Bible Together

Welcome! Josh and Lindsey here. We are going through the Bible together and invite you to join us! Our posts are short. Our purpose is simple. Our invite is open. Share with us what you gained from these chapters. May God’s Word fulfill its purpose in all of us as we seek Him first each day. Together.

Josh:  Acts 9:20  (HCSB)  “Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: ‘He is the Son of God.'”  This conversion of Saul to Paul is such an encouragement to me as it loudly speaks of the power of God to change someone that most had probably written off as too far gone.

Lindsey:  Acts 9:15 (HCSB) “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites.'”  I love the choice to use the word “instrument”.  It is a piece of craftsmanship designed to play the creators song.  

What stood out to you from Acts 9-12?

Welcome! Josh and Lindsey here. We are going through the Bible together and invite you to join us! Our posts are short. Our purpose is simple. Our invite is open. Share with us what you gained from these chapters. May God’s Word fulfill its purpose in all of us as we seek Him first each day. Together.

Josh:  Acts 7:51  (HCSB)  “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.”  The religious leaders were enjoying the story until Stephen made it personal in verse 51.  Growing up on a farm, I found out that the only way to get cows to change direction was to get their head to turn.  Lord, may I never be stiff-necked but instead always be flexible to turn in the direction of your truth.

Lindsey:  Acts 7:9b (NLT) “But God was with him…”  Sometimes that’s the only reality we cling to; God is here.  He is with me.  I am not alone.  Joseph’s story illustrates that so poignantly.  

What stood out to you from Acts 7-8?

Welcome! Josh and Lindsey here. We are going through the Bible together and invite you to join us! Our posts are short. Our purpose is simple. Our invite is open. Share with us what you gained from these chapters. May God’s Word fulfill its purpose in all of us as we seek Him first each day. Together.

Josh:  Acts 5:28  (HCSB)  “Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to bring this man’s blood on us!”  The high priest left out a very important question… ‘How did you get out of jail?!!’  The sin of pride blinds us from reality.  They should have looked at the facts and surrendered to the truth that God was at work.

Lindsey:  Acts 5:25 (NLT) “Then someone arrived with startling news: ‘The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!'”  I think a current hashtag is a good description of what’s going on here: #CantStopWontStop

What stood out to you from Acts 5-6?

Welcome! Josh and Lindsey here. We are going through the Bible together and invite you to join us! Our posts are short. Our purpose is simple. Our invite is open. Share with us what you gained from these chapters. May God’s Word fulfill its purpose in all of us as we seek Him first each day. Together.

Josh:  Acts 3:6-7  (HCSB)  “But Peter said, ‘I don’t have silver or gold, but what I have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!’  Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong.”  It’s one thing to pray for someone to walk but it is quite another thing to reach out your hand and invite them to stand.  When I pray, I often ask for things but rarely do I reach out my hand like Peter did.  I guess at the heart of it, I fear embarrassment and humiliation if God does not grant the request.  Lord, please help me to display more faith in you and help me not to care so much about what others may think. 

Lindsey:  Acts 4:36  (NLT)  “For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means ‘Son of Encouragement’).  He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.”   In verse 32 we read that the believers were united in heart and mind, therefore they shared.   Then by verse 36 we read these two inspiring words: “For instance.”  Paul gives you an example of who did this. How wonderful to have your name listed after “for instance” on a paragraph about loving, unity, and sharing!

What stood out to you from Acts 3-4?

Welcome! Josh and Lindsey here. We are going through the Bible together and invite you to join us! Our posts are short. Our purpose is simple. Our invite is open. Share with us what you gained from these chapters. May God’s Word fulfill its purpose in all of us as we seek Him first each day. Together.

Josh:  Acts 2:42 (HCSB)  “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.”  The early church’s “secret” to church growth and discipleship.

Lindsey:  Acts 1:16 (HCSB)  “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David spoke in advance about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.”  I love that “scripture had to be fulfilled.”  It always does.

What stood out to you from Acts 1-2?

Welcome! Josh and Lindsey here. We are going through the Bible together and invite you to join us! Our posts are short. Our purpose is simple. Our invite is open. Share with us what you gained from these chapters. May God’s Word fulfill its purpose in all of us as we seek Him first each day. Together.

Josh:  John 20:10-11  (HCSB)  “Then the disciples went home again.  But Mary stood outside facing the tomb, crying.”  Mary decided to remain at the place of confusion and she ended up seeing Jesus.  Peter and John went back to the familiar and missed him.  I need to be willing to stay in the place of confusion long enough for God to show up and make things clear. 

Lindsey:  John 21:22  (HCSB)  “‘If I want him to remain until I come,’ Jesus answered, ‘what is that to you? As for you, follow Me.'”  I love that phrase at the end of this verse.  It is appropriate to say to myself often, “As for you, follow me.”

What stood out to you from John 20-21?

Welcome! Josh and Lindsey here. We are going through the Bible together and invite you to join us! Our posts are short. Our purpose is simple. Our invite is open. Share with us what you gained from these chapters. May God’s Word fulfill its purpose in all of us as we seek Him first each day. Together.

Josh:  John 18:22  (HCSB)  “When He had said these things, one of the temple police standing by slapped Jesus, saying, ‘Is this the way you answer the high priest?'”  This passage just makes me want to cry.  A man, slapping the Great High Priest on the face, because the high priest felt disrespected.  On a much smaller scale, this would be like the President of the United States getting slapped because he disrespected a county clerk.  Jesus showed such humility and self-control in his march to the cross.

Lindsey:  John 18:6  (HCSB)  “When He told them, ‘I am He’, they stepped back and fell to the ground.”  There is power in the name of Jesus.

What stood out to you from John 18-19?

Welcome! Josh and Lindsey here. We are going through the Bible together and invite you to join us! Our posts are short. Our purpose is simple. Our invite is open. Share with us what you gained from these chapters. May God’s Word fulfill its purpose in all of us as we seek Him first each day. Together.

Josh: John 16:32 (HCSB)  “Look: An hour is coming, and has come, when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.”  What a great example Jesus displayed that I am never alone even when no one else is around.

Lindsey: John 17:4 (HCSB)  “I have glorified You on the earth by completing the work You gave Me to do.”  Thank you Jesus for completing that work and making a way for us.  

What stood out to you from John 16-17?

Welcome! Josh and Lindsey here. We are going through the Bible together and invite you to join us! Our posts are short. Our purpose is simple. Our invite is open. Share with us what you gained from these chapters. May God’s Word fulfill its purpose in all of us as we seek Him first each day. Together.

Josh: John 14:16 (HCSB)  “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.”  This “replacement” for Jesus, in the disciples’ minds, had to have been a little confusing to them.  They didn’t know what I now know.  How great is it to have the power of the Holy Spirit to comfort me, guide me, teach me, and help me in all things.  What a gift he has been to me.

Lindsey: John 15:5 (HCSB)  “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.”  Yes!

What stood out to you from John 14-15?

Welcome! Josh and Lindsey here. We are going through the Bible together and invite you to join us! Our posts are short. Our purpose is simple. Our invite is open. Share with us what you gained from these chapters. May God’s Word fulfill its purpose in all of us as we seek Him first each day. Together.

Josh:  John 12:6 (HCSB)  “He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.”  Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot was stealing money from the money bag but didn’t stop him.  This is a good reminder for me that just because I “get away” with a sin does not mean that God doesn’t see it.

Lindsey:  John 13:14 (NLT)  “And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.”  May I remember each day to serve others.

What stood out to you from John 12-13?