March

 March 1 - Romans 6

Commentary

In this chapter, Paul digs into resisting sin as a Christian. In salvation, we die to our sin and are made new by Christ. We are still sinners and in a sinful and temptation-filled world, so we won’t be perfect, but we should be making every effort to resist sin and we should come to God for forgiveness right away when we sin. Paul uses the metaphor of slavery to explain our relationship to sin. If we do not know Christ, then we are enslaved to sin. We cannot please God, we cannot save ourselves, and we cannot find a lasting peace and escape from sin. When we come to know Jesus, we are freed from slavery to sin, but we are made slaves in turn to righteousness. Now, thanks to Jesus, we can please God and resist sin. That is the freedom we have as Christians, not a freedom to do whatever we want without consequences, but freedom to finally please and find our rest in God. 

Our salvation now enables us to obey and please God, and our salvation is for our glorification of God through our obedience. In others words, God saved you so that you could serve him. We should not take God’s salvation for granted and use it as an excuse to sin. If you are considering this, you should examine your heart to see if you are saved in the first place. As Paul has already told us, God’s kindness is meant to lead us to repentance, not further sin (2:4)! If you know Christ, you have been freed from sin. Use your freedom for the glory of God!

Discussion and Reflection

1. Are there particular sins that pop up again and again in your life? What does the Bible says about these particular sins, and how can you resist these temptations? If you’re struggling and feel like you can’t make any progress, reach out to your pastors for biblical encouragement. God has tasked them with helping the people of your church pursue godliness, utilize their passion, education, and calling to strengthen your walk with the Lord.

2. Have you thought about salvation as a kind of death and resurrection to a new life before? Have you thought about salvation as being a slave to righteousness before? How does these metaphors help you see that you can and should resist temptation with God’s help? 

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for his power to free the lost from the chains of sin and Satan.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in resisting sin, especially habitual sin.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for offering his Son and his salvation to all who will believe.

Supplication: Pray for the salvation of the lost in your country and for God to strengthen the churches and believers around them to reach out with the gospel.

March 2 - Romans 7

Commentary

Paul continues explaining salvation in this chapter. Those who know Christ are freed from the law, meaning that we are free from trying to earn our salvation by perfectly obeying the law. As Paul’s already discussed, the law cannot save us, it only highlights the extent of our sinfulness. As the New Bible Commentary says, “Just as in ch. 6 Christians, through union with Christ, ‘die to sin’ and become ‘slaves of God’, reaping holiness as a benefit, so also in ch. 7 Christians, through the body of Christ, die to the law and become related to Jesus Christ so that they can bear fruit to God (v4). Paul suggests that the Mosaic law, like sin, is in some way, a ‘power’ of the old regime of salvation-history from which Christians must be freed if they are to enjoy life in the new regime of righteousness and life inaugurated by Jesus Christ.”

As much as we desire to obey God, we cannot consistently obey and glorify God without his help. Paul illustrates this with a tongue-twisting but deeply relatable lament in verses 13-25. The text is not completely clear about whether Paul is reflecting on his time before Christ or his life now. I lean towards thinking Paul is talking about his life as a Christian, especially because he says his inward being delights in God’s law. Either way, Paul’s point is clear: it is hard to resist sin, we certainly need saving from our death-bound bodies, and Jesus is the one who can save us.

Discussion and Reflection

1. In what ways do you struggle with sin and in what ways do you find it easier to obey God?

2. How does Paul’s lament of his sinfulness help you see that you are not alone in resisting sin and your struggles are common for believers?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for his power over sin and to make all things new.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in obeying God’s commands and hating sin.

Thanksgiving: Thank God that Jesus indeed will save his people from this sin-stained world and make all things new.

Supplication: Pray for the salvation of three lost people you regularly see by name and ask God to give you opportunities to witness to them.

March 3 - Romans 8:1-25

Commentary

After Paul’s discussion of how Christ saves us from our sin, he starts chapter 8 with the declaration that those who know Jesus will not face condemnation. Because Jesus has perfectly obeyed God’s law on our behalf, God counts us as righteous. While in our flesh, when we follow our sinful, stubborn selves rather than God, we do not want God and his righteous rule in our lives. When we come to know Christ, the Holy Spirit helps us love God and obey him. As Douglas Moo explained, “Here we are called by faithfulness to the Scriptures to hold in tension two clear truths: that the indwelling of the Spirit as the result of faith in Christ infallibly secures eternal life, and that a lifestyle patterned after God’s Spirit is necessary to inherit eternal life. The tension can be softened somewhat by remembering that the Spirit given to us at conversion is himself active to produce obedience. But it does not remove the tension, for we are still called upon to submit ourselves to this work of the Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit also helps believers know and remember that they are in God’s family. As part of God’s family, believers are heirs of God’s estate. For those who know Christ. we will have hardship in our time here on earth, but God promises us a future that is incomparably, unfathomably better. Our life on earth isn't the end of the story and neither is our time in heaven. God will make a new heavens and a new earth, free from sin and death and corruption, and all his people will dwell with him.

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for how he shows his goodness to believers through the Holy Spirit.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in taking sin seriously and lovingly sharing the gospel with those around you.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for sending Jesus to save us and the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s strengthening and comforting of a lonely or downtrodden person you know and for opportunities to encourage him or her this week.

Going Deeper

In Aramaic, one of the languages commonly spoken in Paul’s day, “Abba” is a close, familial term for father. 

March 4 - Romans 8:26-39

Commentary

This passage is a great comfort for Christians. Paul details how we are saved completely by the work of God and how we are secure in the salvation he provides. God’s saving work for us is so comprehensive, the Holy Spirit even helps in prayer. The apostle says that God “foreknew,” “predestined,” “called,” “justified,” and “glorified” every believer. These words are related to different aspects of salvation, from God choosing to save us, from God bringing the gospel to us and our responding to it, to our justification when we trust in Christ, and our eventual glorification in heaven. The past tense that Paul uses here shows that our salvation and eternal joy and the new heavens and new earth is so secure and so certain, we can consider every step of it as good as done. This means that no matter what we face, whether persecution or poverty or even our own sin, if we know Christ, God has got us and he's not letting us go. 

As Paul explained in the first part of chapter 8, on our own, we do not want God. Thus to save us, God has to intentionally intervene. We can trust that our salvation can’t be lost because it is not based on what we've done and it's not even brought to our lives by our own independent choosing. Salvation is entirely God's work and this is comforting because God is so much greater and kinder and holier than us. 

Take a minute to read this passage again and think through the meaning of each word and phrase, this passage has been a lifeline to Christians in hardship for centuries!

Discussion and Reflection

1. How can this passage comfort us when we feel uncertain of our salvation or as if a sinful mistake has jeopardized it?

2. We do not know who God will sovereignly call to salvation, but we do that those he calls will certainly follow him. How does this passage encourage us to share the gospel even though we do not know who will be saved?

Points of Prayer

How can you pray based on what you read today?

Adoration: 

Confession: 

Thanksgiving: 

Supplication: 

March 5 - Romans 9

Commentary

This is a difficult to interpret but very important chapter. The apostle expresses his great love for his fellow ethnic Israelites and his desire for them to come to salvation. As the people who received God's promises and the Old Testament, they are the rightful heirs to God's salvation in many ways. Yet, as with everyone else, a person who is ethnically Jewish still has to turn away from his sins and turn to Christ. It is not one’s heritage that saves, but Christ atoning work to pay for our sins and God's cleansing us of our sins when we come to him for forgiveness. This has been the case through the whole Bible, even within the nation of Israel, individuals had to consciously choose to follow God and they were not safe simply by being born Jewish or, as Paul is explained so thoroughly in Romans so far, trying to obey the law.

From our human perspective, there is a tension between our need to turn away from sins to God and our inability to do so unless God intentionally works in our hearts. Paul uses passages in the Old Testament to address this, explaining that God has the right to choose to save or condemn. Further, when God chooses to save, he is being merciful, and when God chooses to condemn, he is just. Whatever God does, he is infinitely wise, compassionate, and good. As Creator and Ruler, God not only has the right to govern the universe however he desires – God is the only one who can govern the universe! In Job 38-41, God confronted Job to answer his questions about the purpose and nature of his suffering.  God asked Job rhetorical questions like, "What right do you have to question me? Did you make the world? Do you dare to question my character and my ways? Do you rule over the world? Do you command every element and creature?" The obvious answer, and the one that Job provided, is that as a human, he has no right to condemn God for his actions or to challenge his character. Although Christians should question what God does and why, as this is part of loving God with our minds, we must always do so with an attitude of spiritual and intellectual humility. As sinful, finite people, we should be astonished and overwhelmingly grateful that we are able to know enough about God to have a relationship with him, engage with his Word, and share his message with others.

Discussion and Reflection

1. Paul had an incredible passion for the salvation of his ethnic kinsman. Do you feel this kind of love and gospel passion for any group, such as your extended family, your city, your country, or your ethnic group? Mention them today in your prayer time.

2. How is salvation an expression of God’s mercy? How is sending the unrepentant to hell an expression of God’s justice?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for being perfectly wise, just, and good in all that he does.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in living a life set apart from sin and to be a godly, loving example to others.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for Jesus paying the price for our sins and for the privilege and responsibility of sharing the news of this free gift to others.

Supplication: Pray for your church to humbly live out and lovingly proclaim the gospel faithfully to your community.

March 6 - Romans 10

Commentary

As with the last chapter, Paul starts chapter 10 with an expression of his earnest desire for his fellow ethnic Israelites to come to faith in Christ. As Douglas Moo said, Paul talks about the righteousness that comes from the law “to stress that Israel’s pursuit of a right standing with God was completely bound up with the law: they were pursuing ‘a law that held out the promise of righteousness’ (cf. 2:13). This goal they did not obtain, nor could they ever attain it. For the law, as Paul has made clear earlier, can never bring righteousness (3:20, 28; 4:13–15; 8:3). So narrowly were their eyes focused on the law that, rather than embracing Jesus Christ, the true goal of the ‘race’ (see 10:4), they have stumbled over him.” 

The offer of salvation in Christ is freely offered to all in the gospel and thus the gospel should be proclaimed to all. Paul quotes Old TestamentpPassages at the end of this chapter to express that in one way, our need for salvation and God’s role as the Creator is shown in our hearts and in creation. However, in our sinfulness, we suppress this knowledge, such as by pursuing vain religion rather than God himself as the Israelites had done. Ultimately those who come to faith in Christ do so because of God's work in them. The way God starts that work in the hearts of his elect is by the proclaiming of the gospel message. That means we can never put off the vital mission of sharing the gospel with all, because we never know who God will bring to himself through our faithful proclamation.

Discussion and Reflection

1. How does this chapter help you better understand salvation and the role of ethnic Israelites in God’s plan of salvation?

2. How does this chapter motivate you to prioritize evangelism in your day-to-day life?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for creating such a beautiful, complex world and showing his glory and handiwork in all of it.

Confession:  Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in persevering in godly living and trusting that Jesus’ death is all we need to pay for our sins.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for the confidence we can have that Jesus had paid the price for our sins and that our salvation is secured by him.

Supplication: Pray for the salvation of three lost people you regularly see by name and ask God to give you opportunities to witness to them.

March 7 - Romans 11

Commentary

In this chapter, Paul explains that God has certainly not forgotten his promises to save Israel. Paul himself is an Israelite, so God is still in the business of bringing Israelites to faith. Beyond that, Paul goes back to the Old Testament to demonstrate that God has always had a faithful remnant of believing Israelites who are saved out of the unbelieving people/nation as a whole. Paul uses the metaphor of a tree with branches grafted into it to explain salvation. The tree is God's people, which in the Old Testament was overwhelmingly Israelites, but God also grafts branches of non-Israelites onto the tree. Presumably, if some of the original branches had not fallen off, these new branches would not be grafted in – if Israel had been perfectly obedient, then God may have left the sinful Gentiles in their lostness. However, instead, God chose to show his mercy to the faithful remnant of Israel and to many of the Gentiles. Paul did not mention this to lament the lostness of Israel, he instead viewed God’s mercy to the elect of Israel as assurance that the truly repentant of his kinsman would surely “be grafted back into their own olive tree” if God would gladly graft the wild olive shoots, the Gentiles, into the tree. Paul ends the chapter by emphasizing that “the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable” (11:29, ESV) – God has promised to show his mercy to both Jews and Gentiles and he will indeed. This is certainly hard for us as mere humans to understand, but at the end of the day, God’s purposes will be fulfilled and he will receive the glory.

Discussion and Reflection

1. Do you have peace with God – have you come to him for the forgiveness of your sins and to make him the Lord of your life, and do you feel at peace with your salvation being secure in him?

2. Notice that Paul talks about Adam as if he was a real person and the events of Genesis 1-3 really happened. In what ways are we tempted to distrust or downplay certain claims of the Bible in our culture? Why should we trust the claims of the Bible over modern scientific findings or other religions? If you’re struggling with these issues, pray for God’s help, read your Bible, and reach out to your pastors.

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for the great glory he will receive when all his people worship him forever in the new heavens and new earth.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in taking sin seriously and lovingly sharing the gospel with those around you.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for saving his people and the free invitation to be part of his people.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in growing in your love of others and your desire for their salvation.

March 8 - Romans 12

Commentary

In this chapter, Paul digs into the Christian life, telling us how we should live if we have been brought into the tree of God’s people he discussed in the last chapter. We should be living sacrifices, not of the sense that we have to sacrifice ourselves for our salvation, but that as a result of our salvation, we should be set apart entirely for God in devotion and worship. God uniquely gifts each of us to serve him, bringing us together into the church so that we can use our gifts together for God's glory. Not everyone can teach well, not everyone can give large financial gifts or significant amounts of their time, not everyone can lead worship, not everyone can clean with a cheerful attitude, and so on. We should recognize and value each other's differences, being content with what God has gifted us with and using those gifts to serve God.

Verses 9 to 21 are important ways that we live as sacrifices to God. There are many different commands here, but one common theme with all of them is that they are not about our individual wants and needs. We should use our lives to serve others for God's sake, not to serve ourselves or to serve others for ungodly purposes. Our greatest example in this, of course, is Jesus, who both lived and died as our sacrifice for sins and lived a sinless life, perfectly obeying all of God's commands. As we seek to obey God, we look to Jesus as both our example of how to live and as our Savior when we fall short.

Discussion and Reflection

1. In what ways do you feel gifted? How can you use these gifts in your church? If you are not sure, ask mature believers who know you well where they see your gifts and talk to your church leaders about places where you might be able to serve. 

2. How do you see the gifting and dedication of different people work together in your church?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for glorifying himself through the unity and the diversity of the people within his family, the Church.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in being a faithful steward of what God has given you.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for saving you and giving you the privilege of serving him, or thank God for the offer of salvation and ask for his help receive it.

Supplication: Pray for the people of your church to loving support and serve each other and for your pastors to preach and lead with wisdom, conviction, and integrity.

March 9 - Romans 13

Commentary

Paul continues to detail how we should live our lives as Christians by explaining that we should be submissive to the authorities over us. One of the themes that runs throughout the Bible is that authority and structure are good things. Often, even bad authority and structure is to be preferred to no authority and structure. Thus, Paul commends obedience and submission to one's governing authorities even to Christians under the rule of the evil and oppressive Roman government. God has given the government the sword, the right to enforce laws and enact justice, for good reason.

Paul says we should give everyone what is his due, including the government its due of submission and respect. We should also be sure to live in such a way that we honor everyone without putting ourselves an obligation to anyone. We do, however, owe endless love to each other, since God has shown this kind of love to us and commanded us to show it to our fellow man. We are to love and such a way that accords with God's commands. People often claim to be loving towards others even when they do what is contrary to the Bible. In contrast to this, Paul bases the concept of love he discusses in God’s Word, specifically the Old Testament law. We are to obey God, place them at the center of our lives, live with integrity, put others first, and point people to God. Each day and each moment bring us closer to Christ’s return, giving us greater urgency to encourage others and point them to Christ while we still have the opportunity.

Discussion and Reflection

1. Do you have trouble submitting to authorities, whether your government, boss, teachers, or others? Why do you think this is hard for you? How does this chapter encourage and convict you?

2. Notice that Paul urges us to “put on” Christ after he tells us to avoid, or put off, various sins. Faithfulness is more than avoiding the wrong things; it involves doing the right things as an outpour of our inner relationship with God through Christ.

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for being the greatest and perfect authority and that he will enact complete and perfect justice eventually.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in obeying authorities and loving others.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for the gift of order and structure through human governments, especially through your own community and country’s governments.

Supplication: Pray for your government leaders, as well as your boss and colleagues or teachers and fellow students, to come to faith in Christ.

March 10 - Romans 14:1-15:13

Commentary

In this chapter, Paul talks about how to be an edifying example for those “weak in faith,” those who have consciences easily bothered by morally neutral things. He gives several examples of things the “weak in faith” may do because they feel it is the right thing to do (or the better thing to do): not eating meat, making a particular day of the week important – likely referring to observing a strict Sabbath even though Christ is our true Sabbath, or avoiding foods that are unclean according to the Law even though Christ has made all foods clean. For the “strong in faith,” we should work to encourage and disciple our weaker brothers and sisters. If someone feels he should do or not do a particular thing and he isn’t sinning, we should let him be and not put him in a position to violate his conscience. For the “weak in faith,” if we feel that something is wrong or inappropriate, we should abstain from doing so around them. Paul gives us a litmus tests for these cases of conscience – we should only do something if we are sure it is what God wants us to do and if we do it in thanksgiving and to God’s glory. Just as Christ used his life to serve others rather than himself, we are to use our lives to serve others and strengthen their faith.

Discussion and Reflection

1. What issues of conscience come up in your personal life or church life? Some common ones involve eating certain foods, alcohol use, certain kinds of secular media, etc. How can you show patience and love to brothers and sisters who feel differently about these issues than you?

2. Do you find yourself trying to police what others do about morally neutral issues? How can you work to be less judgmental and become more humble about these benign matters?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for being the source and standard of goodness, holiness, and justice.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in making wise, God-honoring decisions and being an encouragement rather than a hindrance to your brothers and sisters in faith.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for sending Jesus to save us and the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit to help your pastors and other teachers in the church to teach wisely and your congregation mature in their faith.

March 11 - Romans 15:14-16:27

Commentary

The concluding remarks of Paul’s letter can seem obscure and irrelevant to us today. We probably don’t recognize most of the names mentioned by Paul and whether he went to Spain or not, he’s long dead and we can’t help him get there. What’s the significance of this passage to us today? First, we have an example to follow – Paul was all about bringing the gospel to all people and all nations, we should be too. Second, we are reminded that everyday people (like us!) matter to God and his mission. We don’t know much, if anything, about the names listed here, but Paul knew about them and wanted to encourage them. You matter to God. That couple at your church you never talk to matters to God. That crying baby interrupting your date at Cracker Barrel matters to God. Love people, share the gospel with them, encourage them in their faith, and pray for them. Third, God is working and will be victorious. Take heart, friends, victory and rest is coming for all of us who know Jesus as Lord. In the meantime, let’s be on mission for him and lead people to him.

Discussion and Reflection

1. What people in your church, job, or family do you overlook or never interact with? What’s a practical way you can encourage some of these folks this week?

2. How are you involved in bringing the gospel to the people across the world? If you’re not involved at all, or would like to be more involved, see the resources below and talk to your pastors.

3. What have you learned in Romans? What has encouraged you? What has convicted you?

Points of Prayer

How can you pray based on what you read today?

Adoration: 

Confession: 

Thanksgiving: 

Supplication: 

Going Deeper

If you’d like to be more involved in bringing the gospel to the nations, here are some resources to pray for unreached peoples and missional causes. Take a few minutes to explore these websites and see how you can be praying!

https://www.imb.org/prayer-list/?searchtype=all

https://joshuaproject.net/pray/unreachedoftheday/today

https://operationworld.org/

March 12 - James 1

Commentary

James, probably James, the half-brother of Jesus, writes his letter to Christians scattered all over the Roman Empire to encourage them to live out their faith amid temptation and persecution. His letter is a lot like the book of Proverbs, it has repeated themes that sort of bounce around the book rather than appear in a discernable pattern. The book is also a lot like Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, covering much of the Christian life and even mirroring direct verses from the sermon. Can you spot some of these parallels to the Sermon on the Mount as you study James?

James starts by saying that we should count our trials and troubles as a joy, because through this hardship, God refines our faith. We should ask God for wisdom, particularly wisdom about how to persevere in trials, because God gladly gives us wisdom to live for him. Whether poor or rich, we should view our life with from eternal perspective and put our faith in God rather than our stuff or circumstances. During temptation, we should remember that we are tempted by our own sinful hearts and we are responsible for how we respond to our temptations. God doesn’t cause us to sin, far from it – God gives us the very best things in our lives. Everything we have is a gift from God, and thus we should turn around and use everything we have and everything we are to glorify God. We should live out our salvation and God’s commands – controlling our tempers by filling our minds with God’s Word instead of angry thoughts, living out God’s Word as we read and hear it, and express God’s love by caring for the least seen and most vulnerable. This is a big chapter, every paragraph has hours of things to meditate on, pray through, and put into practice in your life.

Discussion and Reflection

1. What observations or questions do you have about today’s reading?

2. How can you apply what you’ve read to your daily life?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for his perfect wisdom and boundless strength.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in living a life set apart from sin and to be a godly, loving example to others.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for Jesus paying the price for our sins and for the privilege and responsibility of sharing the news of this free gift to others.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s strengthening of persecuted believers around the world and for their persecutors to come to Christ.

March 13 - James 2

Commentary

In keeping with James’ definition of “true religion” from the last chapter, James warns us not to show favoritism to those in the church, giving attention and honor to people of prestige while ignoring or disrespecting the less fortunate. God calls us to love all people and treat them with dignity. Of all places in the world, then, the church is where we should expect to find the least favoritism and prejudice. Be sure your church is like this, and when others are overlooked, be the person to talk to them, sit with them, and pray for them. Faith, as James elaborates in this chapter, is not simple lip service. Faith is lived out and all-encompassing. James cites Abraham and Rahab as examples of this – their faith in God radically altered their actions and the course of their lives. 

While it can seem, at first glance, that the writer is saying that our works justify us (make us right with God/clear us of our sin), he is rather saying that justifying faith will lead to godly living. As Thomas Schreiner explained, “first glances aren’t enough when reading the Scriptures. We are called to read deeply and canonically [in the context of the whole Bible]. James doesn’t deny that faith saves; he rejects the notion that a particular kind of faith saves—a faith that doesn’t produce works. In short, faith that is merely intellectual assent is not saving faith… Saving faith, then, is the act of the entire person. It includes the will and the emotions, such that those who believe in Jesus give themselves to him.”

Discussion and Reflection

1. Who in your church (or family/school/workplace) are you tempted to ignore, avoid, or treat poorly? How does this chapter encourage you to love these people?

2. In what ways has your faith impacted your life? Do you have different behaviors and priorities than the lost people around you? Are you on mission for God everywhere you go?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: 

Confession: 

Thanksgiving: 

Supplication: 

1. Thank God for that Jesus’ perfect obedience and righteousness is credited to us when we put our faith in him.

2. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in living out your faith.

3. Pray for the salvation of two lost people you know by name.

March 14 - James 3

Commentary

This chapter is about our tongues, what we say. Our unwise words have gotten us all in trouble in one way or another and James describes this experience with captivating imagery. Greek scholar Robert Plummer summarizes, “James begins by warning of carelessly taking upon oneself the role of teacher in the church. Because we all sin with our words, if a teacher (who, by the nature of his office, speaks a great deal) is not spiritually mature, he will cause great harm to others. Second, James addresses the congregation more generally, warning of the power and potential harm of words with numerous striking illustrations (bits in horses’ mouths, rudders on ships, a fire in a forest, the taming of wild animals). Third, James homes in on one sin of human speech: slander, i.e., the hypocrisy of blessing God while cursing humans made in his image. Fourth, James closes the section with several memorable images critiquing hypocritical slander (a spring that pours forth both fresh and salt water, a fig tree that bears olives, a grapevine that produces figs, a salt pond that yields fresh water).”

Just as we are supposed to speak wisely, we are supposed to live and think wisely. Our lives should be characterized by godliness and if they are, we are bound to find more peace in our relationships than if we characterize ourselves by jealousy and selfish ambition. The good news of a passage like this, is that seeing our sin revealed so clearly leads us to Christ. As Plummer explains, “Wicked sinner, do not despair! Repent (daily!), thank God for kindly revealing our sin, and rest in the finished work of Christ. Know that we are accepted because of Christ and not because of the purity of our motives or actions.”

Discussion and Reflection

1. In what ways do you sin in your speech?

2. What is in your heart – jealously and selfish ambition, or peace and gentleness? 

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for his perfectly wise, good, and instructive Word.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in speaking and acting wisely.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for offering us salvation instead of judgement despite all the ways that we sin with our words and thoughts. 

Supplication: Pray that your church’s pastors and teachers will preach and teach God’s Word with truthfulness and boldness.

March 15, James 4

Commentary

In this chapter, James tells us why we have conflict. Like toddlers, we get mad when we don’t get exactly what we want and exactly how we want it. Anger, as Christian counselors often explain it, happens when we let something other than God take the place of the ultimate in our life. We become jealous, bitter, and defensive when something gets in the way of our new “leader.” Instead of letting these lesser things rule our hearts, we should humbly submit ourselves to God, confessing our sins and asking for his help. We should not let other things take the place of God in our lives, and neither should we try to act like God to others, policing or micromanaging every bit of their lives and actions. We should, as other parts of Scripture tell us, share the gospel with and edify others, but we should never do so as if we are perfect or have the ultimate authority over others. We should also remember not to take God’s place as we make plans for ourselves. We should make general plans and pursue them as best we can, but again, we have to remember we are not God and we must submit to his plans, whether or not they align with our ideal plans. God is much wiser than us, it’s a good thing to submit our all to his judgement!

Discussion and Reflection

1. What typically makes you frustrated or drives you to argue with others? Are these things good things to be so passionate about, and are you acting in a godly way when you bring up your concern to other people? How does this chapter encourage and redirect you?

2. Has God ever led you on a different path than you were planning? In retrospect, can you see the wisdom in or good produced by your plans being disrupted?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for his holy, righteous wrath against sin and the perfect justice he will enact.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in having godly priorities and submitting to God’s rule in all aspects of your life.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for sparing you in mercy and saving you in Christ rather than destroying you for your sins.

Supplication: Pray for the salvation of three lost people you regularly see by name and ask God to give you opportunities to witness to them.

March 16, James 5

Commentary

The closing chapter of this little letter takes a surprising apocalyptic turn for a book of wisdom. James warns that the godless and oppressive elites of this world will find themselves losing all they’ve worked for and being on the receiving end of God’s judgement. Whatever hardships we face in this life, in Christ, we are guaranteed to win in the end. As we are waiting for this victory, we should be patient and encourage one another. It seems odd for James to then say that “above all” we should be straightforward in our speech and not swear by anything, but James, like many authors of his day, uses that phrase to signify the conclusion of his letter. He then instructs us to pray when we are suffering, praise when we are cheerful, and be encouraged by our pastors whenever we are sick. The oil of anointing isn’t anything magical, but the prayers of God’s people, particularly God’s shepherds, is a powerful thing. God works through his people and often works in response to what his people pray. IWe are not hot stuff ourselves, but God loves us and desires our good and our sanctification. This same sanctifying care that God gives us, we should give to others, bringing them back when they wander into sin and destruction and always building them up. 

Discussion and Reflection

1. Do you have trouble seeing problems, whether yours or systematic problems in the world, in 

light of God’s impending judgement of the lost and rescuing of the saved? 

2. What has really stood out to you throughout this letter? Are there any passages that were especially convicting or encouraging? Consider working on memorizing them.

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for the inevitable and total victory he will have over all evil because of Jesus’ atoning death and triumphant resurrection.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in remembering this world is temporary and to prioritize things with eternal significance.

Thanksgiving: Thank God that he will bring all his people home one day.

Supplication: Pray for the salvation of the lost in your country and for God to strengthen the churches and believers around them to reach out with the gospel.

March 17, 1 Peter 1

Commentary

            Like James, Peter writes this letter to Christians scattered all over the place in the Roman empire, during a time of intense persecution. He calls these believers God’s elect, chosen by God, and exiles, far from home. All believers share this status, and this is important to remember as we make our way in this world. Those in Christ not at home here, so when we don’t feel at home or we are in difficult circumstances, we shouldn’t be surprised. Believers are not home here in this temporal, sinful because our citizenship is in the kingdom of heaven. 

If we have come to know Christ, we belong to the kingdom of heaven because God has “caused us to be born again” (ESV) in Christ. We could not get to God on our own; indeed, on our own, we do not truly want God. Yet he loves his chosen people, his elect exiles, so much, that he sent his own Son to die for us as the perfect, matchless sacrifice for our sins. If we have come to know Christ through repentance and faith, we have a salvation and an eternal home that can never be taken away. Our purpose is not to find our home and comfort here, but to be royal ambassadors for the King. We do this by being sober-minded, reasonable and thoughtful, being holy, set apart from sin, loving our brothers and sisters, and trusting in God’s Word and his promises to us.

Discussion and Reflection

1. Have you come to know Christ and this rich salvation? If you have, how does knowing God chose to save you, despite your rebellion and sinfulness, encourage you to worship and obey God? How does salvation being a work of God help us stay away from legalism?

2. The angels do not have the same relationship with God as we have. They are not redeemed by God, the ones who sinned were sent away with Satan, and they are not his children. Have you ever considered your privilege compared even to those who live and worship in the very presence of God?

3. Why is the sacrifice of Jesus better than the sacrifice of animals, and why don’t we sacrifice animals anymore? 

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for the indescrible worth of Jesus’ blood and Jesus’ death to accomplish the salvation of God’s people.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in pursuing sober-mindedness, holiness, and love.

Thanksgiving:  Thank God for choosing to save us and for the eternal home he will give us.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s conviction and enlightenment of a lost person you know well and for the passion and boldness to share with that person.

March 18, 1 Peter 2

Commentary

This chapter further dives into what it means to be God’s redeemed people. We should desire spiritual nourishment, spiritual growth and learning, and if we do not, we should question whether we are saved in the first place. Believers are a “chosen race,” a unified people chosen by God for salvation, a “royal priesthood,” those who serve the King by being a mediator or middleman between God and the lost, and God’s people. Peter then discusses sinful things we should “put off” and godly things we should “put on,” to borrow language often used by Paul. We are God’s holy people and royal priests, and our duty involves both forsaking sin and pursuing godliness. The godly conduct Peter calls us to includes being good neighbors and citizens, making the gospel we preach look more appealing and genuinely life-changing so that the lost around us may desire to learn more and come to Christ. Finally, like Christ, we should persevere in hardship, rejection, and persecution, entrusting ourselves and our circumstances to God because he can and will take care of us and ultimately bring us home in victory. We have this certainty only because of Christ, who took the punishment for our sins so that we could be forgiven and live as God’s redeemed and righteous people.

Discussion and Reflection

1. Do you desire spiritual growth? If so, how are you pursuing that? Are you reading the Bible, praying, attending worship services and Bible studies at your church, and so on? If you’re wanting to do more of these things, but aren’t sure where to start, talk to your pastors.

2. Do you think you set a good example for those around you? Are there people in your life who would be surprised if you told them you’re a Christian? Sharing the gospel is a vital part of the Christian life, its not optional. Consider and pray through how you can be a more faithful witness.

Points of Prayer

How can you pray based on what you read today?

Adoration: 

Confession: 

Thanksgiving: 

Supplication: 

March 19, 1 Peter 3

Commentary

Following what Peter said about Christ’s faithfulness and patience in his hardships, Peter 

now advises spouses to “likewise” fulfill their roles in their marriages. Wives are to follow their husbands’ leading of the family. This kind of faithfulness is so powerful that it can even win over lost husbands to Christ! Further, what should be most noticeable about a godly woman is not her outfit but her godliness. Godly wives are to follow the example of Sarah, who loved and bore with her husband even when he made mistakes or things were difficult for them. Husbands are to be empathetic and caring towards their wives, recognizing their call to protect and lead while also recognizing their wives are equal to them in personhood and salvation. 

All believers are to be unified and point the lost around them to Christ. We should always be ready and willing to share and defend our faith, with gentleness and respect. This requires us to develop both a robust understanding of our faith and a godly character and disposition. We should share our faith even when it leads to hardship. Life is hard and we will suffer anyways, why 

not choose to suffer for what is right and leads the lost to Christ?

The closing verses of this chapter are notoriously difficult to understand. Passages like this because they help us see just how much we need God. There is an important message in these verses. As The New Bible Commentary says, it appears that after his death, Jesus preached to all the dead about “his victory over death and triumph over the power of evil and so confirm the sentence on unbelievers and announce deliverance for believers.” Thomas Schreiner elaborates, “The message for Peter’s readers is clear. In their suffering Jesus still reigns and rules. He has not surrendered believers into the power of the evil forces even if they suffer until death. Jesus by his death and resurrection has triumphed over all demonic forces, and hence by implication believers will reign together with him.” Additionally, baptism serves as a representation of how believers are spared from the “waters” of God’s judgement of his enemies. To sum up – Jesus wins, and that means his people do, too!

Discussion and Reflection

1. What kind of suffering for righteousness’ sake might you face for living out your faith boldly? Is following Jesus worth enduring all that, and more, to you?

2. Why do we always need to be ready to give a reason for our faith?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for his victory over sin, death, and Satan through the and the resurrection

Confession: Ask for the Holy Spirit’s help in boldly sharing your faith rather than being afraid or apathetic.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for his Word, even the parts that are hard to understand.

Supplication: Pray for your church to humbly live out and lovingly proclaim the gospel faithfully to your community.

March 20, 1 Peter 4

Commentary

Peter again implores us to resist temptation and prepare ourselves for suffering, with Jesus as our great example. As Thomas Schreiner helpfully explained, “What Peter emphasized was that those who commit themselves to suffer, those who willingly endure scorn and mockery for their faith, show that they have triumphed over sin. They have broken with sin because they have ceased to participate in the lawless activities of unbelievers and endured the criticisms that have come from such a decision. The commitment to suffer reveals a passion for a new way of life, a life that is not yet perfect but remarkably different from the lives of unbelievers in the Greco-Roman world.”

We should live in light of eternity, knowing that Christ may return at any moment. We should love each other – even when its hard! – because, as Sam Storms said, “when love flourishes, we are not easily offended but are willing to endure injustices.” God’s people are supposed to be unified in his worship and his mission, but this unity and work will be impeded if believers are easily offended, quarrelsome, and bitter. We should be loving each other and working together to use our time and gifts to serve God and bring others to him as best we can. 

Discussion and Reflection

1. Does your life look different because you know Christ? If you’re in a sinful lifestyle or continuall,y unrepentant of sin, you may not be saved in the first place! Examine your heart and your life based on what we have read the last several weeks.

2. Have you ever surprised or offended people because you would not join their sinful activities?

3. What gifts do you have, and how are you using them in your church? If you’re not sure where or how to serve, talk to your pastors.

Points of Prayer

Adoration: 

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in resisting sin, serving God, and making the best use of your time.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for Jesus’ perfect obedience and patient endurance on our behalf.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit to help your church members recognize and use their gifts together and for your pastors to oversee, lead, and preach faithfully. 

March 21 - 1 Peter 5

Commentary

Peter wrote in a time of harsh persecution and when believers were wondering how they should honor God in such a culture. Peter tells them to be in awe at the wonder of their redemption, be bold in their faith, live as peaceable citizens, trust in God, and, as we saw last week, walk in humility. Our passage today helps us to see what binds these ideas together and what will give us the encouragement and support we need: the local church and its pastors.

Pastors are sometimes called “under-shepherds” because they serve under the leading and authority of the Chief Shepherd, Christ himself. Pastors should serve eagerly and humbly, not for their own gain or egos.

Just as pastors must have humility and eagerly serve in the office God has appointed for them, the church members must have the humility to listen to and be led by their pastors. Richard Baxter advised churches looking for pastors to “Expect not that [your new pastor] should humour you, and please your fancies, and say and do as you would have him; that is not the way of God, for the people to rule themselves and their rulers. If he be unable to teach and guide you, do not choose him at first; if he be able, be ruled by him, even in things that to you are doubtful, except it be clear that he would turn you from the truth; if you know more than he, become preachers yourselves; if you do not, then quarrel not when you should learn: especially, submit to his private over-sight, as well as public teaching.”

Finally, we all must have the humility to listen to and be led by God. The importance of following God’s leading especially comes out in times of trouble. We should turn to God because he cares for us, our lives, and our emotions and he is bigger than our problems. Further, we must rely on God because we have an enemy who seeks to disrupt our lives and discourage us in our faith. All believers experience some form of temptation and hardship, just as Christ did. However, no matter what we go through in our earthly pilgrimage, it is just a short time compared to the eternity of peace, rest, and joy that will come to all who know Christ. 

Discussion and Reflection

1. How do you love and support your pastors? Remember to be in prayer for them and their families, encourage them, and be a committed member of your church.

2. What have you learned through the book of 1 Peter? Are there any passages that stand out to you that you’d like to reference frequently or memorize?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for Jesus being the chief shepherd by laying down his life for and saving his people.

Confession: Confess any sin you haven’t talked to God about yet.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for the gift of his family, the Church, and the blessing of being part of a local church.

Supplication: Pray for your church’s pastors to preach, lead, rebuke, and discipline with truthfulness and boldness and for your church to be receptive to their leading.

March 22 - 2 Peter 1

Commentary

This letter is the last writing of the apostle Peter, likely written while he was imprisoned and awaiting his execution under emperor Nero. Peter writes to combat false teachers who denied the second coming of Christ and thus lived however they wanted because there would be no judgement for living in sin. As the apostles were dying out, as persecution rapidly increased, and as false teachers infiltrated the church, the Christians of Peter’s day were facing obstacles in every direction. They probably felt discouraged, scared, maybe even doubtful of the truth of the gospel message, of the goodness of God, and of the certainty of God’s return to rescue his people and destroy their enemies. However, Peter assures them that have the same faith and same calling. They don’t need the apostles still alive or peaceful circumstances because they have something far better – God and his salvation.

The light of the gospel and God’s church will continue on. God wants us to pursue life and godliness, and so he has made a way for us to do that. He has made a way by his power – his power over death and sin, his power to overcome our spiritual blindness and stubborn hearts, his power to raise Jesus from the dead – this same power, Paul tells us, dwells in us! (Rom. 6:10-11)

We should live out our faith, as God equips us to do, and like Peter, we should aspire to leave a legacy of faithfulness to Christ more than any other accolade. The Bible is true and vitally important – its not a fairy tale or a nice book of morals, it is God’s message to us about how we are doomed to Hell because of our sin and how we need a Savior. Can you really think of anything more important to share with others and build your life on?

Discussion and Reflection

1. Do you sincerely, consistently desire the things of God? Or is church, Bible study, prayer, and the discipline to do these things a chore or a bore to you?

2. Do you make every effort to pursue godliness and live out your faith? What are ways you can be more faithful throughout the net week?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for always being faithful, truthful, wise, just, and kind.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in knowing if you are truly saved and living for Christ.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for the reminders, warnings, and encouragements in his Word.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s strengthening of persecuted believers around the world and for their persecutors to come to Christ.

March 23 - 2 Peter 2

Commentary

There has always been, and will always be, people who pretend to be part of God’s people 

and try to lead them astray. False teachers are not simply teachers who are mistaken or misspeak, they are teachers who are deeply and blatantly wrong about core truths of the faith. The false teachers Peter talks about in this chapter were part of the physical church body, and claimed to be part of the church spiritually, abut in their teaching they deny Christ and his redemption. Since the false teachers are claiming to be part of the church, they will make the church look bad to outsides, and since people desire what tickles their ears rather than what is true and godly (2 Tim. 2:3-4), naïve, immature, or stubbornly sinful people in the church will follow them.

Peter uses illustrations from redemptive history to show that the Lord knows how to rescue the righteous and punish the wicked. God’s character is consistent and so is the penalty for sin, so the false teachers will certainly get what’s coming to them. The apostle harshly condemns the false teachers, calling them useless and damned to terrible punishment. They are like dogs who return to their own vomit – they started off lost and damned to hell, they heard the truth of how to have forgiveness and salvation, and yet chose to reject that message and continue in their hopelessness and rope others into it as well.

One of the lessons we should take away from this chapter is that we need a mature, robust faith so that we are not easily led astray by false teachers. We also need to be part of churches with strong pastors who will teach the truth, correct and encourage those who are mistaken, and rebuke those who are blatantly heretical and destructive to the church. We should all encourage and help each other so that none may fall into the deception and folly of false teachers.

Discussion and Reflection

1. How do the illustrations of God saving his people and destroying his enemies give you encouragement for times of hardship and conflict?

2. Have you encountered false teachers in your church before, or perhaps been exposed to their teachings in media from friends or family? How did you respond? Looking back, what do you think would be the best way to respond in similar situations?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for being the one true God.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in growing in your faith, being engaged in your church, and resisting false teaching.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for the never-changing, faithfully preserved truth of his Word.

Supplication: Pray for the salvation of prominent false teachers by name. (For example, the prosperity preacher Kenneth Copeland or the head of the Mormon church.)

March 24 - 2 Peter 3

Commentary

            As Peter closes this letter, he reminds his audience that God’s message has been consistent – he is working in the world now, he will ultimately and finally judge sin, and these things are true despite the continual presence of scoffers and doubters. The false teachers, AKA the scoffers, that Peter’s readers were dealing with, did have an accurate observation– since creation, everything has been fundamentally the same, with no final end to sin. They were onto something with this part – Ecclesiastes makes many of the same points – but they then wrongfully concluded that this means God isn’t actually going to punish sin and we can live however we want. As Peter explained, God is actually delaying his judgement to give sinners the opportunity to repent (see Romans 2:4).

Peter reminds his readers that God has indeed judged the world in the past. He destroyed all life on earth (aside from that in the ark) by the very same mechanisms he used to create the world. And by the same word, God’s perfect, authoritative promise, he is waiting to judge the world. So God is allowing this sinful world to continue a very short period, just long enough for all of his chosen people to come to him, and then he will destroy it, bring the new heavens and earth, and his people will dwell with him forever!

In the Bible, eschatology, teaching on the end times, is never simply (or even primarily) to give a timetable or create a chart of exactly what will happen and when. Instead, eschatology shows us that the Lord is returning to rescue his people and destroy his enemies, and thus we need to live faithfully as God’s people, preservere in trials, and bring the message of salvation and judgement to unbelievers.

Discussion and Reflection

1. The day of the Lord, the day of Jesus’ second coming and his judgement of the world, will come stealthily and unexpectedly and immediately everything will be over. Are you ready for his return? Are you confident you would go to heaven if the final judgement happened right now?

2. What are your biggest concerns in your day-to-day, month-to-month, year to year life? Are things with eternal consequences and spiritual fruit? Are you using the time God has given you the best way you can?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for the glory he will receive in the final judgement and in the new heavens and earth. 

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in living out our salvation and using our time well.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for the mercy he shows to all of us by withholding our just punishment and giving us the chance to know Christ.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s conviction and enlightenment of a lost person you know well and for the passion and boldness to share with that person.

March 25 - Jude 1

Commentary 

This letter comes from an early church leader named Jude, probably another of Jesus’ half brothers since Jude says he is the brother of James (see Matt. 13:55). Using very similar language to 2 Peter, Jude’s letter addresses false teachers and appeals to God’s past judgement of sin to show he will indeed have a final judgement for sin. He also emphasizes the responsibility of the church as a whole and individual Christians in staying away from sin and sinful influences and defending the faith from false teachers. Similar to Peter, Jude gives us examples from biblical history to show that God takes sin seriously, and we should too.

The false teachers are an expected challenge to the church that need to be dealt in God’s strength. The pastors of each local church are to protect their flocks by teaching rightly, correcting (a gentle redirect), and rebuking (a stern condemnation and call to repentance) as appropriate. The individual people in the church are also part of this work, however. We should all be learning and practicing the truth as well as helping pull others away from sin and sinful influences. Ungodly division and distorted priorities can easily take over a church when the church members leave the pastors to do all the work of correcting and rebuking. We are called to serve the Lord and his people by taking a stand against sin in our own lives as well as the lives of those in the church and outside the church. As the closing verses beautifully show, God is certainly able to keep ahold of his people. We must rely on his endless strength and unbreakable promises as we live out our faith and point others to Christ. 

Discussion and Reflection

1. What fires encroach on those in your family and church? Perhaps temptations to gossip, relapse 

in addiction, harbor grudges or prejudices, or neglect the local church are common. How can you encourage and redirect these folks to the truth and godly living?

2. What does this letter, particularly verse 23, tell us about the danger of allowing sinful influences in our lives? What does this letter tell us about how God offers his help to us when we are facing temptations or hardship?

Points of Prayer

How can you pray based on what you read today?

Adoration: 

Confession: 

Thanksgiving: 

Supplication: 

March 26 - Mark 1:1-20

Commentary

Mark’s gospel emphasizes discipleship and concisely tells us the life of Jesus, highlighting Jesus’ work as both the divine Son of God and the self-sacrificing Son of Man. As Mark begins his narrative, he points us to the Old Testament promise of God promised to send a prophet, John the Baptist, to prepare the way for God himself, God the Son, to save his people. Mark is telling us only three verses into his gospel that Jesus is God himself. You simply cannot read the New Testament honestly and escape the divinity of Jesus! 

John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus by urging people to repent of their sins and publicly demonstrate their repentance in baptism. Jesus, though sinless, was baptized so that he could identify with us, obey God’s command to be baptized, and inaugurate his public ministry in the power of the Spirit. The baptism of Jesus is deeply Trinitarian – Jesus is baptized, the Father approves, and the Holy Spirit comes upon Jesus. 

Just as we saw Jesus’ deity confirmed in his baptism, we see his humanity shown here in his temptation. Yet Jesus prevailed over Satan during this wilderness temptation and throughout his earthly life, succeeding where we all fail and preparing himself to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. We also see hid deity in his calling of his first disciples: they immediately left behind everything they knew and loved to follow him. Only God could call with such authority and effectiveness. We, too, are called to put everything in a distant second-place to God– and this is possible through the forgiveness of sins and indwelling of the Holy Spirit made possible through the redemptive work of Christ.

Discussion and Reflection

1. If we get excited when we get a new job or see a movie we love, how much more excited should we be that Jesus offers to bring us from death to life? The gospel is the very best news, are we spreading that news more than the news of these lesser, earthly things?

2. The gospel message really does boil down to “Repent and believe.” What does this mean? Have you truly repented and put your faith in Christ? Do you encourage and pray for those around you to do the same?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for the divine, Triune work of redemption.

Confession: Ask for the Holy Spirit’s help in serving others and not seeking your own prestige or praise.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for Jesus’ perfect and joyful obedience, his patient endurance in suffering, and victorious resurrection and ascension.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s conviction and enlightenment of a lost person you know well and for the passion and boldness to share with that person.

March 27 - Mark 1:21-45

Commentary

Jesus and the disciples went to the northern town of Capernaum. Jesus went to the synagogue, where Jews gathered for learning and worship, and started teaching. In the few centuries between the lasting writings of the Old Testament and the coming of Jesus, many Jewish leaders failed in their responsibility to teach the Scriptures rightly. They taught from the Bible, but usually spoke more about human tradition and the “wisdom” of other Jewish leaders than they spoke about what God authoritatively spoke in his Word. Just like John the Baptist’s baptisms were only ceremonies performed by an imperfect, sinful man and had no spiritual consequence apart from God’s work, the leadership and teaching of these scribes, who were very knowledgeable of the Old Testament law, had no significance without God working through them.

The teaching of Jesus was so profound that the demon inside this man could not stand to hear it. The demon does not call Jesus “the Holy One of God” to worship him or give him any respect. In the ancient world, names were considered sacred and vital to a person’s identity. This spirit uses Jesus’ name to try and have power over him, but of course that cannot work on the Son of God. Jesus did not need any fancy ritual or equipment or even a name; he simply needed his authority and power. Add something about Messianic secret motif here as well.

In the healing miracles of Jesus, we see far more than the mere fixing of a worldly health problem; we see pictures of salvation. The sickness of Peter’s mother-in-law kept her from serving the Lord, just as sin keeps us from serving the Lord. Jesus took her sickness away completely, and thus she could immediately serve him with everything she had. The leper was unclean and helpless, Jesus purified and restored him. From sinner to servant, from helpless to heaven-bound, that is the gospel! Jesus did not come into the world to be a doctor, a genie, or a problem-solver. He came to be our Savior and our King. 

Discussion and Reflection

1. Jesus’ custom was to be worshipping on the day all of God’s people would gather. Do we make worshipping with God’s people a priority?

2. Jesus taught with authority. Do we listen to and obey that authority?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for the truth and power of his Word.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in emulating Christ’s humility and love for others.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for the healing from sin we can receive through Christ and the new creation we will be part of if we know him.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s strengthening and comforting of a lonely or downtrodden person you know and for opportunities to encourage him or her this week.

March 28 - Mark 2

Commentary

As Mark continues his narrative, we learn more about the authority and the heart of Christ as well as see rising tensions with the Jewish leaders. The house was so full that the people who were bringing this paralyzed man to be healed could not even get inside the house. Once again, Jesus’ compassion is awesome, because rather than rebuking these four men for breaking the roof, dropping dirt and sticks on him, and interrupting his teaching, he recognized their great faith in his ability to heal their friend. Rather than simply healing this man, Jesus does something with real spiritual consequences. Jesus forgave the paralyzed man of his sins, which is a reflection of the man and his friends’ trust that Jesus could heal him. The Israelites were always taught that the coming Messiah would protect and rule over God’s people, but their Scriptures also taught that only God could forgive sins. Thus, Jesus showed himself not just to be the Savior, but God as well in miracles like these.

Jesus called a tax collector to be a disciple and even more scandalously, he shared a meal with this tax collector and all his sinful friends – the town drunks, sexually immoral people, liars and cheaters, and so on. These folks would have been banned from the synagogue and regarded as moral lost causes, but Jesus loved and pursued them when no one else did. The Pharisees didn’t understand why Jesus was eating with tax collectors and sinners because they had little compassion for people, only zeal for rules and traditions. Jesus tells them that he is not here for those who think are fine without him, he is here for those who know they need him. Jesus came to bring something better than baseless human tradition, arrogant self-righteousness, and rule-stickling. He came to give us true salvation and lasting rest. To God be the glory!

Discussion and Reflection

1. Do our lives make Jesus as big of a deal as he deserves? Or do we put Jesus on the backburner sometimes, giving him only part of our lives? Jesus is our bridegroom, the one we were made to love. Do we give him the love he deserves?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for being the source of all rest, peace, and joy.

Confession: Ask for the Holy Spirit’s help in loving and serving others sacrificially.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for seeking and saving us when we are lost in our sin.

Supplication: Pray for your pastors and deacons to lead with love, integrity, humility, and conviction as they help and set examples for your church.

March 29 - Mark 3

Commentary

In this chapter, we see further conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees over the Sabbath. Last time, they were mad at Jesus for eating, now they are mad because he heals somebody. Once again, they have missed the point of the Sabbath. The Sabbath was for the good of man, and the good of man includes eating and helping others. Jesus asked them if it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath or not, but they knew either answer would condemn them in some way. Jesus then casts out demons again and once again warns the now free victim to not tell anyone about him. Why? First, he already has enough people crowding him, so many that his sent his disciples to keep a getaway boat ready. Second, Jesus is claiming equality with God, which is blasphemy to the Jews. He did not want to be arrested and crucified prematurely, so minimizing his public exposure sometimes was helpful.

Both the religious leaders and Jesus’ own family think he has gone crazy and Jesus gives a brilliant answer to both concerns. He tells the religious leaders that Satan would not work against himself by casting our demons from other people. He tells the crowd listening to his teaching that his family members are everyone who loves and follows God. This is true of us, too, if we know Christ – we are part of God’s family. Jesus tells the scribes that by calling him Satan, they were blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. As we said when looking at Matthew’s account of this interaction, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not some sleeper agent code that you might accidentally say and damn yourself with. To blaspheme is to greatly disrespect or misrepresent the identity of God. Looking at God in the flesh and saying he is powered by the devil is a sure-fire way to guarantee you’ll never want to trust him and if you never do, then of course you will not be forgiven of your sins and go to Hell. May this lifelong unbelief not be true of any of us!

Discussion and Reflection

1. Have you put your trust in Jesus as your Savior, or are you still in complete unbelief or thinking things over? Ask God for help and guidance in terms of your salvation.

2. Be thankful for openly sinful, rebellious, messy people who can remind us to share the gospel with everyone around us. 

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for justly punishing sin and mercifully forgiving sinners.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in knowing if you are truly saved and living for Christ.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for the forgiveness he gives to all who call on him in faith.

Supplication: Pray for your earthly family to grow closer to God and serve him together.

March 30 - Mark 4:34

Commentary

This chapter has one of the main parable sections in Mark’s gospel. Parables are stories about everyday life that Jesus told to convey spiritual wisdom. Jesus did not say everything in crystal clear language because he was speaking to his spiritual family, not his enemies. The lost in the story were not even interested in learning from him. Now Jesus explains why he is teaching in parables. First, he tells the crowd “whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” Jesus is no hiding his meaning totally. The people have the responsibility to listen, learn, and ask questions. Some time after he was teaching, Jesus was with his disciples and other followers, not the unbelieving religious leaders, and they asked him what the parable meant. Once again, we see Jesus’ followers wanting to know what he taught and everyone else having no interest. Even when Jesus spoke clearly, most people did not listen to him. What is the difference in speaking with or without parables then? His followers would see their need for God’s help and learn, and at least the other people might be too confused to kill him prematurely.

Now, we’re probably all still wondering what exactly the first parable meant, about the farmer and the seeds. Luckily, Jesus tells us. The last group was the only group that was really saved. A lot of people can pretend to be a follower of God for a while, but real faith will shine through even in the tough times. We cannot produce true, lasting faith on our own, God must cultivate this within us. As we grow in the Lord, we should be fruitful and part of fruitfulness is evangelism. These parables are a great encouragement in our evangelism – the seed of the gospel will surely grow in those who are called by God to see it and be saved. Do not worry about how much God will harvest from your labors, he will harvest just as much as he intended to from before time began. Just go out and sow!

Discussion and Reflection

1. If you know the Lord, but don’t tell others about him, how strong is your faith? If you really believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, the only way to peace with God, then how could you stand to not share it? 

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for blessing our efforts in service and evangelism for his glory.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in taking sin seriously and lovingly sharing the gospel with those around you.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for calling us out of our sin and darkness while we are helpless ourselves.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in growing in your love of, reading of, and confidence in the Bible.  

March 31 - Mark 4:35-5:20

Commentary

            Our passage today shows us Jesus’ power to rebuke and calm the raging seas as well as rebuke the demonic and restore the marginalized. Jesus completely, immediately calms a storm so harsh that it terrified four experienced fisherman. The scene is so startling and other-worldly that the disciples are afraid. Even after all this time with Jesus, they are only just beginning to understand his true identity.

The description we get of the demon-possessed man is pitiful and tragic. He is so out of his mind and so marginalized he lives in the graveyard. Not everyone abandoned him as soon as he started acting like this, since people tried to restrain him from hurting himself, but by this point, everyone has given up. Nothing else could be done to help him, and night and day he would wander around the graveyard and hills nearby, wailing and cutting himself. On his own, this man can do absolutely nothing to help himself; all he can do is hurt himself and cry out in misery. His sorry state is a great picture of how lost we all are without God’s work to deliver us from our sins. All any of us can do to be delivered from sin and Satan is fall on our knees in front of God and beg for his mercy to heal us.

Jesus has mercy on this man, healing him at the cost of the lives of the entire herd of pigs. Jesus cast the demons away from any other people they could harm and he showed that one person is that much more important than any amount of animal lives. Pigs and fish and lizards and puppies are all wonderful, beautiful, good creatures. God made them with love to glorify himself and for us to enjoy, but nothing he created is more important to him than people, who he made in his own image. The man, understandably, wants to go with Jesus, but Jesus tells him instead to go and be a witness of Jesus in his community. The townsfolk saw a drastically different man than they knew – what better way could there be to show how Jesus can heal and change broken lives? 

Discussion and Reflection

1. We can trust Jesus’ power. He has power over a hurricane and a legion of demons, power to do what nobody else can, power to turn sinners into saints, power to raise the dead to life, and power to help and comfort us. What problems are you dealing with today? How can you put these problems in his hands?

2. We are called to share Jesus’ love after he saves and heals us. What are some ways you can do that this week?

Points of Prayer

Adoration: Praise God for his power over all the natural and supernatural powers of the world.

Confession: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help in growing in your love of others and your desire for their salvation.

Thanksgiving: Thank God for the complete healing he will give to his people in the new creation.

Supplication: Pray for the Holy Spirit’s strengthening and comforting of a lonely or downtrodden person you know and for opportunities to encourage him or her this week.