Day 47

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10

Contributed by: Mystery Discipleship Group Leader!







For those who would like to know, the mystery discipleship group leaders are as follows:

Sunday 17th Feb Colossians 4v5     - Guy
Sunday 24th Feb Isaiah 40v30,30    - Helen
Sunday 3rd Mar  Ephesians 2v4-7   - Miles
Sunday 10th Mar Philippians 4v6,7  - Vanessa
Sunday 17th Mar Lamentations 3v22-24  - Vic
Sunday 24th Mar Psalm 118v8        - Margaret
Sunday 31st Mar John 10v10          - Jez

Day 46

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2v8-10

Paul Mortimore

Day 45

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

Rob Goldsmith

Day 44

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6v8

Matt Winfield

Day 43

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
    he refreshes my soul.

Psalm 23v1-3

Jesus says "I am the good shepherd" (John 10v11); we are the sheep if we hear his voice we must come and follow him.
Hannah Scriven

Day 42

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13v4-7


My favourite verses from my favourite chapter in the whole of the Bible.

Know for sure that these are not the soppy, sentimental feelings that some might think, but a window into the very heart of God's love.

I have sought to emulate, albeit very unsuccessfully, the qualities described ever since my teenage years in the good times and the not so good.


Dennis Mason

Day 41

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 

Phil 3v12,13

Dave Siddle

Day 40

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in humans.

Psalm 118v8

I chose this verse because it is in the centre of the Bible.  There are 594 chapters before Psalm 118, and 594 after it.  The total is 1188, and my verse is Psalm 118 verse 8.  Amazing!  As this verse is in the centre of the Bible, so its words show what should be at the centre of our lives – trusting in God and not in ourselves or any other human being. 

Contributed by: Mystery Discipleship Group Leader!

Day 39

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

Emma Hughes

Day 38

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

Gen 1v1

This is my favourite verse because it speaks to my heart of the person of God so passionate about His creation that he made it so good, we would want to get to know Him.

Phil North

Day 37

 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
    “and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
    and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
    nor will there be one after me.

Isaiah 43v10

Kate Strange

Day 36

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3v16


There are many verses I could have chosen but I opted for John 3:16. I admit one of the reasons is that it is my e-mail address.

If we are presented with a gift it is not because we have earned it but it would be given out of love. After looking at the verse,

"God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

God isn't biased, he means everyone can have the gift of salvation, again we haven't earned it but it is entirely up to us whether we accept His gift to us or not.

I think that is amazing.


John Mason

Day 35

Jesus wept

John 11:35

Paul Woodfield

The shortest verse in the Bible... and yet packed with so much meaning.

I didn't choose this verse simply because it was the shortest and the easiest for me to remember especially for someone like me who has  a memory a bit like a  sieve! Honestly!!!   I have always found these 2 simple words incredibly powerful and comforting.. That Jesus, when he saw the people overcome with grief at the death of Lazarus, wept with them. Surely Jesus must have known that he was going to raise  Lazarus  from the dead ...and yet the grief of those around him, affected Jesus and he wept with them... At times in my life when I've had to face sorrows and difficulties  (although not nearly as many as some people I've known who've had to face far more difficulties and sorrows than I have) ... to know that we have a Saviour who weeps with us at those times has been an immense comfort.   (incidently this is why the Tim Hughes song.. God in my living.. God in my laughing, there in my weeping, God in my hurting, God in my healing..  is one of my favourite worship songs....)

Day 34

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again."

 2 Corinthians 5v14,15

For whom am I living day by day? Am I living as I lived before I became a Christian and do what I want, make the choices I want, make life as easy and smooth as possible - or do I make sure I remember to put Jesus first?
Of course I still have my friends to hang around with, I still enjoy going out and having a good time - but, at the back of my mind is always the thought that Jesus who died instead of me to bear the punishment of my sin, is alive today and is always with me to help me live for Him.

Grace Ruoff

Day 33

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

                           Lamentations 3v22-24

Lamentations 3 v 22-24 were sent to me on a postcard by my oldest friend, when I was having a really tricky few months.  I haven't spent a lot of time studying Lamentations, but they are verses I've come back to a few times.

 

Verses 22-24 come straight after the author recognises that there are times in life that are really hard going and that sometimes "my soul is downcast within me," (v 20)  But then in verse 21 he says "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope"..... and then he talks about God's great love and the fact we are not consumed etc...

 

We will all probably face tough times at some point in our lives, and at those times we have a choice ... I can "call to mind," a number of things; I can call to mind why I am sad, maybe start to moan, feel sorry for myself, feel like giving up, or envy others who seem to have things much easier - If I'm honest I have done all those things!  Or, I can call to mind truths that I know about God; his compassion, his faithfulnees, His love, the promise we will not be consumed, and the hope we therefore have! 

Contributed by: Mystery Discipleship Group Leader! 

Day 32

Because your love is better than life,
    my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Psalm 63:3-4

Kevin O’Keeffe

Day 31

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

Cynthia Carey

Day 30

Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 

Deuteronomy 8v2


Andrew Poulsom

Day 29

Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 26v4

Steph Blaney

Day 28

 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”
 So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?”

Hebrews 13v5,6 
                                  
Chris Price

Day 27

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you

1 Peter 1v3,4

Colin Clark

Day 26

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4v6,7

Contributed by: Mystery Discipleship Group Leader!

Day 25

Now this is what the Lord says.
    .... “Don’t be afraid, because I have saved you.
    I have called you by name, and you are mine."

Isaiah 43v1

Isn’t it amazing that the Creator of this world - the whole universe - not only sees and knows each one of His children individually, but has called me – and you – by name, and that we belong to Him!

A while ago, at a large Christian gathering, I was approached by a woman I had never seen before – a complete stranger – who asked, very nervously, if my name was Susan, and if she could pray for me.  I was surprised, touched … and also confused:  Susan was the name my parents called me, but everyone now calls me Sue.  Why would God have told this lady that my name was Susan?  (I don’t  even like being called that!)  We talked about it and she prayed … … and, from that specific use of my childhood name, God began to gently show me, at a deeper level than I had ever understood before, how He is my true Father, and what that really means.

As you sit with this verse, praying expectantly, reading it slowly … you could try inserting your own name into it … asking God what it means – for you – to be called, and to belong to Him as His own much-loved child …

Sue New

Day 24

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.
If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." 

John 14v21,23

These verses were given to me by my father when I first arrived in Zambia to work in a mission hospital. I still have that letter dated 1950! Having left home, friends and going to an unfamiliar new place with a different climate, friends, strange language and environmant these words were very special to me. "I will show myself to him (her). I will make my home with him (her)."
On the very first day I arrived in totally unfamiliar surroundings, as I stood in the bedroom provided for me I felt very alone. And then God spoke to me "Hope, as I was with you in England, so I am with you here".
Already He was "showing" Himself to me and making His "home" with me.
What could be more precious and reassuring as I started out in a very new life in Africa?

Hope Rudge

Day 23

And now these three remain: faith, 
hope and love. But the greatest of 
these is love.

1 Corinthians 13v13

Sam Johnstone

Day 22

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-2

Roger Hubert

These words are packed with truth that brings freedom. They tell us how we can learn to discern God's will, and how the change in the way we think ("renewing of your mind") brings about the change in our lives ("transformed"). And it all begins with an attitude of submission to God out of an understanding of his great love for us. Powerful stuff!

Day 21

"So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41v10

I treasure this verse because it helped me so much when I was teaching in a very difficult school, Carshalton High School for Girls. The discipline was so difficult in this school and I noticed it particularly after teaching in Africa where there was no such problem. I stuck it out for some 22 years until I could retire. I read somewhere a sermon about this verse which suggested that it had seven parts, one for each day of the week and I found it helped. On Sunday one began to dread the week ahead and was told not to fear, the reason came up on Monday; God was with me, on Tuesday one could be dismayed or discouraged, the ease came on Wednesday, God says He is my God, this is better than me saying He is my God. On Thursday a promise of strength. On Friday one felt like crying "Help" and it was there. All the remaining chores awaited on Saturday and a promise of being upheld was given. I used to remind myself of the appropriate phrase in my car on the way to school.

Sometime later I put these thoughts together in a poem:

    A Seven Day Psalm (Isaiah 41v10)

    Praise you Lord on all seven days
    You meet my needs in different ways.
    When Sunday brings the week too near
    You encourage me with "Do not fear"
    On Monday there's no room for dread
    I say "You are with me" instead.
    By Tuesday if things are getting tough
    Your "Don't be discouraged" is enough.
    Wednesday you stand at my side
    "I am your God" you then confide.
    If Thursday's load is hard I find
    "I will strengthen you" comes to mind.
    On Friday the week seems very long
    But "I will help you" comes along.
    On Saturday midst the many chores
    You say "My right hand's help is yours"
    So praise the Lord for seven ways
    You help me through the seven days.

Rosemary Benjamin

Day 20

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." 

Colossians 3v12-14 

I chose these verses because Roger Hubert preached on them on 19/3/06 & he had them printed out for us in bold print in the CBC newsheet. We were encouraged to cut them out and place them somewhere at home that we could read them regularly. Perhaps it was Roger's idea, but I placed the verses on the inside of my wardrobe door and they are still there nearly seven years later! I perhaps do not read them every day, but I do read them most days & as I get ready in a morning they make me stop & think about how others might see me and they really challenge me to be a witness for Jesus. I like the idea of 'clothing' ourselves & other verses in the New Testament tell us that we are clothed in God's righteousness. What are we going to wear today?
Susan Bibby

Day 19

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,  in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 

                          Ephesians 2v4-7

Contributed by: Mystery Discipleship Group Leader!

Day 18

If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me and your strength will support me.

Psalm 139:9-10

Peter McKeever

Day 17

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8

Abi Emsley

Day 16

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1

Chris Hawker

I chose this verse because it was key to me becoming a Christian. I grew up in a Christian home so always went to church; when I was a teenager I thought that I was not good enough for God – which is basically correct because none of us measure up to God’s standard. But I felt that because I was not good enough for God I was not sure that He loved me – which is completely wrong, He loves us all without exception as He proved by sending Jesus to die for us. One day I was reading a book which explained what this verse meant, and for the first time I came to understand something of God’s love for me personally. He does not condemn us, instead if we put our faith in Jesus all our “notgoodenoughness” (sin the Bible calls it) is dealt with and we are restored to a right relationship with God as our heavenly Father. We need to play our part and seek to live as God wants (with His help) but for me knowing that God does not condemn us, that He loves us so much, is a solid foundation from where our faith can grow as we follow and serve Him.

Well done to all of you doing the Lent Challenge, keep going !

Day 15

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

This was one of our daughter's favourite verses, one she shared with her non-Christian friends, and I know that they remember it. When times are tough and they will be, remember this verse.

Sue Tipper

Day 14

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Jen Green

Day 13

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4


One of the key reasons that I am a minister is because I was and I am captivated by these verses.

I can remember as a teenager having an ‘aha’ moment when I treated these verses as a sort of simultaneous equation.

I said to myself:

a) If God is the God of all comfort
And
b) If we can comfort others in trouble
Then
c) It must mean that when we comfort others we get to be, literally to be, God’s help and comfort.

I remember thinking how amazing it is that God uses our experiences of difficulty and trouble so that we can help others.

And I remember asking, ‘Is there a more exciting job on the planet that to be God’s help and comfort to other people?'

Ken Benjamin

Sunday Posts

Mystery people!

On Sundays through the Lent Challenge the verse has been chosen by one of the discipleship group leaders.

Youngsters are invited to guess whose favourite verse this might be.....and there will be a prize for the person getting the most correct answers on Easter Sunday.

Day 12

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:30-31

Contributed by: Mystery Discipleship Group Leader!

Day 11

Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak
Isaiah 40:28-29

Janet Peters

Day 10

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:16

Chris Coote

Day 9

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”

1 Corinthians 2:9

Stella McKeever

Day 8

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Judy Riggs

Day 7

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.

Ephesians 3:16


I've long been a fan of the concept of resilience, particularly for those made vulnerable. These verses seem to be the heart of it. I was privileged to be sitting beside a woman who had suffered much (on a CAP Discovery Break) when she realized the meaning of these words for her! I'm not sure which version of the Bible she had. Verse 17 said "Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him.Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong..."

What a promise.


Jenni Clark

Day 6

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

Hebrews 10:35

Ellen Wild

Sunday Posts

Mystery people!

On Sundays through the Lent Challenge the verse has been chosen by one of the discipleship group leaders.

Youngsters are invited to guess whose favourite verse this might be.....and there will be a prize for the person getting the most correct answers on Easter Sunday.

Day 5

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:5-6

Contributed by: Mystery Discipleship Group Leader!

Day 4

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Ian Clark

Day 3

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

Lynfa Snow

Day 2

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

1 Peter 3:15

Chris McLeish


I chose this verse because it has been a favourite of mine for a few years and I keep coming back to it.

It gives us 3 challenges:

1. "Always" we must remember that as Christians we are never "off duty" wherever we are, we are ambassadors for Christ

2. "Be Prepared" Think about what you would say if someone asks you why you believe, it's much easier than trying to explain it whilst thinking about it on the spot.  

3. "Gentleness and Respect" We have no idea what people's past is or what is going on in their life and saying the wrong thing could be harmful so we are instructed to be gentle and respectful.

How can we do this? By setting apart Christ as Lord in our hearts.

Day 1

There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.

Philippians 1:6 (The Message)

Cindy Crossley

Pers Mampa

... is a quick way to remember how to reflect on a Bible verse - tried for the first time
by our discipleship group on Tues 5th Feb 2013!

Pray expecting     - it's God's word, he wants to speak to us!
read slowly          - several times
Meditate              - chew over the words, put the emphasis on different words
apply to me         - how might this affect me today?
pray again            - ask the Holy Spirit to help you put it into practise.

Helen Hubert

Welcome to the Lent Challenge

Thanks for checking out the Lent Challenge!

We hope and pray that you will enjoy these inspiring Bible verses that we have added to this blog - verses that have changed people's lives!

 A new verse will be posted each day. Take up the challenge to read each day's verse on the day! And don't just read the verse - think about it and add your comment!

So what are you waiting for -

TAKE THE CHALLENGE!