First Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Devotional: Philippians 1:12-18

Today’s passage: Philippians 1:12-18

Helpful thoughts:

  • Paul’s imprisonment did not weaken the boldness of other Christians, it strengthened them.
  • In order to accuse Paul of being worthy of imprisonment or to try to discredit his ministry, people had to discuss what he had been teaching.  So, whether they were defending him or prosecuting him (Even if their motivation was entirely selfish), they were declaring the Gospel message.
  • Paul was imprisoned for being a Christian and he was rejoicing.
    • His imprisonment gave him a whole new mission field in Rome that he may have had no opportunity to reach before (Including the whole Imperial Guard!).

Questions to consider:

  1. What must be true of our perspective concerning our identity, purpose, goals and future to make any kind of persecution not only livable, but a moment for action and rejoicing?
  2. What is truly happening when a person mocks or criticizes you for being a Christian?  How is God glorified in that moment?  How are you producing fruit in that moment?  Is it truly and entirely a loss when other people don’t like our message of reconciliation?  Why or why not?
  3. What is your mission field?  You have one.  Who will you see today, and this weekend, who needs to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ?  How can your everyday actions lead to the ability to share the words of the gospel?

Devotional: Philippians 1:3-11

Today’s passage: Philippians 1:3-11

Helpful thoughts:

  • A key term in this passage is partnership.  As a church, our unity must be centered around the glory of God in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  When it is, our partnership flourishes.
  • God has promised to finish what He started (Verse 6).  He saved us.  He sanctifies us.  He will perfect us.  All glory be to God. (Romans 8:28-30)
  • The love of a Christian for God and other Christians is intrinsically connected (Even strengthened) with knowledge (Verse 9).  A humble approach to good doctrine should grow in us a love and affection for God and our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Questions to consider:

  1. The Apostle Paul knew the ups and downs of ministry just as well if not more than anybody.  Why was he able to pray with joy in his every prayer for the church?  Even when there are difficulties and issues to resolve amongst our church, why can we pray for one another with joy?
  2. What desires and personal ambitions can distract us from our true purpose and goal as a church?  How does staying focused in partnership to fulfill the Great Commission make other matters seem less important?
  3. Why do some people minimize the importance of doctrine (Knowledge of the Scriptures) and call on others to simply “love” people?  How do people sometimes approach doctrine in a way that would spur on this kind of response?  What would it look like to thoroughly study the Word AND therefore be inspired and equipped to love people well?

Devotional: Philippians 1:1-2

Today’s passage: Philippians 1:1-2

Helpful thoughts:

  • The Apostle Paul wrote this epistle to the church at Philippi during his first imprisonment in Rome around AD 60-62, about ten years after he had planted the church on his second missionary journey.
  • The church at Philippi was made up mostly of Gentiles.  There were fewer Jewish people than many other church plants.
  • In these early verses, the two offices of the church are mentioned, the overseers (Pastors/Elders) and deacons.
    • Both offices are written in the plural.  There do not appear to be any instances in the Acts or Epistles where there was not a plurality of overseers/elders/pastors or deacons once they were established in the churches.

Questions to consider:

  1. What are the two terms used to identify these followers of Christ?  What did Paul call himself and Timothy?  What did he call all the members of the church?
  2. How do both of these designations give us identity and purpose for living?  How are saints to be “set-apart” from the world and unto godliness?  How are servants to think about their role and their relationships with other people?  Whom do we serve and to what end?  Where will we find the greatest joys with this inherited identity?
  3. How did God provide grace and peace to us through Christ?  How does God’s grace and peace continue to affect us now and moving forward?

Devotional: Micah 7

Today’s passage: Micah 7

Helpful thoughts:

  • The conditions were bleak.  Even the most upright was worse than a hedge of thorns (Verse 4).
    • The sad perspective was that there was no person to trust in Israel, not even your own family.
    • The encouragement for Micah and for us today, even when it seems like you are alone, God is with you.  He is our salvation, not any man or woman (Verse 7).
  • The judgment of the Lord against Israel are temporary.  He will defend her and lift her up again for His name’s sake.
  • Micah’s hope (And the remnant’s, and ours) is not in our ability to come good and earn God’s favor, but in the Lord’s promises which he gave even to Abraham and Jacob (Verse 20).
    • God made these promises and Christ made the way.

Questions to consider:

  1. Why doesn’t the Lord hold on to anger forever (Verse 18)?  What does He delight in?
  2. What will the restoration of the remnant of Israel require?  Are they all just perfect people?  In order for there to be an Israel in the future, what did Jesus have to do?  What did God have to do with their (And our) sin?
  3. How does knowing that we have God on our side free us up from clamoring for love or approval from others in order to be ready to give love to others?

Devotional: Micah 6

Today’s passage: Micah 6

Helpful thoughts:

  • In this chapter, God takes Israel to trial.
    • He states His own innocence.  He had been a good God to Israel (Of course).
    • He prosecutes the people for their guilt.
    • He hands down the verdict and gives the sentencing.
  • The people were happy to make sacrifices and keep up appearances, especially if it annulled all the wrong they had done.  What they were unwilling to do is repent and pursue righteous obedience to God.  They had rewritten religion in a way that suited their desires.
  • The end of verse 9 reminds us, when discipline comes, pay attention to it and consider who it is who brought it.  (Hebrews 12:7-11)

Questions to consider:

  1. What was Israel found guilty of in this chapter?  What was the motivation of their worship?  What would repentance truly look like (Verse 8)?
  2. What did God wants His people to do under the laws/statutes of Omri and Ahab (Verse 16)?  When is is right to disobey human government?
  3. How many areas of life does it seem God is interested in concerning our obedience and righteousness?  If God is criticizing Israel for bringing sacrifices while living a life of sin, how should our lives look every day of the week if we are truly walking humbly with our God, loving kindness, and doing justice?  And, how does following Jesus every day of the week make Sunday truly special and meaningful?

Devotional: Micah 5

Today’s passage: Micah 5

Helpful thoughts:

  • In chapter 4, Micah prophesied the return from exile, a coming battle (Armageddon) and a global reign of peace (The Millennial Kingdom).  In Chapter 5, we get to see Who will bring about the victory in that battle and the coming kingdom.
    • One born in Bethlehem.
    • Whose origin is from of old, from ancient days (He exists before He was born…eternal God the Son!).
    • One who will stand and shepherd His people.
    • One who will be their peace.
  • When Christ has victory and ushers in His kingdom, the whole world will know there is only one true God.

Questions to consider:

  1. How does reading these prophesies (Some which have already been fulfilled, some yet to be) strengthen your faith?  What do we learn about God, His plan, and even our future by reading through the Old Testament?
  2. How could Micah 5:2 be about Jesus and no one else?  How did Jesus fulfill this prophecy?
  3. If this solitary worship is what the Kingdom will look like, what must we strive for in our own hearts today as citizens of the Kingdom of God?  Who is our God?  Who alone deserves our worship and praise?  Who is our King?

Devotional: Micah 4

Today’s passage: Micah 4

Helpful thoughts:

  • Today, we get to see into the Millennial Kingdom.
    • This mountain will be approachable by the grace of God.
    • This reign will be global.
    • There will be peace.
    • We will be a part!
  • Micah prophesies Jerusalem’s capture and exile in Babylon as well as their return due to the Lord’s rescue.
  • Verses 11-13 depict the battle of Armageddon.

Questions to consider:

  1. Why will all the wonderful truths of the Millennial Kingdom come to pass (End of verse 4)?  If God says this will happen, what’s going to happen?  To what other precious promises are you looking forward?
  2. When you consider Israel and the Church, what is our starting point or condition outside of the grace of God?  Is any of this going to happen in the future because we are so amazing?  Who will deservedly get all the glory?
  3. How can knowing what God is going to do, and knowing the eternal knowledge and power of God through all history give us confidence for each day?  Whose “team” are you on?  What is your role and purpose on the “team”?  How is this all going to end?

Devotional: Micah 3

Today’s passage: Micah 3

Helpful thoughts:

  • The leaders of Israel wanted to reject the Lord and disobey Him…but expect Him to answer them at their beck and call.
  • In our sin nature, we excuse our own injustice and demand justice from others.  In humility by the grace of God, we confess our sin and plead for His mercy through Christ.
  • God is the one who defines and exhibits perfect justice.  God is the one who sets the standard of goodness and righteousness.  He has no need to measure up to our often skewed expectations.

Questions to consider:

  1. If people think they can do whatever they want and then feel justified with their anger against God for not doing what they asked Him to, who is truly the lord or the god of their life?  Who is the god and who is the servant who must answer to a master?  But, who is God in truth?  Why must those who are angry with God change their thinking?
  2. What was the true motivation for the lies the prophets were proclaiming? (Verse 5)  Even in the midst of trouble, how was Micah’s perception of where he stood? (Verse 8)  How does a right fear of the Lord combat any potential fear of man or desire for a life of ease which tempts us to sin?
  3. How does this chapter correlate with the truth of James 2:17?  What do Christians grow in doing after their conversion (Ephesians 4:1)?

Devotional: Micah 2

Today’s passage: Micah 2

Helpful thoughts:

  • There are statements in this chapter which are similar to 2 Timothy 4:1-5.
    • There are two layers to this challenge that can be applicable to us today.
      • First, is the Word of God being taught and valued more than the sinful feelings/desires of people or the trends of society? (Verses 6 & 11)
      • Second, is the church responding to the work of the Holy Spirit or is the ministry of the Word falling on deaf/dead ears? (Verse 7)
  • Our sin affects others in ways we hardly ever think about (Verse 9).
  • In the midst of the rebellion and false teaching, the people are being challenged in this chapter to arise and go!  Micah calls for repentance.

Questions to consider:

  1. How are you doing at loving the Word of God more than the opinions of man?  How would you gauge that accurately?  How could you grow?  How could Christian fellowship help you to grow in this area?
  2. How are we doing in not just “knowing” that the Word of God is more important, but also then being obedient and following the will of God in our lives?  Do we simply love “knowing” that we value the Word or is the Word changing us to become more like Christ in our thoughts, desires and actions?
  3. What is the reasoning Micah calls for repentance?  What does a refusal to turn result in (Verse 10)?  What will the Lord do for His sheep (Verses 12-13)?  Who will lead the way (End of verse 13)?

Devotional: Micah 1

Today’s passage: Micah 1

Helpful thoughts:

  • Micah’s prophetic ministry ran from Jotham’s to Hezekiah’s reign in Judah.  He prophesied of events prior to the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel.  His ministry to Hezekiah is later recounted in Jeremiah 26:16-19.
  • This chapter consists of the promised judgment of Samaria and the northern kingdom of Israel in verses 2-7 and then Micah’s lament in verses 8-16.
  • In Micah’s lament, we are reminded of the Israelites hope in something “good” (Verse 12) coming from their human allies in their time of distress.  The people of Samaria trusted in man to protect them, but man could not protect Israel from the judgment of their God.

Questions to consider:

  1. Micah knew Israel would try to get around or escape God’s pronouncement of judgment (Verse 10), but what was the only thing left to do (Verses 8-9)?  Why are God’s pronouncements final?  How does this finality of God’s determination become a matter of rejoicing for those in Christ (Revelation 21:3-4)?
  2. God compared Israel’s sinfulness, their worship of pagan gods, and trusting in other nations for protection with adultery.  Why were their actions spiritual adultery?  What picture is the church given for a marriage and who is our groom (Ephesians 5:22-33)?
  3. How does this add to our understanding of our calling, purpose and relationship with God?  How does this add to our understanding of the gravity of our sin?  How does this add to our understanding of the faithful love of Christ?