A Chapter a Day w/ Connie St. John

Such a hard book to read – there’s so much punishment. God is not playing about this! Verse 7: “The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired person a maniac.” -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music pro...

Chapters 7 and 8 talk about the whirlwind [of punishment] that Israel is going to reap. Ch. 7, v. 16: “They do not turn to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of their insolent words. For this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.” Ch. 8, v. 11: “Though Ephraim built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning.” ---...

Israel is still unrepentant in chapter 6. They talk about turning to the Lord so that he will heal them, but not because their hearts have been changed. Verse 4: “What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.” -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by htt...

More punishment and judgment against Israel in this chapter. Verse 6: “When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them.” So many warnings. Why must we be so hard-headed? -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY...

Hard lessons and important reminders. Verse 6: “…my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.” -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Common...

In chapter 3, God instructs Hosea to reconcile with his wife. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod | https://incompetech.com/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commo...

God talks about what Israel’s punishment will be, but promises that one day He will respond and restore Israel. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod | https://incompetech.com/  Music promoted by http...

This is an interesting book of the Bible. In it, God instructs Hosea to marry a prostitute as an illustration for how Israel has perverted itself and become unfaithful.  Verse 2: “When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, the Lord said to him, ‘Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the Lord.’” -----  Corpora...

Paul asks that the believers set aside a certain amount of money to help other believers who come through. Such selfless acts were common at this time. Many churches continue this practice, thank goodness. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/l...

Powerful verse 45 in this chapter about resurrection: “So it is written: ‘The first man Adam became a living being,’ the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.’” -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod | http...

This chapter talks about how and when to speak in tongues during worship service. It’s interesting that some faiths don’t believe speaking in tongues is allowed. Others believe if you don’t speak in tongues, you’re not a true believer. This chapter doesn’t say either of those things. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic...

One of the most quoted chapters – even among unbelievers – in 1 Corinthians is chapter 13. Verses 4-8: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always h...

One of my favorite concepts is found in this chapter. Verse 4 says, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.” Verse 21 says, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ An the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’” All of our gifts and talents are different, and all are needed – especially while we’re on this earth. -----  Corporate Soft by Les...

Chapter 11 is a powerful reminder of how we should take communion. We need to examine ourselves first. We should also be mindful of participating in the Lord’s Supper with our own private suppers. “As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk.” (v.21) -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/...

In chapter 10, Paul reminds the believers of Israel’s history. Again, he explains the cost of freedom. Verse 23 says, “‘I have the right do anything,’ you say – but not everything is beneficial. ‘I have the right to do anything’ – but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.” -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-mu...

One of my favorite scriptures is found in this chapter. Verse 24 says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” Paul is writing about people who are judging him and his every action – what he says, what he eats, how he serves. His goal is not to offend anyone and not to cause anyone to stumble, even as he acknowledges...

This chapter discusses food sacrificed to idols. In verses 8 and 9, it says: “But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do. Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.” We can eat what we want, but if what we eat (or do) causes another to stumble, then we need to not do it! -----  Corporate...

Chapter 7 reminds us how we are to behave in marriage. It also shares in verses 8 and 9: “Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.” -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://ww...

Chapter 6 tells us how we are to handle disputes among believers. We’ve gotten so far away from this. “The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already…” (verse 7) -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.o...

In chapter 5, verses 12 and 13 say this: "What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. 'Expel the wicked man from among you.'" -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.o...

“ ‘Do not go beyond what is written.’ Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.” This chapter reminds us not to grow arrogant as believers just because we learn more and more about Christ. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 ...

This is the chapter that reminds us not to follow “men,” but follow Jesus. We shouldn’t brag about which pastor or apostle we follow. God is our foundation.  “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 3:11) -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Cre...

In chapter 2, Paul teaches that God’s wisdom is revealed by the Spirit. God reveals to believers “what no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived.” -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  Soverei...

We are starting the month with 1 Corinthians.  In chapter 1, Paul reminds the people of Corinth not to argue with each other. Some are saying, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Jesus."  Instead, all should be following Jesus Christ. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Co...

We end the book of 1 Samuel with chapter 31, where Saul and his army are overcome by the Philistines, and Saul takes his own life. -----  Corporate Soft by LesFM | https://lesfm.net/positive-background-music/  Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/  Creative Commons CC BY 3.0  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/  Sovereign by Kevin MacLeod | https://incompetech.com/  Mus...