Bible Read Along

[David_The_Disciple]

Some sites have read alongs so why not here.

I was thinking starting with Matthew and post each Ch. We can do it a Ch. a Day. Or set it up where we read X amout CHs. then talk about it.

So what you think. I would like about 3 ppl before we start.

Reading:
Matthew

Read:


The List:

David_The_Disciple

Abiel

MarkEvan

Morgaine1205

kelco

[Morgaine1205]

I'll join in!

[David_The_Disciple]

cool :D

[kelco]

Yeah me too.

[Morgaine1205]

Yay! Can we get a few more? :)

[MarkEvan]

I like the sound of this, if no one minds I`d like to join in too :wave: . What is it that we are doing again? ^_^ .

[Abiel]

I'm in ( if you all don't mind a Salvo!)

[David_The_Disciple]

I like the sound of this, if no one minds I`d like to join in too :wave: . What is it that we are doing again? ^_^ .

lol we are reading the bible.



I'm in ( if you all don't mind a Salvo!)

whats a Salvo ???

but i do not mind

ok.

We will start with reading Matthew. Read Matthew Ch 1 and post what you think. Friday we will read Ch 2. So plz post your thoughts about ch. 1 by end of Friday. Thank you.

===

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%201&version=31

[Abiel]

Salvo=salvationist=member of Salvation Army

[Abiel]

Firstly- the dull old genealogy- but who do I see? Rahab, a sinner...Ruth, a foreigner...Tamar...Bathsheba...ladies all.
And David another sinner.

The use of the word 'Messiah' four times.

The obediance ofJoseph- more than that, Joseph as the central character of the narrative, more so than Mary.

[Abiel]

..I know this sounds a bit low-brow, but I have never understood the use of the Is. prophecy- firstly Matthew seems to misquote it, and secondly, He isn't called Emmanuel.

[kelco]

Hi Abiel. Yes the wording is different because Matthew most likely worked with the greek version of the scriptures (Septuagint). They were traslated just a little differently.

Immanuel means God with us. Matthew would understand that the name meant that God actually came to earth to dwell and that his human and divine natures were united.

God in the flesh is what I see here. A human but also divine. Something that only God can do. He laid aside His glory and came and was one of us. That's love folks.

[Abiel]

I think we sometimes underrate Joseph in this story- what a man he must have been. He must have been a man of great love- for his God, for his wife, and for the child he raised as his own.

[kelco]

It must have been a shock for him to find out that Mary was pregnant and then trying to believe what she said about being pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

[David_The_Disciple]

well if you look at vs. 17

17Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ]

and add it it comes to 42 in all. Which is very close to 40 which we find a lot in the bible. Some even say it is a "Holy number" I am not sure myslef about that. It just something i took note of.

18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
This part i allwas wounder about. What did he think. Did he believe her, if he talked to her when he saw or her told her that she was with child. Seeing that he was going to dismiss her I think that he did not. And what was she thinking and how she would go about telling him.

20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
So he had to know and was thinking about dismissing her and most likey was going to do it the next day or that every day but before he could the angel came to him. And as we saw above he was goign to do this quietly so very few know about her if any other then her and him so when he heard someone talking about her about this topic that got his attn.

ED:

I allwas wanted to know what would Jeusus name if they woudl picked it out and was not told what to name him.

[David_The_Disciple]

Hi Abiel. Yes the wording is different because Matthew most likely worked with the greek version of the scriptures (Septuagint). They were traslated just a little differently.

Immanuel means God with us. Matthew would understand that the name meant that God actually came to earth to dwell and that his human and divine natures were united.

God in the flesh is what I see here. A human but also divine. Something that only God can do. He laid aside His glory and came and was one of us. That's love folks.

Messiah = Herbew

Christos = Greek

I think i am right there. I am not 100% sure.

[kelco]

Yes you are right! Both mean annointed.

[Morgaine1205]

I really don't have much of anything else to add, I think we've covered this chapter pretty well. I was going to comment on the fact that even though Joseph and Mary did marry, "and did not know her till she had brought forth her her firstborn Son.", which means that Jesus' brothers (and sisters?) would have been born to Joseph and Mary after Jesus' birth. Joseph couldn't have had children by a previous marriage (as I've heard some say) as Jesus wouldn't have been heir to David's throne (as the first born of Joseph).

[Abiel]

Chapter 2?

I don't like Herod.

I wonder at someone who is portrayed in this way- there must have been more to him than what we know. Did he have a personal life? Did he love? Or was he all absorbed in power politics?

[MarkEvan]

I think that Herod was quite the nasty peice of work before Jesus was born. I guess that giving a command to have all of the 2 year olds in bethlehem killed would be proof of that. The other thing I notice with this chapter is the prophecies that are being fulfilled, Micah`s and Jeremiahs and then "out of Egypt I called my son," Jesus was fulfilling the prophesies even as a child when He had no influence over them, which gives the lie to those people who say that He knew what the prophecies were and so fulfilled them.
Don`t know if I have got ahead of myself with chapter 2 here, and also I cant post over the weekends, but if I see anything in the subsequent chapters that I like I will say, unless it has been said already. :) .

[David_The_Disciple]

Read Ch 2 and post your thoughts by the Sat. (can see some allready have)

[Shane Roach]

People may want to double check me on this, but there are supposed to be two separate Herod's. The Herod that makes his appearance in chapter 14 is supposed to be a different fellow. Which I always thought was weird.

If I am wrong, please do correct me.

[Abiel]

Yeah- two different Herods. This one was dead by the year dot. That's one of the ways they worked out that whoever it was who set up the BC/AD system was slightly out of kilter on Christ's birth.

[David_The_Disciple]

To me it sounds like vs. 16 - 32 where write by other person. Then the rest. Cuse the end of vs. 15 it ends it then re tells 15 at 19. But does some back tracking a bit on the side of Herod and why they fleed to Egypt other then God told him to so so.

[David_The_Disciple]

I think that Herod was quite the nasty peice of work before Jesus was born. I guess that giving a command to have all of the 2 year olds in bethlehem killed would be proof of that. The other thing I notice with this chapter is the prophecies that are being fulfilled, Micah`s and Jeremiahs and then "out of Egypt I called my son," Jesus was fulfilling the prophesies even as a child when He had no influence over them, which gives the lie to those people who say that He knew what the prophecies were and so fulfilled them.
Don`t know if I have got ahead of myself with chapter 2 here, and also I cant post over the weekends, but if I see anything in the subsequent chapters that I like I will say, unless it has been said already. :) .


its fine i am busy on the weekends as well so we will just break on the weekends or Just have homework over the weekend. But for me if i do not write what i am thinking when i think it then i will forget it. So i am thinking just brakeing on weekends. I did not say that we will have a reading everyday, its a read along. Not a race. So We are going to take time to read it. Hopeful we might read the whole bible.

[David_The_Disciple]

I think we have all who read ch 2 there may still be a post or two left about ch 2. anywho We will come back on Monday with Ch 3 and 4. See you on Monday.

[kelco]

I'm a little late but I think the thing that I see in this chapter is how God brought fullfillment of the prophicies about in the life of Jesus. His birthplace, His stay in Egypt and finally Jospeh and Mary settling in Nazareth.

[MarkEvan]

Hi everyone, I just thought in relation to Shanes question about there being two Herods, verse 20 of chapter 2 says that those who were seeking to kill Him were now dead, hence they could go back to Israel. (this is going to sound strange, but is that how you spell Israel, I suddenly realized I don`t know :doh: )

[MarkEvan]

The first thing i noticed was that the messages of John and Jesus are the same, and anyone who takes the good news will always bring that same message, "repent for the kingdom of God is at hand," the other thing was, do you think that our role is similar to Johns, in that we "make straight the paths of the Lord" when we take His gospel, does that make any sense? Maybe im wrong.

[MarkEvan]

Hello is anyone there? No, oh well I will have to talk to myself.

Hello mark how are you?

I`m ok, yourself?

Not bad could be better, I was wondering though what it meant in verse 20 of chapter 3, "they will be baptized in the Spirit and fire" I`d always thought that the two were the same, but here it appears that they are not.

I know what you mean this perplexes me too, maybe the others (when they get here) can help us out.

Am I going mad?

Probably.



Whoa hope I don`t scare y`all off with my crazy moment, it`s just i`m a little bored at the mo. Anyway would appreciate any thoughts on the question.

[kelco]

I think baptize with fire means the fire of the Holy Spirit. Fire can also be a cleansing agent.
Mal 3:2 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.
When we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives He takes the dross and burns it away. Kinda like refining gold or other metals. When you refine something you have a pure product.

[David_The_Disciple]

argh i got into so many thngs today that i did not post here on the reading. I will trm. It looks like some did the same as me today. Anywho thanks for the few that did.

[MarkEvan]

Hi are we on chapter 4? If we are then the thing that most struck me was vs 3, "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God," I thought about this a lot, and found a lot of similar verses as this such as "my food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to complete His works" and "continue in my word then if you are truely my disciples and you will know the truth and the truth shall set you free." But then I thought that it is not just about being hearers of the word but doers, if we do not put into practice what we learn then all we are is someone who has a appearence of Godliness but deny the power, but of course everything we do should be done out of love, because love is the fulfilment of the law.

My thoughts on part of ch 4

Mark

[David_The_Disciple]

well on Monday wer where to post about ch 3 and 4. But I got a bit busy with other stuff.

[Abiel]

chp.3. John Baptist must have seemed asmad as a hatter! I reckon people initially when to gawp at the show he was putting on- but his words must have really struck their hearts- he is offering them, for free, something they have had to pay for at the temple- in fact I bet many of them weren't even allowed near the temple, for various levels of uncleaness- and he here is showing that forgiveness is for all who repent. How refreshing to be washed in the cool waters of the Jordan than to be in the smeely abbatoir that the temple must have been.

[MarkEvan]

Hi everyone,

Another thing I have often thought about with this chapter (4) was when he spoke to the disciples, and said follow me, they did so emmediatly. I think at this time He had not yet done any signs, or taught, so what made the disciples follow Him emmediatly when they knew so little about Him.

[kelco]

The things that strike me from chap 3 are
1. The way that John talked to the Pharisees and Sadducces. He exposed them for what they were. A nest of snakes who trumpeted their own self righteousness.
2. The descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus. It identified Him as the Christ, The Son of God.

Chap 4
1. After 40 days of fasting and being alone Jesus was no doubt weak and vulnerable to Satan's attack. But he took the sword of the Word to defend himself against his attack. Makes me think that I need to work on scripture memorization harder.

2. The calling of the Disciples. These guys were just ordinary fisherman trying to make a living. He called them from the ordinary into the extraordinary and not one of them hesitated. They dropped what they were doing, left everything they had and followed him.

[David_The_Disciple]

only thing i have to add is in ch 3.

11"I baptize you with[a (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%203:11&version=31#fen-NIV-23204a)] water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

a lot of ppl who say they are christians are missing the holy ghost. I personly think that when you are baptize you with the Holy Spirit thats when become a christian.

[MarkEvan]

a lot of ppl who say they are christians are missing the holy ghost. I personly think that when you are baptize you with the Holy Spirit thats when become a christian.

I think you are right David, a christian is someone who has the Spirit of God living inside them, therefore when we are baptized with the Spirit, (when He comes and dwells in us) that for me is when we are born again or become christians, when Gods Spirit quickens our Spirit.

[David_The_Disciple]

Ok. we are doing ch 5 on Tue. Read and post Tue. if its Tues. for you then Wen. :P

[MarkEvan]

The thing I get from chapter 5 is that it is all down to the heart, its the intentions of our hearts that are judged, but then this is the view all through scripture, but I like the wording of Hebrews 4 vs 13-14 (I think), that the word of God is a sharp 2 edged sword...ultimately eveything comes down to our hearts. There is a lot in this passage but its that that really sticks out to me. :wave: .

[Morgaine1205]

There is so much wonderful information in chapter 5. The Beatitudes, which to me are so comforting, as well as a roadmap of how Jesus would like us to live our lives. Starting in verse 17, Jesus talks about the importance of the law, and how he didn't come to do away with the law but to fulfill it. I was thinking about that, and I think He has fulfilled the law in several ways, He obeyed the law perfectly, and taught its correct meaning, He will fulfill all of the OT prophecies and He provides a way of salvation that meets all the requirements of the law.

I like (starting in) verse 22, that Jesus isn't saying anger is necessarily wrong, but unwarranted anger is wrong. BUT, He does go on to say that we should absolutely reconcile those that we have problems with, or are angry with.

I think that you can sum up verses 43-48 in two words; PERFECT LOVE! :)

[David_The_Disciple]

sry for posting late i had a bad day the other day.

ok. well 1st thing that came to me was vs. 19.

Therefor, whoever breaks one of the least of these commanments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Therefor, whoever breaks one of the least of these commanments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven

I see this as saying if you sin and go out and make it a point to give the sin to others. I.E. If you look up a porn site then give the link to a friend. That will be teaching that sin.

but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven

But, we are in luck for the same holds ture about makeing a point with give and show the God and his Word and Love. So in way this topic is doing this.


Next up is kind of neat.

27 and 28.

You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adulter." But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already commited adultery in his heart.

In my studies i found out that in OT it wa only a sin if you acted and not your thoughts.

But as we see here its what is in your heart that counts.

As i tell ppl you may not act on anything but where your mind is is where your heart is and where your heart is is where your Spirit is. So if we keep our mind prue and for the Lord then our hearts will be there as well. And what do we see here in vs. 8."Blessed are pure in heart, for they will see God."


Well lets try to do Ch 6 on Friday.

[Abiel]

Chapter 5. Comforting huh? I always worry that Jesus might have really meant it...

[MarkEvan]

Chapter 5. Comforting huh? I always worry that Jesus might have really meant it...

No need to worry He did mean it..:D

But yeah there are a lot of difficult things for christians to consider such as hungering and thirsting after righteousness, or being meek, or pure in heart, they are all difficult infact imppossible without Jesus, so thank the Lord that it is in His strength that we do these things, otherwise none would reach heaven.

[Morgaine1205]

I re-read chapter 6 tonight - so much good information here! Jesus starts the chapter by telling us why we should do charitable acts, not for our own recognition or praise, but for the glory of God. We then move on to the Lord's prayer- and an admonition to not pray to hear yourself speak, or to impress others with your words - but to pray to God, that His will be done always. The remainder of the verses tell us again how to live our lives. How to not be concerned with riches and material things on this earth, and to not be consumed with worry - we should place our trust in God!

[MarkEvan]

Verse 14 for me is important, I never really understood it untill I read the KJ version where instead of your eye being good it says single, that makes more sense to me, it says that our eyes should always be focused on Jesus and not on ourselves, all of our eyes, no part should be looking at anything else, if we are divided then we are not looking singuarily at Him.

Mark :wave:

[Romanseight2005]

I just discovered this thread. I hope you don't mind if I join in. I may not be able to post consistently, but I would like to be able to chime in if that;s okay. What jumped out at me when Jesus said least in the 'Kingdom of Heaven," is that the person will still be in the Kingdom of Heaven. Our salvation can't be earned, but this is one of many passages that seems to indicate rewards, and lack of them, beyond salvation.

[Romanseight2005]

Capter 6 as much of scripture, seems to be focused on our hearts belonging to God. I think of King Saul, who was picked and annointed of God, but his heart cared more about what the people thought, than what God thought. This seems so simple, and yet in our day to day lives I know that I am guilty, and have to repent of this. So often(I will speak for myself here) if I am honest with myself, I may do a good thing, and it may even be for the right reasons, but if someone compliments me, I rather enjoy it.

This passage has many applications, but one thing I see is Pastors. When you think of the body of Christ, the eyes would likely be the pastors. If they are not preaching truth, will the body be filled with deceit, and darkness?

Matt 6:22-23

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
KJV

[MarkEvan]

Well don`t really know what to say about chapter 7 apart from the amount of teaching that it holds, there is so much depth to everything Jesus says, no wonder the people were all astounded at His teaching, I know I am.

[MarkEvan]

For me chapter 8 shows the authority that Jesus has over everything, first its the human body, He cures a lot of illnesses, secondly its the elements, He calms the wind and the sea thirdly He shows His authority over the demons, by casting them out of the man possessed by Legion, its also interesting to note that even though the guy begs Jesus to be allowed to go with Him, Jesus says no, sometimes what God wants for us is not quite what we would have expected but tthe important thing is that we do as the guy did he went about what Jesus asked him to do, with all vigour he truely showed "faith working through Love."

Mark :) .

[cristianna]

I'm so delighted to come across this thread. Anyone with hints as to how bookmark it, so-to-speak?

For me Chapter 8 says alot. Particularly verses 8.1-8.13 which speak of prayer (sort of- maybe faith is the better word) to me. The Leper says if you want to, you can heal me. And Jesus says yes, I want to, and He heals him. The servant is healed through the grace/faith of his centurion's request.

[MarkEvan]

i would agree with what cristanna just said, because the scriptures say somewhere that, "because of their unbelief He was able to do very few miricles there." But there is the other side to which people go, where they say, "you are not healed because you have little faith" perhapse sometimes this is true, but certainly not all the time take Paul, 3 times he prayed that the messenger from satan might be taken away from him yet God said no, what is important in this passage is that God said "my grace is sufficient for you," so it is with all of us.

[David_The_Disciple]

ok cool you all moved on. Sry i have not been posting here, its just been some what bad and busy for me latey.

[MarkEvan]

Hi all,
The part of Matthew 9 that strikes me the most, isn`t the healing or even the compassion He had for the crowd, for me it was what Jesus said after He saw the crowds and had compassion, to paraphrase, "the fields are ready for the harvest but the labourers are few therefore pray to the master of the harvest that He may send more labourers," that always gets me. Are we labouring in the harvest? Are we praying that God will send more labourers? Both are vital, because the world is dead in tresspassess.

Mark

[cristianna]

Yes Mark, I definitely agree. The beginning (9:9-9:13) talks of venturing out of our comfort zone-- fellow believers, and being with the others. And it ends with praying for harvest hands for the crop.

One thing I'm not following is in Ch. 8 and 9 there are occasions when Jesus asks those He heals to not tell others (the Leper and the blind men). Why is that?

[Morgaine1205]

I wondered about that too - (Jesus not wanting others to know about the healing) - I wonder if it is because He didn't want people coming to Him just for physical healing - since He came not for that reason - He came for our spiritual needs, not physical? Kind of like free will - if everyone knew He could heal all their physical ailments, are the people coming to Him for love or just for the healing....

[MarkEvan]

But then sometimes people didn`t even follow Jesus because of the miracles He performed, they followed Him because they "ate thir fill of the bread," personally one of the other reasons I believe Jesus says not to tell anyone, is because He knew what was in the hearts of men and knew that they would try to force Him to be the king, (which they did try once) and that wasn`t His desire, that would not have been in obediance to the Father, my thoughts.

Mark :) .

[MarkEvan]

I think chapter 10 is a good guide to witnessing, about how to aproach people and what to do if they reject the message, some things obviously don`t apply such as only going to the children of Israel, but then Jesus changed that at the end of Matthew when He told the disciples to go through all the world. And it is not easy to try and introduce yourself to an honerable stranger and try and stay at their house. However I think that what the Lord says about shaking the dust off our feat if people don`t listen is a valuble point allthough it is hard to just leave even when poeple don`t listen. Also what do we think it means to take outr peace with us when we leave?

Mark :)

[cristianna]

I have really enjoyed Chapter 10 for several reasons. As Mark previously stated, it discusses witnessing and a great deal about character with some thoughts/guidelines of the tough road Christians take.

My interpretation of leave in peace goes hand-in-hand with the characteristics we should be striving to achieve in ourselves. If a person does not welcome talk of Christianity we most certainly cannot condemn them. I think we are to end the conversation in hopes that a seed was planted in their hearts and minds.

We are warned of the treatment we will receive for proclaiming ourselves as Christians trying to spread the word. First and foremost the smearing of our name/reputation, the division of family (whether their motive is harmful or unintentionally harmful), and to not quit.

We are told of the intense love God has for each and every one of us. Some guidelines our character should follow are to not deny Jesus; do not concern ourself with ourself-- through Jesus we will find ourself and Him; accept help (aka: don't be prideful); be modest (aka: humble); don't be intimidated/silenced by threats-- be fearful of God; make God and Jesus first in our lives; and to help/do/give to one another.