New Testament in a Year

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  • September 14th New Testament Readings

    Galatians 1:1-24
    ~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
    ~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

    Today we begin Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia!  Paul’s letter was sent from either point #1 to point #2 or from #3 to #4 in the image below:

    ~ Galatians ~
    Author: Paul the apostle
    Place: Unknown
    Date: A.D. 48 or 49
    Content: Paul had preached to the inhabitants of Galatia on his first missionary journey (Act 13:14-14:23). Shortly after his departure, a group of Jewish believers arrived to insist that the Gentile Christians submit to the laws of Moses in order to be saved. Paul writes to combat this error by showing that Abraham, who lived over four hundred years before the giving of the law, was saved by faith in the gospel – so how could it be argued that the law could either save a man or make a believer in Christ more perfect? Paul couples this with a vigorous defense of himself as an apostle and with a discussion of how a Christian ought to live.
    Theme: Paul energetically defends the truth of the gospel, which is that man is saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ and nothing else. Any other teaching is a perversion of the truth of God (Galatians 1:7). We are made right in the sight of God by faith (Galatians 2:16) and become the people of God (sons of Abraham) in the same way, by faith (Galatians 3:7). Because we are free in Christ, we must never allow anyone to drag us back to the idea of working for our salvation, but must live out of the gospel. This involves submission to the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:16) and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Galatians 5:14). (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” pp. 25-26) More great commentary on Galatians is     at this link

    Wow. I have to share with you that Paul’s words in Galatians chapter 1 verse 1 stopped me in my tracks today when reading them: “This letter is from Paul, an apostle. I was not appointed by any group or by human authority. My call is from Jesus Christ himself and from God the Father, who raised Jesus from the dead.”  The thing that struck me about this was Paul saying that he was not appointed by any group or by human authority to be an apostle of Jesus Christ.  His call was from Jesus Himself!  And this just made me think about our modern world today, where I am afraid that sometimes we will only maybe do bold things in our life for the Gospel – for the Kingdom of God – if we feel like we have been appointed by some group or by some human authority to do it.  When, in fact the important thing is if we have been called by Jesus to do it!  I hope humbly here I can share with you that there are probably a ton of reasons of why I “shouldn’t” be leading an online Bible study like this one.  I don’t have a Seminary degree.  I am not an ordained minister or pastor.  Yes, I have been in a Bible study before, and I do a lot of studying each day for this ministry.  But – no group or human authority has appointed me to do this.  I have just done it because I do feel very called to it!  And I share this with you not to pat myself on the back, but to encourage you.  Maybe you’ve never been to Seminary.  Maybe you’re not an ordained minister or pastor.  Maybe you’ve never done _____,  ____, or ____.  (fill in your blanks)  But, maybe God is calling you to do something bold for his Kingdom, and the question becomes when will you do it?  When will you stop relying on an old excuse of not being appointed by a group or human authority to do it? If God is calling you to something, please, please, do it!  Our time is short.  Your time is now.  The water is fine.  Please, dive in!

    Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Galatians Chapter 1 titled “Giving Up the Gospel” is at this link and “Was Paul a Man-Pleaser?” is at this link.

    Worship Video:  Okay, with my comments above on Galatians 1:1 and the picture of the boy jumping into the pool, I want to share with you today Steven Curtis Chapman’s amazing song “Dive.”  What in your life is God calling you to dive into?  Dive in!


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXqXIicm8uU

    Have you dived into a relationship with God yet?  Click here and dive!

    Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up in the “Comments” below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • September 13th New Testament Readings

    2 Corinthians 13:1-14
    ~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
    ~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

    We wrap up the book of Second Corinthians today!  Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia begins tomorrow!

    I love Paul’s words today in Second Corinthians chapter 13 verse 11! “Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Rejoice. Change your ways. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.”   Imagine that these words were written to you.  Are you rejoicing?  Are you changing your ways?  Are you encouraging others?  Are you living in peace?  Is God’s love with you this very moment?  Is God’s peace with you now?

    Prayer__1

    Bible.org’s commentary on today’s (and yesterday’s) readings in Second Corinthians titled “Paul’s Closing Argument, Appeal, and Blessing” is at this link.

    Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Matt Redman and Tasha Cobbs Leonard song “Gracefully Broken:”


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQGoFlQSszE

    Are you broken?  Click here to be gracefully restored!

    Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up in the “Comments” below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • September 12th New Testament Readings

    2 Corinthians 12:11-21
    ~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
    ~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

    Paul’s words in Second Corinthians chapter 12 verses 20 and 21 were written for the church in Corinth.  But, imagine if you will that these words were written to you and me today… “For I am afraid that when I come to visit you I won’t like what I find, and then you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfishness, backstabbing, gossip, conceit, and disorderly behavior. Yes, I am afraid that when I come, God will humble me again because of you. And I will have to grieve because many of you who sinned earlier have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.”  What would Paul find if he came to visit our lives today?  Would he find quarreling, jealousy, outbursts, selfishness, backstabbing, gossip, conceit, or disorderly behavior?  Impurity?  Sexual immorality?  Eagerness for lustful pleasure?  Or – instead, would Paul find peace, joy, love, giving, and purity in our lives?  Would we grieve Paul or make him joyful?  Better yet, let us reflect upon what Jesus would find in our lives if He came back today?  Would our lives grieve Jesus in any way?

    Bible.org’s commentary on today and tomorrow’s readings in Second Corinthians titled “Paul’s Closing Argument, Appeal, and Blessing” is at this link.

    Worship Video: Today’s readings in reminded me of Brandon Heath’s song “Your Love:”


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74HXKSYyPKg

    Do you need God’s Love? Click here for Love!

    Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up in the “Comments” below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • September 11th New Testament Readings

    2 Corinthians 12:1-10
    ~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
    ~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

    Paul’s words in Second Corinthians chapter 12 verses 7 through 10 about the thorn in Paul’s flesh are so powerful for each of us to consider for our lives today as well! “But to keep me from getting puffed up, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from getting proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  Biblical commentaries can basically all agree that we do not know what Paul’s “thorn” was.  There is some interesting speculation out there.  Some think that the thorn is Paul’s flesh was perhaps something that literally affected his flesh – a health issue of some sort.  Some think it could have been a disease of the eyes, epilepsy, or even malaria.  Whatever the thorn was, it was something that affected him very seriously.  And it kept Paul humble in the midst of his incredible ministry.  Why do you suppose that Paul was given a thorn in his flesh?  Do you suppose you or I might have thorns in our flesh today?  What might those thorns be in your life today?  And why might those thorns be there?  Is there anything you can learn from Paul about your thorns?  Can you learn to live with the thorn in your flesh realizing that God’s power in your life actually works strongest when you are weak?  Do you believe that God’s power can actually work through the thorn in your flesh for God’s glory?  Will you accept where you are weak, so that in that area of your life God will be strong?

    Thorn

    Continuing along this point about having a thorn in our flesh.  I do think this is a powerful thing for each of us to really meditate upon.  I believe that all of us have some sort of thorn in our flesh! (or we will…)  All of us are human with various frailties.  None of us are Superman or Wonderwoman.  We will all grow older – God-willing – and will eventually have health issues that will eventually lead to our death.  As Christians we have eternal life after death where all of our thorns will be removed forever!  But this side of heaven we will have thorns in our flesh.  Perhaps many thorns.  But, this is the beauty of the thorns…  if we will accept them and give them over to God, God’s power will work in our weakness!  If we will give all that we have over to God – the good, the bad, and the ugly, God will show up and move through it.  It’s tough I know to really put this into practice – if we lose a loved one, or get diagnosed with a serious illness, or are struggling with an addiction, we can often think “where is God in this??”  Well, yes, where is He?  Have you opened the door to let Him in the room of that weakness?  Will you let his power in?

    Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Second Corinthians titled “Boasting in our Weakness” is at this link. 

    Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of Britt Nicole’s song “Walk on The Water:”


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wddc8UzNiG8

    Do you want to walk on the water? Click here and Walk On!

    Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up in the “Comments” below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • September 10th New Testament Readings

    2 Corinthians 11:16-33
    ~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
    ~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

    Amazing words from Paul today in Second Corinthians chapter 11 verse 30! “If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.”  Why would Paul say he would rather boast about things that show how weak he is?  Why would Paul want to be weak in any way?  Why would you or I want to be weak in any way?  If you must boast, what are you boasting about these days?

    Boastcross_3

    Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Second Corinthians titled “The Reluctant ‘Fool’” is at this link and “Boasting in our Weakness” is at this link.

    Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of Mercy Me’s great song “Here I Am:”


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfU5ys2O7gA

    Are you in a relationship with God such that you could reply like Isaiah did, “Here I Am, Send Me?” Click here and get sent!

    Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up in the “Comments” below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • September 9th New Testament Readings

    2 Corinthians 11:1-15
    ~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
    ~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

    Paul’s words in Second Corinthians chapter 11 verse 14 are some of the scariest words in Scripture for each of us to take to heart: “Even Satan can disguise himself as an angel of light.”  Do you believe these words of Paul’s are true?  How would you know if something that appears to be good on the surface is not really good at all?  Let us pray for discernment in this regards!  Let us not ever be fooled by Satan and his disguises!  (Okay, I found this scary picture below for this verse… what do you think?  Too scary for this blog?  Or maybe we should get a bit scared by this verse??)

    Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Second Corinthians titled “The Father of the Bride Exposes the Master of Deceit” is at this link.

    Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of the terrific Josiah Queen song called “My Promised Land:”


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwz6dqE511k

    Is Jesus your Promised Land? Click here for your Promised Land!

    Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • September 8th New Testament Readings

    2 Corinthians 10:1-18
    ~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
    ~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

    Wow… I love Paul’s words to the church in Second Corinthians chapter 10 verses 3 through 5: “We are human, but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods. We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ.”  This is incredibly powerful for us to realize.  We are human.  God is God.  We are not God.  But, good news is that we have access to God’s “weapons” through our relationship with his son Jesus.  And trust me.  In this fallen world, we need God’s weapons.  We need his strength.  We need his grace.  We need his forgiveness.  We need his miracles.  We need his Son.  These are the only ways that we will knock down the Devil’s strongholds in our lives and in others lives.  How do we access God’s mighty weapons?  My personal opinion is that prayer is one of the best things we can do in this regards.  I don’t know about you, but I do not pray enough.  However, just lately I’ve been praying a bit more, and I’ll tell you, God has moved!  Prayer is such a beautiful mystery.  We need it like the air we breathe.  Please pray.  Other ways to access God’s mighty weapons are certainly reading and studying God’s Word daily, investing in a church community at least weekly (even more is better via small groups, etc.), and confessing and repenting and fleeing from sin.  Then, with God’s weapons we are called to introduce others to who God is and teach them to obey Christ.  How are you accessing God’s mighty weapons these days?  Are you praying?  Are you reading and studying the Bible daily?   Are you investing in a church community weekly?   Are you confessing and repenting and fleeing from sin?  Or are you relying on your human plans and methods to make it through the day?  Are you relying on worldly weapons?  Will you seek instead God’s mighty weapons?

    Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Second Corinthians titled “Contrasting Christian Leaders With the Cultists” is at this link.

    Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of Michael W. Smith’s great song “A New Hallelujah!”


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBxOkruKpqI

    Do you want to sing a new Hallelujah? Click here and Sing!

    Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up in the “Comments” section below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this One Year Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • September 7th New Testament Readings

    2 Corinthians 9:1-15
    ~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
    ~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

    Today in Second Corinthians chapter 9 verses 6 through 8 we read these words of Paul’s – “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” Great verses! A lot of ground is covered in these verses. Do you believe that we reap what we sow? What are you sowing? What have you decided in your heart to give? Do you give without reluctance? Do you give without compulsion? Are you a cheerful giver? Do you realize that God gracefully gives you all that you need so that you will participate in good works? Are you participating in God’s grace that he is freely giving to you? Related to these verses, I just recently finished reading Randy Alcorn’s wonderful little book, The Treasure Principle: Unlocking the Secret of Joyful Giving. Has anyone else read this book? It is a wonderful book about how it truly is more blessed to give than to receive! I highly recommend it!

    Bible.org’s commentary on today’s (and yesterday’s) readings in Second Corinthians titled “Keeping Your Commitments” is at this link. 

    Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the fantastic song “Create in me a Clean Heart” performed here by Donnie McClurkin and a choir:


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILRjmPGvVB8

    Do you want a clean heart? Click here to be made clean!

    Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up in the “Comments” section below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • August 30th New Testament Readings

    2 Corinthians 4:1-12
    ~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
    ~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

    I love Second Corinthians chapter 4 verse 1 today.  In fact, if there is nothing else you remember from today’s readings I hope you will remember the last 4 words of this verse always – “And so, since God in his mercy has given us this wonderful ministry, we never give up.”  We never give up.  That is powerful for each of us to remember.  Why?  Because we will have good and bad days.  Days when we are happy.  Days when we might be feeling sad.  And there will be days when we make mistakes.  When we will stumble.  When we will fall.  But you know what has often gotten me through days like those?  This simple prayer or statement or something that fortunately comes into my mind – “I’m not giving up!”  We shouldn’t say this as justification for our falling short of God’s plan for our life.  But, when we do fall short, I have found it helpful.  Or, if I haven’t fallen short, but bad stuff is happening to me, I say it.  And I don’t say it just to myself – as if my own will power will get me through the tough times.  I say it to God.  I say it really as a prayer.  I say it almost as a statement against the devil, who would love nothing more than for us to give up.  The devil would love it if we stumbled and stayed on the ground.  If we decided this Christianity thing was just not for us.  But you know what – don’t give up!  When times are tough.  When you stumble, pray it to God – “I’m not giving up.”  Tell it to yourself.  We’re not giving up!  We’re never giving up….  (go frog!)  🙂

    Never_give_up

    Verse 7 today is indeed a wonderful reminder that we humans are but jars of clay – “But this precious treasure–this light and power that now shine within us–is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own.’”  We really do have very fragile bodies.  They are wonderful!  But they are fragile.  They break.  They will die.  As one writer puts it, “our condition is terminal.”  And it’s true.  This side of heaven, our bodies will eventually wear out.  But – as Paul tells us in this verse – there is light and power that shines within us when we are in relationship with Jesus!  The Holy Spirit indwells our earthen vessels.  Our jars of clay.  And hopefully we and others recognize that the glory within us is not our own.  It is of God.  And it is a glory that is available to anyone.  Free of charge.  It is grace and it beckons us to receive God’s glory in our jars of clay so that we will live eternally in heavenly bodies.  But for now, we are simply in the hands of the Potter…

    Potter

    Worship Video: Today’s readings in Second Corinthians about “Jars of Clay” reminds me of this Jars of Clay 🙂 song called “Two Hands:”


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUBn1_A_XPU

    How are you using your two hands? Click here to raise them High!

    Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV

    Prayer Point: Pray that though you may be hard pressed on every side that you will not be crushed, through your saving faith in Jesus. Pray that that though you may find times in your life that you are perplexed, that you will not despair. Pray that if you are ever persecuted, you will not feel abandoned, but know that Jesus holds you in His hands.

    Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!