Final Week: Reflections

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.

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:

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?

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?

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?

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?  

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?

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?

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?

Week Four: Romans, Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon, Philippians, 1 Timothy, Titus, 2 Timothy

We are closing in on the halfway point of our Community experience!  What are your feelings towards this version of the New Testament?  Do you feel like you are more engaged, as though the book is relating to your emotions and sensibilities?  Does the drama of early Christian life stand out in a way you hadn't noticed in your traditional Bible?  In your discussion groups, do you find that you are talking about the Bible and Its characters in ways you never had before?

This week, we plant ourselves firmly in Paul's letters to various people and churches throughout the early Christian world.  We begin the week by completing Romans.  We learned last week that part of Paul's reason for writing was to ask for support as he continued his mission westward.  The church in Rome was very focused on ministering to Jews, so they weren't exactly inclined to help the apostle whose mission was clearly to the Gentiles.  Because of this, Paul had to delve deep into theology to show the Romans that God's plan for salvation of the world always included the Gentiles, and He even revealed as much to Abraham.  Paul had to prove that God is so much bigger than the law, and that only His mercy has the power to bring about grace and salvation.  Paul continued in the letter to give instructions on how to live in the culture of the day as a people who stand apart, but not reclusive in nature.  It is all too tempting for a body of believers to fold in upon themselves, avoiding the very people to whom they should be bringing the Gospel.  

While Paul's letters to Corinth and Galatia were full of criticism and rebuke, the letters called Colossians and Ephesians were gentle and encouraging.  We learn in Paul's greetings that he never met the people of these churches, so his tone had to reflect the credibility he had only by reputation.  This contrast brings to light that Paul's harshness with the Corinthians was only possible because of his intimate relationship with them.  From this perspective, it is clear that Paul held those for whom he took personal responsibility to a higher standard.  We know now that Ephesians was most likely not written to the church at Ephesus, but was probably a general letter to churches all over Asia Minor.  Colossians and Ephesians, while including many of the same instructions as Paul's other letters, had a special focus on the relationships within a church body.  In these letters, God's long established guidance on how believers should relate to and treat one another was reinforced.

Philemon stands out as a case study for life changing repentance and Christian forgiveness.  Onesimus and Philemon are both universal characters in whose shoes we may each find ourselves regularly.  Paul wrote to the Philippians from prison, and he drew on the parallels of his physical chains and their public struggle to bring joy and encouragement to their work.  In some of his most dire circumstances, he rejoiced that his suffering was serving to further the Gospel message, and he encouraged the Philippians to abide in patience for the same purpose.

We will finish our week, and Paul's writings, with letters to Paul's dearest co-workers.  Although these letters were addressed to Timothy and Titus, there were indications that they were also meant to be read aloud to larger groups.  These letters focused heavily on the practical matters of church building and administration.  Churches have relied on Paul's model throughout history, and pastors are continually encouraged by Paul's words to his closest friends.  The words given to us by God, through Paul, are as essential and relevant today as they ever were.  Where are they leading you right now?

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?

Week Three: 1-2 Corinthians, Galations, Romans

With two weeks under your belt, have you established a reading pattern that works for you?  Maybe you read at the same time each day, or maybe you read for longer periods over fewer days.  What matters is that you are getting to know Jesus, no matter your reading style.  We hope that you are staying energized and motivated on our journey.  This is a big project, but the rewards are boundless!

Paul's letters make up quite a bit of the New Testament, and we are continuing through them this week with 1st and 2nd Corinthians, Galations, and the beginning of Romans.  Paul's letters follow a standard pattern of greeting and thanksgiving, the main body, and a closing, often with a final thought written personally by Paul.  We know from the context of Paul's letters that he wrote many more letters than are included in the Bible.  Keeping in mind that God, not men, compiled His Word, what do you think it is about these letters that they are part of the Bible?  Could it be that while the concerns they addressed applied to those churches at that time, those same issues have existed for the church since its birth?  How many sermons have you heard on Paul's letters?  Have they applied no matter your age, your church, your location, the year, or the cultural climate?

Our recent reading of Acts will hopefully stay in your mind as you read through Paul's letters.  Remember that Acts outlined the physical path of Paul's ministry, and it gave us a picture of what the culture was like in each city where Paul established a church.  These bodies of believers did not exist in a vacuum; they worshiped while a much different culture was going on around them.  Their constant temptation was to make concessions to the culture, and they allowed it to contaminate their worship.  Is any of this familiar to your church experience?

In his letters to Corinth, Paul identified struggles with authority, morality, unity, freedom, relationships, worship, false teaching, loyalty to leaders, discipline, and more.  Paul did not preach in a vacuum, either.  He knew that dependence on flesh brought weakness to the church, and he continually reminded them that he shared the Gospel alone.  Paul's letter to the Galatians covers many of the same issues, but in this letter, he stressed that they were missing the true nature of the Gospel, which is to depend on the Holy Spirit.  Only in that dependence can one find the purpose of our freedom and liberty in Christ.  By relying on their own flesh, these churches were eroding, and the ways of the world were taking over.  Paul's instruction was intended to bring them back to reliance on the Spirit, and to allow Him to direct their lives and worship.

Romans was a letter that Paul wrote to a church he had not yet met.  His letter was actually one of introduction, and a request for support.  Though he had not met them, Paul was familiar with the Roman church practices, and he wished to instruct them by preaching the Gospel to them once he arrived.  Though we will only begin Romans this week, recognize Paul's message of the Power of God as the only means to salvation.  Paul stressed that Jesus came to bring salvation to the world, Jews and Gentiles alike.  Only the Power of God could bring obedience and freedom from sin to His people.

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?

Week Two: Luke-Acts, 1-2 Thessalonians

Did you keep up with the Week One reading?  How was your experience different than reading a traditional Bible?  Did you feel drawn in to a captivating story?  Did Jesus become more tangible, more personal?  Our journey continues in Week Two through Luke’s second volume, which picks up right where the first volume ended.  It ends with two of Paul’s earliest letters, those to the church in Thessalonica.

While Luke described the life and ministry of Jesus, Acts details the ministry He commissioned to His disciples.  Just before Jesus returned to heaven, He told them to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  This statement sets the trajectory of the rest of the book, with the “ends of the earth” indicating Europe, specifically Rome.

While you read this week, do you see the model of ministry that Jesus laid out?  As the apostles travelled, they went first to the synagogues, then out into the public square.  They were hosted by people from all walks of life, and they continued Christ’s example of healing the weak and the afflicted.  They followed His instructions so well that they began to be identified as Christians.  This model of bringing the message first to the Jews and then to the Gentiles is intensified in Luke’s focal character transition from Peter to Paul. 

The apostles moved out from Jerusalem, marking the six panels of Acts, each one ending with a statement that the church grew in believers.  This growth was often explosive, and you might be curious how so many people could be reached in relatively short time.  In many examples, when Luke tells us that an entire household came to know the Lord, he uses the Greek word “oikos,” which is really a person’s entire sphere of influence, including family, servants, friends, and even colleagues.  Our modern minds may picture the 4 person nuclear family of the jailer getting saved, but in reality, it might have been 20-50 people!

The ministry of Jesus is not the only model given to His Christian witnesses.  Anyone who followed Christ was warned that he too, must suffer.  Much of the progress made by the apostles was due to hardship and persecution driving them from one area to the next.  They were never very comfortable.  It is this message that Paul also shared with the Thessalonians, who were experiencing a great deal of persecution.  While Paul’s first letter to the church at Thessalonica is full of instruction and encouragement, an excellent guide for any church, his second letter was sent to dispel rumors that Christ had already returned.  They worried that their suffering was in vain, if Christ had already returned and nothing changed.  New and seasoned Christians alike must be reminded often that our Savior has not asked us to undergo any suffering that He has not already endured.

In our weekly discussions, we’ll continue to ask the same 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?

Week One: Luke-Acts

Welcome to the Community Bible Experience! We are excited to embark on this 40 day journey as a family of families.  Get ready to read the Bible in a new way, the way you probably read books for pleasure.  Imagine that – reading the Bible as though it is a novel.  How do you think you might experience the Bible differently as a story than you do with your traditional Bible in its current structure?  When all the distractions of chapter and verse numbers disappear, reference marks no longer send you off to another book, and you read an entire line across an entire page, you can finally completely immerse yourself in the story of Jesus!  This is our goal.  We pray that the Penn Valley Church body will spend the next 8 weeks getting to know Jesus, the ultimate Protagonist of the Greatest story.  Let’s get started!

In Week One, we will read in Luke and Acts.  These books are two volumes of one work, which Luke wrote to Theophilus.  Luke’s goal was to present a truthful account of the life and ministry of Jesus and the ministry He commissioned.

Luke’s focus was the daily interactions between Jesus and the people.  As Jesus traveled, He went into the Synagogues to teach the Jews, taught the Gentiles who followed Him in houses and out in public, drove out demons and illness from many who approached Him, and dined with anyone who invited Him.  Luke wanted his reader to know that Jesus came to be the Savior of everyone: Jew and Gentile, healthy and sick, wealthy and poor, high society and outcast, stable and possessed.  Luke highlighted Christ’s compassion and power as perfectly integrated, issuing forgiveness and healing to anyone who had faith. 


In our weekly discussions, we’ll review the reading with book club style 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?

e100 Challenge Day 100 - The New Jerusalem - Revelation 21:1 - 22:21

"I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, 

coming down out of heaven from God, prepared 

as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband."

Revelation 21:2

We come to the last passage of our e100 Challenge.  Let's pause and celebrate a great accomplishment.  What a great journey.  What a great story.  What a great God!

Revelation 21-22 conclude the actions of God in human history and initiate the eternal kingdom (Dan. 7:13-14, 27; I Cor. 15:27-28).  

The term "new" Jerusalem emphasizes quality, not chronological time (2:17; 3:12; 3:12; 5:9; 14:3; 21:1,2,5).  All believers are citizens of this new Kingdom. The new creation will be like the original creation.  The Bible begins with God, mankind in perfect harmony (Gen 1-2).  The Bible ends with God and mankind in a garden setting.  Essentially believers are not going to live in heaven, the New Jerusalem is coming down out of heaven and comes to a recreated and cleansed earth.

These are some pretty big ideas.  It isn't possible without the divine work of a redeeming sovereign God.  He is to be praised.

Discussion Questions . . .

1. What does the phrase, "Behold, I am making all things new" mean (21:5)?

2. How will man be able to see God's face (22:4)?

3. Why is the phrase "I come quickly" repeated three times (22:7, 12, 20)? How is it that Jesus can say He is coming quickly?  How should this word be understood?

4. What happens if we add to the book (22:18)?  What if we take away from the book?  Do people either add or take away from the Bible?

5. A practical application of Revelation can be summarized in this way, "Live in Light of Eternity?" How can we keep the reality of eternity clearly in our minds from day-to-day?

Pray...

Recite to God the ways you have been blessed over the last 100 day Scripture reading series.  Give Him praise for who He is.  Thank Him for salvation and recognize His worth as the sovereign One.  

The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 99 - Hallelujah - Revelation 19:1-20:15

The Scriptures we look at today focus our attention on the praise in heaven in anticipation of Christ's triumphal return.  Four times there is a proclamation, "Hallelujah" (19:1,3,4,6).  The word Hallelujah means "Praise Jehovah." There is a din of the great multitude, the roar of rushing waters, the peals of thunder.  The triumph of God over the beast is celebrated in the marriage supper of the Lamb.  His bride is the Church in all her beauty and purity.

Whenever we look to heaven, whether in the picture of Jesus in chapter one, the picture of heaven in chapter four or at the end of the great conflict depicted in chapters 6-18, in heaven, God is always the center, always recognized as supreme and always worshipped.  

There is a day soon coming when "at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:9-11).

Sing is praise in your hearts today.  Say with the multitude of heaven, "Hallelujah."  Shout His praise.  Worship Him.  He is worthy of our praise.

The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 98 - The Throne of Heaven - Revelation 4:1-7:17

In today's Scripture Reading we see a picture of heaven. This begins the third section of Revelation as outlined in 1:19, "what will take place later."  John hears a voice that says, "Come up here and I will show you what must take place after this" (4:1).  Everything from 4:1 on is prophecy.  Some see the rapture of the church in these verses.  Rapture is the latin word meaning "transport" and is the theological term describing a time when the church will be caught up to heaven (cf. I Thessalonians 4:13ff).

The word "throne" is used 12 times in this chapter and 46 times in the entire book.  The book of Revelation makes it clear that it is from the throne, God rules the universe.  He is sovereign over everything He has made including the future.

We return to the discussion questions assembled by Keith Krell.  Once you get to the website, scroll down to the In Focus Study Questions #11-14.

http://bible.org/seriespage/revelation-study-questions

Enjoy!

The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 97 - Messages To The Churches - Revelation 2:1-3:22

In today's reading we look at the letters to the churches.  Chapter One represented the first section of the book as recored in 1:19, "The things you have seen."  This was a revelation of the glorified Christ.  Chapters 2-3 are the second section of the book expressed in the phrase from 1:19, "what is now."

These seven church were contemporary to this writing in 95 A.D. and reflect a church that has already left its moorings in a few short decades.

These churches and the issues addressed in each should be considered in three ways: First, they were literal chuches with literal pastors John is addressing (Literal).  Second, they are representative of various periods in church history where the church as a whole reflected those struggles (Historical). Third, our own lives and contemporary churches are potentially depicted and if these issues are present should be addressed (Spiritual).

Each of these views may be considered correct. With this in mind, let's look at each of the churches briefly.  

Discussion Questions...

For today's exercise there are a great set of questions developed by Keith Krell which I encourage you to work through.  Once at the website scroll down to questions for chapter 2 & 3.  I have found them very helpful.

http://bible.org/seriespage/revelation-study-questions

Enjoy!

The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 96 - A Voice and a Vision - Revelation 1:1-20

"Write, therefore, what you have seen, 

what is now and what will take place later."

Revelation 1:19

Today's Scripture is a powerful declaration of God's presence among His churches (1:9-16).  There is a clear depiction of the reality of the triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, through Whom we have redemption, an expression of His love (1:4-8).  He is One to be worshipped and He is coming again.  John is instructed to deliver what he has seen which came in the form of a revelation (1:1-3).

John is instructed to write down the things he saw: "past, present and future" (1:19).  This forms the outline of the book of Revelation which is written to the Pastors (angels) of the seven churches (lamp stands) in Asia Minor and of course, placed in the Scriptures for our benefit (1:20).  All who read this book are promised blessing (1:3) as it clearly lays out God's plan to bring the summation of all things.  It explains how God moves the story of redemption into eternity.

But for our discussion today, focus on the person of Jesus Christ described in this first chapter.

Discussion Questions...

1. Look at the description of Jesus in verses 12-16.  What does this make you think of?  Why does John use simile to describe Jesus' features?  These are sharp images.  Do you recognize any of these inferences from the Old Testament?

2. Look at John's response to the vision of Jesus Christ in verses 17-18.  What do we see?  What do we learn about worship in this text?  What does the reference to the extension of Jesus "right" hand allude to (cf. Isaiah 41:10)?

3. Jesus says, "I am the Living One, I was dead, but look, I am alive for ever and ever" (1:18).  What is the emphasis in this passage?  Why is it significant to us, particularly in the troubling days in which we live?

Prayer...

Lord Jesus, we worship You this day.  We recognize You as the supreme God Who is "the faithful witness, the first born from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth."  We are in awe of you and humbled by your grace and mercy in which You deal with us.  Thank you for redemption that we might approach you.  Please instill reverence in our hearts for you the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end."  Amen.

The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 95 - Love One Another - I John 3:11-4:21

Today's Scripture Reading is very pointed.  Don't say you know God if you are not exhibiting His Love.  I John is a wonderful Epistle which uses at least seven tests to bring assurance to the believer that he/she truly belongs to God. I will list them without comment:
1. Are you enjoying fellowship with God (1:2-3; 5:1-5)?
2. Are you sensitive to sin in your life (1:5-2:1)?
3. Are you obedient to God? Is it a pattern in your life (2:3-5)?
4. Do you reject the world and it's philosophy (2:15-17)?
5. Do you love Christ and eagerly wait for His return (3:1-3)?
6. Do you see a decreasing pattern of sin in your life (3:5-10)?
7. Do you love one another (3:11-4:21)?

This book was written to give us confidence that we belong to God (5:10-13) so should not intimidate, but rather encourage us.

Discussion Questions...

1. What does John say was the source of Cain's murder of Abel (3:11-15)?  How does that help us understand the importance of love in our lives?

2. How does John compare Christ's sacrifice with our need for compassion (3:16-18)?  What is your response to injustice and particularly when you see some one in need?

3. Work through chapter 4:7-21 and think further about this 7th test of our faith.  Why is it absurd to think that we can belong to God if we don't love our brother?

4. Connect love and fear in the passage (4:16-18).  How does love eliminate fear?  How does this also affirm us as belonging to God?  

Prayer...

Lord thank you for sharing with us your love through the Holy Spirit Who lives in us.  Though we are un able to love they way you require, thank you for loving through us and showing us what true love looks like at the cross of Calvary.  Amen.

The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 94 - Faith and Works - James 1:1-2:26

Today's passage has created a lot of question and controversy in the Church.  The question: "How do faith and works connect" (2:14-26)?  It is a great question until it overshadows the book as a whole.  If we were to look at the teaching of the book of James and followed them, the Faith/Works issue would be settled in our hearts because we would be exercising both.

As an example, James 1:2-21 is a powerful way to understand life.  The exhortation to, "consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds" is rooted in what we know.  James explains we can have joy because we know God is using the difficult time or experience to mature our faith and to produce perseverance in us.  This is a call to grow up and allow God to develop maturity in our lives as we stay in the struggle rather that bailing out for an easier way.

James than moves to temptations as not having there source in God, but our own evil desires that respond to the enticement of an alternative to trusting God.  Let's get this right, trials from without promote temptations with.

In order for our faith to be developed, we need to avoid the temptation of following another path, avoiding the obstacles to our goals and renouncing the temptation to indict God as not being anything but "good" and the supplier of every good thing in our lives.  We also, must remember that the anger of man does not accomplish the righteous life that God requires, so we should be quick to listen and slow to speak and become angry.

So, if we follow James' teaching we will not only demonstrate faith in the God who is doing this, but works as we willingly stay under the weight of the temptation long enough for God to mature our faith.

The same would be true of the section on being a hearer AND a doer of the word (1:22-27).  To hear without doing makes the experience without profit.  But when our works which generate from our faith are present, God through the Word  accomplishes the change He desires.

The clarity to this discussion is an understanding that obedience has its source in Faith.  Romans 1:5 teaches us that obedience comes from faith.  So any form of obedience which is not generated from faith in the Lord Jesus is not real obedience that pleases God.

Ponder the Following Questions...

1. Think about times when you have not benefited from the trial you were under.  Why?  Think about the kinds of enticement which lured you away from an obedient response. How was it appealing?  How did it remove you from the stress and strain of the difficulty?

2. Now do the same for the role of the Word of God.  Are there times you have listened to the Scriptures, been convicted about your sin, but did not repent?  What would have been different if in faith you obeyed its teaching and the call of God for you to change?

3. What would have been different if you had acted differently?  What would have to change for that to happen?

Pray...

Lord, today we praise you for being the all-wise God.  We say, we love you and see you to be a God who provides everything good in our lives.  We thank you for your love exhibited in our experiences which at times are difficult, but will be for our good if we will trust you and obey you though it.  Amen.

The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 93 - A Living Hope - I Peter 1:1-2:12

In Today's Passage we learn about a rich inheritance reserved in heaven for us.  We are told we are born again to a living hope and are kept by God's power to be one day joined to the full experience of that possession.  This understanding anchors us in times of testing when the Lord is refinishing our faith and developing our character so that our faith will even bring greater glory to God on the day Jesus Christ is fully revealed (1:3-9).

These are rich ideas.  I trust they are also inspiring and encouraging as you seek to live the Christian life in which we are called foreigners and exiles in a strange land.  In this place where we are often misrepresented and even openly attacked we are to live "good live" which disarm the attackers and will be undeniable on the Day of Judgment (2:11-12).

Ponder the Following Questions...

1.  How does the teaching of (1:3-12) inform the way we are called to live in (1:13-21)?  Unpack the idea of having minds that are "alert and fully sober."  How will this impact your attentiveness to a holy lifestyle?

2. How does Peter connect the Word of God and the imperishable nature of our calling with embracing a genuineness of our love for each other shedding things like malice, deceit, envy and slander which undermine it (1:22-2:3)?

3. What is the significance for us being called a Royal priesthood to God and stones like Jesus who is our chief cornerstone (2:4-12)?

Pray...

Lord, thank you for loving us.  Thank you for this rich heritage  we have connected to you, the Eternal God, through faith in Jesus Christ.  Help us to live in the light of our calling.  Help us to live lives of integrity, purity and love in this world, so that people will be drawn to you.  Amen.

The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.

e100 Challenge Day 92 - A New Creation in Christ - II Corinthians 4:1-6:2

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, 

he is a new creation; the old has gone, 

the new has come" (5:17).

Today's passage is rich with meaning.   The Apostle Paul describes the ministry of the New Covenant. It's message changes everything in our lives.  When embraced by faith we gain an eternal perspective.  This life is temporary therefore we live our lives with a desire to please the Lord (5:9-10).  Paul was willing to suffer for this message, but with a perspective of eternity does not give up or lose heart (chapter 4), because he understood, "for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (4:17).

We are ambassadors of this message, like the Apostle Paul, imploring people to be reconciled to God (5:20). This reality is possible because of what Jesus did on behalf of us.  He took our sin to the cross, paid its debt, "so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (5:21).

God calls us to not miss this wonderful offer of salvation (6:1-2).  It is available to all who will simply receive it by faith.

Discussion questions...

1. Why was Paul being attacked by some who questioned his motives for ministry in chapter 4?

2. Embedded in his defense is an amazing description of what God does in the life of the believer (4:1-6).  We also learn why people don't receive the message.  Think through the word, "blind" and the source of blindness.  And look back into chapter 3 to understand the concept of the "veil."

3. How should these two important ideas help us to pray for people who have not yet trusted in Christ as their Savior?

Prayer Ideas...

Thank God for lifting the veil of unbelief in your heart when He pierced your heart with the light of the gospel.  Thank God for salvation, an eternal perspective and a deep love for those who yet need a Savior.  

Thank God that now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation (6:2). Pray that God would release those who are spiritually blind so that they might believe and receive eternal life.

The Bux-Mont & Telford Campuses of the Penn Valley Church Multi-site Network are participating in the e100 Challenge, a 100-day Bible reading program. True revival comes from prayer and knowing the Word of God. We can only live the life God intended if we know what He says about it. Join us as we read through this plan and grow deeper in our knowledge of God's Word.