QT 28 Sep 17, Matt 4:8-9, The temptation of Christ

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
5	9/28	Matt 4:1-11	Matthew 4:8–9 (ESV) — 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”	Satan tempts Jesus 3 times after he has spent 40 days fasting. The first two times, he begins the temptation with the words, "if you are the Son of God …." The third time, he changes tactics, he wants the Son of God to worship him in exchange for co-rulership.	The first two times, Satan tempts Jesus to do something that Jesus knew was wrong for Jesus to do. Actually, they were wrong because Satan suggested them. That seems strange but I think it is true. Satan's plans are always in opposition to God's will. The third temptation starts out differently, Satan doesn't ask Jesus to prove himself. He doesn't try to defeat him by causing him to sin. Instead he offers him an alternative, co-rulership with him instead of with the Father and Spirit in exchange for worship. But what is the temptation? He would avoid the cross. He would have instant gratification instead of waiting. Instead, Jesus chose the cross because it saved us (and from a personal perspective, me).	Father, thank you for what Jesus did for me (and others). He took the harder road and he did the right thing. He remained obedient even when alternatives were offered that nearly all men would have chosen. He decided to die horribly for my sake to take away my sin. I am so undeserving. Thank you Lord.

QT 27 Sep 17, 1 Cor 10:5-6, What does it mean to please God?

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
5	9/27	1 Cor 10:1-13	1 Corinthians 10:5–6 (ESV) — 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.	It says that God was not pleased. God does get angry at us for our sin. Like a Father, he can never remove his favor or love. But sin is displeasing to him and specifically in this case, it was idols, sexual immorality, testing God, and discontentment that caused his displeasure.	The four items are the issues of modern society. Idols: we create God the way we want him to be (e.g., God is only LOVE). Sexual Immorality: anything is good if we enjoy it. Testing God: we continue to argue against his existence by demanding he make life work for us when it was us who rebelled against his rule. Discontentment: we grumble whenever we do not get our own way. We are more interested in our kingdom than God's kingdom.	Father, forgive me as I too have fallen into the trap of these sins. I don't want to displease you with sinful behavior. I know I cannot lose your love or favor, but I want to be a witness that brings pleasure to you. Give me strength to live as you desire.

QT 26 Sep 17, Rom 5:19, God created us, knowing it would cost him, to share life with us

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
4	9/26	Rom 5:12-21 (key:12, 19)	Romans 5:19 (ESV) — 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.	Adam sinned and so sin enter the human race. God came to earth and lived perfectly (righteous), died in our place, and made us righteous. Both acted as federal heads.	Some might argue it is unfair to make us sinners by Adam's sin, but that assumes you could do better. Of course that then leads to the argument if anyone could do better. And if no one could, why did God bother? I think it is because he wanted to share life, existence, joy with us. He knew the price that would need to be paid, but was worth it so that we could experience his joy.	Father, thank you for love so deep that I really cannot comprehend and at times feel as if I shouldn't even comment because it is so vast and unknown to me. Still, thanks, for there is not much I can do or say than thanks!

QT 25 Sep 17, Rom 5:1, Everything about my salvation (except my choice) was done by God

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
4	9/25	Rom 5:1-11	Romans 5:1 (ESV) — 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.	Our peace is a result of our justification. Just about everything in regards to our salvation is God's work. The enmity between God and man, or more appropriately, God and me no longer exists.	I come as a pauper with nothing to offer for anything in regard to my salvation. Technically, I owe. I am guilty of breaking God's law. I live at war with God. I am not seeking God in a way that would please him. All of these statements was me before God saved me. I came as a pauper, I walked forward as a rich man and the son of the King of the universe.	Father, thank you for the love that you have showered on me. I am incredible undeserving and so unknowledgeable of that fact. I can verbalize it, but I really can't understand my own depravity or your holiness or my absolute futility in knowing you without Jesus. Thank you so much, but it feels so inadequate to say it.

QT 22 Sep 17, Gal 3:23, The Law has nothing to do with the Promise

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
4	9/22	Gal 3:15-26	Galatians 3:23 (ESV) — 23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.	The law imprisoned us. The law didn't do anything for us except to reveal to us our need for faith. The law may have held us in check -- a little -- but it also exposed even more sin in us. The law does not have anything to do with the promise given to Abraham, over 400 years earlier than the law was given.	The law reveals sin, but for many it prevents them from seeing salvation. They misunderstand their wretchedness by focusing on small parts of the law and thinking they are good. In the end, they become deceived because of what they want the law to be, not what it truly is.	Father, Open our eyes to our sins. May we never think of ourselves as obtaining any justification through our actions in the flesh. May we always remember that Jesus did it all. Yes, we are completely justified and saved, but not because of anything in us.

QT 21 Sep 17, Gal 3:10, Paul pleads for his fellow believers to NOT live under the law (that includes the ten commandments)

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
4	9/21	Gal 3:10-14	Galatians 3:10 (ESV) — 10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”	A person who desires to live by the law is under a curse. You can't do it. These verses were written to believers who had elevated the law to such a degree as to believe it was required to please God. You can't please God by obedience to the law. Faith alone secures our acceptance and love for all time.	Even though we say that we are not under the law, we only give it lip service. In reality, we do believe we are under the law and other Christians should be too. We judge them on the basis of what we think is required by the law. How foolish we are! And how disobedient we are to God who tells us not to live as if we were still under the law. We are to live by faith where the spirit of the law rules our actions and the confidence of God's never ending love gives us peace.	Father, forgive me when I fall into the trap of believing that my life must be governed by the law. I want to be a witness of good things to others, but I never want myself to be foolishly controlled by the law. Thank you for freeing us from the law.

QT 21 Sep 17, Gal 5:26, Pride can ruin a witness

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
4	9/20	Gal 5:13-26	Galatians 5:26 (ESV) — 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.	John Stott writes “This is a very instructive verse because it shows that our conduct to others is determined by our opinion of ourselves.” Fung writes “To ‘be conceited’ is to boast of things that are insignificant and lacking in true worth, whether the boaster actually has them or only imagines that he has them or desires to have them.”	Pride has always been my struggle. I am guilty of thinking too highly of myself at times. I know I need to shut up. I know I don't need to insert my qualifications and badges into a discussion, but I do far too frequently and abstain far too rarely. Why do I do that? Why can I not be content with who I am in the eyes of God?	Lord, forgive me for my pride. It really does not matter who I was or who I am today. I want to be known as a man who loves you, seeks to walk with you, is good, and is kind to others. The other stuff was great and it was a fun ride, but I am who I am now, not who I was. Forgive me.

QT 18 Sep 17, The bible is the ONLY sole- and final-source for a definition of God

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
3	9/18	John 6:52-70 (key: 65)	John 6:66–69 (ESV) — 66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”	Jesus taught that a person must eat his flesh and drink his blood to be a part of him. Jesus was elevating himself to God, because he was saying that the only way to live forever was through his flesh and blood. The statement would have been difficult to understand without the hind sight we possess. But, the disciples understood that he was talking of a spiritual kingdom and a spiritual refreshment.	We do develop idols when what God says we don't like. We then fashion the Jesus we believe in, independent of what the bible says. The bible calls that worshipping idols made out of your own hands. We don't get the choice to redefine God to our taste. Sure, we can do it, but it is false, misleading, and ultimately deadly. The bible is the definitive source for God and Jesus. Not a bit of it can be tossed.	Father, help me to stay grounded in the word. Help me to stay true to the truths or your word. Help me to stand up for truth. Protect me from the Babylonian world view that affects our culture today. May I stay true to you.

QT 14 Sep 17, John 6:53, The flesh and the blood literally saved me

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
3	9/14	John 6:41-51 (key: 44)	John 6:53 (ESV) — 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.	Life is only found in the body and blood of Jesus Christ. His body was the sinless sacrifice on the cross that was the substitute for our sins. The blood did not cover our sins, like animal sacrifices, but washed us and made us clean. Communion is a reminder of what God did for us that we could never do for ourselves	Obviously Jesus was not talking in a complete literal sense. It is interesting to note that there is an assumption by the hearers that he was being very literal. Even though they recognized him as a religious teacher, they did not, as some assume, treat his statements metaphorically or allegorically as many do today to most of his sayings. This statement required a view to the end to understand completely. It was literal in a sense, they just did not understand what would happen to Jesus, nor why Jesus came to be crucified.	Father, thank you for Jesus' sacrifice for my sin. Thank you that his body was substituted for mine. Thank you that I have gained his righteousness when I believed. Thank you that the blood washed away my sin and cleanses me from the guilt of my sin. Thank you for taking the initiative to save me, to love me, to send your son to die for me.

QT 13 Sep 17, Rom 8:13,17, Living for Christ will cost us and not living for Christ will cost us even more

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
3	9/13	Romans 8:1-17	Romans 8:13,17 (ESV) — 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. … 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.	I believe that these words are written for the believer. Living according to the flesh is death, and while that death is not eternal separation, it is spiritual decline and potentially physical death. So instead of honoring God with our life on earth, we leave without the rewards that we can offer at his feet in thankfulness.	That is why we must suffer. One, we just will suffer (it's a given). And two, living a Christian life will bring some degree of suffering -- definitely not to the degree that many places around the world experience. But it could cost us our job or friendships or even slander. Living in the flesh could protect you from those temporal pains, but will cost you spiritually.	Lord, help me to live in obedience to you. Give me power to stand up to the shrill voices of the world. Yet may I do it with gentleness and respect. Protect me, but more importantly, use me to accomplish your will and plan on earth.

QT 11 Sep 17, Rom 7:7-8, We are war, within our souls

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
3		Romans 7:7-25	Romans 7:7–8 (ESV) — 7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.	Why is it when we know something is wrong, we want to do it? Some might argue that is not true. The bible says differently. We secretly desire things that are morally wrong. If a sign tells us we can't go somewhere, we wonder why and want to go where we are told we can't. We might argue that the example is only curiosity, but is it?	What we can't argue or disagree with, is that we do not want to obey God's laws. Some part of us does, but another part wants to do what it wants to do without any restrictions. That is the old nature (in the believer), and it is in rebellion to God. Even though we have a new nature, the indwelling Holy Spirit, that does not solve our problem. In fact, now a war is ongoing between right and wrong.	Father, forgive me for giving in to the old nature. In my spirit, I don't want to break your holy law. I want to be obedient. I know what is right and wrong. But I am fool who allows himself to be tricked by the desires of his old nature. Father protect me from the evil one. Continue to work in my life to change me to be more like your Son.

QT 7 Sep 17, Eph 2:10, What is my purpose for which I was designed?

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
3	9/7	Eph 2:1-10	Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) — 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.	God has designed us. We are called his workmanship. As such, we are well made, a piece of absolute craftmanship. But there is also purpose in the design, and that purpose is called good works. God has designed us for specific good works (which might be different for different people and different designs).	What is my purpose? What good works have I been designed to do? My purpose is not to make money, although that is a requirement to take care of a family. My purpose is twofold (in my mind). My purpose is to make disciples and to teach others how to walk with God.	Father, thank you for the incredible privilege to serve you in your work here on earth. Thank you for how you have designed me. Thank you for the opportunities that you have given me. Give me grace to be faithful to your calling.

QT 6 Sep 17, 1 Pet 1:14-15, Transforming instead of conforming

Wk	Date	Passage	Key Verses(s) [Optional]	Basic Thing(s) Taught	Personal Insight(s) & Application(s)	Prayer Response
2	9/6	1 Pet 1:13-21 (key: 18-19)	1 Peter 1:14–15 (ESV) — 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,	We are not to be conformed to the passions of our former ignorance--that is when we were stupid because we did not know God. We essentially live in stupidity, much like the world today.	Rom 12 talks about the same things. In fact the key to not be conformed is to be transformed be the renewal of your mind. That happens when we soak up the word of God through REGULAR time in it and allow it to change us.	Father, I have not been as disciplined in my reading time of scripture. I read it each day for devotions and study it during the week, but I am missing the simple reading where I see the big picture. Give me ideas how I can develop better habits of reading your word before I fall off to sleep.

QT 1 Sep 17, John 6:41-43, Why must we always grumble about God's provision?

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John 6:28-65

John 6:41–43 (ESV) — 41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves.

This is really fascinating if you think about it. The discussion is about bread. The people bring up the manna that Moses provided. Jesus reminds them that it was God who provided the manna, not Moses. And Jesus claims to be the bread of life given again by God. And then they start to grumble among themselves!

Why is it we always grumble about God's provision? Whether it was in the desert or when the son of God walked the earth, we grumble. I think this is a strategy of Satan. It is not quite as sophisticated as some of his other strategies, like exchanging feelings for logic or eliminating the idea of a creator or equating freedom of lifestyle with the right to  be happy, but this is a strategy--get the people to God to grumble about God's provision.

Lord, forgive me. I am a grumbler. I am, even if at times I think I am pretty easy going and take things as they happen. I am a grumbler. I admit it. When life does not go the way I want it to go, I grumble and complain. In fact, I grumble because other people are grumblers, and somehow think that is good. Forgive me Lord. Help me to be excited about all that you give to me.