James, Day 6

A Day to Catch Up  

If you've had a busy week, today you have a chance to play catch up on any of the selections of James you might have missed.  Click to open the information for any of this week's readings.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
Friday

Share Your Thoughts

A good way to remember something you've recently read or done is to talk about it or to write it down.  Take a few minutes to think about this week's Bible readings.

• If you like to journal, reflect on the passage that surprised you the most or the one that was the most emotional to read.
• Talk to a family member, friend, or neighbor about something you've read this week.
• Join the discussion of the Godsway 66 Facebook page.

Get Ready for Sunday's Sermon

Rev. Joshua Patty will preach on James on Sunday at Eastgate Christian Church in Independence, MO.  Join us for the sermon or check back here for the recorded sermon.

James, Day 5 Readings

Patience and Prayer   

Today's reading concludes James' advice on how to practically live out faith.  It bookends the opening chapter by again emphasizing the need for patience.  While it may seem that waiting for God to act is unnecessary, James compares it to a farmer who has planted a field, waiting for the crop to grow and ripen before the harvest.  God has planted seeds of salvation, and is tending to them (implicitly, through the faithful acts of the church).

Importantly, these people must encourage and support one another during this time.  Together they must pray -- prayers of healing for the sick, of thanksgiving and praise for those who celebrate, prayers of confession for sinners -- trusting God to be with them, to support them, to forgive them, and ultimately to save them.

Read James 5:1-20  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read James 5 today.

James, Day 4 Readings

Trusting God Through Action   

Today's reading builds on the warnings of unwise speech.  Too often, Christians live in ways contrary to their professed belief that God is in control.  They fall victim to earthly desires, trying desperately to obtain possessions and pleasures.  They become judgmental of others.  They brag about their plans for the future.

Each of these things suggests that humans are in control, rather than God.  To better live out their faith, Christians must live out their trust in God.  They must trust God's blessings instead of seeking earthly pleasures.  They should let God judge (and forgive), just as God has judged (and often has forgiven) them.  And they should recognize that only God holds the keys to the future, and what happens tomorrow is in God's control, not theirs -- meaning also, not ours.

Read James 4:1-17  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read James 4 today.

James, Day 3 Readings

Holding One's Tongue   

Today's reading offers a concrete approach to the issue of Christian wisdom.  The beginning of faithful wisdom is to understand the dangers of speaking: a wayward tongue can lead the speaker (and anyone who listens) astray.  So Christians must be careful about what they say at all times.

Further, they must make sure that when they do speak, they offer God's wisdom instead of the flawed wisdom of earth.  God's wisdom is gentle and generous, offering mercy and peace; earthly wisdom is selfish and ambitious -- and often envious of others.  Great good comes of sharing God's wisdom, while great damage comes from sharing earthly wisdom.

Read James 3:1-18  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read James 3 today.

James, Day 2 Readings

Belief + Action = Faith   

Today's reading provides a startling example of how Christians (throughout history) have often failed to live out through actions what they say they believe.  While they often repeat Christ's teaching to love their neighbors as themselves, they just as often show preferences for dealing with certain people.  In this example, it is a preference for associating with the rich instead of the poor, but there are many other ways that Christians fall into this trap, which is the opposite of faith.

James then provides his central theme -- faith without works of faith is not faith at all.  What Christians say they believe must be carried out through action, such as caring for the poor.  James offers a couple of examples from the Hebrew scriptures -- Abraham not only believed, but lived out his belief when he was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac; Rahab not only believed, but sheltered and protected the Jewish spies.

Read James 2:1-26  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read James 2 today.

James, Day 1 Readings

Faithful Action   

Today's reading is the beginning of James, which provides several examples of how true faith is not simply a matter of belief, but of action.  Christians should live and behave in particular ways that show the transformation of their lives through faith in Jesus.

In this opening, James suggests several ways that faith should be obvious from action: endurance in the face of the world's temptations, generosity, and the wisdom of listening instead of always speaking.

Read James 1:1-27  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read James 1 today.

James, Overview

Godsway 66, Book 59 - James

James is a letter that is traditionally attributed to the younger brother of Jesus.  Whether this is true or not, it clearly has a different feel from the letters attributed to Paul, which often insist on clarifying and defending proper Christian teaching and belief.

Instead, James suggests that Christian faith is not based on stating beliefs, but rather on acting upon those beliefs.  It is one thing to say what you believe; it is quite another to live in ways that others can see what you believe.

In this letter, James identifies some ways that Christians often preach a better game than they live.  These are related to wisdom, to preferential treatment of certain people around us, to handling temptation and suffering, and to issues of whether Christians actually trust God as much as they say they trust God.  In each case, James offers practical advice on how to fix these common shortcomings of faith.

More than many New Testament letters, James deals with issues that are still present in the modern church.  So perhaps more than other parts of the New Testament, this should be essential reading for Christians, offering practical ways to strengthen our faith and more clearly recognize God's true wisdom.

Hebrews, Day 6

A Day to Catch Up  

If you've had a busy week, today you have a chance to play catch up on any of the selections of Hebrews you might have missed.  Click to open the information for any of this week's readings.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday
Friday

Share Your Thoughts

A good way to remember something you've recently read or done is to talk about it or to write it down.  Take a few minutes to think about this week's Bible readings.

• If you like to journal, reflect on the passage that surprised you the most or the one that was the most emotional to read.
• Talk to a family member, friend, or neighbor about something you've read this week.
• Join the discussion of the Godsway 66 Facebook page.

Get Ready for Sunday's Sermon

Rev. Joshua Patty will preach on Hebrews on Sunday at Eastgate Christian Church in Independence, MO.  Join us for the sermon or check back here for the recorded sermon.

Hebrews, Day 5 Readings

Jesus' Example for Christian Faith & Worship  

Today's first reading provides the description of practical Christian faith in Hebrews.  It is especially rooted in the concept of suffering and sacrifice.  Christians are likely to face persecution and worse, as Jesus himself did.  The essence of faith is to persevere despite such challenges, accepting hostility from people who are not faithful.  These hardships, though, can have a positive purpose too -- they allow God to discipline and guide people into better behavior (just as a parent might correct a child's behavior through punishment).

Read Hebrews 12:1-29  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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The second reading is is the conclusion of Hebrews.  It returns to the parallel visions of the Temple and Jesus by encouraging Christians to understand how they should worship.  Instead of bringing blood sacrifices to the Temple, Christians are to share love and hospitality.  They are to uphold the teachings of Jesus, and they are to offer praise to God in Jesus' name.

Read Hebrews 13:1-25  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Hebrews 12-13 today.

Hebrews, Day 4 Readings

The Sin Offering of Christ & Great Examples of Faith  

Today's first reading provides the exclamation point of the identification of Jesus as a high priest.  It compares the actions of Jesus, especially his crucifixion, to those of the high priest offering the annual offering for the forgiveness of unintentional sins in the Holy of Holies.

As a high priest, Jesus mediates for the people in the sacred place -- though instead of the innermost room of the Temple, the sacred place is heaven itself.  And rather than bringing the blood of animals, Jesus offers his own blood through his sacrificial death, which is a perfect and complete sin offering for the forgiveness of sins.

Read Hebrews 9:1-28  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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The second reading is perhaps the most famous part of Hebrews.  In introducing the concept of faith, it provides a list of several Jews who are commended for their faith, with lengthy descriptions of Abraham and Moses.  It concludes with the point that the faith of these great examples only reaches completion through Jesus, as it does for all Christians as well.

Read Hebrews 11:1-40  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Hebrews 9-11 today.

Hebrews, Day 3 Readings

Jesus Is Not a Levitical Priest & Offers a New Covenant  

Today's first reading further explores the description of Jesus as the great high priest.  While Jesus is the means for God to fulfill the covenant with Abraham, Jesus is not just another in the succession of Jewish high priests.  This is obvious from birth because Jesus is born into the tribe of Judah, not the Levitical priesthood.

Instead, Jesus is a priest "on the order of Melchizedek."  Melchizedek was a mysterious priest named in Genesis, who exerts some influence over Abraham.  This reading takes time to prove the parallel between Jesus and Melchizedek and then suggest several implications.  However, the important thing to understand is that Jesus is not a Levitical priest; by offering himself as a perfect sacrifice, Jesus initiates a new covenant between God and humankind that fulfills the promise of the covenant with Abraham.

Read Hebrews 6:13-7:28  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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The second reading describes this new covenant, which replaces the older covenant.  It is a better covenant, offering complete salvation.  Further, it recognizes that the descendants of Abraham had eventually turned away and rejected the covenant between God and Abraham.  Still, through Jesus, God finds a way to fulfill the promises of the prophets and offer salvation and hope.

Read Hebrews 8:1-13  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Hebrews 7-8 today.

Sermon - "Useful" (Philemon)

On Sunday, Rev. Joshua Patty preached on the letter to Philemon, a personal letter in which Paul tries to explain the value of each and every person in the church.

Paul does this by considering the case of a runaway slave, who belonged to Philemon, an active Christian.  This slave had somehow been in a position to help Paul while he was imprisoned.  Paul helped this slave become a Christian and then adopted him as a son.  He gave him a new name, Onesimus, which means, "useful."  Then he sent him back to his master with this letter, encouraging Philemon to welcome the slave back, not merely as a slave but as his brother in Christ.

Such a vision of Christian equality has been a challenge for 2000 years.  Early Christians had difficulties understanding the value of women and slaves in the church.  Wealthier Christians have long had much more influence in the church than poorer Christians.  Even today, there are certain types of people that we eagerly want to be in our congregation, while there are others that we secretly hope will join other churches.

Paul's message to Philemon and to the church as a whole (through this letter which was likely intended to be read publicly by other Christians) is that each Christian is beneficial and important to the church.  Each Christian, whatever their legal status, gender, education, economic class, etc., should not merely be tolerated, but celebrated.  For this, Paul put his own reputation on the line, claiming a runaway slave to be his own son.

Click here to listen to the sermon.

You can also listen to the related Communion meditation and closing benediction.

Hebrews, Day 2 Readings

Jesus, the High Priest & Repercussions for Backsliding  

Today's first reading describes Jesus as the great high priest, mediating the relationship between human beings and God.  In this, Jesus is like a high priest who served in the Jewish Temple, offering sacrifices to God on the people's behalf.  While all priests could offer some sacrifices, only the high priest could offer the most important sacrifice to atone for all human sins (and that sacrifice only once per year).

Jesus is in a perfect position to offer such a sacrifice for sin.  Having taken human form, Jesus has sympathy for the lives that people live and, due to this, wants to approach God to help them.  However, Jesus is also more equal to God than human beings and can approach God more freely and directly.  The sacrifice that Jesus offers as high priest is not an animal, though; it is his own death.

Read Hebrews 4:14-5:10  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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The second reading offers a warning about those who accept this teaching and then later turn away from it.  If one has been forgiven, but then stops being a Christian, one cannot later be saved.  The reason for this is directly related to the understanding of Jesus being the perfect sacrifice that completely atones for human sin.  The sacrifice that atones for sins does so once; if there are other sins after that time, then another sacrifice will be necessary (which was why the high priest offered such a sacrifice on the people's behalf once each year).  However, Jesus cannot be sacrificed again.

This is meant to encourage people to be diligent and persevering in their faith, despite the challenges and obstacles.  How awful it would be to find salvation and hope through Jesus, only to lose those things foolishly.

Read Hebrews 5:11-6:12  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Hebrews 4-6 today.

Hebrews, Day 1 Readings

The Role of Jesus   

Today's reading is the beginning of Hebrews, which introduces the place of Jesus in God's hierarchy.  At the top of the hierarchy are God and Jesus; beneath them the angels; and beneath the angels, human beings.

This hierarchy is important because Jesus takes human form, shedding the level of honor and status he deserved, in order to offer glory and salvation to human beings.  Having become human, Jesus is the perfect example and guide for people to endure the struggles and challenges of this life and to be saved.

Read Hebrews 1:1-2:18  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Hebrews 1-3 today.

Hebrews, Overview

Godsway 66, Book 58 - Hebrews

Hebrews is a New Testament book that is difficult to classify.  Traditionally, it is included in the epistles, the many letters preserved in the Bible.  However, it is missing key parts for any letter, notably a sender and a receiver.  So others have argued that it is a sermon.

Regardless, it is a serious theological work that attempts to explain the theological meaning of Jesus.  Unlike the Gospels, where the meaning of Jesus is explored through the story of his life, Hebrews uses the theology of the Jewish Temple to understand Jesus.  Often, this is done by paralleling Jesus to a Jewish high priest in the Temple.

Both of these individuals serve as necessary mediators -- go-betweens -- allowing the people to reach out to God.  Only the high priest was allowed to go into the most sacred place in the Temple, the Holy of Holies (and then, only once each year); now Jesus can go into the most sacred place imaginable, heaven itself.  The high priest offered a sacrifice each year atoning for the sins of all Jewish people; Jesus was himself a sacrifice for the sins of all people.

There are important differences, though.  Jesus is establishing a new, perfect covenant between God and God's people.  As part of this new covenant, Christians live in a new way, exemplified by Jesus.  They are to offer love and peace in the world, and bear suffering and trials.

Sermon - "Good People Make Good Christians" (Titus)

On Sunday, Rev. Joshua Patty preached on the letter to Titus, the third of the so-called pastoral epistles that between Paul and those who followed him as ministers.  In some ways, it covers some of the same issues as 1 Timothy, providing instructions on how to select congregational leaders.

In some ways, though, Titus encourages the church to look more like the surrounding culture -- at least the good parts of it. Christians should make attempts to behave like their non-Christian neighbors and co-workers.  Partially, this was probably an attempt to help people see Christians not as a crazy sect of weirdos, but as virtuous and faithful people.  If successful, this would probably decrease persecution and increase the number of people willing to become Christians.

More than this, though, there is also a belief that the good values of the surrounding culture can help develop Christian virtues and Christian values will help develop social virtues that will be appreciated by others.  Even in our own time, we frequently act in this way.  We expect that Christian behavior will be influenced by good habits and lessons taught outside of the church, and we hope that Christian teaching will encourage still other good behavior in peoples' daily lives.

Click here to listen to the sermon.

You can also listen to the related Communion meditation.

Philemon, Day 1 Readings

Everyone Is Useful in God's Household   

Today's reading is the short and brilliant letter of Paul to Philemon.  This letter tackles a huge problem in the early church with both tact and firmness.  Slaves were a matter of life in the Roman empire, and slaves quickly became a part of some early congregations in cities throughout the empire.  Christian teaching suggested that all people were equal in God's eyes; in law and custom, though, slaves were not equal to others.

Paul puts his own prestige on the line for a runaway slave that he calls Onesimus, which literally means "Useful."  He obliquely uses the language of adoption, claiming the slave as his own son, but then encourages the slave to return to his master, Philemon, who is a Christian and friend of Paul.  Emphasizing the teaching of love and gratitude, Paul hopes that Philemon will welcome the slave back and, even more, expects that he will treat Onesimus as his brother in Christ.

While Paul's language is full of tact and charm, the lesson is clear.  Slaves are valued by God because all people are valued by God.  The church will only live up to God's expectations if all people are welcomed equally.

Read Philemon 1:1-25  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Philemon 1 today.

Philemon, Overview

Godsway 66, Book 57 - Philemon

Philemon is a powerful letter by Paul addressing a key issue in the life of the early church -- the role of slaves (if any) in a congregation.  The great apostle addresses this issue by example, writing a letter to his fellow Christian, Philemon.

Evidently, one of Philemon's slaves had run away and ended up in the care of Paul.  While with Paul, the slave becomes a Christian and evidently is quite helpful to the evangelist while he is imprisoned.  Paul recognizes this by adopting the slave with a new name, Onesimus, which means useful.  Then, Paul sends the slave back to Philemon with this letter.  He expects that Philemon will forgive Onesimus for running away and -- here's the even more challenging piece -- accept him as an equal brother in Christ.  (Ultimately, Paul may hope that Philemon will release the slave to return to Paul's side -- there are suggestions of that in this short letter too.)

The implication is clear, though.  Slaves have a place in Christ's church.  They do not rank below other Christians, but rather are equal brothers and sisters to everyone else in Christ's name.  And... and... if Christians can treat others with love and gratitude for everyone's usefulness -- what Paul describes metaphorically elsewhere as everyone's particular part of the body -- they will celebrate this and live it out.  (Unfortunately, the church has a long, complicated history with the issue of unequal treatment of Christians based on their social and economic status.)

Titus, Day 4

A Day to Catch Up  

If you've had a busy week, today you have a chance to play catch up on any of the selections of Titus you might have missed.  Click to open the information for any of this week's readings.

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Share Your Thoughts

A good way to remember something you've recently read or done is to talk about it or to write it down.  Take a few minutes to think about this week's Bible readings.

• If you like to journal, reflect on the passage that surprised you the most or the one that was the most emotional to read.
• Talk to a family member, friend, or neighbor about something you've read this week.
• Join the discussion of the Godsway 66 Facebook page.

Get Ready for Sunday's Sermon

Rev. Joshua Patty will preach on Titus on Sunday at Eastgate Christian Church in Independence, MO.  Join us for the sermon or check back here for the recorded sermon.

Titus, Day 3 Readings

Faith Is Not Contrary to the Social Order    

Today's reading is the conclusion of the letter to Titus.  It summarizes the theme of the middle part of the letter, studied yesterday.  In order to be a good Christian, one must be a good person in the eyes of the wider (non-Christian) community.   You must not only follow religious rules, but you must obey the laws and customs of the place where you live.  A good Christian teacher will insist that people not only learn about Jesus, but live peacefully and honorably among all of their neighbors.

Read Titus 3:1-15  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Titus 3 today.

Titus, Day 2 Readings

Prudent Christian Living    

Today's reading is the heart of the letter to Titus.  It provides a vision of good Christian living in a congregation.  Speaking directly to specific groups -- old men, young men, women, slaves -- it provides brief lists of "do's" and "don't's" for Christians.

The impulse of these lists is clear, and perhaps a little counter-intuitive.  In order to be a good Christian, one must be a good person in the eyes of the wider (non-Christian) community.   You must not only follow religious rules, but you must obey the laws and customs of the place where you live.  Even as Christians are to turn away from the passions of the world, they are to be good citizens of this world... until they are saved by God and begin living in the next world.

Read Titus 2:1-15  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Titus 2 today.

Sermon- "Good Christian Teaching" (2 Timothy)

On Sunday, Rev. Joshua Patty preached on the second letter to the Timothy.  This letter, addressed to Timothy, the young co-worker of Paul, offers encouragement to those who will follow in Paul's footsteps.

The letter stresses the need for good teaching about the meaning of Jesus' life and death for those who follow him.  It can be easy for people to get distracted by unimportant controversies or for them to look for popular answers in challenging times.  Instead, people need to consistently teach about the need for sacrifice and love in the face of persecution, just as Paul did in his own ministry.

While this letter is often seen as a passing of the torch from one pastor to another, it can be an encouragement for all Christians.  Those who are followers of Jesus have an important role in sharing the gospel and teaching others about Jesus through their words and actions.

Click here to listen to the sermon.

You can also listen to the related Communion meditation and the closing benediction.

Titus, Day 1 Readings

Picking Good Leaders    

Today's reading is the beginning of the letter to Titus, which provides a vision of what exemplary Christians look like.  From the outset, Titus is encouraged to pick congregational leaders who conform to high moral standards of the time, who have blameless characters and understand Christian teaching well.  Such leaders are necessary because there are countless other people who are bad leaders, giving bad teaching and providing awful personal examples of faith.

Read Titus 1:1-16  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

[links to Bible Gateway open in a new window]

Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Titus 1 today.

Titus, Overview

Godsway 66, Book 56 - Titus 

Titus is a letter of advice to a young Christian evangelist following in Paul's footsteps.  It encourages Titus to set a good example of faithful living to the congregation in his preaching and in his selection of congregational leaders.

In essence, a good Christian must be a generally good person.  Virtue does not only exist in matters of faith, but is evident in every aspect of a person's life.  So good Christians not only need to learn the truth about God and Jesus, and treat other Christians well, but they must be exemplary citizens of their community and the country.

Basically, one who has learned to follow God faithfully knows how to follow the rules and customs of society well also.  And, one who has learned to follow the rules and customs of society will more naturally and easily follow the laws of God.  These habits of character build upon each other, leading to strong faith and a strong example of good, prudent living.

2 Timothy, Day 5

A Day to Catch Up  

If you've had a busy week, today you have a chance to play catch up on any of the selections of 2 Timothy you might have missed.  Click to open the information for any of this week's readings.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Share Your Thoughts

A good way to remember something you've recently read or done is to talk about it or to write it down.  Take a few minutes to think about this week's Bible readings.

• If you like to journal, reflect on the passage that surprised you the most or the one that was the most emotional to read.
• Talk to a family member, friend, or neighbor about something you've read this week.
• Join the discussion of the Godsway 66 Facebook page.

Get Ready for Sunday's Sermon

Rev. Joshua Patty will preach on 2 Timothy on Sunday at Eastgate Christian Church in Independence, MO.  Join us for the sermon or check back here for the recorded sermon.