Contemplative Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 9:16 (New Living Translation) Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! Paul is writing about preaching and being paid and other forms of compensation for preaching. Paul concludes that […]

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1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (New Living Translation) 10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. […]

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Luke 24:13-17 (New Living Translation) 13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 […]

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Acts 2:37 (New International Version 2011) When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” This verse comes from the Day of Pentecost. Peter is preaching what some call the first sermon. This is the critical point in any attempt […]

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James 4:8 (New International Version 2011) Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Notice the three things the writer encourages the reader to do: come near to God wash your hands purify your hearts How did wash your hands make […]

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Galatians 2:4 (four different translations) New Living Translation: Even that question came up only because of some so-called Christians there—false ones, really —who were secretly brought in. They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to enslave us and force us to follow their […]

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Romans 14:17 (New International Version 2011) For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, Items of major importance: righteousness peace joy in the Holy Spirit Items of minor importance: eating drinking Let’s move on.

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Romans 13:13 (New International Version 2011) Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. This is a bad list, but what is the last one doing there? Is jealousy as bad as these others in the list? What is […]

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Ephesians 3:20-21 (New International Version 2011) 20 Now to him (God the Father) who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! […]

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Acts 26:1-3 (New International Version 2011) 1 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and […]

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