Daily Reading Week 50
monday dec. 12
Matthew 28
Discover:
Where did the 11 remaining disciples go?
Verse 17 mentions two contrary actions; what are these?
We commonly call Matthew 28:19-20”The Great Commission” How would you state this commission in your own words?
What promise does Jesus give his followers at the end of verse 20?
Respond:
Believers often equate the Great Commission with evangelism. If we only evangelize however, we will not have been fully obedient to our Lord’s command. Jesus said that we should make disciples and teach them all of his commandments. Evangelizing is certainly part of making disciples but the disciple-making Jesus has in view is much more. The Great Commission is a call to the church to make disciples of all nations. We are called into the world not just to evangelize and baptize and move on, but to stay the course and do the hard work of teaching disciples to observe all that Jesus commanded, including the command to go and make disciples of all nations. Churches planting church-planting churches are how we collectively work together to fulfill the Great Commission.
tuesday Dec. 13
ISAiah 19
Discover:
What would cause people to fear?
Why would they swear by the Lord (vv 17,18)?
To whom would the people cry (vv 19-22)?
What would He provide and what would be the result?
What peoples would be united (vv 23-25)?
How would they relate to God?
Respond:
Egypt enslaved the Israelites for centuries but its relationship with Israel did not end when Moses led the people out of their land and their army was destroyed by God. There was a continuing relationship with Egypt that was often adversarial. Isaiah’s original audience must have been somewhat astonished to hear that he foresaw a day when God would reveal himself to the Egyptians that would result in Egypt’s salvation. Today’s chapter speaks of an altar to God in Egypt. Matthew Henry sees this as pointing to the worship of God in all places as described by Jesus in John 4:21-24. He writes “In Christ Jesus all distinction of nations is taken away; and a spiritual altar, a gospel church, in the midst of the land of Egypt, is as acceptable to God as one in the midst of the land of Israel.” When the Lord’s enemies become his followers, they may worship him anywhere.
wednesday Dec. 14
Romans 10
Discover:
According to 10:14,15, what is essential for one to call on the Lord?
What is the connection between hearing and believing?
What is the connection between hearing and preaching and between preaching and sending?
What Old Testament passage is quoted in v15?
Respond:
R.C. Sproul writes in his commentary on Romans “not everyone in the church is called to be a missionary, but every member of the church is responsible to make sure that the missionary activity gets done.” The Great Commission is not for a select few but is given to the entire church. Some will go to the ends of the earth, and some of us will send them out with financial support and prayer. All of us however, are responsible to see that the work gets done.
thursday Dec. 15
2 Corinthians 5
Discover:
How do you define faith? How does it differ from sight?
How might people sometimes seek to walk by sight?
What work did Paul do (5:11) and what motivated him?
What personal application should we make?
What motivated Paul’s preaching according to 5:14?
Respond:
Who was most influential in leading you to Jesus? What did that person do?
What is keeping you from sharing your faith? How will you overcome those barriers?
After reading the essay this week, what would you say is your greatest strength in leading someone to Christ?
Who are the five people on your daily prayer list that you hope will come to Christ?
friday Dec. 16
Colossians 1
Discover:
How did Paul view his sufferings – 1:24?
How can one have such an attitude?
How did Paul describe his responsibility to preach the gospel – 1:25?
In what sense is the gospel a mystery? Is it difficult or impossible to understand?
Respond:
Throughout history, there have been many groups and individuals who have claimed that God has revealed truths only to them and that only they can understand the will of God. The true God however, has revealed himself in his Word which is available to all people. We should not think that it will be forever impossible for us to understand any part of the Scriptures because we can trust the Spirit to help us understand.
saturday Dec. 17
Isaiah 25
Discover:
Who might be the “terrible ones,” and what would be done to them (vv 4,5)?
What will God do “in this mountain” (vv 6,7)?
What further blessings would He give (v8)?
How would God’s treatment of those “on this mountain” compare to His treatment of Moab (v10)?
Respond:
The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians that “the last enemy to be destroyed is death”. He recognizes that death continues to plague us even though Christ has ultimately defeated it through his resurrection. Death still causes us grief and pain but we will not have to fight it forever. If we are in Christ we do not need to fear death because even if we die before he returns we are alive in him and will have victory over death and its effects.
sunday Dec. 18
Matthew 10
Discover:
How does taking one’s cross in verse 38 compare to losing his life for Christ in verse 39?
What was the significance of the cross in the life of Jesus?
What does it mean to receive a prophet or a righteous man, and what rewards are offered – 10:41?
What is meant in 10:42 by giving a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple?
Respond:
Only a small percentage of believers are called to serve vocationally in the church. Yet those of us who do not serve as foreign missionaries or professional pastors are still vital to the spread of the Gospel. We evangelize those people that God puts in our lives, we work diligently in our jobs to reflect well on Christ, we pray for our pastors and for the growth of the Kingdom, we volunteer our time and talents to serve fellow believers in the church, and give of our financial resources for outreach. Even the tiniest service does not go unnoticed in the Kingdom.As Matthew Henry says, Christ values the aid offered to his people “not according to the cost of the gift, but according to the love and affection of the giver.”