Jonah 2

So we pick up in chapter two where we find our friend Jonah crying out to God from inside of a great fish. He finds himself in a time of arrest. A time where God has actually spared his life from the sea's waves, but still faces difficult choices to return to God. It is a time of repentance, and trust.

God sent this fish to spare Jonah's life, and not let him drown in the ocean. This gives us an idea of what it's like when God sees something in us that is jacked up. He will spare us and forgive us, but that doesn't mean things will immediately be easy again. God's judgment is far better than falling to the consequences of sin. Often, God's judgment is actually mercy, if you knew the consequence of sin.

So, as you read this chapter be reminded how God is with us through any situation, even when there is terrible stuff in us. He wants to cleanse and bring us to the point repentance, just as He did with Jonah. Also, sometimes God allows us to go through difficult times to let us know that he is serious about getting to us.

Take some time to examine yourself. Have you been dodging God because of the shame of something, or have you just been running away from who He wants you to be? Find out what boat you're on, cuz if it's the wrong one, you're probably gonna get tossed off.

-fonzi

Jonah 1

Because we finished the book of 1 Peter last week, it is time to start a new book. The book we chose is Jonah. Jonah is an Old Testament book and it is about a prophet that decided he didn't want to do what the Lord told him to do.

Chapter one sets up the story of Jonah and gives the book direction. This chapter also shows a calling from the Lord over Jonah and the direct disobedience of Jonah for God's will. This is an instance when not following God's will for your life not only affects you, but others around you.

While reading this passage, focus on how God can use a situation of disobedience for His glory. Notice the sailors reactions to their fear of the Lord and watch the outcome. After reading the passage pray and ask God to reveal an application for your life.

How is your submission affecting your life? Testimony? Relationships?

Are there areas of disobedience in your life that may be affecting others?

Do you see God using it for good regardless of you possibly not submitting?

-Aaron

1 Peter 5

This week is the final week of our study of 1 Peter. In many ways this chapter is one of the most applicable and important chapters in Peter. It can teach you things no matter where you are in your Christianity.

Allow God to speak through the simplicity of this chapter. Peter wrote things down in a very plain way so that everyone could understand them. I also encourage you to not assume that you fall into the follower section of this chapter. Some of you are leaders to more people than you know and you can learn from this chapter in multiple ways.

Since this is the last chapter in 1 Peter, you should reflect on the book as a whole. Even if you have to read through the whole book again I suggest you do so. Just by reading the few comments posted every week I can see that God is revealing new truths to you. I love all of you and I look forward to reading the comments that you post about this chapter.

- Stephen

1 Peter 4

This week we are reading 1 Peter 4. This chapter has a lot in it to digest so I suggest reading it more than once and meditating on what it says and how you can apply it to your own life. This chapter is generally split up into two sections, living for God and suffering for God.

Last week we learned how to apply scriptures to our lives that are not specifically written to us where we are at in life (i.e when Corey talked about marriage). This week I encourage you to apply that same principle when Peter talks about physically suffering for God.

In America we don't really know what other Christians around the world are going through because we don't suffer the same way they do. All of the same principles can still be applied in your own life. So even though you may not relate to the word 'suffering' the same way still apply what it talks about.

I look forward to reading all of the comments this week because the text is so full of principles and godly things. Just pray about what you are reading and what it could mean to others around the world that suffer differently than you do. Be sure to update us on what is on your mind.

- Stephen

1 Peter 3

These past few days people have been commenting on freedom and growth. On submission and about living rightly in the face of opposition. The ongoing conversation has been beautiful. In chapter 2 we read about how God has chosen His people to live lives of righteousness in a world lacking such a thing. We saw that proper authority should be submitted to and that hate is not the response for hate, but love is. Jesus lived this example.

This week we will be delving into the concepts of suffering and patience. Of inward focus and what is important inside instead of whats on the outside.

The first section of chapter 3 is usually skipped over by unmarried people due to the title of the section, in most bibles it's called "Husbands and Wives" Let me warn you that if you skip this section of text or simply read past it without giving it much thought or application to your own life then you are missing some intense biblical principal and an opportunity for God to speak to you.

There is a lot of depth to this text, all of it. Don't be fooled in any way by it's lack of wordage. The weight of it can be found if you let it sink in. Don't just read it but let it effect the way you think, let it sit into your heart for a while. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to apply it to yourself. Then share it with others and let us know what comes out of those interactions here. Go live, learn and share.

- Corey

1 Peter 2

Over the course of the last week we have been reading through the first chapter of 1st Peter. Peter writes to the believers who have been scattered and are without a place. He writes to them about hope and a better tomorrow filled with things that will not perish. A love that will last forever, things "more precious than gold" the scripture says.

Moving on in this next week we journey toward a new section in this text pointed toward growth and moving forward in our walk with Christ. When reading chapter two I'd like you to see where Peter speaks of how the Lord was rejected by men and yet chosen by God. There is also a parallel made in this chapter to people who are following the Lord being made into a spiritual house of living stone. Just as He is a living stone.

Again as you read, take notice to the concept of honoring authority so that God may be glorified. Doing good works is not for our own sake but for His.

There is so much to talk about in this chapter and we are so very eager for you to comment here and share your hearts but more importantly we want you to share your thoughts and beliefs with those around you in your life. Those who are also reading through this scripture. Challenge each other to think and talk about new ideas. Dig in with each other on this and share what comes out of it here by commenting on this blog. Again, we are eager to hear it.
- Corey

The Journey Begins...

We start in the book of 1st Peter.

In this first chapter we ask you to read it carefully, thoroughly searching for what's happening deep within the text. This text was not written to any one person or church, but as you read in the first two lines, it is written to all the believers who have been chased out and scattered after the death of Jesus.

As you read through this chapter imagine how it must have felt - Having a sense of community being so close to Jesus in one moment and then the next to be running for your life from persecution, fearing death at almost every turn.

Notice during this chapter how Peter speaks of concepts, like trials, joy and hope, and brings into the light the thought material things won't be with us forever. Some things, though, will be with us forever and it's those things that truly matter.

Keep this in your hearts this week as you continue to read and discuss this chapter with friends. Let these scriptures move you to meaningful thought and conversation. It's our desire and prayer that we all grow in our walk with Christ through this experience.