The Nugget: 1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. My Comment: Many years ago I attended the New Years Eve "Watch Night" service at Military Avenue United Presbyterian Church. It was an encouraging service. Prayer requests were shared. We all participated in congregational singing of hymns sequentially through the hymn book until midnight. The end of one year and the start of the next is often the time many make New Year's Resolutions. In a similar way it is a good time to do some reflecting on our spiritual life and growth, looking back on last year and considering how to advance in the coming year. Many years ago I made a list of questions to consider, questions that might prompt our thinking about spiritual growth:

1. Are you satisfied with your present state of spiritual growth?
2. Are you satisfied with your present level of commitment?
3. Is Christ satisfied with the quality of your Christian life?
4. Do you want more of the things of God in your life?
5. Are you satisfied with a mediocre level of Christian living, experience, growth?
6. What are you willing to do or sacrifice to make or secure greater spiritual growth and deeper commitment to the Lord?
7. What are the hindrances to spiritual growth and commitment in your life right now?
8. Which hindrance is the greatest obstacle to your spiritual progress as you see it now?
9. What steps can you suggest which would overcome the greatest obstacle?

On the same piece of paper, "SUBJECT: DUTY ASSIGNMENT; FROM: Ferd Hall, Assistant Principal; TO: J Smith; DATE: blank; Please be advised that you have been assigned the following duty for the current semester: 6th hour study hall 417." I have no memory at all of Ferd Hall. I do recall that such a duty was very unpleasant and virtually impossible to fulfill well. But on this same paper I wrote what may have been my goal for the Cass Technical High School Bible Discussion Club: Objective: To learn more about the Bible, its history, content, literary form, and relevance. Activities planned: Open discussion of the Bible's content in the light of its history and literary form. As it turned out in actual experience, I emphasized open discussion by using a question and answer format. Students brought their Bible questions, and the students shared the answers with each other or asked my input and help to learn the answers to the questions raised. I have since learned that this is how Paul conducted his Bible teaching, as reflected in Acts 17:2-3 and Acts 20:7. Act 17:2  And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, (KJV) Act 17:2  Paul went into the synagogue to see the Jews as he always did. The next three weeks, on each Sabbath day, he discussed the Scriptures with them. (ERV, Easy to Read Version) My note given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury: reasoned. Gr. dialegomai (S# G1256, Heb 12:5). The imperfect tense points to frequent and renewed discussion (Walker). T452, +*Act 17:17 g. Act 18:4; Act 18:19; Act 19:8, 9; Act 20:7 g, Act 20:9; Act 20:11; *Act 24:12; *Act 24:25; *Act 28:23, *1Sa 12:7, Neh 8:8, **Isa 1:18, +Mat 28:19 (T458). Mar 9:34, 1Co 2:4, 5, 2Co 3:12; 2Co 4:1, 2, +Eph 4:11 (T447). +1Ti 5:20 (T461). Hebrews 7—10, Jud 1:9. Act 17:3  Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.  (KJV) Act 17:3  He explained the Scriptures to show them that the Messiah had to die and then rise from death. He said, "This Jesus that I am telling you about is the Messiah." (ERV, Easy to Read Version) Act 17:3 explaining them and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and said, "This very Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ." (Williams NT). My note given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury: Opening. Gr. dianoigō, *S# G1272. To open thoroughly; to expound (Strong). alleging. Literally "setting forth (arguments)"; i.e. bringing forward passages of Scripture to prove his points (Thomas Walker). Gr. paratithēmi [(*S# G3908), to place alongside, that is, present (food, truth); by implication to deposit (as a trust or for protection) [Strong]: Act 20:7  And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (KJV) Act 20:7  On Sunday we met to break bread. Paul was discussing Scripture with the people. Since he intended to leave the next day, he kept talking until midnight. (GW, God's Word translation) My note given in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury: preached. or, discoursed. Gr. dialegomai (S# G1256, Heb 12:5), +Act 17:17, Often translated reason. [Strong: Middle voice; to say thoroughly, that is, discuss (in argument or disputation)]. Act 20:2, Act 17:2; Act 17:17; Act 18:4; Act 18:19; Act 19:8, 9. These passages convince me that Paul employed the discussion, question and answer, procedure which I as a young teacher learned to use at the Cass Technical High School Bible Discussion Club I was asked to sponsor. Notice that the very Greek word, dialegomai, bears some similarity in form and likely in meaning to our English word dialog. Back to the Daily Bible Nugget, 1 Corinthians 11:31, to dig deeper into this interesting and important subject of judging ourselves, study the cross references as I have collected them in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury: 1 Corinthians 11:31 if we. FS184B1, +Luk 7:39, 1Co 11:28, **Psa 32:3, 4, 5, Jer 31:18, 19, 20, Luk 15:18, 19, 20, **+1Jn 1:9, Rev 2:5; Rev 3:2, 3. would. or, were to. judge. or, discern. FS135, +Psa 68:28, 1Co 11:29 mg. Lev 16:29; Lev 23:32, Job 10:2, +*Psa 119:59, Lam 3:40, +Hag 1:7; Hag 2:15, Mar 14:19, 2Co 13:5 note. Gal 6:4, 1Pe 4:6. we should not. +**Joh 5:24.