The 100 Scriptures Project
We interviewed one mom who has challenged her young children to memorize 100 scriptures. Read one to find out how they did it and why. Cari, tell us about having your children memorize 100 scriptures: What motivated you to do this? Why was it important to you? What did you want the outcome to be? Did you wish to accomplish more than just memorizing? As a mama, I worry about how much time I have left with my children to teach them and to prepare them for the world. I want them to have the tools and the wisdom that they will need in life to combat temptation and doctrinal error. It seems like it was just yesterday that we were bringing my eldest child, Savannah, home from the hospital, and now she is nearly 9 years old. I know that all I will...
Read MoreTo The Chosen Lady
“The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth.” 2 John 1 Do you realize that the book of 2 John is addressed to a lady? I didn’t realize this until just recently. I want you to read through the whole book (don’t worry it is only 12 verses) imagining that it is addressed personally to you. John obviously knew the recipients of this letter very well and wanted to encourage them. How does reading this book in this way encourage you? Some scholars think that the “lady” might be a reference to a church and the “children” a reference to the members of that congregation. Read through the book again. How does this change your perspective? On the following page is a short 3 day study...
Read More3 Day Study of 2 John
“And now I ask you, Lady, not as writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments…” 2 John 5-6 Day 1 John wanted to encourage this lady by reminding her of the basic commandment to love one another. I don’t think that she had stopped doing this…John just wanted her to continue loving and to love even more. Now how is it that we do this? By walking according to God’s commandments. God knows what is best for us and what is best for others. So if we follow God’s commands, we will be giving others the best of ourselves and the best of God. To do this, you must love with your whole self (Luke 10:27) and sincerely (1 Cor. 13). Let us...
Read MoreFor Further Study and Thought on the Lord’s Supper
For Further Study and Thought: Am I taking the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner? 1 Cor. 11:20-34 How is Jesus being the bread of life important to the Lord’s Supper? John 6:26-58 How does the Passover relate to the Lord’s Supper? Exodus 12, 1 Cor. 5:7-8 How does the Old Testament sacrifices compare with Christ’s sacrifice? Lev. 4, Heb. 9:11-26, Heb. 13: 10-16, 1Pet. 1:18-19 How does Christ’s body of the Lord’s Supper effect or relate to the church? Col. 1:22, Heb. 10:10, 1 Pet. 2:24, 1 Cor. 10:16-17, Eph. 5:23, Rom. 12:4-5 What does Christ’s blood do for you? Acts 20:28, Rom. 5:9, Eph. 1:7, 2:13, Heb. 10:19, 1 John 1:7 Originally printed in the Spring 2010 issue...
Read MoreA Study of Biblical Hospitality
• Abraham to the angels (Genesis 18:1-8) Question: How did Abraham greet his visitors?(v2) Question: What are the two things Abraham wanted his guests to feel? (v3) • Abimelech to Abraham (Genesis 20) Question: What does this chapter teach you about how God wants you to show hospitality to someone that you may not agree with and who you feel may have wronged you? (v14-16) • Pharaoh to Jacob (Genesis 45:16-20; 47:7-12) Question: How does chapter 45 teach us to be hospitable to people who are outsiders? Question: After reading both verses, what lesson can be gleaned from comparing the two? • Jethro to Moses (Exodus 2:15-20) Question: What does this verse teach us about being hospitable to those who are...
Read MoreGuide to Spiritual Spring Cleaning
As you clean out your closets and dust away the cobwebs this spring, take a little time to do some spiritual cleaning as well. A good house cleaning will only last for a little while, but an in-depth cleansing of your spirit can have an eternal influence. Week One : Clean Your Mind Our thoughts can quickly become our actions so it is important to start our spiritual cleaning with a clean and pure mind. The garbage that we are regularly presented by the world can take hold in our minds and cause us to become more like the world. Passages to Study: Philippians 4:8 Romans 12 Week Two: Clean Your Heart David prayed that God would create in him a clean heart, and we would do well to offer the same prayer on this week of our spiritual...
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