Chronological Bible Reading Plan

     Welcome to River of Life, First Baptist Lake Monroe and Ridge Crest Bible Church’s Chronological Bible Reading Plan.  Over the next several years, the members of these sister churches will be reading through their Bibles together in a chronological way, following the events of the Bible in the order in which they occurred rather than in the order in which they were recorded.  In addition the pastor and adult Bible study teachers will be teaching from the same passages we read each week.  At times, additional passages from the Psalms will be provided along with the chronological reading portion.

     I hope that you will prayerfully consider making a commitment to reading through the Bible with us.  As you approach each days’ passage and questions let me encourage you to: 

Pray – Pray before you read.  Ask God to make the scripture real to you and show you how it applies to your life.

Read – Read the scripture passage(s).

Ask – Ask yourself, “in what I just read is there a lesson to learn, a truth to embrace, an example to follow, a sin to avoid, a mistake to dodge, a change to make or a promise to claim?”

Meditate – Think about what you have read.  We are to be doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1:22).

Remember God’s promise and condition in Jeremiah 29:13

 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

If you miss a lesson and would like it emailed to you,

 send me an email at rolwebperson@yahoo.com

Want a link to read the Scriptures?

http://www.biblegateway.com/



Saturday, September 22 - Read for today: Psalms 31

Sunday, September 23- Read for today: Psalms 32



Monday, September 24 - Read for today: James 3

Real Wisdom

     At the end of verse 12, “James has left us in a desperate place. Who can control his or her tongue? How will we get free from this terrible power and come to perfection? That is the same cry that we may have felt at the end of 1:4. James’s answer is the same as it was there: we need not our own power, but God’s divine wisdom.

     “James begins his discussion by showing the difference between a person who has divine wisdom and one who does not. The truly wise person is characterized by a good life, meaning a way of life that is good according to the teaching of Jesus. That person will also show the humility that comes from wisdom. A better translation here would be ‘meekness’. One of the problems in the churches which James knew was that teachers were attacking one another and being aggressively defensive. Meekness is the opposite of this aggression.

     “The only true protection against this false wisdom and the evil in the tongue is God’s wisdom. James gives a list of the characteristics of this true wisdom which is very similar to the one that Paul gives for the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–23). It is pure, which means that the person is sincere in obeying God, not having any twisted motives in their desire for holiness. It is peace-loving (Pr. 3:17; Heb. 12:11), meaning that it produces peace in the church. It is considerate or ‘gentle’ (Phil. 4:5; 1 Tim. 3:3), which means that it is non-combative. It is submissive, which speaks of a person who is willing to learn, be corrected, or will otherwise gladly respond to godly leadership. It is full of mercy and good fruit, which refers to the charitable giving that is so important to James. God, of course, is always merciful and giving, so those filled with his wisdom will be that way as well. Finally, it is impartial and sincere, which means that the person has a heart which is set solely on following God, unlike the ‘double-minded’ person of 1:8. The term sincere means that there is no falseness or play-acting in the person’s actions. The way a person acts behind your back is the way they act to your face.

Questions for thought:

  1.Read verse 13.  How does this verse challenge the notion that being “wise and understanding” is simply an intellectual matter?

  2. Why does humility come from wisdom?  If I am still quite proud of myself, what does this tell me about the level of my wisdom?

  3. Read vv. 14-15 Why would those who “harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition” boast about their wisdom or deny the truth?

  4. Read vv. 16-18 Why is it that “where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice?” 

  5. How can one know if they possess “wisdom that comes from heaven?”

      What can I learn from the fact that the qualities listed for someone who possesses “wisdom that comes from heaven” are mostly relational?

  6. Reflect on these words: “pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”  What are some practical ways in which I can increase in these characteristics in my relationships?

For further study:

  1. Read James 1:5. What does this verse say about wisdom?

  2. Read Ecclesiastes 7:12. What does wisdom provide to those who have it?

  3. Read 1 Corinthians 3:19-20. What does the Lord say about what the world considers wisdom?