Youth BiOY

Psalm 119:41-48, Jeremiah 32:37-41, 33:2-11, 1 Timothy 1:3-19. In fact, over the last nearly half a century, I have discovered that faith *leads to* true freedom and love Love, faith and freedom are inextricably entwined

Proverbs 25:4-8, Jeremiah 31:31-34, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-16. Jesus did not go for the easy or popular solution, but he always did the right thing This is an important principle that runs throughout the entire Bible

Psalm 119:33-37, Jeremiah 30:14-22, 31:12-13, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17. In today's New Testament passage, Paul invokes the image of the *phalanx* Shoulder to shoulder, the church can stand firm This is one of many occasions that Paul exhorts the church to ‘stand firm' (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

Psalm 119:25-32, Jeremiah 29:1-14, 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12. Much of it is hidden from us However, there are certain things about your future that God tells you

Psalm 119:18-24, Jeremiah 26:13-15, 1 Thessalonians 5:5-24. Dare to be different, by being like him Don't follow what the world tells you is desirable, but follow God by becoming more Christ-like

Proverbs 24:32-34, Jeremiah 23:18-29, 25:3-4, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-18. Paul highlights two things in particular: living to ‘please God more and more' (1 Thessalonians 4:1), and ‘loving each other… more and more' (vv 9–10)

Psalm 119:9-16, Jeremiah 23:5-6, 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, 3:2-12. It is not a fleeting emotion, but a deep way of being – a state of mind that is available to everybody It is not found in things, but in a Person

Psalm 119:1-2, Jeremiah 18:1-11, 1 Thessalonians 1:2-13. Earl and his wife, Thommy, were great friends of ours at theological college in Oxford His life had been radically changed by the words of God in the Bible

Psalm 118:22-29, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Colossians 4:2-18. It was said of his followers that they were ‘turning the world upside down' (Acts 17:6, NRSV) In each of today's passages we see how this works, and how the Lord can be glorified in defeat

Proverbs 24:17-18, Jeremiah 15:19-20, Colossians 3:1-17. As well as the outer clothing, our hearts and minds have an inner clothing When you come into a relationship with God through Jesus, the old clothes have to go and you need a new set of clothes for your heart and mind

Psalm 118:5-14, Jeremiah 13:15-23, Colossians 2:6-15. Is it possible for you too to change? One of the most difficult things in the world is to break a bad habit or to give up sin In one of today's passages Jeremiah asks, ‘*Can a leopard change its spots*?' (Jeremiah 13:23)

Psalm 117:1-2, Jeremiah 10:2-5, Colossians 1:24-29. Not only Mother Teresa and Billy Graham, but actors, scientists and the then Lord Chancellor The Chief Cashier of the Bank of England, Graham Kentfield (whose signature was on every banknote at the time) said, ‘I am clear that the meaning of life can only be properly understood in the context of our *relationship with God*

Psalm 116:12-19, Jeremiah 9:3, Colossians 1:3-23. It is the lens through which to view our entire life Ultimately, as we see in today's passages, the world can be divided into two categories: those who acknowledge God and give thanks to him, and those who don't

Proverbs 24:5-14, Jeremiah 6:16, Philippians 4:6-19. The apostle Paul found the key to a life of peace and contentment in times of trouble He tells the Philippians how to find peace and shares *the secret of being content* (Philippians 4:12)

Psalm 116:7-9, Jeremiah 5:14, Philippians 3:4-21. 'Ambition has been defined as the ‘desire to succeed' There are ultimately only two controlling ambitions to which all others may be reduced: one is our own glory and the other is God's glory

Psalm 115:12-18, Jeremiah 4:1-2, Philippians 2:12-30. That is exactly what we as Christians are called to be, as the church and as individuals You really can be a blessing machine

Psalm 115:1, Jeremiah 1:4-19, Philippians 1:27-28, 2:1-11. The theme of ‘*glory*' runs through each of today's readings (Psalm 115:1; Philippians 2:11; Jeremiah 2:11) We see why, how and when to *bounce the glory back up to God*

Proverbs 23:31-35, 24:3-4, Zephaniah 3:17, Philippians 1:3-26. Indeed, he regarded death as something of even greater worth Yet for him, Jesus had made his life profoundly worth living

Psalm 114:1-8, Nahum 1:7-15, Ephesians 6:10-20. As St Paul puts it, ‘Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the *spiritual forces of evil* in the heavenly realms' (Ephesians 6:12) Today's passages show us that the battle is won through the victorious power of the Lord

Psalm 113:2-3, Isaiah 65:17-19, 66:2, Ephesians 5:8-33. It is also possible to ‘displease' the Lord (Isaiah 66:4c) The apostle Paul wrote, ‘Find out what *pleases the Lord*' (Ephesians 5:10), or as *The Message* translation puts it, ‘Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it

Psalm 112:1-9, Isaiah 63:7-16, Ephesians 4:22-32, 5:1-2. Love is practical Chiara said, ‘Love the other person as yourself… Imagine how the world would be if the golden rule were put into practice not only between individuals, but also between ethnic groups, peoples and nations, if everyone *loved* the other country as their own

Proverbs 23:19, Isaiah 61:1-8, Ephesians 4:1-16. The book of Proverbs anticipates what Spirit-powered living should look like Then, in the New Testament, we see the fulfilment of Spirit-powered living

Psalm 111:2-10, Isaiah 57:19, 58:6-10, Ephesians 3:4-19. In the Old Testament, we see only hints of this – it was concealed to some extent Now, however, the mystery has been revealed in Christ

Psalm 110:1-5, Isaiah 55:1-6, Ephesians 2:1-22. '- ‘I feel like I have found love and conquered death in one day 'The difference Jesus makes is massive, eternal, and impossible to fully comprehend

Psalm 109:21-31, Isaiah 52:7-15, 53:1-6, Ephesians 1:3-23. In Christ, you have received ‘*every spiritual blessing*' (Ephesians 1:3) All of the blessings, including those that the Old Testament speaks about, are yours in Christ

Proverbs 23:17-18, Isaiah 49:8-25, Galatians 6:1-10. We require instant returns and instant results But sometimes the biggest pay-offs are a long time coming

Psalm 109:1–4, Isaiah 48:17–18, 49:5-7, Galatians 5:7–25. We may also experience conflict when we stand up for the truth within the church, or when we engage with the prevailing culture Even in the UK, a country that has traditionally been seen as ‘Christian', the culture is becoming increasingly hostile towards the Christian faith

Psalm 108:6-13, Isaiah 45:1-24, Galatians 4:21-31, 5:1-6. You, too, are free Therefore, refuse to be trapped by your past

Psalm 108:2-5, Isaiah 43:1-19, Galatians 3:26-29, 4:1-7. In the passages for today, we see how much more than just ‘nice' God is – his goodness, amazing love and faithfulness We also see that not only does he ‘like' you, he loves you – you are his ‘precious and honoured' child (Isaiah 43:4)

Proverbs 22:29, Isaiah 42:1-8, Galatians 3:10-25. Furthermore, it is God's plan that the church, through the victory of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, can and will succeed So, the St Andrew's cross broadens out again as the members of the church of Jesus Christ become the servants of God with a mission to call all humanity back to their original creation purpose

Psalm 107:35-43, Isaiah 40:25-31, Galatians 2:14-21, 3:2-9. But we love imperfect people If we love imperfect people perhaps it shouldn't surprise us that God loves imperfect people even more

Psalm 107:28-30, Isaiah 36:4-21, 37:1-15, Galatians 2:1-10. What do we do when the ‘*truth of the gospel*' is at stake? (Galatians 2:5) How do we respond to ‘*a day of crisis*' in our lives? (Isaiah 37:3, MSG)

Psalm 107:13-21, Isaiah 33:2-6, 35:1-10, Galatians 1:3-24. It means ‘freedom' As the Bishop pointed out, there are three tenses of salvation: you *have been* set free from the *penalty* of sin, you *are being* set free from the *power* of sin and you *will be* set free from the *presence* of sin

Proverbs 22:17-27, Isaiah 30:20-26, 31:1-5, 32:14-17, 2 Corinthians 13:3-14. If you ‘realise' (v 5) this, it will transform the way you live your life

Psalm 107:1-9, Isaiah 29:13-16, 30:1-18, 2 Corinthians 12:19-21. The signs on the Italian Riviera were erected to keep people safe The words of Jesus, the New Testament and the Bible as a whole, are designed to keep us on the path that leads to life

Psalm 106:43-45, Isaiah 28:16, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10. This is one of my favourite verses in the entire Bible I often quote this verse to God and remind him of his promise that his power is made perfect in my weakness

Psalm 106:32-36, Isaiah 25:6-8, 26:3-4, 2 Corinthians 11:17-30. Yet as we read the Bible, it is clear that this promise of ‘perfect peace' is not dependent on circumstances God's peace comes to you even in the dark places – in the midst of your most difficult struggles and challenges

Proverbs 22:11,12, Isaiah 22:11-22, 2 Corinthians 11:2-15. But Paul goes even further in terms of intimacy: he refers to Christ as our husband and the church as his bride (2 Corinthians 11:2; see also Ephesians 5:22–33) This is the closest, most important and most intimate relationship of all

Psalm 106:16-31, Isaiah 19:20-25, 2 Corinthians 10:3-16. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds' (2 Corinthians 10:3b–4)

Psalm 106:1-10, Isaiah 14:1-15, 16:4-5, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. I want to be like Mick I long for the church of Jesus Christ to be full of people like him because, as we see in today's passage, grace, thanksgiving and generosity are very closely connected

Psalm 105:39-45, Isaiah 10:20, 11:1–4,6,9, 2 Corinthians 8:16,18–21, 22-24. The New Testament understanding of the Lord helps us interpret the Old Testament use of ‘The LORD' The Old Testament enriches our understanding of what the New Testament means when it speaks of ‘The LORD'

Proverbs 21:30-31, 22:1-4, Isaiah 8:12-13, 9:6-7, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15. 9) However, the passages for today totally redefine this world's understanding of the word ‘rich'

Psalm 105:23-27, Isaiah 5:9-11, 6:1-8, 2 Corinthians 7:2-11. 7, AMP) However bleak things may appear, God always seems to raise up people who are instruments ‘for noble purposes… *useful* to the Master and prepared to do any good work' (2 Timothy 2:21)

Psalm 105:12-22, Isaiah 5:7, 2 Corinthians 6:3-13, 7:1. He gave the equivalent of US $250 million to fund such prizes Alfred Nobel had the rare opportunity to evaluate his life near its end and live long enough to change that assessment

Psalm 105:1-5, Isaiah 1:2-26, 2:2, 2 Corinthians 5:11-21. Appeal to them to become friends of God and ambassadors themselves As royal ambassadors, act with diplomacy and skill because you are representing Christ on earth

Proverbs 21:17-26, Micah 6:8, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. *It has been said that ‘the two greatest days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why' God created you with a purpose in mind (2 Corinthians 5:5)

Psalm 104:33-34, Micah 2:1-2, 3:1-8, 4:12, 2 Corinthians 4:1-18. 18) The invisible is eternal

Psalm 104:27-30, 2 Chronicles 36:5-12, 2 Corinthians 3:7-18. ' When we really want someone to listen to and believe us, we say to that person, ‘*Look into my eyes* 'The Bible says a lot about faces and eyes

Psalm 104:1-15, 2 Chronicles 34:31, 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, 3:1-6. John Wimber defined this kind of ministry as ‘meeting the needs of others with the resources of God' Wonderfully, this type of ministry is now available to you and me

Proverbs 21:13-15, 2 Chronicles 32:7-26, 2 Corinthians 2:3-11. He is also just In his book *Justice in Love*, Nicholas Wolterstorff points out that justice is a necessary constituent part of any properly formed conception of love

Psalm 103:13-22, 2 Chronicles 29:1-21, 30:18-20, 2 Corinthians 1:20-22. 21, MSG) By giving you the Holy Spirit, God has already given you this deposit in advance of what one day you will receive in full