5 minutes a day
5 days a week
1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

Click here for a pdf of the study schedule - CLICK HERE

A youth pastor is going to different families in the church and saying that he thinks two particular teens are having a homosexual relationship.  He has not talked to the youths themselves or their parents.  What kind of action would you suggest be taken in regards to this youth pastor?

Sincerely,
Not A Gossip Girl

Dear Not A Gossip Girl,

Homosexuality is a sin (Rom 1:26-27), and to slander someone with such an accusation is a heinous crime indeed.  We are never to gossip or slander people (Pr 10:18, 2 Tim 3:3).  The Scriptures teach that if we believe someone is living a sinful lifestyle, we should talk to them individually first before escalating the issue and exposing their sin to others (Matt 18:15-17).  There are multiple reasons for this:

1. You might be wrong and have misunderstood the situation.
2. Individual confrontation keeps a situation as private as possible and, therefore, allows people to save face.
3. It avoids gossip and making a situation larger than it needs to be.
4. God says to do it this way (most importantly!).

This “youth pastor” (that title alone tells us there are further problems at your congregation – we recommend you read “What’s In A Name?” and “Elders”) is completely wrong in not confronting the individuals personally.  If he is right, then their souls hang in the balance.  If he is wrong, then the situation could be corrected privately the way God intends.

5 minutes a day
5 days a week
1 New Testament in a year

There are 261 weekdays in a year, and there are 260 chapters in the New Testament. By reading one chapter, Monday through Friday, you will read the whole New Testament by the end of the year. The Daily Cup series is to help with that goal.

Happy Studying!

"The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup." -- Psalm 16:5

Click here for a pdf of the study schedule - CLICK HERE

Where did Paul say in the Bible about when he tried to do good, evil was always there?  I have been trying to find that verse and cannot find it.  Help me, please.

Sincerely,
Looking For The Good

Dear Looking For The Good,

The verses you are looking for are Rom 7:9-25.  In those verses, Paul is discussing what happened to him as he grew up as a child under the Old Testament law.  Even though he desired to live righteously, he often found himself sinning and being guilty under the law (Rom 7:15).  Even though he desired to be a righteous man, he had to admit that he had sinned and was worthy of death (Rom 7:22-24).  The Old Testament law taught people what was right, but it never provided a road to forgiveness after someone sinned.  It is only in Christ that there is atonement from sins and a way back to God (Rom 7:25).

Do you believe once we have accepted Christ as our Savior, yet keep falling short, trying, not always succeeding...repenting, changing, then fall again... will He still take us into His loving arms if our lives ended today?

Sincerely,
Never Good Enough

Dear Never Good Enough,

Yes.  If you have taken the steps to become a christian (read “What Must I Do To Be Saved?”), then the rest of your life will be a collection of victories and failures in spiritual growth.  The key is to never give up; always get back up and try again (Pr 24:16).  When we sin – and admit it – God is righteous and ready to forgive us (1 Jn 1:8-9).  Always be honest about your failures and sins (1 Jn 1:10).  God is ready to forgive us an innumerable amount of times as long as we continue to repent (Matt 18:21-22).