Video - Reading The Bible With Understanding

Why can't I do this? Because I am too lazy to really saturate myself with God's Word. Watch this guy recite Hebrews 9-10 from memory giving it sense. It's like watching Paul (or Apollos) preach.



HT: barwal1 on Stumble

How Suffering Glorifies God - a Fighter Verse meditation on 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV

How can he say that?
How can he look at his bruises and say, “light weight.”
How can he count his scars and say, “temporary.”
How can he watch his own body waste away and say, “glory!”

Paul piles on contrast after contrast:
• light – weighty
• momentary – eternal
• affliction – glory
• seen – unseen
• transient – eternal

But his language is still too weak for the glory to come is ‘beyond all comparison.’ These powerful words can’t begin to describe what God is preparing.

But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"— 1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV

The glory of God is being revealed and it makes everything else look small.
Persecutions (v.9) – light weight
Beatings (v.9) – momentary and quick to pass
Death (v.10-11) – transient like a blink of the eye

How can he say that?

so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:13b-15 ESV

So meditate and pray and memorize this verse with your heart fixed on the glory that will be revealed.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV

Read this post to learn more about Fighter Verses.

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Don't leave home without it - some help using Fighter Verses

Bethlehem Baptist Church has a unique and very helpful Bible memory program. The whole church works together on one "Fighter Verse" each week. They have several free resources on their website about these. They also sell the program to use in your church. If you don't have a plan to meditate and memorize scripture then "Fighter Verses" are a great place to start. Here is a clip from their website:

What Are Fighter Verses?
Fighter Verses are short passages of Scripture which we as a church have chosen to memorize each week. The Scripture, day after day, reveals to us the greatness of all that God is for us in Christ so that by the power of the Spirit we find our joy in him and the ways of sin become distasteful -- indeed ugly and repugnant.

I want to encourage parents to use this system both personally and with their family. The verse selection is perfect for family worship, God-centered teaching moments in the car or any opportunity to point your children toward Christ. I'm adding the Fighter Verse feed to my sidebar and children's ministry aggregator.

I would be interested to know if people outside of Bethlehem are using this program. Just leave a comment and let me know. I use some at my church but we have not instituted a church wide program yet. I do want to start using Fighter Verses consistently with my family.

Next week I will begin a regular post explaining and offering a short devotion on the new fighter verse. So be sure to subscribe to "Will The Next Generation Treasure Christ?" by email. This will deliver all our new content directly to your inbox.