May 19 - Galatians 2-3

Read: Galatians chapters 2 and 3 (CEB, NIV, NRSV)

Reflection Question: Some of the most powerfully defining words in the Bible are found in this passage:  There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female.  For you are all one in Christ Jesus. (3:28)  God sees all believers as equal.  What does that mean to you?  How does it affect your behavior as a believer?

May 18 - 2 Corinthians 13-Galatians 1

Read: 2 Corinthians chapter 13 and Galatians chapter  1 (CEB, NIV, NRSV)

Reflection Question: Paul gives a kind of list of bullet points for Christian maturity at the end of 2 Corinthians that is followed by a blessing: Be joyful. Grow to maturity.  Encourage each other.  Live in harmony and peace.  Then the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Cor 13:11)  Using each one of those bullet points, do a self-assessment.  Even better, have someone who knows you well do the assessment. 

May 17 - 2 Corinthians 11-12

Read: 2 Corinthians chapters 11 and 12 (CEB, NIV, NRSV)

Reflection Question: You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit that the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.  (11:4). Can you tell the difference?  What measure do you use to detect falsehood?

May 15 - 2 Corinthians 7-8

Read: 2 Corinthians chapters 7 and 8 (CEB, NIV, NRSV)

Reflection Question: Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly.  And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.  Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves.  I only mean that there should be some equality.  (8:12-13)  As you have grown in your faith, has the way you view giving changed, or stayed the same?  In what ways?

May 11 - 1 Corinthians 15

Read: 1 Corinthians chapter 15

Reflection Question: The New International Version/Translation puts Paul’s words in a most understandable form: Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Cor 15:58)  What are some ways you are giving yourself fully to the work of the Lord?

May 9 - 1 Corinthians 12-13

Read: 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 13 (CEB, NIV, NRSV)

Reflection Question: A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. (12:7) What is the gift God has given you to help others in the church?  In what ways are you using that gift? If the greatest thing we can give others is love (1 Cor 13), how are you being loving when you don’t use the gift God has given you?

May 7 - 1 Corinthians 10

Read: 1 Corinthians chapter 10 (CEB, NIV, NRSV)

Reflection Question: God led the Israelites safely through the wilderness with a cloud, gave them food to eat each morning, provided water in a desert land, and their clothing did not wear out for 40 years.  Still, with all His miraculous provision, they sought comfort elsewhere and worshiped other gods.  In what ways do you keep from acting like an ungrateful child with your Heavenly Father?

May 6 - 1 Corinthians 8-9

Read: 1 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 (CEB, NIV, NRSV)

Reflection Question: In Chapter 8, Paul talks about food sacrificed to idols.  While we may not easily relate to that, it is true that we do give a good deal of money and time to ‘things of this world’ on a regular basis –   like TV shows, social media, such as Facebook, not to mention sports, etc.  What in your life has (or had) been taking from the time and attention you could have been giving to God? Spend some time asking God if there is something you are overlooking.  Make a list.  Give all that to God in prayer.

May 5 - 1 Corinthians 6-7

Read: 1 Corinthians chapters 6 and 7 (CEB, NIV, NRSV)

Reflection Question: In these chapters, Paul says some difficult things about marriage and divorce that don’t seem to fit our ‘modern’ way of thinking.  In 1 Corinthians 6:17, he boils it down: But the person who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.  How does the life of someone who is joined to the Lord in spirit differ from the life of someone who is not joined to God?  Would you consider yourself to be joined to God?

May 2 - Romans 16 and 1 Corinthians 1

Read: Romans chapter 16 and 1 Corinthians chapter 1 (CEB, NIV, NRSV)

Reflection Question: Paul urges the people of the Roman church to watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith…. (Rom 16: 17).  He urges the Corinthian church to live in harmony with one another and to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. (1 Cor 1:10).  What are some things you can do to help the church stay unified?