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Passing Along the Message READ Romans 10:14 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?   Paul said anyone who calls on the Lord can be saved. Now he adds thoughts to that: 1) they must believe in Him; 2) they first must hear about Him; and 3) someone needs to tell them. Some think one can believe in Jesus and just live fo

Israel Rejected? READ Romans 11:1 I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.   Today there are those who think God is finished with His program for Israel. That was not the apostle Paul’s opinion. Writing by the inspiration of God, he exclaimed, “Of course not!” The fact that he himself was a Jew who had been saved proves God still works with Jewish

Blessings and Snares READ Romans 11:9-10 9 Likewise, David said, “Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve. 10 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.”   Paul here refers to Psalm 69:22-23, “Let the bountiful table set before them become a snare and their prosperity become a trap. Let their eyes go blind so they cann

Broken Branches READ Romans 11:19-21 19 “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.” 20 Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen. 21 For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.   Notice it is not one’s ethnic heritage that makes a person right with God. It is whether

God's Gifts and His Call READ Romans 11:28-29 28 Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves because he chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 29 For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.   Some think God has changed His mind about doing what He promised in the Old Testament for the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That is not what the apostle Paul wrote. He

Transformation READ Romans 12:2 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.   Typical of his writing, after dealing with doctrine the apostle Paul applies the teaching to daily living for the believer. Chapter 12 now switches to that. Here he tells believers not to copy the ways of the world. As God transfo

Hard Work READ Romans 12:11-13 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. 13 When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.   After praising God for all He has done, Paul now begins to list what Christ-followers should do. Observe the specific instructions: 1) Never be lazy; 2) work hard; 3) enthusiastically serve the Lord; 4)

Governing Authorities READ Romans 13:1-3 1 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is ri

We Belong to the Day READ Romans 13:13-14 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.   Paul appeals to believers to live decent lives that others can see. He tells

Lord of the Living and Dead READ Romans 14:7-9 7 For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. 8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.   Although we should have others in mind as we live, this passage emphasizes that what we are doing is to be done to honor the Lord. Believers are to ho

Motivate by Love READ Romans 14:20-21 20 Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.   Paul continues telling believers how to live with each other. Food had become an issue so Paul tells them not to “tear apart the work of God over what you eat.” His ba

Accept Each Other READ Romans 15:7-8 7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. 8 Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors.   Paul once again emphasizes the example of Jesus. Although He was the creator of the universe, He took on human flesh as He came in the line of David to the Jewish people. Jesus did this to prove to the Jewish people that th

Enthusiastic READ Romans 15:17-18 17 So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God. 18 Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them.   Paul was enthusiastic about all his Savior had done. Especially this concerned using him—a converted Jew—to reach Gentiles. Paul was able to bring them to God by his message and life

Help in Return READ Romans 15:27 27 They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially.   Paul continues to refer to the gifts given by Gentile believers for the poor people in Jerusalem. The Gentile Christ-followers felt they were indebted to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem for the

Welcome Phoebe READ Romans 16:1-2 1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. 2 Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.   In this last chapter Paul sends greetings to many friends. Some are mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament; many are mentioned only here. Phoebe’s name is not found elsewhere but much is said about

Watch for Deceivers READ Romans 16:17-18 17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. 18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.   Some think that only a doctrinal difference justifies removing a pers

Getting Started…   The Apostle John, the author of the Gospel and the three letters, was the only one of Jesus’ disciples to die of old age. And in his final days, God gave him a glimpse of mankind’s final days. And this vision was recorded in what we know as the Book of Revelation.    Though many of the visions in this book are strange and fantastical, there is one overriding theme through it all: God will win. Join author and professor Dr. Harold Berry for this verse-by-ver

Day 1 Disclosed READ Revelation 1:1-2 1 This is a revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, 2 who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.   Notice the flow of information in these verses: It came from God the Father, to Jesus Christ, to an angel, to John. Written in Greek, the

Day 1 Exiled READ Revelation 1:9 9 I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus.   John now describes himself and where he was and why he was there. He was suffering as other believers were and was in patient endurance. Those statements together are significant. His location was the Island of P

Day 1 Write Down READ Revelation 1:19 19 “Write down what you have seen—both the things that are now happening and the things that will happen.   This verse is considered by many to be the divine outline of the book of Revelation. The apostle John was to write three things: 1) what you have seen; 2) things that are now happening; and 3) things that will happen.  Number 1) has to do with chapter 1; Number 2) has to do with chapters 2 and 3; and Number 3) has to do with chapter

Day 1 Pay Attention READ Revelation 2:7 7 Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.   This is the appeal of Jesus for the churches to pay attention and understand what the Holy Spirit is saying. There is a promise to all who are “victorious” or is an “overcomer.” One is not awarded salvation by being an overcomer, but one bec

Day 1 Letter to Pergamum READ Revelation 2:12 12 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword.”   The church in Pergamum was about 45 miles north of Smyrna. This description of Jesus is found in Revelation 1:16. The two-edged sword was in His mouth, and by it He could speak the universe into existence and armies out of existence. As the “Word” in John 1:1, the Lord Jesus was the expression of God. J

Day 1 Letter to Thyatira READ Revelation 2:18 18 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze.”   Thyatira was about 40 miles southeast of Pergamum. Thyatira was known for its trade guilds and dyeing industry. The description of the Lord Jesus is similar to that mentioned in Revelation 1:13-15. Previously He was referred to as the Son of Man; here He

Day 1 To Rule the Nations READ Revelation 2:27-29 27 “They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. 28 They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star! 29 Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.”   Having told the faithful believers in Thyatira that Jesus would give them authority over all the nations, here they are told they will r