Bible in One Year

Psalm 99:1-9, Song of Songs 1:1-4:16, 1 Corinthians 12:1-26. But after a bit I stopped because what I really meant was “intimacy” and I think that's what the Bible means for our relationship with God too 'There is a hunger deep in our souls for an intimate relationship with God and with other human beings

Psalm 98:1-9, 2 Chronicles 7:11-9:31, 1 Corinthians 11:2-34. It is out of his love for you that God created you to worship According to the *Westminster Shorter Catechism*, humankind's ‘chief end is to glorify God and to *enjoy* him for ever'

Proverbs 20:5-14, 2 Chronicles 5:2-7:10, 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1. There is no greater example in human history than the example of Christ Paul writes, ‘Follow *my* example, as *I follow the example of Christ*' (1 Corinthians 11:1)

Psalm 97:1-12, 2 Chronicles 2:1-5:1, 1 Corinthians 9:19-10:13. All human beings are servants – to God, to yourself or to someone or something else In the passages for today, we see the importance of worshipping and serving the one true God with all of our hearts and beings – giving everything we have got – no sloppy living

Psalm 96:1-13, Ecclesiastes 9:13-12:14, 1 Corinthians 9:1-18. One person's kindness can save a life Each person matters

Psalm 95:1-11, Ecclesiastes 7:1-9:12, 1 Corinthians 7:36-8:13. Even this is not the end though It is never enough simply to have knowledge – you must also have love

Proverbs 19:23-20:4, Ecclesiastes 4:1-6:12, 1 Corinthians 7:17-35. Learn to enjoy this wonderful gift of life in the present If you do not, life will pass you by and you will never enjoy where you are right now

Psalm 94:12-23, Ecclesiastes 1:1-3:22, 1 Corinthians 7:1-16. This could be described as the anxiety of meaninglessness In the midst of all this, you are called ‘to live in peace' (1 Corinthians 7:15)

Psalm 94:1-11, 2 Chronicles 1:1-17, 1 Corinthians 6:1-20. The result is terrible injustice The poor, in particular, tend to be the victims

Psalm 93:1-5, 1 Chronicles 28:1-29:30, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. Seek to live out a holy life in grateful response to God's gift, through the imitation of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit Ultimately, only holiness leads to happiness

Proverbs 19:13-22, 1 Chronicles 26:20-27:34, 1 Corinthians 4:1-21. St Laurence had a profound understanding of the message of Jesus He understood that the poor are the true *treasures of the church*

Psalm 92:1-15, 1 Chronicles 24:1-26:19, 1 Corinthians 3:1-23. This kind of division is one we must do our very best to avoid It is this kind of division that the apostle Paul speaks against in the New Testament passage for today

Psalm 91:9-16, 1 Chronicles 22:2-23:32, 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. It is an extraordinary and wonderful promise To experience God with you by his Spirit is life changing

Psalm 91:1-8, 1 Chronicles 19:1-22:1, 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5. There is also a bad side In the passages for today we see both the good and the bad sides of weakness, fear and trembling

Proverbs 19:3-12, 1 Chronicles 16:37-18:17, 1 Corinthians 1:1-17. Jesus died to bring reconciliation and unity Thank God that today, all around the world, we are seeing a lowering of denominational barriers and a greater unity in the church

Psalm 90:11-17, 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:36, Romans 16:1-27. Work has an intrinsic value The Bible has a lot to say on the subject of our work

Psalm 90:1-10, 1 Chronicles 12:23-14:17, Romans 15:14-33. It is only through the cross and resurrection of Jesus that a way into his presence and the gift of the Holy Spirit living within you is made possible Now you can know the power of his presence

Psalm 89:46-52, 1 Chronicles 11:1-12:22, Romans 14:19-15:13. It is hope that pulls faith and love Without hope everything would stop

Proverbs 18:17-19:2, 1 Chronicles 9:1b-10:14, Romans 14:1-18. Sadly, the church is not immune Right from the start there have been arguments, disputes and in-fighting

Psalm 89:38-45, 1 Chronicles 7:1-9:1, Romans 13:1-14. There is a good side to human government but there can also be an evil side As Oscar Cullmann remarks, according to whether ‘the state remains within its *limits* or transgresses them, the Christian will describe it as the servant of God or as the instrument of the Devil'

Psalm 89:30-37, 1 Chronicles 6:1-81, Romans 11:33-12:21. We do not need to make any sacrifices for our sins Yet the New Testament tells us that there are four sacrifices you can make that *please God*

Psalm 89:19-29, 1 Chronicles 4:9-5:26, Romans 11:11-32. What does the future hold for the ‘insiders'?The key to Paul's understanding lies in Romans 11:29: ‘For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable ' This is a theme that runs throughout the Bible as we see in today's passages

Proverbs 18:7-16, 1 Chronicles 2:18-4:8, Romans 10:5-11:10. ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved' (v 13)

Psalm 89:14-18, 1 Chronicles 1:1-2:17, Romans 9:22-10:4. We share a common history and family tree We worship the same God and, the apostle Paul tells us, the way of salvation is the same for us all

Psalm 89:9-13, Hosea 11:12-14:9, Romans 9:1-21. God is sovereign He rules and reigns in his universe

Psalm 89:1-8, Hosea 10:1-11:11, Romans 8:18-39. And if it is true of you, it is also true of me God loves me and you

Proverbs 17:25-18:6, Hosea 8:1-9:17, Romans 8:1-17. Know that you are a deeply loved child of God This should be the basis of your confidence, security and hope

Psalm 88:9-18, Hosea 6:1-7:16, Romans 7:7-25. You can cry out to the Lord for help God's desire is for you to have a relationship with him that is real and from the heart

Psalm 88:1-9, Hosea 3:1-5:15, Romans 6:15-7:6. Living for ourselves is, in fact, a form of slavery Serving God ‘in the new way of the Spirit' (Romans 7:6) is the way to find perfect freedom – free to have a relationship with him and to be the kind of person that deep down you long to be

Psalm 87:1-7, Hosea 1:1-2:23, Romans 6:1-14. 'Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you are able to live and enjoy ‘*a new life* ' In the passages for today, we see how this was anticipated in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament

Proverbs 17:15-24, Amos 8:1-9:15, Romans 5:12-21. There is a mnemonic used to explain grace: **G**od's **R**iches **A**t **C**hrist's **E**xpense We see today how Jesus Christ makes *just grace* available for you and me

Psalm 86:11-17, Amos 6:1-7:17, Romans 4:16-5:11. If the written word of the Bible could be changed into a spoken word and become one single voice, this voice, more powerful than the roaring of the sea would cry out: “the Father loves you!” (John 16:27) Everything that God does and says in the Bible is love, even God's anger is nothing but love

Psalm 86:1-10, Amos 5:1-27, Romans 4:1-15. You can live in a right relationship with him and with others This is ‘*justification'*

Psalm 85:8-13, Amos 3:1-4:13, Romans 3:9-31. The moment anyone comes to understand this expression, it changes your life It certainly changed mine

Proverbs 17:5-14, Amos 1:1-2:16, Romans 2:17-3:8. God wants us to have soft hearts – hearts of love and compassion But if we are to make any difference to the world, this will lead to hard feet as we travel along tough paths and face challenges

Psalm 85:1-7, Jonah 1:1-4:11, Romans 2:1-16. He gives us *countless* chances to turn back to him and enjoy his love again God doesn't just give us a ‘second life' – he comes to us and transforms our *real* life

Psalm 84:8-12, 2 Kings 24:8-25:30, Romans 1:18-32. The painting only came alive to those on their knees in prayer The right perspective is the position of worship

Psalm 84:1-7, 2 Kings 23:1-24:7, Romans 1:1-17. * It is a gift made possible through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Here lies the secret of restored relationships – first of restored relationship with God and then all other relationships

Proverbs 16:28-17:4, 2 Kings 21:1-22:20, Acts 28:17-31. It can cause great damage but it can also bring extraordinary blessings Your tongue is a powerful instrument

Psalm 83:1-18, 2 Kings 19:14-20:21, Acts 28:1-16. Intercession was also made by kings, for example, David, Solomon, and Hezekiah You, too, are called to this invisible but invaluable ministry

Psalm 82:1-8, 2 Kings 18:1-19:13, Acts 27:13-44. The people of God in the Bible looked out on a world of suffering But they trusted in the Lord despite what they saw

Psalm 81:8-16, 2 Kings 16:1-17:41, Acts 26:24-27:12. ‘To listen', means to hear attentively, ‘to pay attention to' Prayer means giving God your *full attention*

Proverbs 16:18-27, 2 Kings 14:23-15:38, Acts 25:23-26:23. It is the independent spirit that says, ‘I have no need of God ' Arguably, therefore, it is at the root of all sin

Psalm 81:1-7, 2 Kings 12:1-14:22, Acts 25:1-22. Our world is facing major challenges with the scourge of racism, modern slavery, climate change, mass starvation, wars and terrorism As I read the passages for today, I am reminded that the relatively minor challenges, problems and hassles that I face are nothing compared to what the people of God have faced in the past, and still face around the world today

Psalm 80:8-19, 2 Kings 10:1-11:21, Acts 24:1-27. The light of Jesus will always outshine the darkness around (John 1:5) You have that light within you by the Holy Spirit and wherever you go you bring a light greater than the darkness around you

Psalm 80:1-7, 2 Kings 8:16-9:37, Acts 23:12-35. Stephen Lungu was captivated by the preacher In each of the passages for today we see attacks of various kinds and how God turns opposition into opportunity

Proverbs 16:8-17, 2 Kings 6:24-8:15, Acts 22:22-23:11. Nothing happens without God's permission God is in control and *in everything* he is working for good (8:28)

Psalm 79:1-13, 2 Kings 4:38-6:23, Acts 21:27-22:21. I have changed from a violent, loveless drug addict to a man who is happily married and full of love I'm now running Alphas for all types of people, from gangs to grannies, and I'm seeing their lives changed

Psalm 78:56-72, 2 Kings 3:1-4:37, Acts 21:1-26. The task of an overseer is to pastor God's flock, following the example of Jesus who said, ‘I am *the good shepherd*' (John 10:11) In the passages for today we see seven characteristics of good shepherds which are seen in all great Christian leaders

Psalm 78:40-55, 2 Kings 1:1-2:25, Acts 20:1-38. Yet it is also a message that provokes opposition God equips you to pass on this message by giving you the Holy Spirit

Proverbs 15:31-16:7, 1 Kings 22:1-53, Acts 19:14-41. I find it so encouraging and faith building to look back at how much the Lord has done for us over the years It is so easy to forget his kindness and faithfulness