Romans 2

Verse 4 reminds me how overly patient he is with us. He gives us so much time to repent which in turn will hopefully move me to open up with hidden sins and true change. God's justice will come.

Verse 12-16 implies that the gentiles who didn't follow or were familiar with Jewish law were actually following God's law better than Jewish believers. This was because the total summery of Moses/ Jewish law was to love God above everything else.

Prayer/response:
-love and fear God
- fear myself and what I'm capable of doing if I don't keep myself in check

Romans 1

Romans 1

I notice in V5 how Paul write that we didn't just receive "grace" but also "apostleship". This means that we have an an obligation/responsibility to share what we know and to abide by it. We may not all be called to be missionaries but a byproduct in believing in Him means that we must be our best representation of God we can be. This implies loving others, stewardship.

Acts 28

Acts 28

I've had a long day. Tafe in morning and work straight after, and completing homework. I'm tired and burnt out, it's 2am yet I'm thankful I still ended up reading my Bible despite needing sleep desperately. Finishing the book of Acts reminds me of the amazing credibility God has in not just his promises (whixh I've been reminded of consistent for the past week) but also his grace. Paul was powerfully changed, as well as the Jewish Christians when they broke down the barrier and prejudices agaisnt gentiles. Paul released his true loyalty when he was under pressure, how would I? There were so many situations in which he should have died and yet he didn't . If I'm involved in a bad situation, I should look for ways to make better use of my circumstances. There is always a time to glorify and serve God

Prayer/response:
- Thankyou Lord
- Thankyou Jesus
- Thankyou God

Glory be to you. Always and only

Acts 27

Acts 27

Didn't see a clear out message that sounds unique but I think the overarching theme is to trust in God. God promised Paul that he would preach in Rome and so he just trusted! He encouraged those around him and made clear that his authority and praise was God and not himself. When I'm in times of severe fear, do I still acknowledge God as my hope and strength? Do I accept that my life is not my own, even to the point in which my life is at risk? If I knew I would die slowly and struggling such as drowning, will I glorify God nonetheless.

Prayer/reflection:
- praise God every morning
- I resort to God in times of ease and struggle

Acts 26

Acts 26

Paul's a straight out gangster in this chapter. His message was offensive to Jewish pride and unbelievable to gentile. Paul reminds his audience that God's inheritance was available to everyone dating back to His covenant with Abraham. I think the most to take back from the chapter is Pauls reply to Aggripas sarcastic remark  v28-29 "Do you think in a short time you can pursuade me to be a Christian?" Paul replies "idk but I pray that everyone here could become like I am except for these chains." We see that Paul expresses deep concern for those around him. I hope that I can become at least to whatever Paul had that made him the great missionary in history.

Prayer/response
- seek God's glory,  not my own
- love others
- seek the spiritual needs of others over myself

Acts 25

Acts 25

There isn't really anything new to add since this seems to be a straight continuation of chapter 24 but I guess it's just a straight ass reminder on the faithfulness of God. Paul had an even more impressive audience of Roman officials and soldiers to hear Pauls testimony. My main prayer for the past 1.5years so far has been "Jesus, please let the people I love know you". Currently I've been having to look after 1st year uni students, people I really feel like an obligation to love. God has never directly informed me that my friends be saved like how he told Paul that he will go to Rome 100%. However, maybe just like the Roman officials Paul talked to, God expects me to lead and evangelise to other people first.

Prayer/response:
- accept where God has placed me
- love those I don't care for
- please stamp eternity on my eyeballs

Acts 24

Acts 24

Despite Paul being imprisoned he was utilising every opportunity he could to make Jesus known. Appearently this was proven effective as we find in verse 25 that Governer Felix was becoming concerned with his own eternity. This lasted for 2 years, this has to be the biggest ceebs. Felix self centredness cause Paul to be in prison for 2yrs without trial, I'd be infuriated and anxious at everything if this were to happen to me. How easy would it be for me to turn bitter instead of trusting in God? This might possibly be something that I need to work on, being patient and trusting in God even though He has answered many of my prayers.

Prayer/response:
- submit to God over my own understanding
- reflect on the prayers God has answered in my life

Acts 23

Acts 23

Paul's nephew is one of the Bibles unsung heroes. It's normal for me to overlook children or teenagers and expect the bare minimum from them but here we so something very different. God used a young person to save the greatest missionary in history, a no small feat. In my obersvation, God has placed high value in young people Samuel the Judge , King Josiah etc. They are our future and should be invested in. When attending SCY I was shocked to see Alice despite her young age acting in service, approaching those sitting by themselves, leading the pnw team

Prayer/response:
- keep praying for SCY
- Aspire towards Holiness

Acts 22

Acts 22

One of the reasons I want to go to Bible college is because I want to learn how I can he a better missionary. Throughout Pauls life I've noticed a common trend, he will always try his best to find common ground with his audience. With Jews he often recites their history to empathise God's promises of a Messaiah, and to the Greeks in Corinth he built a case for the one true God using examples they understand (17:22-23). In this case Paul related to the crowd who wanted to kill him by acknowledging their sincere motives, to stop the spread of what they believed was heresy and blasphemy. Paul didn't demonize or straight out verbally bash them but he always tried to be as considerate as while leading them to truth. This is what I believe every Christian should adapt their mindset to, basically Jordan Peterson lol.

Prayer/response:
- study more on Sikh faith to relate to my employees
- learn from Jayne Kwon and lg members
- love the SCY members by praying persistently for them and prepare for Christian leadership

Acts 21

Acts 21

Like Paul my desire to please God should over shadow my desire to be comfortable
I was reminded that the laws are of no value to salvation except to point out my sin
Paul was willing to compromise on non essential points in order to lead others to Christ. While I must remain firm in essentials such as the Five Solas but flexible on minor things such as discernment with drinking, smoking, investing in someone we might not particularly like etc.
Prayer/response:
- continue to labour in scriptures so I may discern according to Jesus mindset
- love God more than my securities

Acts 20

Acts 20

Here I see Christian fellowship in its healthy form. Intimate and Godly. I should continue to build up brothers and sisters in times of sorrow and rejoicing.

Since Cape Town training I've always been thinking about Acts 20:24. My biggest idol is belonging so I often feel worthless in Cheil. My church is a workforce for me, I'm not necessarily relaxed or comfortable around these sinless people. Love is not receptive here and so it's hard for me not to look back on what I gave up when I started this journey with Christ. But that singular verse obliterates all my entitlements and wants. There's a danger that is still present in my life, am I living for human approval or God's. I reflect on Pauls life and how effective he was, he didn't achieve these things because he loved this world but because he loved God in a single minded way. If I become close minded to everything outside of God then I wouldn't be troubled by petty problems.

Prayer/response:
- reflect on God's promises instead of suicidal fantasies
- love God
- love His people
- love the word

Acts 19

Acts 19

Verse 19: wow. When many of us become Christian it's often a slow process before we completely cut off everything for God. It sees to me that these sorcerers did everything they could to disassociate themselves from their pagan lifestyles. I hope my attitude can become more like this, showing that our limited time on earth has serious stakes and that serious measures are required

Prayer/response:
- be transformed by the renewing of my mind
- love God over love of security
- be a reflection of God to the high schoolers to model themselves afterwards

Acts 18

Aquila and Apollos were are people I would generally want to model my relationship after. I live in an age in which couples stay with each other for the sake of personal convinience and leisure, this couple however lived exclusively for God. I'm scared of not being able to spiritually lead my wife/girlfriend to Christ because of complacency. I want all my relationships to be used by God and our identify as a couple placed in Him. This is true whether I remain single or not

Acts 17

Acts 17

Verse 5-7: Jason encourages me to not seek acclamation from others. Because of his actions whether well known or not, Paul and Silas were able to continue ministering.

Verse 22-34: Paul's well educated background came in handy when it came to speaking to these philosophical people. Although passion is great, it is determination that leads us to actively learn and seek the gospel. Like Paul we must do as best we can to prepare ourselves for the questions of others. 

Prayer Points:
- Cheil to hold each other accountable in bible reading
- For us to hold God's favour as more important as each others.

Acts 16: 16 - 40

Acts 16: 16 - 40

There was empathise on the greedy and perverted world we live in today. This female slave was exploited by businessmen who didn't care for her state of mental or spiritual health. As a result of their greed they retaliated by imprisoning Paul and Silas, despite this unfairness these two missionaries rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer for God. This dedication really contrasted to me how valuable God is which is definitely had to influence the guard. I just think how many people would take research more into Jesus if we had more people laying our lives down for Him.

Prayer Point:
- meet up and talk with ppl in church i don't usually converse with
- christian (minnies bro) and sam (dangers mate) could be impacted by our camp 

Acts 16: 1-15

Acts 16: 1 - 15

Women must have been very oppressed back in the day (i'm assuming), however Lydia had decided not to victimise herself and independently create a successful cloth business. Despite her self reliance going so well she was still receptive to the gospel. There were so many reasons she could have rejected Jesus and His restrictive religion but she still believed and followed. This reminds me that I shouldn't be too intimidated to evangelise to those who seem like they don't want the gospel. Prayer. Prayer. Prayer.

Prayer Points:
- Rely on God in success and depression
- Remind myself and others that God is never out of reach for any single human being

Acts 15: 22-41

This is probably one of the most personal sections of the Bible for me. Understanding that the most important thing is the gospel being preached, everything else is trivial (some exceptions however since everything must be checked again't scripture). For the sake of the gospel we must submit our preconceived notions and distastes to get along and build up fellow believers. If I should learn about golf to start a relationship with a brother I must by all means do it. If I should watch stupid kdramas to get closer to a sister I should by all means try. If I should smoke with an outsider so I can get to know them I must by all means do it. 

1 Corinthians 9:22 NLT
When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 

Prayer Points:
- We may settle disputes prayerfully in accordance with scripture.
- Be loving to those whether they're like me or not
- Adapt my personality to suit those who could aren't receptive to mine 

Acts 15: 1 - 21

Acts 15

This is by far one of the most pivotable points in Christian history. In Galatians 3:24 Paul writes the the Jewish law was a guide to point out their sins so that could repent, the law doesn't save them but just keeps them in check. In the same way we have the bible to keep us in check, the consistent study and outward living it will never save us. Salvation alone does. This passage reminds me why I have an extreme distaste for christian culture (which in turn tends to become legalistic if not careful). We may forgot that we are Christians because of grace rather than character and so we should always make sure the gospel is available to everyone rather than restricting it. 

Prayer Points:
- we can come to love those who are not like us
- not be a depressive calvinist 24/7 and have a little joy in my life here and there
- lives to be changes at church camp

Acts 14

Acts 14
Stories like Acts 14 remind me why Paul is considered the great missionary in history. They really embodied Galatiand 2:20 because they recognised that glorifying God was so incomprehensibly important that everything they came across was regarded as trivial. I may never be stoned to the point of death and so I should use this privilige to strengthen and build up believers in Christ.

Acts 13

Verse 46
I should remember that if Cheil is to be the salt and light of Sydney we shouldn't just be hanging around with each other (even though that's good) but actively seeking those who don't know Jesus whether they're like us or not. Even though we might forever be labelled as an english speaking Korean congregation, we should never be complacent with our tradition conservative image. I think my point is that we can't sit around and just debate and anticipate, we need to do the labour God has given us if we want to contribute to the great commission which every Christian is called to.

Prayer Points:
-welcoming team to be welcoming off and on duty
-that i cater more to the more conservative and shy people at church
-that our current church leaders can leave EM ministry with confidence that we are living out God's calling effectively and scripturally 

Acts 12

Verse 2-11
Should always remember that God can do the impossible, things that we can never comprehend or logically measure. While miracles like this have never occurred in my life, I have the miracle of answered prayers. I'm know Jesus! He is all I should be content with.

Verse 20-23
In times of prosperity and persecution I should always test myself against scripture unless I start imitating King Herod Agrippa I. His story is a noticeable reminder on how serious pride is. Glory be to God alone. I'm due to buy a new laptop soon, praise God as he is the ultimate provider. Someone I might disciple might devote their life to God, praise God as it is only He who changes people.

Prayer Points:
-stay persistent in bible reading
-love others more
-remember that God can do the impossible and unexpected 

Acts 11

Verse 22-26

Elvis told me something that's hard to forget, "My belief in God is growing because of Cheil, you people are different." (This was before the incident). This is why i'm so zealous for newcomers. I'm so sick and tired of half assed church ppl i just want others to be discipled so they can disciple others. When others come to our church doors out of interest in the faith we should all imitate Barnabas. We should go to them, invest in them, live life with them in the hope that God through us strengthen their maturity, knowledge and faith. I'm salty that we still have a clique culture at Cheil but we've still improved nonetheless, I should acknowledge that more and just have patience in God for that.

Prayer Points:
- Not be complacent with simple greetings and small talk but actively nurture young believers and newcomers
- People at camp can come to know God

Acts 10: 24 - 48

To make Christ known we have to tell the story of Christ and empathise Him rather than ourselves. This is was Peter did and he succeeded.

I had a conversation with a friend just recently, he was claiming that if I came to his church and they prayed for me I would receive the holy spirit. Sounds retarded to me and I think this passage would back it up, maybe. I should do more research. Under my current understanding of scripture the Holy Spirit ascends upon us at conversion, not afterwards. 

Prayer Points:
-we would move aside our prejudice and live the gospel in uncomfortable situations
-Would empathise Jesus and what he has done rather than myself. Keep the focus on myself as a minimum