Opening the Word

Are you intimidated by trying to read and understand the Bible? Has it been “the book too special to touch”? Do you need to use the table of contents to look up a passage?

The Bible is a letter of love written to you and to me and we are breaking down those fears and barriers right here and now! Get your Bible out. Use the table of contents. Touch the pages. Write in it! Underline whatever stands out to you. Ask, “Holy Spirit please help me hear what you want me to hear and make it mean something to me!”

Click on the topics below to find passages to help you “take it personally!” We encourage you to read before and after the passage listed to get a feel for how the verse fits in with the story. Spend a moment on whatever gets your attention. Jesus is talking directly to you. Talk back. That is prayer.

1 Corinthians 14:33  “For our God is not a God of disorder but of peace.”

Isaiah 57:18  “I have seen their ways but I will heal them. I will lead them and repay them with comfort.”

2 Kings 20:5  “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you.”

Romans 12:2  “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Philippians 4:8-9  “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ………. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:19  “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:15-16  “Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.”

1 Corinthians 12:12-27  “One body, many parts…….”

Romans 12:4-6a  “For as in one body we have many members, and not every member has the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.  We have gifts that differ according to the grace that is given to us.”

God Loves You Personally

Jeremiah 1:5  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”

John 15:9  “As the Father has loved me so I have loved you.”

Isaiah 43:1  “I have called you by name and you are mine.”

Isaiah 43:4  “You are precious in my eyes”

John 14:18  “I will not leave you orphaned.”

Genesis 12:2a  “I will make you a great nation and bless you.”

Deuteronomy 11:22-25  “If you will….. Then the Lord will….. as He promised you.”

Exodus 3:12a  “I will be with you.”

Malachi 3:7  “Return to me and I will return to you.”

2 Kings 20:5  “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you.”

Genesis 28:15  “I am with you and I will watch over you wherever you go and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

John 14:1-3  “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God and believe also in me. In my father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may also be.”

John 14:18  “I will not leave you orphaned.”

Matthew 11:28  “Come to me all who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest.”

Isaiah 57:18  “I have seen their ways but I will heal them. I will lead them and repay them with comfort.”

Philippians 4:19  “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Joshua 1:9  “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Isaiah 58:9  “You shall call and the Lord will answer. You shall cry for help and He will say, ‘Here I am’.”

Nehemiah 1:7  “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble; He cares for those who trust in Him.”

Hosea 11:8  (God says) “How can I give you up …. my compassion grows warm and tender.”

Isaiah 57:18  “I have seen their ways but I will heal them. I will lead them and repay them with comfort.”

2 Kings 20:5  “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you.”

Philippians 3:13-14  “… but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.”

John 14:1-3  “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God and believe also in me. In my father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may also be.”

John 14:16-17  “And I will ask the father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you.”

Mark 10:27b  “For God all things are possible”

Jeremiah 31:17  “There is hope for your future, says the Lord” –

2 Kings 20:5  “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you.”

Romans 8 – the whole chapter!

Psalm 109:20  “But you O Lord my Lord, act on my behalf for your name’s sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me.”

John 14:15  “If you love me you will keep my commandments.”

Deuteronomy 11: 18-21  “ … teach them to your children…”

Hosea 11:8  (God says) “How can I give you up …. my compassion grows warm and tender.”

Jeremiah 31:17  “there is hope for your future, says the Lord; your children shall come back to their own country.”

Jeremiah 31:20  “Is Ephraim my dear son? The child I delight in? As often as I speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore I am deeply moved for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 14:33  “For our God is not a God of disorder but of peace.”

Philippians 4:8-9  “Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ………. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Psalm 109:5  “So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love.…….” 109:20-21 “May that be the reward of my accusers form the Lord, of those who speak evil against my life. But you O Lord my Lord, act on my behalf for your name’s sake: because your steadfast love is good, deliver me.”….

Philippians 3:12  “Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me His own.”

Philippians 4:1-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice……with thanksgiving let your requests be made known…………”

John 17   Jesus prays/pleads for his disciples and for us; very personal and encouraging. vs 20: “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word.”

Nehemiah 1:7  “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble,”

Joshua 1:9  “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Philippians 4:19 “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 56:9 “This I know, that God is on my side.”

Matthew 19:14  “Let the little children come to me”

2 Chronicles 20:15b  “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

Romans 12:19  “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God!”

Matthew 11:28   “Come to me all who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest.”

Philippians 4:5b-7  “The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.”

John 14:1-3  “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God and believe also in me.”

Philippians 4:19  “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”