Week of April 9, 2023
Peace invites you to do regular Bible reading as an essential practice in feeding your faith. Beginning with Easter through Pentecost 2023, we will be focusing our attention on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. It is through the Spirit that we can “Expect Life.” As well as daily Scripture readings, you’ll find questions for further thought, clarity, and application. Twice each week, staff will offer comments (or at least that’s the plan 😊). Join us!
Breath
Both the Hebrew (ruach) and Greek (pneuma) words for the Spirit carry with them multiple meanings. Depending on the context, these words will be translated as breath (ultimately more than just an air exchange, but signifying life), or wind (a powerful and often unpredictable force), or “spirit” (which could be the human spirit or the Spirit of God). The Holy Spirit breathed physical life into humanity at creation and continues to breath in us new spiritual life in his new creation by connecting us with Jesus.
April 10 Genesis 1:1-2, 26-27, 30; 2:7
The opening chapters of Genesis portray the Spirit of God in the work of creation. What does the divine “Breath” bring about at creation? What connection might there be between being created in God’s image and especially having God breath into us the “breath of life”? An old kid’s song reads, “Every move I make, I make in you You make me move, (Jesus) Every breath I take I breath in you Every step I take, I take in you You are my way (Jesus) Every breath I take I breath in you.” How could awareness of these simply lyrics change your daily life?
April 11 Ezekiel 37:1-14
In a vision, the prophet Ezekiel is brought into a valley full of dry bones. What are ways that dry bones represented the spiritual state of ancient Israel and that of the modern world today? What does God do with the dry bones? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing spiritual life out of death?
April 12 John 3:3-8
This teaching of Jesus is where we get the phrase “born again” or as it could be translated “born anew.” What does Jesus mean by the idea of a second birth? Who is responsible for the new birth? How is that new birth brought about it? If you’re a Christian, how was the new birth brought about in your life?
April 13 Romans 8:5-11
This is a passage of contrast. What does the sinful nature bring to us? What does the Holy Spirit provide? How do you experience the presence of the Holy Spirit living in you? What does it mean that the Spirit gives you life?
April 14 Ephesians 2:1-10
Another passage of contrasts. What characterizes being part of the “living dead”? What has allowed us to come back to life? (see vs. 4-5, 8) What do you think the Apostle Paul means when he states that we have been “raised up” with Jesus? How do we enjoy “heavenly life” now? What do we have to wait for? In the meantime, what are we to do? (see v.10)
