Day 40: Revelation 16-22

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. Much music has been mined from the bowls of revelation. What words have you recognized?
2. How is God's victory announced?
3. What are God's gifts in the new heaven and earth?
4. How is the new Jerusalem described? Why is this description so elaborate?
5. What invitations are extended at the end of Revelation?

Feel free to share your questions and comments.

Day 39: Revelation 8-15

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What happens when the angels blow their trumpets?
2. How do you respond to these visions of destruction?
3. Chapter 9 tells the vision of the "four horsemen of the apocalypse". What is their purpose?
4. What does the dragon try to do and what does it represent?
5. What is the harvest that is reaped on the earth?

Feel free to share your comments and questions.

Day 38: Revelation 1-7

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What were the circumstances of the writer of Revelation?
2. Which of the seven churches sounds most like our congregation?
3. What is the response of the Lord to one who opens the door?
4. Who is worthy to open the scroll and its seals?
5. How can Jesus be both lamb and shepherd?

Feel free to share your questions and comments.

Day 37: 1 John 2 - Jude

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. How do you recognize the Spirit of God?
2. What has God's divine power given us?
3. What is the danger of false prophets?
4. Most of the New Testament letters conclude with a greeting. Recall some of them. How can you act upon them?
5. What guidance does Jude give to the faithful?

Feel free to share your questions and insights.

Day 36: 1 Peter 1 - 1 John 1

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What is the source of our living hope?
2. How do you see yourself as stones of God's spiritual house?
3. What instructions are given for dealing with suffering?
4. Against what must we be alert?
5. What is the relationship of sin and confession?

Feel free to share your questions and comments.

Day 35: Hebrews 11-James 5

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What is faith according to Hebrews 11?
2. Who and what are some examples of biblical faith?
3. What examples do we have for perseverance in faith?
4. Who is the same through all time?
5. What is to be the relationship between listening and speaking?

Feel free to share your questions and insights by leaving a comment.

Day 34: Hebrews 2-10

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What is the Sabbath rest for believers in Christ?
2. What is the advantage of having Jesus as our great high priest?
3. Who is Melchizadek?
4. Why doesn't our high priest have to make continued sacrifices?
5. What is the relationship between blood and sin?

Feel free to share your questions and insights.

Day 33: 1 Timothy 6 - Hebrews 1

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. Why is the behavior and treatment of widows of such concern?
2. What is the purpose of Scripture?
3. How is the writer of Timothy facing the end of his life?
4. What has Titus been commissioned to do?
5. Do you agree with the content of the guidelines for faithful living in Titus 2-3? Why?

Feel free to share your questions and comments.

Day 32: 1 Thessalonians 3 - 1 Timothy 5

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What comfort is offered regarding those who have died?
2. What armor does God provide for believers?
3. What instruction is given to those who wait for the Lord's return in idleness?
4. For whom are we to pray?
5. What guidelines are given for leaders of the church?

Feel free to share any questions or comments you might have.

Day 31: Philippians 2 - 1 Thessalonians 2

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. When are we to rejoice and to pray?
2. How is Christ described in Colossians 1?
3. What philosophies pose challenges to a Christian's faith?
4. Colossians 3 contains a table of duties - are they outdated?
5. Why does Paul thank God for the Thessalonians?

Feel free to share your questions and comments.

Day 30: Galatians 5 - Philippians 1

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What are the fruits of the Spirit?
2. What does it mean to say that we are saved by grace?
3. How are we to deal with our anger?
4. What instruction is given for the relationship of husbands and wives?
5. Why did Paul say he was in chains for Christ?

Feel free to share your questions and comments.

Day 29: 2 Corinthians 10-Galatians 4

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. Who does Paul call false apostles?
2. Why is Paul willing to boast of his weakness?
3. How can there be "another gospel"?
4. Why does Paul say that he has been crucified with Christ?
5. How does Paul describe our unity in Christ?

Please feel free to share your questions and comments.

Day 28: 1 Corinthians 16 - 2 Corinthians 9

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. How are we able to comfort others?
2. What is found where the Spirit of the Lord is?
3. What is the treasure in clay vessels?
4. What does it mean to be a new creation in Christ?
5. How can you be an ambassador for Christ?

Feel free to share your questions and comments.

Day 27: 1 Corinthians 10-15

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What is the problem with food offered to idols?
2. What are the limits of Christian freedom?
3. Why does Paul say that the meal that is shared is not the "Lord's Supper"?
4. List several spiritual gifts. Which is the greatest?
5. Why is it important for each person to use his or her gifts?

Feel free to share your questions and comments.

Day 26: 1 Corinthians 2-9

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What is the relationship of Paul and Apollos to the Corinthians?
2. Why does Paul consider himself a fool for Christ?
3. What errors does Paul find in the behavior of the Corinthians?
4. Why are we not "our own"?
5. Why does Paul recommend that people remain in their current status?

Feel free to share your questions and comments.

Day 25: Romans 11 - 1 Corinthians 1

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. How can you be a living sacrifice?
2. Why are we to be subject to governing authorities?
3. What is to be the relationship of our behavior to that of other believers?
4. Of what is Paul willing to boast regarding his work?
5. How is the message of the cross received?

Please feel free to share a comment or question on today's text.

Day 24: Romans 5-10

Sorry that this post is late getting up! Here are questions to consider for Day 24's text:

1. How are we justified (put right with God) and what is its benefit?
2. What is God's free gift?
3. Who/what will separate us from the love of Christ?
4. Who are the true descendants of Abraham and Isaac?
5. How are we to be saved?

Please feel free to share your questions and insights by leaving a comment.

Day 23: Acts 27-Romans 4

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text:

1. What happened to everyone who was onboard Paul's ship?
2. Why did the natives of Malta think that Paul was a god?
3. Where is Paul located at the end of the book of Acts?
4. How does Paul define the gospel?
5. What is the sign of a true Jew?

Please feel free to share your questions and insights by leaving a comment.

Day 22: Acts 21-26

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. Why was Paul arrested in the temple in Jerusalem?
2. To who does Paul appeal for protection and judgment?
3. How were the Jewish leaders going to do away with Paul?
4. What did Felix do to Paul?
5. Before what king does Paul appear? Who is with him?

Feel free to share your questions and insights by leaving a comment.

Day 21: Acts 16-20

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What do we know about Timothy's background?
2. Paul and Silas' chains were loosed. Why didn't they leave the prison?
3. When Paul enters any city where does he first go? Why?
4. How does Paul get around to telling about Jesus in Athens?
5. What caused the riot in Ephesus?

Feel free to share your questions or insights by leaving a comment.

Day 20: Acts 10-15

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What was the purpose of Peter's vision of the sheet full of food?
2. Where is the name Christian first used?
3. How did Peter get out of prison?
4. How were Barnabas and Saul set apart for mission?
5. Why do you think Saul's name is changed? What does it become?

Feel free to share your insights and questions by leaving a comment.

Day 19: Acts 5-9

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text:

1. Why did Ananias and Sapphira drop dead?
2. Why were 7 people chosen to serve?
3. What did Simon the magician ask?
4. What did the Ethiopian ask Philip to do?
5. What happened to Saul on the way to Damascus?

Feel free to share your questions and insights by leaving a comment.

Day 18: John 20-Acts 4

Sorry this is so late getting up! Anyway, here are today's questions:

1. What is the purpose of the book of John?
2. What are Jesus' instructions to Peter?
3. The beginning of Acts refers to a first book. It has the same name as the author of Acts. What is it?
4. Who replaced Judas and how was he chosen?
5. What happened on Pentecost?

Feel free to share your questions or insights by leaving a comment.

Day 17: John 15-19

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. Why is it to the disciples' advantage for Jesus to "go away"?
2. What is Jesus' parting gift to the disciples?
3. What does Jesus ask the Father for the disciples?
4. Who sliced the ear off of the slave of the high priest?
5. What words does Jesus say from the cross in John's gospel?

Feel free to share you questions and insights by leaving a comment.

Day 16: John 10-14

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What are the characteristics of the good shepherd?
2. Why does Jesus wait so long to go to Lazarus?
3. Why did the raising of Lazarus pose a problem?
4. What sign of servanthood does Jesus demonstrate?
5. What are some of the names or analogies Jesus gives himself in chapters 11-15?

Feel free to share you insights or questions by leaving a comment.

Day 15: John 6-9

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What did the boy offer the 5,000?
2. How does Jesus describe himself in relation to bread?
3. What flows out of the believer's heart?
4. How does Jesus respond to the woman caught in adultery?
5. Jesus says that his disciples know the truth. How and what will it do for them?

Feel free to share your questions and insights by leaving a comment.

Day 14: John 1-5

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. John's gospel begins with creation. Yet the same chapter includes the incarnation. What words does John use to describe the birth of Jesus?
2. What does John the Baptist call Jesus?
3. What is the first miracle that Jesus performs in the gospel of John?
4. The most famous verse of the Bible is found in John 3. Who and how much does God love?
5. What did Jesus ask the woman of Samaria? What did he offer?

Feel free to share your questions and insights by leaving a comment.

Day 13: Luke 20-24

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What do the Sadducees not believe?
2. When people are persecuted and brought before governing authorities what does it provide an opportunity for them to do?
3. How did the disciples know where to prepare the Passover?
4. What charge was brought against Jesus? Was he found guilty?
5. According to Luke, Jesus makes three statements from the cross. What are they?

Please feel free to share your questions and insights by leaving a comment.

Day 12: Luke 14-19

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What was the relationship of the rich man and Lazarus? Why did Jesus tell this story?
2. What made one of the ten lepers different?
3. What was the purpose of the parable of the widow and the unjust judge?
4. What was the difference between the Pharisee and the tax collector?
5. What did Zacchaeus offer to do when Jesus came to his house?

Please feel free to share any insights or questions by leaving a comment. God bless!

Day 11: Luke 10-13

Here are some questions to consider as you listen through today's text.

1. What provisions did the 70 take with them?
2. Much of Jesus' teaching on prayer is the same as Matthew 6. What is noticeably different?
3. What treasures are you storing for the future?
4. How does Jesus bring division to the world?
5. Who is invited into the kingdom?

Feel free to share any insights or questions you may have on the Scripture by leaving a comment.

Helpful Links

A comparison of the four gospels

A side by side comparison of what stories are where in the gospels

Day 10: Luke 5-9

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to the text today.

1. What jobs did the disciples hold before following Jesus?
2. How are Luke's beatitudes different from those in Matthew?
3. Who is likely to love the most?
4. Where do you fit in the parable of the sower?
5. How was the woman with the hemorrhage healed?

Feel free to share your questions and insights by leaving a comment.

Day 9: Luke 1-4

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's Scripture.

1. What circumstances surround the birth of John the Baptist?
2. Luke 2 contains the most familiar version of the birth of Jesus. What things did Mary have to ponder?
3. Who are the two people who were awaiting the birth of the Messiah?
4. What was the nature of John's baptism?
5. What are the three temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness? How does he respond to them?

Feel free to share your insights and questions by leaving a comment.

Day 8: Mark 12-16

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. What was the parable that Jesus told against the chief priests, scribes and the elders?
2. Who put the greatest offering into the temple treasury? How much was it?
3. What did Jesus say would not pass away?
4. Describe Jesus' betrayal.
5. Who was set free when Jesus was crucified? What crime did he commit?

Feel free to share your questions and insights by leaving a comment.

Day 7: Mark 7-11

Here are some questions to think about as you listen to today's Scripture.

1. How did the Syrophoenician woman challenge Jesus?
2. Why were the disciples worried about bread?
3. Peter had his mind on the wrong things. What were they?
4. Who was on the mountain with Jesus when he was transfigured?
5. Jesus has predicted the same things at least three times from chapters 8 to 10. What are they?

Feel free to share your insights and questions on today's text by leaving a comment.

Day 6: Mark 1-6

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's text.

1. How is the beginning of Mark different from the beginning of Matthew?
2. Who are Jesus' brothers and sisters?
3. Why does Jesus use parables?
4. Who can never have forgiveness? Why?
5. What did Jesus tell the man who was set free from the demons to do?

Please feel free to share your thoughts, insights, and questions by leaving a comment.

Day 5: Matthew 25-28

Here are some questions to consider as you listen to today's Scripture.

1. The parables of chapter 25 tell about preparedness. How shall we be ready for Jesus to come?
2. What is the content of Jesus' prayer in the garden?
3. Why was Jesus taken by the religious establishment to appear before Pilate?
4. Who carried the cross for Jesus?
5. What happened in Jerusalem when Jesus died?

Feel free to share you thoughts, questions, and insights on today's texts by leaving a comment. God bless!

Day 4: Matthew 19-24

Here are some questions to consider after listening to today's text. You can listen at http://www.fbc-elon.org.

1. Why are children so important?
2. What makes it hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God?
3. What is the point of the parable of the laborers in the vineyard?
4. Why did Jesus raise a ruckus in the temple?
5. What is the greatest commandment?

Feel free to share your questions, comments, and insights by leaving a comment on this post.

Day 3: Matthew 13-18

Here are some questions to consider after listening to today's readings. You can listen at http://www.fbc-elon.org

1. Chapter 13 is packed with "parables of the Kingdom". List several things the kingdom of heaven is like.
2. Why did Herod do away with John the Baptist?
3. When he was walking across the water, why did Peter begin to sink?
4. What kind of things defile (make unclean) a person?
5. Peter makes a great confession and then sticks his foot in his mouth. What did he say in each case?

Feel free to share your thoughts, comments, questions, and insights by leaving a comment below.

Day 2: Matthew 8-12

Here are some questions to reflect upon for today's listening. You can listen to these chapters at http://www.fbc-elon.org.

1. What requirements are made of those for whom Jesus performs miracles?
2. What work are the 12 sent out to perform?
3. Why should we not be afraid?
4. What is the message that Jesus sends to John the Baptist by way of John's disciples?
5. With whom does Jesus identify John the Baptist?

Feel free to share your thoughts, insights, and questions on today's text by commenting on this post.

Day 1: Matthew 1-7

Today begins "You've Got the Time!", a 40 day journey through the New Testament. You can listen to Matthew 1-7 using the media player on the front page of our website, http://www.fbc-elon.org.

After you listen, feel free to come and share any thoughts, insights, or questions that the text inspires.

Welcome to the journey!

Here are some questions to give you something to think about and/or respond to:
1. Chapter 1 is the famous "begat chapter". Why do you think that it was important for Matthew to include this genealogy?
2. What do you notice about Matthew's Christmas story that is different from what you are used to hearing?
3. One line that is frequently repeated throughout Matthew is "in order to fulfill what is written." To what audience would this be important?
4. What prompted Jesus to go into the wilderness following his baptism?
5. Chapter 5 begins the "Sermon on the Mount." What comments does Jesus make about the law?

You've Got the Time

Beginning February 17, our church will engage in a 40 day journey through the New Testament. We are encouraging everyone to take part in the "You've Got the Time" initiative, which challenges churches and individuals to listen through the New Testament over the course of 40 days. Resources will be available on the front page of our web site, www.fbc-elon.org, to make it easy for you to participate.

As we listen, we want to invite conversation about the Scriptures. Each day, a posting will be put here about that day's listening assignment. You are invited to share your thoughts and insights on that day's texts so that together we might discern how God is speaking through His word. Feel free to also leave your questions here so that others can be a help to you in understanding what you are hearing.