SFJ Bible Reading Plan

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

One Body with Many Members

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves¹ or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts,² yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Footnotes

[1] 12:13 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

[2] 12:20 Or members; also verse 22

(ESV)

Romans 12:3-13

Gifts of Grace

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members,¹ and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads,² with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Marks of the True Christian

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,³ serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Footnotes

[1] 12:4 Greek parts; also verse 5

[2] 12:8 Or gives aid

[3] 12:11 Or fervent in the Spirit

(ESV)

1 Peter 4:8-11

8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

(ESV)

Evangelism 11.2.24

What is Evangelism?

2 Corinthians 4:1–2 (NIV) Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 

The ministry Paul speaks of here is the proclamation and testimony of the gospel. The word gospel comes from the Greek term “evangelion.” An “evangel” was news of a great historical event such as an important victory in war or the rise of a new king. It wasn’t just news you heard about and then forgot, but instead, it was news that changed the listeners’ condition and required a response after hearing it. 

So, the Christian gospel, also known as “the good news,” is the news of what God has done to reconcile us to Him.It is the good news proclaiming how Jesus lived the life we should live and paid the penalty we owe for the rebellious life we do live (Mark 10:45; 2 Corinthians 5:21). 

So, evangelism is the sharing or proclaiming of this “evangel”—this “good news.”

Evangelism is the proclamation and testimony of the gospel. 

The gospel we proclaim is from the word of God. This is an important clarity because, all too often, man has decided he can present a better gospel in order to attract people to Christianity. The problem with this is, in the end, they are not attracting people to Christianity but something else altogether. 

This is a perfect example of deception. I often hear sales pitches for heaven such as, “You don’t want to go to hell, right? To go to heaven, you must believe in Jesus.” Although it is true that if you truly repent and believe in Jesus you will be in heaven after you die, the good news being sold is, “Believe so you can have heaven,” instead of the truly good news which is, “Believe so you can have God!” 

2 Corinthians 4:3 & 5 (NIV) and even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing … For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

The people of God practicing the discipline of evangelism is the vehicle by which God opens the eyes of the blind to see the truth and beauty and worth of Christ. 

Hear me clearly today: When we begin to truly understand the gospel and God’s intention for evangelism, it will feel less and less like a duty and more and more like an unbridled passion. 

It will become in us an excitement—like Andrew had when he came to faith.

John 1:40-42 (NLT) Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus …

Andrew didn’t just start thinking about how great his life was now that he was saved from sin and death. He didn’t keep Jesus to himself. He didn’t make excuses why he wasn’t equipped to tell others about Jesus.He immediately went and began to bring others to meet Jesus. 

Today’s discipline is a vital one! Evangelism is one of the main reasons why you and I are still here on earth and not called by God to heaven. He has ordained interactions in front of each of us that will mean the seed planting of faith, or the harvesting of new faith, in Christ. 

Why Should We Practice Evangelism?

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NIV) And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 

Why should we practice evangelism?

1. Because darkness has mankind consumed unto death. 

Billions of people on this earth are desperate for the light of the gospel, and it is God’s design that those who are saved bring it to them.

Do you realize if we find the answer to life in Jesus and we come up with excuses as to why we don’t practice evangelism, we are essentially telling the rest of the world to go to hell?

We need to practice evangelism because of sin—because of death. There is no answer for sin or death other than Jesus Christ. 

And the church—the saved, the redeemed (you and I)—are the means by which God intends for a dead and dark world to hear the good news of Jesus which brings life! 

Why should we practice evangelism?

2. Because Jesus said to.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Let me ask you today: How have you been “going” lately? 

The Ultimate Goal of Evangelism

Look at the last verse of our 2 Corinthians passage. 

2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV) But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 

What is the treasure of which Paul is speaking? In verse 4, this light is called the “light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.”

“… We have this treasure [this light of the gospel] in jars of clay …” 

“Jars of clay” is a reference to us. We are the jars of clay. That is to say that compared to the treasure that is in us, we are clay. 

We are not gold; the gospel is gold. We are not silver; the news about Christ is silver. We are not bronze; the power of Christ is bronze.

This means that if you feel average or below average in your fitness to share the gospel treasure, you are closer to the truth than someone who feels powerful, wise, and self-sufficient. 

Paul wants us to realize that we are clay pots—not gold or silver or crystal. He wants us to realize that from the most sophisticated to the most average, we are all clay pots when it comes to containing and sharing the gospel. 

The treasure is so valuable and so powerful that any thought of its container being something special is foolish.

Paul modeled this for us when he talked about himself and Apollos, the two most eloquent Christians in the first century!

1 Corinthians 3:5-7 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 

This passage is a great reminder to take the pressure of conversion off of yourself. It is not your job to get those in your life or path saved! God does the saving. 

So, what’s the point of being a clay pot? To answer this, we go back to:

2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV) But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 

God’s aim is that His own power through the gospel be honored, not us. 

This means that if you feel average, or less than average, in your sense of fitness to tell the gospel, you are the person God is looking for—a clay pot who simply shares the treasure of the gospel—not the glitzy intellect, not the glitzy eloquence, not the glitzy beauty or strength or cultural cleverness. 

Then God will do His work through the gospel, and the surpassing power will belong to Him and not to us.

Be encouraged, ordinary Christian. You are appointed, precisely in your ordinariness, for the greatest work in the world—showing the treasure of Christ to a lost and dead world. 

By His grace and for His glory

Joshua “Shepherd” Kirstine

Soldiers For Jesus MC

Chaplain Council

SFJbible.com

2 Timothy 4:1-8

Preach the Word

4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound¹ teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Footnotes

[1] 4:3 Or healthy

(ESV)