Month: April 2018

April 16, 2018

Book of James 2018-04-16

Here are some tools to help you with the devotionals:

  • Journal

  • Bible Text: James 2:8-13 (ESV)

    8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.  9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

    11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

    13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

    Personal Study/Reflection

  • Read the passage slowly and pause to linger over notable words and phrases. Ask questions to explore the Bible passage for truths, challenges, or lessons about life, the gospel, or Christian life. As you answer your questions, engage in personal reflection and respond to how God is using the passage to speak to you today.  (You can refer to the Inductive Bible Study guidelines at the top of this page.)

  • Prayer
By carmenhsu
April 13, 2018

Book of James 2018-04-13

Here are some tools to help you with the devotionals:

  • Journal

  • Bible Text: James 2:1-7 (ESV)

    1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

    Personal Study/Reflection

  • Read the passage slowly and pause to linger over notable words and phrases. Ask questions to explore the Bible passage for truths, challenges, or lessons about life, the gospel, or Christian life. As you answer your questions, engage in personal reflection and respond to how God is using the passage to speak to you today.  (You can refer to the Inductive Bible Study guidelines at the front of the book.)

  • Prayer
By carmenhsu
April 12, 2018

Book of James 2018-04-12

Here are some tools to help you with the devotionals:

  • Journal

  • Bible Text: James 1:21-27 (ESV)

    21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

    26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

    Personal Study/Reflection

  • Read the passage slowly and pause to linger over notable words and phrases. Ask questions to explore the Bible passage for truths, challenges, or lessons about life, the gospel, or Christian life. As you answer your questions, engage in personal reflection and respond to how God is using the passage to speak to you today.  (You can refer to the Inductive Bible Study guidelines at the front of the book.)

  • Prayer
By carmenhsu
April 11, 2018

Book of James 2018-04-11

Here are some tools to help you with the devotionals:

  • Journal

  • Bible Text

    James 1:19-21 (ESV)

    19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;   20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

    Personal Study/Reflection

  • Read the passage slowly and pause to linger over notable words and phrases. Ask questions to explore the Bible passage for truths, challenges, or lessons about life, the gospel, or Christian life. As you answer your questions, engage in personal reflection and respond to how God is using the passage to speak to you today.  (You can refer to the Inductive Bible Study guidelines at the front of the book.)

  • Prayer
By carmenhsu
April 10, 2018

Book of James 2018-04-10

Here are some tools to help you with the devotionals:

  • Journal

  • Bible Text

    James 1:9-18 (ESV)

    9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

    12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

    16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.  18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

    Personal Study/Reflection

  • Read the passage slowly and pause to linger over notable words and phrases. Ask questions to explore the Bible passage for truths, challenges, or lessons about life, the gospel, or Christian life. As you answer your questions, engage in personal reflection and respond to how God is using the passage to speak to you today.  (You can refer to the Inductive Bible Study guidelines at the front of the book.)

  • Prayer
By carmenhsu
April 9, 2018

Book of James 2018-04-09

Here are some tools to help you with the devotionals:

  • Journal

  • Bible Text

    James 1:1-8 (ESV)

    1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

    To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

    Greetings.

    2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

    5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

    Personal Study/Reflection

  • Read the passage slowly and pause to linger over notable words and phrases. Ask questions to explore the Bible passage for truths, challenges, or lessons about life, the gospel, or Christian life. As you answer your questions, engage in personal reflection and respond to how God is using the passage to speak to you today.  (You can refer to the Inductive Bible Study guidelines at the front of the book.)

  • Prayer
By carmenhsu
April 6, 2018

Psalm 130 2018-04-06

  • Journal
    • Here are some tools to help you with the devotionals:

  • Bible Text

    Psalm 130 (ESV)

    1   Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
    2     O Lord, hear my voice!
    Let your ears be attentive
    to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

    3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
    O Lord, who could stand?
    4 But with you there is forgiveness,
    that you may be feared.

    5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
    and in his word I hope;
    6 my soul waits for the Lord
    more than watchmen for the morning,
    more than watchmen for the morning.

    7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!
    For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
    and with him is plentiful redemption.
    8 And he will redeem Israel
    from all his iniquities.

    Personal Study/Reflection

  • Read the passage slowly and pause to linger over notable words and phrases. Ask questions to explore the Bible passage for truths, challenges, or lessons about life, the gospel, or Christian life. As you answer your questions, engage in personal reflection and respond to how God is using the passage to speak to you today.  (You can refer to the Inductive Bible Study guidelines at the front of the book.)

  • Here are some tools to help you with the devotionals: Tips to Inductive Bible Study

 

  • Prayer
By carmenhsu
April 5, 2018

Psalm 103 2018-04-05

  • Journal
    • Here are some tools to help you with the devotionals:

  • Bible Text

    Psalm 103 (ESV)

    1  Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!
    2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
    3 who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
    4 who redeems your life from the pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
    5 who satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

    6 The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all who are oppressed.
    7 He made known his ways to Moses,
    his acts to the people of Israel.
    8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
    9 He will not always chide,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.
    10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
    11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
    12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
    13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
    14 For he knows our frame;[a]
    he remembers that we are dust.

    15 As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
    16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
    and its place knows it no more.
    17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children’s children,
    18 to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.
    19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
    and his kingdom rules over all.

    20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
    you mighty ones who do his word,
    obeying the voice of his word!
    21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
    his ministers, who do his will!
    22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
    in all places of his dominion.
    Bless the Lord, O my soul!

    Personal Study/Reflection

  • Read the passage slowly and pause to linger over notable words and phrases. Ask questions to explore the Bible passage for truths, challenges, or lessons about life, the gospel, or Christian life. As you answer your questions, engage in personal reflection and respond to how God is using the passage to speak to you today.  (You can refer to the Inductive Bible Study guidelines at the front of the book.)

  • Here are some tools to help you with the devotionals: Tips to Inductive Bible Study

 

  • Prayer
By carmenhsu
April 4, 2018

Psalm 23 2018-04-04

  • Journal
    • Here are some tools to help you with the devotionals:

  • Bible Text

    Psalm 23 (ESV)

    1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

    2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
    He leads me beside still waters.
    3     He restores my soul.
    He leads me in paths of righteousness
        for his name’s sake.

    4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
        I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
        your rod and your staff,
        they comfort me.

    5 You prepare a table before me
        in the presence of my enemies;
    you anoint my head with oil;
        my cup overflows.
    6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
        all the days of my life,
    and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
        forever.

    Personal Study/Reflection

  • Read the passage slowly and pause to linger over notable words and phrases. Ask questions to explore the Bible passage for truths, challenges, or lessons about life, the gospel, or Christian life. As you answer your questions, engage in personal reflection and respond to how God is using the passage to speak to you today.  (You can refer to the Inductive Bible Study guidelines at the front of the book.)

  • Here are some tools to help you with the devotionals: Tips to Inductive Bible Study

 

  • Prayer
By carmenhsu
April 3, 2018

Luke 2018-04-03

  • Journal

  • Bible Text

    Luke 24:1-53 (ESV)

    1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

    13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

    28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.    30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

    36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.

    44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

    50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

    Reflection Questions

  • Luke 24:1-2
    • What is the significance of the fact that these women took the spices to the tomb very early in the morning, while the disciples were downcast and dejected (Luke 24:17)?  What did the women experience as a result?

    Luke 24:5-8

    • What did the angels remind the women?
    • What is the role of remembering God’s word in recognizing God at work?

    Luke 24:12

    • What is the difference between Peter and the rest of the disciples who did not go to the tomb?

    Luke 24:21

    • Think about the words: “we had hoped….”  How did the crucifixion of Jesus dash their hope?
    • In what ways do my false hopes get in the way of recognizing my true need?
    • What are the false hopes I need to let go of?

    Luke 24:32-35

    • What made their hearts burn?
    • The disciples had no option but to hasten back to Jerusalem and share with others how they had encountered Jesus.  How does the gospel have this kind of effect on a person’s life, turning him from the path that he is on and compelling him to share the good news with others?
    • Is this true of my life?

    Luke 24:36-44

    • The disciples were frightened because they thought they were seeing a ghost when they saw Jesus. What does Jesus do to settle the disciples’ doubts about his resurrection (vv. 36, 39, 43, 44)?
By carmenhsu
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