Looks like Hebrews!

Our next read for the online Bible reading group will be the New Testament book of Hebrews. As requested, we'll slow the pace to maybe 3 readings a week. Anyone can take part any time...no need to join anything. Read Scriptures, posts, make or just read comments/questions. Stay connected. We'll start Hebrews Thursday.

Interesting tidbits: we've had readers from 9 different countries and all 50 states; the highest read post was "1 Peter in One Sitting" found here http://togetherinthebible.blogspot.com/2010/09/1-peter-in-one-sitting.html

Look forward to reading Hebrews with you and sharing our thoughts about how to live it out!

Matt

Time to pick/vote for a new book of the Bible to read together!

1 Peter was phenomenal to read together...I hope you were both challenged and encouraged by Peter's message.

Now it's time to vote on a new book. To the right, you'll find a few books to choose from (I'm open to other suggestions). We've been going back and forth from OT to NT. We'll start in a couple of days. Well try to wrap up a few days before Christmas and then begin again in early January.

Your Thoughts?

1 Peter 5:1-14

For NIV reading, click here 1 Peter 5

The last section of Peter's letter is 5:1-11 followed by the final letter greeting (vv. 12-14). If I had to give a theme to this whole section, it would be confident humility. In other words, a real, honest and truthful recognition of: (1) who God is, (2) who I am, (3) who it is God has appointed as leaders/elders/shepherds, (4) how to lead (''not lording it over"), (5) the importance of prayer, (6) the reality of evil and the suffering it can cause, (7) and, to end on a life-altering note of hope, a humble recognition of God's restoring power that provides what you and I need to hang on in strong ways to the end!

Hard to pick a favorite verse here - maybe a 5-way tie for me between vv. 4, 6, 7, 9 & 10:)

Comments, questions, thoughts...

Have a great day!

1 Peter 4:12-19

NIV Reading

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Peter continues to amp up the encouragement to Christians having a hard time for being faithful. Reminds us that there is a co-sharing in what Christ went through when we struggle precisely for doing what is right. And, when that happens, God's glorious Spirit 'rests' on us. So, be careful that any hardships we experience are not at all because of wrong, unchristian, innappropriate conduct, including a word Peter made up that the NIV translates as 'meddler.' He closes by giving some perspective - suffering for doing what is right is hard, but it is nothing compared to the hardship that will come by throwing our hands up and turning from God. So, commitment to God is a daily decision (with a subtle reminder that because God is 'Creator,' He's got some power to help us continue to do good).

Thoughts...

1 Peter 4:7-11

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV)

We should never tire of hearing the command to 'love each other deeply.' This is the kind of section that every Christian should memorize...in fact that's one of the things I'll do this week. Anyone else?

Anyway, one of the reasons love is powerful, real, Jesus-shaped love, is that is slows and stops the cycle of sin. That's my take on verse 8. The rest of this passage applies what love looks like in specific ways.

Another interesting tidbit: Peter says to keep alert or aware so that we pray...i.e., the more we see what's really going on, the more we recognize the dangers to the Christian's life, the more we see sin around/in us, the more we are moved to pray. Prayer is the urgent task of the alert follower of Christ. Not sure this means we can't carry on a discussion or conversation or address an issue without holding hands a saying a quick prayer...I think it means that a bedrock practice of the Christian is to think and live and speak and respond out of a heart that is regularly 'prayed up.' Prayer isn't magic or alchemy that suddenly happens  if we just conjure the right words at the right time. It is one's deep connectedness to Jesus' heart that shapes a person's focus, tempers, responses, ability to forgive, willingness to give good in response to evil, to not complain, to accept others, to serve and speak as God might. Now I know the church/we don't always do this well. And I know there are easier alternatives to being the church...but love that doesn't love when loving is hard is not love. So, remember, the 'end of things' is on its way, so, keep the oil in your lamp by loving the whoevers in your life right now. Jesus could be on the next cloud coming. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:1-6

NIV Reading
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. ² As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. ³ For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. ⁴ They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. ⁵ But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

Verses 1-2 are the main thrust, and they are extraordinarily challenging in their simplicity. Here's the thrust: since Christ proved by His own suffering that He did this, you also are to "arm" (make ready, prepare yourself, equip yourself) by adopting the same attitude which is (and here's the challenging part) to live not by your (my) own desires and wants (defined as 'human desires'), by rather by God's will, wish, desire. The way I say this (BUMCers may have heard this several times): the battle for our souls is fought on the field of our own wants. And as much as I personally am a fan of free market society, this is the potential downside we need to be aware of: that getting, achieving, satisfying our wants is the priority. Most Christians I meet would deny they live by this principle, but in actual practice, it is undeniable that this is a ruling power in our lives. Thoughts...

1 Peter 3:13-22 Part Two

Now we'll look at the second half of the section.

NIV reading of 1 Peter 3:18-22
¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. ¹⁹ After being made alive,^[c] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— ²⁰ to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.^[d] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Now Peter gives the reasons he can instruct us as he did in vv. 13-17 when he said that you are blessed when you suffer, and to have no fear, and that it is better to suffer for doing good than evil.

The reason Peter could say all that to his churches and to ours is that "For" or "Because" Christ also suffered to "bring you to God." In other words, if God can take an unjust death and turn it into the means of eternal life for everyone who believes ('to bring you to God'), perhaps God can take your faithful suffering as you do good, whatever that suffering might be, and turn it into a means of God reaching people!

To drive the point home, Peter ends this passage by reminding us that the very Jesus who was unjustly nailed to a Roman cross, is now at the right hand of God with everything, everything, everything now in submission to him.

So, take heart in your suffering as you do good. God can do a whole lot with it - He can bless you, give you courage ('fear not' v. 14), and even turn it into a way of advancing His perfect mission in this world to bring salvation.

Thoughts, questions, etc.

1 PETER 3:13-22

For the NIV reading, click here NIV text of 1 Peter 3:13-22

First we'll look at vv 13-17.

Here Peter addresses what is probably the real experience of his churches: unjust suffering or hardship. The suffering his churches are going through is probably not some state sponsored formal persecution like is in the background of Revelation. Rather, the suffering is hardship that comes from being different, being Christian and not quite fitting in, being socially threatened and pushed to the margins of culture, being in the world but not really of it, etc.

Peter reminds them (and us) that when we suffer, we should not respond in the way we might naturally like to (retaliate, get back, revenge, complaining, etc.). In fact, he says, don't be afraid...rather fear (revere) Christ as Lord. And Peter says, this way of living will have influence. It may not be right away. It may be ignored for a long time, but there will come a day when those who slander our good way of living will recognize it for what it is.

You might imagine how this was all meant to be encouraging for those who are hurting because of their faith.

Thoughts...comments...

1 Peter 3:8-12

After Peter's focus on how Christians should be in secular society (2:11-17) and how Christians should be in the home with an unbelieving spouse or master (2:18-3:7), Peter now turns to how Christians should be toward other Christians within society. The emphasis here is on the 'all' of verse 8 and the motivation in v. 12.

1 Peter 3:8-12 (NIV)

8 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For,



“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
11 They must turn from evil and do good;
they must seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Other than this being necessary, hard, and not common enough...thoughts...