Source: http://www.faithsf.com/bible-readings-december-18-24-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 08:44:26+00:00

Document:
TAI: Do you get the impression that “the elder” is writing in veiled language, with caution, perhaps protecting the identities of those to whom he is referring? Have you noticed the common themes of love and truth in the gospel and letters attributed to John? Ponder the implications of v. 4. How would we send gospel workers out in a “manner worthy of God”? Relate this to our own prayers and support of missionaries and church planters today. What are the four issues with Diotrephes?
PP: Pray for your children to walk in the truth. Ask God to help you walk in both truth and love! Pray for our missionaries and church planters we support. Pray for Sc. who will be commissioned and ordained next Sunday afternoon to overseas ministry.
TAI: Who wouldn’t want mercy, peace, and love multiplied to them! What seems to be the primary concern of Jude in this letter? Read Acts 20:29-31 and compare it with v. 4. Notice that v. 5 states that Jesus rescued God’s people from Egypt! What is the point vv. 5-7 are making? How is that point illustrated by three examples? The bad news of God’s judgment for unrighteousness is balanced by the good news of salvation by grace through faith in Christ for all who repent and believe the gospel. But it’s healthy to reflect on the reality of it.
TAI: In v. 8, what four characteristics further identify false teachers?
Which of these four continue to be common today? What is the point Jude makes with the illustration of Michael the archangel? (A good Study Bible might help with this, as well as the three OT references which follow.) “Hidden reefs… waterless clouds… fruitless trees… wild waves… wandering stars” – what is the point of these vivid images? Make no mistake, Jude seems to say, ungodly false teachers will face a swift and sure judgment from God. Ponder v. 16.
PP: Ask your heavenly Father for divine protection from the evils of false teachers and false prophets: for yourself, your family, and our church. Ask God to make you the very opposite of v. 16: humble, submissive to God, contented, meek, and loving others.
Ponder what it would be like to be just the opposite of this: godly in actions, a unifying peacemaker, putting Christ first, filled with the Holy Spirit. Verses 20-21 are the means to living this way. Do you find it easy or difficult to be merciful to doubters? To those stained by sin? Ponder the marvelous benediction that closes the epistle.
PP: Ask God to help you be just the opposite of the scoffers (as listed above). Ask God to increase your love of God’s word and prayer (our 2nd Love!). Intercede for doubters in the sphere of your life, and for those whose lives are scarred by sin. Pray through the benediction in vv. 24-25, word by word, making it personal.
TAI: This unique minor prophet (not unimportant, just shorter) “records the Lord’s relationship to Israel in terms of Hosea’s own unfortunate marriage” (Sailhamer). Hosea’s faithfulness to a sinful wife illustrates God’s covenant faithfulness to a wayward Israel. How does the naming of the children in ch. 1 illustrate both God’s judgment and his covenant faithfulness and grace? Similarly, how does the poetry of ch. 2 illustrate both judgment and faithfulness? Ponder the meaning of the promise in 3:5. What is its fulfillment?
TAI: “This section is a catalog of Israel’s sins, interspersed with the reminder of God’s faithfulness and future redemption for Israel (5:15—6:3). For Hosea, Israel’s sin consisted primarily in their looking to other nations for help rather than seeking help from the Lord.” (Sailhamer) Could not 4:1b-3 be a description of our own nation today? Sexual infidelity is a picture of the spiritual infidelity of Israel: whoredom (playing the whore) = idolatry (turning to a block of wood for help instead of God). Yet hope (6:1-3)!
TAI & PP: Today we begin our Advent season with a short series of messages focusing on “The Light—Yesterday, Today and Forever”. Today’s passage from Isaiah is a famous prophetic proclamation often heard during Advent. Who were the people that walked in darkness? What was the darkness? What was the light? Was it a physical bright light like what shown in the darkness when the angels announced Christ’s birth? Or was it more? See vs 6-7.
Pray for the pastors preaching from this familiar passage today. Pray for all who will hear—children, youth and adults. Pray that our hearts would be receptive to this prophetic message as we enter this Christmas season. Pray for all who serve in our children’s ministries: Nursery, Children’s Story Time, Sunday School and Wednesday night activities.

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