Daily Bread: October–December 2019

By Emlyn Williams, Tricia Williams, Mike Hawthorne and 8 more

Daily Bread is the Bible reading guide that aims to help you hear from God as you read the Bible. If you've ever asked the question, 'What possible relevance can this verse have for me today?' or 'What difference does this passage make to my life?' then read on...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Scripture Union
• Release date: Jul 12, 2019
• ISBN: 9781785067211

Mike Hawthorne

After many years of Mission in Asia, Mike and his wife have settled into a large, rambly old house in Herefordshire, which they use for various types of hospitality ministry.

Book preview

What is Daily Bread?

Daily Bread is the Bible reading guide that aims to help you hear from God as you read the Bible. If you’ve ever asked the question, ‘What possible relevance can this verse have for me today?’ or ‘What difference does this passage make to my life?’ then read on…

Why read the Bible?

Reading the Bible is about developing a relationship with God, through dependence on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us to engage with the Bible and to face God’s challenge in the here and now. He will always point us to Jesus Christ, the heart of God’s Word to us, the one who shows us who God is.

Why read Daily Bread ?

Everyone needs a little help when reading the Bible. Sometimes the poetry and prose, history and revelation, or parables and proverbs need some explanation. Daily Bread provides real inspiration each time you read it. Our writers are from all kinds of backgrounds with all kinds of perspectives. We’re sure you’ll be challenged, encouraged, surprised and inspired as God uses the notes to speak into your life.

How to use Daily Bread

Way in

This page introduces both the notes and the writer. It sets the scene and tells you what you need to know to get into each series.

A day’s note

The notes for each day include five key elements: Prepare, Read (the Bible passage for the day), Explore, Respond and Bible in a year. These are intended to provide a helpful way of meeting God in his Word.

Prepare yourself to meet with God and pray that the Holy Spirit will help you to understand and respond to what you read.

Read the Bible passage, taking time to absorb and simply enjoy it. A verse or two from the Bible text is usually included on each page, but it’s important to read the whole passage.

Explore the meaning of the passage, listening for what God may be saying to you. Before you read the comment, ask yourself: what’s the main point of this passage? What is God showing me about himself or about my life? Is there a promise or a command, a warning or example to take special notice of?

Respond to what God has shown you in the passage in worship and pray for yourself and others. Decide how to share your discoveries with others.

Editorial

Déjà

vu?

Do you ever get déjà vu – that feeling that you’ve had an experience before? You may be having it right now! We’ve both been around Daily Bread for a long time – ‘Tricia as a former editor, and both of us as writers. But now, we’ve picked up the baton from Angus Moyes and are editing Daily Bread together. We’re pleased that Angus continues as a writer – do look out for him in future issues. Meanwhile, we look forward to joining you in encountering God through his Word in fresh ways each day.

Over this quarter, Luke’s Gospel gives us Jesus’ practical teaching about daily living. Pithy, easy-to-remember teaching from Proverbs challenges and helps us. Esther reminds us that God is in control but uses humans to bring about his purposes. Haggai, Zechariah and 2 Peter in their different ways give us a vision of the future, challenging us to live accordingly. Finally, over the Christmas season, Matthew and Micah point to the good news that is fulfilled in Jesus.

We heard recently of a church that gives Daily Bread to people who have yet to come to faith. They are finding it a really helpful way to get into the Bible which is still unfamiliar to them. For some of us, however, the Bible is very familiar. We may even experience déjà vu as we read it, and need freshness in our time with God. Either way, this prayer is a good way to start: ‘Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law’ (Psalm 119:18).

Photo of Emlyn and 'Tricia Williams

Emlyn and ’Tricia Williams

Editors

SU article

Seeking sure

foundations in today’s world

Myles MacBean has been the National Director of Scripture Union England and Wales for nearly a year now. We were interested to find out how he had first become involved in SU, what had led to this special leadership role – and to hear about his early impressions of the movement, and his hopes and dreams for its mission in the future.

Interviewer: Myles, you have been involved with Scripture Union over many years. Could you tell us a little about how you first got drawn into SU?

Myles: I came to Christ as a teenager through the ministry of a local Bible-focused youth fellowship led by young people strongly influenced by SU. One of them encouraged me, as a newborn Christian, to take their place as a tent leader at an SU camp. Daily Bread then became a key part in my life, and I went on to lead SU camps for well over a decade.

I: In what ways has SU been important to you as a Christian?

M: It would be difficult to overestimate the importance of SU to my faith journey. As a teenager I came to Christ largely through the ministry of that local youth fellowship. The direction of my life was transformed by the deep day-to-day practical faith I saw in the men I met at camp. They were placing prayer and the Bible at the centre of their lives, and lived to share their faith through word and deed. I met my future wife, Ruth, at an SU camp and our growing family were, in turn, influenced by SU as they accompanied us to camp as ‘camp mascots’ and then campers themselves. This all led to my life-long passion for working with children and young people in our local church.

I: How do you think God has led and prepared you for your role as the leader of Scripture Union in England and Wales?

M: Looking back over the decades, God’s hand is clear as he has woven together so many strands of gifting, skills and experience. He gave me a varied career in senior leadership within digital media with a focus on cross-cultural family content. This was combined with a vocation as an elder, preacher and practical theologian, and recently God has augmented that with mission and church development experience in Europe and Malawi. Even on our return to the UK he had a clear hand in bringing me and SU together at the most opportune time.

I: During this year, you have visited many SU activities across the UK. Could you say a little about what you have seen and how that has excited you?

M: I was excited to see the same core values I encountered as a new disciple many decades ago. These are still being lived out through personal relationships forged in missions, holidays and events, but reimagined to speak effectively into the very different context of today’s young people in today’s world. I was impressed by the passion and commitment of the volunteers, the innovation and energy of the staff, the creative use of new media, and the heart-warming response from children and young people who seek sure foundations in the shifting sands of our modern world.

I: There are many Christian organisations today which provide a variety of activities. What is it in particular about SU’s ministry that you feel is distinct and special?

M: I think our purpose statements sum up our distinctive ministry very well. We are a movement that is ever more focused on creative ways of reaching those young people outside of church who don’t yet know Christ, in ways that are relevant to them today. However, we remain convinced that vibrant, personal faith in Jesus comes through the provision of safe relational environments where God enables children to explore the Bible, respond to Jesus, and grow in faith.

I: As you look to the future, what are your hopes and dreams for SU’s ministry?

M: My hopes start with the young people of England and Wales. That, through mobilisation of, and partnership with, like-minded Christians we might see every young person have the opportunity to engage with the gospel within a loving faith community. And my dream is that SU would be at the forefront of making this happen through the equipping of volunteers, and provision of innovative missional models and resources.

I: If Daily Bread readers wanted to get involved actively in SU’s mission, how could they do this?

M: We are a volunteer organisation and there are so many ways to get involved. Here are some key ways:

Pray: First and foremost, please pray for the work and sign up to receive the prayer magazine of SU, Connecting You.

Go: for example, by considering how SU might help your church reach the children outside its doors, joining a holiday/mission team, or taking It’s Your Move into a local primary school.

Give: for example, give to help us generally equip churches to go, or specifically to help children go to SU holidays who otherwise couldn’t go.

I: Thank you, Myles. God bless you in this important work.

If you’d like to find out more about any of the activities mentioned above and how you can get involved, please go to www.scriptureunion.org.uk.

Way in to Luke 9–13

There could be

trouble ahead

Like a closed door opening, these chapters mark a change of direction for Jesus. We will encounter him in a variety of settings, engaged with all kinds