Bible Study: Week of October 21 – October 27, 2018

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Overview/Theme:  

Sunday – We all have made mistakes in the past, however, God accepts our flaws and desires to change us. Look into the perfect law of liberty to see our real faces and determine if we are doers of the law as we serve God and others in love.

Monday – The flesh is constantly warring against the Spirit which can be tiring. However, through our trials, God has given us the treasure of His Spirit to keep us from falling. Let’s allow Him to complete His work through our vessels as we serve in the Kingdom.

Tuesday –Keep in mind that Jesus calls us to travel the straight and narrow road. We must discipline ourselves and ask God for wisdom and courage to obey His Word. If we choose the broad road, the way of the world, this will lead us to destruction.

Wednesday –No matter what our struggles are in life, we can be confident that Jesus’ death and resurrection freed us from the grip of the grave. Therefore, we don’t have to despair life, instead, we can focus on our future and anticipate the return of Jesus to redeem our bodies someday.

Thursday –In the meantime, we may all ask the question; where is peace on the earth. We do realize that sin and rebellion destroys peace with God. However, believers must by faith, accept the inner peace which comes only from having a relationship with Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, the God of love and peace.

Friday – No man is without excuse, from the Old Testament to the New, God sent prophets moved by the Holy Spirit to declare the coming of the Lord. We who are born again must redeem the time. Let’s continue to allow the Holy Spirit to do a work in us to help prepare others who are flawed to accept God’s salvation plan. In doing so, they too will be able to rejoice at the great crescendo of Jesus’ song of redemption at His second coming!

Saturday– 

***The English Standard Version (ESV) stands in the classic mainstream of English Bible translations over the past half-millennium. The fountainhead of that stream was William Tyndale’s New Testament of 1526; marking its course were the King James Version of 1611 (KJV), the English Revised Version of 1885 (RV), the American Standard Version of 1901 (ASV), and the Revised Standard Version of 1952 and 1971 (RSV). In that stream, faithfulness to the text and vigorous pursuit of accuracy were combined with simplicity, beauty, and dignity of expression. Our goal has been to carry forward this legacy for a new century.

To this end each word and phrase in the ESV has been carefully weighed against the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, to ensure the fullest accuracy and clarity and to avoid under-translating or overlooking any nuance of the original text. The words and phrases themselves grow out of the Tyndale-King James legacy, and most recently out of the RSV, with the 1971 RSV text providing the starting point for our work. Archaic language has been brought to current usage and significant corrections have been made in the translation of key texts. But throughout, our goal has been to retain the depth of meaning and enduring language that have made their indelible mark on the English-speaking world and have defined the life and doctrine of the church over the last four centuries.

The ESV is an “essentially literal” translation that seeks as far as possible to capture the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer. It seeks to be transparent to the original text, letting the reader see as directly as possible the structure and meaning of the original. More about the ESV translation philosophy….***

Monday, October 22, 2018 – Treasure in a Pumpkin – 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

Focus: We often feel the wear and tear of our trials. However, we must allow the Holy Spirit to continue to work in and through our vessels.

Scripture(s): Ephesians 3:20-21; 2 Corinthians 3:5

Tuesday, October 23, 2018 – Choosing the Trail – Matthew 7:13-14

Focus: Jesus calls us to travel the narrow road of discipleship and to obey God’s Word. Let’s use wisdom and be courageous as we choose His path of life.

Scripture(s): Joshua 1:8-9

Wednesday, October 24, 2018 – Impossible to Hold – Acts 2:22-36

Focus: Jesus’ death and resurrection freed us from the grip of the grave. We don’t have to despair, instead, anticipate Jesus’ return to redeem our bodies.

Scripture(s): 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Thursday, October 25, 2018 – Where Is Peace? – Jeremiah 8:8-15

Focus: Rebellion and sin destroys peace with God. Believers must by faith, accept the inner peace which comes only from knowing Jesus as our Savior.

Scripture(s): John 16:13; Revelation 6:4, 8-11

Friday, October 26, 2018 – The Great Crescendo – 1 John 4:14-21

Focus: The great crescendo of Jesus rings out from the Old Testament to the New of His coming. Rejoice that His second return will bring a song of redemption.

Scripture(s): 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Inspirational Thoughts from Sister Clovia Thompson

Christians are like Pumpkins

Christians are like pumpkins in the patch, loved by the Creator and designed to shed light on a dark world.  God picks us up from the patch, brings us in, and washes all the dirt off of us.  Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all that yucky stuff.  He removes the seeds of doubt, hate and greed.

• A pumpkin must be chosen.  God graciously chooses all who trust Jesus as their personal Savior.  (John 1:12)
• A pumpkin must be cleaned.  God forgives and washes away our sins because Jesus shed His blood on the cross.  (Psalm 51:2)
• A pumpkin is changed.  God changes those who accept Him into new people whose heart desire is to please Him.  (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• A pumpkin should cast light. God fills Christians with His Spirit and allows His love and joy to shine brightly through them.  (Matthew 5:16)