Inductive Bible Study February 26

IBS Friday February 26

1 Corinthians 12:14-15

For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?

Each member of a body has its place. If there were only arms or only eyes or only brains, the body would never be able to function. This is the body of Christ according to 1 Corinthians 12. Verse 19 says, “And if they were all one member, where would the body be?” In the church, also known as the body of Christ, there can’t be all pastors and no greeters, or all worship leaders and no one making financial decisions. For people to come together with their many different skills and talents, they need to be adaptable and mutually submissive to become a body.

One of my great desires is that I find my place in the body. As much as I want to be the head, or the leader, I find myself being the legs, doing a lot of work and going where the head commands me to go. But, God tells us not to despise the other members of the body but rather rejoice with them, for we shall receive the same reward. If we are faithful over what God’s given us, He will give us more. Nevertheless, we need to be content with where we are as we do our best in that position, knowing that God works all things together for good.

In my own life, I have seen the fruit of being faithful over a little. When I was fifteen, I got my driver’s permit. It was made very clear to me by my parents that I had great responsibility with that privilege. I had to bring my dad to the airport, pull trailers, go grocery shopping, and drive friends and family members often. To be effective in my service towards my parents, I had to lay some of my own hobbies aside. As I proved myself faithful with the privilege of driving, I was given a car of my own. My parents would even let me drive their vehicles as long as I obeyed their guidelines. I was eventually given freedoms like going on road trips, staying over at friends’ houses, and getting a nicer car. It definitely paid off to be faithful with this simple privilege.

Application: I need to always look at my responsibilities in life as a privilege. As of now, I have the privilege of staying in a really nice compound in Guatemala. I want to gain more favor from the people who are running this compound, so today I am going to read over my responsibilities as an intern on this property, evaluate myself, and make a plan on how to better conduct myself as an intern. 

Inductive Bible Study February 25

IBS Thursday February 25

1 Corinthians 9:19

“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more.”

A servant to all. 1 Corinthians chapter 9 is Paul talking about self-denial. He recognizes our freedoms, even as Christians, but he calls for a denying of our own freedoms so that we might reach and impact more people for Christ. When we accept Jesus into our hearts, we are given the free gift of salvation, but rewards must be earned. Paul goes on in chapter 9, comparing Christianity to athletics. We as Christians all enter the race to run but still few win the prize. We are called to obtain that prize instead of just walking through the race just to get to the finish line as many of us do. It takes training and discipline to become good at any sport. In our faith it works the same way. That’s how we obtain an imperishable crown.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says,

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

To win this race that is set before us, we need to set our eyes on Jesus. We need to lay aside every weight and sin that keeps us from attaining all that He has in store for us in Heaven. As an athlete I had the freedom to eat anything I want, but I wanted to be great. Striving for this greatness I stopped eating candy and drinking soda to give me a little bit of a competitive edge. In my faith I have the freedom to spend my time waiting for my death or Christ’s return, but I choose to rather go on the offensive. I realized that I had weights and sins that easily ensnared me. As I began cutting things like television, social media, and bad relationships out of my life I began gaining endurance in my faith.

1 Corinthians 9:27 says, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

I don’t want to become disqualified from the race for my faith. That’s why I lay aside those things in my life that hinder my faith. I am forgiven of my sins, but I choose to give my best for God because of the hope I have in Heaven if I do run this race with endurance. I will fall short because that is human nature, but I will get back up and keep striving for the imperishable crown.

Application: Today I am going to go through my laptop, cell phone, and flash drive, and delete all unnecessary things that slow down my devices as a symbol of cutting out the things that weight me down.

Inductive Bible Study February 24

IBS Wednesday February 24

Ecclesiastes 4:12

Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

This passage in the book of Ecclesiastes is in a series of verses that expresses the value of a friend. 

Verses 9-12 says,

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Ecclesiastes speaks about the futility and meaninglessness of life. It talks about the emptiness of being without a companion and the meaninglessness of riches. King Solomon, son of David, isn’t officially accredited as being the author, but it was very likely him who wrote this book of the Bible. Solomon was, by the Bible’s account, one of if not the wealthiest man who ever lived as well as the wisest. He enjoyed life to the maximum and experienced everything one possibly experience given the financial resources he had. The answer he gives to deal with the vanity of life is to have a companion to be there to experience it with you, obey God’s commandments, take delight in what the Lord has given you, and recognize that life will come to an end.

There is strength in numbers. One man teams often fail. There is only so much resistance that one man can endure on his own, but with the help of another person, it becomes much easier to withstand opposition. With three people working together, a team is not slow to break. In my own life, I have had friends who have stuck up for me when I was in trouble and backed into a corner by an enemy. The most devastating moments in my life have been when I was in trouble with no one to help me up. However, the best moments in my life have been when my friends were there to lift me up in the midst of trials. The book of Ecclesiastes really clarifies the importance of having someone there or being there for another person through trials. A friend makes the trials worth it and the good times even better.

Application: Today I am going pray that God helps me to be there for others when they are going through trials and thank Him for the friends who He’s placed in my life to help me through the trials in life. I will talk with my friend Jack about how God speaks to me.

Inductive Bible Study February 23

IBS Tuesday February 23

1 Corinthians 9:22

I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some.

You have to put yourself on the same level as the people you are trying to help. What I have learned after going on four mission trips to Mexico in the past four years is that you can’t try to go to the poor as rich. You have to go to them as one of them. Growing up in a very materialistic culture I saw poverty as a form of laziness. I criticized poor people. I thought that if you weren’t rich you were doing something wrong. When I went to Tecate, Mexico, in spring break of 2012 with my youth group to build houses, something switched in my heart though. I saw that I could never reach these wonderful people if I was trying to take my culture to them. I had to simply show them the love of Jesus and what He did in my life on their level.

Last October I was in Hermosillo, Mexico, on a mission trip. I talked to a man who used to live in the United States but moved to Hermosillo. He used to be a real estate broker and lived most his life as any American who liked to spend the majority of his money acquiring material things. After living in Mexico for a few years, he told me how those things just don’t matter as much down there. People are more concerned about relationships, quality time, and the simple things of life than they are about being successful in business, acquiring things, and going on vacations. He said that when missionaries come to Hermosillo, they often come with the wrong mindset. They just need to come to develop relationships, not just give money and build churches, although that too is necessary. As much as I love America, I must put myself on the other culture’s level if I want to truly reach them and let God do the rest.

What I learned through this is that you must be adaptable when going to another culture, whether it’s on a mission trip or traveling for any other reason. You are accepted and respected when you meet them on the same level. 1 Corinthians 9:19 says, “For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all that I might win the more.” We are to put ourselves at the mercy of the culture we are in so that we will win their acceptance. 1 Corinthians 8:9 keeps me in check, “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.”

Application: As I am in Guatemala right now, I have realized how much my mindset hinders me from reaching Latin Americans. The next time the subject of politics, materialism, or business comes up, I am going to ask God to give me the proper mindset towards those things. I pray God would help me surrender my mindset to the way He chooses to form it today.

Inductive Bible Study February 22

IBS Monday February 22

Galatians 5:13

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Through love serve one another. Because of our liberty in Christ we are to serve one another. Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins. We are no longer in bondage to sin because of Him. This means all our sins, past, present, and future, are forgiven. Yet, we are given a commandment in verse 14: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This commandment is followed by the consequence of disobeying, “But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!”

To have a good relationship, you need to be able to adapt and submit to each other. Love accomplishes this. If you fail to love each other, you end up devouring each other. A relationship is meant to be a reflection of Jesus’ relationship to the body of Christ. Jesus gives us grace. He keeps us from doing evil. He gives us joy. In a relationship, I need to be like that: giving grace, keeping others from doing evil, and giving joy. I want to be an example of that to others. In my relationships, I want Christ to be seen through me. With my freedom in Christ, I want to do good, not evil. I want to cause joy, not strife.

Thank you Jesus for giving us this freedom. I pray that you would empower me to do good with this freedom, even in the darkest moments. I ask that you fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit so that I can do what my flesh would not give me the strength to do. I ask that you would use me today as a vessel to share with others the love you have given me.

Application: Today I will obey the Lord’s command to love my neighbors by saying hello to everyone I come across, rather than putting them off.

Inductive Bible Study February 19

IBS Friday February 19

Hebrews 13:17

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable.

“Obey those who rule over you.” This can be tough. I don’t always like the people who I am asked to submit to, but the Bible tells me to obey them. It’s God transferring His authority to people in my life. I don’t always want to recognize that, but when I do, it is so much more profitable for them as well as myself if they are good leaders.

When I am given the authority to lead, I know how much better things go when people work together and submit to the plans I’ve laid out. I hear all the time, if you want to be a good leader, you must first learn to become a good follower. I want to be a good leader, but that means I need to learn how 

to follow in an excellent way first.

Application: For now I am going to let God take my idea of excelling as a leader so that I can apply myself, through God’s strength, to become the best follower I can be in the Lord. As I am submitted to the authority of Potter’s Field Ministries, today I will make it my effort to be above reproach, be submissive to those who rule over me. One thing I will do today is ask one of my friends to give me an honest evaluation of my reputation and how I can improve upon it so that I may be a more effective follower who brings joy to those who rule over me.

Inductive Bible Study February 18

IBS Thursday February 18

Ephesians 6:1

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Colossians 3:20

Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

“Obey your parents, and you will live a long life.” This is a phrase that my mom reminded me of many times growing up. She always told me, “God promises a long and good life if you obey your parents.” It almost became clique, but she really ingrained it in my head.

Reading on in Ephesians chapter six, I see that God really does promise, “That it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” This was not a selfish phrase my mom said to me to get me to submit to her authority as a child; it was a true promise from God. Ephesians goes on to say, “Not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bond servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.”

Although I am no longer under my parents’ authority, this promise extends to being other the authority of others as well. Right now, I do not have much personal freedom because I submitted myself to the authority of Potter’s Field Ministries, but I am doing the Lord’s work. The reason I am here is to serve unto the Lord, and by obeying the authority of Potter’s Field Ministries with my heart towards God, I am doing good. That good God will reward.

Application: The next time I find myself in a situation when I am given the option to obey or not obey, I am going to recognize that I am doing service as to the Lord, and not to men, and that God will reward whatever good I do.