Capitol Bible Study: "The Word on Trials & Affliction"

From this week's Bible study at the West Virginia State Capitol:

"We must point out that for the unbeliever trials and affliction are but a sign of God’s punishment, judgment and wrath upon their life. The child of God, however, is never “punished” for sin. That punishment was taken by Jesus Christ when he suffered and died upon the cross. We no longer stand before God as our judge but rather as our Heavenly Father who lovingly corrects and disciplines us in order to make us more like Christ. As believers, God corrects us in love, not punishes us in anger."

Download the complete study here.

Capitol Bible Study: "Better than Gold: The True Value of God's Word"

From this week's Bible study in the West Virginia State Capitol:

"This appraisal of God’s Word as more valuable than earthly riches has three powerful implications for us. If we have earthly wealth, it should draw our hearts from it to better things. If we desire earthly wealth, it should encourage us to find contentment in godliness and those things that really matter. And, if we lose earthly wealth, we know when we have Christ we still have that which is better and really matters."

Download the entire study here.

Capitol Bible Study: "Shining the Light of God's Word in the Capitol"

This week's Capitol Bible study:

The world in which we live is a dangerous and treacherous place. Without a guide to give us clear and sure direction, we are bound to fall into any number of life’s pitfalls that confront us. It is this guidance and direction of which Psalm 119:105 speaks:

Your Word is lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.

How can make sure we use God’s Word as a lamp and a light for our lives? How do we “shine the light of God’s Word” on our lives and in the capitol?

Download the complete study.

Capitol Bible Study: "Hungering for the Word of God"

From our latest capitol Bible study on Psalm 119:103:

How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

"We all have passions for various things in our lives. Some have a passion for their job and career into which they pour much of their efforts and energy. Some have a passion for an activity or hobby and spend a great deal of time and money in those pursuits. Some have a passion for a college or professional athletic team which they exhibit by attending games and cheering them on faithfully during the season. We find that the writer of Psalm 119 had a tremendous passion for God’s Word, which he demonstrated in penning for us this wonderful passage. This chapter is in fact a wonderful poem or song expressing the writer’s passion for God’s Word. Consequently he uses some vivid, poetic language to describe the Scriptures. Consider some of the eloquent, meaningful poetic figures he uses:

How sweet are Your words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (:103)

Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path. (:105)

Therefore I love Your commandments
Above gold, yes, above fine gold. (:127)

"We can learn much about the Word of God and the attitude we should have towards it by studying these wonderful images. In our next studies we will look at these more closely, beginning with considering the Scriptures as 'sweeter than honey'."

Download the complete Study on Psalm 119:103

Previous capitol Bible Studies from Psalm 119:

Treasuring God's Word

Finding True Blessing in the Capitol - Psalm 119:1-2

Pray for the Will Smith Family and the California Capitol Community

Will Smith, chief of staff to California State Senator George Runner, died Monday night after he collapsed while playing basketball. He was 41. He was a committed believer and follower of Christ.

Smith is survived by his wife Anissa and four children; Lydia, Joshua, Julia and Caleb.

"We are devastated but we rejoice knowing that Will is home with Jesus at this very moment," Anissa Smith said in a written statement. "He lived his life on earth for Christ and now he will spend his eternity with Him."

Pray for Will's family as they deal with this tragic loss.

Pray for our State Director in California, Frank Erb, as he has opportunities to minister to the California capitol community.

Pray that God will use Will's testimony and his death to work in the hearts of leaders and colleagues in Sacramento.

Sacramento Bee Article

Capitol Commission Update: Pray for Our Ministry During the Regular Session

“We rightfully treasure the founding documents of our nation. The Declaration of Independence by which our country was founded and the constitutions by which our nation and state are governed are highly valued and esteemed. Students memorize their content. Scholars study and teach their meaning. Attorneys pour over potential legislation to assure its agreement. Judges interpret and apply their principles to our current affairs and situations. These documents are vitally important to the history and current life of our nation.

“The Bible is also a document that has been highly treasured in our nation’s history. While our founding documents are indeed vital to the governing of our country, God’s Word has even greater importance for each of us as it reveals the very nature of God and what is required of those who would be right with Him. The vital importance of God’s Word is the main reason we seek to hold regular Bible studies in the Capitol. This year we will be considering a passage of Scripture that clearly shares the infinite value of God’s Word – Psalm 119. This chapter, the longest in the Bible, is wholly dedicated to the Word of God and its vital role in the believer’s life.”

This is the introduction to our first Bible study of the 2010 legislative session which begins this week. We will be holding at least two studies each week for all those serving in the capitol community:

• Lobbyists & Staff: Tuesdays at 12:00 noon (beginning January 12)



• Legislators & Elected Officials Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. (beginning January 14)

How can you pray for our leaders and for our ministry to them during this important time? As we study Psalm 119 we see an important prayer repeated often throughout the chapter – a prayer for God to grant understanding of His Word.

Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. (vs. 18)

Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law and keep it with all
my heart. (vs. 34)

Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments (vs. 73)

Paul made it clear that “…The word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor. 1:18) He reminds us that “…a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” (1 Cor. 2:14). It takes a work of the Holy Spirit in our lives for any of us to understand and respond to God’s Word.

• Pray that God will work in the hearts and minds of legislators, elected officials, lobbyists, and staff who might attend our studies or receive the study notes so that they might understand and respond to His Word.



• Pray for impact of the Bible study notes as they are distributed throughout the capitol in person and by email each week.



• Pray for opportunities for us to minister one on one as we visit throughout the session.

You can download a copy of our study notes here.

Is It Good or Bad to Be a "Gospel Reductionist"?

Owen Strachan at the 9 Marks Blog asks the question, "Is it good or bad to be a gospel reductionist?"

From the article:

"...(Scripture) seems to suggest that Paul was himself what we might call a "gospel reductionist" (one might also look at texts like 2 Timothy 1:8-14 and consult resources like Ligon Duncan's 2008 T4G talk). That is, the entirety of his life and ministry centered in the cross. The crucifixion of the Christ formed the cornerstone of his worldview, the grid by which he interpreted, well, everything. Paul's categories of thought boiled down to this: the cross of Christ.

"Moving from Paul's day to our own, it seems that we would do well to imitate Paul in our life and thought. It would be no bad thing, therefore, to be a 'gospel reductionist'."

Read the entire post here.