November 1 :: Jeremiah 24-26; Titus 2

Jeremiah 24:6-7

My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

October 31 :: Jeremiah 22-23; Titus 1

Intro to Titus

Author: most likely Paul

Date: 63-66

Historical Background: Paul visited Crete after being released from house arrest in Rome, where his accusers did not press charges against him before Caesar. Paul left Titus in Crete to "watch over" the churches there and to use his gift of administration to refine all the work that had already been done. Paul then wnt to Nicopolis in Achaia (now southern Greece) and from there wrote this letter to encourage Titus.

Titus: A Gentile by birth and converted through the ministry of Paul. He went with Paul to Jerusalem during the apostolic council. Titus and two others delivered the letter of 2 Corinthians to the church in Corinth.

Content: Qualification for elders, instructions for different ages, how a relationship with the government looks, and the dynamics between human works/regeneration/and the Spirit.

Retrieved from the Moody Ryrie Study Bible, pg 1933

October 30 :: Jeremiah 20-21; 2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4:14-18

Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

As I read this passage, I thought particularly about when Paul said, "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack." It seems that Paul might have not necessarily meant physical attacks, as we know he was beaten more than once. Is it possible that he meant the Lord would keep him from attacks on his faith and spirit? Have you experienced this? If so, how do you respond - or how might you like to respond in future occurrences?

October 29 :: Jeremiah 18-19; 2 Timothy 3

The Potter and the Clay

The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying,

"Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will announce My words to you."

Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something on the wheel.

But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.

Then the word of the LORD came to me saying,

"Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.

"At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it." 

October 28 :: Jeremiah 15-17; 2 Timothy 2

October 27 :: Jeremiah 12-14; 2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy 1:6-9

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.

 

 

October 26 :: Jeremiah 9-11; 1 Timothy 6

Jeremiah 9:23-24

This is what the LORD says:
       "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
       or the strong man boast of his strength
       or the rich man boast of his riches,

but let him who boasts boast about this:
       that he understands and knows me,
       that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
       justice and righteousness on earth,
       for in these I delight,"
       declares the LORD.

October 25 :: Jeremiah 6-8; 1 Timothy 5

October 24 :: Jeremiah 3-5; 1 Timothy 4

October 23 :: Jeremiah 1-2; 1 Timothy 3

1 Timothy 3 :: 1-7

Overseers and Deacons

Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

October 22 :: Isaiah 65-66; 1 Timothy 2

October 21 :: Isaiah 62-64; 1 Timothy 1

Isaiah 62:1-5

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,

       for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet,
       till her righteousness shines out like the dawn,
       her salvation like a blazing torch.

The nations will see your righteousness,
       and all kings your glory;
       you will be called by a new name
       that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.

You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand,
       a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

No longer will they call you Deserted,
       or name your land Desolate.
       But you will be called Hephzibah,
       and your land Beulah;
       for the LORD will take delight in you,
       and your land will be married.

As a young man marries a maiden,
       so will your sons marry you;
       as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
       so will your God rejoice over you.

 

When you read this scripture, what stands out to you? Is it the idea of not keeping silent when you see sin? Is it perhaps the new name of Jerusalem? Is it the parallel between God's love for you and God's redemption of Israel?

October 20 :: Isaiah 59-61; 2 Thessalonians 3

October 19 :: Isaiah 56-58; 2 Thessalonians 2

October 18 :: Isaiah 53-55; 2 Thessalonians 1

Isaiah 53:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions, 

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, 

and by his wounds we are healed.

October 17 :: Isaiah 50-52; 1 Thessalonians 5

1 Thessalonians 5:7-8

For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

Question:

What do you think it means that you belong to the day?

October 16 :: Isaiah 47-49; 1 Thessalonians 4

October 15 :: Isaiah 45-46; 1 Thessalonians 3

October 14 :: Isaiah 43-44; 1 Thessalonians 2

"I am the first and I am the last;

apart from me there is no God."

- Isaiah 44:6 -

October 13 :: Isaiah 41-42; 1 Thessalonians 1

1 Thessalonians 1:3-5

We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.

October 12 :: Isaiah 39-40; Colossians 4

Isaiah 40:28-31

Do you not know? 

Have you not heard? 

The LORD is the everlasting God, 

the Creator of the ends of the earth. 

He will not grow tired or weary, 

and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary 

and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary, 

and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD 

will renew their strength. 

They will soar on wings like eagles; 

they will run and not grow weary, 

they will walk and not be faint.

October 11 :: Isaiah 37-38; Colossians 3

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

- Colossians 3:12-14

October 10 :: Isaiah 34-36; Colossians 2

October 9 :: Isaiah 32-33; Colossians 1

Intro to Colossians

Author: Paul

Date: 61

The Church at Colossae: 

Around 100 miles east of Ephesus, this ancient and in decline commercial center was mostly evangelized to and taught the gospel through Epaphras. He was either imprisoned with or visited Paul in prison to report on the state of the church there.

Heresies Dealt with in Letter:

1) Food, sabbath, and circumcision rites

2) Worship of angels

3) Asceticism practice (rooted in belief that body was inherently evil)

Information retrieved from the Ryrie Study Bible, Dr. Charles Caldwell Ryrie, 1994, pg 1830

October 8 :: Isaiah 30-31; Philippians 4

Philippians 4:19

"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

October 7 :: Isaiah 28-29; Philippians 3

October 6 :: Isaiah 26-27; Philippians 2

Philippians 2:3

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, 

but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

October 5 :: Isaiah 23-25; Philippians 1

Intro to Philippians

Author: Paul

Date: 61; during imprisonment in Rome

About the Church of Philippi:

1) It was the first church established in Europe.

2) Philippi was a small city and was a military outpost with special privileges.

3) Paul's relationship with this church was always friendly.

4) This is a thank you letter for a gift the church sent Paul in prison through Epaphroditus.

5) Most personal letter Paul wrote to a church.

Content:  

Although Paul was gentle in this letter, he also addressed some issues in undertones.

A) Rivalries/Personal Ambition (2:3-4, 4:2)

B) The Teaching of Judaizers (3:1-3)

C) Perfectionism (3:12-14)

D) The Influence of Antinomian Libertines (3:18-19)

Information retrieved from Moody's Ryrie Study Bible, page 1886

October 4 :: Isaiah 20-22; Ephesians 6

October 3 :: Isaiah 17-19; Ephesians 5:17-33

Read this below scripture and just think about it...can and does the Lord use suffering to call us closer to Him? Click on the play button to watch a video of a guy named Todd White using his God-given gift of healing on Mill Avenue in Tempe, AZ. Listen as he sometimes even THANKS God for the assignment of the sickness, but to make it now go away.

Isaiah 19:20-22

When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and keep them. The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them. 

October 2 :: Isaiah 14-16; Ephesians 5:1-16

If you're carrying light with you...why not show it? If you have faith that something can be done...why not declare it?

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God...For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord."

Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-9

October 1 :: Isaiah 11-13; Ephesians 4

Ephesians 4:11-13

"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."