Good Shepherd Education Ministry

Our Mission

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All of our Sunday School classes, Bible studies, prayer groups and small groups exist to prepare you or your child for living for Christ in the real world. We use a variety of learning methods and teaching styles, so there is a fit for every type of learner, and each class or study includes a practical, relevant application to real life – where you are. We believe Christian Education exists not just to fill our minds, but to change our hearts and our lives.

ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday Mornings - 9:30-10:30 AM

SPRING 2011 SEMESTER: three options, by topic

1. HOW PEOPLE CHANGE: Cathy Youngblood

style: lecture/discussion; topical; using a curriculum

How People Change is a class that focuses intently on the application of Scripture to our lives. We will use a curriculum written by Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp, called "How People Change: How Christ Changes Us by His Grace." The goal of the class is to help us understand our own hearts and our need to allow Christ to change us to be more like Himself. (*don't take this class thinking, "I want to learn how to make my spouse or my child change, but take it to look at your OWN heart!)
We will use their "Three Trees Model," focusing throughout the semester on 1. the heat, 2. the thorns, 3. the cross, and 4. the fruit, allowing for specific application to our own lives.

2. WORLD OF THE BIBLE, PART II: John Kreutzer

style: lecture; topical; custom designed by teacher from Scripture & various videos

Bible Lands and Cultures: The Places, People and Cultures behind the Old and New Testament. The Bible was written for and by nearEasterners and is at least 2,000 years old, the Old Testament much older. Most of us think like the Greeks and Europeans and we can hardly imagine how people thought only 100 years ago. It takes some real study to fully understand the context of what we read in the Bible. But when we do, surprisingly, not only does the Word become more alive, it also has even more relevance to our own world and culture today. To better understand the Bible and what God was saying then and now, we are going to look more closely into the people, geography, history, and cultures of the people of the Bible. If you attended Part I, we will briefly review some of the key concepts learned in that class. However, there will be all new topics, video and materials each week. If you didn't attend Part I, this is a perfect chance to start your study of Bible cultures. The only prerequisite is a desire to learn!

3. THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: Jim Hinton

style: study/discussion; textual; custom designed by teacher

The Gospel of John is probably the most frequently recommended NT book for the new Christian to read. Written after the other gospels, John, in the words of Clement of Alexandria, "perceiving that the external facts had been made plain in the other gospels, comprised a spiritual gospel." In this class, we will explore why this gospel stands apart from the others in its clear gospel message. At the same time, we will explore the depth of John's book as it addresses major theological foundations of our faith.

SPRING RALLY DAY TAILGATE PARTY!!: January 29, 2012
Spring Semester Classes: January 29, 2012-May 20, 2012
Summer Semester Classes: Memorial Day weekend-Labor Day weekend

Tuesday Mornings: two options, by gender

1) Men's Prayer Breakfast: 6:30 am
Join us to pray through our church's prayer list (in the church library) and then go to Panera Bread for breakfast and fellowship.

2) Women's Bible Study: 9:45 am, teacher: Ruth Ruane
style: discussion, topical, uses a study guide (homework involved)
Women's Bible Study will resume on September 13 with Discerning the Voice of God, by Priscilla Shirer. The group is blessed to have women from all ages and stages of life learning and growing together.

Wednesday nights: 6:15 (dinner); 7-8pm (groups): many options

1. “Up and Out Small Groups”: led by all of us!

Join one of our many small groups, which meet in various locations in our neighborhood to "be the church out there in the world." Groups may study a book, discuss movies/headlines, play live music, do acts of service (or something else if you have an idea!)... all in the name of being salt and light to our community.

2. Basics of Faith Class: Greg Joines

geared specifically towards new believers or those who are still unsure about faith. If you have friends or loved ones who have questions or want to understand the basics of what Christians believe, recommend this class or bring them to it–a “veteran” believer may only come to this class if they are bringing a friend who fits the description above.

For more information about Adult Christian Education, contact Kathy Larson (kathy@gspc.net; 704-364-1234).

See Left Menu for Notes from Past ADULT Sunday School Classes & Bible Studies, Lent Prayer Guide, Advent Devotional Guide, and other Resources

CHILDREN CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday mornings: 9:30 am: three classes by age group

3-4 year olds: Mark & Melissa Katibah & Lara Dolinger & Angela Hinton
God Loves Me is a collection of simple storybooks that share the truths of the Bible with even the youngest learners. They will be introduced to Bible concepts and have the opportunity interact with one another, the teachers, and their environment to learn together. The ultimate goal of this curriculum is simply to show children that God loves them!

K-2nd grade: Robin Orr & Susan Slade

Walk with Me is a curriculum that teaches children knowledge about the Bible, how to have a living and active faith, and challenges them to grow in their walk with Christ at any age. Sunday school will be an interactive time of learning, sharing, singing, playing, and growing together in Christ.

3rd-5th grade: Katie Meeks & Chris Orr
Inductive Bible Study for Kids - our older elementary students learn how to study God's Word for themselves and how to apply it to their everyday lives. These three years before middle school are crucial in preparing them to enter teenage-hood with a solid foundation of both head knowledge and heart knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Wednesday Nights: 6:15 (dinner); 7-8pm: three age groups

Wednesday night BLAST: split into the same age groups as above

Kids will have a BLAST learning about God, how to be in community with one another and how to love and serve the world through Bible Study as well as recreation, singing, drama, and visual arts.

For more information on Children’s Ministries, contact Melissa Baker (children@gspc.net; 704-364-1234).

TEEN CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday mornings: 9:30 am

6th-12th grade: Colossians; 1 & 2 Thessalonians: Joanie Fedor

Studies on the Go – has all the ingredients to help students connect with God and each other as they encounter Scripture. We will briefly talk about the historical background and purpose of each letter and then discuss what we observe about the text and its interpretation as well as talk about questions for application.

Sunday nights: 5-7 pm: middle school youth; 6-8pm: high school youth

Leaders: Joanie Fedor, Cameron Cary, Jason Hargett

Middle School Youth Group: a time of fellowship, study, discussion, and prayer together with just middle schoolers. We overlap with the high schoolers for dinner at worship from 6-7 pm.

High School Youth Group: a time of fellowship, study, discussion, and prayer together with just high schoolers. We overlap with the middle schoolers for dinner and worship from 6-7 pm.

Wednesday nights: 6:15 (dinner); 7-8pm (groups)

Leaders: Joanie Fedor, Diana Horne, Yrjo Roovers, Robin Orr, Shannon & Ryan Klar

small groups by age group & gender: a time to get to talk with other guys or girls of your own age about stuff that matters to you. Each group is led by an adult of the same gender.

The youth group does many other activities throughout the year, including mission trips, retreats, service projects, prayer activities, and special events – contact Joanie Fedor (youth@gspc.net or 704-364-1234) for more information.

Week 15: Conclusion

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Read Matthew 7:21-23

1. After warning about false prophets, Jesus now warns us about something just as tragic.

2. “on that day”

3. How do you distinguish these “followers” from authentic Christians?

Read Matthew 7:24-27

1. What is Jesus talking about in these last 2 paragraphs?

2. Does this point to works salvation?

3. Look at 1 John 2: 3-6; James 1:22-25; James 2:14-26

Read Matthew 7:28-29

1. Not once in the sermon has Jesus said “because it is written”.

2. “You have heard….

3. “but I tell you”

“Humanly speaking we could understand and interpret the Sermon on the Mount in a thousand different ways. Jesus knows only one possibility: simple surrender and obedience, not interpreting it or applying it, but doing and obeying it. That is the only way to hear his word. But again he doe not mean that it is to be discussed as an ideal, he really means us to get on with it.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer in “The Cost of Discipleship”

Week 14: Paths, Gates, Trees, & Fruit

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Read Matthew 7:13-14

Many roads do not lead to God! Jesus claims complete exclusivity!

1. 2 ways

2. 2 gates

3. 2 destinations

4. 2 groups

Read Matthew 7:15-20

There have been and always will be false prophets. How do you distinguish a false prophet from one of God’s prophets?

1. Satan is the great imitator.

2. They preach “cheap grace”.

3. What fruits?

a. Manner & conduct

b. Contrary to Biblical teachings

c. Ulterior motives

Be careful not to rush to judgment! Fruit takes time to ripen.

Testing is not a one time occurrence. See 1 John 4:1-3.

Week 13: Ask, Seek & Knock

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Read Matthew 7:7-12

1. Remember the audience!

2. A little Greek lesson:

Aorist imperative -

Present imperative -

3. But why? Romans 8:26-27

A. Ready to give or ready to receive?

B. Don't those who don't pray also receive?

C. Prayer isn't always productive?

4. For what does Jesus intend us to pray?

5. The Golden Rule - a positive application

Week 12: Logs, Specks, & Pearls

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Read Matthew 7:1-6

The lesson is a synthesis of several commentators' interpretations.

This section addresses our Christian behavior towards different groups of people.

1. Brothers. From our previous discussion of familial relationships, this would be fellow Christians.

a. Is Jesus saying we should not correct each other? See Galatians 6:1; 1 Corinthians 5:9-14.

b. How is judgment wrongly applied? See Romans 2:1-4.

c. What should be the Christian attitude of judgment of a brother?

2. Those outside the family - a fine line

a. This isn't the only place Jesus speaks about not being "un-evangelistic." Matthew 10:11-16

b. Those who are seeking

c. Those looking for an argument. See Romans 1:28-32.

3. How do we relate to each group?

Week 11: Anxiety

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Read Matthew 6:25-34

1. Therefore...

2. Is it possible to not worry?

3. What is he source of most anxiety?

4. The radical read equals slothfulness. See 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13.

5. Anxiety is a lack of trust.

6. We are more highly regarded than birds and lilies. See Psalm 8:5 and Matthew 10:26-31.

7. What is the difference between God's kingdom and God's righteousness?

8. There is a hidden message in verse 34.

9. The final word - 1 Peter 5: 7 - Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you!

Week 9: Prayer

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 Read Matthew 6:5-15  

1. When, not if!

2.  What is the issue that Jesus addresses when he talks about how to pray?  

3. There is a potential irony in verse 7 and following.  

4. The hyper-Calvinists say there is no need to pray because of what Jesus says in verse 8. The Arminians say God does nothing until asked. What is the truth?

5.  Does God always reward? If not, why not? 1 John 3:22  

6. Why is it called "The Lord's Prayer"?

7.   "Our Father.....". Radical from the start.  

8. God is not the universal father of all men! See John 8:42-44.

9.  The first 3 phrases of the prayer set priority.  

10. Hallowed means _______. This is directly related to the first 3 commandments.  

11. How does the phrase "thy kingdom come" fit into our understanding of the Kingdom of God?

12.   Is "thy will be done" a petition or an affirmation?

13.   Daily bread. Remember the story of Israel in the wilderness. Jesus expands on this in verse 25.

14.   Is forgiving someone a condition for your own forgiveness?  

15. Does God lead us into temptation? See James 1:2-4. So deliver us from evil.  

16. This covers all of needs: physical (bread), spiritual (forgiveness), moral (deliverance form evil).

Week 8: Loving Our Enemies

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Read Matthew 5:43-48

1. Agape love - God's love. What does that mean? Romans 5:7-8, 1 John 4:10

2. What about the Old Testament? Genesis, Psalm 143:12; Judges 5:31; James 4:4

3. From exceeding the righteousness of the Pharisees to" be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect!" How??? Hebrews 10:14; Philippians 3:12;

4. It's an ongoing process. Philippians 1:6; Romans 8:28-29

Read Matthew 6:1-4

1. 3 forms of "religiousness" addressed.

2. Not if, but when!

3. Do not seek the approval of men.

4. Do not seek even your own self satisfaction.

5. Is there a conflict between this teaching and Matthew 5:16?

6. The who, what, when, where and why of the reward.

Week 7: Oaths & Revenge

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Read Matthew 5:33-37

 1. What are some common oaths we hear? Look at Deuteronomy 10:20.  

2. The Pharisees developed elaborate rules for making oaths. Jesus developed his objection more in Matthew 23:16-22.

3. Didn't God teach and take oaths? Genesis 22:15-18; Jeremiah 12:14-17. Even Paul? Romans 1:9, Philippians 1:8.  

4. What is Jesus trying to say?  Read Matthew 5:38-42

5. The Old Testament law Jesus is referring to is Exodus 21:23-25. So is Jesus contradicting the law?  

6. What does Jesus mean about resisting an evil person?

7. Is Jesus asking us to become pushovers?

8. Scripture upon scripture: Romans 12:14-21. (Deuteronomy 32:35) Examples: Joseph, David (1 Samuel 26:10) Jesus on trial. 1 Peter 2:21-23  

9. An eternal struggle!!!

Week 6: Marriage & Divorce

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Read Matthew 5:31-32

1. The exception is the sticky part. It's not even mentioned in Mark or Luke.

2. The Old Testament basis for the question: Deuteronomy 24:1-4. Malachi 2:13-16.

3. What is the original word in the text?

4. The New Testament response. 1 Corinthians 7: 10-16; 2 Corinthians 6:14

5. The story of Hosea and Gomer.

6. What else does Jesus say? Matthew 19:3-11. What is the real question?

7. What is the holy correlation?

Week 5: Murder & Lust

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Read Matthew 5: 21-30

1. What is murder?

2. When is anger justified? John 2:13-17; Ephesians 4:26; Matthew 23:13-33

3. What causes un-righteous anger?

4. How do you deal with anger?

a. Acknowledge the source

b. Correct the injustice. 1 John 3:18, 20

c. Immediately

d. Prayer Romans 12:2

5. What is the meaning of "fool"?

a. Raca

b. More

6. Why does Jesus say that lusting is bad? Does this have more to do with the 10th commandment than the 7th? James 1:13-15

7. Run!!! 2Timothy 2:22; Joseph and Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39)

8. Does Jesus really want us to maim ourselves? Matthew 19:12

Week 4: The Law and The Prophets

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Read Matthew 5: 17-20

1. Why was it necessary for Jesus to say this? See Mark 1:27; Mark 2:23 -3:6; Luke 4:16-20

2. What does it mean to "fulfill the law"? Jeremiah 3:33-34

3. What does it mean to "fulfill the prophets"? Genesis 3:15; Genesis 22:18; Psalm 22; Isaiah 53; Jeremiah 33:14-15

4. Why was this so important to Matthew?

5. What are a jot and tittle? Jot is smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet. For a tittle look at Psalm 119:9,81.

6. How is it possible for our righteousness to exceed that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law? Philippians 3:7-9

Week 3: Salt & Light

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This is the beginning of a new section of the sermon. Jesus has pronounced the blessing (benediction). Now he is ready to tell what those blessings look like in practice.

Read Matthew 5: 13-16

1. What does salt do or what is it used for?

For an extra note see 2 Kings 2:20-21

2. What is the multiplier effect?

3. What must you do with salt to make it effective?

Salt represents covenant. Read Numbers 18:9; Leviticus 2:13; 2 Chronicles 13:5

4. Why are we light?

5. What does light do?

Read Genesis 1:3-5

6. How does being salt and light relate to the beatitudes?

Week 2: Beatitudes

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Why was it so important to Matthew to record in such detail the "Sermon on the Mount"?  

1. "Blessed" also means "happy" .

2. There could be a now and later element. 

3. The Beatitudes are the preamble to what's coming, the benediction before the sermon.

 Read Matthew 5: 6-12  

1. What happens when you are hungry and thirsty?

2. Righteousness = Holiness  

3. If righteousness brings happiness, is there any doubt why mankind is never truly happy?

The first four beatitudes concern man's relationship with a holy God. The remaining beatitudes are concerned with man's relationship with other men. Sound familiar?  

4. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Therefore, as we shall see later if we do not repay evil with evil, if we turn the other cheek, so shall we obtain mercy from the ultimate judge.

5. Is this statement convoluted? Is this promoting works salvation?  

6. What does scripture say about the heart? 

A. Jeremiah 17:9 

B. Matthew 12:34 

C. Matthew 15:19 

D. Romans 2:5  

8. How does one go about being a peacemaker? See also Romans 12:18  

9. The first of a double blessing. The first of these is very misused. Exactly what causes persecution?

10. What is the cause of persecution in verse 11?

11. Based on this interpretation, what is our responsibility?

12. Other scriptures: 1 Peter 5:12-19; John 15:19-20; Acts 5:41.  

13. What do we gain? Now and then? 1 Peter 5:10-11; Hebrews 11:24-26

Week 1: Introduction

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Background & Be Attitudes

Reading with the proper perspective

1. This is not a good introduction to the person and mission of Jesus.

2. There is no mention of what saves us all.

3. Is this an eschatology statement?

Read Matthew 5: 1-2

1. What are we told has happened immediately preceding this passage?

2. What is the significance of going up the mountainside?

Moses and the giving of the law.

3. To whom was the sermon delivered?

The Beatitudes are not suggestions of how to behave in certain circumstances or just reminders that things will get better when we have a bad day. They are instructions for daily, eternal living.

Read Matthew 5: 4-6

1. What does it mean to be poor in spirit?

2. See Proverbs 3: 34 (also 1 Peter 5: 5 & James 4:6), Psalm 101: 5; Psalm 138: 6 and Philippians 2: 5-11

3. What is the reward for the poor in spirit?

4. For what do people mourn?

5. See Psalm 126: 5-6 and Revelation 21: 4

6. What is the reward for those who mourn?

7. What does the world think of meek people?

8. This is an almost direct quote of Psalm 37:11. How does it describe meek people?

9. When speaking of himself, how does Jesus describe meek in Matthew 11: 29?

Book Reviews

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List...

Week 6: Love and Respect

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Every husband must love his wife as himself, and every wife must respect her husband. Ephesians 5:33

According to Emerson Eggerichs:
Without love, the wife reacts without respect. Without respect, the husband reacts without love.

And conversely:
His love motivates her respect. Her respect motivates his love.

Obedience to this Scripture being:
He loves regardless of her respect. She respects regardless of his love.

But what does it look like?

How to spell love to your wife: COUPLE

C: Closeness – physically, spiritually, emotionally
Genesis 2:24: That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

O: Openness - not keeping negative feelings hidden – getting it all out on the table – sharing your heart

U: Understanding - empathize, listen, not just offer quick fix

P: Peacemaking - reconciling/resolving conflict

L: Loyalty - being completely committed

E: Esteem - treasuring her above all else, honoring and cherishing her

How to spell respect to your husband: CHAIRS

C: Conquest - appreciating his desire to work and achieve (to conquer the challenges of his world)

H: Hierarchy - appreciating his desire to protect and provide

A: Authority - appreciating his desire to serve and to lead (to make decisions)

I: Insight - appreciating his desire to analyze and counsel

R: Relationship - appreciating his desire for shoulder-to-shoulder friendship

S: Sexuality - appreciating his desire for sexual intimacy

Resources used:

Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs
Love and Respect marriage conference workbook
14 Secrets to a Better Marriage by Dave Earley

Take Home Payoff:
Following are some questions from Love and Respect.

For husbands:
1. Closeness – Am I always remembering to move toward her and accept her need to talk and connect with me to be reassured of my love?
2. Openness – Do I share my thoughts with her, and am I sure I'm not resisting her efforets to draw me out?
3. Understanding – Am I careful not to try to “fix” her every time she talks about one of her concerns or problems? Am I remembering that she is an integrated personality and whatever happens affects all of her, especially her emotions?
4. Peacemaking – Am I always willing to resolve issues, and am I careful to never say, “Let's just drop it and move on”?
5. Loyalty – Do I constantly look for ways to tell her that I will be loyal to her forever – that she's the one love of my life, the only woman for me?
6. Esteem – Do I always let her know that I treasure her and put highest value on her as a person? Do I let her know that what she does and thinks are important to me? Does she know I couldn't possibly do without her?

For wives:
1. Conquest – Am I always standing behind him and letting him know I support him in his work and endeavors in his field?
2. Hierarchy – Do I let him know I respect and appreciate his desire to protect and provide for me and the family? What have I said recently to communicate this?
3. Authority – Have I gone on record that, because he has the primary responsibility for me (even to die for me), I recognize him as having the primary authority? Do I let him be the leader? How have I helped in that regard recently?
4. Insight – Do I trust his ability to analyze things and offer solutions and not just depend on my “intuition”?
5. Relationship – do I spend shoulder-to-shoulder time with him whenever I can? Do I let him know that I am his friend as well as his lover?
6. Sexuality – Do I honor his need for sexual closeness, even when I don't feel like it?

Week 5: Conflict Resolution

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Unresolved conflict leads to resentment and bitterness. Hurt and resentment = a wall.

Essential Tools for Pulling Down the Wall:
1. Humility: “I was wrong.” Recognize your part in the conflict.
2. Sensitivity: “I am sorry.” Acknowledge the hurt your spouse felt as a result of your actions. “A true apology is more than just acknowledgement of a mistake. It is recognition that something you have said or done has damaged your relationsp – and that you care enough about the relationship to want it repaired and restored.”
3. Reconciliation: “Please forgive me.” Why is this step important?
4. Restoration: “I forgive you.” and “I love you.” Forgive as quickly and completely as possible. If forgiveness is hard, ask God to help you. (...forgiving one another, even as God in Christ has forgiven you.)

Set aside a regular time to tear down the wall, air out concerns, and keep the wall from being built.

• Pray about any conflict before your conversation.
• Begin with affirmation, and use affirmation throughout the discussion
• Stay controlled (In your anger, do not sin)
• Be willing to take blame
• Express hurt instead of hostility
• Make direct statements
• Make “I feel” statements
• Avoid gunpowder words:
Exaggerations/absolutes: never, always, most, least, worst, biggest
Derogatory or sarcastic labels or names
Comparisons: “_____ always does _____ for his wife” or “____ would never treat her husband like this”
Defensive attacking responses: “What about you? I don't see you doing ____”
Manipulative threats: “If you do that again, I'll ____”
• Deal with only one problem at a time
• Deal with present problems, not the past (Don't keep bringing up old issues/replaying the same arguments)
• Commit to being solution centered

Recognize when a third party might be helpful – trusted friends, professional counselor

For those that would rather avoid conflict – Be Honest! If you feel hurt, anger, resentment, but you don't know why, or you feel it is unjustified, or you just don't know how to get it into words, it may be tempting to tell your spouse and yourself that nothing is wrong. This is not helpful. Get it out on the table and deal with it. Ask God for help.

Helpful Scriptures: Eph. 4:25-32, Prov. 15:1, Matt. 5:23-25, Col. 3:12-15, Rom. 12:18

Resources used:

14 Secrets to a Better Marriage by Dave Earley
Fit To Be Tied by Bill and Lynn Hybels

Take Home Payoff:
1. How was conflict handled in your family of origin? Your spouse's family of origin?
2. Is there distance in your relationship with your spouse?
3. Without accusing your spouse, what problem can you own and admit?
4. Where have you been insensitive to your mate's feelings?
5. What do you need to ask forgiveness for?
6. What do you need to forgive?

Week 4: Communication

2012-02-06T09:38:00.000-08:00

“Communication God's way is certainly not “unloading”—backing up your dump truck of gripes, disappointments, and frustrations and releasing the load on the head of your mate. It is the free exchange of thoughts, ideas, and opinions shared between two or more people who are willing to be open, honest, and, yes, vulnerable.”

—Kay Arthur, A Marriage Without Regrets

“An emotional word picture is a communication tool that uses a story or object to activate simultaneously the emotions and intellect of a person. In so doing, it causes the person to experience our words, not just hear them.” The Language of Love, Gary Smalley and John Trent

In one picture from his experience, Smalley describes shopping with his wife: turns out he was hunting clothing for her (stalk it, bag it, get it home and watch football), while she was using the clothing as a light distraction while they focused on talking for hours.

Preschool study: “100 percent of the sounds coming from the girls' mouths were audible, recognizable words. The girls each spent a great deal of time talking to other children—and nearly as much talking to themselves! As for the little boys, only 68 percent of their sounds were understandable words! The remaining 32 percent were either one-syllable sounds like 'uh' and 'mmm,' or sound effects like 'Varoom!' 'Yaaaaah!' and 'Zooooom!'”

and the How-To for these pictures:

establish a clear purpose; carefully study the other person's interests; draw from four inexhaustible wells (nature and its wonders, everyday objects, imaginary stories, past experiences and remembrances); rehearse your story; pick a convenient time without distractions; try and try again; milk your word picture for all it's worth!

The book's aim: teach people to use these word pictures as “Pillars that Support a Fulfilling Marriage”

The first three--Building a Bridge of Intimacy that won't wash away; Security: a Warm Blanket of love; Meaningful Communication: Talking Heart to Heart

The additional three—Emotional/Romantic Times: Creating Moods that Bond; Meaningful Touch: the Silent Language of Love; Spiritual Intimacy

“four essential factors of marriage that must be in place before good communication can happen:”

1. uphold the priority of your marriage

[--Arthur notes a survey: 61% of married men said their wives are too focused on the kids..]

2. uphold the permanence of your marriage (Matthew 19:6)

3. uphold the oneness of your marriage (physical, emotional, spiritual)

4. uphold the openness of your marriage (transparency, hiding nothing from each other)

--Kay Arthur in A Marriage Without Regrets; all four are based on Genesis 2:24-25

In 14 Secrets, Earley offers these suggestions for "connecting with your spouse's heart" --

CONNECT BY UNDERSTANDING:

1. Talk less, listen more

2. Give your mate your full attention

3. Rewire yourself to learn (ie, don't assume you already know everything there is to know about your spouse or his/her dreams, fears, etc.)

4. Look for unspoken fears, concerns, moods, aspirations (sometimes your spouse doesn't even realize what is really driving his or her concern/reaction, etc.)

CONNECT BY HONORING

1. See it from your mate's perspective

2. Show genuine interest

3. Make your mate feel important

4. Express gratitude

CONNECT BY BUILDING TOGETHERNESS (like a diamond with many facets, we should build connections in many ways to strengthen the relationship)

1. physical connectedness through intimacy and physical affection

2. intellectual connectedness through sharing the world of ideas

3. creative unity built through sharing in creative acts

4. relational togetherness developed through shared experiences of fun and play

5. working connectedness by participating in tasks together

6. crisis intimacy that comes by going through hard issues, real problems, and pain together

7. conflict unity gained by facing and struggling through differences effectively together

8. spiritual intimacy gained by growing closer to God in an ongoing partnership

Kay's tips--”sharpening your skills” (different applications in marriage and the rest of life...)

1. Learn to communicate with your eyes (using them to show love, interest, attention, etc.)

2. Give the gift of your full attention

3. Respond when someone speaks to you (Keep an interactive conversation going)

4. Keep a confidence. (Maintain trust)

5. Avoid pat answers. (Take the time to listen and consider the uniqueness of the situation)

6. Allow your mate to open up about his or her fears.

7. Continually look for ways to build your mate's self-esteem.

8. When you talk, don't attack!

9. Never, never let the sun go down on your wrath. (Ephesians 4:26-27)

10. The word “divorce” should never be in your vocabulary.

Biblical exhortations regarding our Speech:

Proverbs 18:21
Colossians 3:12-17
James 3
Ephesians 4:14-16, 29; 5:4
Galatians 5:19-26
Psalm 34:13-14
James 1:19
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Take Home Payoff:

A few of today's questions come from the Homebuilders booklet on Improving Communication, from the GSPC library. It would be a great book for one or more couples to work through...

Other questions come from Earley's book, 14 Secrets to a Better Marriage, and are even more clearly designed to be discussed as a couple.

Thinking of how you communicate, what TV character would you compare yourself to? Why? (If safe to answer, to what character would you compare your spouse/significant other? Why?)

What do you like best about how your spouse (or other important person) communicates with you?

What could you do to make your marriage and/or your family a higher priority in your life? What will you do this week?

If you could change one thing about the direction of our marriage, what would it be?

If there were one thing I could do to help you move more quickly toward your goals, what would it be?

What's the one thing you're proudest of accomplishing?

At this moment in your life (or in our marriage), what is your biggest fear?

Week 3: Roles

2012-02-06T09:32:00.000-08:00

Gender Roles: Husbands & Wives

Scripture gives instructions to husbands and wives in the way they should relate to each other.

Read Ephesians 5:15-33:

Beginning with v. 15, what instructions are given to all believers?

What instructions are given specifically to wives? To husbands?

Colossians 3:18-19 and 23-24

Genesis 3:16-21

1 Tim. 2:9—15

Genesis 4:7

Song of Solomon 7:10

Take Home Payoff:

Read Ephesians 5:15-17. Paul talks about wisdom/foolishness. How does a person relate wisely to his/ her spouse? How does understanding what the Lord's will is help us to avoid being foolish? Can you think of recent examples when you were knowingly foolish and/or especially wise in your marriage relationship, or other relationships?
From Ephesians 5:22-33, list the ways husbands are to relate to their wives. List the ways wives are to relate to their husbands. Which of these things is the hardest for you to do in your relationship? Why? (If you are single, what do you think would be the hardest for you personally, and why?
Ephesians 5:20 speaks of giving thanks. Name some specific things about your spouse for which you are thankful.
Consider Acts 5:29 and Eph. 5:24. When should a wife NOT be subject to/submit to her husband? Are any of those instances relevant to you?
Consider Eph 5:25 (and if you can find any verse that might overrule it, please let us know next week!). When should a husband NOT sacrificially love his wife? What does such love look like in your understanding?
The issues—and biblical teachings—bound up in questions 4 and 5 could lead to some prayerful changes around our homes. Please consider such work.

Week 2: Marriage as Covenant

2012-02-06T09:25:00.000-08:00

Recap of last week: the Foundations of Marriage
The Christian life is one of love, service, and devotion, all directed toward Christ and therefore toward others. It follows that demonstrating such faithfulness in marriage allows us to hope--perhaps expect--that God will use our dedication to draw us nearer to Him. Our class discussion showed that we hope for holiness and joy, both made more complete in a marriage relationship founded on Christ's call to take up our crosses and follow Him.

Marriage is described a as a covenant in the Bible:
Pr. 2:16-17: [Wisdom] will save you from the adulteress...who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God.

Mal. 2:13-14: Another thing you do: You flood the Lord's altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, Why?” It is because the Lord is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.

What do we know about Biblical covenants?

How do we see elements of covenant in modern marriage ceremonies?

Spiritual well-being is linked to fidelity in the marriage covenant:

Mal 2:13-14
I Pet. 3:7
Matt. 5:23-24 (not specific to marriage, but can certainly be applicable)

“Christian marriage is not merely a social contract between two people. Biblical marriage is a sacred, lifelong covenant between three people – husband, wife, and God.”
--Dave Earley, 14 Secrets to a Better Marriage

Elements of Covenant Marriage

Unconditional Commitment

Sacrifice

Faithfulness

Security

Strength (Eccl. 4:12 “a three-fold cord is not quickly broken”)

Deeper fulfillment

Marriage Conferences/Events:
(click on an event below to go to their website for more information, dates, etc.)

Weekend to Remember
The Art of Marriage
Love and Respect

Take Home Payoff:

Biblical marriage is described as a covenant between three people – the husband, the wife, and
God. How much of a role does God play in your marriage? How do you incorporate Him into
your relationship with each other? What are ways you could grow in this?
One of the elements of a covenant marriage is sacrifice. Describe a sacrifice your spouse has made for your benefit or for the benefit of the relationship. Express your appreciation for that sacrifice.

Quote to Ponder regarding Covenants:

"The premise is simple: God created all things and set mankind as the pinnacle of creation. Then, God made a covenant with all of creation through mankind. Unfortunately, mankind turned away from God's covenant thus cursing themselves and all of creation. But, God did not give up. He kept His mercy and grace outstretched to us so that we may find our way back to Him through the path of salvation. Thus, the story of salvation history and the series of covenants that God formed with mankind begins.

Through Adam and Eve, the first two humans, in their primordial covenant with God, everything was the way it was supposed to be. Creation was at its state of origin and goodness. All was in fulfillment of its design… until the “fall” where everything became “not what it was supposed to be.” Mankind abused their free will and chose to alter the relationship that God created. But, we have a God that is merciful and loving beyond human comprehension. Therefore, God threw into action another plan. He did everything that was necessary to keep humankind in existence and still be able to embrace their purpose – to embrace love - to embrace covenant with God. He re-established the broken covenant from one with a couple into one (that became a little bit bigger) with a household (Noah and his family). Eventually, mankind disobeyed Him again, so, God attempted another, bigger covenant with a tribe (Abraham and his people) which humankind failed again, then to Moses and his many tribes (a nation - failed), and then to the entire kingdom of David (failed). Humankind, through all of HIStory, has failed to stay loyal to God and remain in fulfillment with Him due to the stain of original sin and the fall of Adam and Eve that we all inherit. From that bloodline, all of mankind inherited a tainted and skewed nature that gives us the instinct where being one in mind and heart with God has become an uphill battle. So, God did something amazing. He did something that humanity did not deserve. He showed us His divine and unsurpassable mercy in a way that is so far beyond our worthiness. We couldn’t do it ourselves so therefore, through the service of one holy woman, GOD BECAME MAN and fixed the covenant between humankind and Himself for all of time. Through the volunteering of Mary, the culmination of human participation in salvation history, Jesus Christ, God Himself incarnate, was born human, fulfilled the covenant through His life, death, and resurrection and thus has finally offered us salvation."

from Going Deeper: Logic Meets Religion

How People Change

2012-02-06T09:06:00.001-08:00

List...

World of the Bible, part II

2012-02-06T09:04:00.001-08:00

List...

The Gospel of John

2012-02-06T09:03:00.001-08:00

List...

Sermon on the Mount

2011-12-05T08:38:00.001-08:00

This class was taught by Quay Youngblood, a Good Shepherd Elder, in the Fall of 2011. He wrote his own material.

Week 1: Introduction

Week 2: Beatitudes

Week 3: Salt & Light

Week 4: The Law & The Prophets

Week 5: Murder & Lust

Week 6: Marriage & Divorce

Week 7: Oaths & Revenge

Week 8: Loving Your Enemies

Week 9: Prayer

Week 10:

Week 11: Anxiety

Week 12: Logs, Specks & Pearls

Week 13: Ask, Seek & Knock

Week 14: Paths, Gates, Trees, & Fruit

Week 15: Conclusion

Grace in the OT Law

2011-12-05T08:37:00.003-08:00

List...

Love & Marriage

2011-12-05T08:37:00.001-08:00

This class was co-taught by Graham Meeks, a Good Shepherd Elder, and Heather Austell, Pastor Robert's wife, in the Spring of 2011. They combined material from many different books on godly, biblical marriage, because they felt that not just one had "all the answers."

Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: Marriage as Covenant
Week 3: Roles
Week 4: Communication
Week 5: Conflict Resolution
Week 6: Love & Respect
Week 7:
Week 8:
Week 9:
Week 10:
Week 11:
Week 12:
Week 13:
Week 14:
Week 15:

Bible Memory Challenge (March 2011)

2011-03-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

this article was originally printed on the CE page of the Good Shepherd newsletter, March 2011

BIBLE MEMORY CHALLENGE

I have hidden Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11

On the first day of the new semester of Sunday School, our adults classes had a special visitor. Abby Austell came into our classes and shared with us what she and the other 3-5^th graders have been working on in their Sunday School class. They have been studying the book of James inductively with Kay's Arthur's Discover 4 Yourself series for kids. In inductive study, kids learn to read and interpret the Bible for themselves. In this study, they learn how to solve their problems by pretending to a newspaper advice columnist answering questions with advice from the book of James. As part of their study, they were challenged to memorize the whole first chapter of James (27 verses!!!). When Abby visited our class, recited the whole chapter perfectly!

Abby described how she was able to memorize so much so quickly (if you want advice, feel free to ask her!) and then talked about how memorizing this chapter has made a difference in her life. She talked about getting frustrated with her sister and wanting to yell at her, but remembering the passage from James about “bridling your tongue” helped her (even in the moment of anger) to stop and cool down and deal with the situation wisely. Pretty amazing for a 10 year old, huh? Or even a 34 year old.

Abby showed us what anyone who has ever memorized Scripture will tell you. There is nothing like having God's Word “hidden in your heart” to change the way you live your life. Although researching the Bible later to see what God says about something is great, when you have Scripture memorized, it comes immediately to mind when you're in the middle of a tough situation. I find myself constantly repeating words of Scripture in my mind or under my breath like a mantra when I'm having a tough day, like “Be anxious for nothing...” (Philippians 4:6) or “The Lord is my ever-present help in times of trouble...” (Psalm 46:1) or “Love is patient, love is kind...” (1 Corinthians 13) or “Do not provoke your children to anger...” (Ephesians 6:4). And of course, having those words on the tip of your tongue when you're sharing your faith with others always helps, too!

So, be inspired by Abby's story! Try memorizing Scripture. You can start small, just one or two verses. Pick something that is special to you or think of what you may need to repeat to yourself in your tough situations and research verses about that (on biblegateway.com or feel free to ask me, I'm happy to help!). Or join me in memorizing parts of Psalm 119 – David's love song to the Word of God. We're on the third section now (v. 17-24 for the month of February), but you can start at the beginning and go slower if you want. And if you want, you can recite what you've memorized to me and I'll give you candy, just like we do with the kids. And if you memorize a whole chapter like Abby did, you can get a doughnut party too.

If you need any advice or help with memorizing, give me a call or email – kathy@gspc.net or 704-668-3467. Or talk to Abby, she'd probably be even better at helping!

February 27: Torah, part 1

2011-03-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

TORAH

Torah/Pentateuch Overview:
Hebrew - “instruction/teaching”; Greek - Pentateuch - “five” + “book”
their Hebrew names are simply the first word of the book
613 mitzvot "commandments"= 365 restrictions, 248 positive commands
Mosaic Authorship vs. Documentary Hypothesis (J,E,D,P,H)

Genesis - Bereshit - “in the beginning”
repeated phrase - “and it came to pass...”

Genesis 1 - 11 - Pre-Patriarchs (original sin)
1-4: Creation & Fall
5: Genealogy
6-9: Flood
10: Genealogy
11: Tower of Babel

Genesis 12-50 - Patriarchal Age (covenant promise)
12-24: Abraham (12, 15, 17: covenant)
25-26: Isaac (Ishmael)
27-36: Jacob (Esau)
37-50: Joseph (11 others)

Exodus - Shemot - “names” (God keeps His promises; covenant law)
repeated phrase - “I am the God of your Fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”
1-4: Moses birth - burning bush
5-12: Moses in Egypt (12: Passover)
13-18: Exodus from Egypt (1445 BC)
19-31: The Law
32: The Golden Calf
33-40: The Tabernacle & Its Utensils

Leviticus - Vayikra - “He called” (Holiness)
repeated phrase - “I am YHWH who sanctifies you”
1-7: Taberacle: Offerings (burnt/gift, peace, purification, reparation) & Priests
11-15: Clean/Unclean
16: Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) *exact center of the Torah
17-27: Holiness Code (including Festival Times)

Numbers - Bamidbar - “in the desert” (Israel breaks the covenant)
repeated phrase - “so the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses”
1-9: Census & Arrangement @ Sinai
repeated phrase - “Israel grumbled”
10-21: Journey from Sinai to Moab (14: Israel condemned for unbelief; 21: bronze serpent)
22-36: @ Moab before crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land (24: Balaam and the donkey)
26-36: Census & renewing law for a new generation

Deuteronomy - Devarim - “words/things” (renewing the covenant)
repeated phrase: “Hear, O Israel!”
@ Moab, opposite Jericho before the Israelites cross into Promised Land
1-4: first speech: Moses reviews
4-11: second speech: obey God! (6: Shema)
12-26: re-proclamation of the Law
27-28: covenant renewal: curses/blessings
29-30: third speech: restoration promised

The Covenant

2011-03-19T22:14:00.000-07:00

Because covenant is the overarching theme of both the Old and New Testaments, we started our class by studying how God's covenant with Adam, then Noah, then Abraham, then Moses, then David, all connect to one another and point ahead to the New Covenant in Christ.

We started by putting each of books of the Old Testament on a covenant time line:

Then we talked about God's covenant with man from Adam - Jesus. For each new covenant, we identified the prologue (what God had done for the man or nation - which gives Him the right to make these covenant demands of him/them), the stipulations, the blessings & curses, and the sign of the covenant.

God's Covenant with Adam: Genesis 1-3

prologue: God created them and provided for them
stipulations: be fruitful & multiply, do not eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
blessings: relationship with God; provision
curses: brokenness in relationship with God; death

God's Covenant with Noah: Genesis 6-9

prologue: God saved them and provided for them
stipulations: be fruitful & multiply, do not shed blood or eat blood
blessings/promise: never to destroy the earth with a flood again; everlasting promise to all generations*
curses: death penalty for murder
sign: rainbow

God's Covenant with Abraham: Genesis 12-17

prologue: God called him and promises to save his descendants
stipulations: walk before Me and be blameless
blessings/promise: great nation (sons & land), great name, be your God, bless you so that you will be a blessing
curses: God's death**
sign: circumcision

God's Covenant with Moses: Exodus 19-Deuteronomy (specifically Exodus 19-23; Leviticus 19:37; 20:8; 21:8; 22:9, 32; 20:23; Exodus 12:7, 13, 24-27 & 24:7-8; Deuteronomy 31:9-13; 17:18-20; Exodus 20:18; Deuteronomy 4:36; 30:19; and Deuteronomy 28)***

prologue: God saved/redeemed them from Egypt, and provided for them in the wilderness
stipulations: 10 commandments and others; obey/keep these laws, be holy
blessings/promise: holy nation, conquer the land and enemies, fertility, wealth, power, many in number, be your God
curses: lose the land, overthrown by enemies, infertility, poverty, few in numbers, sent into exile****
sign: Passover, covenant meal - blood sprinkled

God's Covenant with David: 2 Samuel 7:4-16

prologue: God called him and saved him, provided land, wealth, power for him, overthrew his enemies for him, made him king
stipulations: none
blessings/promise: great name, land, land, rest from his enemies, be your God/Father, everlasting kingdom*****
curses: none
sign: none

God's Covenant with The Church (aka The New Covenant or the Covenant of Jesus): Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 37:26-28; Matthew 5:21-48; John 13:34-35; 14:15-26; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25; Romans 6:3-4)

prologue: God was our husband, created us, provided for us, saved us
stipulations: be perfect, love
blessings/promise: write the Law on our hearts - give us the Spirit to dwell IN us, eternal life, forgive sin, give us peace, be our God
curses: eternal death, separation from God
sign: Baptism (relates back to flood waters and waters of purification in Leviticus), Lord's Supper (relates back to Passover meal) - Christ's body/blood

It is easy to see, when written out like this, the unity of these covenants - that the same God developed His one covenant with man over the course of human history, renewing it and updating it with each new person. The God of each of these covenants is our Creator, our Savior/Redeemer, our Provider, our Warrior, our Husband, our Father, and our King. In each of these covenants, what He desires is RELATIONSHIP with His people, what He really cares about is the heart. It is significant that, when His people break the covenant, instead of throwing the people out and starting over with someone new, God renews His covenant, updates His covenant - He continues to prove that He is faithful, even when we are not.

------------------------------------------------------------------

* everlasting promise: this covenant has an everlasting promise that has no stipulation attached - no matter what, God will never again destroy the earth by flood (the curse in this covenant is connected to the stipulations, but the promise/blessing is not - it is unconditional) - God is faithful, even when we are unfaithful!!

** Genesis15: We talked in-depth about the meaning of this passage. This was a traditional covenant-cutting ceremony that was practiced in the ancient Near East whenever a suzerain and vassal established their covenant. Typically, the vassal would cut the animals in half, lay them on altars (notice these were the types of animals used for sacrifices in Leviticus) on either side of a path and then the vassal would walk through the animals, saying, "If I break this covenant, let be done to me what was done to these animals" - many suzerains took this very literally and when someone broke a covenant with them, they would cut them in half and burned them on an altar. In this story, instead of asking Abraham to walk between the pieces, GOD HIMSELF in the form of a firepot walks between the pieces, saying, "If you, Abraham, or any of your descendants, break this covenant, let it be done TO ME what was done to these animals" - God was instituting from the beginning, way back in Genesis - that if man broke His covenant with God, God would come to earth and die. This, of course, is a foreshadowing of Christ's death - that He was cut and broken and died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, reminding us yet again, God is faithful, even when we are unfaithful!!

*** God's covenant with Moses is the one whose structure is that of an official suzerain/vassal treaty of the ANE time period, so it has more parts to it than the rest - in addition to what we have listed here, it also has witnesses (heaven and earth) and a required time for it to be read aloud to the people (every seven years, during the Feast of Booths) - the king also was supposed to read it and meditate on it day and night

**** Note that these curses are the opposites of the blessings (you can read about the curses and blessings in Deuteronomy 28)

***** Another everlasting promise: no matter what, God will build an everlasting kingdom from a descendant of David - God is faithful, even when we are unfaithful!!

The World of the Bible Class - Jan. 23, 2011 (Class #17)

2011-01-25T19:42:00.000-08:00

Class #17 - "The Gates of Hell (or Hades)" - Caesarea Philippi

Lesson Outline

A. First we read the scripture from Matthew 16:13-23, where Jesus talks with His disciples at Caesarea Philippi. This town was built by Philip, the son of Herod the Great and was a pagan town, north of Galilee. It is also known as Banyias (or other names, see below) It was a very "spiritual" place over the years and was a site of Baal worship in Old Testament times. During Jesus' day, the immoral worship of the Greek/Roman god Pan took place there. Curiously, this place is also at the beginning point for the Jordan River, a source of vital water for the region.

B. We then discussed several of the parts from this passage:

1) verse 16 - Peter's declaration "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” In the King James or New King James, this reads "Christ." Christ was the Greek word for Messiah which means The Annointed One. It comes from the Hebrew meaning to rub (as oil).

Christ is not Jesus' last name. It was a title which signified His role and calling.
Priests and Prophets were annointed in the Old Testament by rubbing oil on them as a sign of God's choosing them for their particular role.
There were many prophecies about the Announted One (Messiah) to the Jews and they looked for this to happen for generations. Their expectations were very high, especially now that the Romans were in control of the nation.
For Peter to call Jesus the Messiah was his acknowlegement that Jesus fulfilled all those prophecies - and there were a lot of expectations out there for the Messiah to fulfill.
While Jesus did not shout out that He was the Messiah, He didn't shy away from acknowledging it himself when directly asked in John 4:25-26 by the Woman at the Well or in Mark 14:61-64 by Pilate.

2) Verse 18 - Jesus says "...I will build my Church..." What did He mean by Building the church and what was the Church?

To "build" is the Greek word which means literally "to build a house or a dwelling". It is the same word translated elsewhere in the New Testament as "edify" or "edification," such as in Rom 14:19, Rom 15:2, or 1 Thes 5:11
Therefore Jesus was talking about building a dwelling place where God would live, looking ahead to Pentecost when the Holy Spirit would dwell in God's people (not to mention 70 AD when the Temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed)
The Church is the Greek word which means Called out or Calling. Therefore the Church are those called by God to become the place where God chooses to dwell.
We help to build God's Dwelling when we are working to edify or strengthen each other in the Lord within the Church.

3) verse 18 - "the gates of Hades" - some translations use "hell"

The Greek concept of Hades comes from both the god of the underworld who was called Hades, and the place of the dead which Hades ruled which also was called Hades.
The concept is closer to the Jewish Old Testament concept of Sheol as a shadowy place where the dead go rather than our concept of Hell which involves eternal punishment and torment. (see also 1 Samuel 2:6 (NASB))
The gate is part of the defenses of an ancient city to keep people from getting into a city. Therefore it isn't an offensive weapon at all. This concept came out more in the video.

C. We watched the Ray Vander Laan video about Casearea Philippi and he pointed out that the pagan Temple there could have been called the "gate of Hell" since the god would descend every year to the place of the dead during winter, hopefully to return in the Spring. However, it was an object lesson to the disciples to realize that the Church (literally "called out ones") would not be overcome by gates (defenses) of Hades (the place of the dead). As the Church, we need to operate in Jesus' new order of love, forgiveness and compassion to break down the walls of the dead in this world and bring God's Light and Life to those living in darkness and death. We remembered, too, that Jesus was not in favor of the approach of the Zealots who used violence to try and bring about God's "kingdom."

D. The main material for this week's video are found in these websites:

E. This week's Class Handout (pdf) with map showing Caesarea Philippi, an illustration of the pagan temple there, and links for further study can be downloaded from here.

Resources for further study:

On the Web
Caesarea Philippi (Also known as Baal-gad, Banias, Baniyas, Banyas, Barias, Belinas, Caesarea Neronias, Caesarea of Philip, Caesarea Paneas, Caesarea Panias, Caesareia Sebaste, Keisarion, Kisrin, Medinat Dan, Mivzar Dan, Neronias, Pamias, Paneas, Paneias, Paneion, Panias, Panium)

http://www.padfield.com/1996/caesphil.html
http://virtualreligion.net/iho/philippi.html
http://www.bibleplaces.com/banias.htm
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Early%20History%20-%20Archaeology/Archaeological%20Sites%20in%20Israel%20-%20Banyas-%20Cult%20Cent

Jesus as the Christ/Messiah/Annointed One
http://www.egrc.net/articles/director/articles_director_0702.html
http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/christ.html
http://www.bible-history.com/eastons/C/Christ/

Ancient City Gates
http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1577
http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1580
http://www.lincolnchristian.edu/Documents/PE.Zorn.CityGates.pdf

Video Study: That the World May Know by Ray Vander Laan [Focus on the Family]

This entire video series is available on Netflix (http://www.netflix.com/)

Main website for this series with additional material: http://www.followtherabbi.com/

Any Questions or problems with this posting: email gspc.education@gmail.com

The World of the Bible Class - Jan. 16, 2011 (Class #16)

2011-01-16T18:09:00.000-08:00

Class #16 - "The Lamb of God" - Jesus fulfilled the Passover

NEXT CLASS: Meeting in the Katibah Room - (Our Last Class) "The Gates of Hell"

Lesson Outline

A. We started by reading from Exodus 12:1-36 (excerpts), which gives the instructions for celebration of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, dating back to around 1462 B.C. when the Jews were still in Egypt. The instructions however were given for them to follow throughout the generations. So we then compared the timetable given for Passover to the Week of Jesus' Passion in Jerusalem when He partook of His last Passover meal -- see the worksheet for this week for specific details. The key point was that Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the day that Jews were commanded to select their lamb or ram for the Passover. It could be either a sheep or goat according to the Torah. Jesus coming to Jerusalem at that exact time was as if to say that Jesus was the Lamb selected by God and the people should choose Him to be their Lamb. Jesus was fulfilling the Passover by coming to be the Lamb, chosen by God, and the Jews chose to cheer Him on, although perhaps for the wrong reasons.

B. We then reviewed the final travels of Jesus using the maps on the worksheet for this week. Jesus would have had to walk that road from Jericho to Jerusalem which was a desert area and which was not a easy walk. It would take about 8 hours of walking to cover the 15 miles of distance, but it also ascended some 3,400 feet so it would have been a challenge. Jesus could have been tempted to turn back and not fulfill His calling -- but thankfully He didn't.

C. Jesus ended up in a small town on the Mount of Olives called Bethphage which means "place or house of the unripe figs". It could be this was symbolic of the nation of Israel which had not produced the fruit that God intended for them. This town was a "sabbath day's journey" from Jerusalem which is the distance one could go on the Sabbath -- just a short trip. In effect, it was the outskirts of Jerusalem. This is where the silent pilgrims begin to feel the excitement and break out into praising God as Jesus rides on a donkey in fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

D. We watched the Ray Vander Laan video called "The Lamb of God" which was recorded along the road from Jericho to Jerusalem that Jesus walked in the last week of His life as well as a spot on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem. The primary web pages for this video are found at:

E. Ray pointed out that the palm branches held by the Jews in welcoming Jesus were symbolic of the nation of Israel and indicated Jewish nationalism at a time when national fervor was running high. The last coins minted by an independent Jewish state had palm branches on them. The cries of "Hosanna" were more of a political statement by the Jews in wanting a "Savior" to save them from Roman rule, than a spiritual thing that we think of today. This is why the Jewish leaders were quick to ask the crowd to be quiet so the Romans would not come out to squash the disturbance. Jesus was saddened by the fact that the city Jersusalem, which means "founded on peace" was looking for peace in the political and military realm, instead of looking to God for their true peace.

F. As a Lamb of God, Jesus was asked to bear the sins of the entire world. To understand this better, we then watched the beginning of the Ray Vander Laan video called "The Weight of the World" which was recorded from the ruins of ancient Capernaum where Jesus ministered. It begain with some information about the synagogue in Capernaum which we talked about in last week's session. But it then focused on the olive press that was an important product from Capernaum which has been found throughout the nation of Israel. The word "Gethsemane," a spot on the Mount of Olives where Jesus prayed and was arrested, means "olive press". At that time, Jesus would carry the weight of the world's sin on himself in a similar way to how olives are cracked and pressed by an enormous weight to produce olive oil which was an important staple used in the 1st Century for lubrication, cooking, lighting, skin care and many other uses. The squeezing of the oil from olives is a word picture of what happened to Jesus at Gethsemane when the pressure on Him causes His blood to be squeezed out of him -- before even the actual crucifixion the following day. Some further web pages about this are found at:

G. This week's Class Handout (pdf) with a chart showing the timeline for Passover and Jesus' Passion week along with maps showing the locations we discussed and links for further study can be downloaded from here.

Resources for further study:

On the Web

The Passover

Writings of Dr. Alfred Edersheim:

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edersheim/temple.toc.html - Especially Chapters 11,12, & 13

Where Jesus Travelled

Jesus as the Lamb of God

Video Study: That the World May Know by Ray Vander Laan [Focus on the Family]

This entire video series is available on Netflix (http://www.netflix.com/)

Main website for this series with additional material: http://www.followtherabbi.com/

Any Questions or problems with this posting: email gspc.education@gmail.com

The World of the Bible Class - Jan. 9, 2011 (Class #15)

2011-01-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

Class #15 - "The Rabbi" - Jesus as a 1st Century Jewish Rabbi

NEXT CLASS: Meeting in the Katibah Room - "The Lamb of God"

Lesson Outline

A. We reviewed the 4 religious groups of people in 1st century Israel: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes and Zealots. They all had different ways of expressing their religious faith, but all used the Torah as the basis for their lifestyles. See week # 14 for more details on these groups.

B. We briefly talked about Gamla -- a town in Galilee not far from Capernaum where Jesus did most of His Ministry. The name Gamla comes from the Aramaic word for camel. It was built on a hill which looked like the hump of a camel. The town was full of Zealots in 67 A.D. when it was surrounded by the Romans soldiers who broke in through the walls and there was a great loss of Jewish lives. The synagogue found in the remains of Gamla dates back to before the time of Christ so it was being used when Jesus was traveling about in Galilee visiting all the synagogues.

C. In the first century, there were not professional rabbis. That happened later after the Temple was destroyed. However, at that time, it was still a term of respect used for teachers who had studied the Torah and trained under another respected rabbi. Since all of Jewish life revolved around the Torah, it was one of the highest positions of honor in that culture to be a specialist in the Torah. Yet Jesus told the Pharisees not to refer themselves as a rabbi and He referred to himself more often as "the son of Man" and not as Rabbi. However, there were many times that others recognized Jesus as a rabbi and used that term to address him.

D. We discussed the Jewish educational system briefly and the different levels are listed on the chart contained on the worksheet for this week(pdf).

E. There were two types of rabbis: 1) Torah rabbis were those who taught conventional wisdom from the rabbis that came before. They were very familiar with the Torah but did not attempt to teach beyond what was generally acceptable. 2) "Smikah" rabbis were those who taught with authority and went beyond the Torah in their interpretations. Jesus was different from all the normal "Torah Rabbis" because he taught with "smikah" or authority. For more information on this, listen to the audio teaching from Ray Vander Laan at http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2072

F. We watched the Ray Vander Laan video called "The Rabbi" which was recorded at the ruins of the synagogue at Gamla in Galilee. The primary web pages for this video are found at:

G. While not endorsing everything that Rob Bell does in his ministry, we then watched a Rob Bell video segment from the Nooma series called "Dust". It talked about the Jewish educational system in the first century and how Jesus was operating in that when He called his disciples (or talmidim). This video is available from many Christian book outlets or from Zondervan. For similar material in a free video presentation of Rob Bell talking before an audience, click on this link here. This link requires video-playing capabilities on your PC and may take time to start up. It lasts for about 45 minutes.

H. This week's Class Handout (pdf) with a chart showing the Jewish educational levels along with links for further study can be downloaded from here.

Resources for further study:

Audio Teaching

by Ray Vander Laan (can be played on a computer or downloaded to an MP3 player, iPod/iPhone or any device which plays MP3 files):

http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2072 (there are 8 short segments)

Video Teaching
by Rob Bell (about 45 mins): http://vimeo.com/12315884

On the Web

Capernaum

Gamla

Zealots and Jesus

http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2800

Jesus as a Rabbi

http://www.jerusalemperspective.com/Default.aspx?tabid=27&ArticleID=1499

Video Study: That the World May Know by Ray Vander Laan [Focus on the Family]

This entire video series is available on Netflix (http://www.netflix.com/)

Main website for this series with additional material: http://www.followtherabbi.com/

Any Questions or problems with this posting: email gspc.education@gmail.com

The World of the Bible Class - Dec. 19, 2010 (Class #14)

2010-12-19T12:46:00.000-08:00

Class #14 - "When the Time Had Fully Come" - Qumran and the Essenes

NEXT CLASS: Meeting in the Katibah Room January 9th "The Rabbi"

Lesson Outline

A. We went over some of the elements of the first Christmas story which could be better understood after studying the aspects of culture from Bible times which we did during this class:

The role of betrothal in Jewish Culture - much more like marriage than engagement
Why Jacob and Mary did not have a place to stay
Temple in Jerusalem – Zechariah offering up incense as part of his priestly duties
Herod’s Palace in Jerusalem – where the Magi came, it was a place of great opulence
The Place of Shepherds in Jewish society
For Hebrews, the Torah was at the center of everything

B. We then read the scripture from Gal 4:4-5 which says:

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (NIV 1984 Version)

Not only did God pick the exact right time for Jesus to come when the language was standardized through much of the known world (through Greeks) and when there were roads built for travel throughout a wide area (through Romans), but ideas were already planted in advance which later would be part of Christ's and the Church's message to the world. We can see this especially in the ideas in the Essenes, whose ideas about Light and Darkness, the Son of God, the Messiah as King and Priest and other topics were later tied to the ministry of Jesus. God was apparently preparing a way for the new message even before Jesus came for His earthly ministry. So while Jesus was a "surprise"to many, there was tremendous preparation by God in choosing the right time when everything was ready for the ministry of the Savior.

C. We went over a brief timeline of the history of Israel. A small subset is found in the worksheet for this week (see below) or click here for a more complete historical timeline, (focused on Jerusalem) on the Web. The re-dedication of the Temple around 164 BC is tied to the miraculous event celebrated by Jews in Hanakkah which comes in December each year, usually close to the western church's celebration of Christmas.

D. We then went over the four groups or parties found in Israel around the time of Jesus and how they differed. See the worksheet for this week for a detailed chart (see below).

The Pharisees - were more in control in Galilee where Jesus ministered much
The Sadducees - controlled the Temple and much of religious life in Judea
The Zealots - the most violent members who objected to Roman rule
The Essenes - were described by Josephus and other ancient historians

E. I read excerpts from a "Day in the Life..." narrative compiled about the possible life of a member of the Essene community around Qumran. You can read the entire narrative online by clicking here. It was based upon facts from multiple sources, although there is considerable discussion about the full truth behind the Essenes and the Qumran community. It has only been since the 1950's that the community has been extensively studied and part of that time was spent in controversy over who owned the documents and the archeological site. There is likely more to be settled about the truth in the future.

F. We then watched the video with more information about the Essenes, Qumran and the Dead Sea scrolls. I mentioned that while some research has been done about these ancient people, there is still considerable argument about the truth behind who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls, whether the Essenes lived in the Qumran community and various other aspects about this story. It is sufficient to state that the Dead Sea scrolls was a miraculous found since they had remained hidden until 1947. The scriptural parts of the Dead Sea scrolls clearly indicate that, while most were written around 200 BC, the Hebrew scriptures have remained almost intact since that time. This is a validation of the purity of the Old Testament scriptures. The main lessons on Ray Vander Laan's website for this week are found at:

G. The faith lesson from this session was that we as Christians should not give in to the temptation to "hide out in the wilderness", away from those we disagree with. While we should be as committed as the Essenes to abandon everything for the truth we believe in, we should also not retreat off by ourselves when God may want us to take the truth out there and be His Light in the darkness.

H. This week's Class Handout (pdf) with a chart showing the differences between the 4 religious groups in Israel along with a short timeline of Israel's history and links for further study can be downloaded from here.

I. While it isn't certain if the Essenes actually wrote the Dead Sea scrolls that were found at Qumran or why they were stored away in caves there, Google has undertaken to record the scrolls digitally so that all people will be able to view the scrolls virtually on the internet. This project has been announced, although it is not known when all the texts will be ready for general use. The first are expected within months and should contain English translations at first along with other languages later. There are some limited texts available today on the internet, but since most are written in Hebrew (Assyrian script), it will be hard to actually read them unless you know Hebrew. Some of the texts are in Aramaic and others in Greek. Due to their age and condition, the manuscripts cannot today be reviewed by large numbers of scholars. However, once the Google project is finished, it should promote further research into the scrolls and what they all mean.

Resources for further study:
On the Web

http://www.followtherabbi.com/ttwmk2/assets/SonsofLight-Essenes.pdf
http://www.followtherabbi.com/ttwmk2/assets/religiousgroups.swf
http://www.gnosis.org/library/scroll.htm - Some of the Dead Sea Scroll texts
http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/31_home.html
http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/266
http://www.bibleplaces.com/qumran.htm - also has other links to more places
http://www.ancientsandals.com/overviews/qumran.htm
http://virtualreligion.net/iho/qumran.html
http://www.tfba.org/articles.php?articleid=1

Video Study: That the World May Know by Ray Vander Laan [Focus on the Family]

This entire video series is available on Netflix (http://www.netflix.com//)
Main website for this series with additional material: http://www.followtherabbi.com/

Any Questions or problems with this posting: email gspc.education@gmail.com

The World of the Bible Class - Dec. 12, 2010 (Class #13)

2010-12-13T21:12:00.000-08:00

Class #13 - "The City of the Great King" - Jerusalem - Part 2

NEXT WEEK: Meeting in the Katibah Room – When the Time Had Fully Come (Qumran)

Lesson Outline

A. We first discussed why Herod's Temple is referred to as the "Second Temple"

It seems like the First Temple was build by Solomon (with help from King David)
That Temple was destroyed when Israel was taken away into captivity in 586 B.C. by the Babylonians
The "Second Temple" was built by Zerubbabel and Ezra after King Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to their land and build up the Temple; this took place 70 years later in 516 B.C.
Then Herod comes along and builds a huge replacement starting around 19 B.C., just prior to the time when Christ came to earth the first time
However, the Jews maintain that the sacrifices from Zerubbabel's Temple were continued without ceasing even while Herod reconsructed the Temple to build the more spectacular version which Jesus came to around 33 A.D. ; this building was completely destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. Hence, "Herod's Temple" is considered the "Second Temple" and if the Jews do build another one, it will then be the "Third Temple." There are people today trying to build and others who are just getting ready. (See just one example here)

B. We then read the accounts of how the disciples were impressed with the size of the stones and the granduer of the Temple. Jesus predicts that the stones won't last, despite the fact that this was an amazing engineering feat to build such a huge Temple.

Mark 13:1-2
Matthew 24:1-2 - This follows Matt 23:37ff where Jesus has compassion on Jerusalem
Luke 21:5-6 – It follows Luke 21:1-4 where Jesus observes the gift of the widow’s coins

C. We viewed some pictures of the remaining Western Wall which stands today to show some of the huge scale of the original building. Click here for a modern photo from the wall and notice the size of the people standing next to it. The quarry believed to have been the source of the huge Temple stones has recently been discovered and dated to the approximate time of the rebuilding work by Herod. (click for news article)

D. We then watched a computer simulation which shows the scale of the Temple and how it might have appeared to worshippers in the Jesus's time. It is based on the latest archeological facts uncovered about the Second Temple. You can watch this video using Windows Media Player (or equivalent which plays WMV files) at this link, courtesy of the UCLA's Urban Simulation Team.

E. We discussed the ties between ancient Jerusalem and the Christmas story:

Zechariah was burning incense in the Second Temple when the angel appears to him with the word that he is to have John as a his son; Since the worshippers were waiting outside to see the smoke from his incense, no wonder they knew something had happened while he went into the Holy Place and did not return in a routine amount of time.

The Wise Men (or Magi) went to Herod The Great's palace in Jerusalem. This was a lavish palace as was Herod's custom. You can read details about this palace (only one of the many built by Herod) in the Wars of the Jews by Josephus, Book 5, chapter 4. This palace may have been used as well by Herod's son Herod Antipas when he interviewed Jesus prior to His crucifixion. However, this palace was destroyed completely by Jews during a revolt in 66A.D. before the Romans attached Jerusalem.

F. We briefly discussed the role of city gates in the ancient Near East. It was a place of bustle and commerce. It was also a place of where the elders often sat to hear court cases and deal out justice. It was a reminder that Jesus went in and out the gates of Jerusalem which was the place where all the cultures mixed together. We, too, have to bring the message of Christ out to the culture we have to mix with today. Even if we don't have the type of physical gates as Jerusalem, we have to be aware of ministering to the cultures around us as Jesus did.

G. We watched the video where Ray Vander Laan talked more about the Temple along with ity gates, Herod's palace in Jerusalem and how the Temple was the point where God moved the church to begin to take the message of Christ out to the whole world following the resurrection of Jesus (at the Day of Pentecost). The main website Links with details about city gates and Jerusalem are:

       http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1577
       http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1580

H. We then discussed how the New Testament makes it very clear that we, the Church, are now the Temple of God.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17
2 Corinthians 6:16
John 2: 13-22 – Jesus uses the word meaning "shrine" for what is translated as Temple. The greek word "body" referring to Jesus is the same word used for the “body” of Christ, the Church in Colossians 1:24;

This is an amazing concept that we are now the shrine where God chooses to dwell.

I. The Class Handout (pdf) with helpful photos and links about ancient Jerusalem can be downloaded from here.

Resources for further study:

On the Web

http://www.bible-history.com/jerusalem/firstcenturyjerusalem_herod_s_palace.html
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/josephus/works/files/war-5.htm - Writings of Josephus about Herod’s Palace (The Wars of the Jews, Book 5, see Chapter 4)
http://www.bible-history.com/links.php?cat=39&sub=434&cat_name=Manners+%26+Customs&subcat_name=City+Gates
http://www.bibleplaces.com/oldcitygates.htm
http://www.archpark.org.il/
http://www.bible-history.com/maps/jerusalem.html

Video Study: That the World May Know by Ray Vander Laan [Focus on the Family]

This entire video series is available on Netflix (http://www.netflix.com/)

Main website for this series with additional material: http://www.followtherabbi.com/

Any Questions or problems with the posting: email gspc.education@gmail.com

The World of the Bible Class - Dec. 5, 2010 (Class #12)

2010-12-07T17:50:00.000-08:00

Class #12 - "The City of the Great King" - Jerusalem - Part 1

NEXT WEEK: Meeting in the Katibah Room – City of the Great King (Jerusalem part 2)

Many, many thanks to Leslie Pack for stepping in to do this lesson on Jerusalem and the Temple!!!

Lesson Outline

A. The main verses surrounding the Jerusalem and the Temple are found below:

2 Samuel 5:9-10: David conquers Jerusalem, calls it the City of David
2 Samuel Chapter 6 - David brings ark of covenant to Jerusalem;
2 Samuel Chapter 7 - David decides to build a more permanent place for ark of covenant; 7:13 - God says his son will build the temple
1 Kings - Chapters 5-9 - Solomon builds the temple; 9:6-9 God warns him to remain faithful or the temple will be destroyed
2 Chronicles 36:11-23 - Destruction of the temple; Ezra 3-5 - King Cyrus (Persian) re-builds the temple

Jesus and the Temple

Luke 2: 25-40 Simeon, Anna recognize child Jesus in Temple; Luke 2:41-52 Jesus studies in Temple after Passover
Matt 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48; John 2:14 - Jesus overturns tables of money changers
Matt 23:37- 24:2 - Jesus cries for Jerusalem and predicts the destruction of the temple
Matt 27:50-53, Mark 15:37-38 - Tearing of Temple curtain when Jesus died

Disciples and the Temple

Acts 3:1-12 - Peter and John heal cripple on at the gates of the Temple called Beautiful
Acts 21:27-32 - Paul accused of bringing a Greek into the Temple area, which was punishable by death

B. We watched the video where Ray Vander Laan talked about the Temple, pointing out features on the scale model of ancient Jerusalem. The main website Links with details about Jerusalem and the Temple are:

C. The Class Handout (pdf) with maps and photos of ancient Jerusalem and the temple can be downloaded from here. (Note: may take a while to download since it is large and contains many pictures)

Resources for further study:

Book

Let Us Draw Near by Judson Cornwall, Bridge Publishing, 1977 ISBN: 978-0882702261

On the Web

Video Study: That the World May Know by Ray Vander Laan [Focus on the Family]

This entire video series is available on Netflix (http://www.netflix.com/)

Main website for this series with additional material: http://www.followtherabbi.com/

Any Questions or problems with the posting: email gspc.education@gmail.com

child warfare

2010-12-06T10:10:00.000-08:00

To open our class, we viewed two clips from the movie, Blood Diamond (2006). Though a fictional story, this movie was an expose of the horrors that are committed in Sierra Leone over the diamond trade. One of which is those who kidnap children (or simply kill their parents so they have no other place to go) and brainwash them into becoming soldiers.

Scene #1: "rebel training scene" - they give these boys drugs, desensitize them to violence, and other horrors to make them soldiers

Scene #2: "you are not a bad boy" - a young boy who has been brainwashed by these men is reunited with his father and struggles with who he has become. This scene reminds me so much of the story of The Prodigal Son - listen to the invitation from the father - "I am your father, who loves you, and you will come home with me and be my son again"

in 1998, 200,000 children were used as soldiers in 25 countries
more than 25,000 children are involved in warfare worldwide, some as young as seven

more statistics from World Vision

We then talked about why the rise in children being used as soldiers in warfare more recently. Previously, children were used in warfare, but as gophers or drummer boys, not actually wielding weapons... but now, with the advent of "better technology," weapons are simply light enough and easy enough for even a child to use.

why children?

lighter weapons [AK47 - 6$ in some countries in Africa]
easily intimidated/manipulated; less likely to run away
do not demand salaries
only way some children can find food/protection
socializing children into violence, including drug use

We briefly recognized different philosophies of warfare in general from a Christian perspective (see below), but also noted that, no matter what you believe about warfare in general, even when God condone warfare in the Bible, women and children were NOT part of the army (Joshua 1:14).

theologies of war: holy war, just war, pacifism

Luke 627ff: turn the other cheek
Matt 26:52: those who live by the sword will die by the sword
Matt 5:9: blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God
Rom 14:19: pursue peace
Matt 5:44: love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you
Deut 20: the Lord goes with you to fight for you, against your enemies, to give you the victory
the whole book of Joshua, much of Numbers, Samuel-Kings
Romans 13; 1 Peter 2: obey your government; Matthew 22: give to Caesar what is Caesar’s

Ecc 3:8: there’s a time for war and a time for peace

We concluded that the "holy war" that Christians are called to today is a SPIRITUAL battle, not a physical one (Ephesians 6:10) AND we remembered that Scripture promises that in the end, in the Age to Come, there will be NO warfare anymore: they will beat their swords into plowshares (Isa 2:4)

We then talked about what Scripture has to say about how we should treat our children:

Ps 127:3: children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him
Eph 6:4: fathers, do not exasperate your children...
Matt 19:13: Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these; 18:3: child-like faith
James 1:27: true religion - look after orphans & widows...
Matt 7:7-12: good parents give good things to their children

And talked about ministries that are doing something, like World Vision (and see more links below)

World Vision - preventing & combatting child warfare: http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/learn/globalissues-child-soldiers-intervention

What can the U.S. do?

The U.S. government currently provides military assistance to seven of nine governments implicated in child soldier usage: Afghanistan, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Rwanda - U.S. military assistance to these countries ranges from small amounts of funding for military training to hundreds of millions in weapons, training, and military financing.
U.S. tax dollars should not be used to support the exploitation of children as soldiers, U.S. weapons should not end up in the hands of children.
To address this, Sens. Richard Durbin, D-Illinois, and Sam Brownback, R-Kansas introduced The Child Soldier Prevention Act — a bill to curtail U.S. military assistance to governments that fail to take steps to demobilize and stop recruiting children into the armed forces or government-supported militias.

The question was brought up here (which I think is an excellent one, I don't know the answer to it!): How effective will this law be if the people who are capturing children are mostly the rebel forces!??!

Two things you can do:

give $ to World Vision or like ministry
write your political leaders
PRAY for the children and those forcing them into warfare

Invisible Children (much has been done since the documentary!), Blood Diamond
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah
Amnesty International – www.amnesty.org
Anti-Slavery International – www.antislavery.org
Child Soldiers – http://www.childsoldiers.org/home/
Children and Armed Conflict Working Group – www.peacebuild.ca
Children and War Foundation – www.childrenandwar.org
Children in War – http://www.icrc.org/eng/children
Children’s Rights Information Network – www.crin.org
Christian Aid -- www.christianaid.org.uk
Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers -- www.child-soldiers.org
Human Rights Watch – http://hrw.org/campaigns/crp/index.htm
Internally Displaced Peoples’ Global Project – http://www.idpproject.org/index.htm
Too Young to Kill, Pete Singer: www.brookings.edu/opinions/2005/0109humanrights_singer
World Relief - www.worldrelief.org
World Vision - www.worldvision.org
http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/learn/globalissues-child-soldiers?open&lid=child-soldiers&lpos=day_txt_child-soldiers#usdo

The World of the Bible Class - Nov. 28, 2010 (Class #11)

2010-12-02T22:14:00.000-08:00

Class #11 - "Storms on the Sea of Galilee" – Jesus' Ministry to the Regions of the Galilee

NEXT WEEK: Meeting in the Katibah Room – City of the Great King (Jerusalem part 1)

Lesson Outline

A. First we discussed how the particular environment around the Sea or Lake of Galilee caused sudden and ferocious storms to crop up suddenly

The lake was about 680 feet below sea level
Mountains on the side of the lake went up 200 feet
Due to the pressure differences, storms coming across would often build up quickly as a common occurance
The Lake was only 200 ft deep at most so it was easy for any storm to whip up the waves very quickly and violently
The Sea of Galilee was much like our Lake Erie which is the most stormy of the Great Lakes.

B. We then watched the video where Ray Vander Laan covered the various Biblical incidents on the Sea of Galilee.

Ray pointed out that while the Sea was a source of food, it was viewed by the Jews as the "abyss" -- a place of evil

C. We then watched a second video about Jesus travelling across the Lake to the Decapolis. The area over on the south eastern side of the sea was the 10 town area known as the Decapolis. It was an alliance of city-states which were pagan and Greek and not really Jewish in their culture. Jesus also went to minister to people in this area on occasions, even though he spent most of his time in a 3 town triangle - Capernaum, Chorazin and Bethsaida on the north-western part of the lake.

A storm arose when Jesus and His disciples went to go into this area of "darkness" which was pagan and evil
Jesus rebuked his disciples over their lack of faith and rebuked the storm, proving his power over evil and the "abyss"
When they arrived in the Decapolis, they are immediately met by a wild demon-possessed man
The disciples could have been second-guessing what Jesus did in going outside of the Jewish-controlled area
Jesus healed the man and the result was that the people of the area wanted Him to go away immediately
Jesus did go away but left the healed man as a missionary to his own people in the Decapolis; He charged him to just tell his story to others
When Jesus does come back into the area later, he is met by many who heard the testimony of what God did for that healed man -- they bring him all their sick and needy
What can 1 man do? This one healed man just told what God had done for him and changed the direction of an entire region. The Decapolis later became an important area for leaders of the Church.

      Main Website Links with details from these sections:

     http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1806
   http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2100

D. The Class Handout (pdf) with maps of the regions around the Sea of Galilee along with a picture showing how that lake looks today.

Resources for further study:

On the Web
    http://www.bible-history.com/geography/ancient-israel/sea-of-galilee.html
    http://www.bible-history.com/isbe/D/DECAPOLIS/
    http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/ednk-seaofgalilee.html
    http://www.jerusalemperspective.com/Default.aspx?tabid=27&ArticleID=1852
    http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2754

http://virtualreligion.net/iho/sea.html

AIDS: how did Christ treat the outcast in Scripture

2010-11-29T12:49:00.000-08:00

We started our discussion of AIDS in a different way from many of our discussions so far. We started by asking why AIDS is a "justice" issue in the first place. First we talked about the fact that AIDS most often affects the poor, the marginalized, the uneducated. Then we moved into talking about the stigma of AIDS in our country and how many of those with AIDS are treated as outcasts. That led us to looking at the way Christ treated the outcasts in His society and challenging ourselves to do the same.

Outcasts of Society: How did Jesus interact with lepers? sinners? outcasts?

Leprosy: Leviticus 13-14; Matthew 26:6-13 & Mark 13:1-11; Matthew 8:1-4; Matthew 10:1-16; Matthew 11:1-6; Luke 17:11-2;
Jewish view of sinners - Genesis 13:13; 1 Sam 15:18; Psalm 1:1, et. al.
Jesus’ view of sinners - Matthew 9:9-13; Matthew 11:19; Matthew 11:28-30; Luke 15 (Hebrews 7:26 - he was the only one separated from sinners)
We are sinners: Romans 3:23; 5:8; 5:19; 1 Timothy 1:15
command to us: Luke 6:31: Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.

We split into groups and looked up each of the following stories and noted how Jesus treated the person He encountered: did He speak directly to that person (or to someone "more important about them)? did He touch that person (even if it would make Him ritually unclean)? what did He say to him/her? how did He challenge him/her? what else was different about what Jesus said/did?

The woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11)
The tax collector (Matthew 9:9-12)
The fraudulent tax collector (Luke 19:1-10)
The heathen Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21-28)
The Samaritan woman (John 4:5-42)
The children (Mark 10:13-15)
The leper (Luke 5:12-14)
The thief on the cross (Luke 23:39-43)

We really learned a lot about Christ's compassion for people and His disregard for the "rules of society" in preference for the Law of God. We learned that He loves sinners (which all of us are) and reaches out to them, chases after them, no matter how far they have strayed. We also learned that He loves sinners too much to leave them in their sin - that in every encounter, He touched/healed/loved and the person he touched was never the same. He came for the sinners, and He came to call us to repentance.

Our challenge for this week was again very personal, because as we've said, time and time again, ministry is relationships. Our call in ministering to those affected by AIDS is first to humbly admit that we are all sinners, we are all outcasts, we are all sick and in need of a Savior. Then, to reach out in love and lead those who are hurting to Jesus, the Great Physician, who can and does heal more than our bodies, but our very souls.

Links/Ministries
Channels of Love: http://colministry.org/
Mercy Triumphs: Inspiration for Those Infected Or Affected by AIDS by Betty Rushford
World Vision: Experience AIDS: http://www.worldvisionexperience.org
World AIDS Day: December 1, 2010

Human Trafficking: does God condone slavery in Scripture?

2010-11-29T12:35:00.000-08:00

Our discussion about human trafficking last week raised A LOT of questions, several of which were in relating modern human trafficking to the slavery we find in Scripture: are they the same thing? did God really condone and even encourage slavery in Scripture?

click here for CLASS HANDOUT

We saw a distinction in Scripture between the kind of "slavery" God condoned and regulated in the Law (in which a person sold him/herself into servitude to a master to repay debt or to provide for himself or his/her family) and the kind of slavery we talked about in our human trafficking discussion - in which a slave is taken against his/her will - either kidnapped or deceived into slavery. This kind of slavery is condemned in Scripture (Exodus 21:16 and 1 Timothy 1:9-11), punishable by death.

The kind of slavery the Lord condones in the Law is more of what we might call indentured servanthood, rather than slavery. And the way God designed it to work in Israel was actually to be a means of GRACE for the poor - a way to help those who could not provide for themselves and actually welcome them into the covenant family.

This was a controversial and difficult topic for us to discuss. As modern Americans, it is difficult for us to imagine a "right" kind of "slavery" - as soon as that word is spoken, images and feelings of injustice immediately spring into our minds. In a land where freedom is the ultimate right and value, it is hard to imagine how God could condone this. I liken it (as the Bible does) to our relationship with God - us a "bond-servant," Him as Master. If you are a slave of a GOOD Master, that is actually better than being free. You are provided for, you have a home, a family, you never have to worry about what you will eat or where or live, and you will always know what to do with your life and your days - serve your Master. Those of us who know the Master know it is a life of lovely simplicity - and actually, great freedom. When we are really enslaved is when we follow our own path, serve ourselves, and flee the covenant family of our Master. We do much better to serve Him.

If you struggle with this concept (as many of us did together in class), I would encourage you to read the Scripture passages in the attached handout) and if need be, email or call Kathy or anyone else in the class to discuss.

Laws about Right Slavery can be found in the Old Testament Law and in much of the writings of Paul - how slaves should treat their masters and how masters should treat their slaves. However, when the Prophets talked about slavery, it was condemning it and calling on the Israelites to break the yoke of oppression - because they (and other nations) had NOT gone about it God's way.

In our application time, we noted that the human trafficking we have been talking about is the oppressive kind of slavery and that we should take the commands of the Prophets seriously in our day - to break the yoke of oppression in our world!! As far as an application of the "right slavery" laws, we saw a parallel for us in the way we relate to our employees (or our bosses), to our children (or our parents), to our wives (or husbands), to anyone under our authority (or anyone above us). The relationship of Master-Slave described in Scripture is one of different roles, but mutual respect and love.

Luke: Stories of Women

2010-11-29T11:50:00.001-08:00

not yet posted

Biblical Justice

2010-11-29T11:42:00.000-08:00

Week 1: Biblical Justice: introduction

Week 2: Biblical Justice: introduction, part two

Week 3: Homelessness: locally & in Scripture

Week 4: Homelessness: internationally & practically

Week 5: Clean Water & water in Scripture

Week 6: Consumerism: wealth, giving, & simplicity in Scripture

Week 7: Consumerism: how shall we live?

Week 8: Human Trafficking: introduction

Week 9: Human Trafficking: does God condone slavery in Scripture?

Week 10: AIDS: how Christ treated the outcast in Scripture

Week 11: the AIDS pandemic & our response

Week 12: child warfare

the AIDS crisis and our response as Christians

2010-11-29T08:43:00.000-08:00

AIDS in the World

A global pandemic

Nearly 33 million people live with HIV.
Last year alone, more than 2.5 million people were infected.
6,000 people die every day because of AIDS. . . another person dies every 15 seconds.

AIDS in Africa

Two-thirds of all people living with HIV are in Africa.
Two-thirds of all new HIV infections are in Africa.
Three-quarters of all AIDS-related deaths are in Africa... in a place that's home to just over one-tenth of the world's population.

Children and AIDS

Approximately 2.5 million children worldwide have HIV.
Right now, there are more than 15 million children who have lost one or both parents because of AIDS.
Every day, another 6,000 children are orphaned due to AIDS. . . and most of these children live in Africa.

The future of AIDS

By 2010, more than 20 million children will be orphaned due to AIDS.
By 2020, AIDS could kill up to 12 percent of Africa's workforce - as many as 58 million people. . . this crisis will not go away by itself.

Luke 4:18-19: Jesus’ “mission statement” focused on meeting the physical AND spiritual needs

Think about your mission in relation to Jesus’ mission on earth.
How are your mission and Jesus’ mission the same?
How are they different?

The AIDS Test

1. Which of the following catastrophes has claimed more lives?
o World War I
o Earthquakes during the past century
o AIDS pandemic

2. What makes AIDS so different from killer epidemics of the past?
o AIDS kills productive members of society, not predominantly the young and elderly
o Men are particularly vulnerable to infection
o Infection is totally avoidable based on personal choices

3. Who said “AIDS is the greatest weapon of mass destruction on earth”?
o Bono
o Colin Powell
o Oprah

4. Why are women in developing countries contracting HIV at alarming rates?
o They can’t afford condoms
o IV drug use is up among women
o Women have few rights and choices in many cultures

5. How is AIDS affecting the food supplies in African countries?
o There’s more food because there are fewer people
o Food is scarcer because so many farmers are sick or dying
o AIDS is having no effect on Africa’s food supplies

6. Why has Africa suffered the greatest number of AIDS deaths to date?
o Africa has the greatest number of HIV-infected people
o Americans and Europeans can afford to be vaccinated against HIV
o Stigma has prevented Africans from getting vaccinated

7. Imagine your parents have just died as a result of AIDS. As an orphan in Africa, what can you expect?
o Neighbors will take care of me
o I’ll have to drop out of school
o I’ll successfully farm my family’s land

8. Which of the following is a commonly accepted AIDS myth in developing countries?
o Sex with a virgin cures AIDS
o If you feel healthy, you can’t be HIV-positive
o AIDS is caused by evil spirits
o All of the above

9. In which country has the HIV prevalence rate dropped significantly?
o Uganda
o Botswana
o Swaziland

TRUE OR FALSE

1. Every day, 11,000 children—the vast majority living in poor countries—die of hunger and diseases we can prevent or cure.
False. Every day 25,000 children younger than 5 die, most of them from preventable causes like hunger and disease. That’s one child every 3 seconds. Think about it: How would losing a young child feel to you?

2. In its 2008 opening weekend, Americans spent more than $155 million to see the latest Batman installment, “The Dark Knight.”
True. The tracking firm Neilsen EDI also reports that in 2008, Americans spent $9.8 billion to view movies in theaters. Think about it: How much money do you and your family spend on entertainment?

3. In 2005, the average life expectancy in Swaziland was 52 years.
False. The United Nations reports that in 2005, life expectancy in Swaziland—and in Zimbabwe and Zambia—was just under 41 years. Life expectancy has plummeted in these and other sub-Saharan African countries largely due to AIDS. Think about it: How old are you? How many years until you turn 41? Or, how many years have passed since you were 41?

4. Americans spend more than $1.4 billion on teeth whitening each year.
True. According to an October 2006 report by NBC’s “Today Show.” Think about it: How much are Americans spending on their appearance while 25,000 children every day die in poverty?

5. Americans spend $37 billion a year on carbonated drinks.
False. In 2007, Americans spent $72 billion on carbonated soft drinks, according to the Reuters North American News Service. Think about it: How much have you spent on soda, bottled water, coffee, or other expensive drinks in the past week?

The purpose of this “test” isn’t to create guilt, but to encourage us to think about our consumption choices. Americans are blessed with many resources and many options. Yet as Christians, we’re called to a higher standard of how we use the resources of money, time, and energy that God entrusts to us. Will we hoard these resources, or share them with people in desperate need?

Matthew 6:19-21

We can’t participate in God’s work of transforming others unless we ourselves are transformed. In what specific ways do you think American Christians can transform their attitudes toward money, time, and energy so they’re equipped to care for others? For example, we can set aside time to volunteer at a local homeless shelter or food bank. Or we can choose to not purchase certain items and, instead, send that money to support a charity working with people in need.

Jesus ministered among oppressed people, and the great needs must have seemed overwhelming—just as addressing HIV and AIDS may seem today. From what you know about Jesus’ ministry throughout the Gospels, how did He respond to these overwhelming needs? Name two ways you can reflect Jesus’ response as you address the challenges of HIV and AIDS.

Is it really possible to turn the tide on the AIDS crisis?
AIDS has devastated millions of African families. But there are signs of hope. Uganda was the first country to report a decline in cases of infection. Since 1991, Uganda's infection rate has dropped from 15 percent to 6.7 percent. Similar successes have been seen in Rwanda, Kenya, Senegal, and urban areas of Zimbabwe, as well as in countries in the Caribbean and Asia.

HOW WE RESPOND:

Care

Meeting basic needs in communities hard-hit by HIV and AIDS—increasing children’s access to nutritious food, health care, clean water, and education, and provide vocational training for adolescents and adults.
Encouraging HIV and AIDS testing and counseling that can help people learn to live with the disease and protect themselves and their children.
Providing home-based care by visiting people living with AIDS, and visiting their families.
Demonstrating God’s unconditional love, caregivers compassionately provide physical and emotional support by caring for those who are sick and dying, counseling vulnerable children, and praying with those who welcome prayer.

Prevention

Educating with values-based principles. Community workers promote abstinence before marriage and faithfulness in marriage.
Providing life-skills training. Lessons provide age-appropriate HIV-prevention education to children and teens.
Preventing mother-to-child transmission. Parents learn how to avoid transmitting HIV to unborn or nursing children, and how to access antiretroviral medications.
Working with high-risk groups. Programs reach sex workers, truck drivers, and migrant workers to educate, provide counseling and care, and offer alternative income-generating opportunities when appropriate.

Advocacy

Influencing policy. As a voice for children and families, World Vision advocates for public policies that promote effective methods of HIV prevention and AIDS care.
Partnering with churches. Partner with local churches to encourage spiritual transformation.
Increasing awareness. Delivering life-saving information to high-risk communities can break through the walls of ignorance, stigma, and discrimination surrounding HIV and AIDS.

After years of working among the poorest of the poor, Mother Teresa
concluded this: “It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put
into them that matters.”

Sponsor a Hope Child: www.worldvision.org/hope
Assemble Caregiver Kits: www.worldvision.org/carekits
Work with a local AIDS shelter
Carolina Rain: carolinarain.org
Charlotte Rescue Mission: charlotterescuemission.org
Men’s Shelter: mensshelterofcharlotte.org
AWayHome: awayhome.org

What things take about a minute to do? During that one minute—every minute, every day—five more people contract the virus that causes AIDS.

Today let’s begin that process in silent prayer, asking God to open our hearts, our minds, and our eyes to the needs of those affected by HIV and AIDS, and to give us wisdom as we seek to respond to this disaster that is destroying tens of millions of individuals and families.

AIDS Test Answers:
1. Estimates for the number of military and civilian deaths in World War I vary, but range between 9 million and over 16 million. Since it was discovered, AIDS has killed 25 million people—equal to the combined populations of New York and Arizona, and nearly 10 times the number of earthquake fatalities in the last century.
2. Unlike the Black Plague or flu epidemics, which largely spared the healthy, working-age population, AIDS is decimating the ranks of teachers, parents, doctors, and farmers—the very people a society relies upon to provide for basic needs. As a result, children and the elderly are left to fend for themselves.
3. AIDS is devastating communities like no weapon could, according to Colin Powell. Every minute, 5 more people are infected with HIV.
4. In many developing countries, women have few rights and choices in life—including choices that protect them from HIV and AIDS. Women often do not have the power to decide whether or with whom they have sex; to negotiate condom use; to avoid sexual violence; or to feed their children without entering the sex trade.
5. Food shortages are a big problem. With farmers in their prime dying of illness, agriculture is taking a huge hit. Food production is just one area in which AIDS threatens to reverse decades of development work in poor communities.
6. With an estimated 22 million Africans living with HIV, the adult rate of infection is more than six times higher than it is in the rest of the world. But climbing infection rates in Russia, China, and India threaten similar or worse epidemics in these regions in the near future. Education and awareness could still change this.
7. You will likely have to drop out of school to care for younger siblings or because you can’t afford the fees. Even if you have land, farming will be very difficult given your lack of experience. Neighbors might be willing to take you in, despite the stigma associated with AIDS—but resources may be so meager that you still can’t get enough to eat.
8. All of these myths are popular in developing countries. Limited formal education, lack of access to reliable information, and inadequate health care all promote harmful myths about AIDS. World Vision is helping to prevent the spread of HIV with proven, values-based education.
9. There is evidence for hope that we can turn the tide on this pandemic. Uganda was the first country to report a decline in cases of infection. Since the 1990s, Uganda’s infection rate has dropped from 15 percent to 5.4 percent. Similar successes have been seen in Rwanda, Senegal, and urban areas of Zimbabwe, as well as in countries in the Caribbean and Asia. Swaziland and Botswana, on the other hand, have the highest rates of HIV infection in the world (approximately one of every four people in Botswana and one of every three in Swaziland).

Source: AIDS Epidemic Update, UNAIDS, December 2006; Africa's Orphaned and
Vulnerable Generations, UNICEF, August 2006; UNAIDS, 2002; International Labour
Organization, November 2006

The World of the Bible Class - Nov. 21, 2010 (Class #10)

2010-11-22T20:10:00.000-08:00

Class #10 - "No Greater Love" – Jewish Marriage Customs

NEXT WEEK: Meeting in the Katibah Room – Storms on the Sea of Galilee

Lesson Outline

A. The Bible talks a lot about weddings and uses it as an analogy. Our traditions are greatly different from those of the ancient Jews of the Bible. So we need to study to learn more about:

1) Israel’s relationship with God – which was compared to a wedding and

2) Christ’s relationship with His Bride, the Church

We went thru the major steps involved in a Jewish wedding coming from around the time of Jesus. It had 3 major phases:

First there is the Betrothal when the Covenant of Marriage was established.
Then there was a time of separation when the Bride and Groom didn’t see each other while the Groom prepared a place for his Bride.
Finally, the Groom comes to get his bride and the marriage is fulfilled and a great celebration occurs for 7 days.

The specific steps involved are outlined in the worksheet for this week. Click here for the filled-in worksheet. (pdf) with all the steps.

B. We watched the video which took place from the ruins of an insula or family compound in the Galilee. The wedding traditions were reviewed by Ray Vander Laan along with some reference to the Sermon on the Mount and how it relates to the “torah” or teachings for the new order that Jesus ushered in.

Main Website Link with details from this section:

http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2092

C. The Class Handout (pdf) with list of scriptures which refer to Jewish wedding customs and additional study resources is found here.

Resources for further study:

Book

Sketches of Jewish Social Life by Alfred Edersheim, D. D., Ph. D.,

Hendrickson Publishers (1994) ISBN: 978-1565631380

Especially Chapter 9 - Mothers, Daughters, and Wives in Israel;

Book is available on Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com

Entire Text of book is also available online at: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edersheim/sketches.html

Direct Link to Chapter 9: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edersheim/sketches.xi.html

On the Web

Video Study: That the World May Know by Ray Vander Laan [Focus on the Family]
This entire video series is available on Netflix (http://www.netflix.com/)

Main website for this series with additional material: http://www.followtherabbi.com/

Any Questions or problems with the posting: email gspc.education@gmail.com

The World of the Bible Class - Nov. 14, 2010 (Class #9)

2010-11-16T20:29:00.000-08:00

Class #9 - "Living Waters" - En Gedi, an Oasis in the Wilderness

NEXT WEEK: Meeting in the Katibah Room - No Greater Love - (Jewish Marriage Customs)

Lesson Outline

A. First we went over questions about covenants from the previous lesson that we didn't have time for the previous week. See the worksheet with questions from the previous week by clicking here (pdf). I also challenged everyone in the class to put on their "covenant glasses" for the next 6 months. Everytime you read any scripture, ask youself, "What does this have to do with covenant in some way?" It is truly amazing to see how much the Bible is all about covenant when you specifically go looking for it. A jump start on looking at covenant in the New Testament is to read the list of "in Christ" or "in Him" or "in the name of..." or other key phrases in scripture. A partial list is provided by clicking here (pdf).

B. To start this week off, we next talked about how Jesus referred to Himself as providing "living water". He did with with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:10 . We also discussed that Jesus did so again at the Feast of Tabernacles (sometimes known as the Feast of Booths or Sukkot in Hebrew) in a very public way in John 7: 37-38.

This Feast is one of the most popular celebrations and it combines the religious remembrance of what God did for the Israelites to take them through the Wilderness into the Promised Land along with a celebration of the harvest, similar to the history behind our Thanksgiving Day.
It occurs on the 15th day of the 7th month on the Hebrew calendar so it is a different time each year, but usually around the 15th of October.
Leslie Pack shared her experience at a Sukkot celebration in Southern California
It happens only 5 days after the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) which is a very solemn day, yet the Feast of Tabernacles is perhaps the most celebratory of all the Jewish feasts -- and they were commanded in scripture to rejoice for it.
Because it is so much fun, it is perhaps the most popular of all the feasts, certainly of the 3 biggest ones for the Jews -- Passover, Penticost and The Feast of Tabernacles (or Sukkot)
Part of the celebration was for a priest to go to the Pool of Siloam and get a golden pitcher of water which was then brought back through the Water Gate to be poured onto the alter as part of the sacrifice to the Lord. Water was certainly part of have good crops for the year. The joyous worshippers would wave festive branches and recite Isaiah 12: 3. When the water was poured out, they would sing or shout the Hallel Psalms 113-118, which are hymns of rejoicing and celebration.
On the last and most heightened day of the feast, the worshippers walked around 7 times rejoicing in remembrance of the walk around Jericho before repeating the sacrifice. It was at this dramatic moment Jesus cries out that He was the living water for all who are thirsty. The water of men cannot satisfy like the fountain from God that will never fail. He was referring to the spirit that brings real living water.
Ironically, the Jews were doing what God commanded them (Lev 23) in their flesh, but without the relationship with God and His Spirit, it was like "stagnant water" that would not satisfy spiritual thirst.
What makes water "living"? John 6:63 states that it is the Spirit that brings life while the flesh counts for nothing. Likewise Romans 8:5-8 talks about how the Spirit brings Life while following the flesh is completely opposite and brings death. So it is God's Spirit that makes "water" living.

C. We then briefly talked about Jeremiah 2:13 which condemns the Israelites for building "cisterns" which do capture water, but it is stagnant instead of living.

D. We watched the video which took place from the oasis in En Gedi, just west of the Dead Sea. It was a sharp contrast to the wilderness around it just because of the cool and refreshing "living" (pure, clean) water coming from a fountain or spring.

We are to be like fountains of God's living water to those who are thirsty in the wilderness of the world.
But we also need to spend some time with God to have our own thirst quenched so we can go back to minister to the thirsty in the Wilderness of the world.
The thirsty should be drawn to the "living water" from the spirit of Christ in us, so we have to be sure the fountain is flowing clear and strong in us.
Ray talked also about how "cisterns" were things we built using our own strength or in man's ways that can never match the purity and refreshing of God's living water.

Main Website Link with details from this section: http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2077

E. The Class Handout (pdf) with questions and additional resources is found here.

Resources for further study:

Video

The Feast of Tabernacles (Jerusalem Mosaic) on YouTube.com
Pictures from around En Gedi and the Dead Sea on YouTube.com

On the Web

En Gedi or Ein Gedi

The Feast of Tabernacles (or Sukkot)

Video Study: That the World May Know by Ray Vander Laan [Focus on the Family]

This entire video series is available on Netflix (http://www.netflix.com/)

Main website for this series with additional material: http://www.followtherabbi.com/

Any Questions or problems with the posting: email gspc.education@gmail.com

The World of the Bible Class - Nov. 7, 2010 (Class #8)

2010-11-07T19:57:00.000-08:00

Class #8 - "Covenant Part 2 of 2" - Some New Testament Links to Covenant

NEXT WEEK: Meeting in the Katibah Room - Living Water

Lesson Outline

A. First a brief review of important things about covenants:

The word covenant comes from the Hebrew “bereth” - meaning "to cut"

Although the word comes from "to cut" because of the cutting of skin to share blood, and the cutting of animals sacrifices, it is ironic that convenants are means to build relationships between parties, not cut them off.
Our modern contracts typically are to protect each party. A convenant may provide some protection, but many were commitments to give away resources to the other party.

Unlike most modern contracts, convenants typically lasted for generations and were made between families and not just individuals. If as a person you made a covenant with a neighbor, your children would keep that covenant with his children for multiple generations. In the Bible, where God is concerned, the phrase "everlasting covenant" occurs 14 times in the King James translation.

David looked for a way to show his commitment to his covenant to Jonathan's family even after Jonathan had been killed in battle. See story in 2 Samuel 9. The word in the Kings James is "lovingkindness" which was invented by an early translator, because there is no English word that exactly matches the Hebrew word "chesed". Used throughout the Old Testament, it is a covenant word that is only used for people with a recognized tie between the parties (Norman H. Snaith). It is sometimes translated as steadfastness or mercy.

B. Next we discussed how many exchanges took place in a covenant. The message was that "what's mine is yours and what's yours is mine." This is closer to marriage than a modern contract. Marriage is designed as a covenant (rings are a exchange), although today it has been weakened by laws and culture. The exchanges between parties were often visible signs that a covenant took place both to a) remind the parties and to b) declare to outsiders that a relationship now existed. You wouldn't want to mess with someone who had a covenant with a powerful party.

Exchange of Garments
Exchange of Weapons
Exchange of Belts
Exchange of Oaths
Exchange of Blood
Exchange of Names
Exchange of Food (Covenant Meal)

Food in the Middle East was only shared between families
Therefore sharing a meal meant that both parties were part of the same family
Often enemies would eat together to bring about an end to fighting; indicated a level of unity between the parties
"Breaking Bread" was a symbolic sharing of life between parties; both partook of the the same substance
Often the parties of the covenant would feed each other; symbolic of giving their "life" with one another

C. In the New Testament (from the Latin meaning "covenant") Jesus took the Passover celebration, which was a ceremonial meal, but does not contain the elements of covenent, and added the aspects of covenent to what we now call The Lord's Supper.

Jesus said that the cup was the "new covenant" in His blood - Luke 22:20
Jesus also says that the bread was his body (exchange) given for His disciples. Luke 22:19 The word "for" in the Greek could also be translated as "instead of" so this line could be translated as, "This is my body which is given instead of you." In the light of the covenant with Abraham, Jesus is saying that instead of us receiving death for breaking God's covenent, Jesus exchanges His body in death so that we don't have to.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 that when we partake of the Lord's Supper, we "proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. Just like the visible evidences of a covenent, our taking of the body and blood of Jesus is a public sign and declaration to the world that we are in covenant with God. It means that all that we have and are belongs to God and that all God has belongs to us. It also declares that Jesus died to exchange His death for ours since we couldn't keep the covenant ourselves.
Communion or the Lord's Supper is a covenant meal. It uses the language showing the elements. This also explains why we have to take it so seriously (see 1 Corinthians 11:27-34)
We must be careful that we fully give ourselves to God if we are going to live as the covenant people of the Holy God. But when we do and are so aligned with God's purposes, God can bring all the resources we need to carry out His will in the world. Being in a covenant with God is a powerful thing. See Romans 8:31-39
To find how covenant expressed in the New Testament, look for all the passages that talk about "in Christ" or "in Him" or "in the Beloved", etc. These are exchanges where we exchange our life for Christ's life. For a partial list of the many scriptures, click here (pdf).

D. We watched the video which looked at the temple ruins at Arad and how the Jewish worship was patterned to remind them of the covenant that God cut with Abraham

Main Website Link with details from this section: http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1787

E. The Class handout (pdf) and additional resources is found here.

Resources for further study:

Books

The Power of the Blood Covenant by Malcolm Smith; Harrison House (2006). Preview available at Amazon.Com ISBN: 978-1577948162
The Blood Covenant by H. Clay Trumball; Impact Christian Books (1975). Preview available at Amazon.Com ISBN: 978-0892280292

On the Web - Covenant [for others, see Part 1 (Oct. 31st) lesson]

http://www.wheaton.edu/intr/faculty/Gallagher/New%20Articles/Hebraic%20Covenant.pdf

http://koinonia-all.org/bible/covenants_genesis_to_revelation.htm

http://www.tms.edu/tmsj/tmsj10m.pdf

http://www.tyndalehouse.com/tynbul/library/TynBull_1963_13_01_Thompson_ANETreatyPattern.pdf

http://www.presenttruthmag.com/archive/XXVIII/index.htm

http://www.bac2torah.com/covenant-Print.htm - From a Jewish perspective

http://www.bible-researcher.com/chesed.html

http://www.bible-researcher.com/covenant.html

Video Study: That the World May Know by Ray Vander Laan [Focus on the Family]

This entire video series is available on Netflix (http://www.netflix.com/)

Main website for this series with additional material: http://www.followtherabbi.com/

Any Questions or problems with the posting: email gspc.education@gmail.com