Philemon

For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,  no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. vv.15-16

Read Philemon
This one chapter letter from Paul to Philemon, a wealthy man, about Philemon's runaway slave Onesimus.  Apparently Onesimus had run away from his owner and somehow met Paul who led him to Christ and now is a believer.  Now as a believer Onesimus wants to correct what he'd done wrong (whether by running away or also causing much financial hurt as we see Paul willing to pay his debt).  No doubt Paul is the one encouraging both parties, the offender and the offended, to make amends, especially now that they are both brothers in Christ.  Paul reminds Philemon to receive him forever as they will be eternally with God together as well, unlike unbelievers that will only be for a short time in this life.  
At times we've all been in one of their positions whether the one offended, the one who made the offense or the peacemaker between two parties.  Each one of those positions has some responsibility that isn't easy.  Onesimus had to humble himself and make right what he'd done wrong.  Philemon was to forgive and accept back a slave without punishment- canceling debt.  Paul was to do everything he could to bring unity between two brothers.  What position has been hardest for you in a certain situation?
If you were on an island and a phone dropped out of the sky and you could make three phone calls: one was to call someone to tell them I love you, one to tell them I forgive you, and one to say I'm sorry, to whom would those three phone calls be?

Titus 3

For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.  But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared vv.3-4

Read chapter 3
Oh we must never forget how foolish we once were!  Let pride never get to us that we are better than others.  For before we knew the Lord as our Savior we were without wisdom, rebellious, deceived, giving in to lusts of the body and mind, doing what was good in our own eyes.  Let us remember where we once were before we act or respond negatively towards others.  Bible teacher Nathan Johnson says, "Our attitude towards others should be motivated from a realistic outlook on ourselves."  
And what was it that turned us from those things?  God's kindness and love!  It was nothing we did on ourselves to pull us out of the mess we were living in (and what still pulls us out of the mess we get ourselves in).  

“Love toward man” is the Greek word “philanthropia,” from which we get our word “philanthropy.”  It basically means a love (philos) of mankind (anthropos).  We need to understand that God loves humanity.  There is no other explanation for why He has allowed us to continue in spite of all the wickedness and perversion we have brought to this world.  God loves humanity, and it is His love that preserves us.  (N. Johnson)

Think back to when you were foolish and what was it that made a change in your life?  How do you see people in your life today with some of those same times of foolishness you once had and how do you respond?  Sometimes I respond worse to people I see my old self in so much, I need to be reminded of what got me out of that pit and show and respond that way to others.

Titus 2

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior... vv.1-3

Read chapter 2
Oh the characteristics of godly men and women.  Something that is fought against so much today.  Yet this is something believing men and women should strive for and honor.  How often is it the opposite though?  Where men don't want to live by these things but respect and desire a wife with these characteristics.  And vise versa with women.  I like how Dr. Voddie Baucham puts it,  "This is the list for all men. So for you young women here in the room, when you hear young men say, 'I’m looking for a Titus 2 woman, a Proverbs 31 woman,' you just look at him and say, 'Yeah, but I’m looking for a Titus 1 man. What you got?'”  Many people jump to the conclusion that there's only list for women how to be but men can do whatever they want.  Did they just skip over all of chapter one and the first two verses of this chapter?  There are more commands for men in all of scripture than there are for women!
How much also do we desire good role models in our lives, in kids lives, etc.  And this is what this is saying for the older men and women to be an example for the next generation. Even in unbelieving homes you can see the effects without a father or mother in a child's life and how sweet it is when older men and women can be that role model to them.  
What characteristics listed in this chapter do you struggle with and why?

Titus 1

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—v.5

Read chapter 1
"The apostle Paul speaks more highly of none of his fellow-workers than he does of Titus" (Bible Teacher Nathan Johnson).  Titus was with Paul in the beginning and seemed to be his "trouble-shooter" as he was sent by Paul to "harder" cities like Corinth (we read the most about Titus in 2 Corinthians), Crete, and Dalmatia.  This letter to Titus from Paul is one on giving instruction and organization for leaders of believers.  We know from Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 that there were Jews from Crete that became believers of Jesus Christ.  It seems like Paul and Titus went to Crete together at a later date (as we don't read about Paul ever going there in the book of Acts) and then left Titus there to set things in order or amend some things that were lacking.  How he was to do this was to set up representatives in the city as we read in the following verse of elders and bishops.  Paul gives Titus specific instruction in wisely choosing these representatives to be properly chosen.  The following verse go on to say specifics in choosing this leadership role.  These characteristics, although given to Titus, are great for us to live by as well in choosing leadership among believers.  
Why do you think the certain characteristic in verses six through nine are important in leaders?  Are you or do you know someone who is the "trouble-shooter" among the difficult people or situations in your life?  What is it about them that you or they do this well?

Nehemiah 13

But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king, v.6


Read chapter 13

Nehemiah was governor for 12 years in Jerusalem but then returned to king Artexerxes to work. This could be because of the favor he obtained from him to leave for all those years and all their material the king provided for the rebuilding of the wall that it was more of a leave of absence than forever gone. Shortly after Nehemiah's gone from govern-ship the people start to sin against the law in subtle ways that then become the norm. The priests were even the ones doing and allowing this and they were supposed to be the leadership. 

1. First we see Tobias with a room in the temple - he was the one who tried to stop the building of the wall so many times before. Sometimes we can't or need to be careful to give our enemies favor thinking they'll change. 
2. Then we see buying and selling on the Sabbath. The one day of the week the weren't to do so. Were they not using their time wisely the rest of the week? Were they giving more importance to work than to God's commandments? 
3. Then we see the marrying of foreigners and children that did not know the Hebrew language. If they didn't understand Hebrew they couldn't understand God's law and therefore not know how to live in honor for Him.  

All these ways seem like little issues but they add up to so much more.

• What are "small" sins you tend to treat as normal because of the generation we live in? 
• How can you respond anew to that?

Nehemiah 12

Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing, with cymbals and stringed instruments and harps. v.27


Read chapter 12

Who says Christians don't know how to party? God loves parties and actually commanded them in His laws to keep festivals. Most parties weren't just a Saturday night deal but a couple days, whole week long festivities. God is happy when we rejoice out of the joy for Him, praising what He's done and who He is. This joy turned into desire for others as we see in verse 44-47. The reason they sought all the levites to the dedication was to offer sacrifices, probably not atonement but peace sacrifices as priests were the only ones who could do it then. Thankfully we all have direct access to God through Jesus today that we shouldn't think we need a pastor or some "righteous" person to be the one that makes the party a Godly party, but we should all be the one to make Christ the center of any party whether with believers or not.

Nehemiah 11

For it was the king’s command concerning them that a certain portion should be for the singers, a quota day by day. v.23


Read chapter 11

This chapter talks about the people that get to dwell in the land of Jerusalem, within the walls they just built and those that were to dwell in surround cities. Crazy that only one out of ten got to be there. Praise the Lord the that New Jerusalem will have room for everyone.  Interesting how highly appreciated the singers are - even in times of hardship for renewal and starting at square one again in becoming a nation. It's easy to think it's not an important job but how meaningful music is to all! It's how our emotions are expressed no matter what mood we're in. Music changes my soul and therefore changes my attitude. It's an importance among people in acts and attitudes of worship and daily life.

What are some jobs you look down upon in importance? Why? How can you still live like you dwell in God's city when right now you're in one outside?