November-December

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Well, the finishing line is in sight – we only have the tail end of the New Testament to go. What’s more, I have slowed the pace down so that we are only reading about two chapters a day. (It may give you a chance to catch up on your Psalms readings!)

Hopefully, as you read the New Testament you will notice the many Old Testament promises and themes coming to a resolution – be sure to spend some time reflecting on this as you go. (Remember what Augustine said about this: “the New Testament is in the Old concealed; the Old is in the New revealed.”) Fortunately, you don’t have to do all the work yourself, the New Testament authors will be giving you a helping hand joining the dots, and showing how the entire Bible really is all about Jesus.

Romans

It seems Paul was writing to a church that was struggling to be one. The Jewish Christians were looking down their noses at the Gentile Christians. And the Gentile Christians were struggling to see how the Old Testament had anything to do with them. To this, Paul addresses their issues by analytically unpacking the gospel message, showing how both Jew and Gentile are in the same boat before God, that Christ’s work is necessary for all, and that both Jew and Gentile share the same spiritual ancestry. Paul goes on to show that salvation in the gospel profoundly changes the heart of those who trust in it.

This deep explanation of the gospel has had a profound effect on countless Christians through history. Not least of which being Martin Luther, a German monk living at a time when the church had completely gone off the rails. Romans 1:17 was the verse that made the penny drop, he understood from this that God provides righteousness to all those who simply put their trust in Him (apart from works). His realisation led to the Reformation.

This book is a heavy read but well worth the effort! Thinking caps on!

Key reflection questions:

  • What are the main points of Paul’s gospel message?
  • How does the gospel change a life?

First Corinthians

You may well have heard of some ‘interesting’ churches before, but chances are they have got nothing on the Corinthian church! There were divisions amongst them over who they thought the best apostle was, there were lawsuits, incestuous relationships, tongue speaking, idolatry, and people took pride over others on the basis of gifts. Paul patiently works through their issues one by one, applying different aspects of the gospel to their context: the power displayed in weakness at the cross, the holiness of God and His people, and their great hope of the future. From chapter 7 Paul begins addressing a number ‘matters about which they wrote’. All in all, this letter is a very interesting read, it can teach us plenty about Christian behaviour and church practice, as well as the gospel.

Key reflection questions:

  • What aspects of the gospel had the Corinthians just not got?
  • What aspects of the gospel do you also need reminding of?
  • How is 1 Corinthians 13 a good antidote to all of the Corinthian’s issues?

Second Corinthians

We really see into Paul’s heart in this letter as he defends himself against the criticisms of those who regarded themselves as ‘super-apostles’. Wisely, he doesn’t use the same artillery they use against him – that would be to descend to their level. Instead, he wants to show the Corinthians how he is a genuine minister (and a true apostle) of the new covenant precisely because of his ‘weak’, ‘unimpressive’ and ‘humble’ ministry.

Key reflection question:

  • Paul uses lots of images and metaphors in this letter to convey the Christian life and ministry in this world. Which of these particularly resonates with you?

Galatians

Where does the law fit in the Christian life?

This seems to be the big issue the people of Galatia were struggling to come to terms with. The Galatian church was infected with a false gospel which called on followers to take on works of the law in order to be saved. In no uncertain terms, Paul condemns those teaching this and shows that reliance on the Law would only lead them to death and enslavement. Christ is the only means of being justified (that is, being acceptable to God) by way of the promises to Abraham. Paul spells out the alternative (and only) way to live: freedom in Christ, which means both freedom from the law, and freedom from our sinful nature. In order to make this point however, Paul first needs to dispel any accusations against him that he is peddling a gospel that he just made up and show that he is indeed an authoritative apostle of God.

Key reflection questions:

  • If you add anything to the gospel message (i.e., “we are saved by trusting in Jesus and…”), what are you really left with?
  • What do we accidentally add to Christianity?
  • What does ‘freedom in Christ’ look like?

Ephesians

This is the first of Paul’s letters written from gaol (Philippians, Colossians and Philemon are also prison letters). I love the two paintings Paul paints in our minds in the opening two chapters – the first is a portrait of the Christian: blessed, chosen, adopted, enlightened; the second is the pre-Christian: enslaved, under sentence, dead, helpless. Paul wants to show how God has graciously worked in our lives by the Spirit and how we are now to walk to a new drum which He beats. And a key aspect of this new life is being a part of God’s diverse family in this world – and as this family, showing this new life to the watching world.

Key reflection questions:

  • How have you been saved from your ‘dead’ state?
  • In what areas are you ‘out of step’ with the Spirit, as outlined here?

Philippians

Philippians is another prison letter, but Paul’s tone certainly doesn’t give this away! Paul is bristling with joy for both the Philippian Christians and the gospel’s impact around the world. Perhaps this church had a special place in his heart, it was the first European church he founded (see Acts 16:6-40). He calls all believers to reject self-centred worldly lives, and instead look to Christ’s incredible example of humility and self-sacrifice. It sounds like this church may have been a little discouraged at Paul’s imprisonment, but none the less, going well. But Paul doesn’t want them to slack off now – he calls them to press on and take hold of the prize to which they were called.

Key reflection questions:

  • What marked Jesus’ life? What should mark your life?
  • Do you have an outlook and attitude on life and ministry like Paul? What had he deeply understood?

Colossians

Scholars wonder exactly what this false teaching was that had infected the Colossian church; it was a strange mixture of pagan folk and Jewish beliefs. They worshipped angels, denied the self, sought special knowledge, and were caught up in religious rituals. What seems clear is that they undervalued Christ because Paul addresses their confusions by portraying Jesus in all His glory. He is both the first-born over all creation, and the first-born from the dead; both Creator and Redeemer. (Any questioning of Jesus’ deity is thoroughly dispelled by Paul here.) In contrast to Jesus’ greatness, the false-teaching is based on mere human tradition and is therefore worthless and hollow.

Paul says this is the Jesus you received, now live in Him. What it really means to live “in Christ” is unpacked in the final chapters of this letter, the phrase occurs 15 times.

Key reflection questions:

  • Why is the study of the real Jesus such a great antidote to all kinds of heresies?
  • What are the implications of being “in Christ”?

1 and 2 Timothy

1 and 2 Timothy are a set of letters from Paul (a gospel worker who had many runs on the board), to Timothy (a young and fresh church leader). He writes to inform Timothy about how he is to conduct himself as he leads the Ephesian church. We gain valuable insight into the mindset and job description of a gospel worker from these letters. Directly, Timothy is called on to bravely stand up against false-teachers present in the church who are undermining the gospel. More generally Timothy is called on to ‘fight the good fight’ by ministering faithfully to the flock: teaching and training them in the pure gospel message, passing on the baton to appropriate elders and deacons, and leading them in true godliness.

Key reflection question:

  • How can Paul’s words to Timothy be a good instruction to you in the ministries you are involved with?

Titus

Paul has been ministering with Titus in Crete, but he had left Titus there to appoint elders and oversees in every township. These men were to teach what is right and refute what is false. This was vital given the big problems that were being caused in the church by false teachers. But what makes a church leader? Once again, the requirement of godliness shines through in Paul’s qualifications. He explains that this is an unescapable implication of the gospel call on people and so leaders should demonstrate this par excellence.

Key reflection question:

  • What value has godliness over talent in gospel ministry? What makes this the case?

Philemon

The tiny letter of Philemon is a great reminder of the power of the gospel to transform lives, impact human relationships and break down social barriers. Paul writes to Philemon whose slave, Onesimus, had run away to Rome, where he happened to meet Paul and become a Christian. As he grew in Christ, he spent much time and effort helping Paul who was severely constrained by his imprisonment. Paul then sent him back to his rightful owner with this personal letter of recommendation, that he would accept him back with forgiveness and love and not with anger and punishment.

Key reflection questions:

  • How have you seen the gospel bulldoze social barriers like this case with regard to a slave and his master?
  • How do you think Philemon would have responded to Onesimus and Paul’s accompanying letter?

James

This book is written by none other than Jesus’ half-brother, and leader of the Jerusalem church. His letter is very earthy and practical: it is all about living out your faith, being a doer and not merely a hearer of the word. This theme is worked out in light of the social conflict that was brewing amongst the churches he was writing to between the rich and the poor. James delivers a rebuke to his readers for their worldliness and challenges them to seek wisdom from God in working out their problems.

Key reflection questions:

  • Martin Luther called the letter of James “a right strawy epistle” presumably because to him, its message that ‘faith without works is dead’ jarred with Paul’s ‘we are justified by faith not works’. Are these contradictory?
  • How does your tongue need to be tamed according to James?

1 and 2 Peter

1 and 2 Peter are written to churches in Asia Minor who were doing it tough. There were facing heavy persecution from their townsmen and even their own families. To this Peter explains and appeals to them to suffer well and hold on to their hope in the coming resurrection and the heavenly inheritance. He calls them to follow in the footsteps of their great suffering leader by maintaining their godliness and not answering back. Although they will be laughed at in this life and treated poorly, they will surely be vindicated in the one to come.

Key reflection questions:

  • How are we to respond to unjust treatment in this life?
  • Do you feel like a stranger in this world as Peter describes here?

John

The Gospel of John is the odd one out among the four Gospels. John takes a more philosophic perspective on the teachings and events of Jesus’ life and death (and life) than any of the others. He does not include a single parable; instead he emphasizes Jesus as the manifestation of God- the light whom man has not understood. As chapter 20, verse 31 reveals, he wrote this account of Jesus’ identity primarily with non-Christians in mind, that they too would find true life in His name.

Throughout his Gospel, John cites seven ‘signs’ (or miracles) to establish and prove this point that Jesus is the manifestation of God. These signs all have a general pattern to them, John follows the sign by a related statement made by Jesus. (So for example, Jesus feeds 5,000 and then He follows it up by explaining that He is the ‘bread of life’.) Whilst there are seven signs testifying to His glory, power and authority, the second half of the Gospel focuses in on what seems to be an eighth sign that is a climax to all that has gone before. Strangely it speaks of His glory by highlighting His humility and weakness. He introduces it by washing His disciple’s feet, then after explaining what was about to occur, dies on the cross for the sin of the world.

Key reflection question:

  • What new understanding of Jesus do we get from John’s Gospel over the other Gospels?

1, 2 and 3 John

The epistles of John seem to be an unpacking of Jesus’ teaching in John’s Gospel, especially the ‘upper-room discourse’ (chapters 13-17). Together these letters form a hard hitting message to Christians to live out the reality that we are children of God. John writes in a very black and white manner; he doesn’t mince his words. This may be because he wants to draw a clear line in the sand between the faithful and the phonies. It appears these Christians he was writing to were suffering an attack from false-teachers who were destroying their church community. Not only does John want to dig out these false-teachers he also wants to assure Christians of their genuine relationship with God. To do this he uses three indicators: someone’s view of Christ come in the flesh, someone’s attitude to obedience, and someone’s relationship with other Christians.

Key reflection question:

  • As Christians we all struggle to say no to sin. What is John’s message to you?

Revelation

Revelation is a set of prophecies given to John for the seven churches of Asia Minor under the oppression of the Roman Empire. This book does not simply describe the future victory of God and His people, it focuses on the reason why that future is a certainty, namely, because of the past victory of Jesus on the cross.
Despite this being a wonderful and very relevant book for today, most Christians avoid reading it, placing it in the ‘too hard’ basket. But Revelation is not too difficult for the average punter, provided he looks at it the right way.

Firstly, recognise the layout of this book. It concerns two visions, the first describes the grim condition of these seven churches (1-3), the second vision (4-20) describes the awesome journey God’s people must make before the New Jerusalem descends on them. Each episode contains seven elements: six, then an interlude, followed by a seventh, which acts as a bridge to the next episode. These episodes however are not linear but layered. They are a replaying of the same history but from different angles.

Secondly, recognise it was written with the oppressive Roman Empire as a back drop. In some ways it is a parody of the society in which he lived and how the victory and authority of Jesus overshadows even this oppressive empire.

Thirdly, recognise that John’s message is saturated in symbolism (perhaps in order to avoid capture for speaking against the authorities, or, perhaps simply because he thought it the best way to communicate these spiritual realities.) Many readers have come to grief seizing images or numbers and thinking them literal.

Fourthly, recognise it all centres on Christ and His already-completed victory at the cross.

Key reflection questions:

  • How does the death of Jesus change our difficult lives now?
  • What does the crucifixion of Jesus look like from a spiritual perspective?

Conclusion

Well done! Why not reflect on the year’s reading? You have just read in entirety, the book God wrote to you and the world…

  • What has it reminded you about who God is?
  • What has it reminded you about His plans?
  • What has it reminded you about Jesus?
  • What has it reminded you about you?