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Going deeper...to go further

Daily Bible reading strengthens our relationship with God, nourishes our spirits and equips us to live a fruitful, effective life for Him.

This month we're reading scriptures about the Church living as a missional community. God's people are called, formed and sent to participate in His mission in the world. Each day includes an Old Testament reading, a New Testament reading, a question for reflection and a daily prayer. As we read the Word it’s important that we apply what we read and pray it out over our lives. One of the way you can do this is by using the acronym SOAP. To find out more about SOAP watch this video.

Below you’ll see what we’re reading today. To go forward or back a day in our reading plan use the 'Next' and 'Previous' buttons.

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Day 22 – A Church That Multiplies

Reflect: “Mission involves being sent and sending others. How can our church become a community that continually releases people into God’s mission?”

Habakkuk 2:14

14For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Acts 13:1-14:4

Acts 131There were a number of prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch: Simon known as the black man, Lucius from Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod Antipas) and Saul.2On one occasion, while they were worshipping together during a time of fasting, the Holy Spirit told them: "You are to consecrate Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."3So after a further time of fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them on their way.4Knowing they were commissioned by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went to Seleucia from where they sailed to Cyprus.5They preached God's Word in the synagogues when they arrived at Seleucia. (John Mark had accompanied them as their assistant).Governor of Paphos believes6They then travelled throughout the island until they reached Paphos. There they encountered a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet called Bar-Jesus.7He was an associate of the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. He sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear God's Word for himself.8But Elymas the sorcerer (for this is what his name means in Greek) opposed what they said and tried to dissuade the governor from believing.9-10Then Saul, who was becoming known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas and said: "You child of the devil, you are an enemy of the truth and all that is right. You are full of deceit and falsehood. Will you never stop perverting the Lord's revelation of the truth?11Now the Lord's hand is against you and you will be struck blind and unable to see anything for a time. "Immediately mist and darkness fell on him. He stumbled around pleading for someone to take his hand and guide him.12When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer and was amazed at what he was taught about the Lord.Paul preaches in Pisidian Antioch13Paul and his companions sailed from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia, where John Mark left them to return to Jerusalem.14From Perga they travelled to Pisidian Antioch and attended the synagogue service there on the Sabbath.15After the readings from the law and the prophets, the leaders sent them word saying: "Brothers, please speak to us if you have a message of encouragement for the people."16So Paul stood and motioned with his hand for the people to be quiet: "People of Israel and those of you from other nations who worship God, listen to me," he began.17"Israel's God chose our forefathers and caused them to prosper during their time in Egypt. Then He led them out of that country with a display of His mighty power.18Then He endured their rebellious conduct in the wilderness for about forty years.19He conquered seven nations in Canaan and gave His own people their land as their inheritance. All this activity covered a period of about four hundred and fifty years.20"Then God gave them leaders known as judges until the time of the prophet, Samuel.21It was then that the people demanded to have a king to rule over them, and He gave them Saul, the son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, and he reigned for forty years.22After his death, He made David their king, saying of him: 'I have made David, son of Jesse, a man after My own heart. He will accomplish all I want him to do.'23"From David's descendants God has given Israel the Saviour He promised, Jesus.24But before His ministry began, John preached that all the people of Israel needed to repent of their sins and be baptised.25While John was fulfilling his mandate he asked, 'Who do you believe I am? I am not the Christ, the Messiah. No, He is coming after me and I am not worthy even to do the work of a slave for Him!'26"Brothers, you children of Abraham and those of other nations who fear God, we have been given this message of salvation; the Saviour was sent to us.27But the people of Jerusalem and their rulers failed to recognise Jesus as their Saviour, as the Christ, and in condemning Him fulfilled the prophetic words that are read every Sabbath.28Despite the fact that they could not find Him guilty of any crime worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have Him crucified.29"When they had fulfilled the words written about Him in the scriptures, they took Him down from the cross and laid His body in a tomb.30-31Yet God raised Him from the dead and, over a period of many days, He was seen in His risen body by those who had come with Him to Jerusalem from Galilee. They are now witnesses of His resurrection to our people.32-33"We proclaim to you this good news: What God promised our forefathers, He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus. God says of Him in the second Psalm, 'You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.'34-35The truth that God raised Him from the dead so that His body would never decay, is expressed in these words: 'I will give You the holy and certain blessings I promised to David,' and elsewhere, 'You will not allow Your Holy One to decay.'36"When David had fulfilled God's purpose for him in his generation he died, was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.37But He whom God raised from the dead has not suffered any decay!38"Therefore I want you to know, brothers, that through Jesus you can receive forgiveness of all your sins. This is what we proclaim to you.39Through faith in Jesus everyone who believes is made acceptable to God, and is brought into a right relationship with Him. No one could achieve such acceptance through the law given to Moses.40-41So make certain that what the prophets said does not apply to you, 'Understand, those of you who scoff at the truth; you will perish, for I am going to do something in your day that is so wonderful you would never believe it, even if someone revealed it to you.'"42Paul and Barnabas were about to leave the synagogue when the people asked them to explain these things further on the following Sabbath.43After the service many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked further with them and urged them to continue to live in God's grace, in the good of all He gives.The gospel spreads despite opposition44It seemed that the whole city had come together on the following Sabbath to hear the Word of the Lord.45But when the Jewish leaders saw the crowds had gathered around Paul and Barnabas they were filled with jealousy and spoke aggressively against Paul's teaching.46-47Then Paul and Barnabas answered their allegations boldly: "We had to speak God's Word to you first. As you choose to reject it then, clearly, you do not consider yourselves worthy of receiving eternal life. So now we will turn to the other nations, for the Lord has commanded through the prophet Isaiah: 'I have made you a light to the Gentile nations, that you might take the message of salvation to every part of the earth.'"48When the Gentiles present heard this, they were really pleased and decided to obey the Word of the Lord. And all those chosen by God for eternal life believed!49So the gospel then spread throughout the whole region.50However, the Jewish leaders initiated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas by stirring up women of influence who were faithful to their religion, and also the leading men in the city. They expelled Paul and Barnabas from that region.51So they shook the dust of that place from their feet as a sign against their rejection of the truth and then travelled to Iconium.52Yet all who became disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.Paul and Barnabas speak boldly in IconiumActs 141At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went together to the Jewish synagogue, where they spoke so powerfully that a great number believed, both Jews and Gentiles.2But those Jews who rejected their message and refused to believe stirred up opposition among the Gentiles by slandering Paul and Barnabas.3Even so, they spent some time there and continued to preach boldly for the Lord, who endorsed their message of His grace by empowering them to perform miraculous signs and wonders.4The city population was divided; some supported the apostles, others sided with the Jewish opposition.

Acts 14:21-28

21-22There a large number became disciples in response to their preaching. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch where they strengthened the believers, encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must persevere through many trials and hardships to inherit God's Kingdom," they told them.Apostles appointed elders23Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for each church. They prayed for them after a time of fasting, entrusting them to the Lord in whom they believed.24Then, passing through Pisidia, they arrived in Pamphylia.25-26They preached God's Word in Perga before moving on to Attalia, from where they sailed back to Antioch, the city where they had been entrusted to God's grace for the work they had now completed.27So when they arrived there they called the church together, reporting all that God had accomplished through them and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.28Then they stayed with the disciples in Antioch for a prolonged time.

Thank you Jesus, that You make us a people who know and live in Your love, proclaim Your good news, welcome the stranger, serve our neighbours and participate together in Your mission. Show us those You are reaching, and give us eyes to see, ears to hear, courage to respond and love for the people around us.

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