New Testament in a Year

Acts 17:1-34
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Great reading about Paul’s travels and preaching in Acts 17 today!

I absolutely love the quote in verse 6 where the Jewish leaders of Thessalonica say: “”Paul and Silas have turned the rest of the world upside down, and now they are here disturbing our city,” they shouted.”  Have you ever heard that the Kingdom of God is an “upside down” kingdom?  That the values of the Kingdom of God are upside down compared to worldly values?  Paul and Silas turned the world upside down.  How are you turning the world upside down in your life today?

Today in Acts 17 verses 22 & 23 we read – “Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.” Paul then went on to introduce to the Greeks our personal Creator, in contrast with their views of pantheistic Stoicism. Are there people in your life today that are perhaps like the Greeks Paul was speaking to? People who are religious but do not yet know our personal Creator? Are there people in your life who are seeking the Unknown God? Will you begin conversations with these people that God has placed in your life and let them know about the living God that you know and love? Will you let them know, as Paul let the Greeks know in verse 28 – “For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’”? The altar in the image below is located on Palatine Hill, Rome, where once stood the palaces of the Caesars. It dates from about 100 B.C. and has the inscription, ´To the unknown God.’  This could have been a similar altar to the one that Paul was referring to in today’s readings in Athens:

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “The Evangelization of Thessalonica and Berea” is at this link and “The Apostle in Athens, Preaching to Philosophers” is at this link.  Below is a painting from the year 1515 by the Italian artist Raphael titled “St. Paul preaching in Athens”:

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Acts about Paul’s preaching in Athens reminded me of Micah Tyler’s song “Walking Free:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK4yBl5my8c

Are you walking free? Click here for freedom!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Acts 17:28 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that in Jesus you live and move and have your being. Pray that you are a child of God, through your saving faith in Jesus.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 16:16-40
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today in Acts 16 we will read about the earthquake that comes while Paul and Silas are imprisoned!

As a trembling jailer comes to Paul and Silas we will read this in verses 30 through 34 – “”Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.” This is a wonderful look at how many of us become and grow as Christians! We first hear the Good News of how Jesus came to this earth fully human and fully God – how he lived a sinless life and died on the cross for our sins – and how he rose from the dead and will come again. Then, through God’s grace, we believe! We simply believe. From there we learn more about God from others and through studying his Word, the Bible – we can call this discipleship. Then comes a decision to be baptized – to publicly profess our faith in Jesus as our Savior. Then comes living a joyful life of community with others. Now – yes – this is a very abbreviated example of how one becomes and grows as a Christian. 🙂 And our various denominations will probably put the order of how all this happens in various ways. But, can you see similarities in your own faith journey with the jailer’s conversion, baptism, and growth as a Christian? Do you remember first hearing the Good News of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection? Do you remember the day you first Believed? Do you remember learning more about the Word, the Bible? (hopefully you’ll remember this year’s One Year Bible journey! 🙂 Do you remember being baptized (or maybe you’ll have photos or stories from your younger years)? Do you now joyfully live life in community with other Christians through your local church? If you haven’t yet experienced all of these things, will you pray to God asking him for the experiences He has planned for you? And, when others in your life come to you like the jailer, asking “What must I do to be saved?” are you prepared to give them the joyful answer?

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “Paul in Philippi: From the Purveyor of Purple to the Purveyor of Pain” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminds me of Mac Powell’s song “New Creation:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHIMsGGsit4

Are you a new creation? Click here and be made new!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on three verses of Scripture today: “The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved — you and your household.” Acts 16:29-31 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you are telling other people in your life to “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” Pray that you life your life in such a Spirit-filled and loving way that people come to you periodically to ask, “What must I do to be saved?”

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 15:36-16:15
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

In Acts 15 today we read about Paul not wanting to bring along John Mark on the next missionary journey.  Good news is that Paul and Mark were eventually reunited in missionary efforts.  Some speculate that it was because Barnabas went with Mark at this juncture, Barnabas’ patient encouragement helped Mark’s eventual effective ministry.  In fact, John Mark is the very same Mark who wrote the Gospel of Mark!  How’s that for encouragement changing the world?? Is there anyone in your life today who you think could be a great worker for God’s kingdom with some encouragement?  Will you be like Barnabas was for John Mark and work with and encourage that person?  Below is an image of Barnabas the encourager:

Today in Acts 16 we read about Paul’s 2nd missionary journey, which took place around AD 49-52.  – (map courtesy of ccel.org/bible/phillips/JBPhillips.htm)

Great readings about the conversion of Lydia of Philippi today!  She was a business woman and a Gentile (like Cornelius) who loved God.  And the Lord opened her heart and she believed!  Praise God for his continual ministry of opening people’s hearts to the Gospel.  Has your heart been opened like Lydia’s was opened?

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “When Division Becomes Multiplication” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Nicole C. Mullen’s song “Call on Jesus:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Mbj5UUWwI

Have you called on Jesus?  Click here and make the Call! 

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 15:1-35
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Peter’s teaching at The Council at Jerusalem in Acts 15 verse 11 is one of the most important verses that all of us should really meditate upon and know and believe: “We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the special favor of the Lord Jesus.” Do you believe Peter here?  Do you believe this to be true?  Does this simple message of this little button below ring true to you?

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “The Jerusalem Council: The Gospel Defined and Defended” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of MercyMe’s song “You Reign:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eow2hNlA-k

Do you know the One who reigns?  Click here to meet the King! 

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 14:8-28
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Wow… amazing readings today… Do you see the depth and strength and love of Paul’s faith in verses 19 & 20 – “Now some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and turned the crowds into a murderous mob. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, apparently dead. But as the believers stood around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.”  Paul is stoned and then gets back up and keeps going forward in his ministry for God!  Next thing you know he is praying and fasting for elders in churches – after nearly getting stoned to death!  I want a faith like that…  Also, it is wonderful to read in today’s readings how Paul and Barnabas tear their garments because they are so distressed that people were worshiping them as if they were gods!  Would we react so quickly to stop people from worshiping us today I wonder… ?

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “Mission Accomplished” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of the song “Legacy” by Nichole Nordeman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah1COE39ARs

Do you want to leave a legacy?  Click here for the true Legacy!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 13:42-14:7
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Brief post today – back to a faull post tomorrow. Great readings today about how Paul and Barnabas’ ministry to the Gentiles was growing!  Verse 52 is awesome: “And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the awesome song, “Days of Elijah!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDf6PtSckio

Are these the days of Elijah for you?   Click here to meet Elijah’s God!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 13:16-41
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Acts 13 is a great sermon from Paul today!  Really… this is about as good as it gets for a solid Gospel presentation.  Go Paul.  I love how he starts off in verse 16: “So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. “People of Israel,” he said, “and you devout Gentiles who fear the God of Israel, listen to me.”  You’ll note that Paul delivers this message to both Jews and Gentiles – he is preaching the Gospel for the world!  Are you really listening to Paul’s message to you in today’s readings in Acts?

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Acts titled “Putting the Past in Perspective” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Matt Maher’s fantastic song “Your Grace is Enough:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7dW6d2-6B0

Is God’s Grace enough for you?  Click here for Amazing Grace!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.” Acts 13:38-39 TNIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you have been forgiven of your sins, through your faith in Jesus. Pray that you have been set free from every sin and are justified by Jesus.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 12:24-13:15
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Wow.  It is fun to read about Paul’s first missionary journey!  A very cool thing to note about today’s readings is that Paul started his missionary journey not after an extensive planning session / retreat / etc. (all our modern day stuff of what we have to do before embarking on something…)  No!  Paul started his missionary journey after a time of worship & fasting and being filled with the Holy Spirit!  The Spirit moved and thus Paul moved!  It was that simple.  Think we can learn something from this in our lives today?  Are you listening to the Spirit’s prompting in your life today?  What is the Spirit prompting you to do?  Will you do it?  Check out Acts 13 verses 2 and 3 that show all it took for Paul to begin his missionary journey: “One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work I have for them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.”

I am a huge fan of Paul’s epistles, and greatly enjoyed verses 9 through 11, which are Paul’s first words that we’ve read in Acts since his conversion on the road to Damascus – “Then Saul, also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked the sorcerer in the eye and said, “You son of the Devil, full of every sort of trickery and villainy, enemy of all that is good, will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? And now the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be stricken awhile with blindness.””  Paul was no joke!  Below is a map of Paul’s first missionary journey:

I love the way today’s Acts readings finish up in verses 14 & 15 – “Barnabas and Paul traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia.  On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services. After the usual readings from the books of Moses and from the Prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for us, come and give it!”  Uh-oh!  Think the folks in charge of the service are ready for a word from Paul and Barnabas?  🙂  Stay tuned for the word of encouragement from Paul in tomorrow’s readings!  Below is an image of Barnabas:

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s readings in Acts titled “What a Way to Go” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings in Acts about Paul’s missionary journey reminds me of the Britt Nicole song “The Lost Get Found:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO2prEoATH8

Are you Lost?  Click here to be Found!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “But the word of God continued to increase and spread.” Acts 12:24 (NIV)

Prayer Point: Pray that the Word of God continues to increase and spread in our world today. Pray that you are part of helping the Word of God increase and spread.

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 12:1-23
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

There is a lot going on in today’s Acts readings as Peter is freed from jail by an angel!

I love verse 5 in this chapter as Peter was put in jail – “But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.”  Who are you praying for very earnestly these days?  Do you think that prayer changes things?  How is your prayer life this very day?

Verses 21 through 23 are a great great reminder to not ever accept anyone calling you a god – nor for you to every think of yourself as a god – “When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It is the voice of a god, not of a man!”  Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.”  We should never accept worship from others.  The glory should always go to God.  As the Psalmist so wisely and worshipfully says in Psalm 115:1, “Not to us, not to us, O LORD, but to your name be the glory.”

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “The Death of James and the Deliverance of Peter” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminds me of Chris Tomlin’s song “Praise Him Forever:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrDzdew4AOk

Do you believe God’s love endures forever?  Click here for Forever!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Acts 11:1-30
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

I love how Peter answers his “critics” in Acts chapter 11 today.  He simply tells them the story of what happened.  And through this plain and simple act of telling his story truthfully we get to verse 18 – “When the others heard this, all their objections were answered and they began praising God. They said, “God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of turning from sin and receiving eternal life.””  And this makes me wonder about our lives today.  How do we answer our “critics” when it comes to our faith?  Is it possible that we can answer our critics simply by telling our story?  Just like Peter simply answered his critics with his story?  Is it possible that our story of how God reached out and changed our lives could be very effective in winning hearts and minds for Jesus?  I think sometimes we underestimate the power of simply telling our story.  It is our story – and after we tell it, how can anyone really criticize it?  Or argue with it?  It is our story.  Let us tell it.  And let us tell our story often and with great love.  I believe God can work wonders when we simply tell our stories…

Bible.org’s commentary on today’s Acts readings titled “Peter is Called on the Carpet” is at this link and “One Step Backward and Two Steps Forward” is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of Rhett Walker’s song “When Mercy Found Me:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50hYXJzNMM0

Has mercy found you?  Click here for mercy!

Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

God bless,
Mike

p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!