Congratulations! Eight weeks ago, we began this amazing journey, and here we are today, a community accomplished. Over the past two months, the entire Penn Valley Church experience has revolved around this version of the New Testament. We didn't just read our Bibles; we listened to sermons on the deeper theology, we discussed our reading on Wednesday evenings, we read introductions to each book that explained the context, and we read the books of the New Testament as they were arranged in history.
Have you ever been so engaged in your Bible prior to this? Have you ever been able to read it like a novel instead of a textbook before? Have you ever been able to truly imagine the people and places? Have you ever felt the emotions written in those pages? Have you ever understood Jesus so well?
The Community Bible Experience didn't just bring us the Bible in a format that was easier to read. The goal of this project was to get to know Jesus. Did you get to know Him? Did you watch him create an overnight sensation as He healed, preached, performed miracles, and proclaimed His true identity? Could you see the crowds cheering His name, just before they cheered His crucifixion? Did you notice His compassion, His unwavering conviction, His holiness? Did you hear His prayers, the love in His words, the instruction in His sermons, the consistency of His message? Could you feel the pain of His death, on the cross, for you? And when He left, having issued the Great Commission, did you see how His apostles carried His message to the world?
When you read the last words of Revelation, "He who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen," what went through your mind? Thank You was the overwhelming feeling that rose up in this blogger's being. Thank you for this world, Lord, for Your love, for salvation, for loving me, the lowliest of sinners. Thank You for the cross, Lord. Thank You for Your Word, Lord, and may You bless me with this spirit of Thanksgiving all of my days.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Week Eight: 1-3 John, Revelation
Welcome to the final week of the Community Bible Experience! Can you believe we are nearly finished? There are only four days of reading this week, which means that you should finish on Thanksgiving Day. Will you give thanks for this journey? For God's Word? For Jesus's love for you? For the freedom to read your Bible without fear of persecution? Will you share this project around your Thanksgiving table? We are hopeful that this experience has brought you great joy, and that it will follow you through this holiday season.
We will finish the Bible by reading three letters from the Apostle John, and Revelation. Eye witnesses to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ were passing away, Christianity was growing with self-proclaimed and unprepared leaders cropping up everywhere, believers were creeping back to their cultural comfort zones and trying to fit God into their world views, and the Roman empire had deified the Caesars. It was a time of trepidation for Christians, to say the least. John's first letter was written to bolster believers who were straining under cultural pressures, his second to warn against false teachers, and the third to ask for support for missionaries who were being cast out by those false teachers. Revelation was also written by John, but was it the same John? The debate on Revelation's author exists to this day, and it will probably not be settled in our time, but we can have faith that it was ultimately given to us by God, just like every other book of the Bible.
The believers John addressed were probably second, and even young third, generation Christians. The Greek culture separated spirituality and the flesh with the idea that what they did had no bearing on what they believed. Do you see that today? Have the temptations and pressures of our American culture made you question if certain thoughts/behaviors/activities are "really" sinful? When that question comes up, it may be helpful to remember who said, "Did God really say that?" in the Garden of Eden. The exhortations of 1 John are timeless, and this may be the letter to study in times of temptation.
2 John and 3 John were short letters written to warn about false teachers and to accept true ministers. The letters were very simple, as it should be simple to discern between a false teacher and a teacher of truth. Does what this person says fit with God's commands to love Him with all your heart, mind, and soul, and to love each other as yourself?
Finally, the last book of the Bible, and the last days of our reading journey: Revelation. The literary style of Revelation was popular at the time, in which an other worldly spirit takes the narrator on an out of body journey into heavenly realms, where scenes play out from earth's history, and culminate in a battle between good and evil. Jesus came directly to John and instructed him to write the seven letters, as well as the vision in which he would see the history and future of the world. The letters were written to seven existing churches, but the issues addressed in each letter have been relevant in Christianity through today. Next, John was taken to heaven and given a vision of what will lead to the Second Coming of Christ on earth. At the return of Christ, everyone will finally know Him, and he will triumph over evil for eternity. What a blessing to know the end of our earth's story before it happens, but what are the pitfalls of taking this book out of God's timing and context? Throughout history, there has been no shortage of Christian groups who believed Jesus's return was around the corner; even the apostles' letters addressed this expectation. What have we learned these eight weeks about what Jesus wants? While praying fervently for his return, should we wait and watch the world, or should we endeavor faithfully in Christ's Great Commission right up until the last moment?
Be sure to check back once more next week for a final post on our journey! In the meantime, continue to think about our five questions as you read these final pages:
We will finish the Bible by reading three letters from the Apostle John, and Revelation. Eye witnesses to the life and ministry of Jesus Christ were passing away, Christianity was growing with self-proclaimed and unprepared leaders cropping up everywhere, believers were creeping back to their cultural comfort zones and trying to fit God into their world views, and the Roman empire had deified the Caesars. It was a time of trepidation for Christians, to say the least. John's first letter was written to bolster believers who were straining under cultural pressures, his second to warn against false teachers, and the third to ask for support for missionaries who were being cast out by those false teachers. Revelation was also written by John, but was it the same John? The debate on Revelation's author exists to this day, and it will probably not be settled in our time, but we can have faith that it was ultimately given to us by God, just like every other book of the Bible.
The believers John addressed were probably second, and even young third, generation Christians. The Greek culture separated spirituality and the flesh with the idea that what they did had no bearing on what they believed. Do you see that today? Have the temptations and pressures of our American culture made you question if certain thoughts/behaviors/activities are "really" sinful? When that question comes up, it may be helpful to remember who said, "Did God really say that?" in the Garden of Eden. The exhortations of 1 John are timeless, and this may be the letter to study in times of temptation.
2 John and 3 John were short letters written to warn about false teachers and to accept true ministers. The letters were very simple, as it should be simple to discern between a false teacher and a teacher of truth. Does what this person says fit with God's commands to love Him with all your heart, mind, and soul, and to love each other as yourself?
Finally, the last book of the Bible, and the last days of our reading journey: Revelation. The literary style of Revelation was popular at the time, in which an other worldly spirit takes the narrator on an out of body journey into heavenly realms, where scenes play out from earth's history, and culminate in a battle between good and evil. Jesus came directly to John and instructed him to write the seven letters, as well as the vision in which he would see the history and future of the world. The letters were written to seven existing churches, but the issues addressed in each letter have been relevant in Christianity through today. Next, John was taken to heaven and given a vision of what will lead to the Second Coming of Christ on earth. At the return of Christ, everyone will finally know Him, and he will triumph over evil for eternity. What a blessing to know the end of our earth's story before it happens, but what are the pitfalls of taking this book out of God's timing and context? Throughout history, there has been no shortage of Christian groups who believed Jesus's return was around the corner; even the apostles' letters addressed this expectation. What have we learned these eight weeks about what Jesus wants? While praying fervently for his return, should we wait and watch the world, or should we endeavor faithfully in Christ's Great Commission right up until the last moment?
Be sure to check back once more next week for a final post on our journey! In the meantime, continue to think about our five questions as you read these final pages:
1. What's something you noticed for the first time?
2. What questions did you have?
3. Was there anything that bothered you?
4. What did you learn about loving God?
5. What did you learn about loving others?
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Week Seven: 1-2 Peter, Jude, John
Welcome to the home stretch, and congratulations on coming this far! Christmas music may already be piping through the retail venues, but we will finish our project just in time for Thanksgiving, and oh what we have to be thankful for! Maybe this Community Bible Experience will be part of your Thanksgiving dinner discussions. We hope you are excited to share this journey with your own sphere of influence, especially how it has impacted your relationship with Jesus.
This week, we will read both of Peter's letters, Jude, and our final Gospel, which is John. Peter wrote the letters we see in the Bible near the end of his life, and 2nd Peter is very similar to Jude's letter. It is generally speculated that they were writing to the same audience, and that Peter's letter was a follow up and reinforcement of Jude's letter. John's Gospel describes the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus as a New Creation, that we may believe Him as the Messiah.
Like Paul and the writer of Hebrews, Peter wrote to instruct and encourage a group of believers. The churches in what is modern day Turkey were experiencing persecution, and Peter wrote to shore up their faith. Peter emphasized the example that Christians should set, especially in the face of persecution. He urged his readers to live in such a way that those who harassed them would be given pause, and maybe come to belief themselves. Regardless, their humble perseverance to serve God despite their circumstances would glorify Him. He then reminded his readers of Christ's own suffering, and that to suffer for Christ is to be blessed. While Peter communicated many of the same ideas as Paul, how is his tone different? Can you hear the difference in their voices when reading in this format as compared to your traditional Bible?
Peter wrote his second letter after learning of his impending execution. Long past his foolish denial of Jesus before the crucifixion, Peter was confident in his faith and ready to face death. To the end, he taught and exhorted his fellow believers to remain strong. He and Jude, another of Jesus's brothers and a fellow church leader, had learned of false teachers who were spreading rumors that Jesus would not return. Throughout time, false teachers have perverted the faith for personal gain. In this case, they used their insistence that Jesus would not return to indulge in sinful behaviors. Peter's response was to describe God's patience, and encourage fellow believers to continue in holy behavior. Jude reminded his readers that they were in spiritual warfare, and he urged them to continue building their faith.
John is by far the most intimate Gospel. Since he described himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," anything less would call John's credibility into question. Theologians generally believe that Jesus was especially close with John, and this Gospel is evidence. John reads like a novel, full of dialogue and descriptive scenes. While Matthew recorded several of Christ's sermons, John captured His conversations. John structured the book to be a convincing witness to Jews, using the number seven throughout, and he plainly stated that what he wrote was so that readers may believe that Jesus is the Messiah. In addition to that, though, John wrote a love story. His deep adoration for Christ is clear, but he also portrayed Christ's love for us. Through John, Jesus taught us very clearly how to accept salvation. He showed us just how human He is when he wept at His friend's death. In John, He tells us He is our shepherd. And only John transcribed the prayer that Jesus prayed to His Father for us. Can you feel Christ's desire to be in relationship with you when you read this book?
This week, we will read both of Peter's letters, Jude, and our final Gospel, which is John. Peter wrote the letters we see in the Bible near the end of his life, and 2nd Peter is very similar to Jude's letter. It is generally speculated that they were writing to the same audience, and that Peter's letter was a follow up and reinforcement of Jude's letter. John's Gospel describes the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus as a New Creation, that we may believe Him as the Messiah.
Like Paul and the writer of Hebrews, Peter wrote to instruct and encourage a group of believers. The churches in what is modern day Turkey were experiencing persecution, and Peter wrote to shore up their faith. Peter emphasized the example that Christians should set, especially in the face of persecution. He urged his readers to live in such a way that those who harassed them would be given pause, and maybe come to belief themselves. Regardless, their humble perseverance to serve God despite their circumstances would glorify Him. He then reminded his readers of Christ's own suffering, and that to suffer for Christ is to be blessed. While Peter communicated many of the same ideas as Paul, how is his tone different? Can you hear the difference in their voices when reading in this format as compared to your traditional Bible?
Peter wrote his second letter after learning of his impending execution. Long past his foolish denial of Jesus before the crucifixion, Peter was confident in his faith and ready to face death. To the end, he taught and exhorted his fellow believers to remain strong. He and Jude, another of Jesus's brothers and a fellow church leader, had learned of false teachers who were spreading rumors that Jesus would not return. Throughout time, false teachers have perverted the faith for personal gain. In this case, they used their insistence that Jesus would not return to indulge in sinful behaviors. Peter's response was to describe God's patience, and encourage fellow believers to continue in holy behavior. Jude reminded his readers that they were in spiritual warfare, and he urged them to continue building their faith.
John is by far the most intimate Gospel. Since he described himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," anything less would call John's credibility into question. Theologians generally believe that Jesus was especially close with John, and this Gospel is evidence. John reads like a novel, full of dialogue and descriptive scenes. While Matthew recorded several of Christ's sermons, John captured His conversations. John structured the book to be a convincing witness to Jews, using the number seven throughout, and he plainly stated that what he wrote was so that readers may believe that Jesus is the Messiah. In addition to that, though, John wrote a love story. His deep adoration for Christ is clear, but he also portrayed Christ's love for us. Through John, Jesus taught us very clearly how to accept salvation. He showed us just how human He is when he wept at His friend's death. In John, He tells us He is our shepherd. And only John transcribed the prayer that Jesus prayed to His Father for us. Can you feel Christ's desire to be in relationship with you when you read this book?
Continue to think about our five book club questions:
1. What's something you noticed for the first time?
2. What questions did you have?
3. Was there anything that bothered you?
4. What did you learn about loving God?
5. What did you learn about loving others?
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Week Six: Hebrews, James, Mark
Congratulations on making it over the hump into Week Six! Have you found the daily reading to be part of your routine now? Are you energized by all the new things you discover in your reading, eager to share them in your discussion group? Just remember when we finish this project, in addition to the satisfying sense of accomplishment that comes with such an undertaking, there is the exponentially greater benefit that we have gotten to know Jesus!
The Week Six books of Hebrews, James, and Mark each have a different audience. Hebrews was written to Christian Jews who were facing heavy persecution, to the point of considering a return to Judaism. James was also written to Christian Jews, but it was written to give advice and building tools to well established church groups. Mark, one of the Gospel books, was written to a Roman, non-Jewish audience.
Hebrews is a challenging book for today's Christians, who are not typically well educated in Jewish history and customs (Melchizedek, anyone? See Genesis 14:18 and Psalm 110:4). The situation was dire; faithful Jewish converts were being persecuted, and there was safety in returning to Judaism. Consider the parable of the seed strewn on various landscapes. The readers of Hebrews were being choked by the thorns, and they were on the brink of being overtaken. The writer's mission was to show them that not only was a return to Judaism a mistake, but that it was absolutely impossible knowing what they now knew. The author of Hebrews set out to show that everything - every law, every custom, every designation - God gave to Israel was merely a copy of what actually exists in Heaven with Jesus Christ. The old covenant was a preview of the new covenant, and knowing Jesus Christ to be the embodiment of the new covenant, they could not go back.
Having accepted Jesus as the perfect sacrifice, they could not go back to sacrificing animals. Knowing Jesus as the perfect priest, they could not go back to living under human priests. After living by faith in Jesus Christ, they could not go back to the law. While the references in Hebrews may be a call for today's Christians to further study the Old Testament, the exhortations are poignant to any generation. Knowing what you know now, having accepted Jesus as a perfect sacrifice for your sins, there is no going back. The only choice is to move forward and grow in faith, confident in God's promises.
James, one of Jesus's brothers, became a prominent leader of the Christian Jews. Rather than a letter, James set out to write his modern day book of proverbs. James could stand alone as a pocket guide on living a Christ-like life, especially since he spent much of the book repeating the wisdom in Christ's sermons. As a blueprint, every word of James has remained relevant through time, and it is an excellent reference for laying the groundwork of a Christian life.
We will finish the week with Mark, the third Gospel of our reading plan. In literary terms, if Luke was journalistic, and Matthew was a persuasive essay, then Mark was a drama. Written in Greek to a Roman audience, Mark moved at a fast pace, telling the story of Jesus in two halves. In the first half, tension built around the identity of Jesus and culminated in Peter realizing that He is the Messiah. The second half focused on the tension between Jesus and the Jewish leadership, climaxing in His death and resurrection. In Mark, Jesus was highlighted as God's Servant, compassionately healing, teaching, and feeding wherever He went. As He began to teach his disciples about His purpose on earth, He made it clear that those who follow Him must be willing to serve and suffer as He did. What does that look like today in middle class America? In Asia? In Europe? How do you think the concepts of service and suffering for Christ are poised to change in the near future?
The Week Six books of Hebrews, James, and Mark each have a different audience. Hebrews was written to Christian Jews who were facing heavy persecution, to the point of considering a return to Judaism. James was also written to Christian Jews, but it was written to give advice and building tools to well established church groups. Mark, one of the Gospel books, was written to a Roman, non-Jewish audience.
Hebrews is a challenging book for today's Christians, who are not typically well educated in Jewish history and customs (Melchizedek, anyone? See Genesis 14:18 and Psalm 110:4). The situation was dire; faithful Jewish converts were being persecuted, and there was safety in returning to Judaism. Consider the parable of the seed strewn on various landscapes. The readers of Hebrews were being choked by the thorns, and they were on the brink of being overtaken. The writer's mission was to show them that not only was a return to Judaism a mistake, but that it was absolutely impossible knowing what they now knew. The author of Hebrews set out to show that everything - every law, every custom, every designation - God gave to Israel was merely a copy of what actually exists in Heaven with Jesus Christ. The old covenant was a preview of the new covenant, and knowing Jesus Christ to be the embodiment of the new covenant, they could not go back.
Having accepted Jesus as the perfect sacrifice, they could not go back to sacrificing animals. Knowing Jesus as the perfect priest, they could not go back to living under human priests. After living by faith in Jesus Christ, they could not go back to the law. While the references in Hebrews may be a call for today's Christians to further study the Old Testament, the exhortations are poignant to any generation. Knowing what you know now, having accepted Jesus as a perfect sacrifice for your sins, there is no going back. The only choice is to move forward and grow in faith, confident in God's promises.
James, one of Jesus's brothers, became a prominent leader of the Christian Jews. Rather than a letter, James set out to write his modern day book of proverbs. James could stand alone as a pocket guide on living a Christ-like life, especially since he spent much of the book repeating the wisdom in Christ's sermons. As a blueprint, every word of James has remained relevant through time, and it is an excellent reference for laying the groundwork of a Christian life.
We will finish the week with Mark, the third Gospel of our reading plan. In literary terms, if Luke was journalistic, and Matthew was a persuasive essay, then Mark was a drama. Written in Greek to a Roman audience, Mark moved at a fast pace, telling the story of Jesus in two halves. In the first half, tension built around the identity of Jesus and culminated in Peter realizing that He is the Messiah. The second half focused on the tension between Jesus and the Jewish leadership, climaxing in His death and resurrection. In Mark, Jesus was highlighted as God's Servant, compassionately healing, teaching, and feeding wherever He went. As He began to teach his disciples about His purpose on earth, He made it clear that those who follow Him must be willing to serve and suffer as He did. What does that look like today in middle class America? In Asia? In Europe? How do you think the concepts of service and suffering for Christ are poised to change in the near future?
Continue to think about our five book club questions:
1. What's something you noticed for the first time?
2. What questions did you have?
3. Was there anything that bothered you?
4. What did you learn about loving God?
5. What did you learn about loving others?Sunday, November 2, 2014
Week Five: Matthew
Congratulations on reaching the halfway point of the Community Bible Experience! What is God doing in your life through this reading plan? Do you feel like you are interacting with the Bible, rather than reading a textbook? Do you find that what you have read is sticking with you, coming to mind throughout your day or your prayers? Have you shared this experience with friends outside of Penn Valley?
Do you realize that we got halfway through the plan having read only one Gospel so far? We will spend all of Week Five reading Matthew. Matthew was written to prove Jesus as the promised Messiah to Israel. To accomplish this, the genealogy was drawn from Abraham to David to Jesus, the circumstances of Jesus's birth and life were frequently tied back to prophecy, and descriptions of Jesus often mirrored the life and work of Moses.
If Matthew served to demonstrate Jesus as the Messiah, then it was also required to describe the Jewish leadership's response to Jesus's proclamation. God's chosen people already had a long standing history of denying Him or defying Him in the face of very glaring evidence. Their reaction to Jesus as fulfillment of prophecy was no different. Instead of worshiping their Redeemer, they sought to destroy Him.
Knowing how He would be received, Jesus continued His appointed ministry. Matthew described crowds of thousands whom Jesus taught, healed, and fed. But true to their history, the Jewish people quickly became apathetic to His message and returned to sin. Meanwhile, those who pursued Jesus intending to catch Him in a lie became more aggressive. When the hearts of the Jewish people closed to the Word of their Savior, Jesus closed their ears as well. He began to preach only in parables, that only those who believe in Him might understand. Those who refused to listen when He spoke clearly were fully blocked from His message of grace and salvation.
Thankfully, we who read Matthew today have been supplied with the dialogue between Jesus and His disciples that followed those parables. We have the benefit of Jesus's own explanation of these parables, that we might believe and accept our Redeemer. How does your relationship with Jesus impact your ability to relate and discern His Word?
Do you realize that we got halfway through the plan having read only one Gospel so far? We will spend all of Week Five reading Matthew. Matthew was written to prove Jesus as the promised Messiah to Israel. To accomplish this, the genealogy was drawn from Abraham to David to Jesus, the circumstances of Jesus's birth and life were frequently tied back to prophecy, and descriptions of Jesus often mirrored the life and work of Moses.
If Matthew served to demonstrate Jesus as the Messiah, then it was also required to describe the Jewish leadership's response to Jesus's proclamation. God's chosen people already had a long standing history of denying Him or defying Him in the face of very glaring evidence. Their reaction to Jesus as fulfillment of prophecy was no different. Instead of worshiping their Redeemer, they sought to destroy Him.
Knowing how He would be received, Jesus continued His appointed ministry. Matthew described crowds of thousands whom Jesus taught, healed, and fed. But true to their history, the Jewish people quickly became apathetic to His message and returned to sin. Meanwhile, those who pursued Jesus intending to catch Him in a lie became more aggressive. When the hearts of the Jewish people closed to the Word of their Savior, Jesus closed their ears as well. He began to preach only in parables, that only those who believe in Him might understand. Those who refused to listen when He spoke clearly were fully blocked from His message of grace and salvation.
Thankfully, we who read Matthew today have been supplied with the dialogue between Jesus and His disciples that followed those parables. We have the benefit of Jesus's own explanation of these parables, that we might believe and accept our Redeemer. How does your relationship with Jesus impact your ability to relate and discern His Word?
Continue to think about our five book club questions:
1. What's something you noticed for the first time?
2. What questions did you have?
3. Was there anything that bothered you?
4. What did you learn about loving God?
5. What did you learn about loving others?
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