Week 52 - Matthew 6:9–13

Week 52 - December 26th, 2021

Matthew 6:9–13

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

Context: In the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5–7, Jesus gives His followers a picture of life in the Kingdom of God. This new way of life is characterized by morality, humility, and dependency on God. In this section Jesus contrasts the self-righteous prayer of hypocrites with the humble prayer of one sustained by God. 

Meaning: Jesus invites us to address God as Father, pointing to a level of intimacy that is entirely new to this audience. God is not just the Lord and Master who feeds His servants, but a caring Father who attends to our needs out of His great love for us. In this prayer the first three petitions focus on praying for God's concerns, and the final three focus on the provision of our needs.  As we prioritize God's concerns, He wonderfully meets our needs.  As His Holy character is acknowledged and revered, His Kingdom comes to those who seek for His will to be accomplished.  In this process, His children are encouraged to ask Him to provide for their daily needs, to forgive their sins, and to protect and deliver them from the evil one.  

Life Application: This prayer is presented as something to be prayed daily. While the words of our prayers may vary in any given situation, their regularity should not. Jesus models for us daily dependence on our Father for all things and we should earnestly follow His lead. If the Son of God was Himself daily dependent on the Father, how much more should we as frail humans rely on the providence of the Almighty God!

For Further Study: The Lord’s Prayer also appears in Luke’s Gospel in abbreviated form. As Jesus teaches on prayer in Luke 11:1–13, He focuses on the importance of persevering in prayer. Prayer is not a “one-and-done” thing; it should become a regular, even daily, discipline.

Week 51 - Proverbs 3:5–6

Week 51 - December 19th, 2021

Proverbs 3:5–6

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Context: The book of Proverbs is a collection of wisdom literature. As we meditate on the wise sayings found within the book and live our lives according to their principles we ourselves will become wise. Proverbs 3 is part of an introductory section that gives readers a point of reference for the wise sayings that are to come.

Meaning: The character of a wise person is found first and foremost in where they place their trust. This theme repeats throughout the wisdom of Proverbs—the wise man places his trust not in his own wisdom, wealth, or power, but in that of the LORD. To “acknowledge Him” goes beyond simply believing in the existence of God. Acknowledging God means submitting our lives to His direction and trusting Him for guidance. As we do this, we will find the path of our lives straightened; God’s wisdom will often bring protection from our own folly and the foolishness of others.

Life Application: We live in a world that regularly directs us inward to answer important questions in life. We say things like “follow your passion” or “above all, to thine own self be true.” Scripture challenges this paradigm. When we look for meaning, purpose, or direction in life we should look neither inward, to our own heart, nor outward to the culture around us. We should instead look upward, to the wisdom of God, and there find fullness of life and joy.

For Further Study: This passage directs our attention back to the Creation and Fall narrative of Genesis 2–3. The choice set before humans, embodied in the two trees, is the choice to live in the world according to God’s wisdom or to reject God’s wisdom and embrace their own. While humans made the wrong choice then, the Bible gives us the story of another human who perfectly embodies the wisdom of God. As Jesus faces His own test at a tree, He makes the right choice. He suffers and dies, bearing the guilt of every unwise and sinful choice, and as He rises from the dead He opens the way to life to all who will follow Him.

Week 50 - Ephesians 6:1–3

Week 50 - December 12th, 2021

Ephesians 6:1–3

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

Context: The Book of Ephesians is chiefly concerned with our union with Christ and the resulting unity in the church. Paul goes to great lengths to argue that, because all believers are situated “in Christ,” we should have complete unity with one another. He then spells out practical applications of this unity in the household—between husbands and wives, children and parents, and slaves and masters

Meaning: Paul’s first command to obedience is directed towards children specifically. The word for obey literally means “listen under” and has the idea of one standing at a door who, upon hearing a knock, is quick to respond. When children hear the voice of their parents they should be quick to both listen and obey. This concept is then generalized to the whole church with the concept of honor. Children are to obey their parents with the qualification “in the Lord.”  There are times when "in the Lord" obedience is not possible; yet, Christians must always honor their parents. Holding someone in honor means placing high value on them. While honor does not necessarily require obedience in all circumstances, honoring one’s parents means holding their opinion in high regard, treating them with the utmost dignity and respect.

Life Application: Paul ties the dual commands of honor and obedience not to culture, but to morality. Obedience is simply the right thing to do. Honor is just obeying the Law of God. While our culture today places a premium on personal freedom and “finding your own way in life,” the Word of God calls us to instead submit ourselves to the authorities in our lives and recognize the wisdom of those who are our elders.

For Further Study: The command to honor one’s father and mother finds its root in the Law of Moses and is indeed the first commandment given that also has a promise attached. This promise can be found in Deuteronomy 5:16.

Week 49 - 1 Corinthians 10:13

Week 49 - December 5th, 2021

1 Corinthians 10:13

13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Context: In 1 Corinthians 10 Paul warns the Corinthian church against the dangers of idolatry and sexual immorality. He links these two sins through the story of the golden calf from Exodus 32, arguing that just as destruction came to those who participated in false worship then, so too will destruction come to all those who engage in sexual immorality.

Meaning: While this is a weighty passage, Paul offers a comforting balm: While temptation is ever-present, so too is God’s power to resist temptation. Every time temptation rears its head, the Lord will faithfully offer a means of escape or endurance. This is worth noting—not every temptation will be escaped, some must be endured. And yet the strength for endurance will be found not in human willpower but in divine assistance.

Life Application: The best point of application is found in the following verse: “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry!” When we encounter temptation to sexual sin we should run as fast and far as we can in the other direction. It is never worth testing our resolve or attempting to strengthen our willpower. While we can trust God’s strength to resist temptation, we should not expect that strength to simply override our sinful desires. Rather, we ought to use God’s power as starting fluid to jumpstart our flight from sin.

For Further Study: One of Paul’s core arguments in this passage is that sexual sin is really idolatry in disguise. In Romans 1 he develops this idea further, arguing that all sin really results from misplaced love. When we love God’s gifts over and above God Himself, the results are always disastrous. Read Romans 1:26–32. Compare its logic with that of our passage here. How do these passages reinforce one another?

Week 48 - Mark 11:24

Week 48 - November 28th, 2021

Mark 11:24

24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Context: As Jesus enters Jerusalem for the final time he passes by a fig tree that is barren of fruit. He curses the fig tree and the narrative moves on. The next day, His disciples see that the tree has withered to the root and are astonished. Jesus uses this moment to remind these men of the importance and power of faith.

Meaning: Jesus recontextualizes the encounter with the fig tree, using it to instruct His disciples about prayer. True prayer involves faith and trust that God has heard our prayers and is willing to answer. The “whatever” of this verse is not unconditional. We should be careful not to treat the Almighty as a genie in a bottle that we can bend to our will. Rather, the “whatever” of this verse assumes that you are asking for that which conforms to God’s will for your life. But when we ask for the things that God invites us to ask Him for, we ought to ask in complete confidence. In the words of Martin Luther, “prayer is not overcoming God’s reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.”

Life Application: When we talk about the power of faith, we should be careful to remember that faith is not actually powerful in and of itself. The power of faith is found in the object of faith. Jesus begins this statement with the phrase “have faith in God.” It is God who provides our answers to prayer, and it is Him that we trust in, not simply the act of prayer itself.

For Further Study: Jesus teaches often on prayer. Another helpful teaching on prayer is found in Matthew 7:7–11. Jesus gives us a pattern of prayer in asking, seeking, and knocking. Consider this teaching and compare it with this week’s passage. What do these two teachings together tell us? How can you apply their lessons to your life?

Week 47 - Proverbs 22:6

Week 47 - November 21st, 2021

Proverbs 22:6

6 Train up a child in the way he should go;

even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Context: The book of Proverbs is a collection of wise sayings, mostly attributed to King Solomon of Israel. Wisdom is characterized as the fabric with which the LORD God has woven the universe together. Wisdom is also the ability to make godly choices in life. Those who live by wisdom can generally expect their lives to be blessed. Those who despise wisdom will find their lives marked by folly and its ill results.

Meaning: Training implies an active process of teaching, talking, and being involved in the spiritual life of a child. This training is purposeful; it is focused on pointing the child in a specific direction—toward the wisdom of God’s Law. While this training may at times seem ineffective or even counterproductive, it is not meant to always have immediate observable effects. Its effectiveness is better gauged when it is examined in view of the whole life.

Life Application: There is perhaps no better verse in Proverbs where we should remember that proverbs are not promises. There is no cosmic guarantee that all those who raise their children in church will find them still attending in their later years. However, this proverb does depict real wisdom. If we want our children to follow the Lord we must train them diligently to follow Him. We cannot expect that simply dropping them off at church or sending them away to camp will “fix” them. Parents are the primary spiritual influence in the lives of their children. If we want our kids to be shaped by the Gospel, we must model the Gospel for them and teach the Gospel to them.

For Further Study: Deuteronomy 6 gives a practical guide for training our children in the way of the Lord. Deuteronomy 6:6–8 gives us a roadmap. In our church, we use the language of “modeling,” “time,” “moments,” and “milestones.” We try to always model godly behavior to our kids, regularly practicing things like prayer, Bible study, and confession. We want to make the most of our time, using car rides, vacations, and conversations for discipleship. In opportune moments and at key milestones we celebrate the grace of God as He works in our kids.

Week 46 - 1 Corinthians 13:4–7

Week 46 - November 14th, 2021

1 Corinthians 13:4–7

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Context: Situated in the middle of a discussion on spiritual gifts, this text is much more than a wedding homily. The Corinthian church was filled with immature believers concerned with position and prestige. Paul emphasizes that God’s gifts are meant for service to others and do not exist for our personal exaltation. All spiritual gifts are given so that we might better love our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Meaning: If there was a word that could serve as love’s opposite, it would be “selfishness.” Through and through, the traits that Paul celebrates are those that abase and demote individual cares and concerns for the good of those around them. Commentator Bruce Waltke has observed that in Scripture, “it is the righteous who will seek to disadvantage themselves for the sake of their community and it is the unrighteous who will seek to disadvantage their community for their own sakes.” This comment would appropriately apply to this passage.

Life Application: Love is the ultimate solution to dysfunction. When we truly love one another we will begin to treat each other in the same ways that Christ treats us. Strikingly, these words are written to the whole church—both the functional and the dysfunctional. Whether we perceive ourselves as the offenders or the offended in a relationship, we have a high and holy calling to love our brothers and sisters as Christ Himself loved us—even giving up our lives for their sake.

For Further Study: Paul brings the image of sacrificial love to its pinnacle in Philipians 2:1–11. Read this passage and meditate on it. How can you love others in your life to this same degree? What opportunities do you have to humble yourself? Who can you consider more important than yourself?

Week 45 - Philippians 4:6–7

Week 45 - November 7th, 2021

Philippians 4:6–7

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Context: Paul’s Letter to the Philippians is deeply concerned with the attitude of believers. Although they may experience all manner of trials, Paul urges them to maintain an attitude of joy and humility, trusting God’s purposes and depending on His strength. This passage is immediately preceded by an impassioned command to rejoice in the Lord in all things. These verses now apply that command to everyday life.

Meaning: Paul contrasts anxiety with reliance on God through thanksgiving, prayer and supplication. This is the antidote to anxiety—a reliance on God’s provision rather than a trust in our own means. As we ask God for His continued supply we are to remember all He has already given, helping us trust that He will remain faithful. We do not come before God as beggars simply hoping for table scraps; we come as children, confident that our Father has heard our cry and will bring us His provision.

Life Application: Anxiety is the great thief of joy, but we are told of protection against his threats. Paul tells us that we are guarded by God’s peace. Our mind is like a high tower window, locked both from within and without.  When we look to the Lord in prayer with thanksgiving, anxiety is unable to climb the lattice and break in through God's protecting peace.  God's protecting peace also prevents us from opening the window of anxiety and plunging to our doom.

For Further Study: We are given a wonderful picture of peace inMark 4:35–41. In the middle of a violent storm that strikes terror into the heart of even the most veteran seaman, we find Our Lord asleep on a cushion. Read this story and consider: What does Jesus’s response to the storm teach us about His power? How can you trust Him in your own life?

Week 44 - Galatians 5:22–23

That You May Believe - Study Guide

Week 44 - October 31st, 2021

Galatians 5:22–23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Context: In Galatians, Paul corrects churches that have fallen under the sway of false teachers who proclaim that faith in Christ must be supplemented by “works of the Law” in order to truly lead to salvation. He instead teaches them to trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross as the only work necessary for justification. Christ brings true freedom as one yields to God's Spirit.  It is the Spirit who will enable them to walk in love for God and others and thus fulfill the true intent of the Law.

Meaning: This passage is often presented as a list of virtues that Christians ought to strive for. However, these are not fruits of the Spirit; they are the singular fruit. These are the collective fruit of a Spirit-filled life. We cannot pick and choose which traits we would like to embody and which ones we will let slide. Moreover, they are not a product of human effort and methods. These traits grow in the believer’s life as they walk in the Spirit and yield their lives to Christ.

Life Application: Paul teaches us that as we walk in the Spirit, the Spirit produces new desires in our hearts that overcome the desires of the flesh. As we live the life Jesus teaches us to live, we will find the blessings He promises. Where there was once dissension and division we will instead find love and peace. Where there was once pain we will find joy. Where there was once reckless pursuit of instant gratification we will find patience and self-control. Live for Jesus and see how He will transform your life.

For Further Study: Paul follows a similar train of thought in Colossians 2:16–23. How do his instructions apply to our lives today? Consider especially his words in verse 23: How can we balance between the wisdom of setting boundaries and the foolishness of attempting behavioral control through legalism? In addition, Paul speaks very highly of love in 1 Corinthians 13, going so far as to list it as the greatest of all produce.

Week 43 - Philippians 4:13

That You May Believe - Study Guide

Week 43 - October 24th, 2021

Philippians 4:13

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Context: Paul writes the letter to the Philippians while sitting in a Roman jail, having been arrested for preaching the Gospel. He encourages his readers to maintain an attitude of joy regardless of what circumstances they may find themselves in. In the immediate context of this verse, Paul tells his readers that, despite the hardships he has endured, he has learned the secret of contentment in all things.

Meaning: This is another great example of a “coffee mug verse” that is often taken out of context to imply some promise that was unintended by the original author. As is often the case with these verses, the true meaning is far richer! This verse is Paul’s secret to contentment. Whatever station of life he has found himself in, he knows that it is Christ who will give him strength, both to enjoy great pleasure and to endure immense suffering.

Life Application: Although we should avoid the temptation to turn this verse into a mantra of self-improvement, we may nonetheless reap great benefits when we meditate on its true meaning. We will often find ourselves gripped by temptation, prone to wander from God’s mercy, or overwhelmed by the daily grind of life. In those moments, Christ’s strength is available to us. We need only call on Him and we will find His grace sufficient for us and His power made perfect in our weakness.

For Further Study: What sorts of things did Paul do through Christ’s strength? In 2 Corinthians 11:19–12:10, he recounts the various ways he has suffered for the sake of Christ. Let this passage encourage you: Here is a man who had suffered all and found Christ to still be enough. If Jesus could sustain Paul through all this, He will sustain you too!

Week 20 - John 1:12-13

That You May Believe - Study Guide

Week 20 - May 16th, 2021

John 1:12-13

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Context: These words appear in the opening of John’s Gospel. The evangelist tells his readers that although Jesus came to His own people, His own people did not receive Him. He then offers this wonderful assuring promise to all who do receive Jesus.

Meaning: The only condition for becoming a child of God is receiving Jesus. And what does receiving Jesus mean? Believing in His name. To become a child of God, one must accept the Biblical account of who Christ is and embrace His offer of salvation. When you do that, you become a new person, born not from human effort and sinful nature, but re-born in the image of God Himself.

Life Application: If “believing in Jesus’ name” is the means for becoming a child of God then we ought to understand what that phrase means. Believing in Jesus’ name begins with believing in His existence and the truth of the Gospel story, but belief in Jesus goes even further. To believe in Jesus is to give your life over to Him, acknowledging Him as King, and trusting in Him alone for ultimate hope. 

For Further Study: Verse 13 tells us how our salvation came about—not just through human will alone, but through God’s will. The apostle Paul reflects on God’s role in salvation in Ephesians 2:4-6. Read this passage and consider how God’s will to save us and our responsibility to believe in Jesus relate to each other.

Week 19 - John 14:6

That You May Believe - Study Guide

Week 19 - May 9th, 2021

John 14:6

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Context: This well-known scripture is easily lifted from its context, but keeping it within Jesus' teaching in John 14 adds even greater depth. As Jesus prepares His disciples for His imminent death, He reminds them that His departure will secure a place for them with the Father.

Meaning: The phrase “I am” is especially important to these Jewish disciples. It ties the person of Jesus to the covenant-keeping God of Israel, and reminds His listeners that, as the Way to the Father, He is the fulfillment of that covenant promise. As the Truth, Jesus argues for the trustworthiness of His words. His disciples ought to take heart, because He can be trusted to return to them. The truth of that promise is bound up in the last statement. Jesus is “the Life” by which He will return from death and through which the disciples themselves will live.

Life Application: This is an instance of scripture where we can directly identify ourselves with the audience. Our Lord would speak these same words to us today. We can take heart that the Jesus who ascended to heaven will return to us and bring us to the Father. In fact, once we have seen Him, we have seen the Father! We will make our way to God through Jesus alone, trusting in Him alone for true life.

For Further Study: This is one of seven “I Am” statements that John records in his Gospel. Each of these statements gives an insight into the mission of Jesus as told by John. This mission focuses on Jesus' role as the personal Savior of believers. Compare this mission statement with that of Matt. 4:15-17 or Luke 4:18-19. How do these passages give us a fuller picture of what Jesus is doing in the world?

Week 18 - Colossians 1:16

That You May Believe - Study Guide

Week 18 - May 2nd, 2021

Colossians 1:16

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Context: Paul writes to believers in Colossae warning them to avoid false teachings that result in diminishing Jesus Christ.  Throughout this book Paul reminds the believers of the preeminence of Jesus. Paul writes to confront their false view of Jesus with the truth.

Meaning: Paul emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the creator and the source of all that exists. As the Creator, Jesus has authority over everything in creation.  Any human teaching or philosophy that does not recognize the supremacy of Christ and His authority over His creation must be rejected.

Life Application: The very first thing that Paul corrects for this church is their understanding of Jesus. This point is worth noting—when we get Jesus right, other important truths begin to fall into place. When we get Jesus wrong, we set ourselves up for deception in other areas. The more we focus on The Truth—Jesus—the more we will discover all truth.

For Further Study: This verse is part of a passage that makes up an early statement of faith confessed by the Church. Read Colossians 1:15-20. How do these verses impact the way you understand verse 16? What do these verses teach us about the power and authority of Jesus?

Week 17 - John 1:1-3

That You May Believe - Study Guide

Week 17 - April 25th, 2021

John 1:1-3

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

Context: John begins his Gospel by calling his readers back to the opening line of the Bible, letting us know that he is about to tell the story of a new creation, not of the world, but of life itself. Just as Genesis gave us a revelation of God, so too does Jesus give us a new revelation of what God is like. God is like Jesus.

Meaning: John traces the story of creation back to a word. This should remind us of the way God created the universe through speech in Genesis 1. But John develops this idea further—that Word has now become a human. Jesus is the Word that God has to say to the world. Jesus is the beginning of a new creation.

Life Application: The Word of God is still speaking. It is no accident that we often refer to the words of scripture as “The Word of God.” We believe that when we read the words of Scripture, we are reading the very words of God. The purpose of the Word of God (Scripture) is to point us to the Word of God (Jesus). When we read the Bible and find Jesus in, with, and under every book, chapter, and verse, we know we have read it properly.

For Further Study: The word “word” has several significant uses throughout Scripture in connection to Jesus. One such connection is found in Hebrews 1:3. Spend some time meditating on this verse in connection to John 1 and the concept of the Image of God. How does this help you understand Jesus’ role in the world?

Week 16 - John 3:16

That You May Believe - Study Guide

Week 16 - April 18th, 2021

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Context: Jesus and an important Jewish leader discuss how to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus says that those who enter His kingdom must be “born again” through the Spirit. Jesus then summarizes His mission against the backdrop of Israel’s story, culminating in the all-important command to believe in Him.

Meaning: The demonstration of God’s love for His world is found in His sending of His Son, Jesus, as a sign and a means of His saving love. Anyone who believes in Jesus, that is, believes that He is God’s Son who came to save the world from God’s judgement, will be spared from the judgement of God and receive eternal life.

Life Application: For those of us who believe in Jesus there is great hope to be found. For us there is no condemnation from God! Although we still struggle in sin and often stumble and fall, Jesus brings us life and forgiveness! But for those who do not believe in Jesus, this is a word of warning. There is judgement coming and those who do not believe in Jesus will suffer in that judgement. Believe in Jesus today!

For Further Study: This passage references the story of the bronze serpent from Numbers 21:4-9. Consider why this story is significant to the message of Jesus. Why does He link Himself to the bronze serpent?

Week 15 - Jeremiah 31:33

That You May Believe - Study Guide

Week 15 - April 11th, 2021

Jeremiah 31:33

33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Context: In this passage, the LORD has reflected on the whole of covenantal history and offers a summary conclusion: the covenant made with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David has not produced a righteous humanity. This is not because the covenant was insufficient, rather, its human participants were. Here, the LORD proposes a solution.

Meaning: This New Covenant is not like the Old. While the Old Covenant was written on tablets of stone or recorded on the pages of scrolls, this New Covenant will be inscribed directly on the human heart. Rather than presenting a set of laws to be followed or behaviors to be performed, God will give His people a desire to honor Him.

Life Application: While it may seem insignificant to care about a prophecy made to Israel thousands of years ago, these words have a direct connection to us today. This New Covenant that Jeremiah prophesied about is the covenant that Christ makes with His church. Scripture teaches us that as believers in Jesus, we have become the recipients of the promises of God for His people. Jesus doesn’t only forgive our sin, He gives us hearts that love His Word and are eager to obey Him.

For Further Study: The author of Hebrews quotes this very passage when He talks about the New Covenant that believers have with God as part of His church. Read Hebrews 8. What connections do you find? How does this impact the way you understand your salvation?

Week 14 - Ezekiel 36:26

That You May Believe - Study Guide

Week 14 - April 4th, 2021

Ezekiel 36:26

26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Context: Ezekiel is a most unusual book, but if we take our time, read slowly, and examine the context we can find beautiful truth throughout. In this passage, the Lord looks back on Israel’s unfaithfulness to their covenant with God. Their repeated failures point to a significant problem—a sin-sick heart. Ezekiel 36:26 is God’s solution to the problem of sin.

Meaning: The problem of sin is much bigger than action alone. Sinful action is merely the overflow of a sinful heart that rejects God and His wisdom and elevates our own desires over His. The answer to sin is not behavior modification; it is a heart transplant. If we are to follow God’s law, we need a heart that is loyal to Him and a spirit that loves obedience to His words.

Life Application: We often find ourselves attacked by sin. We seem to be unable to escape its grasp and may even despair that we are outside the reach of God’s forgiveness. In those moments, we have a tendency to clamp down, grit our teeth, and try to perform our way out of sin. But no amount of good behavior will fix our predicament. The human heart is a stone that cannot be unfrozen by human goodness. We need the heat of the Spirit to warm our hearts, soften the stone to flesh, and turn our affection toward Christ. Only then will we truly be free from sin’s power.

For Further Study: Jesus calls this concept of receiving a new heart being “born again.” Another term the Bible uses for it is “regeneration.” Compare Ezekiel 36:26 and John 3:3. How does this passage from Ezekiel affect the way you understand John 3?

Week 13 - Micah 6:8

That You May Believe - Study Guide

Week 13 - March 28th, 2021

Micah 6:8

8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Context: This verse forms the climax of an indictment against Israel from the LORD. Israel has abandoned their covenant with God and served other gods, abandoning the God who made them into a great nation. Israel responds by offering costly sacrifices and extravagant offerings. The LORD wants nothing to do with such things. His desire is their covenant obedience.

Meaning: For Israel, obedience to the covenant was not to be measured simply by sacrifices, offerings, or external religious practices. Obedience to the covenant was to begin with the realization that one is unable to do justice, to please God in his own strength.  This should cause one to drink deeply of God's mercy, and then walk humbly before the Lord depending upon His gracious enablement.  It is through such a process that God then empowers one to seek justice for the oppressed, mercy for the oppressor, and the humility to recognize which category one is in.  God is reminding His people that His required forms of worship (sacrifices and offerings), must never be detached from our inward relationship with the Lord.

Life Application: According to this verse, we must guard our hearts lest external religious actions are substituted for truly humbling ourselves before the Lord, drinking deeply of His mercy, and allowing His grace to enable righteous living.  When one's life consists merely of external religious practices, one has substituted a religion for a relationship with the Lord.  Allow your Bible reading, church attendance, prayer life, giving, your ministries, your good works, etc., to flow out of a life that embraces a vibrant, loving, dependent relationship with the Lord!

For Further Study: In Galatians 6, Paul urges believers to “do good to all men, especially those who are of the household of faith.” Do you think Paul’s words are a good application of Micah 6:8? Why or why not?

Week 12 - Matthew 22:37-39

That You May Believe - Study Guide

Week 12 - March 21st, 2021

Matthew 22:37-39

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 

38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Context: These words form Jesus’ response to the question of which commandment in the Law is the greatest. This succinct summary draws together the entire Old Testament teaching into a single phrase. Jesus references the words of Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18, arguing that love of God is best embodied in love of neighbor. 

Meaning: This verse, called the Great Commandment, is a great summary of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. As followers of Jesus we are lovers of God. This love is more than just emotional attachment. It is affection (heart), devotion (soul), and comprehension (mind). 

Life Application: As lovers of God, we should seek to increase our love for Him in every area of our lives. It may seem especially strange to speak of love in terms of comprehension. But as one Bible teacher has put it: “the heart cannot love what the mind does not understand.” So we seek to comprehend God more in order that we might love Him better. Yet all the theology in the world, if not coupled with vibrant love of God, is useless. Thus we reject both dead orthodoxy and lively heresy.

For Further Study: The words of the Law that Jesus references are expressed countless times throughout the prophetic teachings. Especially poignant are the Lord’s words to His people recorded in 1 Samuel 15:22 and Amos 5:21-24. Reflect on these words. How does God view service to Him without corresponding love of neighbor?

Week 11 - Romans 3:23

That You May Believe - Study Guide

Week 11 - March 14th, 2021

Romans 3:23

23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

Context: Paul begins his exposition of the Gospel message in Romans with the words of Romans 1:18: “For the wrath of God is revealed against all unrighteousness.” He then tells of the terrible destruction that sin brings. It destroys all the good of creation, including humans, so that there is no one righteous. Romans 3:23 serves as a summary statement of the previous three chapters’ discussion.

Meaning: This verse is another significant teaching about the human condition. Although we are made in the image of God, that image is tarnished by sin. We call this belief Total Depravity. Left to ourselves, we will ultimately choose the pleasure of sin over the pleasures of Christ. Every person is in this state. We are in bondage to sin. Do not misunderstand—we have free will, but that will is bent toward sin and love of self. We are unable to obey the commands of God because we are unwilling.

Life Application: One of the fundamental stories that our world tells us is the essential goodness and virtuosity of mankind. Man can achieve, dream, and do all sorts of good if only he attains self-actualization. The Bible tells a different story about humanity—its corruption. Man sees and takes that which his heart most desires. Because of sin, man’s base desires are corrupted; his every word, thought, and deed is tainted. The cure is not self-actualization; rather, it is self-denial. We are to put off our sinful self and take up the righteous life of Christ. Only in the life of Christ can man attain the good for which he was created.

For Further Study: In Romans, Paul discusses sin having reflected on the words of David in Psalm 14. This poetic examination of sin presents a picture of God looking for righteousness in humanity and finding none. Read this Psalm slowly and reflect on the imagery it contains. How do you view God in light of the truth of its words? How do you view yourself?