What does the Bible Say About Man

Here is today's Reading

Acts Chapter 10

Background:  Saul put aside his persecution of followers of Christ because he became a believer in Jesus.  God changed his name to Paul.  Paul was a Jew by race but his mission was not to spread the gospel to the Jews but specifically to the Gentiles.  (People who are not Jews, therefore...every other type of race)  The problem was that Jews thought that all other people were NOT God's chosen people.  This make sense because all throughout the Old Testament, Isreal was called God's chosen people.  Not only that, but God asked them not to associate with pagan nations so that they would not fall into their idol worship.  (note:  there were gentiles in the Old Testament that put aside their nation's ways and followed God.  For example:  Ruth and Rahab.  God was fine with this and welcomed them into His chosen people)  Anyway, to a Jew, a gentile was unclean.  JEsus' death and ressurection changed all that.  The gospel was always meant to be for everyone and God is revealing that mystery to Peter in this chapter.  Note what it says in verse 28 and 34.  Write this down because God is changing how He is doing things.  The church is how He is choosing to show himself instead of Isreal.  Jews could become believers of course, but they are apart of the church.  God is making sure Peter, the disciple called to share the gospel with the Jews, know that God is doing this.  The Jews and gentiles had to be in church together so they had to change their perspective.

Finally, Look at verses 44-48.

Does is sound familiar to Acts Chapter 2?  How?  Why do you think its important that people in that day (and in ours) see that the Holy Spirit filled the gentiles in the same way as it filled the Jews?

Have fun!

Where does Man Fit in the Bible?

Here is your reading for today:


Acts Chapter 6:7-Chapter 9

Where Does Man Fit in the Bible?

I promise, Promise, promise we only have four more days of this topic.  I will post my timeline and thoughts on Friday.  Here is your reading for today:

Matthew 28:19-20
Acts 1-2

Write down what happens

Okay, I lied when I said we would be done this week with this topic.  I think this will for sure be our longest topic but I think its good that we see man's role in what God is doing.  We are almost done.  Keep adding to your timeline of people and events.  Make notes of how God works.

The great thing about this timeline is that you can keep it in your bible and use it as a reference.  As you read a story just add where it fits.  After a lifetime of doing it you will have a pretty awesome timeline.

Today I am going to give you a little more to read because you have the weekend to space it out.

Read the following:
Matthew 14 - What did the disciples learn about ministry while Jesus Fed the 5000?  What did Peter learn for his personal relationship with Jesus as he walked and didn't walk on water?

Luke Chapters 22-24 - Record what happens

See ya on Monday

Where does Man Fit in the Bible?

Sorry about the "spotty" posting.  Due to the tornados in Branson our internet has been a little spotty.  I think we are back in full force.

We are starting into the New Testament.  Here are your passages:

John 1
Luke 2
Matthew 4

Have fun!

Is the Bible About Man

This is our last day in the Old Testament:

Read Nehmiah 2

(Background:  The temple is built and the Jews are back worshiping God but they are being persecuted for it.  Esther has already stepped up the plate God used her to save her people from annihilation.  Now Esther's husband is dead and his son (not with Esther) is on the throne.  Note what he does in verse8)

After the Book of Nehemiah all the Old Testament has left is the Books of Widom (Psalm, Job, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiates) and the Books of Prophets.  The books of wisdom,  These are written by men of the bible (David, Solomon, Job) and give wisdom not really tell about History.  Although they do enhance history as they give a new insight on apart of history that is told in other books of the bible.  For example, the events of Job happened in Genesis time.  The book of Ecclesiastes is written by King Solomon.  You can read about what he did in 1 Kings and Chronicles, Ecclesiates gives the heart of the man during that time period.  The prophets are the word of the Lord to different prophets starting with Isreal's Kingship...all the way through their captivity and return.  They are not in Chronological order.  Daniel's book happened during captivity,  Jeremiah's book was happening during Isreal's kingship, Haggai was happening during Isreal's return.  AFter the Word of the Lord came to the prophets, God was silent for 400 years.  He did not give us anything (As far as written word) until Christ showed up in a manger.

Read Malachi 4

Who does God tell his people (through Malachi to look for).  Don't miss this.  God is giving his people a clue, something to watch for so they will know when He shows back up on the scene to say somthing.  Tomorrow....we will read how He shows back up.

(Note:  God was not absent for 400 years.  He was very much at work in History and in the lives of people.  He was just silent.  No new word from Him.  People during that time were to follow the word that he had already given.  That is how He led them and spoke to them.  He was there, they just had to seek out His word. Wait, doesn't that sound familiar to our time period?)

Is the Bible About Man?

Hang in there with me!  I know this has been a long topic but I think its really important that you believe what the Bible is really about and how man fits within it.  Knowing what you believe on this issue can help your filter out false teaching and lies that manipulate the Word!


Here are your passages:

Esther Chapter 3 and 4

Here is a little background:
The Jews have already returned to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple.  Its built and the ones who chose to return are there.  Even though they are allowed to worship God they are not the ruling nation that they once were.  They are still conquered, small people group, under the Persian empire.  This passage tells of man who convinces the King of Persia to annihilate the Jews, God's chosen people.  Jesus, our Messiah was a Jew.  He has not been born yet.  This is classic Satan trying to stop the Savior from arriving to save us,by killing off the very genealogy He was prophesied to come from.  God shows up in a big way, in fact He was already prepared for the attempt.  A Jew was the queen of Persia.

Write this person down on your timeline.  Do you see a theme still?  Write your thoughts down.
BTW - we are studying Esther this summer.  It is SOOOOOOOO stinkin' good.  I can't wait for early morning bible study.

See ya on Monday for the last week of this topic.