March 31: 1 John 2–Jude

By Darrell Pursiful

When someone who tends to see the world in black and white stakes out the middle ground, I take notice. The author of the Johannine letters was such a person. His letters are filled with light and darkness, truth and falsehood. When 2 and 3 John are set side by side, they create a tension that should not be easily resolved. The message of 2 John is to have nothing to do with heretical teachers. The message of 3 John is to have nothing to do with those who, in their zeal to avoid heresy, reject authentic teachers with the highest credentials.

The congregations of the primitive church were linked together by an ad hoc network of traveling prophets and teachers, pastoral correspondence, and the occasional apostolic visit. It was a situation prone to abuse. Heresy could creep in, so in 2 John the Elder warned “the elect lady” to be careful whom the church accepts. On the other hand, isolation could breed parochialism, so in 3 John he warned Gaius to be careful whom the church rejects.

A church leader named Diotrephes was turning away the Elder’s hand-picked messengers. Perhaps he did so in the name of “doctrinal purity,” but the Elder knew that for Diotrephes heresy was just a handy pretext. His real motivation was that he loved “to be first.” His appropriate authority to guard the church from harm had gone to his head.

March 30: 1 Peter 1–1 John 1

By Betty Clark

Remember the fad of the Pet Rock, the inanimate object that was elevated to the position of pet and maybe even family member? What a curious phenomenon it was to see a human being look to a hardened lump of minerals for companionship. No matter what doting and affection was lavished on that pet rock it could not live, nor breathe, nor contribute unselfishly to any human relationship.

In today’s passage, we hear of the “living stones” that are to build up the foundation of the early church. Indeed! The most non-conforming stone was appointed to be the corner stone- Jesus Christ himself! Certainly we see no resemblance to the aforementioned pet rock!

Are we to be, as today’s Christians, pet rocks or living stones? Are we to sit in our appointed pews, week after week, like cold rocks with little to offer outside of taking up space? Are we content to have love and care lavished upon us, yet give nothing in exchange to build up the kingdom?

May we reject the daily, no hourly, temptation to remain mere pet rocks and may God breathe life and inspiration into us so we may continue the good work that began centuries ago, holding up the foundation of our faith as living stones with purpose and strength in love through the power of Jesus Christ, our cornerstone and Lord!

March 29: Hebrews 11–James 5

By Bruce Conn

Be doers of the word and not hearers only. This reading has a wonderful unintended circularity to it. Starting with the roll call of the saints in Hebrews 11 who lived by faith and ending with James’ incessant exhortation that we live this way, we are told to be the gospel.

The saints of old lived without promise of the glory that we know, and we are challenged to live up to their example of faith. And how are we to do this? By being doers of the gospel. What do we do? Sing with me, “Rescue the perishing, care for the dying.” We are to live the gospel. “Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom” (Jas 3:13)

March 27: Hebrews 2–10

By Rebecca Cooke

“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Over and over we are admonished to open our ears (how ironic to us in this FCBH journey) and heed the message. We parents give warnings quite often in an effort to prevent our children from going astray and the eminent punishment involved. Who has not heard (or used) the phrase “This hurts me more than it does you”? As a child, we believe the parent speaking those words must surely be lying. As a parent, we understand how painful it is to watch our children act out, or act ugly as I say sometimes. We feel a little like maybe we could have prevented it all if we had been more strict earlier or warned them more often.

Hebrews 2-10 begins with the refrain, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” And it continues with an explanation of how God surely understands our mistakes, as the human, Jesus—who is also the high priest who came to earth and suffered what we have. He is therefore able to sympathize with our weaknesses (4:15). He is able to deal with us with more compassion because he has been flesh. He is the new covenant, the new promise of God’s love and judgment, the new sacrifice.

March 26: 1 Timothy 6–Hebrews 1

By Jack Colwell

A profound description of the nature and function of Scripture is recorded in 2 Timothy 3:16. We are simply told that Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, training, correction, and reproof. Many fundamentalists want to go beyond this description and enforce additional mandates. Some rigidly insist that inspiration means that God dictated every word of Scripture verbally. Others demand acceptance of the untenable notion that the Scriptures are somehow inerrant or infallible. Actually, only God is infallible and inerrant. Artificial man-made dogmas about Scripture violate its nature. We do well just to let it speak for itself.

March 25: 1 Thessalonians 3–1 Timothy 5

By Connie Jones

When Paul urges the Thessalonians to live out Christ’s teaching “not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance” (1 Thess 4:1, The Message), I was reminded of choir practice. Sometimes when we’re rehearsing an anthem for Sunday morning, Stanley will “exhort” us to “bounce through a musical phrase, “dance lightly over the notes,” or “sing like we’re ringing bells.” Then he’ll go on to tell us what he’s actually hearing—which is more like we’re “plodding soldiers on a death march,” in that we’re landing so heavily on each note the “joyful dance” of the music is lost. We laugh in recognition of the “dogged serious plodding” we are in fact, doing, and then strive, over and over, to “make the music dance.”

If, as followers of Jesus, we take ourselves and the details of the journey too seriously—if we worry about “getting it right”—then we lose our spontaneity, we get bogged down, we don’t experience the beauty, and we’re certainly not having any fun!  On a regular basis we need to recognize our serious plodding and break into “living, spirited dance”!

Thanks, Paul!

Thanks, Stanley!

March 24: Philippians 2–1 Thessalonians 2

By Bryan Whitfield

These days Paul’s notes of joy challenge me. He’s in jail, unable to visit the friends he holds dear. He cannot proclaim the gospel message, go where he wants to travel, or choose what he eats. In every way, his life is limited. But he makes a list of blessings, not trials. He can barely contain his joy that the Philippians have offered financial support. With their generous gift, they have also sent Epaphroditus to work with and to encourage him. I wonder: when I face limits in my life, might I follow Paul’s example and discover thankfulness and joy?

March 23: Galatians 5–Philippians 1

By Carolyn Jones

Attending a poetry conference in California, I fell to discussing the Greek language with a gentleman in the hall. This was not a spiritual gathering, but the man went straight to Ephesians 2:10:  We are [God’s] workmanship. I knew the word poieo meant “to make” or “to do”; so what is made or done becomes a poiema: a poem.

That insight was the high point in the conference for me, and has remained a truth I could come back to ever since. Paul was telling non-Jews who worshipped a pantheon of gods, that there is one God, who made all people and all creation; and the whole of God’s making, as well as all the elements, is God’s Poem.

Even in the midst of global destruction,  pain, confusion, and darkness, this can be trusted: God is the One universal Creator, and his creation is good. And my personal life can be empowered and secure, knowing I am God’s poem!

March 22: 2 Corinthians 10–Galatians 4

By Zach Kincaid

Paul asks in Gal. 4:16, "Have I now become your enemy because I tell you the truth?" We want to say back to Paul, "No, of course not." But wait. Do we really think that we are all one in Christ—that there are no divisions (Gal 3:28)? Do we fashion weapons that demolish arguments  and take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor 10:4-5)? Do we rally behind the foolishness of the Gospel and not boast of anything (2 Cor 11:19-21)? Do we believe in Christ crucified and that we cannot gain any favor from God by our right living (Gal 3:1-5)? So, is Paul our enemy now?

The reading for today provides some difficult lessons that might jar our script on faith and practice, but we are indeed God's workmanship and our affections must be reordered away from our desires if we are to see this fact most fully. Then, we can allow God to work through Scripture to question us and bend our knee, rather than us twisting it to suit our notions of truth and criticism.

March 20: 1 Corinthians 16–2 Corinthians 9

By Barbara Newton

“I want you to be ready.”

Paul wants those folks in Corinth to be ready like he thinks they are and like they say they are. He sent letters with instructions, hard lessons, encouragement and reasons to be thrilled. It could be a letter from a Mama or a teacher.

As I listen to the audio Bible, it helps me to read along. Today I am reading in a Bible that I used mostly in the late 1980’s. Passages are underlined that I am sure were part of a lesson in my fundamental church that valued good Christian behavior. I reread underlined verses wondering what I came to understand during those years. It is possible that the way I understood those same words then, would be offensive to me now. Preparation can come from the most unexpected places. You, (my fellow saints) and my church and this bible reading are part of me getting ready.

March 19: 1 Corinthians 10–15

By Bob Setzer

Today’s lesson contains one of the most famous passages in the Bible: the "love chapter," 1 Corinthians 13.

Most of the time we only hear a portion of this chapter read, typically at a wedding or a funeral. Unfortunately, 1 Corinthians 13 is rarely grounded in the larger biblical context that gives it even more power and meaning.

In 1 Corinthians 12 and 14, the chapters bracketing the "love chapter," Paul is addressing a church fight. The Corinthians are divided about who is the most "spiritual" among them. Paul’s answer is that being spiritual is not about having exotic spiritual experiences or deep spiritual knowledge. Being truly "spiritual" in the Christian sense of the word means learning to love like Jesus.

Read 1 Corinthians 13 as a portrait of Jesus and his brand of love. These stirring words are not an expression of sentimentality suitable for a Hallmark card. 1 Corinthians 13 is about the hard work of loving others as God has loved us, right in the midst of the family fights, church fights, and culture wars where we live.

March 18: 1 Corinthians 2–9

By Charlie Thomas

Although I just learned the term recently, I think it would be fair to say that I tend to be a "red-letter" Christian. I find the words and actions of Jesus to be the most compelling, provocative, and inspiring passages of the Bible. Paul, on the other hand, troubles me. It isn't that I don't respect and admire his life of travel, letter-writing, and church-building; I find it amazing. I often think, though, that Paul gets lost in the details of the situations he faced in his ministry to some of the earliest Christian communities. But this passage inspired a little more of my sympathy than usual:

First Corinthians 9:19 For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. 20To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. 21To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. 22To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some. 23I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

Paul immerses himself in the lives of those to whom he hopes to minister. He is neither slave nor Jew, but he takes on those roles in order to preach and teach more effectively. He doesn't insist on a particular persona, but, in order to bring the gospel to the world, he remakes himself in the image of those to whom he writes and travels. Rather than trying to be recognized for who he is and what makes him different from others, he chooses to cultivate common ground. He comes to people where they are, immerses himself in what they care about, and finds ways to bring the gospel message into those present, concrete concerns.

As I reflect on this part of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, I hope and pray that, like Paul, I can find common ground, let go of ego, and become a conduit for the gospel of Christ's love for us all.

March 17: Romans 11-I Cor 1

By Zach Kincaid

How do we live in such a way that we effect the world without the world affecting us? How do we maintain our identity as a people who believe that Jesus is God Incarnate yet live in a time where rationalism and reason are king? Do we bow down or get thrown into fiery furnaces and lions' dens? Paul does not have easy exits. If we are to live as Christ, we may need to die trying. If we claim this faith, we will offer our bodies as human sacrifices... "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2).

March 16: Romans 5–10

By Susan Broome

Romans 8:14-16: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

Romans 8:26: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.”

There is a Baptist archbishop in the Republic of Georgia who lives in a rocky land. Baptists are a minority group within an economically deprived country that is ninety percent Orthodox and surrounded by Muslim countries. The standard of living has plummeted since the Republic asserted its freedom from the Soviet Union, and winters are especially harsh.

The Orthodox have insulted Baptists, burned their Bibles, and ransacked their churches, yet Malkhaz has offered forgiveness and Holy Communion to those who would come. In the midst of political unrest, he has spent time in prison—yet he revels in this shared culture and celebrates the place that Georgian Baptists hold in representing Christ to the rest of the world.

How can it be that he leads his people to care for Chechen refugees, people who in centuries past kidnapped Georgians and sold them into slavery? How is it that he serves with Baptists who call women into ministry where such is unheard of? How is it that he acknowledges the Jewish heritage of his Christian faith by displaying a menorah near the altar of his church?

Where does their strength reside? Can it be anything other than within God’s spirit—a spirit that assures them they are children of God? And what of those hardships that words cannot touch? Even our brother, the Baptist Archbishop of the people of Georgia, would admit to being weak and sighing deeply in what seems a failed effort to pray. Baptists in the Republic of Georgia hold fast to the promise that nothing will be able to separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus their Lord.

March 15: Acts 27–Romans 4

By David Cooke

In Romans 4:7-8, Paul quotes David saying:

"God blesses people
whose sins are forgiven
and whose evil deeds
are forgotten.

The Lord blesses people
whose sins are erased
from his book."

Notice that the passage does not say "God blesses people who are blameless" or "The Lord blesses people who don't sin." Or the modern equivalent "God blesses those who are successful."

God's favor falls on those of us whose souls he has healed, not on those non-existent folks who have never been ill. The fact of the matter is, we will all fail and we will all need help. And the irony is, our failures lead to blessings. It's right there in the book. Our failures will eventually lead to blessings through God's forgiveness.

Many of us are control freaks. We think that so much of what we do determines our destiny. The "self-made man" concept is a large part of our North American cultural thought. The Word, however, doesn't always agree with the view of our culture. Our perceived failures are often what leads us to our blessings through God. Can we really expect to make ourselves better than God, who makes (and recreates) us in his own divine image? Can we really expect that we will do better than God at blessing ourselves? The fact is, we fare better when let God do his thing, when we accept what he has to offer, than when we try to do it all on our own merit. The big lie is that we want what we deserve. The truth is, God wants to give us more than we deserve.

True blessings, then, come not from what earn for ourselves. Those are merely wages. Blessings are given freely. All we have to do is accept them.

March 13: Acts 21–26

By Gwen Colwell

Usually we zero in on a verse or short passage for comment but the chapters for today are more of a travelogue of Paul’s journeys after he starts toward Jerusalem. For a while he enjoys the hospitality of the people in the churches along the way. Not long into the journey, however, he encounters trouble as he speaks about the Gentiles. This ultimately sets him at odds with the religious leaders and on course toward Rome. As he dealt with angry mobs and was arrested and sent from one ruler to the next in an effort to seek his death, Paul never wavered in his purpose to proclaim the Christ. Eventually Paul appealed to Caesar in his struggles and this hastened his journey on to Rome. We recognize in Paul the sheer determination to go on no matter what was ahead. As we travel along life’s road, Paul’s life and teachings are a reminder to be faithful for God is with us.

March 12: Acts 16–20

By Rick Wilson

Our Lenten journey cannot be selfish. We should look inward in this season, but we also should look outward, trying to see more of the world we live in.

When Paul arrived in Athens (Acts 16:16ff.) that is what he did. He took a measure of what motivated the Athenians and then he measured his own convictions. After taking the two measures he made his confession that the “unknown god” of the Athenians could be known.

That is what we are called to: to make known by our deeds and words the God we have met through Christ Jesus.

March 11: Acts 10–15

By Betty Clark

This passage tells the amazing story of the travels, ministry, and persecution of the early leaders of the church, strengthened and empowered by God through the Holy Spirit. Persecution seemed to meet Paul and Barnabas and those that banded with them at every turn, even to the point of stoning Paul nearly to death.

The “simple” message of the gospel did not sit well with the religious establishment of the time. A religion bound by rules and rituals wrestled with the notion of simple grace. How could true faith in God be reduced to such a common denominator among men and women? The disciples emphasized the commonality of the human race. There was no “us and them,” as far as they were concerned.

Unfortunately today, well meaning Christians can fall into the trap of dividing our brothers and sisters into “us and them” categories rather than openly proclaiming the good news of Jesus to all, no matter if they speak, look, or act differently than we do. The disciples performed signs and wonders among the people they were trying so valiantly to persuade to Christ. Today, in a time where signs and wonders are not as common, truly it would be a modern-day miracle to see brothers and sisters from every race, every political persuasion, and every culture to unite in their shouting of “Jesus is Lord!”

March 10: Acts 5–9

By Zach Kincaid

It's easy to say that we believe in the power of God and the love of Jesus. It's harder to wrestle that belief into something that actively seeks out a harvest in a rotten world. Often, our affections blend with all the things pagans worry and fret over. Yes, that's right - "pagans." Even that word bites back at our First Baptist Church of Christ sympathies. It's important to realize anew that the ones we see following Jesus in these passages from Stephen to Peter to Paul die for their beliefs. May our abandonment to the Gospel carry the same salt.

March 9: John 20–Acts 4

By Lanta Cooper

As I listen to the text, I find myself able to be involved in the stories of Jesus. In John 21 when Jesus tells the disciples to cast their net to the other side of the boat, I imagine being on the boat. I can hear the ocean waves and vividly picture Jesus standing on the shore. I wonder how exhausted I would be after many failed attempts to make a catch. I question the temperature of the water (and find it interesting that Simon Peter clothes himself to swim back to shore). I picture listening through the wind and waves to Jesus' advice, feeling the relief that a catch has been made, and struggling to haul the load of fish back to shore.

I have been reminded that reading Scripture may involve more than just reading the words. We are sometimes challenged to bring the text to life and use all of our senses to creatively capture the moments. In doing so, we may discover something new about the life of Jesus.

March 8: John 15–19

By Darrell Pursiful

John records some of the most memorable encounters between Jesus and individuals. One of the last is Jesus' trial before Pilate in John 18-19. Did you notice the geography of that episode? Pilate is constantly in motion, going outside to confer with the Jerusalem leaders and then back inside to interrogate Jesus. He is literally going back and forth over the question of what to do with this man who was sent from the Father.

If we have have overheard Jesus' dealings with Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, the crippled man at the pool, the man born blind, and all the rest and still find ourselves going back and forth about Jesus and his claims, then Pilate is our brother.

How much more will it take for us to own Jesus as our King?

March 6: John 10–14

By Charlie Thomas

The words that come to mind as I think about reading John 10-14 this time through are: "misunderstanding" and "mystery." Jesus tells stories about thieves and shepherds that are designed to illuminate his ministry on earth, and no one has any idea what he’s talking about. Not much further in the reading, a group of Jews plan to stone Jesus for his teachings and he is so misunderstood that he has to leave town to escape arrest. After raising Lazarus, Jesus had to go so far as to retreat to the wilderness to avoid those who sought to kill him.

When Jesus comes into Jerusalem, the misunderstandings of his ministry continue; but Jesus’ rhetoric changes just slightly. We learn that many of Jesus’ lessons were not meant to be understood immediately. “His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.” (12:16) What looked at first to be misunderstandings were really mysteries: teachings that would make sense to when the time was right.

As I continue in this Lenten reading project, it is comforting to know that not everything needs to make sense to me right away. I’m sure to misunderstand things as I read through the New Testament, but I hope that some of my failures to understand might actually be confrontations of mysteries whose meaning will come to me when the time is right.

March 4: John 1–5

By Rebecca Cooke

The first five chapters of John have always presented such a quandry. How can Jesus be fully divine and yet fully human? The very beginning of John tells us that "the Word was with God, and the Word was God...all things were made through him" (verses 1-3). We believe in Jesus as God's Son, as one-third of the trinity, as the Word. He was fully eternal and divine, immortal.

Further into the chapter we hear/ read that the "Word became flesh and dwelt among us." So now this fully divine being has come/was sent to earth as fully human—fully flesh. Then to complete the confusion, John's author records chapter after chapter of the miracles and teachings of Jesus demonstrating a power uncharacteristic of human.

I have heard many Sunday school lessons and sermons on these chapters. Ordinarily, however, they are split up into shorter passages for managability, for understanding, to make it easy for mere mortals. We are taught one day that Jesus was God's Son, an immortal being who had authority even over the angels. One week later we learn that Jesus suffered and bled and died with real flesh, in 3-D. By putting the two together and hearing all five chapters in one sitting, we are thrown out of our comfort zone. To hear/read the five chapters together our faith is questioned again as to what Jesus was and is to us: fully human and yet fully divine.

March 3: Luke 20–24

By Jack Colwell

The passion narrative in Luke 20-24 is so familiar that when reading it I have difficulty concentrating. Listening to the masterful “Faith Comes by Hearing” audio files gripped my attention again. In Junior College I gained a new appreciation for reading aloud and hearing. At Young Harris I was the reader for a blind student. Reading aloud and listening helped me become a better student. For long hours I read lessons, and sometimes we listened together to “Talking Books.” For English Literature we heard Vanity Fair on bulky phonograph records.

Modern technology has enhanced my present endeavors in reading scripture.

March 2: Luke 14–19

By Connie Jones

Jesus knew the importance of a party! Two parables in this passage provide the backdrop for feasting and celebration. In one, a loving parent throws a party for the lost child who has returned home. In the second, a host plans a great banquet—only to be stood up by the invited guests—whereupon a search is launched for the homeless and hungry to enjoy the prepared feast.

Jesus invites us to his party, the feast of Christian community, with the pain and joy of relationships, where all of us have a seat at the table, can partake of the blessing, and know that we belong.

We are also called to invite others to the party, that “the house may be full.”

March 1: Luke 10–13

By Bryan Whitfield

I’m amazed at the vulnerability of the disciples Jesus sends out. Their vulnerability is all they have—no wallet or backpack, no American Express card or cell phone, no shoes. They must depend on the hospitality of those to whom they are sent. They become a part of another family and rely on their new family for a roof over their heads and food to eat. But in their simplicity and vulnerability, they discover the amazing power of God. I wonder—in what ways might Jesus call me to travel lightly, to embrace vulnerability, and to rely on the hospitality of others?