These notes are compiled by the minister, Reverend Dr James Jack. You will find reading the Bible rewarding and encouraging, but reading the Bible is not always easy!
These guidelines may help you.
▪ Before you read each passage, ask God to speak to you through his Word.
▪ Set aside a special time each day to read the Bible, and stick to it!
▪ Make use of your Bible index to find readings – every Bible has a contents page.
▪ Pray that what you have read will help you live according to God’s wishes.
April 14th I Timothy 3:8-13
Helpers in the church are expected to be of good character. Paul’s letters are an amazing mixture of theology on one hand, mixed with good practical advice on the other. Both are required as advice that is not grounded in God is worthless and theology spoken with no action is useless.
April 15th I Timothy 3:14-4:5
The Gnostics (from the Greek meaning ‘knowledge’) held a belief that Jesus was only a spiritual being and therefore the world and all that it contained was to be rejected as we waited to join God in an afterlife on a spiritual level. Such a belief led to thinking that to engage in this world was wrong. Paul rejects Gnostic teaching and reminds Timothy that it is not wrong to marry or eat food created by God.
April 16th I Timothy 4:6-16
Paul who recognized that some might reject him on account of his youth, encouraged Timothy. Paul urges him that age has nothing to do with preaching and sharing of the Gospel it is the level of faith that matters.
April 17th I Timothy 5:1-16
Paul spells out the relationships that God expects to be found among those who call themselves followers of Christ. The model Paul uses is that of the family. We are to look upon each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, and treating others in the Church as members of our own family.
April 18th I Timothy 5:17-6:2
Timothy is encouraged to receive from the believers his wages for carrying out God’s work. The ox that is threshing corn must not be muzzled because it is allowed to eat while it is working. We see that Paul views the relationships between Christians to be able to bridge across the barriers that exist in society. Those things that divide us in the world, such as race, social class or wealth can be united through the Gospel.
April 19th I Timothy 6:2-10
It is the love of money that is the source of all kinds of evil, not money itself. Resources (in the form of our wealth) can be used greatly to the glory of God. Like most worldly things, it is how we view them that count. All great discoveries and inventions can inspire us but the sinfulness of the human condition can always be so inventive as to find a way to divert our worship of God into more sinister things.
April 20th I Timothy 6:11-21
Paul’s conclusion to his letter to Timothy is uplifting and challenging. These words are liberating for the spirit for they contain the sentiment of the Gospel. Discipline and obedience are necessary and essential ingredients in the Christian life. Leaves may scatter as the wind blows, but the man or woman of God is under divine control. Happy Easter!
FAITH
April 21st Mark 5:25-34
The desperation of faith! All other hopes of a cure had been tried and they had failed. Notice that the woman had no doubt that Jesus could heal. Her only doubt concerned her ability to get near enough to touch Him. Notice the certainty. What justification did she have for this certainty? None- but there is never any justification for faith. Faith is stepping out into the dark unknown, confident only in God.
April 22nd Mark 11:20-26
This is without doubt one of the most difficult of passages in the New Testament. v24 reminds us that prayer must always be the prayer of faith for God is able to accomplish that which we ask. If God does not grant what we ask, it is not because God is unable to, but because God has something else for us in mind. Our prayers must be offered with the qualification, not “if You can do it”, but “if it be Your Will.”
April 23rd Romans 4:1-12
Abraham was always seen as the great example of a man of faith. It was from such faith that God accepted him as righteous. How wrong to think that we will earn God’s favour by our generosity or our busyness.
April 24th 1Peter 1:3-12
Often we can be tempted to give up and take an easier way. But hold on! God has something better for you. Keep the faith!
JOY and PEACE
April 25th John 16:16-24
It is a strange paradox but gladness, true gladness, always springs from sadness. True joy always springs from a sense of fulfilment. Something has to be overcome, darkness has given way to light. Such joy has a depth and endurance that happiness from an easy life cannot possess.
April 26th Romans 5:1-11
“We have peace with God”- there can be no greater joy than that of a man or a woman who is at peace with God. This is not the joy of the music hall hilarity but a sense of serene contentment that reaches the very depths of a person’s being- peace with God through Christ. What bliss!
April 27th Hebrews 12:12-17
It is not given for someone to experience such bliss for the rest of his or her life. More often such a foretaste is to convince us of its reality and then we can return to our daily life with a new vigour. The tired hands and trembling knees are strengthened. The danger is that temptation is ever present like a weed in the garden trying to choke out the flowers of beauty. True joy and peace come from God alone.
April 28th Nehemiah 8:9-12
After a long time in exile the people of God return back to Jerusalem. Their pent up emotions give way to a torrent of tears. But these are tears of joy from a sense of being in the holiness of God. True joy and holiness are not far apart. Notice that Nehemiah invites them to share their joy with others. This is true evangelism- the sharing with others that which is our dearest possession, the joy of God.
April 29th John 20:19-23
Is it possible to know the terror, the anguish, the sense of total loss that lay behind those closed doors? Then the risen Christ appeared and there was joy and there was peace. What a transformation! That is always the transformation that takes place when the risen Christ comes into a person’s life.
April 30th Philippians 4:4-9
Again joy and peace- the peace which is far beyond our human understanding. We are encouraged to fill our minds with things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and honourable. How can we ever again be satisfied with the tawdry baubles that the world offers us as an alternative?
May 1st Psalm 86:1-17
The marks of true prayer are (a) awareness of one’s weakness (verses 1-2) (b) a plea for God’s mercy (verses 3-7) (c) acknowledgment that there is “No God like You O Lord” (verses 8-10) (d) a willingness to follow in God’s ways (verses 11-14) (e) a sense of trust and reliance on Almighty God (vv 15-17).
May 2nd Psalm 108:1-13
The very first words of this Psalm sum it up. The Christian is not spared the pains, sorrows and trials of this earthy life as some quite wrongly suppose. There is a sense in which the believer is more aware than others the pains and sorrows and trials of this life. But those who believe have a great advantage- because they know that through these tribulations they will be supported and can trust in the One who will not fail them. They can walk through the dark shadow of this life serene in the light of God’s love.
May 3rd Psalm 91
The theme of this Psalm is the same as yesterday’s, but there is one difference. Psalm 108 was about what might be called the difficulties of life whereas this Psalm is about the one who is engaged in a real spiritual warfare. It does us well to remember that these Psalms were written, not by someone in a sitting in a study, but by who had in their own lives the spiritual struggle in all its pain and all its danger.
May 4th Psalm 34
How many people have stopped worshipping in church because they say “I got nothing out of it”? In worship the emphasis must always be on the one who is worshipped and never on the one who worships. God is the focus of our spiritual life – not self. In this Psalm we see clearly how God is placed at the center. When God is at the center of our lives then and only then will we begin to understand and enjoy the glory of God’s blessing.
May 5th Psalm 112
This Psalm describes some of the blessings a God-honouring believer may enjoy. How many blessings can you count in this Psalm?
May 6th Psalm 147
One of the wonders of our God is that God created the vast Universe and yet God also cares for the least important of us. God heals the broken-hearted and also God decided the number of stars in the sky! God raises the humble; but God also spreads clouds over the sky. Our God is the creator of all yet God’s ear is open to every cry of the vilest sinner.
May 7th Psalm 130 and Psalm 131
Perhaps Verses3-4 of Psalm 130 sums up the whole of our Christian life. If we could understand fully what these two verses mean then so much else of our faith would become clear to us.
May 8th Psalm 23
Often called the Scottish psalm this psalm used to sung at all family gatherings. Perhaps our ancestors could relate to pastoral nature of it.
May 9th Acts 1:6-11
To the person who prefers to rely on human wisdom and human experience, this passage is sheer nonsense, but to the spiritually mature man or woman of faith it is full of precious truth. Here we find the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit (verse 8); here is the commission for us to be witnesses throughout the entire world (verse 8); it is here that our Lord returns to the Father’s Heavenly Presence (verse 9) and here is the promise that Christ will one day return (verse 11).
May 10th Hebrews 8:1-6
Two great doctrines of the Christian faith are the Resurrection and the Ascension. If Christ rose from the dead it means that he is alive now at this very moment. If Christ rose to the presence of his Father in Heaven it means that He is there now at this very moment. To put it crudely, we have, at the very throne of God, one who is aware of all human life – its pain and its fear.
May 11th Hebrews 7:23-28
Today we read of some of the great statements of the Faith (a) Jesus lives for-ever (b) Jesus does not pass on his work to someone else (c) He is able to save those who come to God through Him (d) He lives ever to plead with God for us (e) He is Holy (f) the sacrifice he offered was Himself (g) He has been made perfect forever.
May 12th Hebrews 4:14-16
The Ascension means that the risen Christ is now in the eternal presence of the living God. If we look to Christ as of God’s Spirit. Here we are touching on both the greatest weakness and the greatest need of the Church in our own time.
May 13th 1Corinthians12:1-11
When the Holy Spirit comes upon a person then certain gifts of that power are imparted. There are many gifts of this spirit. Gifts are imparted to the use of the individual for the good of all. Christ who has given each of us a gift and we have discovered each our own particular gift or gifts. We must then endeavour to exercise these gifts within the local Congregation and not use that gift for personal advantage to gain personal esteem but for the strengthening of the body of Christ.
May 14th 1Corinthians12:1-11
When the Holy Spirit comes upon a person then certain gifts of that power are imparted. There are many gifts of this spirit. Gifts are imparted to the use of the individual for the good of all. Christ who has given each of us a gift and we have discovered each our own particular gift or gifts. We must then endeavour to exercise these gifts within the local Congregation and not use that gift for personal advantage to gain personal esteem but for the strengthening of the body of Christ.
May 15th Ephesians 4:11-16
It is God who gives gifts and these gifts vary. They are given to build up the body of Christ i.e. the Church. Notice how this leads on to spiritual growth and development. We are not meant to remain spiritual children not even in spiritual adolescence we are meant to be mature and Christ-like. That is why these gifts of the Holy Spirit have been given to us. We dare not neglect them.
May 16th Galatians 5:16-26
Verses 19-21 describe the life in which the Spirit is absent. By contrast verses 22-24 describe the life in which the Spirit is in control. Study these verses and decide which list more accurately describes your own life and notice that there is no neutral ground, no middle way.
THE HOLY TRINITY
May 17th John 14:1-14
A doctrine of the Holy Trinity is not always easy to understand. Some, especially Jehovah’s Witnesses, point out correctly that the word Holy Trinity does not occur in the New Testament. Nevertheless there are many passages in the Bible which point to an inter-relation between God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
May 18th John 14:15-26
We read today of Jesus introducing the person of the Holy Spirit. Jesus, Father and Holy Spirit (or helper) can be seen here as three separate persons. Look at verse 26 – the Holy Spirit will be sent by the Father in the name of Christ and the Holy Spirit will enable us to remember all that Christ has ever taught us.
May 19th Acts 2:1-13
Without spiritual perception this passage does not make sense. Jesus promised his Disciples that the power of the Holy Spirit would come upon them. To what extent they understood his words we will never know but on the day of Pentecost that promise was fulfilled. Even the strangers outside knew beyond all doubt that something had happened.
May 20th Acts 4:23-31
The early Church experienced two developments. There was a tremendous growth in numbers and there was also the beginning of persecution. Note what particularly preceded this coming of the Spirit and what followed it. There was first of all a tremendous time of prayer and there followed a bold proclamation of God’s message. If we lack the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit and we must ask if our prayer life is such that God would bless us in this special way. Secondly, are we willing to allow the Spirit to drive us to a bold proclamation of God’s work in our own lives?
May 21st Acts 10:44-48
Today we read of the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon those who received the Gospel of Christ. Many in the early Church wondered if Christianity was only for Jews. This became a vexing problem. Here we read of the Holy Spirit empowering non-Jews – Gentiles. As Peter said these people have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, “All are equal in the sight of God”.
May 22nd Acts 19:1-10
In his travels Paul met groups of believers. They had heard the Gospel of Christ and they had thought to honour Him by the quality of their lives. They had turned away from their evil ways and were trying to live Christ-like lives. But they were doing it in their own strength and lacking the Power of the Holy Spirit. Paul enables them to grasp the faith and to open their hearts and minds to the power of God’s Spirit. Here we are touching on both the greatest weakness and the greatest need of the Church in our own time.
May 23rd 1Corinthians12:1-11
When the Holy Spirit comes upon a person then certain gifts of that power are imparted. There are many gifts of this spirit. Gifts are imparted to the use of the individual for the good of all. Christ who has given each of us a gift and we have discovered each our own particular gift or gifts. We must then endeavour to exercise these gifts within the local Congregation and not use that gift for personal advantage to gain personal esteem but for the strengthening of the body of Christ.
May 24th Ephesians 4:11-16
It is God who gives gifts and these gifts vary. They are given to build up the body of Christ i.e. the Church. Notice how this leads on to spiritual growth and development. We are not meant to remain spiritual children not even in spiritual adolescence we are meant to be mature and Christ-like. That is why these gifts of the Holy Spirit have been given to us. We dare not neglect them.
May 25th Galatians 5:16-26
Verses 19-21 describe the life in which the Spirit is absent. By contrast verses 22-24 describe the life in which the Spirit is in control. Study these verses and decide which list more accurately describes your own life and notice that there is no neutral ground, no middle way.
May 26th John 16:4-15
Again Jesus speaks of Himself and God the Father and God the Spirit as though they were all separate yet Jesus is under the authority of God while he has authority over the Spirit. “I am going to Him who sent me. I will send Him (the Spirit) to you.”
May 27th 1Corinthians2:10-16
This passage underscores the deep relationship between the Father and the Spirit. Only God’s Spirit knows all about God. It appears that by the Power of the Spirit we are enabled to grasp in some measure the truth about God. Again this baffling mystery – the Spirit is separate in that God sent Him; yet it is through the Spirit that we know what God has given.
May 28th Romans 8:12-17
We have been reading passages which show the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit to be separate persons yet all inter-related into one common mind or purpose. Today we see that we also may be drawn into this divine unity or harmony. There is a sense in which we are all Children of God simply by the very act of creation. Yet there is also another sense in which, by obedience to the guidance of the Holy Spirit within us, we are drawn into an ever, and even deeper, relationship with the Divine Father.
DAVID THE SHEPHERD KING
May 29th 1 Samuel 17:1-11
How many today are stricken because there is a “Goliath” somewhere in their lives? It may be the memory of some dreadful mistake in the past; or the fear of some unknown danger in the future; or some temptation or weaknesses, which threatens to ruin the whole of life. Whatever it is, it dominates the whole of life and we can be afraid of our own private “Goliath”.
May 30th 1 Samuel 17:12-27
Into the situation of terror comes a young shepherd boy who had been sent by his father with provisions for his brothers serving in the army. To the fearful soldiers the young visitor is no more than a minor distraction – even an irritation. They did not recognize him as a deliverer sent by God. Sometimes God’s help comes in unexpected ways!
May 31st 1Samuel 17:28-32
The innocence of youth! David was a sincere as he could be but his brothers saw him as a brat whilst the others laughed at him. Children have great imaginations and sometime we too need to allow ourselves to be open to simple possibilities that our adult minds can often dismiss as irrelevant. The limits of our faith are often our lack of belief in what God can really do.
