The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel Youth

Psalm 10:2–6, Matthew 13:3–8, Genesis 35:2–3 Jesus warns that although there is great *potential* in each of us, there are *pitfalls* ahead. How can you avoid the pitfalls and fulfil your potential?

Proverbs 2:1–5, Matthew 12:33–40, Genesis 32:24–31 How do you store up good things in your heart?

Psalm 9:16–18, Matthew 12:7–21, Genesis 31:6–7 Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, God is both just and merciful.

Psalm 9:7–10, Matthew 11:16–30, Genesis 30:22 If God is sovereign and ultimately in control, does that mean that you are absolved of responsibility for your actions? Does it mean that you do not have ‘free will’? The Bible teaches both – the ultimate sovereignty of God at the same time as human responsibility and free will.

Psalm 9:1–4, Matthew 10:32–42, Genesis 27:19–24 28:1–16 There are times in our own personal lives, church life and ministry when it feels like we are stuck and unable to move at any pace. At other times, openings begin to appear and it is ‘time to accelerate’. God is the God of acceleration. He is able to speed things up at a much faster rate than is humanly possible.

Proverbs 1:33, Matthew 10:1–31, Genesis 26:24 The expression ‘*do not be afraid*’ is one of the most frequent commands in the Bible. Four of the occurrences are in our passages for today.

Psalm 8:1–4, Matthew 9:18–38, Genesis 24:12–19 Success is a blessing from the Lord. Success is a good thing. However, the ministry of Jesus and the message of the Bible *redefine success*.

Psalm 7:10–17, Matthew 8:23–27; 9:1–13, Genesis 22:7–12 Life is not easy. Abraham, David and Jesus’ disciples all faced storms in their lives. What can we learn from their example?

Psalm 7:8–9, Matthew 7:24–29; 8:5–13, Genesis 19:23–29 Each of today’s passages tells us something about the fact that, in the end, *God will put things right*.

Proverbs 1:10–19, Matthew 6:33–34; 7:12, Genesis 17:1–16 In each of the three great challenges we see in today’s passages we need to remember that *nothing is too hard for the Lord*.

Psalm 6:9, Mathhew 5:44–47; 6:5–6, Genesis 15:1–6 You are blessed when you receive mercy and you are blessed when you are merciful to others.

Psalm 5:3–8, Matthew 5:22–42, Genesis 12:1–2 If you follow God’s directions for life, you will enjoy his blessing and bring blessing to others.

Psalm 4:6–8, Matthew 5:3–12, Genesis 11:1–9 God is the source of *all good things*.

Proverbs 1:1–5, Matthew 4:1–11, Genesis 7:23–24,8:1,9:1 Pastor Rick Warren says that he used to think that the Christian life was a succession of battles and blessings, whereas now he thinks of life as being on two tracks. At any given moment in life there are usually blessings, but also battles to face.

Psalm 3:3, Matthew 3:16–17, Genesis 5:23–24; 6:9 The Bible has a great deal to say about walking with God. It is how you were intended to live. God’s desire for you is that you *walk humbly* in a relationship with him (Micah 6:8). This is what Jesus has made possible – for you to *walk as Jesus did* (1 John 2:6).

Psalm 2:1–2, Matthew 2:1–2, Genesis 3:1 ‘What is your first question going to be?’

Psalm 1:1–3, Matthew 1:20–23, Genesis 1:27 The first three words in the Bible are, ‘In *the beginning*…’ (Genesis 1:1). Each of the passages for today tells us something about new beginnings and new opportunities, and suggests some possible New Year’s resolutions.

Psalm 150:1–6, Revelation 22:1–21, Nehemiah 13:22 We are *not* told *when* the end will come, but we *are* told about the *how* and the *who*. The key is the *who*. Jesus says, ‘I am… *the Beginning* and *the End*’ (Revelation 22:13).

Proverbs 31:25–31, Revelation 21:1–27, Nehemiah 12:43 The picture of the bride, the new Jerusalem, is prefigured in different ways in both our Old and New Testament passages.

Psalm 149:4–5, Revelation 2:1–12, Nehemiah 9:38;10:39 You will reign *with Christ*. What does this mean? Who reigns with him? When does this reign begin?

Psalm 148:11–14, Revelation 19:11–20, Nehemiah 9:6–28 Although the new covenant was different from the old one, both covenants come from God’s abounding love for you.

Psalm 148:1–2, Revelation 18:21–24,19:1–9, Nehemiah 8:3–6 The word ‘Hallelujah’ is an invitation to worship – it literally means ‘Praise (Hallal) the Lord’ (Yahweh). It occurs twenty-four times in the Old Testament (mainly in the Psalms) and it occurs four times in the New Testament – each of them in our passage for today.

Proverbs 31:10–20, Revelation 18:2–17, Nehemiah 5:1–12 How should you handle money? It matters to us and it matters to God.

Psalm 147:12–14, Revelation 17:3–14, Nehemiah 4:6 In each of today’s passages we see the blessings of following the ‘new born King’.

Psalm 147:1–11, Revelation 16:1–21, Nehemiah 1:3–6; 2:17–18 The change of heart and mind means not only turning *away* from the bad things, but also *turning towards God and good*.