Hello Welcome!

Welcome to A Fresh Look Bible study Blog. Thank you for joining us. Feel free to join in on the discussion. We hope that this blog will be a blessing to you and that you will return here often. Before you get started please read.

Feel free to comment on any of the posts below.

Study Ephesians for one year (March)

This month, read the entire letter of Ephesians through at least once.

You may choose to read the whole book in one day or over several days.
As you read, pay attention to the study guidelines listed with each month.
Use a notebook to write down your observations and then pray in response to what you have seen.
Share your observations and bless us by leaving a comment.

February 2010
Read: All of Ephesians
Write: List all references to power. What are the different types of power?
e.g. Eph. 1:19 “his incomparably great power for us who believe”; Eph. 1:21 “all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that can be invoked”
Pray: Rejoice in Jesus’ resurrection power and ask for that power to be demonstrated in places you feel weak.

Study Ephesians for one year (February)

Continuing our year long study of the book of Ephesians for February:

• Each month, read the entire letter of Ephesians through at least once.  You may choose to read the whole book in one day or over several days.

• As you read, pay attention to the study guidelines listed with each month.
• Use a notebook to write down your observations and then pray in response to what you have seen.

• Share your observations and bless us by leaving a comment on the ‘A Fresh Look’ blog.

February 2010

• Read: All of Ephesians

• Write: List references to the people of God.

e.g. Eph. 1:1 “God’s holy people”; Eph. 1:23 “his body”

• Pray: Pray for the local and global church to seek God’s will and hear his voice.

Study Ephesians for one year

We haven’t had a post for a long time now. So here goes New Year, New Life! at least for this bible study blog. This year we hope to get the blog up and running and keep posts updated more regularly.

We want to start off this year with a Study in the book of Ephesians. Why Ephesians? The Third Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization (Lausanne III) will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, 16-25 October 2010.  The Congress, held in collaboration with the World Evangelical Alliance, will bring together 4,000 leaders from more than 200 countries to confront the critical issues of our time. As preparation for this they have put together a study plan for the book of Ephesians. Lindsay Olesberg (who is leading the Bible exposition sessions at CT2010) has prepared the study.

So my suggestion is that we follow this plan for this year.

How To Participate:

• Each month, read the entire letter of Ephesians through at least once.  You may choose to read the whole book in one day or over several days.

• As you read, pay attention to the study guidelines listed with each month.
• Use a notebook to write down your observations and then pray in response to what you have seen.

This would be a great study to with your Cell or small group or one to one with a friend, put please join in with us and leave a comment.

For January 2010

• Read: All of Ephesians

• Write: List verbs related to God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit.
  e.g. Eph. 1:4 “God chose us”; Eph. 1:20 “he raised Christ”

• Pray: Worship God for who he is.

“Coping with suffering for our Faith”

One of the greatest acts a person can do for another person is bring relief to them when they are suffering. Yet what we find in our own experience, is that the very existence of suffering casts doubt on the very existence of God. We here some say, If God is there, he cannot be an all-loving and all-powerful God.  And if there is a God, how can He allow so much suffering in the world? And if He does exist, He is not a loving God and definitely not a God who is in control. What about you as a Christian suffering? Most Christians are just like everybody else we all want to know how to avoid suffering, how to remove suffering, how to numb suffering. But few want to know how to be good at it.

Heb 10:32-39

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.

33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.

34 You sympathised with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

37 For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay.

38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”

39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
NIV

Please leave a comment.

Jesus our High Priest.

Our church Trinity Church Network is currently going through the book of Hebrews for its Sunday morning teaching, so I taught it would be a good idea if we followed the series and tried to have some conversation on the passages. Please join in on the discussion.

This week our discussion is on Jesus our High Priest. The scripture passages are Hebrews Chapters 4, 5,7,8.

Heb 4:14-16
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin.

16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
(from The Holy Bible: New International Version.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society)

Lets get the discussion going!

1 Peter 4:7-11

1 Peter 4:7-11
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Holy Bible: New International Version.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society)

1 Peter 4: 1-6

1 Peter 4:1-6
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.

2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do — living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.

4 They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.

5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
(from The Holy Bible: New International Version.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society)

1 Peter 3: 13-22

1 Peter 3:13-22
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?

14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.”

15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,

19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison

20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,

21 and this water symbolises baptism that now saves you also — not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand — with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
(from The Holy Bible: New International Version.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society)

1 Peter 3:8-12

We’re going to go through the book of 1 Peter together.

Please join in and comment with any thoughts or questions you have on the passage.

1 Peter 3:8-12

8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
(from The Holy Bible: New International Version.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society)

Peter knew that all believers face opposition at some time. Peter reminded these believers that they would need unity, love and support from one another. Peter listed what you might call five building blocks for unity as these followers of Jesus lived in their culture.

• live in harmony
• be sympathetic
• love as brothers
• be compassionate
• humble

What do you think these five qualities mean in our culture today? What might they look like in practice in your church or community?

1 Peter 3: 1-7

We’re going to go through the book of 1 Peter together.

Please join in and comment with any thoughts or questions you have on the passage. This week  is a very interesting passage for husbands and wives to disscuss together.

1 Peter 3:1-7
Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives,

2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewellery and fine clothes.

4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands,

6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

(from The Holy Bible: New International Version.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society)