The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel Express

Psalm 77:11–20, Acts 15:22–40, 1 Kings 11:34–39 The Bible is very realistic. We see examples of relationships at their very best, but we also see examples of their frailty and failure. Through these examples and the teaching of the Bible we see three keys.

Psalm 77:1–8, Acts 15:1–17, 1 Kings 11:1–4 As you go through difficult times staying close to Jesus, you will emerge stronger, wiser and more Christ-like.

Proverbs 15:11–13, Acts 14:8–27, 1 Kings 8:23–61 Only God sees and knows the heart of every human being.

Psalm 76:1–2, Acts 13:42–52; 14:1–3, 1 Kings 8:6–13 Each of the passages for today tells us something about how to enjoy God’s empowering presence that comes through the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 75:3–10, Acts 13:26–39, 1 Kings 6:38 The Bible is full of inexhaustible treasure *for you* to read and digest, and through which *you* can encounter God.

Psalm 74:18–22, Acts 12:21–24; 13:1–12; 2 Samuel 4:29–34 John Wimber often used to say that we all need three conversions: to be converted to Christ, converted to his church and converted to his cause. Today’s passages focus especially on this third conversion.

Proverbs 15:1–9, Acts 11:20–26; 12:1–17, 2 Kings 3:5–14 Your words can transform lives.

Psalm 74:12–17, Acts 10:25–47; 11:1–18, 2 Kings 1:32–34; 2:1–3 The most wonderful privilege any human being can have is to be a follower of Jesus of Nazareth whom ‘God anointed… with the Holy Spirit and power’.

Psalm 74:1–9, Acts 9:34–42; 10:1–16, 2 Samuel 24:10–25 How should you respond when you don’t understand God?

Psalm 73:23–28, Acts 9:1–31, 2 Samuel 22:2–20 Jesus is the one who rescues you and brings you into ‘a spacious place’ (2 Samuel 22:20).

Proverbs 14:25–34, Acts 8:4–35, 2 Samuel 21:1 How can the *spiritual* climate of your nation be changed?

Psalm 73:1–14, Acts 7:44–60, 2 Samuel 18:33; 19:5–8 It is not just about changing our actions or appearance; we need to change on the inside – we need a change of *heart*.

Psalm 72:1–17, Acts 7:20–38, 2 Samuel 17:1–14 In all the circumstances of your life and the events going on around you, you can trust in the providence of God.

Psalm 71:19–23, Acts 6:8–15; 7:1–10, 2 Samuel 15:13–30; 16:5–14 As Matheson’s hymn beautifully articulates, *troubles do not have the last word*.

Proverbs 14:15–22, Acts 5:12–42, 2 Samuel 14:1–22; 15:5–6 Disloyalty destroys families, churches, businesses, political parties and even nations.

Psalm 71:13–18, Acts 4:23–35; 5:1–5, 2 Samuel 13:12 The reality of right and wrong are very clear in today’s passages and there are stark contrasts between the two.

Psalm 71:1–6, Acts 4:1–20, 2 Samuel 11:26–27; 12:1–7 This is the challenge of life.

Psalm 70:1–5, Acts 3:1–19, 2 Samuel 9:3–7 When kindness is expressed, healthy relationships are created, community connections are nourished and people are inspired to pass on kindness.

Proverbs 14:9–14, Acts 2:22–47, 2 Samuel 7:18–29; 8:14 The ultimate victory of God came with the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus and the outpouring of his Spirit who gives you power to live a life of victory.

Psalm 69:29–35, Acts 2:1–21, 2 Samuel 5:9–24; 6:5–22 In today’s passages we hear other sounds going to and from heaven.

Psalm 69:13–17, Acts 1:3–22, 2 Samuel 3:39 Even your weakness is anointed.

Psalm 69:9, John 21:4–19, 1 Samuel 2:26 Perhaps a good modern translation of the word ‘zeal’ is ‘crazy love’.

Proverbs 13:20; 14:2–3, John 20:11–28, 2 Samuel 1:12–14; 2:1 There are many blessings to living in Western Europe in the twenty-first century. However, we live in a society in which respect, awe and reverence do not seem to be as valued as they once were.

Psalm 68:28–35, John 19:30–37; 20:1–10, 1 Samuel 30:6 God has given you full access to his *endless* *energy* through Jesus’ resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 68:24–26,John 19:1–22,1 Samuel 26:23–25; 27:1–12; 28:5–19 What seemed to the world to be the ultimate defeat was in fact the ultimate triumph.