GOD S STORY MATTERS. The One Hundred Essential Scripture Passages.

Transcription

1 GOD S STORY MATTERS The One Hundred Essential Scripture Passages Over the next few months, I invite you to join me in reading The One Hundred Essential Scripture Passages. Dr. Bill Hull, who taught generations of ministers, developed the list. Beginning next Sunday, August 3rd, I will be preaching on one of the readings for that week. The first week, for example, I will be preaching from the passage for Day Six, Exodus 2:23-3:15. Simply start with Day One and work your way through the guide. If you miss a day, catch up the next day. A prayer prompt is provided with each day s reading, and I encourage you to take the time to pray at the conclusion of each reading session. The idea for doing this came to me courtesy of Dr. Mike Smith, pastor of First Baptist Church Fountain City, Tennessee. The prayer prompts were developed by that congregation. ~~Chris Caldwell

2 (Readings for July 27-August 2) Day One Genesis 1:1-2:3. The Creation and the Sabbath Reflect on the goodness of God s creation, give thanks for that goodness, and commit to carefully caring for God s creation. Day Two Genesis 3:1-24. The First Sin Ask God to help you see, acknowledge and turn away from sin, away from our tendency to try and go our own way and be as God unto ourselves. Day Three Genesis 18:1-15. A Son Promised to Abraham and Sarah Thank God that God does God s work even when we cannot believe it can be done. Day Four Genesis 28:10-22; 32: Jacob s Dream at Bethel; Jacob Wrestles at Peniel God came to Jacob where Jacob was, and God does the same with us. Wherever you may be at this moment, pray and thank God that God is there with you. Day Five Genesis 42:1-5;43:1-9;44:18-45:5. Jacob s Brothers Go to Egypt; The Brothers Come Again, Bringing Benjamin; Judah Pleads for Benjamin's Release Identify at least one challenging event or circumstance in your past that God ultimately used to bring about a good change in your life. Thank God that God works in such ways. Day Six Exodus 2:23-3:15. Moses at the Burning Bush Reflect on how God never forgets his people, finds the right person to send to them, and equips that person for his or her God-given task. Pray and thank God for such provision. Day Seven (Sermon Text for Sunday) Exodus 20:1-17. The Ten Commandments God s commandments teach us how to live well with God and with one another. Pray your way through the Ten Commandments, asking God to help you bring each commandment to life in the way you live.

3 (Readings for August 3 - August 9) Day Eight Joshua 1:1-18. God s Commission to Joshua God calls us to live the Christ life under all circumstances and at all times. Does this frighten you? Pray and ask God to fill you with courage enough to live the life to which God calls you. Day Nine Judges 7:1-23. Gideon Surprises and Routs the Midianites Do we practice giving God credit for victories of all kinds? Pray and thank God for the many doors God has opened for you. Day Ten 1 Samuel 3:1-4:1a. Samuel s Calling and Prophetic Activity Eli demanded that Samuel tell him everything the Lord had said to Samuel, even if the message contained hard news to bear for Eli. Pray and ask God to tell you the truth about yourself. Day Eleven (Sermon Text for Sunday) 1 Samuel 17:1-11, David and Goliath David trusted God and acted on that trust, even when others sought to dissuade him. Pray that God will grant you courage like that of young David. Day Twelve 1 Kings 8:22-30, Solomon s Prayer of Dedication; Solomon Blesses the Assembly Pray and ask God to help you be wholly devoted to God and God s ways, that all those you encounter might know that the Lord is God. Day Thirteen 1 Kings 19:1-18. Elijah Flees from Jezebel, Elijah Meets God at Horeb God told the despairing Elijah that many Israelites Elijah did not know remained faithful to God. Pray and thank God for the invisible saints of our generation. Day Fourteen Ezra 9:5-15. Ezra s Prayer Acknowledge your sins. Name them one by one. Thank God for God s mercy toward you.

4 (Readings for August 10 - August 16) Day Fifteen Nehemiah 8:1-12. Ezra Reads the Law The scriptures require interpretation. Pray and thank God for those who help us better understand the scriptures. Day Sixteen (Sermon Text for Sunday) Job 38:1-18;40:1-9;42:1-6. The Lord Answers Job; Job s Response to God; God s Challenge to Job Dare to pray and ask God to grant you a glimpse of God s majesty. Day Seventeen Psalm 8:1-9. Divine Majesty and Human Dignity Pray and ask God to help you accept the responsibilities, opportunities, and humility that comes with being a human made in the image of God. Day Eighteen Psalm 23:1-6. The Divine Shepherd What dark valley are you traveling through at this time? What dark valley do you fear? Pray and thank God that God walks with you through all the valleys! Day Nineteen Psalm 32:1-11. The Joy of Forgiveness Ask yourself: In what ways is God trying to instruct and teach me his ways? Pray and ask God to help you be or become God s apt pupil. Day Twenty Psalm 51:1-17. Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon Pray and give thanks for God s steadfast love toward you and all others. Day Twenty-One Psalm 73:1-28. Plea for Relief from Oppressors Do you find yourself envying those who seem to prosper in life, career, love and finances even though they do not acknowledge God? Pray and ask God to cleanse you from envy and replace it with a desire to be near God.

5 (Readings for August 24 - August 30) *Calendar Week Skipped Due to Ministry Fair on the 17th. Day Twenty-Two Psalm 90:1-17. God s Eternity and Human Frailty Ask yourself what you hope to do within the span of your life. Pray and ask God to help you set and keep God-honoring priorities. Day Twenty-Three (Sermon Text for Sunday=13-16) Psalm 139:1-24. The Inescapable God Ponder the Psalmist s claim that God knows all there is to know about each of us, including elements of which we are unaware. If such be the case, why try to hide anything from God? Pray and willingly accept the all-seeing scrutiny of God. Day Twenty-Four Proverbs 2:1-22. The Value of Wisdom God makes God s wisdom and way of life accessible. Pray and ask God to help you seek God s wisdom today and each day. Day Twenty-Five Proverbs 3:1-35. Admonition to Trust and Honor God Pray that you will trust God with all your heart and thereby be enabled to be faithful to God and do good toward others. Day Twenty-Six Proverbs 8:1-36. The Gifts of Wisdom Ask yourself if you truly believe God s wisdom is more precious than any other kind of treasure. Pray and ask God to fill you with a desire to learn God s wisdom and the discipline to do so. Day Twenty-Seven Isaiah 6:1-8. A Vision of God in the Temple Pray that God will help you discern your particular calling and confirm you in that calling. Day Twenty-Eight Isaiah 35:1-10. The Return of the Redeemed to Zion Perhaps you are living through a wilderness experience or know someone who is doing so. Pray and ask God to redeem the wilderness experience.

6 (Readings for August 31 - September 6) Day Twenty-Nine Isaiah 40:1-31. God s People Are Comforted Thank God that God knows where we are, what we need, and how best to supply our need. Day Thirty Isaiah 52:13-53:12. The Suffering Servant Have we learned to value above all measure the willing weakness and sacrifice of Christ, which opened the way for our redemption? Pray and thank God for Christ s strength in weakness. Ask God to help you follow Christ s lead, as you interact with others and the world. Day Thirty-One Jeremiah 7:1-15. Jeremiah Proclaims God s Judgment on the Nation Pray and ask God to grant you insight and courage enough to turn from all would-be idols and to treat all others as children of God. Day Thirty-Two Ezekiel 37:1-14. The Valley of Dry Bones Perhaps you feel as if your life is a valley of dry bones, or perhaps you know someone in such a condition. Pray and ask God to breathe God s kind of life into your life and the lives of those you know. Day Thirty-Three Daniel 6:1-28. The Plot Against Daniel Pray and ask God to help you trust and serve him even under the most challenging of circumstances. Day Thirty-Four Hosea 1:2-9; 3:1-5. The Family of Hosea Reflect on the steadfast love of God, on how God continues to love us even when we stray from or rebel against God. Thank God for such steadfast love and turn from your personal idols to God alone. Day Thirty-Five (Sermon Text for Sunday: Amos 5:10-15) Hosea 11:1-11, Amos 5:4-24. God s Compassion Despite Israel s Ingratitude Reflect on your life to see if you can discern how God was active in your life, whether or not you realized it at the time. Pray and thank God for his leadership in your life. Seek the Lord Pray and say to God, Lord, help me desire and work for your kind of justice in the world.

7 (Readings for September 7 - September 13) Day Thirty-Six Jonah 1:1-10, Jonah Tries to Run Away from God God calling you to do something you do not want to do? Day Thirty-Seven Jonah 3:1-10. God Pursues Jonah Pray and thank God for pursuing you, and ask God to grant you wisdom and courage enough to take up the task he wants to give you. Day Thirty-Eight Micah 6:1-16. God Challenges Israel Pray that God will help you embrace God s expectations that you do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God. Day Thirty-Nine Habakkuk 2:1-14. God s Reply to the Prophet s Complaint Pray that God will deliver you from greed and careless consumption and fill you instead with God s purpose. Day Forty Malachi 3:1-12, 16; 4:6. The Coming Messenger Pray this paraphrase of Malachi 3:5-7: Lord, keep me from trying to manipulate the world for my own gain, giving my ultimate allegiance to anything or anyone other than you, harming others through knowing lies, taking advantage of workers, mistreating the weak, and denying the humanity of strangers. Thank you, Lord, for calling me to return to you and your ways. Help me to do so. Day Forty-One Matthew 3:13-4:22. The Baptism of Jesus Pray and ask God to align you with Jesus and his vision of how to live as a child of God. Day Forty-Two (Sermon Text for Sunday) Matthew 5:1-16. The Beatitudes Pray and ask God to transform your life, so that all of your speech, actions, and attitudes reflect The Beatitudes.

8 (Readings for September 14 - September 20) Day Forty-Three Matthew 6:1-18. Sayings on Righteous Living Pray and ask God to grant you the kind of humility and assurance that enables you to serve God without seeking public notice or acclaim. Day Forty-Four Matthew 25: The Judgment of the Nations Pray and ask God to open your eyes that you might see Jesus in each person you meet and minister to that person as if to Jesus. Day Forty-Five Matthew 28:1-20. The Resurrection of Jesus Pray and ask God to help you become the kind of person in whom others experience the resurrected Christ and through whom others are drawn to Christ. Day Forty-Six (Sermon Text for Sunday) Mark 2:1-3:6. Jesus Heals a Paralytic What religious scruples hold you back from ministering to others in any kind of need? Ask God to help you join Jesus in valuing persons over religious scruples. Day Forty-Seven Mark 4:1-34. The Parable of the Sower Pray and ask God to help you become the kind of person in whom the gospel takes deep root and produces an abundant crop. Day Forty-Eight Mark 8:27-9:8. Peter s Declaration About Jesus Are you listening to Jesus, or are you trying to tell Jesus what to say and do? Pray and ask God to help you give up trying to control Jesus in favor of listening to Jesus. Day Forty-Nine Mark 11:1-24. Jesus Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem We are tempted to use religion for our own ends. Pray and ask God to transform your use of religion, so that it becomes a vehicle to lead you to God and into the ways of God.

9 (Readings for September 21 - September 27) Day Fifty Mark 14: The Institution of the Lord s Supper Do you find that though you profess unfailing devotion to Jesus, you cannot even stay alert for one hour in his service? Pray and ask God to give you wisdom and energy enough to be a wide-awake follower of Jesus. Day Fifty-One Luke 4: The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry What is God s core agenda for his people? Luke 4:18-19 is the answer. Pray a paraphrase of Luke 4:18-19 as a personal prayer: Lord, send your Spirit upon me, that I may follow the lead of Jesus and bring good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed in your name, today and every day. Amen. Day Fifty-Two (Sermon Text for Sunday) Luke 10: The Parable of the Good Samaritan Pray and ask God to lead you to see all kinds of persons as your neighbor and to act accordingly. Day Fifty-Three Luke 15:1-32. The Parable of the Lost Sheep Pray and thank God that God never gives up on anyone but instead seeks, finds and welcomes all of us into God s presence. Day Fifty-Four Luke 23: The Death of Jesus What limits do you place on forgiveness? Reflect on the story of Jesus, who said: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Pray and ask God to expand the range of your forgiveness. Day Fifty-Five Luke 24: The Walk to Emmaus Pray and thank God that Jesus finds us where we are, walks with us, and reveals himself to us. Day Fifty-Six John 1:1-18. The Word Became Flesh Pray and thank God that we can know God through what we see and experience in Jesus Christ, his Son.

10 (Readings for September 28 - October 4) Day Fifty-Seven John 3:1-21. Nicodemus Visits Jesus Do you love the world and all therein as God loves the world? Pray and ask God to help you learn to love the world as God loves the world and to act in accordance with such love. Day Fifty-Eight (Sermon Text for Sunday) (Ron Higdon preaching) John 6: The Words of Eternal Life Pray and ask God to help you absorb the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus so completely that it shapes your living in each moment. Day Fifty-Nine John 11:1-44. The Death of Lazarus When you feel as if your life is over, remember Jesus and Lazarus. Pray and thank God that Christ can grant us life beyond all expectations. Day Sixty John 13:33-14:27. Jesus Foretells Peter s Denial Jesus promises to do whatever his followers ask in his name (14:13) that is, in accordance with the life and character of Jesus. Pray now and ask God to shape your desires so that they accord with the life and character of Jesus. Day Sixty-One John 17:1-26. Jesus Prays for His Disciples Jesus prays for us. Pray and thank God for the constant prayers of Jesus. Day Sixty-Two John 20:1-31. The Resurrection of Jesus Pray and thank God for the purpose of the scriptures: to guide us toward trust in Jesus as the Messiah and the kind of life Jesus provides. Day Sixty-Three Acts 2:1-47. The Coming of the Holy Spirit Pray and thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit the gift which makes each day a potential Pentecost Day during which people may be drawn to Jesus and united as followers of Jesus.

11 (Readings for October 5 - October 11) Day Sixty-Four Acts 9:1-30. The Conversion of Saul God showed Peter that God s grace in Christ was for all people, even gentiles. Pray and ask God to expand your vision of the reach of God s grace. Day Sixty-Five Acts 15:1-35. The Council at Jerusalem Compromise is not a dirty word! The early church forged a compromise that allowed the gospel to be taken to the gentiles while respecting the religious sensitivities of the Jerusalem Christians. Pray and ask God to help you and all the followers of Jesus to value and work toward meaningful compromises for the sake of the gospel. Day Sixty-Six Acts 20: Paul Speaks to the Ephesian Elders Paul s life as an apostle bears testimony to the truth of the saying, It is more blessed to give than to receive. Pray and ask God to help you believe this is so and to reorder your life accordingly. Day Sixty-Seven Romans 6:1-23. Dying and Rising with Christ Paul says Christ frees us to resist the power of sin and live the Christ-life. Pray and ask God to help you identify and resist sin in your life and give thanks that Christ empowers you to do so. Day Sixty-Eight Romans 8:1-39. Life in the Spirit Pray and thank God that nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Day Sixty-Nine (Sermon Text for Sunday) Romans 12:1-21. The New Life in Christ Have you tried overcoming evil with good? Pray and ask God to lead you to confront evil with the power of Christ-like love in action. Day Seventy 1 Corinthians 12:4-27. One Body with Many Members Pray and ask God to show you where, when, and how to use your gifts to build up the Body of Christ.

12 (Readings for October 12 - October 18) Day Seventy-One 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. The Gift of Love Pray and ask God to teach you to value Christ-like love above all other spiritual gifts and practices. Day Seventy-Two 1 Corinthians 15:1-58. The Resurrection of Christ Pray and ask that the reality and promise of the resurrection empower you to be steadfast in the work of the Lord. Day Seventy-Three (Sermon Text for Sunday) 2 Corinthians 4:1-18. Treasure in Clay Jars Pray and ask God to free you from the need to appear strong and successful, so that God may use your weaknesses and suffering to reveal his love and power to others. Day Seventy-Four 2 Corinthians 5:11-6:10. The Ministry of Reconciliation Pray and ask God to help you think, speak, and act as a humble ambassador for Christ. Day Seventy-Five Galatians 5:13 6:10. The Works of the Flesh Pray and ask God to help you choose to become someone who lends your presence and a hand so that no one bears burdens alone. Day Seventy-Six Ephesians 2:1-22. From Death to Life Pray and ask God to help you live as though you are a citizen of God s kingdom and nothing less. Day Seventy-Seven Ephesians 4:1-16. Unity in the Body of Christ Pray and ask God to make you an instrument of unity in God s church.

13 (Readings for October 19 - October 25) Day Seventy-Eight Ephesians 6: The Whole Armor of God Pray and ask God to help you discern and contend successfully with those forces that use the power of lies and fear to entice us to trust in anything other than God or treat others as anything less than persons made in the image of God. Day Seventy-Nine Philippians 2:1-18. Imitating Christ s Humility Pray and ask God to help you adopt and make your own the very mindset of Christ, who humbled himself in trusting obedience to God. Day Eighty Philippians 3:4-4:1. Pressing Toward the Goal Pray and ask God to help you shape your lifestyle in the imitation of Christ. Day Eighty-One Colossians 1:3-23. Paul Thanks God for the Colossians In imitation of Paul, pray and thank God for every good thing about your church, the local community of God. Day Eighty-Two 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11. The Coming of the Lord Pray and thank God that you need not worry about the timing or nature of coming of the Lord, but can instead trust God to remember you on that day. Day Eighty-Three (Sermon Text for Sunday) 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3. Request for Prayer Pray and ask God to use you and your situation to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Day Eighty-Four 1 Timothy 6:2b-19. False Teaching and True Riches Pray and ask God to deliver you from addiction to riches and to focus your heart, mind, and ambition instead on service to God.

14 (Readings for October 26 - November 1) Day Eighty-Five 2 Timothy 2:1-19. A Good Soldier to Christ Jesus Pray and ask God to help you learn and practice how best to interpret and present the truth of Christ to fellow believers and others. Day Eighty-Six Titus 2:11-3:8. Maintain Good Deeds Do you struggle with Christian self-control in regard to your thoughts, body, actions and speech? Pray and ask God to strengthen you as you practice Christian self-control for the sake of Christ. Day Eighty-Seven Hebrews 4:14-5:10. Jesus the Great High Priest Pray and thank God that Jesus understands our every weakness yet loves us and that we may approach him without fear. Day Eighty-Eight (Sermon Text for Sunday) Hebrews 11:1-40. The Meaning of Faith Pray that God fills you with a longing for the kind of life seen and found in Christ, so that all the days of your life become a journey toward such a life. Day Eighty-Nine Hebrews 12:1-29. The Example of Jesus Perseverance often seems in short supply these days. Pray and ask God to help you persevere in your walk with Christ, regardless of the circumstances of the day. Day Ninety James 2:1-26. Warning Against Partiality Pray and ask God to show you how to wed your faith to good works and your good works to faith. Day Ninety-One James 1:26-27; 3:1-12. Taming the Tongue Pray and ask God to help you control your speech in all the mediums available to us, so that our speech glorifies God and builds up others.

15 (Readings for November 9 - November 17) *Calendar Week skipped in observation of All Saints Sunday. Day Ninety-Two 1 Peter 1:13-2:10. A Call to Holy Living Pray and renounce whatever behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs prevent you from placing yourself without reserve in the hands of God, so that you may start to grow into the person God dreams you might become. Day Ninety-Three 1 Peter 3:8-17. Suffering for Doing Right Pray and ask God to strengthen you to do good, even if you suffer for doing so and to enable you to treat those who make you suffer with the gentleness of Christ. Day Ninety-Four 1 Peter 4:7-19. Suffering as a Christian Pray and ask God to grant you Peter s perspective on suffering, namely that suffering is normative for those who live Christ-like lives and so bear witness to Christ. Day Ninety-Five 2 Peter 1:2-11. The Christian s Call and Election Reflect on the list of pursuits Peter lists. Pray and ask God to grant you energy and desire enough to pursue goodness, self-control, endurance, godliness, mutual affection and love. Day Ninety-Six 1 John 4:7-21. God Is Love Pray and tell God the truth about your practice of Christ-like love. Confess any failures of which you are aware, and ask God to reveal to you those of which you are unaware. Ask God to strengthen you in the practice of Christ-like love. Day Ninety-Seven (Sermon Text for Sunday) Revelation 1:9-11; 2:1-29. A Vision of Christ God sent John a vision of encouragement for seven particular churches facing specific internal challenges and external persecution. Pray and ask God to continue to guide you through the opportunities of today. Day Ninety-Eight Revelation 3:1-22. The Message to Sardis Pray and ask God help our church remain alert to God s presence, faithful in its ministry and witness, and fervent in its commitment to Jesus.

16 Day Ninety-Nine Revelation 5:6-14; 19:1-10. Who Is Worthy? Pray and ask God to keep you focused on the words and deeds of Jesus, who is the Lamb of God. Day One Hundred Revelation 21:1-7; 22:1-5. The New Heaven and the New Earth John saw God has chosen to make his dwelling among mortals. Pray and ask God help you live as one in whom God dwells.