| Monday Mar 7 |
Tuesday Mar 8 |
Wednesday Mar 9 |
Thursday Mar 10 |
Friday Mar 11 |
Saturday Mar 12 |
Sunday Mar 13 |
| Numbers 20, 21 |
Numbers 22, 23 |
Numbers 24, 25 |
Numbers 26, 27 |
Numbers 28, 29 |
Numbers 30, 31 |
Numbers 32, 33 |
| Acts 20 |
Psalms 30 |
Acts 21 |
Acts 22 |
Psalms 31 |
Acts 23 |
Acts 24 |
Southminster Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, PA invites you to join us as we celebrate 2011 as The Year of the Bible. Weekly posts will provide the readings and we invite you to comment with your questions and/or thoughts!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Week 11: March 7 - March 13
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
March
The Old Testament readings in March come from Numbers and Deuteronomy. Much of the material here will be similar to what you have been reading in the second half of Exodus and Leviticus. Again, don't get bogged down. Read the material quickly, pausing to look more closely at regulations or laws that seem curious or noteworthy. For instance, you may find the material about the "Nazirite vow" in Num. 6 more interesting if you discover that Samson, the famous strong man of Israel, is a Nazirite (Judg. 13).
Numbers, which covers the time of the wilderness wanderings, shows us how far short the Israelites fall when it comes to being righteous and faithful. Notice how many times they complain, commit mutiny, and break the laws God has so recently given them. Even Aaron and Miriam are jealous of Moses and his position (ch. 12). There is judgment in this book: on foreign nations, on Israel, and even on Moses himself. This is a good reminder to us that God does not simply overlook sin and error; God does not allow the people of Israel (perhaps we should read "Christians" here!) to do as they please and to take the divine call lightly. But, as elsewhere in the Bible, mercy triumphs over judgment: God remains faithful to the covenant with this people.
The name Deuteronomy, which means "second Law," indicates that this book is a repetition and summary of the regulations God has given Israel. It is a kind of constitution for the nation in the Promised Land. The book pictures Israel at the edge of the Promised Land. The book pictures Israel at the edge of the Promised Land, where Moses in his old age calls upon the people to solemnly reaffirm the covenant. It is difficult to overemphasize the importance of this book. In the new Testament, for instance, Deuteronomy is quoted and alluded to frequently. It has even been said that this book is the spiritual foundation for the modern-day state of Israel.
You may note some special themes in Deuteronomy. A basic one is the emphasis on God's love and Israel's remarkable privilege in enjoying the covenant with the Lord God (4:32-40; 7:6-11). There is also the well-known statement of Israel's faith. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone" (6:4-9). This passage, called the "Shema," is still the central affirmation of Jewish worship today. Finally, observe the rminder that there are two ways to live life - one good and one evil - along with the appeal to "Choose life so that you and your descendants may live" (30:11-20).
In the New Testament this month, we will finish the book of Acts and read much of Romans. Acts centers on Paul and his missionary activities. Many accept the message of this "apostle to the Gentiles," but many others do not. For Jewish listeners, Paul's proclamation is provocative: Gentiles may join the church on an equal footing with Jews. Acceptance of the Jewish Law is not a prerequisite; faith in Christ alone is neccessary.
The plot line in Acts moves inexorably toward confrontation with the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem and conflict with the Roman governors. It is interesting to discover that the governors in Palestine are no more concerned with justice than was Pontius Pilate a generation earlier. You will enjoy the last two chapters especially, where we read about Paul's adventures on his way from Jerusalem to Rome. Try to picture his emotions while being transported on a small ship on a storm-tossed Mediterranean.
Chapter 28 is the last we hear about Paul's life. Tradition has it that he was released, made his way to Spain to proclaim the gospel there, and eventually returned to Rome. There, we are told, he was imprisoned and later beheaded, the customary mode of execution for Roman citizens.
Romans is Paul's most important letter, not only because of its well-rounded explanation of the gospel, but also because of the influence it has had on so many great leaders of the church at decisive points in Christian history. In the first eight chapters, Paul develops a clear line of argument. Starting with the universal sinfulness of all humanity - both Gentile (1:18-32) and Jew (2:1-3:8) - he concludes that salvation comes by faith alone (chs. 3-5).
Remember, however, that this does not mean that Christians do not need to do good works. It means only that we are not justified because of them. Rather, because we have been justified, we will live a righteous life. You will find a strong and compelling presentation of this in chapters 6-8. Read the last half of chapter 8 a number of times. You will find that it encourages you and gives you reason to rest secure in the midst of the various stresses that we all encounter in contemporary life.
From The Year of the Bible by James E. Davison
Numbers, which covers the time of the wilderness wanderings, shows us how far short the Israelites fall when it comes to being righteous and faithful. Notice how many times they complain, commit mutiny, and break the laws God has so recently given them. Even Aaron and Miriam are jealous of Moses and his position (ch. 12). There is judgment in this book: on foreign nations, on Israel, and even on Moses himself. This is a good reminder to us that God does not simply overlook sin and error; God does not allow the people of Israel (perhaps we should read "Christians" here!) to do as they please and to take the divine call lightly. But, as elsewhere in the Bible, mercy triumphs over judgment: God remains faithful to the covenant with this people.
The name Deuteronomy, which means "second Law," indicates that this book is a repetition and summary of the regulations God has given Israel. It is a kind of constitution for the nation in the Promised Land. The book pictures Israel at the edge of the Promised Land. The book pictures Israel at the edge of the Promised Land, where Moses in his old age calls upon the people to solemnly reaffirm the covenant. It is difficult to overemphasize the importance of this book. In the new Testament, for instance, Deuteronomy is quoted and alluded to frequently. It has even been said that this book is the spiritual foundation for the modern-day state of Israel.
You may note some special themes in Deuteronomy. A basic one is the emphasis on God's love and Israel's remarkable privilege in enjoying the covenant with the Lord God (4:32-40; 7:6-11). There is also the well-known statement of Israel's faith. "Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone" (6:4-9). This passage, called the "Shema," is still the central affirmation of Jewish worship today. Finally, observe the rminder that there are two ways to live life - one good and one evil - along with the appeal to "Choose life so that you and your descendants may live" (30:11-20).
In the New Testament this month, we will finish the book of Acts and read much of Romans. Acts centers on Paul and his missionary activities. Many accept the message of this "apostle to the Gentiles," but many others do not. For Jewish listeners, Paul's proclamation is provocative: Gentiles may join the church on an equal footing with Jews. Acceptance of the Jewish Law is not a prerequisite; faith in Christ alone is neccessary.
The plot line in Acts moves inexorably toward confrontation with the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem and conflict with the Roman governors. It is interesting to discover that the governors in Palestine are no more concerned with justice than was Pontius Pilate a generation earlier. You will enjoy the last two chapters especially, where we read about Paul's adventures on his way from Jerusalem to Rome. Try to picture his emotions while being transported on a small ship on a storm-tossed Mediterranean.
Chapter 28 is the last we hear about Paul's life. Tradition has it that he was released, made his way to Spain to proclaim the gospel there, and eventually returned to Rome. There, we are told, he was imprisoned and later beheaded, the customary mode of execution for Roman citizens.
Romans is Paul's most important letter, not only because of its well-rounded explanation of the gospel, but also because of the influence it has had on so many great leaders of the church at decisive points in Christian history. In the first eight chapters, Paul develops a clear line of argument. Starting with the universal sinfulness of all humanity - both Gentile (1:18-32) and Jew (2:1-3:8) - he concludes that salvation comes by faith alone (chs. 3-5).
Remember, however, that this does not mean that Christians do not need to do good works. It means only that we are not justified because of them. Rather, because we have been justified, we will live a righteous life. You will find a strong and compelling presentation of this in chapters 6-8. Read the last half of chapter 8 a number of times. You will find that it encourages you and gives you reason to rest secure in the midst of the various stresses that we all encounter in contemporary life.
From The Year of the Bible by James E. Davison
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Week 10: February 27 - March 6 (adjusted)
| Sunday Feb 27 |
Monday Feb 28 |
Tuesday Mar 1 |
Wednesday Mar 2 |
Thursday Mar 3 |
Friday Mar 4 |
Saturday Mar 5 |
Sunday Mar 6 |
| Numbers 2, 3 |
Numbers 4, 5 |
Numbers 6, 7 |
Numbers 8, 9 |
Numbers 10, 11 |
Numbers 12, 13, 14 |
Numbers 15, 16 |
Numbers 17, 18, 19 |
| Acts 14 |
Acts 15 |
Psalms 26, 27 |
Acts 16 |
Acts 17 |
Psalms 28, 29 |
Acts 18 |
Acts 19 |
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Week 9: February 20 - February 26
| Sunday Feb 20 |
Monday Feb 21 |
Tuesday Feb 22 |
Wednesday Feb 23 |
Thursday Feb 24 |
Friday Feb 25 |
Saturday Feb 26 |
| Leviticus 15, 16 |
Leviticus 17, 18 |
Leviticus 19, 20 |
Leviticus 21, 22 |
Leviticus 23, 24 |
Leviticus 25, 26 |
Leviticus 27 Numbers 1 |
| Acts 9 |
Acts 10 |
Psalms 23, 24 |
Acts 11 |
Acts 12 |
Psalms 25 |
Acts 13 |
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Week 8: February 13 - February 19
| Sunday Feb 13 |
Monday Feb 14 |
Tuesday Feb 15 |
Wednesday Feb 16 |
Thursday Feb 17 |
Friday Feb 18 |
Saturday Feb 19 |
| Exodus 39, 40 |
Leviticus 1, 2, 3 |
Leviticus 4, 5 |
Leviticus 6, 7 |
Leviticus 8, 9 |
Leviticus 10, 11, 12 |
Leviticus 13, 14 |
| Acts 4 |
Acts 5 |
Psalms 20, 21 |
Acts 6 |
Acts 7 |
Psalms 22 |
Acts 8 |
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Week 7: February 6 - February 12
| Sunday Feb 6 |
Monday Feb 7 |
Tuesday Feb 8 |
Wednesday Feb 9 |
Thursday Feb 10 |
Friday Feb 11 |
Saturday Feb 12 |
| Exodus 25, 26 |
Exodus 27, 28 |
Exodus 29, 30 |
Exodus 31, 32 |
Exodus 33, 34 |
Exodus 35, 36 |
Exodus 37, 38 |
| Matthew 27 |
Matthew 28 |
Psalms 18 |
Acts 1 |
Acts 2 |
Psalms 19 |
Acts 3 |
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
February
We are starting our second month of The Year of the Bible. By now, you have probably been able to settle into some sort of routine for your reading. By now, too, you may have fallen behind a few times. You should assume that this will happen occasionally in an undertaking like this! Try not to get too far behind, however, because then it is easy to give up on the entire project.
The Old Testament readings this month are primarily from Exodus and Leviticus. Exodus contains the familiar story of Israel's escape from bondage in Egypt. The first twenty chapters are the most exciting, as they tell us about Moses' life story, the burning bush, the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the giving of the Ten Commandments.
Many people have pointed out that the plagues (as well as the Red Sea and the manna and quail in the wilderness) all have parallels in natural events, so that what is "miraculous" in them is not so much the extraordinary events themselves, but the timing: they occur as they are predicted by Moses, God's servant. A very important element of Exodus is God's giving of the name to Israel in chapter 3. The meaning of the name is mysterious ("I am who I am"), but it obviously indicates God's absoluteness. It is a potent sign that points clearly to the Lord's control over this world.
Once you begin chapter 21, you enter a world of laws and customs, many of which seem strange and alien to us. Some of them will even appear to be unjust or unloving. These kinds of injunctions will be a regular feature of the readings all the way through Deuteronomy. Read them quickly; don't get bogged down. Bear in mind that these laws are given to a group whom God is attempting to turn into a people, and these people live in a world that is in many ways chaotic. As harsh as many of the laws may sound to us, there is a much greater emphasis on justice, equality, and mercy here than there was in the cultures surrounding Israel.
Most of Ex. 24-40 deals with the Tabernacle, the "tent of meeting" that became the center of Israelite worship. With the Holy of Holies as its focal point, the Tabernacle was the place that God promised to be accessible to the people. Here, too, sacrifices could be made to atone for sin and ritual defilement. Exodus closes with an affirmation that God's presence has filled the Tabernacle. The people of Israel can be sure that they belong to and are protected by a gracious and merciful Lord!
Leviticus is a book to read quickly. Much of the material it records, which is intended to regulate religious and civil life for Israel, will be hard to understand and will appear burdensome to us. If you are curious about a regulation or law, a commentary will be helpful. Note in particular chapter 19, with its emphasis on justice and helping the poor. There are certainly implications here for our own attitude toward the less fortunate in our society.
Also, you may notice the material on atonement in ch. 16 of Leviticus. It is this kind of ritual material that provides the background for our understanding of Christ's sacrifice of himself on the cross in order to bring atonement. This is a good example of the point, made by many people, that you cannot really understand the New Testament without grasping the basic concepts of the Old Testament.
Most of our reading from the new Testament this month will be in Acts. This book tells us the story of the growth and development of the earliest church during a period of about thirty years from the time Christ departs in glory. Acts 1:8 sets the outline for the book. It shows an ever-widening circle of testimony to the gospel, until the movement begun in Jerusalem reaches the whole of the world.
Acts points out, too, that it is the Holy Spirit, God's power in the world, that underlies this movement. The Spirit is the motivating force, the impelling energy that transforms a small band of believers into convinced and effective witnesses to the Christ. Look particularly for Luke's references to the Holy Spirit in the life and mission of these early disciples. It's a good reminder of our need for the power of God's Spirit to sustain and equip us for our own ministries as Christians.
You will be reading through chapter 15 this month. Most of this half of Acts deals with the original disciples, led by Peter. It is worth reflecting on how different these men are now from the tentative, doubting group of people who were with Jesus only shortly before. Obviously, they have seen the risen Christ and been touched by the Spirit!
Watch for two other things as you read Acts. One is the gradual inclusion, with some hesitations, of non-Jews into the church. The other is the rise of opposition to the new faith. This is tempered at first, but it results eventually in martyrdom for Stephen and James. Contrary to what we hear sometimes these days, witnessing to the gospel does not guarantee a trouble-free existence or a life of ease and comfort!
From The Year of the Bible by James E. Davison
The Old Testament readings this month are primarily from Exodus and Leviticus. Exodus contains the familiar story of Israel's escape from bondage in Egypt. The first twenty chapters are the most exciting, as they tell us about Moses' life story, the burning bush, the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the giving of the Ten Commandments.
Many people have pointed out that the plagues (as well as the Red Sea and the manna and quail in the wilderness) all have parallels in natural events, so that what is "miraculous" in them is not so much the extraordinary events themselves, but the timing: they occur as they are predicted by Moses, God's servant. A very important element of Exodus is God's giving of the name to Israel in chapter 3. The meaning of the name is mysterious ("I am who I am"), but it obviously indicates God's absoluteness. It is a potent sign that points clearly to the Lord's control over this world.
Once you begin chapter 21, you enter a world of laws and customs, many of which seem strange and alien to us. Some of them will even appear to be unjust or unloving. These kinds of injunctions will be a regular feature of the readings all the way through Deuteronomy. Read them quickly; don't get bogged down. Bear in mind that these laws are given to a group whom God is attempting to turn into a people, and these people live in a world that is in many ways chaotic. As harsh as many of the laws may sound to us, there is a much greater emphasis on justice, equality, and mercy here than there was in the cultures surrounding Israel.
Most of Ex. 24-40 deals with the Tabernacle, the "tent of meeting" that became the center of Israelite worship. With the Holy of Holies as its focal point, the Tabernacle was the place that God promised to be accessible to the people. Here, too, sacrifices could be made to atone for sin and ritual defilement. Exodus closes with an affirmation that God's presence has filled the Tabernacle. The people of Israel can be sure that they belong to and are protected by a gracious and merciful Lord!
Leviticus is a book to read quickly. Much of the material it records, which is intended to regulate religious and civil life for Israel, will be hard to understand and will appear burdensome to us. If you are curious about a regulation or law, a commentary will be helpful. Note in particular chapter 19, with its emphasis on justice and helping the poor. There are certainly implications here for our own attitude toward the less fortunate in our society.
Also, you may notice the material on atonement in ch. 16 of Leviticus. It is this kind of ritual material that provides the background for our understanding of Christ's sacrifice of himself on the cross in order to bring atonement. This is a good example of the point, made by many people, that you cannot really understand the New Testament without grasping the basic concepts of the Old Testament.
Most of our reading from the new Testament this month will be in Acts. This book tells us the story of the growth and development of the earliest church during a period of about thirty years from the time Christ departs in glory. Acts 1:8 sets the outline for the book. It shows an ever-widening circle of testimony to the gospel, until the movement begun in Jerusalem reaches the whole of the world.
Acts points out, too, that it is the Holy Spirit, God's power in the world, that underlies this movement. The Spirit is the motivating force, the impelling energy that transforms a small band of believers into convinced and effective witnesses to the Christ. Look particularly for Luke's references to the Holy Spirit in the life and mission of these early disciples. It's a good reminder of our need for the power of God's Spirit to sustain and equip us for our own ministries as Christians.
You will be reading through chapter 15 this month. Most of this half of Acts deals with the original disciples, led by Peter. It is worth reflecting on how different these men are now from the tentative, doubting group of people who were with Jesus only shortly before. Obviously, they have seen the risen Christ and been touched by the Spirit!
Watch for two other things as you read Acts. One is the gradual inclusion, with some hesitations, of non-Jews into the church. The other is the rise of opposition to the new faith. This is tempered at first, but it results eventually in martyrdom for Stephen and James. Contrary to what we hear sometimes these days, witnessing to the gospel does not guarantee a trouble-free existence or a life of ease and comfort!
From The Year of the Bible by James E. Davison
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