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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

Day 1 Letter to Philadelphia READ Revelation 3:7 7 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open.   Philadelphia was about 28 miles southeast of Sardis. The Greek words that are the basis of the name mean “brotherly love” and likely came from two earthly Roman rulers who loved each other. The Lord Jesus

Day 1 Letter to Laodicea READ Revelation 3:14 14 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation.”   This is the last letter to the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3. Laodicea was about 40 miles southeast of Philadelphia. The seven churches were in a geographical arc beginning with Ephesus and ending with Laodicea. Makes one wonder if they resemble

Day 1 A Door in Heaven READ Revelation 4:1 1 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”   The book of Revelation now comes to the third item of what John was told to write about.  In Revelation 1:19, John was told to write about “what you have seen” (chapter 1); “the things that are now happening” (chapters 2 and

Day 1 The Scroll READ Revelation 5:1-3 1 Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.   In those days the writing was done on a s

Day 1 Heavenly Worship READ Revelation 5:13-14 13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” 14 And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.   This is a great picture of worship in heaven. The millions of angels, living beings and elders had worship

Day 1 Souls of the Martyrs READ Revelation 6:9-10 9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. 10 They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?”   This passage reveals the outcry of those who have died for their faith in Jesus