Readings for the Week of October 2, 2016

The chapters this week take us through Scripture and how God’s presence affect us.  Consider that the Spirit of God is behind every step of God’s relationship with us, if we will but let Him come to us.

Sun., Oct. 2-Romans 8: Life in the Spirit

Mon., Oct. 3-Deuteronomy 10: The Life in the Spirit was defined first in the Law of God.

Tue., Oct. 4-Psalm 7: David speaks of the presence of God needed in his life.

Wed., Oct. 5-John 15: The real presence of God comes to us through Jesus.

Thu., Oct. 6-Hebrews 8: Why the New Covenant in Jesus is better than the Old Covenant.

Fri., Oct. 7-Romans 6: How we come into the experience of Jesus.

Sat., Oct. 8-Romans 7: What is the struggle we have in the Christian life?  

Readings for the week of September 18, 2016

Our passage from John 14 is often used at funeral services.  It does not speak to grief and to emotional pain per se, but rather speaks to the power of the Spirit given to us by our God.  Through that Spirit comes the gift of peace.  Other passages from Scripture that speak to loss have the same point of view, that of God’s power coming to us.  We will sample those this week.

Mon. Sept. 19: Isaiah 40: 1-11—From this passage is drawn the prophesy concerning John the Baptist foreshadowing Jesus.  But this wider passage is God’s comfort to His people in times of trouble.

Tue. Sept. 20: Psalm 103—This Psalm places the context of the human life in the grander context of the work and creation of God.

Wed. Sept. 21: Psalm 121—This Psalm speaks of the power and protection of our God in our lives.

Thu. Sept. 22: John 11: 17-27—This is the Gospel account of the raising of Lazarus, an illustration of the power of Jesus versus death itself.

Fri. Sept. 23: John 14—The passage from Sunday was drawn from this chapter, but more of it is used as Jesus speaks of what is to come for the believer.

Sat. Sept. 24: 1 Thes. 4: 13-18—Paul addresses the question of death in the light of the work and return of Jesus.

Readings for the Week of September 11, 2016

The readings this week provide a sketch of the results of the coming of the Spirit upon the person.  It draws from the Old and New Testaments.    

Mon. Sept. 12-Exodus 31: 1-11  At the making of the Tabernacle (God’s House during the Exodus), the Spirit of God blessed the artists and artisans that their work would be worthy of the God’s House.

Tue. Sept. 13-1 Samuel 9:27-10:16  Sometimes the power of God’s Spirit can make someone behave…in an extraordinary way.  Saul here was anointed to be King and the Spirit came upon him.

Wed. Sept. 14-2 Kings 2: 1-12  The Spirit of God was upon God’s prophets, as illustrated by Elijah and Elisha, perhaps the two most powerful prophets in God’s service.

Thu. Sept. 15-Luke 3: 1-22  This is the story of the baptism of Jesus, where the Spirit comes upon Him in the form of a dove.

Fri. Sept. 16-Luke 4: 1-15  This is the story of what the Spirit did to Jesus first time out.

Sat. Sept. 17-Acts 2: 1-47  This is the story of the Spirit coming upon the Apostles at Pentecost and the launch of the church.