For nearly four hundred years after Malachi, divine silence marked the history of Israel. With the birth announcements of John the Baptist and Jesus the divine silence was about to be broken. The birth stories of John and Jesus have parallels. Both are miracles: in the case of John, Elizabeth had gone well past the … Continue reading –>
Luke 1:1-3, Acts 1:1-3 Acts 1:1 tells us that before Acts was written, its author wrote a former account. This, and the fact that both accounts were addressed to Theophilus, helps lead us to conclude that one author was responsible for both books. The two accounts can be viewed as Part 1 and 2 of … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 1:2-3; 2 Tim. 3:16; Luke 1:5-22; Deut. 18:15; Luke 2:9-12, Luke 2:25-32. Memory Text: For with God nothing will be impossible (Luke 1:37, NKJV) . The Gospel of Luke was written primarily to the Gentiles. Luke himself was a Gentile (implied in the context of Colossians 4:10-14), as was … Continue reading –>
by: John M. Fowler And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). We know that verse. It comes from one of the most well-known and beloved stories … Continue reading –>
Becky needed a new pair of shoes. Going to her favorite shop near Newport Beach, California, she picked out a pair, but discovered her size wasn’t in stock. Dwight McKeever, the sales rep, assured her that her size could be ordered, and the shoes would be in by Wednesday afternoon. Becky returned on Wednesday, but … Continue reading –>
Further Study: When indulging their appetite for wine and while under its exciting stimulus, their reason was clouded, and they could not discern the difference between the sacred and the common. Contrary to God’s express direction, they [Nadab and Abihu] dishonored Him by offering common instead of sacred fire. God visited them with His wrath; … Continue reading –>
Read Proverbs 31:26–31. What other important characteristics are seen in this woman? Why are these important for all of us, regardless of who we are? As we have seen all through this quarter, an emphasis is placed on words, on what we say. The woman is known for her wisdom and for her kindness. They … Continue reading –>
The virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 is not lazy; she works hard and is very active. The poem insists on this quality (Prov. 31:27) , which characterizes the wise versus the fool (Prov. 6:6; Prov. 24:33-34) . The field of her activities is comprehensive and concrete. To be spiritual does not mean that we should … Continue reading –>
Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies (Prov. 31:10) . Who is the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31:10? A number of indications suggest that the author has more in mind than a godly woman or the ideal wife. Following the lead of many passages of the book (Prov. 1:20–33, … Continue reading –>
It is always good to ask at the end of a study session, “What have we learned?” In the case of this quarter’s lessons, which is essentially about wisdom, perhaps we could phrase the question, “Are we wiser now or just more knowledgeable?” We did discuss the difference between knowledge and wisdom at the beginning … Continue reading –>
