DAILY BIBLE READING GUIDE (December 11th-17th)

DAILY BIBLE READING GUIDE (December 11^th-17^th)

Monday –John 14

This week we will look at the final section of John 14.  Jesus has come to make a new race of people who are loyal to God.  This race though will not be defined by skin color or any other outward marks but will be distinguished by certain traits that are nonetheless as obvious as external marks.  Make it a point to examine your life this week in light of these distinguishing marks of God’s people.

Tuesday –John 14.15-31; 1 John 5.2-3     

The first mark of God’s people is that they will be filled with love for God.  This love will be manifest not through mere lip service but will be seen as they keep God’s commands.  Jesus says three times in this passage that love for God is defined by obedience to God’s word.  This includes more than just the ethical stipulation.  It means that God’s people will have a love for all of God’s word.  They will delight in keeping God’s commands b/c of their great love for God.  This obedience is not spurred on simply by duty but comes from a grateful heart for God’s great love given to us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  Does your life demonstrate that you love God?  Pray that God would give you a greater love for him? 

Wednesday – John 14.15-31; Acts 1.8; Joel 2.28-29

A second mark of the new people of God is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  The greatest distinction between the Old Testament people of God (Israel) and the New Testament people of God (the church) is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  This is why Jesus leaving his disciples will be better for them than if he stays on this earth for having the Spirit of Christ living inside is far greater than walking with Christ physically on this earth.  The Spirit will do a great work inside of God’s people as he carries on the ministry of Christ among the church.  He will bring us life, give understanding of God’s word and will transform our lives so that they conform to the image of Christ.  If you are a child of God, know today that God’s Spirit lives inside you and is working in your life.  What a wonderful blessing and gift from our great God and Father! 

Thursday – John 14.15-31; Romans 8.12-17

A third mark of the church is adoption into the family of God.  While Jesus is physically leaving his disciples, he gives them a promise that he will not leave them as orphans.  A child without parents is vulnerable to many dangers for he cannot care for or defend himself.  Christ’s people never have to worry about being left helpless in this world for he will never forsake us.  He will not leave us as orphans.  What a wonderful promise to carry in our hearts and minds throughout a life filled with difficulty and sorrow!  Even on our deathbeds, we can know for sure that our God will never leave us defenseless but is always present with us even during the darkest of hours.  Praise God today for bringing you into his family and always caring for us as a Father cares for his child. 

Friday – John 14.15-31

A final mark of God’s new people is a peace that surpasses all understanding.  Jesus gives to his disciples peace in the midst of uncertain days that will be filled with confusion, doubt and fears.  They can face these trying days with a peace that it sure.  Christ’s peace is unlike the peace of the world for his peace is lasting and comes from his own blood that was shed on the cross.  This peace has also been given to us.  The world talks a lot about peace, yet our world is never able to secure any lasting peace.  However, God’s children can know a real peace.  We can have peace with God, others and ourselves b/c of what Christ has done for us on the cross.  Praise God for bringing about peace in our lives and seek to make God’s peace known to others this week through the preaching of the gospel. 

Saturday – John 15

Tomorrow we will gather as a people to worship our great God.  Pray that God would speak to you through his word.  Pray that you would submit to the King of Kings as he speaks to you in worship tomorrow.

Podcast Now Available

The podcast for this Sunday's sermon (December 4th) is now available.

"When World's Collide: Jesus Vs. Oprah"

http://fbcbeggs.podomatic.com

DAILY BIBLE READING GUIDE (December 4th-10th)

Monday – John 14.1-31
This week we will look at the second section of John 14. Jesus will make several statements that will show his uniqueness over and above all religious leaders of all times. He makes statements that show he was far more than just a spiritual man, but was indeed God in the flesh. The truths we see this week regarding Christ are the very bedrock of our faith. Pray that these truths would be solidified in our church and in your mind this week.

Tuesday – John 14.4-14; Acts 4.12; Romans 1.16
Jesus is the way to the Father. Many religious leaders over the course of human history have taught about how to get to God, but no one has ever made a claim as radical as that of Jesus. He is not simply telling people how to get to the Father. He is saying that access to the Father comes only through Him. Any attempt to reach God or gain eternal life that comes outside of Jesus Christ is futile and will only lead to destruction. While this exclusivity is not popular in our day, it is central to the message of Christianity and is a truth we must hold fast.

Wednesday – John 14.4-14; Colossians 1.15-20
Jesus is the revealer of the Father. His teaching and ministry are doing more than just explaining to people what God is like. His very life is an exact representation of the Father so that to see him is to see the Father. This is an amazing statement for Jesus is claiming equality with the Father. This truth is crucial to the Christian faith. In order to be saved, one must confess that Jesus was more than just a man. He was God in the flesh. Anything less than this is to deny the core of our faith.

Thursday – John 14.4-14; Ephesians 3.1-13
Jesus is the sharer of the Father. Jesus says that those who have faith will do the same works that the Father has done through Him. What’s more is that they will do even greater works b/c Jesus is returning to the Father. This does not mean that the disciples will do more spectacular works but that the message they will carry will have more clarity b/c it will come after the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus. What is amazing is that Jesus’ followers will share in his life and his work. God will work through them just as he worked through Christ to bring glory to His name. Do you see this truth in your life? Does your life display the continuation of the work of Christ?

Friday – John 14.4-14; Matthew 6.9-15
Another aspect of the lives of the disciples will be prayer. After Jesus returns to the Father, the disciples will have a new access to prayer. Prayer will be one of the great gifts and commands that Christ will give his people. Jesus promises that he will answer the prayers of his people that are asked in his name. This means that prayers that seek to bring glory to the Father will be answered by Christ. Anything we ask in his name will be answered by Christ. What a great promise and invitation! Do you find yourself taking advantage of this great privilege? If we are to be a people that bring glory to God by continuing the ministry of Christ on this earth, we must be a people who pray fervently.

Saturday – John 14.1-31
Look over the meditations from this week. Was there any truth that stood out to you in particular? Pray God would instill the truths from John 14 in your heart and mind. Tomorrow we will look at the final section from John 14. Pray that God would speak to you through the preaching of His word tomorrow.

Podcast Now Available!

The podcast for this Sunday's sermon (November 27th) is now available!

"The Cure For the Troubled Soul (John 14:1-3)"

http://fbcbeggs.podomatic.com/

Book Club

We are starting Book Club!

Book: Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

Sunday nights at 6pm in Fellowship Hall (excluding December 4th)

All are welcome...great fellowship and snacks...don't need to read the book to have a good time and be encouraged in your Christian walk

Christmas Train!

We will be going to the Christmas Train on December 4th!  We will be leaving the church at 4:30 so we can make it there by 6:00.

Tickets have come in - pick them up from Chris or Jerry

Make checks out to FBC Beggs - write Christmas Train on check memo line

DAILY BIBLE READING GUIDE (Nov. 28th-Dec. 3rd )

Monday –John 14.1-3
This week we will look at the first section of John 14. Jesus has just told his disciples very troubling news. He will leave them soon. He is going to die. One of them will betray him, and Peter is going to deny him. This causes a very somber mood to fall upon their evening, but Jesus seeing that his disciples are troubled in their hearts will offer four encouragements that they might remain faithful during the dark days that are coming. We will find these encouragements to be beneficial as we face a life filled with trials and troubles.

Tuesday –John 14.1-3; Psalm 9.9-10; Psalm 25.1-3
The first directive Jesus gives his disciples is to believe in God and believe in Him. The key to facing difficult days is to trust in God’s sovereignty, wisdom and power. The disciples will be tempted to believe that God is not in control of the events that will transpire over the next few days. They need to trust that the Father and Christ are in complete control over all things. We, too, need to trust in God during trying circumstances. The most difficult of days can be faced with confidence and hope when we look to God in faith. We must not focus upon our difficult situations but upon a God who is ‘greater than all.’

Wednesday – John 14.1-3; Revelation 21.1-8
A second aspect of facing troubling times is an understanding that ‘in the Father’s house are many rooms.’ The focus of this statement is not on the lavishness of each individual room but on the intimacy his disciples will have with the Father and the spaciousness of His house. One of the great hopes of the Christian life is the reality that those who trust in Christ will spend their life and their eternity in a relationship with God. The disciples need not worry about being excluded from heaven for there is ample room for all who believe. This, too, is a great hope for us—the reality that we will spend all of eternity living in the Father’s house. Praise God and Christ for bringing this great blessing about!

Thursday – John 14.1-3; Habakkuk 1.13; Hebrews 10.19-22
A third source of comfort for dark days is the fact that Jesus has ‘prepared a place’ for us. It is better for the disciples if Jesus leaves b/c when he does he will prepare a place for them. Preparing a place does not mean that Jesus is going to heaven to finish building it for us but instead means that he is preparing a way for us to go to heaven. Scripture is clear that sinful man cannot dwell in the presences of a holy God, yet we believe that we will one day go and live in the very presences of God. This is why Jesus must go and prepare a place for us. He does this by dying on the cross and being raised from the dead. By doing so, he opens up access for us to live with Him in His Father’s house forever.

Friday – John 14.1-3; 1 Thessalonians 5.1-11
A final cause for hope during trying times is the certainty of Jesus’ return. He tells his disciples that after he goes and prepares a place for them he will return to get them and take them to be with Him. Jesus will not forsake his people. He will return for them. It is inconceivable that having gone through all the difficulty to reconcile man and God that Jesus would not bring it to its consummation. He will return for his bride and take his people to heaven with him. What a wonderful truth to sustain us during difficulty! No matter how hard life gets, we can always take comfort in knowing that this world is not the end for us. We are destined for an eternity with God and Christ.

Saturday – John 14
Pray that God would speak to you through the preaching of His word tomorrow