Tag: relevance

February 23, 2025

February 24th, 2025

Monday – Gospels

Reading – John 9

Highlight Verse:

““Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?””
‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sarcasm is alive and well in the Bible.

I don’t think John is telling us that it is good to be sarcastic. But he is telling it like it was.

Many of the same attitudes and hang ups that exist now existed then.

Yes, society has changed but the human condition is the same.

While we may have to look at the Bible in its historical context to understand it better,

the truths found in the Bible are still valid today.

What do you see in this chapter that applies today?
How will you apply it to your life?
New Year’s Eve, 2024

December 31st, 2024
Introduction to Walk in the Light Bible Study, 2025-26

Reading – 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Highlight Verse:

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I was on Times Square on this day in 1992/93.

At three in the afternoon.

There’s no way I wanted to be in the middle of a million people to ring in the new year.

I did spend midnight with a few good friends as we encouraged each other into new beginnings.

That’s kind of what this Bible Study is about.

We are a group of people who encourage each other as we seek to get to know God and His Word better.

If you are new here, let me give you a little primer:

We are on a two-year journey through the Bible.

That journey is split up into different sections for each day of the week as follows:
- Sunday – Old Testament Poetry Books.
- Monday – Gospels through Acts.
- Tuesday – Pentateuch (1st five books of the Bible).
- Wednesday – Old Testament History Books.
- Thursday – New Testament Letters through Revelations.
- Friday – Old Testament Prophets.
- Saturday – Open Topic – Scriptures and devotions relevant to the current season or events.
The readings and devotions are posted by 12:05am Mountain Time each day at the Walk in the Light Bible Study Group on Facebook and at WITLBible.com.
Comments and discussions are welcome and encouraged on the Facebook page. (Please follow rules in the “about” section).

Two month reading lists and study guides as well as bookmarks are available to download on the website.

This Bible Study is not affiliated with any one local church. While the majority of the members are from Colorado (where I live), there are members and website followers from around the globe.

The devotions are written from a Bible believing Christian perspective, but we welcome members from all faiths, as long as participation is respectful. The rules apply equally to all participants.

If you have any questions or you would like to write some of the devotions, feel free to message me on Facebook.

May your New Year be overflowing with blessings and growth!
- Richard
September 14, 2024

September 14th, 2024

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Ecclesiastes 3:1-7

Highlight Verse:

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”
‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

It’s dark when I get up.

True, it’s still been hot here lately, but change is coming.

Part of me dreads it.

The cold makes my body ache, and snow wreaks havoc with traffic.

Nevertheless, I prefer the four seasons to warmth all year long.

Variety is good.

It is said the only constant is change.

Our society is constantly changing.

If we in the church do not stay relevant to our culture, we will be cast aside.

I’m not saying to compromise our morality.

I am saying we need to know whom we are reaching out to and meet them where they are.

So, as much as I’d love to sit around and listen to oldies all day, I choose to learn about the next generation so I can help bring them to Jesus.

In what areas do you struggle to stay relevant to the next generation?
What are you doing to positively change with each new cultural season?
December 29, 2023

December 29th, 2023

Friday – Prophets

Reading – Ezekiel 19-21

Highlight Verse:

“You will know that I am the Lord, O people of Israel, when I have honored my name by treating you mercifully in spite of your wickedness. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”
‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭20‬:‭44‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This verse is a little ray of sunshine that reminds me that the doom and gloom of this rough time in history is but a small part in God’s plan of redemption for humanity.

Just as the passion with which God chastises His people, shines through this book, so also does the mercy and grace that are integral to the Gospel.

Have you ever received a prophetic warning like the people of Judah received when they approached Ezekiel asking for a word of God?

Do you know that mercy that Ezekiel speaks about here?
November 4, 2023

November 4th, 2023

Saturday – Open Topic

Reading – Leviticus 19:23-37

Highlight Verse:

““Do not trim off the hair on your temples or trim your beards.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭19‬:‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s November again. Many men observe “No Shave November” to bring attention to men’s health issues or because they want an excuse to not shave.

If you’ve seen me personally, you know that I got a jump on November and quit shaving simply because I like the warmth of a beard in the winter.

If you read today’s passage, you find that growing a full beard was as virtuous as making sure your daughter doesn’t become a prostitute.

Whoa!

Why have I been shaving all these years?

Of course, that was one of a long list of rules, many of which still make sense today, but many were specifically aimed at keeping the people of Israel pure in the midst of an idolatrous regional culture.

Untrimmed beards were one of those rules that made more sense at the time. Men in the surrounding cultures would trim their beards in specific shapes to honor certain idols.

Beard trimming and shaving no longer has that cultural significance.

But, in the cold Colorado winters, the thicker the beard, the warmer the face.

What are some other Old Testament rules that no longer make sense in today’s culture?
What are there some rules you could come up with that might help keep a person on the right track today?
June 1, 2023

May 31st, 2023

Thursday – Letters

Reading – 1 Corinthians 11-12

Highlight Verse:

“Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Oh how I was tempted to take a verse from chapter 12. There’s so much good stuff to draw on there.

You and I both know that chapter 11 raises more questions. So here we go.

When I was in Bible college, I took part in a ministry that visited a local nursing home every week. Keep in mind that this was 25 years ago. The instructors warned us that whoever was giving the message had better dress the part. People from that generation would not listen if the preacher was dressed in a t-shirt and jeans.

In chapter 11, Paul is speaking in no uncertain terms to a culture that was very different than ours. The guidelines he was insisting on would have made sense to the Corinthian church members of that time. They were not matters of morality but of cultural relevance.

Likewise, we should remain culturally relevant to those we are trying to reach with the Good News of Jesus.

Within the boundaries of Biblical morality, we need to bring the Gospel to people in a manner that will be both understood and not rejected for cultural reasons.

Do you wish for the days of more strict dress and grooming standards?
Would you be willing to study and understand the culture you are trying to reach with the Gospel?

Tag: relevance

February 23, 2025

Sarcasm is alive and well in the Bible.

Yes, society has changed but the human condition is the same.

the truths found in the Bible are still valid today.

New Year’s Eve, 2024

I was on Times Square on this day in 1992/93.

I did spend midnight with a few good friends as we encouraged each other into new beginnings.

We are a group of people who encourage each other as we seek to get to know God and His Word better.

If you are new here, let me give you a little primer:

May your New Year be overflowing with blessings and growth!

September 14, 2024

Variety is good.

It is said the only constant is change.

I am saying we need to know whom we are reaching out to and meet them where they are.

December 29, 2023

Just as the passion with which God chastises His people, shines through this book, so also does the mercy and grace that are integral to the Gospel.

November 4, 2023

Why have I been shaving all these years?

Beard trimming and shaving no longer has that cultural significance.

June 1, 2023

Within the boundaries of Biblical morality, we need to bring the Gospel to people in a manner that will be both understood and not rejected for cultural reasons.