Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Reflect How has the Bible impacted your life? When you read God’s Word, do you notice a change in your character or behavior? The Bible is an old book. But really, it isn’t just one old book. It is comprised of 66 old books to be exact, the oldest of which are

Read John 17:17 “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” Reflect How do we know if we can trust the Bible? How do we know it is God’s Word? The world, especially the Internet, is rife with people who claim that Christians believe in a storybook rather than a holy book. When Christians counter secular arguments with the truth of Scripture, they often aren’t taken seriously by skeptics, atheists, and sometimes even by people who claim to be Christians. But in today’s v

Read 1 John 4:9-10 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Reflect Why do you think reading the Bible is an important spiritual discipline? If you asked someone “Why should I read the Bible?” you will get a variety of answers. American history tells the story of a skepti

Read James 3:14-16 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. Reflect Has bitter jealousy or envy ever tempted you to sin in other ways as well? It starts right away when we are very young. Our parents set us down on the floor to

Read 1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Reflect What tempts you to sin? What steps are you taking or could you take to limit or eliminate this temptation from your life? In today’s passage, the apostle Peter gave us a vivid picture of the “passions of the flesh”. He said that they “wage war against your soul”. The notes of my MacArthur Study Bible read: “In order to have an imp

Read Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Reflect What worries or fears are you wrestling with right now? How are you managing those emotions? Maybe you can relate: While wrestling with a situation, in you head, you know that God is worthy of your complete trust. But your feelings are all over the place. One moment you’re at peace with whatever happens because God is

Read Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Reflect What is your attitude concerning work? Do you view it as a blessing or a necessary evil? Did you ever look at the need to work and decide that it’s a consequence of Adam and Eve’s disobedience? That, if they hadn’t sinned, we wouldn’t need to work today. It’s a common enough thought that even kids ask about it in Sunday school. This is probably rooted in thoughts of G

Read Psalm 16:1-2, 5-6, 9-11 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance…Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me th

Read 1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. Reflect Prayerfully consider how much you’ve grown spiritually in the past year. What did you consume that contributed to your spiritual growth the most? What do you think hindered your spiritual growth the most? There has been a lot of research about the benefits of a mother’s milk. According to studies a mother’s