1 Corinthians 1:18-21

In these verses, God reminds us that we cannot have a relationship with God through our wisdom or our knowledge but through only the gospel, that is through His way, through His wisdom. However, God's wisdom is often misunderstood.

For nonbelievers, His wisdom is seen as a folly. For believers, we often drift away and forget to humble ourselves and fail to acknowledge the gospel is His powers. When believers read the bible, we may often lack the correct attitude in sincerely seeking God to transform us, but merely seeking knowledge or read out of responsibility.

Verse 21 reminds us that: For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

For non-believers, you will not receive God's gift of salvation by your own wisdom, you will need to embark on a faith to believe in the gospel. For believers, you will not know Him through wisdom and your relationship with him will not grow. Have a humble heart to allow transformation to take place.

1 Corinthians 1:14-17

In these verses, we can learn how humble Paul is. In his journey to share the gospel, he must have done a lot if things. Although it sounds like he thanks God for not having done certain things such as baptizing, if read carefully, it means he was thankful that he has really done it in a way that did not misled people in thinking he did things for himself:

• Verse 14 - he said he didn't baptise but in verse 15 he lists out the handful of people that he baptized.
• He clarifies he is called to share the gospel but quickly acknowledges that he did not do it out of his own wisdom (made in eloquent speech), and diminished the importance of Christ in the big picture (the power of the cross).

This tells us a number of things:

1. You may be talented and called to do certain things in the name of God, but this is not an excuse to shy away from other roles that you may not be so good at from time to time.
2. When good deeds are done, has God been honored or do people get the impression that you are doing it for yourself? Have you glorified God's name or diminished the true power of the cross?

1 Corinthians 1:10-13

• Paul pleads that there be no division amongst the brothers, that is the church. Notice that he pleads in the name Jesus Christ, meaning he is confident and certain that God does not want division.
• How is he certain? How has the Holy Spirit spoke to him so he knows? To reflect, when was the last time we said and did things that we were so certain that it will be endorsed by God?
• Same mind: the mind of Christ. How are we to follow the mind of Christ? The best way is through a direct relationship with God through prayer and reading of bible, not guidance of a man; and
• Same judgment: whether you are perfect in God's eyes, not whether you look good by any other standards.
• So Paul is calling unity not to gather the different faiths, but united in what their core beliefs.
• In verse 11-12, he sets up what the situation was back then. People looked to follow earthly leaders: Paul, Apollo, Cephas. Some got it right and stuck with Christ.
• He then turns to a series of rhetoric questions to turn our focus back to Christ in verse 13

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

• Paul identifies himself as an apostle not because he wants that title, but a title that God wants him to bear. The authority comes from God. (Verse 1)
• Reminds God's church is centred around our sanctification in Christ. We are saints (cf Romans 1:7)
• Greets his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
• The first thing he does is to give thanks, not for what was given to him, but the grace of salvation given to the people of Corinth and because they are freed, they are enriched in speech and knowledge (verses 4-5).
• We are reminded that we are equipped with these gifts so that we may sustain to Jesus' second coming. (verses 7-8).
• Paul reminds us that we were chosen by God to be in fellowship of Christ. (verse 9).

Points to take away

• Authority is from God. We should do things in the name of God.
• We are saints that are Christ centred. We are in church that the focus should never deviate from Jesus. Focus on what Jesus would do.
• Give thanks not only to what Good had given you, but what Gods has done around you as well.
• We are equipped with gifts not for our own purposes, but for Jesus' second coming, meaning we are equipped to serve and transform ourselves to become more Christ like.
• How should we serve the Lord with the skills he has equipped us with?

Week 23

Mon 29 Sep 2008	Exodus 37-40
Tue 30 Sep 2008	1Kings 5-9
Wed 01 Oct 2008	Psalms 66-68
Thu 02 Oct 2008	Proverbs 2-3
Fri 03 Oct 2008	Lamentations
Sat 04 Oct 2008	Luke 9-10
Sun 05 Oct 2008	Galatians 4-6

Luke 7-8

• Centurion endorsed Jesus as Lord (7:6), and understands that he has the authority under God, so the things he does is not limited (v8)
• Jesus fulfilled the prophesy of Isaiah (v22)
• Is this a message from Jesus telling us we should learn to love Jesus more? There are those who think they are good people so they don't appreciate their salvation as much. (v41-47)
• Jesus clarifies it is by faith she is saved, not by her actions (v50)

• Parable of sower (8:5-8)
• We should live our lives as the way Jesus has taught, not just learning it, and resume our old and usual lives after church every week. We are now the light, so we should not hide ourselves, but to radiate and influence those around us. (v16-17)
• Even demons believe Jesus and is afraid of who he is (v28-31)
• Do not fear; only believe (v50)

Proverbs 1

• To know wisdom, you must first listen (1:5), but most importantly, must be God fearing. (v7)
• If sinners entice, don't consent (v10)
• God gives opportunity for people to accept wisdom (v23-24), so when there is calamity, don't blame him because you first rejected him (v29). They must bear the consequences for their decision (v31)
• However, assures those who listen to wisdom will be secure (v33)

1 Kings 1-4

• Solomon has now become king but he still respects his mother (2:20) by bowing before her, Adonijah has asked for too much and is put to death (v25)

• He now has so much authority but notice he is very humble when he is before God. He acknowledged God has brought all these blessings and asks for wisdom (3:6-9)
• God is pleased (v10), that he does not ask for self-centred wants like longevity of life or riches, but how to lead His people. (v11-12)
• He was also blessed with the things he didn't ask for (v13-14).
• The two women and baby story (v16-28)

• The Lord fulfils his promises and bring riches to Solomon. (4:20-34)

Week 22

Mon 22 Sep 2008	Exodus 33-36
Tue 23 Sep 2008	1Kings 1-4
Wed 24 Sep 2008	Psalms 63-65
Thu 25 Sep 2008	Proverbs 1
Fri 26 Sep 2008	Jeremiah 47-52
Sat 27 Sep 2008	Luke 7-8
Sun 28 Sep 2008	Galatians 1-3

2 Corinthians

• Preaching the truth and not changing with God's word (4:2)
• But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
• What we are doing is not to boast ourselves (v5)
• Jesus, our source of hope (v8-10):
• We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
• Evangelise (v15):
• For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

• Earth is our temporary dwelling place (5:1):
• For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
• And during this temporary place, we may get hurt (v2-6), but don't despair, for we walk by faith, not by sight. (v7)
• Fear God for his judgment on us (v11)
• We are made new again (v17) and since of now belong to him, we are now living for him and are ambassadors of Christ (v20)

Christian way of living

by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;

-- 2 Corinthians 6:6-7

• Don't yoke with the unrighteous (v14)
• If things are done which are good in God's eyes then "I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." (v18)

• Getting sinful acts out of our daily living is a long process to completion/transformation in being a Christian (7:1)

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

-- 2 Corinthians 9:7

• The giving that you make equips others to share the gospel as you live a life differently after salvation

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

-- 2 Corinthians 12:9

Luke 1-6

• Many have written about the story of Jesus. (1:1), some eyewitnesses who were not part of church, and ministers who were part of church (v2). Luke studiei there material before furnishing this accounts (v3)
• For nothing will be impossible with God. (v37) Elizabeth and Mary giving birth shows the impossible can be done

• Simeon has a strong faithful follower he describes seeing Jesus as seeing salvation (2:30)

• John warns that salvation does not come through inheritance or ancestry (3:8)
• Love those around you. (v11), and what is rightfully yours (v13) - reminds of of the paying taxes event Caesar vs God

• Satan says to Jesus: "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." (4:6-7) Sometimes we long for something more, but in fact God has already given it to us already. Jesus, as son of God, should already have control over everything, why would he need to fall under Satan to gain? Likewise we are lifted from sin, do we still need to be under satan's rule?
• Even demons believe (v34)

• Simon listens to the Lord (5:5) whilst Jesus was still a stranger to him.
• He then realises the person he is obeying is the almighty (v8)
• When the leper askes Jesus for help, he does not say, please help. He says if it's his will. (1) Jesus decides; and (2) He must have the capabilities to do so. (v12)
• His busy schedules does not refrain him to pray. He finds quiet times (v16)
• Jesus reminds up not to neglect the needy (v31) "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
"Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
"Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!

-- Luke 6:20-22

• But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. (v35)
• Speck vs log (v41-42)

Mark 15-16

Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph.

-- Mark 15:44-45

• You cannot argue that Jesus hadn't died yet

Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

-- Mark 16:15-18

Jeremiah 27-46

• God warns to serve Babylon seriously (chapter 27), but since it is not adhered to, they will be punished (chapter 28)

• But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. (29:7)

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

-- Jeremiah 29:11-14

• God provides good things to His people. (32:22) but they did not obey (v23). Saving his people is well within his power (v28), but he is not going to save because His people choose to provoke him by worshiping idol Baal (v29)
• Israel will unite once again (v37). He can separate them, so He can unite them (v42)

• Someone down the ancestry line of David shall execute righteous (33:15)

• Spoke persistently of repentance, but did not listen (35:14-15), called but not answer (v 17)

• King reads the terrible prophecy, but is so hard-hearted (does not tear his garment) and so rejectful (burns the scroll) (36:22-24).

• A rebellious heart. They don't listen to God's word through Jeremiah but would want to pray to God through him. It can be seen that they acknowledge God's existence but choose not to follow (37:2-3)
• God warns problems are coming (v9)
• He gets locked up (v15)

• Why did the king swear secretely to Jeremiah? If if was serious about listening to God's word, he wouldn't do so secretely (38:16)
• Askes him to repent and listen to God. (v20)

• The breach (39:2) has caused the slaughtering as God forewarned and 40:3 confirms this

• People like to get God's directions (42:1-3), but after God reveals himself of His will, people like yo reject it if it did not fit into their own plans. This is not listening to God. It is listening when His plan does not affect yours. (43:2)

• God warns but people do not listen. (44:4)
• God loves, and hence he warns of the things that make him angry, but he is serious about the consequences of not listening to him (v6)
• Women were inferior in society during those days, but Jeremiah is asked to reveal God's message to "the people and all the women" (v24-25)

Psalms 51-62

• David repents in 51:1-9 and acknowledges that only God can cleanse his heart (v10), restore joy (v12)

God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

-- Psalms 53:2-3

Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them.

-- Psalms 54:4-5

• Notice the certainty and trust David has in God

• David is afraid and anxious, and he still comes back and rely on God. (Chapter 55)

• When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? (56:3)

These Psalms are written during times where David is being chased by enemies. It is interesting to learn that he is very determined that God protects him from (chapter 57), he judges and has superiority over other gods and am righteous (chapter 58), and God will deliver and will be with him when all four corners are full of his enemies (chapter 59).

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

-- Psalms 62:1-2

5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

-- Psalms 62:5-8

2 Samuel 10-14

• David has an affair with married woman (11:3-4)
• Uriah's loyalty (v11), but David wants him dead by putting him into front line (v14-15). He dies in v17
• David taking Uriah's wife displeases God (v27)

• David did not realised he sinned against the Lord (12:1-8)
• He is punished (v11)

• Incest (13:1)
• Outrageous (v12)

• We are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again (14:14)

Exodus 17-32

• Israel still lacked trust after all God has done for them, they still think they are going to die in dessert (17:3)

• Jethro rejoices (18:8) for the things the Lord has done followed by giving thanks by burning offering (v12)
• Delegation (v14-27)

You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;

-- Exodus 19:4-5

• God preparing to deliver the commandments (v6-25)

10 Commandments (Exodus 20)

1. You shall have no other gods before me.
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
3. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
4. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."

22 And the LORD said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: 'You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven.
23 You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold.
24 An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.

-- Exodus 20:22-24

• He's revealed himself already. So be with him and remember what he says and he'll bring his blessings.

If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him,
3 but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.

-- Exodus 22:2-3

• Who wants to purchase a thief as a slave? All the other punishment tend to be monetary compensations in nature, but sorcery is death.
• See how much God gates sorcery? (v18)
• "Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the LORD alone, shall be devoted to destruction. (v20)

• Many of these laws form the basis of our laws in society today (23:1-9)

• Their technology must not be bad as they could melt gold and make different things (30:2, 4)
• Was the census tax a symbol for paying for your redemption? It shows God will record you down as his people through the census to ensure his people are protected (v11-16)

• The people remembers what God has done in taking them out of Egypt but they don't have faith (32:1). After losing connection with God through Moses, they have drifted away to anchor their faith on something else. They start making things up (idolatry) to replace God's blessings (v4b). Likewise, if our we do not maintain a healthy relationship with God, we will likewise go astray and lose track of where our faith should be placed.
• Moses pleads for God's people so God's wrath will not come on them. (v11-14) A bit like Jesus as our mediator.
• Aaron finds excuses for making gods for them, blaming their evil nature (v21-24)
• Moses pleads for them, but still submits to God's will (v32).
• God is serious about punishment for sin. He is not some airy-fairy loving figure that just forgets what he says about punishment. "Then the LORD sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf, the one that Aaron made." (v35)

Week 21

Mon 15 Sep 2008	Exodus 29-32
Tue 16 Sep 2008	2Samuel 20-24
Wed 17 Sep 2008	Psalms 60-62
Thu 18 Sep 2008	Job 41-42
Fri 19 Sep 2008	Jeremiah 42-46
Sat 20 Sep 2008	Luke 5-6
Sun 21 Sep 2008	2Corinthians 11-13

Week 20

Mon 08 Sep 2008	Exodus 25-28
Tue 09 Sep 2008	2Samuel 15-19
Wed 10 Sep 2008	Psalms 57-59
Thu 11 Sep 2008	Job 39-40
Fri 12 Sep 2008	Jeremiah 37-41
Sat 13 Sep 2008	Luke 3-4
Sun 14 Sep 2008	2Corinthians 9-10

Week 19

Mon 01 Sep 2008	Exodus 21-24
Tue 02 Sep 2008	2Samuel 10-14
Wed 03 Sep 2008	Psalms 54-56
Thu 04 Sep 2008	Job 37-38
Fri 05 Sep 2008	Jeremiah 32-36
Sat 06 Sep 2008	Luke 1-2
Sun 07 Sep 2008	2Corinthians 6-8

Week 18

Mon 25 Aug 2008	Exodus 17-20
Tue 26 Aug 2008	2Samuel 5-9
Wed 27 Aug 2008	Psalms 51-53
Thu 28 Aug 2008	Job 35-36
Fri 29 Aug 2008	Jeremiah 27-31
Sat 30 Aug 2008	Mark 15-16
Sun 31 Aug 2008	2Corinthians 4-5