Living a Faith that Matters E-Book

Peter DeHaan

• Herausgeber: WS
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Serie: 40-Day Bible Study Series
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 89

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Unlock the power of the Bible and grow closer to Jesus with the life-changing 30-day devotional, Living a Faith that Matters. 

Discover fresh insights, application questions, and inspiring truths as you immerse yourself in selections from the cherished Dear Theophilus Bible Study Series. 

With this thought-provoking study from Peter DeHaan, beloved Christian author and founder of the A Bible a Day website, you will gain a broader understanding of how God's Word applies to your life today. 

Benefits from reading this book: 

 - Grow in your faith, finding answers to life's toughest questions, and experiencing a closer walk with the Lord. 

 - Feel inspired to live a faith that matters and gain a deeper understanding of the Bible. 

 - Enjoy practical, insightful, and encouraging truths. 

What's included in the book: 

 - 30 daily devotionals 

 - Fresh insights, application questions, and additional Bible references for each day's reading 

 - Relevant, applicable, and inspiring biblical teaching 

Don't miss out on this life-changing study. 

Get Living a Faith that Matters and be inspired to begin your faith journey today.

Leseprobe

LIVING A FAITH THAT MATTERS

A 30-DAY DEVOTIONAL ABOUT FOLLOWING JESUS AND IMPACTING OUR WORLD

40-DAY BIBLE STUDY SERIES

PETER DEHAAN

Living a Faith that Matters: A 30-DayDevotional about FollowingJesus and Impacting our World

Copyright © 2019-2023 by PeterDeHaan.

All rights reserved: No part of this book may be reproduced, disseminated, or transmitted in any form, by any means, or for any purpose without the express written consent of the author or his legal representatives. The only exceptions are brief excerpts, and the cover image, for reviews or academic research. For permissions: peterdehaan.com/contact.

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures taken from the HolyBible, NewInternationalVersion®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.comThe “NIV” and “NewInternationalVersion” are trademarks registered in the UnitedStatesPatent and TrademarkOffice by Biblica, Inc.™

Published by RockRoosterBooks, GrandRapids, Michigan

ISBN:

979-8-88809-049-7 (e-book)979-8-88809-068-8 (paperback)

Credits:

Copy editor: RobynMulderProofreader: JulieHarbisonCover design: CassidyWierksAuthor photo: ChelsieJensenPhotography

Selected readings from books 1 to 10 in the 40-DayBibleStudySeries:

DearTheophilus:copyright © 2019 by PeterDeHaanDearTheophilus:copyright © 2019 by PeterDeHaanDearTheophilus, Isaiah:copyright © 2020 by PeterDeHaanDearTheophilus, MinorProphets:copyright © 2020 by PeterDeHaanDearTheophilus, Job:copyright © 2020 by PeterDeHaanLivingWater: copyright © 2021 by PeterDeHaanLoveIsPatient: copyright © 2021 by PeterDeHaanANewHeaven and a NewEarth: copyright © 2022 by PeterDeHaanLoveOneAnother: copyright © 2023 by PeterDeHaanRun with Perseverance: copyright © 2023 by PeterDeHaan

To all who want to live a faith that matters

Books in the 40-DayBibleStudySeries:

DearTheophilus (the Gospel of Luke, formerly ThatYouMayKnow)DearTheophilus, Acts (formerly Tongues of Fire)DearTheophilus, Isaiah (formerly ForUntoUs)DearTheophilus, MinorProphets (formerly Return to Me)DearTheophilus, Job (formerly IHope in Him)LivingWater (John)LoveIsPatient(1 and 2 Corinthians)ANewHeaven and a NewEarth(Revelation)LoveOneAnother (1, 2, and 3 John)Run with Perseverance (Hebrews)

CONTENTS

Jesus and Living a Faith That Matters

Day 1: Jesus: The Word, the Life, and the Light

Day 2: A Child Is Born

Day 3: Celebrate Jesus

Day 4: Jesus and Justice

Day 5: Judgment or Mercy?

Day 6: Be Like Jesus

Day 7: Be like Jesus, Part 2

Day 8: Help Others

Day 9: Love Your Neighbor

Day 10: Love One Another

Day 11: Count the Cost of Following Jesus

Day 12: Prophecy Fulfilled

Day 13: Job Responds to Bildad

Day 14: Jonah’s Confession

Day 15: Bildad Provides Something to Consider

Day 16: Jesus Is the Way

Day 17: We Are on the Winning Side

Day 18: The Final Sacrifice

Day 19: Wait for It

Day 20: A New Covenant

Day 21: Confess Our Sins

Day 22: God’s New Creation

Day 23: Dealing with Theological Disagreements

Day 24: No Divisions

Day 25: Run with Perseverance

Day 26: Devoted to Jesus

Day 27: Holy Spirit Power

Day 28: The Revelation of Jesus

Day 29: The Alpha and Omega

Day 30: Coming Soon

The 40-Day Bible Study Series

For Small Groups, Sunday School, and Classes

If You’re New to the Bible

About Peter DeHaan

Books by Peter DeHaan

JESUS AND LIVING A FAITH THAT MATTERS

Jesus is the star of the Bible. TheOldTestament points to him and the NewTestament reveals him.

Jesus is also the theme for this collection of devotionals. They’re selected from the first ten books of the 40-DayBibleStudySeries, with three readings from each book.

Like the Bible, this 30-day devotional will point you to Jesus and tell you about him, all through the lens of Scripture. In doing so you can grow closer to him and be inspired to live a faith that matters.

May the HolySpirit speak to you as you read each day's meditation. As you do, may you love Jesus more fully and impact the world around you for his Father’s glory.

DAY 1: JESUS: THE WORD, THE LIFE, AND THE LIGHT

JOHN 1:1–14

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. (John 1:4)

The book of John opens with a most moving passage. It’s lyrical, it’s evocative, and it is exquisite.

In this poetic prelude of John’sGospel, he calls Jesus the Word, and asserts that the WordisGod. This means Jesus is God. While some people may think it’s an overreach to claim that the Word refers to Jesus, keep reading.

To remove all doubt, John later states that this Word becomes human to join us on earth. Jesus becomes a man to live among us. Jesus, as the Word, shows us his glory as the one and only Son from FatherGod. Jesus overflows with grace and abounds in truth. He is the Word sent to us from God.

We often assume the Word of God means Scripture. But remember that the NewTestament of the Bible didn’t exist until several centuries after Jesus’s death and resurrection. Because of this, we should consider God’sWord as his spokenWord, more so than his writtenWord. What if Jesus is more than the metaphorical Word? What if he serves as the actual Word of God? Yes, Jesus is the Word.

John also writes that in Jesus is life. Jesus is present when time begins and takes part in forming our existence. In fact, without Jesus, creation cannot occur. Physical life flows through Jesus at creation. In the same way, eternal life emanates through Jesus now. Jesus comes so we may have life and live with abundance (John 10:10). This theme of life recurs throughout the book of John, with his writing mentioning life in forty-one verses, more often than any other book in the Bible.

The life ofJesus, and the life throughJesus, gives us light. Just as the sun that Jesus created illuminates our physical world, the light that Jesus gives off now illuminates our spiritual world. This light shines for us in the darkness that surrounds us, exposing the evil in our world. Best of all, this light of Jesus overcomes the darkness, pushing it away. This means good is stronger than evil. God is more powerful than Satan. Hold on to this truth. Don’t forget it.

Jesus is the light. As the light—our true light—he comes into our world to save us. Though many do not recognize him or accept him, everyone who receives him and believes in his name become children of God, born of God.

Because of Jesus we’ve been born into the physical realm, and through our belief in him we are born a second time into the spiritual realm.

Take time to contemplate John’s profound opening to his biography, revealing Jesus as the Word, the life, and the light.

Do you recognize Jesus as Word, life, and light? Do you believe in him?

[Discover what else John says about the Word of God in 1 John 2:14, Revelation 1:1–2, Revelation 19:12–13, and Revelation 20:4.]

Today’s reading comes from LivingWater: 40 Reflections on Jesus’sLife and Love from the Gospel of John.

DAY 2: A CHILD IS BORN

ISAIAH 9

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called WonderfulCounselor, MightyGod, EverlastingFather, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

The book of Isaiah contains many prophecies that look forward to Jesus, the people’s promised and much-anticipated coming King. In what may be the best known of these prophecies, Isaiah gives us amazing and comforting characteristics about our future Savior, Jesus.

Isaiah starts by saying that Jesus will come as a child, God’s gift to us. FatherGod will send Jesus to us as an infant, who will grow up to become our supreme ruler for the rest of time.

ThoughIsaiah doesn’t specifically call him Jesus, the prophet does give us four other awesome names.

First, we’ll call him WonderfulCounselor. Though anyone can give advice, not all advice is good, and some is even bad. Not so with Jesus. His words will come forth as instructions of a most amazing nature, possessing a distinguished authority.

MightyGod emerges as a second title for Jesus. Yes, Jesus is God. Beyond being godlike, Jesus will possess all of God’s characteristics, including being almighty.

Jesus’s third title builds upon his second one: EverlastingFather. This is a bit confusing because if Jesus is God’sSon, how can he also be the Father? But remember that Jesus and the Father are one. What we see in one, we see in the other. However, let’s focus on the word everlasting. Jesus is eternal, transcending all time. He participated in creation, and we will celebrate him in the new heaven and new earth, which is to come.

The fourth name for Jesus is Prince of Peace. He will usher in an era of perpetual harmony, ruling with excellence for the rest of time.

Last, this child—Jesus, whom God will send—will grow up to rule us. As a descendant of KingDavid, Jesus’s government will have no end, for it will extend into eternity. And, unlike human rulers with their frailties, Jesus will oversee his people with perfect, flawless justice.

Jesus is more than our Savior. He is our eternal King, who will usher in peace and rule with perfect justice for all time without end.

Do we stand in astonished awe of who Jesus is and what he has accomplished and will accomplish?

[Discover more about Jesus’s characteristics in Luke 4:32, John 1:1–3, John 14:9, John 17:21, Revelation 21:23, and Revelation 22:16.]

Today’s reading comes from DearTheophilus, Isaiah