DAILY, WEEKEND, AND HOLIDAY INTERNET EVANGELIZE TO THE WORLD MINISTRY

September 30 Key Players and Main Narratives Malachi 2:10–4:6 ; Acts 28:1–31 ; Job 31:23–40 The book of Acts ends on a somewhat unsatisfying note. After all that Paul has been through—imprisonment, trial, shipwreck—we expect a showdown with Caesar or mass conversions of the Jews. Instead, the plot seems to sputter out. Paul arrives in Rome and appeals to the Jews living there. He quotes Isaiah to the Jewish leaders: “You will keep on hearing, and will never understand, and you will keep on seeing and will never perceive” ( Acts 28:26 ). When they fail to respond, Paul determines to reach out to the Gentiles. “They also will listen” ( Acts 28:28 ) and will respond differently. The poignant end of this book leaves Paul “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance” ( Acts 28:30 ). Facing either rejection or reception, he continues proclaiming the good news to both Jew and Gentile. Paul is...

September 29 Rebuilding Is Not Always Wise Malachi 1:1–2:9 ; Acts 27:1–44 ; Job 31:9–22 Who can rebuild what Yahweh tears down ? The prophets articulate this message again and again. Yahweh tears down evil things ; evil people rebuild them ; the prophets insist that He will just tear them down again . God tolerates evil for a time , waiting for people to repent , but when His patience is up , it’s up . “ ‘I have loved you,’ says Yahweh, but you say, ‘How have you loved us?’ ‘Is Esau not Jacob’s brother?’ declares Yahweh. ‘I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated. I have made his mountain ranges a desolation, and given his inheritance to the jackals of the desert.’ If Edom says, ‘We are shattered, but we will return and rebuild the ruins,’ Yahweh of hosts says this: ‘They may build, but I will tear down; and they will be called a territory of wickedness, and the people with whom Yahweh is angry forever.’ Your eyes will see this, and you will say, ‘Yahweh is great beyond...

September 28 Lesson 4 FUTURE PEACE AND JOY DEVOTIONAL READING: Jeremiah 9:17–24 BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE : Jeremiah 33 JEREMIAH 33:1–11 1 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 2 Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name ; 3 Call unto me , and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. 4 For thus saith the LORD , the God of Israel , concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword; 5 They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city. 6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundanc...

Lesson for September 28, 2014 Future Peace and Joy Jeremiah 33 This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD . It is published in the September 21 issue of  The Lookout  magazine, and is also available online at  www.lookoutmag.com . ______ By Sam E. Stone  In last Sunday’s lesson Jeremiah was being held in a courtyard prison by King Zedekiah ( Jeremiah 32 ), and he is still there in today’s text. Jeremiah repeated with fuller explanation his prophecy of the one great king called “the Branch,” who would one day come and fulfill the promise of an eternal throne. Jeremiah had been prophesying in Jerusalem for some 40 years at this time. He was respected by his hearers, despite the serious warnings he had given them. Present Distress Jeremiah 33:1-5 The  word of the Lord   came again to Jeremiah. The prophet made it clear that  the Lord  being s...

September 28 Turning the Tables Zechariah 12:1–14:21 ; Acts 26:1–32 ; Job 31:1–8 When Paul presents the gospel before King Agrippa, we expect him to be defensive. But Paul is ready to shift the spotlight. He offers a surprisingly simple explanation of recent events and a testimony of his faith, and then he describes how the resurrection of Jesus changes everything. He deftly turns the tables and gives the king the opportunity to believe. Paul describes the gospel as something that was intended all along—it is nothing new: “Therefore I have experienced help from God until this day, and I stand here testifying to both small and great saying nothing except what both the prophets and Moses have said were going to happen, that the Christ was to suffer and that as the first of the resurrection from the dead , he was going to proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles” ( Acts 26:23 ). Paul respectfully tells Agrippa that his testimony should come as no great s...

September 27 The True Source of Leadership Zechariah 10:1–11:17 ; Acts 25:1–27 ; Job 30:16–31 When leaders latch onto power, considering it their right, it’s destructive. God holds leaders to a higher standard because their words and actions cause others to rise or fall. When leaders of corporations, churches, or other organizations take their authority for granted, entire communities may end up fighting against God rather than with Him . Such was the case for the Israelites in Zechariah’s lifetime . The context suggests the people were mistakenly relying on Baal (the storm god) rather than Yahweh . Yahweh responded by reminding them and their leaders that He is the one who sends rain: “Ask rain from Yahweh in the season of the spring rain— Yahweh , who makes storm clouds, and he gives showers of rain to them, to everyone the vegetation in the field. Because the household gods speak deceit, and those who practice divination see a lie, and the dreamers of vanity speak...

God's Judgement of the Whole World, Especially Judah and Jerusalem Excerpt ‎Zephaniah, speaking for God , proclaims a great and worldwide destruction. This will be focused particularly on Judah and her capital Jerusalem. ‎ God will destroy the priests and people who are worshipping the Canaanite god Baal, the god Molech (the Ammonite god Milcom, favoured by some of King Solomon’s wives) and the sun, moon and stars. The priests have been mixing pagan worship with the worship of the Lord . The royal court has been mixing the Hebrew way of life with foreign dress and superstitions. All this has obscured the truth about God and muddied the purity of his people. Zephaniah calls for absolute silence, as God approaches the very moment of judgment. … Knowles, Andrew. The Bible Guide. 1st Augsburg books ed. Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 2001. Print.

You Will be Blessed Excerpt ‎The context of Peter’s question makes it almost rhetorical. Though the adversary, through physical suffering or material hardship, would distress those who were eager (zēlōtai, lit., “zealots”) to do good, no real harm can come to those who belong to Christ . For even if suffering should occur, Christ ians are blessed and thus should not be frightened. The word here translated “blessed” (makarioi; cf . 4:14) was used by Jesus ( Matt. 5:3-11 ). To be “blessed” in this context does not mean to “feel delighted” but to be “highly privileged.” Christ ians are not to be afraid of what men can do to them ( cf . Matt. 10:28 ). Consequently 1 Peter 3:14 concludes with a quotation from Isaiah 8:12 which, in context, is part of an exhortation to fear God rather than men. Raymer, Roger M. “ 1 Peter .” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures . Ed. J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 850. Print.

Mundy's Quote for the Day By: The Late Rev. Charles Spurgeon "... Oh,  Lord , make Thy ministers throughout all the world to be more fruitful in soul winning. Let us not rest without sowing the good seed beside all waters. Forgive us our coldness and indifference; forgive us that we sleep as do others, for it is high time for us to awake out of sleep. Oh,  Lord , help us to live while we live; shake us clear of these cerements, these grave clothes, which cling to us; say to us, most blessed  Jesus , what Thou saidst concerning Lazarus of old,  “Loose him, and let him go.”  May we get right away from the old death and the old lethargy, and live under the best conditions of life, diligently serving  God . Convert the nations, we pray  Thee ! Help our dear brethren who stand far out in the thick heathen darkness, like lone sentinels; let them bear their witness well, and may the day come when the  Christ ian  church shall become a mis...

Hebrews 10:30-31 King James Version For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me , I will recompense, saith the Lord . And again, The Lord shall judge his people . It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God . Read at Bible Gateway Read all of  Hebrews 10 Public Domain New King James Version For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine , I will repay,” says the Lord . And again, “The L ord  will judge His people .” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God . Read at Bible Gateway Read all of  Hebrews 10 Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. English Standard Version For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people .” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God . Read at Bible Gateway Read all of  Hebrews 10 The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a...

September 26 Unexpected Opportunities Zechariah 8:1–9:17 ; Acts 23:23–24:27 ; Job 30:1–15 When we are busy doing the work of the kingdom, how do we respond to obstacles that get in our way? Do we expect God to blast a path straight through so that we can proceed? We might read the drama of Paul’s life through this lens, waiting anxiously for God to open the way for Paul to continue his spectacularly successful work. Instead, God allows Paul to be imprisoned and put on trial. But as Paul defended himself before Roman officials, he recognized that God was using him in ways he hadn't expected. The conflict and rejection Paul encountered from the Jews provided him with the opportunity to share the gospel with some of the most influential Gentiles he would ever encounter. God used Paul’s trials to expand his ministry from the Jews to the Gentiles. Through Paul’s life, God displayed His power to bring about the growth of the Church and the spread of the gospel message ...

September 25 Visions, Revelations, and Questions Zechariah 6:1–7:14 ; Acts 22:22–23:22 ; Job 29:13–25 The prophets of old had visions and dreamed dreams. They experienced apocalyptic nightmares and witnessed breathtaking scenes of beauty. Perhaps most fascinating, though, is how they reacted. Zechariah provides us with an example of both the revelation and the proper response. “I looked up again, and I saw, and look!—four chariots coming out from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze.… And I answered and said to the angel that was talking to me, ‘What are these, my lord?’ And the angel answered and said to me, ‘These are the four winds of the heavens going out after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth’ ” ( Zech 6:1–5 ). Zechariah could not have understood what he was seeing, but he paid attention, and he asked questions. Although we may not experience visions as confounding as Zechariah’s, we certainly have the opportunity ...

Seek First His Righteousness Matthew 6:33 ‎When God’s people corporately seek first his priorities, they will by definition take care of the needy in their fellowships. When one considers that over 50 percent of all believers now live in the Two-Thirds World and that a substantial majority of those believers live below what we would consider the poverty line, a huge challenge to First-World Christianity emerges. Without a doubt, most individual and church budgets need drastic realignment in terms of what Christians spend on themselves versus what they spend on others (cf. 2 Cor 8:13–15). Blomberg, Craig. Matthew. Vol. 22. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American Commentary

Elymas the Magician Acts 13:6-12 Excerpt ‎A Jewish sorcerer whom Paul encountered at Paphos on the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:6–12). Elymas opposed Paul’s efforts to teach the gospel to Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul of the island. For his opposition, Elymas was stricken with temporary blindness. The narrative presents Christianity in contrast to religious magic. ‎Elymas was probably attached to the proconsul’s entourage as a personal adviser who claimed to know divine will. Like many Romans, Sergius Paulus was interested in knowing any divine guidance for his affairs, and he retained Elymas for that purpose. Elymas undoubtedly perceived the efforts of Paul as a threat to his position with the proconsul. McClister, L. David. “Elymas.” Ed. David Noel Freedman, Allen C. Myers, & Astrid B. Beck. Eerdmans dictionary of the Bible 2000 : 403. Print.

The Father is Greater than I John 14:28 Excerpt ‎Thus the Arians, the Gnostics, and their modern successors have used the statement “the Father is greater than I” to make a separation in the Godhead and minimize Jesus in relation to the ultimate God . As I indicated in the discussion of the Prologue , Jesus was from the beginning directly associated with God ( 1:1 ) and certainly not merely “a god,” as the Jehovah Witnesses have argued. Moreover, he was active in the creation of all things ( 1:3 ). Borchert, Gerald L. John 12–21 . Vol. 25B . Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2002. Print. The New American Commentary .

Mary, However, "remained in the House" Excerpt ‎The custom was for the bereaved to remain seated in the house and for the guests to come and sit in silence and periodically support the grieving parties with sympathetic tears and moans. For me the experience of having observed modern wakes in the Middle East has left an unforgettable memory of what “sitting in the house,” crowded on benches in the heat of day and mourning for the dead, can mean. Moreover, one must not forget that it was the brother (the obvious wage earner of that home) who had died. The loss was an intense one. Reading again Ruth 1:6–14 will provide some sense of the feelings that probably were present in that room. Borchert, Gerald L. John 1–11 . Vol. 25A . Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996. Print. The New American Commentary .

Be Humble Toward One Another Excerpt ‎Humility preserves peace and order in all Christ ian churches and societies; pride disturbs them. Where God gives grace to be humble, he will give wisdom, faith, and holiness. To be humble, and subject to our reconciled God , will bring greater comfort to the soul than the gratification of pride and ambition. But it is to be in due time; not in thy fancied time, but God’s own wisely appointed time. Does he wait, and wilt not thou? What difficulties will not the firm belief of his wisdom, power, and goodness get over! Then be humble under his hand. Cast “all you care;” personal cares, family cares, cares for the present, and cares for the future, for yourselves, for others, for the church, on God . These are burdensome, and often very sinful, when they arise from unbelief and distrust, when they torture and distract the mind, unfit us for duties, and hinder our delight in the service of God . The remedy is, to cast our care upon God , and l...

Logos Verse of the Day

Hebrews 10:35-36 King James Version Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God , ye might receive the promise. Read at Bible Gateway Read all of  Hebrews 10 Public Domain New King James Version Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God , you may receive the promise: Read at Bible Gateway Read all of  Hebrews 10 Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. English Standard Version Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. Read at Bible Gateway Read all of  Hebrews 10 The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publish...

September 24 Speaking the Truth with Love Zechariah 3:1–5:11 ; Acts 21:27–22:21 ; Job 29:1–12 Read today’s headlines and you might conclude that Christ ian boldness is a thin disguise for defensiveness, anger, and demeaning behavior. Believers who feel voiceless in their society sometimes respond by becoming adamant “defenders of the faith” in ways that can be destructive. In an age of instant electronic communication, our potential for good or harm has increased exponentially. But if we lay claim to special rights as Christ ians , we have forgotten that we’re supposed to be like Jesus . We need wisdom and spiritual maturity to share our faith with love. Paul serves as a model for using influence in a Christ - like way. In Acts 21–22 , Paul encountered an angry Jewish mob that wanted him dead. He could have responded to the crowd self-righteously, looking down on them from his enlightened position. Instead, Paul confessed that he was once a persecutor of “this Way” ( A...

Mundy's Quote of the Day Should you bash or hate gays and lesbians? Ans. No. Why?  God  is love. If you say that you're a  Christ ian , think of what it means,  C - h - r - i - s - t :  Christ ,  Jesus ;  i - a - n : like. Put  Christ ian  in its  biblical  definition:  CHRIST IAN  (Gk.  Christ ianos ; from Lat.  christ ianus  “belonging to  Christ ”). An appellation for one who believes in  Jesus Christ  (Gk.  Christ os ), the  Son of  God  and  Redeemer  of mankind. The term was first applied to the disciples in cosmopolitan Antioch after Paul and Barnabas had taught there for about one year ( Acts 11:26 ). At  Acts 26:28  Luke records Paul as asking Agrippa if he believed the prophet, to which the king retorts: “In a short time you think to make me a  Christ ian !” Peter observes that to suffer ( 1 Pet. 4:16 ) and to remember  Chri...

Logos Verse of the Day

Romans 5:3-4 King James Version And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: Read at Bible Gateway Read all of  Romans 5 Public Domain New King James Version And not only  that,  but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Read at Bible Gateway Read all of  Romans 5 Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. English Standard Version Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, Read at Bible Gateway Read all of  Romans 5 The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Holman Christian Standard Bible And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflict...

September 23 Beyond Measure Zechariah 1:1–2:13 ; Acts 21:1–26 ; Job 28:12–28 When we say, “God is gracious; God is kind,” do we fully comprehend the extent of God’s graciousness and kindness toward us? We glimpse it in Zechariah: “You must say to them: ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts : “Return to me ,” declares Yahweh of hosts , “and I will return to you,” ’ says Yahweh of hosts ” ( Zech 1:2–3 ). An astounding reversal is hidden in these words, couched in a dialogue expressing how terribly God’s people have treated Him ( Zech 1:4–6 ). By relying on their ancestors’ wisdom, God’s people are marching toward their own destruction: “Your ancestors, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?” ( Zech 1:5 ). Instead of wiping them from the face of earth or banishing them from relationship with Him , however, God acts graciously : “Return to me … and I will return to you” ( Zech 1:3 ). It’s an incredibly generous offer, one that the people accept ( Zech 1:6 ).. ...

Solomon Matthew 6:29 Excerpt ‎The third king of Israel ( c. 971–931 bc ), son of David and Bathsheba ( 2 Sa. 12:24 ); also named Jedidiah ( ‘beloved of the Lord ’ ) by Nathan the prophet ( 2 Sa. 12:25 ). Solomon ( šʾelōmōh , probably ‘peaceful’ ) does not figure in the biblical narrative until the last days of David ( 1 Ki. 1:10ff .) despite the fact that he was born (in Jerusalem; 2 Sa. 5:14 ) early in his father’s reign. Hubbard, D. A. “Solomon.” Ed. D. R. W. Wood et al. New Bible dictionary 1996 : 1116. Print.

Outlines of Proverbs 3:1-4 Proverbs 3:1-4 Excerpt      ‎How to Live a Long Life ( vv. 1–4 ) ‎A.     The key ‎1.     “Forget not My law” ‎2.     “Let thy heart keep My commandments” ‎3.     “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee” ‎4.     In other words: internalize your beliefs ‎B.     The benefit ‎1.     Quantity of life — length of days and long life ‎2.     Quality of life ‎a.     Peace ‎b.     Favor with God and man ‎c.     Good understanding with God and man Wood, Charles R. Sermon Outlines on the Book of Proverbs . Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1984. Print.

. The Discussion ‎David could not believe that no one would take up the challenge of this “uncircumcised Philistine.” He grew increasing interested in the promised reward which he overheard the troops discussing. By questioning several men, David verified the truth of the reward rumor. When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard these discussions, his anger burned against David. He wrongly rebuked David for abandoning his responsibilities of tending a small flock of sheep. He falsely accused David of having a perverse interest in watching the battle which was about to take place. David’s response is typical of younger brothers throughout the centuries: “Was it not just a question?” David turned away from Eliab and began to question other men at the front ( 17:26–30 ). Smith, James E. The Books of History . Joplin, MO: College Press, 1995. Print. Old Testament Survey Series .

Paradigmatic Preaching: The Sermon on the Mount  Excerpt ‎Now Christ makes clear that he is not contradicting the law , but neither is he preserving it unchanged . He comes “to fulfill” it, i.e ., he will bring the law to its intended goal. This is what the Pharisees and scribes have missed, who therefore need a greater conformity to God’s standards ( v. 20 ). Both the Law and the Prophets together ( v. 17 ) and the Law by itself ( v. 18 ) were standard Jewish ways of referring to the entire Hebrew Scriptures (our Old Testament ). ‎Fulfillment of Scripture , as throughout chaps. 1–4 , refers to the bringing to fruition of its complete meaning. Here Jesus views his role as that of fulfilling all of the Old Testament . This claim has massive hermeneutical implications and challenges both classic Reformed and Dispensationalist perspectives. It is inadequate to say either that none of the Old Testament applies unless it is explicitly reaffirmed in the New or that all...