kj52's Podcast

?'s answered... 

Here's my week and how it went down..

Questions answered off the ask kj52 board... 

Like a smizzzak upside ya grizzzzill...

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READ: John 18:28—19:16

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THINK: What will people think? Whether or not we’d like to admit it, we all worry about that at times. Regardless

of how unique and independent we pride ourselves on being, we tend to be concerned about others’ opinions and

perceptionREAD: John 18:28—19:16

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THINK: What will people think? Whether or not we’d like to admit it, we all worry about that at times. Regardless

of how unique and independent we pride ourselves on being, we tend to be concerned about others’ opinions and

perceptions of us. That’s understandable to a degree. But when these concerns cause us to defy our better

judgment and compromise our connection to Christ, we risk making some tragically life-altering choices. ‘

RESPOND: What was ironic and hypocritical about the Jews’ not going into the palace because they wanted to eat the Passover (v. 28)? In what way do people today sometimes show more concern for religious formalities than for authentic spiritual truth and behavior? In what ways is Jesus kingdom “not of this world”? (See 18:36 note.) What does this mean for Jesus’ followers regarding their relationship with God and their relationship to the world and earthly authorities? What does God’s kingdom involve on earth now, and what will it encompass in the future? In what way did Jesus reveal, prove and testify to the truth? (See 18:37 note.) What does it really mean to be “on the side of truth” (v. 37)? In what ways are people today still searching for an answer to Pilate’s question in verse 38? How do the reasons people rejected Jesus then compare with the reasons people reject Him today? (See 19:4 note.) What was Pilate most afraid of (cf. vv. 8, 12, 16)? Why was the Jews’ statement about Caesar hypocritical? (See 19:15 note.) In what ways are people today like Pilate and like the Jewish leaders?

PRAY: Thank Jesus for giving you a part in His eternal kingdom, and for enduring humiliation to secure that place for you. Ask Him for wisdom to recognize God’s truth and boldness to stand up for it Also, pray for your political leaders and those in positions of authority in your life.

ACT: If you’re currently doing (or not doing) something out of fear of what others might think, change your behav- ior and boldly do what will honor Jesus. The same goes for any way in which you are being phony or hypocritical. Confess any deceit to God and to others involved, and start living in a way that’s authentic, honest and sincere.s of us. That’s understandable to a degree. But when these concerns cause us to defy our better

judgment and compromise our connection to Christ, we risk making some tragically life-altering choices. ‘

RESPOND: What was ironic and hypocritical about the Jews’ not going into the palace because they wanted to eat the Passover (v. 28)? In what way do people today sometimes show more concern for religious formalities than for authentic spiritual truth and behavior? In what ways is Jesus kingdom “not of this world”? (See 18:36 note.) What does this mean for Jesus’ followers regarding their relationship with God and their relationship to the world and earthly authorities? What does God’s kingdom involve on earth now, and what will it encompass in the future? In what way did Jesus reveal, prove and testify to the truth? (See 18:37 note.) What does it really mean to be “on the side of truth” (v. 37)? In what ways are people today still searching for an answer to Pilate’s question in verse 38? How do the reasons people rejected Jesus then compare with the reasons people reject Him today? (See 19:4 note.) What was Pilate most afraid of (cf. vv. 8, 12, 16)? Why was the Jews’ statement about Caesar hypocritical? (See 19:15 note.) In what ways are people today like Pilate and like the Jewish leaders?

PRAY: Thank Jesus for giving you a part in His eternal kingdom, and for enduring humiliation to secure that place for you. Ask Him for wisdom to recognize God’s truth and boldness to stand up for it Also, pray for your political leaders and those in positions of authority in your life.

ACT: If you’re currently doing (or not doing) something out of fear of what others might think, change your behav- ior and boldly do what will honor Jesus. The same goes for any way in which you are being phony or hypocritical. Confess any deceit to God and to others involved, and start living in a way that’s authentic, honest and sincere.

yes and sirsies...

audio portion feat. ?'s answered off the ask kj52 section (www.kj52.com/smf) post a ? for kj and have him answer it each monday... 

 

READ: John 1:1-18

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THINK: John’s Gospel (i.e., his true-life account of the “good news” of Jesus Christ) is unique among the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). Among other things, it gives deeper insight into the “mystery” of Jesus as both God and man. As one of Jesus’ twelve original disciples—His personally chosen followers—and a member of what might be called Jesus’ inner circle (along with Peter and James), John describes events from an eyewitness perspective. Since the early days of the church, John’s writing has served as a vital and authoritative statement about “the truth” as it literally came to life in Jesus Christ. (See Introduction to John, p. 1441.)

 

READ: John 1:19-51

THINK: Do you ever wonder what Jesus’ first followers were like, or what it would have been like to be one of them? Perhaps you’ve wondered if you would have been among those who misunderstood or even rejected Jesus while He was on earth. When reading the Bible, it’s easy to miss the subtle differences between those who were drawn to Jesus and those who were offended by Him. Most who followed Jesus were common people who humbly dared to trust Him without reservation. They didn’t do extraordinary things to attract Jesus’ attention, but showed extraordinary faith simply by taking Him at His Word, responding to Him without hesitation, and eagerly telling others about Him.

 

READ: John 2:1-25

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THINK: The Bible is completely true and trustworthy, yet not everything in it is easy take. The Word contains many tough challenges. But some Biblical accounts are difficult to deal with because they seem out of character. Perhaps they don’t fit our perceptions of God. Certain issues may come across more harsh, or more lenient, than we’d like. Some things are clearly black and white—right or wrong. Others seem to be shades of gray—open to personal inter- pretation and potential misunderstanding. This passage hits a couple unique issues. In one instance, Jesus expresses unbridled anger—for completely justifiable reasons. Then there is Jesus’ first miracle. Not only does turning water into wine for a wedding seem like a less-than-urgent need, it also raises speculation about whether the wine was poten- tially intoxicating. Regardless of whether we understand everything in the Bible, God’s Word is always consistent with His character and purposes, and He will help us understand and relate it to our lives as we sincerely aim to honor Him.

 

 

READ: John 3:1-21

THINK: If there is one thing that God aims to convey through the entirety of His Word, it’s the fact that He loves you and want’s to have a personal relationship with you. He even sent His Son, who sacrificed His own life to make that relationship possible. Receiving that relationship is a person’s only hope of reclaiming his or her purpose in life and avoiding the permanent consequences of defying God. Yet, amazingly, most people in the world refuse God’s invitation to eternal life, choosing instead to go their own way down a dead end path of spiritual darkness. But if you confess your sins, accept God’s offer and entrust your life to Jesus, you will find forgiveness, fulfillment and life forever with Him.

 

READ: John 3:22-36

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THINK: It seems that most people try to get more out of life by investing more in themselves. Self-esteem, self-improvement, self-awareness, self-confidence—perhaps all well-intended concepts, but too much of this sort of focus and a person easily becomes self-centered. Of course, you should always strive to do and be your best, but that’s only possible when you focus less on yourself and more on Jesus. It may not make sense in worldly terms, but with God, less is more. When your life becomes less about you and more about Jesus, that’s when you start becoming all you can be—all you were created to be.

 

READ: John 4:1-26

THINK: What does worship mean to you? Is it a solemn, subdued experience, or an exuberant, exhilarating experience? Does it make you feel awkward, inspired, or nothing at all? The fact is that true worship is not just an experience; it’s a way of life. And true worship is not about you and your feelings; its about God and His worthiness. He deserves honor regardless of your mood or situation. True worship involves more than singing songs, reciting prayers or verbalizing words of praise in a worship service. It involves a lifestyle that truly honors God and brings positive attention to Him. True, godly worship is a heartfelt expression of God’s “worth-ship,” from your spirit to His. It is the appropriate response to God’s powerful presence and matchless character. (See article on Worship, p. 608.)

 

READ: John 4:27-54

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THINK: How are you at getting into conversations about spiritual issues? Can you relate to people who are very dif- ferent from you? Do you willingly talk about the good things God has done in your life? These are some key questions to consider if you hope to influence others to follow Jesus. You don’t have to have an extremely outgoing personality to reach people for Christ, but you must be willing to take the initiative and step outside of your comfort zone. As you trust God, He will guide your words and efforts. He may even use you to influence an entire community for Him.

 

READ: John 5:1-30

THINK: A lot of people today talk about relating to God, but people cannot relate to God without receiving His Son, Jesus, who is himself God. The Father has entrusted all life, authority and judgment to His Son. If a person does not respond and relate to Jesus as the Forgiver of their sins and Leader of their life, it doesn’t matter what else they think or believe about God. According to His Word, no one can connect with God and experience eternal life apart from Jesus.

 

READ: John 5:31-47

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THINK: Who are you trying to impress? Anyone? Everyone? Do you feel the need to gain approval from certain people in order to feel better about yourself and your accomplishments? Consider the fact that what typically impresses people is not at all what impresses God. For this reason, those who seek honor and approval from people will almost certainly not receive honor and approval from God. And His is the only approval that matters.

 

READ: John 6:1-24

THINK: Do you believe in miracles? If you believe the Bible, it would be tough not to expect extraordinary activ- ity to surround the lives of Jesus’ followers. Yet, when you read the Bible, do you ever wonder why we don’t often experience the same types of miracles today? Are people in less need? Does God not intend to work in the same ways He did when His church first started? Perhaps we have too many things figured out. If God doesn’t act as we expect, we simply follow another one of our options. But with what we know from God’s Word, He may expect us to get more involved in potential miracles. He’s not looking for a lot. He doesn’t expect us to have things figured out. A simple act of faith and dependence on Him may be all He’s waiting for. When we realize just how much God can do with so little, we’ll willingly place in God’s hands whatever we have so we can watch Him do amazing things with it.

 

READ: John 6:25-59

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THINK: What do you do when you’re really hungry? You eat. Even when you’re not hungry you eat because you know it’s necessary—and you probably enjoy it. Apply this reasoning to your spiritual life. If you’re truly hungry, you’ll feed your spirit through time with God in His Word and prayer. If you’re not taking this time on a regular basis, it’s either because you’re not hungry for God, you don’t enjoy time with Him, or you don’t realize how necessary it is for your spiritual life, health and well-being. So indulge your spiritual appetite and see how God’s Word satisfies a hungry soul.

 

 

READ: John 7:1-24

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THINK: How does it feel to be misunderstood? It can certainly be a frustrating, lonely, helpless and hopeless feeling, particularly if it leads to rejection and hate. Jesus can relate to this feeling. Even those in His own family misunderstood His mission, and the world system in general hated Him without even knowing Him. Certainly, those who are willing to identify with Jesus ought to be sensitive to the pain caused when people misjudge others. Even so, as a follower of Jesus, you must strongly resist the tendency to judge by mere appearances.

 

READ: John 7:25—8:11

THINK: How dependent are you on God? You may feel that you trust Him and you rely on Him when you face significant difficulties. But in your everyday life do you typically carry on as if you can make it without Him? Consider how completely Jesus depended on His Father for strength, guidance and encouragement. Are you following Jesus’ example so that God fulfills His purposes and impacts the world through your life?

 

READ: John 8:31-47

THINK: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Most people in our society are familiar with that expression in one form or another. It’s one of the countless well-known phrases lifted from the pages of the Bible—though most people haven’t a clue what it really means. These are Jesus’ words, and He’s not just talking about philosophical truth, the idea of truth or freedom from ignorance. He’s talking about the ultimate truth revealed in God’s Word and embodied in the Person of Jesus himself. He is the truth that people must know in order to truly be free.

 

READ: John 8:48-59

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THINK: What is God like? It seems like a lot of people would like to know. But can humans really understand what God is like? People through the centuries have struggled with that question? But the fact is, God has not made it difficult to get a good glimpse of what He’s like and even to relate to Him on a personal level. As you may have considered in your study over the last few days, God has revealed himself clearly through the Person of Jesus Christ, His Son. Jesus is God in the flesh, who came to earth in human form to endure our trials, to fulfill God’s plans, and ultimately to provide the way for us to have an eternal relationship with Him. If you want to know what God is like, look to Jesus through God’s Word and prayer, surrender yourself to His purposes and follow Him.

 

READ: John 9:1-41

THINK:“How can a loving God allow suffering and evil to continue?”“Why do bad things happen to good people?” “Where is God when tragedy strikes?”These questions represent people’s struggle to reconcile the idea of an all- loving, all-powerful God with all the bad things they see going on around them. But questions like these also show a misunderstanding of what’s normal and what’s exceptional in the world. Because humankind has rebelled against God and chosen their own way over His, sin and evil have taken hold and turned the world upside down and backward from the way God created it. Disorder and destruction have become the norm. The fact that good exists at all—and can even come out of suffering—is proof of God’s love and patience toward a world that continues to defy Him.

 

READ: John 10:1-21

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THINK: People often knock Christians by referring to them as a bunch of blind followers. But in reality, everyone is following or pursuing something—or someone. In a spiritual, but very real sense, people are either following God and His truth, or they’re falling for a lie from the devil. Most voices that people listen to are spreading the lie and lead- ing them blindly down a path toward destruction and death. They’re being robbed of real life and don’t even know it. Wouldn’t you rather endure the insults, while following Jesus on a path leading to ultimate fulfillment and eternal life?

 

 

READ: John 17:1-26

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THINK: If you were preparing to leave your closest loved ones and about to face the toughest time of your life, do you think you might have some parting words? And wouldn’t those words certainly convey your deepest affections and desires—the things you most want them to remember? This passage essentially conveys that sort of message. Jesus knew He was about to be arrested, tried and executed, and here we read how He prayed for His followers— including you—as He faced His final hours. In this prayer, Jesus expresses some of His most intense longings for you, including His desire for you to know God in a deeper way and the necessity of being in unity with other believers.

RESPOND: What can you tell about Jesus’ deepest desires for His followers from His prayer in this passage? (See 17:1 note.) According to John 17:3, what is the essence of Christ’s gift of eternal life? (See 17:3 note.) When and how does this life begin? What does eternal life mean to you in the present? What does it mean for you in the future? To whom does Jesus’ prayer of protection apply? (See 17:6 note.) In what way are you, as Jesus’ follower, “not of the world” (vv. 14, 16)? What does it mean for God to “sanctify” Jesus’ followers? (See 17:17 note.) How does that affect your relationship with God, His Word, and the world? What role does Jesus’ sacrifice play in this ongoing process in your life? (See 17:19 note.) How do you know that Jesus’ prayer in this passage applies to you (v. 20)? The most frequent request in Jesus’ prayer is for His followers to “be one” as He and His Father are (vv. 11, 21-23). (See 17:21 note.) What type of unity is Jesus referring to, and why is this so important among Christ’s followers? Does this mean that Christians should agree on everything? Why or why not? In what way does Christian unity validate the message of Jesus? How can disunity among Christians affect those within the church and those outside the church?

PRAY: Thank Jesus for His gift of eternal life—the opportunity to have a personal and eternal relationship with God. Commit to taking full advantage of this gift by getting to know Jesus more deeply through God’s Word, prayer and faithful living. Pray for unity among Christians and ask Jesus to help you never be the source of unnecessary division.

ACT: Throughout the day, practice praying in a constant and conversational way. Much of this will be silent, and most of your attention will be rightly focused on listening for God’s direction and not simply talking. This will help you develop a deeper, more consistent relationship with God. In addition, if you have unsettled differences with other Christians, fulfill Jesus’ desire and restore unity to these relationships by asking for and extending forgiveness.

 

READ: John 14:15-31

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THINK: It’s one thing to claim to love and follow Jesus and to say that He lives in you. But it’s another thing to prove it. And while proving to someone else that God is real may be a difficult thing, proving that you really love Him is not so difficult. You must simply do what He asks and desires of you. Of course, that will not always be easy. Your human nature tends to resist God’s intentions, and pressure from others as well as ungodly spiritual forces push you to do things your own way. But if you’ve chosen to follow Jesus, He’s given you His presence and power through the Holy Spirit, who enables you to obey God and demonstrate that your love for Him is real.

RESPOND: What will you do if you truly love Jesus? (See 14:15 note.) How should this affect your daily life? What will Jesus do for those who love Him? (See 14:16 first note.) Who is the “Counselor” and how does He fill that role? (See 14:16 second note.) Why is the Holy Spirit called “the Spirit of truth,” and how does that relate to Jesus and to you? (See 14:17 first note.) How does Jesus currently reveal His presence to His followers? (See 14:18 note.) Where will the Holy Spirit reside and how should this impact your life? (See 14:17 second note.) What does it mean to be “in” Jesus and to have him in you (v. 20)? How should this be evident in your life? Why is it vital to obey Jesus? (See 14:21 note.) How does Jesus show himself to those who obey Him? (See 14:23 note.) What does it indicate if a per- son doesn’t obey Jesus? (See 14:24 note.) What are some character traits of the Holy Spirit? (See 14:26 note.) What will the Spirit do for Jesus’ followers (v. 26)? How is the peace that Jesus gives different from the world’s peace (v. 27)?

PRAY: Ask Jesus to help you obey Him completely and without hesitation. Thank Jesus for the power, guidance and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Also, thank Him for giving you true peace, beyond anything the world could offer.

ACT: Perhaps you sense that God has told you to do something—either directly through His Word, through prayer, or by guidance from the Holy Spirit—but you have not yet acted on God’s command or instruction. Dem- onstrate true devotion to God by taking Him at His Word, doing what He desires and trusting Him to help you.