January 31 - February 6 Reading Schedule

What up, Smallies?  Here is our reading schedule for this week. Keep in mind that we won't be meeting on Sunday due to some sporting event that some people think is a big deal, but I'm not sure what it is. I mean, the World Cup doesn't start until June 11. 

So, for your own study and reflection, I have included a few questions, as well as some of my selected thoughts. If you have any comments you'd like to make, please use the comment section. I'm sure the 2 people that read this blog would benefit from your point of view.

Sunday - Ex. 29:44-46; Acts 7
Monday - Ex. 32, Acts 8:1-25 

Tuesday - Ex. 33; Acts 9:1-19, 31-43 

Wednesday - Acts 10 

Thursday - Ps. 19; Acts 11 

Friday - Ex. 40:34-38; Ps. 15; Acts 12

Saturday - Acts 13

Questions for Reflection:

Exodus

Ch. 32 - Why do you think Aaron was convinced by the people to create a golden calf for them to worship?

Ch. 33 - What do you think it means when God told Moses that "I know you by name"?

Ch. 40 - The Israelites knew when they were supposed to move when they saw the cloud moved from the tent of meeting. What are signs that we have now that help us know God's will?

Acts

Ch. 7 - Why do you think Stephen answered a Yes or No question with a 1,200 word answer? What do you think he was trying to prove to the Sanhedrin?

Ch. 8 - Simon the Magician wanted the honor associated with the powers bestowed to the apostles so much that he was willing to pay for it. What does this say about his sincerity regarding his true relationship to Christ?

Ch. 9 - Saul thought he was doing the work of God by arresting and imprisoning Christians. What are modern examples of people thinking they are doing God's work, but are really working against Him?

Ch. 10 - How can we apply the lesson Peter was taught in his vision to our lives now? Who or what do we consider unclean, when, in reality, God has made it clean?

Ch. 11 - In verse 26, it mentions the first time that the followers of Christ were referred to as "Christians." How is this term used today, and how do unbelievers view most of the people who claim to be Christians?

Ch. 12 - Herod allowed the people to call him a god, and the real God turned him into a worm farm for it. Why do we often like to take the credit for things that God has done in our lives? How is this a dangerous thing for us to do?

Ch. 13 - Look at the list of people that are mentioned in the first verse of this chapter. What a wide variety of people! Saul (a Pharisee from Cilicia in southeast Asia Minor), Barnabas (a Cyprian Levite), Simeon (a black guy), Lucius (a Roman from Cyrene in North Africa), and Manaen (formally a companion to Herod Antipas), were all gathered as brothers and fellow prophets/teachers. Why, 2000 years later are our churches so much less diverse racially, culturally, and socioeconomically?

My Thoughts:

I selected a couple of the passages above to focus on and share with you a few of my thoughts:

(The opinions and views expressed in the following paragraphs are solely of the individual whose name appears at the bottom of this post and are necessarily not the views of the Bryant-Taylor Small Groups, its parent, affiliate, or subsidiary members.)

Acts 9

Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute followers of Jesus. He honestly believed he was doing the work that God would have him do. I started thinking of modern day examples of people who think they are doing "God's work" while they are quite obviously wrong. I immediately thought about people who shoot up abortion clinics or bomb the cars of doctors who provide abortions. I also thought about Muslim terrorists who crash planes into buildings believing they are obeying and honoring their god, when they are actually bring him into disrepute.

As I was reading this passage, my mind went immediately to Romans 5:8, which says, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Paul write these verses out of his very own experience. While he was on the road to Damascus to persecute Christians, Jesus intervened in his life. Paul did nothing to deserve this. He had made no move toward God. He was running the other way completely. Jesus saved Paul at his worst, and Paul remembered that when he wrote his letter to the Romans.

Acts 11

In his biblical commentary, Matthew Henry says being called a Christian "denotes one who, from serious thought, embraces the religion of Christ, believes his promises, and makes it his chief care to shape his life by Christ's precepts and example. Hence it is plain that multitudes take the name of Christian to whom it does not rightly belong. But the name without the reality will only add to our guilt. While the bare profession will bestow neither profit nor delight, the possession of it will give both the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. Grant, Lord, that Christians may forget other names and distinctions, and love one another as the followers of Christ ought to do. True Christians will feel for their brethren under afflictions. Thus will fruit be brought forth to the praise and glory of God. If all mankind were true Christians, how cheerfully would they help one another! The whole earth would be like one large family, every member of which would strive to be dutiful and kind." (Emphasis mine.)

What an honor it must have been to be called a Christian during this early time. While it was probably meant as a derogatory term from unbelievers, it meant that you were noticeably different from the world. It meant that you had made such an impact that others had taken notice of you and gave you a name for it.

Now it is often the opposite that is the case. These days, people label themselves as Christians, and then go out and engage in behavior and express opinions that are completely contradictory of the example that Jesus Christ gave us. Too often, I have called myself a Christian, and then sullied the name of Christ through my own actions and words. I have used the name flippantly, and I feel it's a violation of one of the Ten Commandments we read last week. (Ex. 20:7).