As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, try to answer these three questions:

Chapter 24 focuses on the way Jesus communicates with his followers and the masses.  Everyone can hear the message of Jesus Christ but only those who will pay the price can be followers.

Jesus uses stories to teach simple messages that we call Parables.  He also uses simple statements like in the Sermon on the Mount that we call Pronouncements.  And Jesus taught by doing Miracles that healed them or fed them with food that could not be found before.  Yet for those who want to be followers there will always be those moments when we are invited to step out of the boat and walk by Faith.

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, try to answer these three questions:

The promise of John and Jesus was made to us in the Old Testament.  John was the prophetic voice calling the people to repent and prepare, and Jesus was the bringer of the new life promised.  All that was promised would be given, just not in the way that people expected.

The act of baptism was a physical act of repentance, turning from the old, and an embracing of a new life.  Baptism by immersion is a perfect way to experience the sense of dying to the old and coming out of the water to a new life.

One of my favorite Bible passages is John 1:29-38.  John the Baptist is teaching two of his disciples and John sees Jesus.  John stands and points to Jesus and says,  “There is the Lamb of God.”  The two disciples start following Jesus and Jesus stops and asks them, “What are you looking for?”  I try to imagine Jesus asking me that question every day.

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, try to answer these three questions:

Yea, we’re into the New Testament!

This is a story that we hear every Advent as we are reminded of:  the OT promises of Jesus; the call of Mary; the call of Joseph; and evil’s attempt through the hands of Herod to stop God’s plan.  Did the young girl, Mary, really fully understand what she was getting into?  I have always admired the faith of Joseph; his future wife was pregnant and it was not his!  I would want more than a dream to believe that God’s hand was behind all of this.

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, try to answer these three questions:

1) What does this say about God and God’s nature?

2) What does this say about humanity and humanity’s nature?

3) And what does this story mean to me?

Chapter 21 is our last day in the Old Testament, and it covers the rebuilding of the wall and God’s final prophetic call back to relationship. God calls the prophet, Ezra, and the people again get excited and want to return to the Promised Land and God’s ways. With God’s help Ezra and more of the chosen people return to Jerusalem, but with no wall security is a problem. Security in this world meant high walls and locked, guarded gates; without them the Temple and God’s chosen people were at risk.

Thirteen years after Ezra returned Nehemiah was called by God to rebuild the wall. You really should read the book of Nehemiah as it is a great story of faith and leadership. Nehemiah was a cup bearer for the Persian King. The cup bearer’s job was to taste the king’s food and drink so that if there was poison the cup bearer would die first. Cup bearers usually were not your smartest, brightest or best thought of leaders, and they tended not to last long.

Nehemiah’s brother visits Jerusalem and tells his brother how bad things are. This troubles Nehemiah so much that he cries out to God all night with tear stained cheeks. When Nehemiah reports to work, the King sees this man that looks like a walking dead man. The King asks what is wrong and Nehemiah tells of his concerns for Jerusalem. The king gives Nehemiah letters of instruction and sends him to rebuild the wall.

This lowly cup bearer showed great wisdom when he quietly entered into Jerusalem and inspected the wall under the cover of darkness. If you want to learn how to be a successful, Godly leader, study Nehemiah.

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

Pastor Duane

As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, try to answer these three questions:

1) What does this say about God and God’s nature?

2) What does this say about humanity and humanity’s nature?

3) And what does this story mean to me?

Chapter 20 is a story about a king, two faithful Jews, and the future of the Jewish people. It has always intrigued me that the two books in our Old Testament named after women are both books where God or God’s actions are never seen.

It is true that Esther’s and Mordecai’s actions were shaped by their faith but they have no direct vision or interaction with God that leads to their actions. Their faith has shaped how they think and act, and they just do what is needed to be done. I love watching how Esther connects with the people that come into her live and how she motivates them to help her complete her mission. Esther never demands, she never orders, and she never makes you feel like she puts herself or her interests. Esther makes a friend and brings that friend to Christ (God,) and people love helping her and seeing her come out on top. How can we do likewise?

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

Pastor Duane

As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, try to answer these three questions:

1) What does this say about God and God’s nature?

2) What does this say about humanity and humanity’s nature?

3) And what does this story mean to me?

The faithfulness of Daniel, Hananiah (Shadrach,) Mishael (Meshach,) and Azariah (Abednego) gave us hope and God the opportunity to return some of the chosen people to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. Once again it was the hand of God that changed the heart of King Cyrus and fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah. King Cyrus wanted the Temple rebuilt and offerings made to God, now!

Those who returned wanted to rebuild the Temple, and they rebuilt the altar first so that offerings could be made. Yet, it was not going to be easy as those living around Jerusalem were afraid of the rebuilding, and they did anything they could to stop it. The chosen people stopped working on the Temple and focused on rebuilding their own homes.

God sent the prophets Zechariah and Haggai to encourage the people to focus on the Temple. Zechariah and Haggai were successful and work began again. Those who opposed the Temple took one last shot at stopping the rebuilding by sending a letter to the second Persian King Darius. King Darius supported the rebuilding of the Temple so it was completed without delay.

The rebuilding of the Temple is a wonderful sign of God’s Grace and of hope for our restoration.

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

Pastor Duane

As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, try to answer these three questions:

1) What does this say about God and God’s nature?

2) What does this say about humanity and humanity’s nature?

3) And what does this story mean to me?

Israel had fallen, Judah had fallen, the Temple was destroyed, and the chosen people had been taken from their homes. Yet, in this darkest of hours we get a story of faith and hope.

Daniel, Hananiah (Shadrach,) Mishael (Meshach,) and Azariah (Abednego) are four of the chosen people’s finest, and they model for us how our relationship with God can be restored. The boys repeatedly refuse to violate God’s law in diet, who they trust to deliver them (with the dream interpretation,) and even to the point of death by fire instead of worshipping false idols. What a story of hope in the darkest of times, and what men of faith were these. Do you think you could stand as strongly as these men of faith? Where have you been called to stand in faith?

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

Pastor Duane

As we read these stories of God and God’s interaction with humanity, try to answer these three questions:

1) What does this say about God and God’s nature?

2) What does this say about humanity and humanity’s nature?

3) And what does this story mean to me?

Israel has fallen to the Assyrians and God has saved Judah by killing 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. You would think God’s chosen would be thankful and remain faithful.

King Hezekiah was faithful and things were good in Judah, but at his death his son became king and Manasseh was worse than any king from Israel. King Manasseh worshipped false gods even in the Temple at Jerusalem! The Lord spoke to Manasseh and the people but they “paid no attention.” Finally God let the Assyrian King take Manasseh as a prisoner, and it was as a prisoner that Manasseh turned to God and repented.

God heard and answered Manasseh’s pleas by restoring him to Judah, but upon his death, his son Amon became King. King Amon returned to worshipping false gods, but his son became king at the age of eight and King Josiah was faithful to the Lord. King Josiah’s son, grandson and great grandson all worshipped false gods and it was then that God let the Babylonian King conquer Judah. Yet there was hope because God said that the kingdoms would be restored one day.

So what have you been thinking as you have been doing today’s reading?

Pastor Duane

A great overview of the Bible, taught to you in 31 days.  A religious learning that highlights and summarizes a journey through the Bible brought to you by Pastor Combs. 

Make sure you have picked up your copy of The Story, published by Zonderan. I am using the revised edition copyrighted in 2008. This is also the edition we have available in the office for your purchase or rental.

Each day we will read one chapter with each chapter being about 10 pages. After you’ve done your reading you can post any questions or comments you have on our blog. If you need help or want to contact me you can always email me at pastor@myccumc.com

Thanks for being part of this study and I can’t wait to see where God leads us.

Pastor Duane