Day 7: Mac

Side notes for the day:

I think it would be awesome to do a study of the tone of Paul's letters versus the experience he had in each city. I think I'm going to re read these chapters as we get to each of the letters.

I also find it interesting how often the new testament refers to someone being baptized into repentance but not into the holy spirit. I might begin to wonder how many of us fall into this category. I commune with the holy spirit and I feel that i have a relationship with Christ, but still I wonder how many of us might lack that true gift of the holy spirit that is described in the new testament and causes the boldness of the apostles as well as the miracles of new believers

Discussion

Isiah today begins by dating the chapter. king Hezekiah reined over Judah from 716 bc to 686 bc. I think Hezekiah demonstrates an excellent example of leadership in these chapters. Assyria is a dominant super power from 900 to 612 bc. despite being over run by this impressive force, Hezekiah holds onto the lord. He continues to remind the people that God is who they should put there faith in. I always find it interesting to compare the religious culture of old times to today. Back then they seemed to think every God you could think of or create existed. The struggle was not convincing people that the God of Israel existed it was about showing that he was better then the other imaginary gods in this chapter the officials from Assyria even compare other nations god's to the LORD, saying "who of all the Gods of these countries has been able to save his land from me." I feel that Acts gives some extra insight into the concept of man made Gods. In today's chapter a silver smith and a craft smith are complaining about the fact that the message of Jesus is taking away from there trade that is based on man made gods. here we see religion being used for self gain. If self interest is used to create false Gods then isn't the true enemy our pride. I believe that our pride is the root of all sin that we commit. Everything from lust to idolatry can be traced to a desire to take control of our own lives. Often I act as tho I know better then God what is right for me. and even when we surrender to God I feel that I often do that out of self interest or pride as I desire eternal life. Is there any action we can preform that is truly selfless and how can we move towards that selflessness Christ showed, who being pure and blameless with nothing to gain, chose to suffer and die a human death for our sake.

Day 6: Tito

Acts 18:

Paul was consistent: he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews...kind of like apologetics/veritas... that's awesome! But then he also shook off his clothes and said he was clear of his responsibility and went to the gentiles. Where do we draw the line?

Paul was protected...the synagogue ruler was beaten. Was Gallio a bad man? Or was God just using him to protect Paul?

It is amazing that Apollo reflected Jesus by being bold and vigorously refuting the Jews in public debate. He had been a help to those who needed a strength in their faith. He was a more tangible representation of Christ to the new believers. How can we do the same thing today?

Day 5: Mac

Acts chapter 17

This chapter has in my opinion one of the most important verses to understanding the grace of God and what it means. verse 30 says "in the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent." I feel that this raises interesting questions. The difficulty lies in that we dont know what change they are refereeing. Either they are saying: now that we have shared the truth with you, you will be held responsible. or they are saying: now that Jesus has come you will be held responsible. Either interpretation could have significant impact.

Leviticus

the year of Jubilee is an amazing celebration that mirrors the freedom that Christ Gives us. It is an amazing concept of freedom and love. sadly there is little record to show that event actually taking place, but I think it an interesting concept that could shed some light onto what Jesus did for us.

Day 4: Tito

Leviticus 24

This was an interesting chapter in Leviticus. There are several things that stood out.

What does it mean to blaspheme the Name with a curse?

Also, the whole eye for an eye concept is very clear in this chapter. Alot of the things that are mentioned in Leviticus do not apply now a days. But then again, The US still holds the death penalty in many of the states. So, where do we draw the line?

What does the eye for an eye discussion have to do with the blasphemer?

Isaiah 33

Do you think heaven is being described in these past two chapters? "No one living in Zion will say, "I am ill" and the sins of those who dwell there will be forgiven"

Acts 16

Verse 6 and on says that the Holy Spirit kept them from preaching the gospel in Asia and that the spirit of Jesus kept them from founf into Bithynia. What does this say to us?

Verse 6-verse 10 switches from third person to first person...why? I guess Luke was with them by that time?

Paul and Silas' experience in jail was amazing. They had compassion on the soldier and changed his life. It is incredible how they had a choice to run and leave the jail or to stay where they were in danger and impact the smae man that was holding him captive in a sense. It is also awesome how they stood up with boldness. Understanding their place in society as Roman citizens, they used that to their advantage and the advantage of the gospel!

Day 3

Leviticus
Today the book filled with sacrificial directions gave commandment to the Israelite people that they must celebrate during the Sabbath and during certain celebrations. I wonder what it would have been like for the farmers of that day who may have had to give up a potential perfect week of harvesting because their crops ripen during the time of the harvest. This point of comparison between cultures leads to an even bigger question of what is the true relationship between the laws and commandments of the old testament and the fulfillment of Christ in the new testament. This question is highly debated among different sects of Christianity. I think today's chapter in Acts provides significant insight into this relationship. Acts 15 states 19 "It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. 21For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath." here peter exempts new Christians from some of the laws of Moses because of our culture, but Christ said "I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished" in Matthew chapter 5. Here he explains that the laws will not be removed until heaven and earth disappear.

Dr. Paul House makes the assertion that all commandments of the old testament should be followed unless explicitly exempted in the new testament. Peter here seems to be saying that the majority of the law depends on culture, and Christ said that the smallest stroke of the pen will not disappear until heaven and earth disappear.
how should this relationship be interpreted given the different presentations even with in the bible?

Day 2: Tito

Memory Verse:

"Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel."
-Phillipians 1:12

Leviticus 22

Verse 11 mentions that a slave may eat the food of his master if his master if he falls under the priest's household. This is very interesting, as in the next verse it mentions that not even the priest's daughter is able to eat from the priest's food if she is married and no longer falls under his household. What does this say about the authority of a father over the people of the household. Also, what does this concept parallel?

The priest eats a portion of what is sacrificed in thank offerings. Maybe it is because he is not allowed to eat anything that is unclean. Do you think this can relate to the Last Supper and what we now call communion in some way or another?

Psalm 36

Verses 10-12 are talking about the psalmists enemies again. He prays to God that God's love will continue for those who know God and in a way curses the proud. Just a thought.

Acts 14:6

Paul and Barnabas hear that they are going to be stoned if they stayed in the city. This was right after God gave them the power to perform many miracles and wondrous signs. Why do you think God did not save them from the hands of these people with the same power he used to heal others? I think it has to do with being wise and making a decision-they left.

I wonder how they must have felt to be called gods...it says that they tore their clothes. I feel that we Christians need to be more serious about our reverence of God. To them it was blaspheme...is there anything in our lives that we need to take more seriously and realize the extent of it in God's eyes?

After being stoned...they went back into the cities. I think there is a time and place for everything. They left a city when they had to. By doign that, they made the right choice because as we read in Phillipians "To live is Christ and to die is gain." They lived on to return to the same cities and continue what had begun! Let's be wise in our decisions. We can compare this to our evangelism with people. As Christians, let's not alienate ourselves from non-believers because of one instance/mistake we make...but let us be wise and find the right time to make the greatest impact possible in the name of Jesus Christ!

Day 2: Mac

Psalm 35

Psalm 35 is a cry out for God to bring justice to those who persecute him. He speaks with a voice of reverence to God and he mentions the wickedness of his enemies. verse 26 says "may all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion." in contrast verse 13 and 14 say "yet when they were ill, i put on sack cloth and humbled myself with fasting. when my prayers returned to me unanswered i went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. i bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother. Here we see the psalmist take two apparently opposing sides: on the one side he mourns for his enemies and seems to love them like a Christ calls us to. on the other side he asks God to "go get em" in a sense. I have seen this in other psalms as well so the question i raise is: what is the balance between praying for relief from oppression and loving our enemies and what action should accompany loving our enemy.

Acts 13

Acts 13 is an amazing chapter that includes the longest sermon ever recorded by Paul. there are so many questions and profound points that this arises. I'm going to highlight a few of my favorite points and then ask a question. comment on either.

the first point I found interesting was the boldness of Paul. We know that Paul is an amazing leader and an educated man but here he takes a random opportunity to share the word of God with an entire city. It was customary at that time to ask visiting rabbi if he would like to speak. Paul took this opportunity to give the longest sermon recorded.
secondly it brings about interesting questions and statements about the old testament. Paul says "there fore, my brothers, i want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses." this provides insight into the relationship between the new and old covenent.

Finally I would like to comment on the presence and word of God in this chapter. at the beginning verse 2 says "while they were worshiping the lord and fasting, the holy spirit said "set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which i have called them" the audible voice of God is amazing and something i hope i get to experience some day so my question is this. Can we still hear God today. if we can what can we do to prepare our hearts to hear him, in this chapter the believers are worshiping and fasting before they hear the word of God, and Isiah 1:15 -17 says that God will not listen to the prayers of Israel. Isiah tells them to "learn to do whats right! seek justice." could it be that if we truly prepare ourselves for an experience with the Voice of God that we may actually experience communication, or is our communication in the present day limited to what we learn from the bible?