gospel.
There are two trains of thought concerning the time that this letter was written. The early theory places the time of writing at about the same time that James wrote his letter to the scattered Jews (c. AD 49) and the later theory places it just a few years afterward (c. AD 55). It is positioned in the schedule according to the early theory.
One of the things that I find interesting about Galatians from a historical perspective is that Paul gave a timeline of his own ministry in chapters 1 and 2 that helps us understand the passing of the years in the book of Acts. He also told of the 430 years between the time that God gave His covenant to Abraham and its fulfilment. We're reading about the fulfilling of that covenant now in our Old Testament assignments.
3. This week we began reading First Thessalonians, which is a letter written by the Apostle Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We read of the missionary journeys to the area in the early part of Acts 17. Not only did Paul and Silas minister in the seaport city of Thessalonica, but Timothy did also (I Thes 3:2). Paul and Silas were run out of town (Acts 17:1-10 and I Thes. 2:12) but they sent Timothy back to establish a church there. The date that has been given for the writing of this epistle is circa AD 51.
I Thessalonians contains some of the most precious scriptures given for understanding the hope that we have of seeing our deceased loved ones again.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
I Thessalonians 4:13-18
Hallelujah! Amen!
Friday, April 6, 2012
Family Friday: New Family Member!
Our grandson, Fen, would like to announce the birth of his little sister!
Oh, and Pastor Dad and I would like to announce the birth of our fifth granddaughter!
Her daddy called her his Diamond Girl yesterday in reference to her April birthday. Seems pretty fitting for the daughter of The Princess, but I think I shall wait until I get to know our little precious a bit better before giving her a blog nickname.
 |
| Proud Daddy introducing Big Brother (Fen) to Little Sister |
Oh, and Pastor Dad and I would like to announce the birth of our fifth granddaughter!
 |
| Proud Grandad (Pastor Dad) adoring his newest granddaughter |
Monday, April 2, 2012
Memory Monday: Hide The Word in Your Heart!
Here's a great one nestled within the pages of the Old Testament:
(It's sad that this one is part of Moses' request to be allowed to go over the Jordan with the Children of Israel, but it is a beautiful verse for any believer to memorize.)
Here's a wonderful passage that every parent should both commit to memory and to action:
And here are a few familiar verses from the scheduled readings in the New Testament this week:
- Deuteronomy 3:24
(It's sad that this one is part of Moses' request to be allowed to go over the Jordan with the Children of Israel, but it is a beautiful verse for any believer to memorize.)
Here's a wonderful passage that every parent should both commit to memory and to action:
- Deuteronomy 6:4-9
And here are a few familiar verses from the scheduled readings in the New Testament this week:
- Acts 16:31
- Galatians 5:1
- Galatians 5:22-23
- Galatians 6:1-5
- Galatians 6:7
- Galatians 6:9
- Galatians 6:14
Bible Reading Schedule: April 2-8, 2012
April 2-8, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
Numbers 30, 31
Acts 15, 16
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Numbers 32-34
Galatians 1
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Numbers 35, 36
Galatians 2, 3
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Deuteronomy 1, 2
Galatians 4
Friday, April 6, 2012
Deuteronomy 3-5
Galatians 5
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Deuteronomy 6-8
Galatians 6
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Happy Easter! We serve a risen Savior! Hallelujah!
Attend church!
Attend church!
Catch up any readings that were missed.
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)