This link is for my daily Bible Studies that I post on facebook.  I’ll add them here to archive them so that we can revisit them if needed.

9-5-2013

Today’s discussion: Ephesians 2:14-18.

“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

The hard thing about the Law is that we can never truly be good enough. We are sinners. All of us. We will break the rules–even if we just consider it “bending” them. We’re not going to be able to be “good” enough to get to heaven. That is why Christ came. That is why Christ died. He wanted to bring us peace. Peace from the struggle. I find it so interesting that Paul uses the word hostility here. We are hostile toward the law. We are hostile to others. We are hostile toward God. But, when we accept Christ, there is peace. There is rest. There is hope. He offers us MORE than just a bunch of rules. He offers joy, love, peace, patience, kindness…but we have to accept it. Humbling.

I love this song, it’s what I believe Paul was getting at in this passage…it’s like falling in love. 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXHxpLvv2y8

Are there any songs that God uses to speak to you? Post them here! I’d love to hear about what God is using in your lives. –Megan

9-4-2013

Today’s scripture discussion is about the law. The law was a touchy subject back in Paul’s time. You see churches back then had many of the same struggles that churches do today. Many didn’t understand Christ, and what He came to do. Let’s look at the scripture:

“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:11-13)

The idea of circumcision was very important to the Jews. It is what marked them as belonging to God. The symbol is quite interesting, but that’s for another discussion. However, I’ll point out what Paul did. Circumcision was done by man. Up until Christ (the ultimate sacrifice) the Jews had to work to get to heaven. They had to follow the law, and when they broke it they had to offer sacrifices to God to cover their sin. However, Christ came to free us from that. He covered our sin with His blood. We need never sacrifice again. But, early Christians still had to weed through the law to see what they “had” to follow and what they didn’t. Paul says in Romans 2 that Christians are now circumcised in the heart instead of physically. Christ’s blood is what marks us. This is still misunderstood today. We still have the, “everything goes” Christians that think the law is no longer in effect, and we still have the “follow the law!” Christians. The church is still divided on this point.

So, how do you navigate the law of the Old Testament? What things do you feel need to be followed, and what doesn’t? How do you determine this?

 

9-3-2013

Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone enjoyed their labor day! I know I did. Today’s scripture is a great one for me. One of the sins I battle is the sin of Pride. These verses speak right to that sin. Ephesians 2:6-10:

” And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Remember our last set of verses talked about our total depravity. We are pretty worthless, except by grace. These verses tell us that we, once we accept Christ, are raised up and seated with Him. I love verses like this. I love it when the underdog wins. But, there’s a clarification. We didn’t win–Christ did. If it were by our works then we could boast, but it’s a gift. We couldn’t get there on our own. And because of that gift, it’s our job to go do good works–the ones God planned (in other words, submitting to His will)–so others will see Christ…and not us.

Are there times that you, like me, have let your pride get in the way of what God is doing? How do you overcome the mess that creates? I love chatting with everyone! I can’t wait to hear your testimonies! –Megan

 

8-30-2013

Today’s scripture discussion is a reminder. We begin the second chapter in Ephesians:

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:1-5

I’ve always wondered what it would have been like to lived at or near to the time of Christ. Historians use the time near an actual event to verify that the event happen based off of writings and testimony. It’s considered more likely to be true if it’s corroborated within 50 years of the event. This is why I find this passage so interesting. Paul is reminding the Ephesians who they are in Christ. Since Paul’s ministry was so close after his crucifixion, I find myself wondering: Why didn’t they know? These people had access to the men who lived and walked with Christ (even though Paul wasn’t one of these). They might have even witnessed His miracles…They, of all people, should have known what Christ did for them…why did Paul choose to remind them? I think it’s because they battled the same things we still do. They battled pride, selfishness, jealously, boastfulness, etc. Sometimes we all get too big for our britches. We all need to be reminded that we were, “dead in [our] transgressions.” It’s an awesome message about God’s love, but in order for us to understand the blessing, we must first understand that we needed it.

Are there times in your life that God does what Paul did here…reminds you of who you are? I know he’s bopped me on the head on many occasions. What are your struggles? What steps can a person take to keep their mind focused?

 

8-29-2013

Today’s scripture discussion is more of a challenge. I’m not good at this…at all! Here’s the scripture:

“For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

I don’t pray like this. I’ll admit it. When I pray, I pray for specific people’s needs, my needs, my family’s needs…I do spend time praising Him, but I don’t pray like this. Paul is praying for all the Christians in Ephesus. He’s praying for a whole group of people…I don’t do that. I don’t pray for my church…I should. I don’t pray for the churches around the world that are struggling…I should. I stay in my bubble…but there’s a whole world our there–a world that needs prayer.

What do you pray for? Are you better at this than me? How can we change (perhaps add to) what we pray for? What difference do you think it would make if we changed how we pray?

8-28-2013

Today’s scripture discussion is a little controversial. But, I’m not afraid of a little controversy, are you? Let’s look at our next section from Ephesians:

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:11-14)

The idea of predestination ruffles feathers. It raises questions we Christians don’t like to answer. So, if God knows who will be saved and who won’t then why does a loving God create people that will go to hell? Why would God predestine me to loose a job? How can a loving God allow me to have been in that accident and live with constant pain? The questions are not easy. I believe, and I think scripture backs me up on this, that although He gives us free will to choose him, He also knows where our choices will lead. And, that sometimes He leads us through the fire to teach us, or others, about who He is. He uses struggles to refine us and make us more like Him. And, yes, He knows what’s coming. Why? “for the praise of His glory.” He is always reaching out to the lost. He doesn’t want anyone to turn from Him, even though He already knows who will turn.

I once had a discussion with a student. He said that since God knows who will be saved and who won’t then we shouldn’t have to evangelize. (We were studying apologetics at the time) Because they are predestined to come or not to come to Christ; why should we get involved? Other scriptures came to mind in my answer to him, like The Great Commission, and there’s one about a millstone that worries me because I’ve worked with youth a lot…but, I want to hear from you? How would you answer that question. Is my old student right?

8-27-2013

Good morning! Today is our first scripture discussion! I’m excited! The format I’ll use for these posts is to list a scripture (we’re starting Ephesians today), then I’ll share some thoughts, and finally I’ll pose a question to get you started discussing. Please keep the discussion focused on scripture and God honoring. No drama here please.

Today’s scripture is Ephesians 1:1-10 (NIV)

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.”

The first thing that hits me about the beginning of Ephesians, really about the beginning of all of Paul’s letters is that he feels the need to remind the reader–whether that be the church at Ephesus, or us–about who Christ is. It’s not like we’ve forgotten right? Right. I find myself forgetting who Christ is all the time. I get bogged down in my day-to-day life and forget who it was that created me, loves me, and justifies me. Maybe the Ephesians were much like we are. People often say we have it so much worse in our day than in days past. I don’t know that I agree. The early churches faced many of the same struggles that we do, and that our churches do. His letters are pertinent today; they still help to guide Christians through a dangerous world.

So, what do you think, has the world changed that much since biblical times. In what ways are we different? In what ways are we the same? I’m excited to hear your thoughts!