July 6 – Philippians 3-4

Focus before you read. . .

In today’s reading, Paul continues with his letter of encouragement to the church at Philippi, urging believers to view life from an eternal perspective, to persevere through the challenges of this world, and to access the strength they can find only in Christ.  As you read today, pay close attention to the following contrasts Paul highlights: confidence in religious tradition vs. confidence in Christ, focusing on the problems of the past vs. focusing on the hope of the future, finding security on earth vs. finding security in heaven, anxiety vs. peace, self-reliance vs. prayer.

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. The “mutilators of the flesh” are those who believed that Gentiles had to be circumcised in order to be saved.  Why is Paul so opposed to this group?  What point is he making through listing his own qualifications as a “Hebrew of Hebrews”?
2. Paul writes, “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (3:12).  What is the relationship between God’s role and our responsibility?  Does God’s extension of grace end once we are saved?
3. What are the keys to contentment (Ch. 4)?

4.  Meditate on verses 4:8-9.  How is your thought life?  What do you need to filter   out of your mind?

Application to make after you read. . .

While many of us have grasped the concept that we are saved by God’s grace through faith, not by our own efforts, we sometimes act as though the power of God’s grace somehow ends once we are saved.  It’s as if God saves us, and then we’re own our own the rest of the way.  Paul teaches throughout his letters that this is simply not the case.  “I can do everything” he writes, “through him [Christ] who gives me strength” (4:13).  Do you struggle with feeling inadequate?  Are you hindered by anxiety?  Perhaps you are relying too much on your own strength, instead of accessing the power of Christ through prayer.  As Pastor Steve reminds us, what we pray for is the best indication of what we’re truly trusting God for.  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (4:6-7).  What an awesome promise!

Prayer

Lord, forgive me for relying on my own strength and worrying about the future.  Increase my faith, so that I may depend fully on you and access your strength to fulfill your purpose for my life.

June 29 – Philippians 1-2

Focus before you read. . .

Although written from prison, Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi focuses on the eternal joy we find only through our relationship with Christ.  In the first two chapters of the letter, Paul thanks the church specifically for their “partnership in the gospel,” encouraging them to continue their good work.  His words of encouragement are always grounded, though, in his solid theology of Christ.  Our attitude, Paul writes, “should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. . .”  As you read today, pay close attention to Paul’s specific teachings on Christian behavior and the theology that supports them.

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. Read Paul’s prayer in 1:9-11.  What is the relationship among love, knowledge, and discernment?
2. What does 2:6-11 teach about the nature of Christ?  What connections do you see to Isaiah 53?  How does Paul reconcile Christ’s humanity and his divinity?
3. What does it mean to “work out your salvation” (2:11)?  How does Paul balance God’s work and our responsibility?

Application to make as you read. . .

One of the central conflicts we face in life is the battle between pride and humility.  Paul encourages us in chapter 2 to model the ultimate example of humility found in Christ Jesus.  So much of the time we compare ourselves to others instead of looking at the perfect standard set by Christ, who set aside all the authority He had as God, to take on the “very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”  Meditate for a moment on all that Christ set aside and all that He suffered on the cross for us.  Now, think about what you have set aside and what you have suffered to be a follower of Christ.  Is there any comparison?  How would you rate your attitude?  Are you easily offended when others fail to recognize your authority, your contribution, and your worth?  Or, do you live your life with God as your primary audience and care little about how others view your accomplishments?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, the more we understand about who You are, the more clearly we see our own pride and selfishness.  Help us to find our identity in You and who You created us to be, rather than in how the word sees us.

May 25 – 2 Corinthians 11-13

Focus before you read. . .

In today’s reading, Paul concludes his letter to the church at Corinth.  He opens with a strong warning against false apostles, encouraging the church to not be captivated by smooth talking preachers who preach “a different Jesus” or “a different gospel” from what he has preached.  Paul also compares his qualifications for ministry to these so-called “super-apostles,” rejoicing in his own sufferings and closeness to the Lord, rather than his speaking talents.  As you read today, pay close attention to the various ways Paul expresses his “tough” love for the church and make note of the change of perspective that the church needs to adopt.

 

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. What were the “super-apostles” known for?  Do we see evidence of “super-apostles” at work today?  Do we ever place style over substance in the church?

2. Why is Paul boasting?  

3. What is Paul’s response to his own suffering?

4. How does Paul emphasize the Trinity in his final greeting?  How do “grace,” “love,” and “fellowship” relate to each member of the Trinity?

 

Application to make after you read. . .

In his love for the church, Paul issued strong words of warning and encouragement to the Corinthians.  “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light,” he declares.  So watch out for those who will use their smooth words to deceive you.  While Paul had to compete with the highly trained speakers of his day, consider the challenges we face today in today’s entertainment culture.  How does the church compete in our age of unlimited information?  Paul’s response was clear.  Rather than try to compete with the clever rhetoric of the “super-apostles,” he opted for the simple, clear message of the gospel.  He preached the unadorned truth that had been revealed to him.  Instead of offering false promises of wealth and prosperity, he “boasted” in his sufferings.  While he could have described in great detail his vision from the Lord, he emphasized God’s refusal to remove the thorn in his side.  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,” the Lord tells Paul—and He tells us.  In our fast-paced world of nanotechnology, YouTube, and text messaging, may we, like Paul, focus on that which is eternal, not instant—“the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” (13:14).

 

Prayer

Lord, you have called us to be “in” the world, but not “of” the world.  You have called us to be salt and light to our culture, not to be corrupted by the world.  Give us the strength and the boldness to be ambassadors for You.  Protect us from evil one, who masquerades as an angel of light.  Help us to live in the sufficiency of your grace.    

 

May 18 – 2 Corinthians 9-10

Focus before you read. . .

In today’s reading Paul discusses principles for giving to the Lord’s work, defends his authority, and discusses spiritual warfare.  Before you read God’s word today, think about your own attitudes toward giving.  Do feelings of guilt and obligation dictate your giving?  Also think about how you measure yourself and others?  How often do you compare yourself to others, instead of the example set by Christ?

 

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. What does it mean to “sow” generously?  What does it mean to “reap” generously?  Does giving to the church with the right attitude guarantee financial prosperity?

2. What criticisms does Paul respond to in Chapter 10?  How does he defend himself?

3. What “weapons” are we to use in our battles in this world?

 

Application to make after you read. . .

Paul had to contend with a Greek culture—much like our own—that valued material wealth, knowledge, and personality.  His detractors found him to be unimpressive on those standards.  Paul’s response—unlike our own sometimes—was not to assert his own qualifications but to shift the focus of the discussion.  Quoting Jeremiah, he says “’Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.’  For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends” (10:17).  So much of the time, Paul would argue, we look “only on the surface of things” and fail to recognize the deeper, spiritual battle that we are fighting.  Thus Paul urges us to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (10:5).  How would you describe your thought life?  What “strongholds” do you need to demolish?  What patterns of this world are influencing your thinking?  What thoughts of anxiety are robbing you of your joy in Christ?

 

Prayer

Lord, work in our minds so that we can make our thoughts obedient to You.  Show us where we are out of focus, and give us the strength to orient our thoughts to You.

May 11 – 2 Corinthians 6-8

Focus before you read. . .

In today’s reading, Paul continues his words of admonition—and at times tough love—with the church at Corinth.  “As God’s fellow workers,” he and Timothy write, “we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain” (6:1).  Referring to his previous letter (written between 1 and 2 Corinthians, but now lost), Paul acknowledges the “sorrow” he caused the church with that letter of rebuke.  However, this “sorrow” was only temporary and proved ultimately a source of joy because it brought about repentance.  As you read today, pay close attention to this relationship between sorrow and repentance, pain and salvation.  Also pay close attention to Paul’s specific teachings on such practical matters as marriage and giving, considering how these teachings all relate to the larger themes of love and purity.

 

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. How has the church at Corinth responded to Paul’s affection for them?

2. Why are we not to be “yoked together with unbelievers”?  What is the root issue here?

3. What principles of giving does Paul establish in chapter 8?  To what extent does your giving reflect your devotion to God?

 

Application to make after you read. . .

Paul explains one of the more difficult principles of Christian growth in Chapter 7:Godly sorrow.  While “worldly sorrow brings death,” God uses sorrow to bring about “repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.”  From an eternal perspective, the sorrow that we experience on this earth is of tremendous value when it leads us closer to God.  We can experience sorrow with any type of loss; however, for Paul, “Godly sorrow” occurs when it produces in us temporary pain that leads to eternal gain.  What pain have you experienced in the last few weeks?  What do you regret doing or not doing?  While the world may urge us to run from the pain or dull it with temporary pleasures, God wants to use it for an eternal purpose.  Like Paul, God has not withheld his affection from us.  He longs for us to “open wide” our hearts to Him—and He will use “Godly sorrow” to get our attention and turn us from the cares of this world to our relationship with Him.  Are you experiencing sorrow?  What is God trying to teach you?  

 

Prayer

Lord, open our hearts to You.  May we allow You to teach us however You choose.

 

May 4 – 2 Corinthians 4-5

Focus before you read. . .

In today’s reading, Paul emphasizes several important themes to motivate and encourage the struggling church at Corinth.  As you read today, look for God to provide you with just the right words to help you “press on” in your walk!

 

Questions to ask as you read. . .

Note the following key verses and concepts.

1. Paul instructs us to share our faith by “setting forth the truth plainly” to “commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” (4:2).  How well are you doing?

2. Who is “the god of this age”?  How does he blind us?

3. What does it mean to have “this treasure in jars of clay” (4:7)?

4. On what object should we “fix our eyes” (4:17)?  Why?

5. Are you living more by faith, or by sight?

6. What type of “eternal rewards” is Paul talking about?

7. What responsibilities are required of “Christ’s ambassadors”?

 

Application to make after you read. . .

Paul offers us so many encouraging words in these two chapters.  While we may be “hard pressed,” “perplexed,” and “persecuted,” Chris never abandons us.  Whatever challenges you may be going through now, God will be with you!  In addition to clarifying this promise, Paul also motivates us with his discussion of the “judgment seat of Christ.”  Although we may have unanswerable questions about the whole idea of eternal rewards, both Jesus and Paul did not shy away from this concept.  While we are saved by grace through faith, genuine faith should produce “fruit” in the life of a believer.  In some way, God rewards us in heaven for the good works we have done here on earth.  While no one knows exactly what those rewards will be, the Bible clearly teaches that what we do on this earth—beyond our initial commitment to Christ—has eternal consequences!  We will all “appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (5:10).  How do you respond to this promise?  If you had to stand before Christ today, how would you feel?  Would you be nervous, excited, hoping for an “extension”?  If you knew that you were to stand before Christ one year from now, how would you change your life?

 

Prayer   

We thank you, Lord, for the promise of eternity with you.  May we not squander the blessings you have given us, but use our time, talent, and treasure to bring you glory and honor.  May we live this day with eternity in mind.

April 27 – 2 Corinthians 1-3

Focus before you read. . .

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians primarily to respond to divisions in the church at Corinth, a church located in what is now southern Greece, which he founded on his second missionary journey.  For the most part, the church did not heed his advice, and the apostle visited the church a second time, a visit which was painful for both the church and for Paul (2:1).  While he had originally planned to visit the church a third time, he instead felt led to write a letter—2 Corinthians—of further instruction.  In the first three chapters of this letter, Paul emphasizes the theme of comfort—both our dependence on the comfort God provides and the comfort we are to provide others.  He also preaches on the superiority of the “new covenant,” which is a fulfillment of the law, or “old covenant,” which condemned us but also pointed us to Christ.  As you read today, pay close attention to the role that the “Spirit of the Lord” provides in providing us with freedom.

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. Note all the times Paul uses the word “comfort” in the first chapter.  In what way does God provide “comfort” for us?  What responsibility do we have to “comfort” others?
2. What is Paul’s attitude towards the church?  What message of hope does he provide them?
3. Why is forgiveness so important?
4. How does the “letter” kill and the “Spirit” give life?

Application to make after you read. . .

Even though Paul loved the church, he was not afraid to discipline the church he founded.  In fact, it is because of this love that he continues to do all that he can to motivate the church to be all that it can be for Christ.  Although Paul struggled with the Corinthian church, he was quick to emphasize comfort and forgiveness. Jesus Christ himself is the “Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (1:4).  Who in your life are you discipling or mentoring?  To whom are you providing comfort?  Paul’s experience with the Corinthian church should remind us that “Involvement,” or loving each other, can be painful.  But he also reminds us that is “God who makes us stand firm in Christ.”  For “He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (1:22).

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for the comfort that you provide us.  May your grace and strength continue to sustain us as we grow closer together as a body of believers and closer to You, the author and perfecter of our faith.

April 20 – 1 Corinthians 15-16

Focus before you read. . .

The problems that Paul has dealt with so far in 1 Corinthians were communicated to him by other people or by a letter from the Corinthians. Chapter 15 clearly begins a new subject, the subject of the resurrection. The reason for treating this subject is also clear – many people were denying the resurrection. Unlike the other subjects covered in 1 Corinthians 7-14 there is no indication that Paul learned of this problem from the Corinthians’ letter. He may have learned of the problem from other people, but the letter seems to imply that those problems were discussed in chapters 1-6. Did Paul forget to cover this subject earlier or did he receive “new” news from the carriers of the letter or from a group mentioned in our reading today?  The New Testament does not provide us sufficient information. What is clear is that Paul’s treatment of the resurrection provides a very appropriate climax and conclusion to 1 Corinthians as a whole.
Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. Do the verses teach varying degrees of glory in heaven for different saints? If so, how is this taught? If not, what is the point of the verses dealing with glory?
2. How did Jesus’ resurrection body compare with Paul’s description of a resurrection body in these focus verses? Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21, and Acts 1:1-11 describe the resurrected Jesus.
3. What conclusion or practical life application should faith in the resurrection lead us to?
4. What was the basis for Paul’s decisions about how time and persons should be used in the ministry? How would such principles affect our use of time and people in ministry?

Application to make after you read. . .

In today’s reading Paul illustrates the two main focuses of Christian giving: providing for the ministry of the word at home and abroad, and illustrating Christian love by caring for the poor. Both consumed much of his ministry. Caring for the poor, funding missions, and funding local spiritual leadership are the most mentioned types of giving in the New Testament. Are these high on the agenda for your giving or our ministries at CCG?  What can you do this coming week to give in the main area of focus that Paul describes?

April 13 – 1 Corinthians 13-14

Focus before you read. . .

Do you remember last week you read in 1 Corinthians about Paul’s advice to “eagerly desire the greater gifts”? Thinking about what you read, what spiritual gift would you like if you could choose any? Also, what spiritual gifts would you like to see in our church? Go ahead and make that list now. After you make the list, note that if one Christian had all of these gifts together that person would be pretty awesome, right?

This about the person in your family who shows love the most to others. Is it your mom, grandmother, a friend of the family? What are specific things they do that explain why you think of them when you think of others who show love? Keep this person in mind as you read today.

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. What is the most important Christian virtue?

2. Does the “speaking in tongues” actually mean speaking in a genuine human language?

3. What are the characteristics of love described in these chapters?

Application to make after you read. . .

Our church has a vision for “Loving God, Loving Each Other, and Loving the Lost”. But what does that look like in your life? Here is what love is and is not according to today’s reading:

Love Is Love is not

Patient Envious

Kind Boastful

Protection Proud

Trust Rude

Hope Self-seeking

Perseveres Easily angered

Recording wrongs

Pick two of those characteristics and decide what you will do this week to love God, each other, and the lost.

April 6 – 1 Corinthians 11-12

 

Focus before you read. . .

Up to this point Paul has dealt with problems of a personal nature: allegiance, marriage, and morality. But now he addresses public issues in the Corinthian church: the veiling of women and the use and abuse of the Lord’s Supper and spiritual gifts. Disorders in the worship service are serious business. There are a variety of gifts all given by the same spirit who decides “which each one of us should have.”

 

Questions to ask as you read. . .

1. Paul shares that a wife is responsible to her husband. Who is the husband responsible to?

2. What are some of the gifts given to believers?

3. How does God compare our physical bodies with the church?

 

 

Application to make after you read. . .

Visualize the following scene in your mind. You awaken one morning to find that your feet have gone on strike. They are tired of always getting stepped on and have decided to picket for shorter hours and softer shoes. In fact, they want the same privileges as your hands or they will secede from the body.

 

Sound far-fetched? It happens in the church every day (12:15) as Spirit gifted members of the body seek to do someone else’s job. Feet trying to hold silverware or ears trying to see may be humorous in the physical realm, but in the spiritual realm it can have devastating consequences. And when one member suffers in a role for which he is ill-equipped, all the members suffer.

 

Scan the spiritual gifts in today’s reading and single out the areas in which God has gifted you for service in the body of Christ. Now take a hard look at your involvement at CCG. Are you helping or hurting the body in your present role? What needs to change so that you are building up the church?