Prayer is prominent in scripture. The ability to converse with God on matters great and small is something marvellous to consider and something that God is keen to get us into. It’s no surprise, then, that what’s so basic and foundational in right relationship with God is precisely the sort of thing that is often […]
Read More 20 for 20 #10 About Prayer Part 1It’s interesting to see which blog entries stand on their own and which are part of the series. If you had asked me before writing this, I would have said that the vast majority of what I write stands on its own. It’s interesting to check again and see that there are a significant number […]
Read More 20 for 20 #3 Say What You SeeDay 4: The Sin of Favouritism Read James 2:1-13 Context: What social and economic tensions within the early church might have prompted James to address favouritism so directly? From what James writes both before, in terms of various trials, and here, in terms of the treatment of the poor by the rich, it appears that […]
Read More WIWO: James Day 4: The Sin of FavouritismDay 1: Orientation and Expectations Read Acts 16:1-5; Acts 20:17-38; skim 2 Timothy. Memory verse: 2 Tim 1:7 – God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Context: What do these Acts passages reveal about Paul, Timothy, and Ephesus? Acts 16 informs us how Paul met Timothy in […]
Read More WIWO: 2 Timothy Day 1: ExpectationsFinal Day 10: Application Areas to Consider Leadership: How will you lead with greater integrity and character? Focus on Jesus, daily repent and daily believe, regularly hold myself accountable to the spiritually mature, constantly seek to be filled with the Spirit, persistently pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness, humble myself and practice purity […]
Read More WIWO: 1 Timothy Final Day 10: ApplicationDay 5: 1 Timothy 3:1–16 — Qualifications for Church Leadership Reading: Requirements for overseers and deacons, plus the church’s purpose Study Questions: 1. Observation: What character qualities are emphasised for church leaders? Blameless, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, gentle, diligent, dignified, full of integrity. 2. Interpretation: Why does Paul focus more on character than on skills […]
Read More WIWO: 1 Timothy Day 5 – 3:1–16 — QualifiedThe Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favour has […]
Read More JJ25 #28 – Service: Comfort the BrokenheartedThe Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favour has […]
Read More JJ25 #26 – Service: The StatementI, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3) God Sent His Spirit Unity. It’s an attractive word. There is a sense […]
Read More JJ25 #24 The Unifying SpiritBut you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8) God Sent His Spirit Power. This is something that so many look for. The thinking is that with power, […]
Read More JJ25 #23 – The Sent Spirit Empowers
Life With CD 