Blind Persistence

This was the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting October 27 to study Luke 18:31-43.  But now this is the Bible study page for Thursday, November 3.  This has a prediction of Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, and then the healing of a blind man as Jesus enters Jericho.

Read the passages in multiple translations, especially the prediction in verses 31-34.  Look for word and grammar choices in translations.  Notice the similarities, over the differences.  That will actually tell you a lot about this passage.  Jot down notes and questions.  Be sure to walk through the healing account as if you were there noting what you see, smell, and hear.

After you have made your own study, look through commentaries you have at hand.  Revise questions and notes, and then go back through with the questions below:

•  Jesus calls the Twelve together.  This is the select group He has called, and not the troop of camp-followers.  To these He relates what will happen.  Why do you think Jesus would limit this just to them?  Why not the larger group to whom He appears after His resurrection?
• Everything will be completed as predicted about the Son of Man by the Prophets.  How do you think the disciples (and therefore Judaism) taught in that day about the "Messiah"?  They don't get this so it had to diverge significantly.
• Jesus goes on to describe the treatment He will receive, and it's not all beatings and crucifixion.  Why do you think Jesus makes a point of including both here?
• In Matthew 20:17-19 and Mark 10:32-34 this prediction is mirrored to an extent.  In all three Jesus takes the Twelve aside, and in each account He includes His humiliation.  But why do you think that Luke would leave out the chief priests and scribes which Matthew and Mark include?  Luke has "Gentiles" instead, which matches the majority of his audience.
• The disciples are not able to "bring these things together" (i.e. "understand") but they can't, not because they're unintelligent, but because it was "hidden".  Who do you think hid it from them, and why hide it?
• The blind beggar "hears" the commotion, and learns it's "Jesus the Nazarene".  What do you think it means for the beggar that he is able to connect "the Nazarene" to "Son of David"?  Why call Jesus the "Son of David"?
• The crowd, having told the blind beggar Jesus is coming, then tells him to be quiet.  Why do you think they were upset about the beggar crying out to Jesus?  Later they love the healing, and it was known that Jesus heals, so why prevent this man in need of it from crying out?
• Jesus stops and orders the beggar to be brought to Him.  Why do you think the crowd is now engaged on the bind man's behalf? What changed?
• Jesus asks what the mans wants Him to do for him.  Why ask a blind man what he wants?
• Literally the man wants to "look up".  There is a Greek verb for "see", but it's not used here.  What do you think might be inferred by "to look up" over "to see"?
• Look at the variety of ways the word "to look up" is used.  Sometimes it's for "look up" as into heaven.  But also notice the Gospel writers use it a as a "pun" in some healing accounts.  How does this usage help you understand why it might be used here instead of "to see"?
• Jesus says his faith has "saved" or "made him well" ("given life" in one translation).  The word is normally "saved" elsewhere (93 times).  Why do you think this applies here?  What do you think this healing was about?
• What role do you think what the man cried out to Jesus played in his "faith" about Jesus?
• The man could see immediately and "praises God".  The people see it and "glorify God". What do you think is the difference, if any, between "praising" and "glorifying" God?

That will keep us busy I'm sure.  Be thinking of how you are or are not like the disciples as you read Scripture, and are and are not like the blind beggar and his faith.  These are the best points of application.  Jot down some thoughts about that.

Flying Mulberrys, Unworthy Slaves, and Thankfulness Among Lepers

This is the Bible Study Page for the Thursday Night Bible Study meeting September 29 to study Luke 17:5-19.  This will finish out the beginning of chapter 17 and include the healing of 10 lepers. 

Read through the passage a few times, using different translations, noting things that stand out.  You may have notes from the passage we used last time that you didn't get to use since we didn't finish the verses.  We stopped just before where the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith.  Read that with this healing account to see if that changes, modifies, or influences what you learned from just the six verses.  Note details in the healing that jump out at you.  Ask questions as if you were interviewing one of the disciples (or Luke) about what Jesus said and the healing.

Once you have a good sense of the passage yourself, go back through with any commentaries or study guides you find (yours or online).  Revise your notes and questions accordingly.  Then go back through with the questions below:

• The disciples ask for Jesus to "increase their faith".  How does a mustard seed-sized faith "increase" their faith?
• Why do you think Luke uses a "mulberry tree" instead of a mountain, like Matthew?
• Consider verses 7 through 10 very carefully.  Slavery is such a foreign concept to us, this probably sounds very harsh.  Keeping in mind that it didn't sound harsh at all to them, what do you think is Jesus' point?
• How do you see yourself in verses 7 through 10?  We talk so much about Jesus being our "brother" or "friend", we tend to forget His is our Lord first.  What sorts of things do you need to do differently considering these verses?
• How does the flying mulberry tree and being unworthy slaves increase the faith of the disciples?  How does it increase your faith?
• Jesus was between Samaria and Galilee in this healing account.  Look at a map of the region.  How far has Jesus traveled since He "set His face toward Jerusalem" in  9:51?
• The ten lepers are standing far off from the village Jesus' is entering.  Yet they are close enough to recognize Jesus.  How do you imagine this setting?  What do you think the people around Jesus are doing as He enters the village?
• Look at what the lepers cry out in a few translations.  They all have the same word for how they referred to Jesus, "Master".  Click the link to the left and look at the verse references where this word is used.  What do you think of the fact this word is only used by Luke?
• Jesus tells them to go and show themselves to the priests.  Refer back to that map you looked at earlier.  Where would they need to go to do so?  Look up "Levitical Cities" if you have an atlas with an index.  Now how far would they have to travel?  By the days of Jesus, the cities with Levites were probably much more mixed.  What do you think that, regardless of how far they were to travel, they knew exactly where to go, even the Samaritan?
• In just about any translation it says that, "as they went they were healed."  Considering the request of the disciples to increase their faith, how related do you think that question and this account were to Luke?
• One returns "glorifying God."  The man who returns is a Samaritan, and Jesus notices that on sight.  What do you think this might have meant for Luke's audience?  What does that tell you about how lepers regarded each other?
• The thankfulness is acknowledged by Jesus, but what was it that actually "saved" him?
• If thankfulness isn't what saves, faith is, and all ten were cleansed through faith, what do you see as the benefit of "thankfulness" through this account?
• If Jesus told the ten to go show themselves to the priests, why do you think He would be surprised that only one came back to thank Him?  Keep in mind that they weren't healed immediately, but only as they went to go to the priests.

That should keep us busy, especially since there are other questions and issues not in these questions.  Remember as well to be seeking those areas that the Holy Spirit is revealing to you about your own life where you may need to adjust things (i.e. repent).

A Tale Of Two Masters

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting January 21 to study Luke 7:1-10.  This is one of the many accounts involving Roman Centurions.  These characters are almost always portrayed in a positive light by Luke and the other Gospel writers.  Follow the link above to read two short articles on them.

Read through these short verses a few times.  If you can dig below the familiarity, you may remember questions you had the first time you read or heard it.  Try and put yourself alternatively in the sandals of the Centurion, the Jewish elders, Jesus, and then perhaps the sick slave.  From each perspective, ask yourself about the others involved in this story, including the "friends".

Commentators don't spend a lot of time here primarily because the surface meaning really is the primary meaning.  The point in going any deeper is to try and remove the cultural filters so we can get a deeper, more meaningful sense of this obvious meaning.  The point remains the point.  We're only trying to make the point more pragmatic or for our lives, not change the point to fit our culture.

After reading through, making notes, and coming up with questions, go back through with the questions below:

• With all that this particular centurion has done for the Jewish people in Capernaum it's not surprising that he had heard of Jesus.  But having heard, why do you think he would send those who seemed to be turning against Jesus?
• There no explicit answer, but from the rest of his character we learn from this passage, why do you think this centurion was so concerned about a slave?
•  Neither the slave nor the centurion are named.  But the slave is referenced as "some slave" with an indefinite pronoun.  Linguistically, that's not a "flag" for an important or valuable character.  Yet, he is important to this centurion.  What does that tell you about this slave in general? What does that mean for your appraisal of the centurion specifically?
• The centurion isn't a high-ranking officer in the Roman army.  He's more like a "Senior NCO" if we were to use more modern military terms.  In other words, he's not likely to be a landed gentry or noble.  Why do you think a person of such rank has enough influence among the "occupied" people to have their elders do his bidding?
• The elders of the Jews go to Jesus and tell Him that this centurion is "worthy" to have Jesus heal his slave.  Besides the building of the synagogue, what else do the elders use to support this claim?  What does that tell you about this centurion's character?
• Jesus goes with them, but then the "friends" of the centurion come and explain further what the centurion intends.  Why do you think the elders didn't convey this element to the message?
• The friends were likely more Gentiles, like the centurion.  What do you think they thought of being sent to Jesus?  What do you think they thought of the "message" they conveyed?
• The point of the centurion is his understanding of Jesus' authority.  But Jesus focuses on his faith.  What do you think is the relationship between the two characteristics?
• Jesus "marvels" at the centurion.  That essentially means that He "gazes with admiration" or "stopped in His tracks to look at something"; think , "WOW!".  He's still God, so how can that be?  What does that tell you about the centurion?
• The centurion's slave is healed by the time the friends return.  What did Jesus do or say to heal the slave?  If nothing, why do you think He finds it necessary or expedient to do or say stuff in other circumstances?

The application or AHA here I think fits best when we ask ourselves whether Jesus would "marvel" at our faith.  Think through that.  Why or why not, and what "action" needs to accompany what you discover from the "honest" answer?

The Only Eternal 'Gift of the Spirit'

This is now, the Study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting October 9 to study 1 Corinthians 13.  Since no one showed October 2, we'll try this again on the 9th.  This chapter is probably made more difficult by its familiarity more than anything.  There are few real problems with translation but we will spend most of our time in word study through verses 4 through 7.

Read this chapter through slowly.  Then go back and read chapters 12, 13, and 14 together.  Then read through thirteen again slowly.  Jot down observations.  What are your thoughts about the overall tone, and unpack some of the implications of how Paul describes love.  What would this sort of love look like on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at home, work, school, traveling, and shopping?  Be sure to use several translations, especially on the middle four verses, but really everywhere you will see some diversity in translations.  I suspect this is more an attempt to shake up the familiarity so we think more, than it is about some difficulty in understanding the words.

After reading through the chapter a few times, read back through with the questions below:

• What do you think the 'context' of verse 1 means for the 'clanging' and 'noisy' instruments?  In other words, where does the 'speaking in tongues of men and of angels' happen that they would correlate to such horrible 'music'?
• If, in verse 2, Paul says the result of not having love is nothing, and then in verse 3, gain nothing, what do you thing the 'nothing' is in verse 1?  Is it 'sound like nothing'? or what?
• The first 'gift' referred to in verse 1 is tongues; then prophecy, knowledge, and faith in verse 2; then giving, and martyrdom.  What do you think about these as 'gifts of the Spirit'?  The list differs somewhat from chapter 12, so do you think these are all truly spiritual gifts?
• Look at Galatians 5:22, 23.  How many of these qualities of love in this chapter match those in the list of 'Fruit of the Spirit'?
• As you read these qualities in verses 4 through 7, what are your fears?  What concerns you about this list or living this way every day?
• There are 'is' and 'is not' qualities listed.  How many of each kind do you find? (I found 7 'is' and 8 'is not', but I only looked in verses 4 through 7)
• With the list containing 'is not' qualities, Paul contrasts love with other, possibly more common, behavior.  What do you think the people of Corinth thought of this list?  What do you suspect may have been their qualities?  Now, what about you?  How do your qualities match up?  Is your 'is' and 'is not' list somewhat inverted from this one? (Mine is)
• In the last verses of this chapter, Paul moves to another set of contrasts that demonstrate the priority of love.  Why will prophecy, tongues, and knowledge all 'pass away'?  When do you think that will happen?  Why do you think that will happen?
• What do you think Paul means by his illustration of being a 'child' versus a 'man'?  When does that happen in this discussion?
• When will we see face-to-face and know fully?  So, Paul is pointing to a future when none of these 'gifts' will be necessary, yet love will remain.  What does that mean for 'gifts' today?
• Look at Hebrews 11:1.  Since faith substantiates hope, what do you think 'substantiates' faith?  Or do you think Love is also substantiated by faith, or hope?  How do these relate in such a way that love is 'greatest'?  Do you think James 2:14-26 sheds light on this relationship?  If so, how?

That should keep us busy for an hour.  Hopefully, at the end of this we will really have a better understanding, not of love itself, but how we are to love every day.  How's that for a challenge?

Rashness: Both Good and Bad

This is the study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting August 29 to study 1 Samuel 14.  There are peculiar twists and confusing descriptions in this chapter.  And it gives us probably the most positive view of Saul, and it's not all that good.

Read through the chapter several times to get a sense of the flow of events.  There is a part at the beginning that is sort of an annotation/interruption in the narrative, but it's not hard to pick up the flow of events immediately following.  It was supposed to give more detail on the setting, but so far from the events, it's almost obscuring rather than clarifying.  We have to trust that it meant something at the time of writing/compiling.

Jot down notes, questions, and insights into God's character, Saul's character, Jonathan's character and the people.  Note relationships and imagine what it would have been like to be there and hear what was said, see what was done, and see who was doing it.  After reading it through enough to get a good feel for it, and jotting down your insights, read it through again with these questions:

• As with the prior chapter, Jonathan starts the conflict.  In verse 1, it doesn't sound bad, but through verse 5, the situation is shown to be really lopsided.  What sort of character do you think it takes in a person to face such circumstances with just your "buddy"?
• Jonathan has a reason for his faith, that Yahweh isn't hindered by lack of numbers, he has history to demonstrate this (Gideon for example).  What is your faith based in, what sort of personal history?  And does that history support such acts of faith as Jonathan's?
• Jonathan chooses a sign to know if Yahweh has given the Philistines into his hand, but what does he use as his fall-back if the sign isn't given?  What does it mean for his character?  What do you think would have happened had the Philistines come down to him?
• Considering bravery and cowardice, so far in this account, the numerous Philistines versus the paltry few Israelites, who is courageous and who is cowardly?  Why might that be surprising?  What might support "caution" on the part of the Philistines?
• Read verse 15 in as many translations as possible.  Look up "trembling"/"panic" in the Strong's Concordance.  Then look up "trembled" in the Strong's Concordance.  These words have the same root, and the first (noun) is used at the end of the verse.  What do you imagine happening in the Philistine camp?  What does this have to do with Jonathan?
• What do the "spies/lookouts" for Saul see, what do you think it looked like?
• Saul figures out who is missing, so what does he do immediately?  There is debate about whether the "Ark of God" is referred to or whether it is the "Ephod" of the priest (long story).  What would make the Ephod make more sense in light of verse 18?
• Regardless of how confusing verse 17 and 18 are (and they are confusing), Saul decides not to inquire of God through the priest.  Why?  Think in terms of character and circumstance and don't be too quick to judge harshly.
• What do Saul and the army find when they reach the battle?  Where is Jonathan?
• Who are these "Hebrews", and where did they come from?  The Greek version uses the term "slaves", how does that influence your understanding?
• Who else joins the battle?  Where did they come from, and how did they know what was happening in Benjamin?
• Why would Saul swear an oath on the people to not eat?  What "military" value would that have had?
• When Jonathan's eyes shine from eating the honey, someone tells him of his father's oath.  How does Jonathan interpret his father's action?  What does that tell you of Jonathan's character?
• So at some point the people fall on the plunder and begin sinning by eating blood.  How do you imagine this scene?  When Saul is told, he says they are being treacherous.  What do you think about what happened and why?  If you had to ascribe fault, how would you do it (not who, but how would you decide)?
• Saul's solution is to roll a big rock to use to slaughter the animals.  It also says he built an altar, his first.  Do you think the large stone and the altar are the same?  What would that mean for what he did?  What does that say about his character?
• Saul wants to continue to pursue the Philistines, but what does it mean that the priest contradicts him?  Why would the priest do that?
• So what does God answer Saul?  What does that mean?  Saul decides what he thinks it means, so lots are cast, but why does Saul say the person offending will die?
• Prior to this the people say, "Do what is good in your eyes." But not here, what do you think they are thinking?
• Jonathan owns what he did, and whatever consequences.  What do we learn about his character here?
• The people stand up for Jonathan against the king.  If (or since) Yahweh brought victory through Jonathan, what can we guess is His opinion of what has gone on?
• The rest of the chapter summarizes Saul's reign and his family.  What do you think of Saul's victories and success?  What does that reveal of God's perspective of Saul?
• Saul's family will be important later, but a son is missing (2 Samuel 2:8), why might that be?
• Considering that "ab" means "father" in Hebrew, what do you think of Abner's name versus his father's name?  Why would someone name the child that way?
• So Saul's reign is characterized by conflict with the Philistines, so what is his usual practice?  Good idea or bad idea?  Or is it a necessity?

That should do for now.  Blessings upon you all until Thursday!

Isaac Carries His Own Wood

This is the study page for Genesis 22 for the July 19 small group meeting.  There may be a lot of people out, and they are going to miss one of the most familiar and confusing chapters of Genesis.

There should be plenty of questions.  A lot of our group will be travelling this week, so if you who are can get to the Internet and read this page this week, post questions you may have as comments.  We'll share and discuss in the group, and post answers we come up with (almost like you're there).

As you read through the chapter, consider these questions; and as always, remember to come up with your own as well.

• Why is God so specific with Abraham about Isaac?
• Abraham has had discussions with God on other things he was told (Sodom for instance), but he doesn't push back on sending away Hagar and her son, nor here.  We know that he was bothered about sending his first-born away.  So what would be going on with Abraham here?
• How does Abraham distribute the burdens once he leaves the two servants with the donkey?
• We always use this passage for a name of God, that He is the 'Provider'.  Follow the link to look up the word "ra'ah" (H7200).  How is it most commonly translated?
• What is Isaac thinking here, and as this is happening?
• We always think of the angel "grabbing" Abraham's arm with the knife.  What did the Angel of The Lord actually do?
• What's with Abraham's common response of, "Here I am"?  Has he been using this response all the way through so far?
• What was God doing, or how does He explain His test?
• Where did the "ram" come from?
• What does Abraham name God here?
• We've already looked at the word compounded with God's proper Name to make this.  Now see what the Strong's does with it (H3070).  What other name of God we have run across already does this sound like (hint: it wasn't Abraham that gave it to Him, but one of his household)?
• What do you think of the promise God makes here, not so much the content which is familiar, but the timing and construction?
• What is new in this promise?

That should do for now.  As I said, you will probably have questions of your own (or at least I hope so).  If you can't make it Thursday, post your questions as comments or replies to the email.  We'll share answers after Thursday's meeting.

Blessings upon you all, and safe travels for those not able to be with us!

Once More Around the Covenant Mulberry Bush

Chapter 18 looks somewhat like 17, only with more people in it.  This is the page for our meeting on June 14.  I said in the last entry that 17 was somewhat like 18 (or vice versa).  So part of what we'll be doing is a good ole "compare and contrast" like from school (a skill you probably never thought you'd use once you graduated).

So, the chapter falls neatly into two pieces, verses 1 through 16 and 17 through 33.  Read through the whole chapter first, then each section once or twice separately.

As you read the first section (v. 1-16) consider the following questions:

• How is verse 1-2 much like Genesis 17:1-3?  How are they different?
• In verses 3-5 Abraham makes a proposition to the "three men", what do you think of his idea?  What other biblical encounters does it remind you of?
• He gets together meat, bread, butter and cheese (verses 6-8).  Why would these foods be expected?  Where did the grain have to come from?
• In verse 9, who is speaking?  Why might this be an odd question for them to ask?
• In verse 10, who is speaking? 
• When does He predict the coming of the child? Read Gen 17:21. What is the same?  What is different?
• Now who laughs?  Yet, what is the child's name as far as this chapter is concerned?
• Who is never mentioned in this chapter, but figures prominently in chapter 17?
• Having finished the meal and conversation, where do they head off to?

As you read the second section (v. 17-33) consider the following questions:

• Now Who is speaking?  Who is He speaking to initially?
• Where are the "two" going?
• Now that it's just Abraham and Yahweh, what does Abraham do with his "private audience"?
• Read verses 23 through 32 with your best New York/German Jewish or Middle Eastern accent.  How does that flavor the dialogue?  What sense of "culture" do you gain?
• Abraham starts out strong, what is the basis of his plea?  Why should Yahweh not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?
• Abraham starts at 50 as the "saving threshold".  What skill is he using to reduce that number and how successful is he?

As you read over the chapter some more (yes, that's at least once as a whole, twice at least of each piece, and now a few times more as a whole...what's your point?), and as you do consider your relationship with God; use a few of these questions:

• What would it take for you to recognize God if He showed up at your door?
• What would you feed the Maker of all matter for Sunday lunch?  Why that?
• What has God revealed to you that made you laugh?
• When you ask God for something, how willing are you to "negotiate"?
• How willing do you believe God is to negotiate?

That should do for now (hurry, you only have two days!).  See you all on Thursday!