Bethlehem North Women's Bible Study: Recent Episodes
bbcnorthwomensbiblestudy
Welcome to Bethlehem North Women's Ministry Bible Study! For more information, email NorthWomen@Bethlehem.Church
Having friendships where we can be “real” with each other is a desire for many women—especially in a large church. But it can be hard to know how to initiate and build these kinds of deeper relationships, especially in the midst of busy mothering. Drawing on years of mentoring and small group leading in a number of settings, Heather talks about building intentional friendships that help us see Jesus.
(Note that the last portion of the podcast includes some group discussion, so sound quality is not optimal.)
As we come to the close of our study, is your heart bursting with joy? We’ve seen picture after picture—portraits of our precious Savior, painted for us in his Word. My prayer is that you have seen Jesus as he is revealed in the Bible, and that in seeing him, you love Jesus more now than when you started on this journey. And I hope you will share with others the sweet good news of his love and grace. One day we will all appear before the Lord of lords and King of kings, the Refiner and Purifier, and the Righteous Judge. Is your name written in his book, the Lamb’s book of Life? Can you say with Paul that he is your precious treasure? Sister, I pray that you will treasure Jesus in all of life, that you will count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. —Philippians 3:8
When you are afraid, trust him as your Rock, your Savior, you Defender. Run to your Refuge. When you are sad or discouraged, remind yourself that he is your Counselor, the Atoning Sacrifice for all your sins, your High Priest, and Advocate before the throne of God. When you are confused, seek the Light of the World, the Way, the Truth and the Life. When you are thirsty and hungry, drink deeply from the living water he gives and feast on the Bread of Life. He is Jesus. Yeshua, “the Lord is salvation.” Turn to Jesus, your Treasure in every circumstance of your life. “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."—Colossians 1:17
In this lesson, we pondered many titles and names of Jesus: the Author of Life, the judge of the living and the dead, the Righteous One, the Hope of Israel, the firstfruits, the last Adam, the cornerstone, the founder and perfecter of our faith, the head over all things, the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, the Creator who holds all things together, the head of the body, the church, the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, the hope of glory and our all in all! He is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact imprint of his nature, the image of God, the upholder of the universe, our mediator, our ransom, our reconciler, our advocate! He is FOR us, not against us!! He is our forever perfect and great high priest, our atoning sacrifice and propitiation for our sins!
With His blood He has saved me
With His pow'r He has raised me
To God be the glory
For the things He has done
Jan Howard shares many stories and observations of God’s grace both to herself and also to other godly women in her life. “Ponder anew what the Almighty can do, if with His love He befriend thee!”
Jan's recommended reading:
Recommended reading:
Honey for a Child’s Heart, by Gladys Hunt
His Loving Law, Our Lasting Legacy, by Jani Ortlund
Dwelling Places: Words to Live in Every Season, by Lucinda Secrest McDowell
Disciplines of a Godly Woman, by Barbara Hughes
The Day is Yours: Slow Spirituality in a Fast-Moving World, by Ian Stackhouse
Every Moment Holy, by Douglas McKelvey
A Heart for God, Perpetual calendar of Elisabeth Elliot quotes w related Scriptures
Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, and because of his love, he worked a plan that was very different from theirs. He showed them His glory and His power. He revealed to them who He is:
Jesus said: “I AM the resurrection and the life”
He didn’t say, “I can resurrect people” and “I can give life” (although awesomely true!) John’s emphasis here is not on what Jesus does (or does not do), but on who Jesus is—the Resurrection and the Life! Perhaps the most loving thing God can do for us is to show us more of Himself in the hard times, to show us the preciousness of Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life!
Here’s John Piper’s definition of love based on John 11: “Love is doing whatever you have to do — or whatever God has to do — at whatever cost, in order for the glory of God to be shown.”
In what other ways did we see the preciousness of Jesus in this lesson? Here are just a few:
- He weeps with us.
- *Jesus wept. John 11:35.
- *he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… (Isaiah 53)
- He raises us from death, spiritually and eternally.
- *“Lazarus, come out.” John 11:43
- *And you were dead in the trespasses … But God, … made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:1–8
- *So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 1 Corinthians 15:42
- He calls us by name.
- *Jesus said to her, “Mary.” John 20:16
- *The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3
- *Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. Isaiah 43:1
- He gives us eyes to see him.
- *she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. → “I have seen the Lord” John 20:14; 18
- *For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6
With the preciousness of Jesus in mind, we will look to God for wisdom and insight for sharing Christ with others in a winsome and practical way.
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32
God’s amazing grace in giving his one and only Son, Jesus to die in our place, while we were still dead sinners, is all we need to trust God in even the most difficult of times. Jesus himself is the ultimate demonstration of God’s love for us. Never have we been more lifeless and helpless than when we were dead in our sins; and never has God shown his matchless grace, incredible wisdom, awesome power, lavish love, and commitment to save us than he has in giving his Son, the Chosen One, Jesus, for us as the Atoning Sacrifice!
This week we searched the scriptures asking, “Where’s the Lamb?”
- In Genesis, God provided one lamb for one son (Genesis 22)
- In Exodus, the people were instructed to kill one lamb per household or gather with neighbors together under one roof (Exodus 12)
- In the sacrificial system, one lamb atoned for the sins of the whole nation (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy)
But all these lambs could never really take our place. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4) So the question continued through the Bible: Where is the lamb who can fully and finally die in our place, once and for all so that we don’t have to? The Lamb of God, the Creator of all lambs, was born in a manger in Bethlehem and came to do something that no other lamb could ever do. He came to give his life as the once-for-all-perfect-sacrifice. Our Passover Lamb.
- Jesus, the Lamb of God, one Lamb for the sins of the world! (John 1:29)
- Jesus, the Lamb of God, who is also the Good Shepherd (John 10; 1 Peter 2:22-25)
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, [do you hear Isaiah 53?] but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
- Jesus, the Lamb of God, who is also the Door (Exodus 12; John 10) The Israelites went in through the blood-sealed door on the first Passover night and found protection and redemption. The next morning, they went out the same door, and out of Egypt and began their journey as a newborn nation. We are born into a new life through the blood of Jesus. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:9)
- Jesus, the Lamb of God, who is also the Bread of Life (John 6) When Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life,” he added, If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples for the last time in the Upper Room before he went to the cross. He gave his disciples bread and and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”(Matthew 26:26). Then he gave them the cup and said, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (v. 28).
- Jesus, the Lamb of God, slaughtered for us, his body broken, torn, crushed. His blood poured out for us.
“If you don't feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because you have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Your soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great.”― John Piper, A Hunger For God
What a feast was set for us in John’s gospel this week! But have we truly recognized the riches of grace set before us in God’s word? Jesus told the religious leaders, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life” (John 5:39–40). They failed to see the true content and purpose of the Scriptures, which is to testify about Jesus. Oh sisters, let us heed the words of Jesus, come to him, the Bread of Life, the Light of the World, the Door, the Good Shepherd and the True Vine.
This week we saw one magnificent portrait of Jesus as our precious Teacher. In many different places: synagogues, mountainsides, lakes, one-on-one clandestine meetings at night and unexpected conversations … Jesus taught. He taught in public and in private, in cities and in the countryside, during the day and during the night, to the rich and to the poor, to strangers and to friends. He had no prestigious degree from an esteemed university, and no modern resources like sound systems or powerpoint. Sermons, conversations, word pictures, images, and parables. His words, recorded for us by the gospel writers, are unforgettable and timeless. The greatest of all teachers used words to paint pictures for us, and those pictures point to precious gospel truths. “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
In this lesson, we examined images such as birth, water, spirit, wind, bronze serpent, living water. In the parables, all sorts of characters point to Jesus: bridegroom, beloved son, heir, the shepherd who leaves the 99 to go after one lost sheep, master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard, the king’s Son, a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property, a great physician, a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants, a man who had two sons (one who was a prodigal.) We learned that no one (including an educated religious leader) is beyond the need for Jesus and no one (including a despised, hopeless woman at the well) is beyond the reach of Jesus.
Whether we're feeling a little weary or discouraged or just not sure we can face another snowstorms, God is with us! But by God's grace, today’s strength is always just enough. Jill Noble helps us consider the truth of God’s provision for us, the ways He prepares us for what’s ahead, and His protection over us.
Lesson 2: SON
- Jesus Christ (Christ not his last name!)
- Son of David
- God’s son
- Son of Man
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. —John 3:16-18
Keith and Sharon Steichen share their story of how knowing and clinging to Christ Jesus has been their greatest gain from the perspective of over three decades of marriage.
Abigail Dodds shares her family’s story of walking with God through disability and encourages us to walk faithfully with God in every circumstance of our own parenting.
Pastor Sam Crabtree helps us link the preciousness of our incomparable Jesus with the crucial spiritual dynamic of thankfulness.
Ponder the PAST - His precious grace
1- God’s sweet providence in my family
2- God’s kind protection
A- Physical protection-
B- Spiritual protection-
C- Intellectual protection-
D- Heart protection-
3- God’s bountiful provision
4- God’s passion for His glory
5-God’s past grace in trials
Ponder the PRESENT - his precious presence in suffering/trials
1- Pleading with the Lord for healing grace
2- Pleading for sustaining grace in grief and loss
3- Pleading for saving grace for those we love
Ponder our FUTURE to come - His glory
Podcast: Bible Story Time with Mimi on Podbean, Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Google play, etc
Website: pamlarson.org
How do you shepherd your children’s hearts when they have big emotions? Caroline Jones, a certified counselor with Redemption Twin Cities, speaks on this challenging topic.
Hear how God transforms disability from the thing we’d never ask for to the gift we’d never trade.
How do we number our days? How does that give us a heart of wisdom? Pastor Steven Lee unpacks the 2021-22 MOMS theme verse and shares his personal experience on how we can “Live Wise."
We all know what anxiety feels like in motherhood and the fears it produces. Will our children get hurt? Will they love Jesus? Will I ever sleep again or have time to myself? When will this get easier? Pastor Brian Liechty shares how Jesus meets moms in the middle of these anxiety filled days.
From Genesis to Revelation, there is no place you can look and not see Jesus. He is on every page. He is everywhere. He is everything. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we want our eyes opened to see and understand the Scriptures and set our hearts on fire!
My prayer is that your hearts burnwith fresh joy and love as you see him and know him through the way he is revealed in the Scriptures—his life, his ministry, his names. I hope you will, with Paul, say that you want to know him as your precious treasure. "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Philippians 3:8
In Lesson 1, we examine:
- The Promised One
- Immanuel
- Jesus
- Savior
- a baby! (the incarnation)
- in the name of Jesus
Today the story picks up after Gabriel’s appearance to Mary and after the miraculous virgin conception of Jesus within Mary's womb. Elizabeth’s pregnancy is progressing, and Mary hastily leaves Nazareth for the hill country of Judea to visit Elizabeth. Listen in as the anticipation of the arrival of the Promised One continues to build.
After God's long silence, Israel, outwardly, looks like a very different people from 400 years ago. But inwardly, that same old enemy entwines himself around their hearts. The snake still deceives and enslaves many of them, and he is very much at work in the land when God sends Gabriel on a second mission to the town of Nazareth.
After 400 years of silence from God, after 400 years of political upheaval in the land, and after 400 years of languishing in spiritual exile, we turn the page to find faithfulness in Israel—a hopeful beginning to the next chapter of God's story!
The Old Testament concludes with a final warning of judgment and a promise of hope, that when the day of the Lord was near, God would send “Elijah the prophet” to “turn the hearts” of his people and “prepare the way” for the Lord, “lest [he] come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction” (Malachi 3:1, 4:5-6). After those sobering words, God went silent.
Beginning with Eden and all the way through Judah’s exile, God’s story shows us that humanity’s greatest need is for God to “create…a clean heart” within them (Ps 51:10). The prophet Isaiah spoke of how God would accomplish that feat. He would send a humble, innocent servant who would willingly offer his own life and pour out his own blood in order to make many sinners righteous (Is 53:10-12).
That servant had the full human experience, suffering under the weight of the curse, enduring the attacks of enemies, and feeling as if all his work had been in vain, and yet after he had “poured out his soul to death” (53:12), God made him a king above all kings (Is 49:7) and gave him many offspring (53:10-11). That suffering servant is the King-priest from Psalm 110. It is he who sits enthroned in Heaven and waits for God to make all his enemies a footstool. (110:1).
And while he waits, his kingdom of light continues to spread into every dark corner of the earth. While he waits, “the will of the LORD shall prosper” in the “hand[s]” of his “offspring,” who like their King-priest make their lives a living sacrifice and by bearing the fruits of righteousness bring God’s salvation “to the end of the earth” (Is 53:10, Rom 12:1, Is 49:6).
As we go about the normal business of our lives this week, I am praying that God impresses a new awareness on our spirits that he now works through us to accomplish his original creative purposes of bringing blessing to every family of the earth. Praise God for the work of his servant, who has made us righteous and has blessed us with fruitfulness in all the good works God has prepared for us to do. (Eph 2:10)
Psalm 110 and the mysterious Melchizedek introduced us to the idea that humanity needs more than a king. We need a king to crush the snake and end the ancient conflict of the garden, but we also need a priest who can atone for our sins and mediate God’s blessing to us. The prophecy of Psalm 110 guarantees both in the person of the Messiah, who is a king from the line of David and a priest from the order of Melchizedek, rather than the failed order of the Levites.
Psalm 110 places this King-Priest on the throne of Heaven where he waits for the “day of his power” when he will subdue all his enemies and usher in the new and better Eden. But while he waits, there is time for those enemies to turn, “kiss the King” and exchange their curse for his blessing.
2 Reflections on the story so far:
1--Why does God keep retelling the same story? We saw it first with Adam, then Noah, with Israel in the wilderness, with Israel in the PL during the time of the judges. And now we see it even after a king from Judah sits on the throne of Israel. Why have all of these new beginnings–these Eden reboots–failed? Because the enemy within must also be crushed. Rebellion is bound up in the hearts of humanity. And these repeated stories show us just how bad the problem of sin is, because we don’t always believe it, but our greatest enemy is not the wretched curse on the world. It’s arguably not even the snake–we’ve seen his impotence in his multiple failed efforts to prevent the birth of the one who will crush him. It’s not his offspring who are the biggest threat. No, the biggest threat facing humanity is our own traitorous heart, and the desires we have–to cast off God’s cords and bonds and to make ourselves King in his place. How will the King of Glory crush this enemy–the one that is so entwined around the hearts even of his chosen nation? You’ll have to keep reading to find out. But just remember–these Eden reboots all failed because of sin. Not because of the snake–though he is crafty and he will certainly use the curse on the ground and our own evil inclinations against us–but ultimately these Eden reboots failed because of sin, the enemy within. And because we are slow to understand and believe, God keeps telling the same story.
2--Notice how many ways God repackages the story to drive home his message–that in spite of our sin, he loves us and wants to be with us. He speaks of his love for his people like the love a Father has for his children. He speaks of his love for his people like a husband has for his wife. He speaks of his love for his people like a shepherd has for his flock. He’ll repackage this message over and over again, so that the truth of it begins to dawn on our darkened minds and we finally believe it–that God really loves us! And despite everything–the evil attempts of the snake, the multiplication of his offspring, the curse of death that hangs over us, even our own wayward hearts–despite all of this, he will send the King of Glory to crush all these enemies and deliver us from their enslaving power–so that we can be with God, joyful and glad of heart for all the prosperity he grants to his people through their great King of Glory!
From Jacob’s prophecy, (Genesis 49) we learned that the King of Glory will descend from the line of Judah. We also learned that when he comes, he will not only rule Israel, but all the nations of the earth.
From Balaam’s prophecy, (Numbers 24) we learned that when the King of Glory establishes his reign, he will bring his earth-wide blessing by not only crushing the snake, but by crushing all the snake’s offspring.
From Jacob’s prophecy, (Genesis 49) we learned that the King of Glory will descend from the line of Judah. We also learned that when he comes, he will not only rule Israel, but all the nations of the earth.
From Balaam’s prophecy, (Numbers 24) we learned that when the King of Glory establishes his reign, he will bring his earth-wide blessing by not only crushing the snake, but by crushing all the snake’s offspring.
1) Sin and Conflict abound in the new landscape outside of Eden. We see this right out of the garden where two warring lines emerge.
2) God begins to reveal a comprehensive plan to redeem all of creation. He’s not just going to crush the snake. He’s going to reverse the curse and restore Eden.
1) Sin and Conflict abound in the new landscape outside of Eden. We see this right out of the garden where two warring lines emerge.
2) God begins to reveal a comprehensive plan to redeem all of creation. He’s not just going to crush the snake. He’s going to reverse the curse and restore Eden.
Genesis 3:14–15 taught us to look for the birth of a boy child who—through suffering—will destroy the snake, our ancient enemy who sought to undermine God’s creation and kill Adam and Eve.
Genesis 3:14–15 taught us to look for the birth of a boy child who—through suffering—will destroy the snake, our ancient enemy who sought to undermine God’s creation and kill Adam and Eve.
Parable 1: Matthew 22:1–14 The Parable of the Wedding Guests
- Context
- Context in Jesus’ ministry: Chief priests and Pharisees offended at parables (Matthew 21:45–46)
- Leaders seeking to arrest Jesus
- Crowds held Jesus to be prophet
- Context in teaching: Jesus speaks again in a parable (Matthew 22:1–3a)
- Kingdom of heaven like a king giving a wedding feast for his son
- King sends servants to call those who were invited
- Context in Jesus’ ministry: Chief priests and Pharisees offended at parables (Matthew 21:45–46)
- Crisis 1
- Those invited would not come (22:3b)
- King sends other servants
- Message: See, come
- Response
- Some paid no attention, went off to farm/business
- Others seized, shamefully treated, killed servants
- King responds
- To those murderers: anger, destruction, burning
- To servants: Those invited weren’t worthy; gather new guests
- Servants gathered all they found, bad and good; wedding hall was filled
- Crisis 2
- King saw a man with no wedding clothes
- King inquires: How did you get in without wedding garment?
- Man was speechless
- King responds: bind, cast into outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth
- Conclusion
- Jesus’ conclusion: Many are called; few are chosen
- Pharisees response: plot to entangle
- Challenge
- What is your response to the call of Christ?
- What is your confidence to enter God’s kingdom?
Parable 2: Matthew 25:1–13 The Parable of the Waiting Virgins
- Context
- Context in Jesus’ ministry: days prior to betrayal and crucifixion, teaching disciples about the end
- Context in parable: waiting for a wedding … ten virgins meeting the bridegroom
- Five were foolish, no oil with their lamps
- Five were wise, flasks of oil with their lamps
- Delay and sleep for all
- Cry to Come
- Readiness revealed; all trimmed their lamps
- Foolish unprepared: lamps going out, presume upon the preparations of others
- Wise ready: enough oil for their own lamps but not to share, place responsibility where it belongs
- Foolish leave to buy oil; facade of readiness removed
- Bridegroom came, those ready went in to feast, door was shut
- Readiness revealed; all trimmed their lamps
- Coming Too Late
- Foolish: Open to us
- Bridegroom: I do not know you
- Conclusion: Watch therefore
- Challenge: As you wait for the King’s return, are you living in readiness?
A Parable on Stewardship ... The Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25:14–30
Pam Larson
What does it look like to be a good and faithful servant? Watchful? Expectant? Working?
Aim: Be faithfully working while you watch and wait eagerly for the return of King Jesus
3 Scenes
- Scene 1 (v14–15) before he goes
- Scene 2 (v16–18) while he is away
- Scene 3 (v19–30) when he returns
3 main characters
- Master, King
- Good and faithful servants
- The faithful are rewarded and that includes JOY! (Psalm 16:11; 1 Peter 1:8)
- Wicked and slothful servant a
- contrast
- NO commendation
- NO more opportunities or responsibilities
- What he has is taken away and given to the first servant
- He has NO celebration
- NO fruit in his life for Christ
- contrast
What does a good and faithful servant look like?
Be faithfully working* while you watch and wait eagerly for the return of King Jesus
- “faithfully working” does not mean good works you do to earn salvation … NO! But works which are the fruit that comes from faith, from trusting in Jesus. The focus is not on your level of performance but on faithfully and gratefully responding to your relationship with Jesus!
Oh friends, be faithfully working while you watch and wait … be ready, faithful, wise, prepared, and eagerly expecting his return. Be watching, waiting, working.
Parables on Prayer
The Unexpected Guest, The Unjust Judge and Widow,
The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
Luke 11:5–13 and Luke 18:1–14
Lindsay Osborne
Pattern for Prayer (Luke 11:1–4)
Unexpected Visitor (Luke 11:5–13)
- Pray boldly because God is a good father.
- Ask for the Holy Spirit, the power of the kingdom.
Unjust Judge & Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1–8)
- Pray persistently because God will give justice.
- Ask for justice, the coming of the kingdom.
Pharisee & Tax Collector (Luke 18: 9–14)
- Pray humbly because only Jesus’s righteousness can justify.
- Ask for mercy, entrance into the kingdom.
How to Receive the Kingdom (Luke 18:16–17)
16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Parables of Preciousness
The Hidden Treasure, The Pearl of Great Price, and The Net
Matthew 13:44–50
Julia Dembeck
Aim: To find our supreme treasure in King Jesus.
Precious Treasure (v. 44–46)
By Surprise
- This treasure is hidden.
- This treasure is supremely valuable.
By Diligence
- This treasure is found in diligence.
- This treasure is supremely valuable.
Precious Treasure Application
Precious Warning (v. 47–50)
Context and Situation
Bad fish:
- What is the behavior?
- What is the outcome?
Good fish:
- What is the behavior?
- What is the outcome?
Application
Precious warning as an invitation
Precious warning as a call
Conclusion
Parables of the Lost and Found (Jenni Naselli) The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and The Lost Son(s) Luke 15:1–32
The first two parables. Can you find any repeated themes? Main Characters: Items: Quantity: Repeated words: “lost” “found” “repent” and “rejoice.” Reactions:
The last parable’s themes: Characters Change: (vs. 11) Item: Quantity: Reactions:
The last parable’s repeated words: Lost: Found: Repent: Rejoice:
Application: So how do these parables apply to us today as Christian women? Are you lost? Repent! Are you found? Rejoice! Are you grumbling/resentful? Repent and rejoice!
Remember: Jesus ends these three parables with, “We had to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”
Parable of Forgiveness: The Unforgiving Servant
Matthew 18:21–35
Charisse Compton
Context: Matthew 18
Peter’s Question: v 21
Jesus’s Two-fold Answer:
-
- 77 times, v 22
Parable of the Unforgiving Servant: vv 23–34
- Scene 1:
- Scene 2:
- Scene 3:
Jesus’s Explanation: v 35
Applications:
- Humility leads to greatness.
- Forgiveness is costly.
- All sin is deadly.
- God will seek and restore his children when they sin.
Why did Jesus speak in parables? Dr. Jared Compton unpacks Matthew 13 as we begin our summer study of the parables of Jesus.
Our Redeemer's Glory!
Exodus 38:21–31 and 39:32–43 and 40
1–All accomplished! It was built, finished and blessed. (Exodus 39:32, 42-43) 2– Assemble the tent (Exodus 40:1-2) 3– Arrange everything (Exodus 40:3-8) 4–Anoint the furniture (Exodus 40:9-11) 5–Anoint the priests (Exodus 40:12-15) 6–Finally filled! (Exodus 40:34-38) 7–Access Denied! (Exodus 40:34-35) 8-Abiding Guide! (Exodus 40:36-38) The rest of the story Reverberations of Exodus in the gospel accounts of Jesus’ life Exodus in light of eternity May the glory of Jesus, as seen in Exodus, lead you to worship!
This week we continued to study the very detailed instructions that God entrusts to Moses while up on the mountain and then the execution of those plans. We examined four aspects of how God covers, consecrates, and commissions His people:
-
The Priests’ Garments: Special covering to come before a holy God
-
The Priests’ Consecration: Setting sinners apart for God’s service
-
Atonement Money and Extravagant Supply: Each one shall give
-
Workers and Rest: Spirit-enabled labor and covenant-keeping rest
Reviewing these aspects, we traced the threads of these themes through Scripture, like the precious threads of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet woven through the priests’ holy garments:
- Purpose for the people of Israel
- Pointers toward Christ
- Present for us now
- Promise for future fulfillment
May these precious future promises buoy your faith and enliven your joy this week
The tabernacle illustrates God’s desire to be with his people. In it, we see that God’s original creation design—for his image bearers to live with him in a perfect world where they rule under his authority—has not changed. It’s the people who have changed. We now are all faulty image bearers who can no longer be in God’s presence, or rule the world with his character. But God will recover what was lost in the garden, and the tabernacle previews how he’ll do it.
In the frame for the tabernacle, we saw Eden woven into the text like the cherubim were woven into the curtains. Several textual clues signal that the building of the Tabernacle is a second creation account, or an “Eden Remix” according to GK Beale.
In the foundation for the temple, we noted the generosity of God mirrored in the generous contributions of his people. And in the furniture, we began to see the provisions God made so that he can once again dwell with his people, deformed as they are by sin.
The tabernacle is not Eden. So long as the cherubim guard the way back to God, no one can stand in his presence. But the tabernacle does hint at how Eden might be restored. If only we had a better high priest than Aaron; if only we had a better sacrifice than the blood of bulls and goats, maybe we too could slip through the veil and be with God.
Our Redeemer's Grace & Glory: Covenant Renewed Exodus 33-34 1 - Our Gracious God | Exodus 33:7–11 * meeting Moses in a tent outside the camp
2 - Grace & Glory | Exodus 33:12–23 Moses makes 3 requests, all related to grace
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1st request- KNOWLEDGE, “show me your ways” (v12-14)
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2nd request- PRESENCE, “go with us!” (v16)
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3rd Request- GLORY, “show me your glory!” (v 18)
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God’s goodness
3 - More Grace | Exodus 34:1–9 * Grace in New Tablets * Grace in the Lord’s Name
- Pleading for more grace
3 more requests …for MORE grace * God’s presence
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God’s pardon
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God’s possession
4 - God’s Gracious Renewal of the Covenant | Exodus 34:10–28 5 - Glowing with Grace & Glory | Exodus 34:29–35 * Meeting with Moses * the radiance of Moses’ face (Psalm 34:5; Acts 4:13)
The Golden Calf
Act 1: Israel’s Great Sin
Act 2: God’s Burning Wrath
Act 3: Moses’ Burning Wrath
Act 4: Moses’ Failed Atonement
Act 5: Israel’s Repentance
Exodus 24 | Lesson 14 Our Redeemer’s Covenant Confirmed “The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai.” —Exodus 24:16
A. Covenant Background/Review
B. Covenant “sandwich”
C. Covenant Confirmation Ceremony
- covenant words
- covenant promises
- covenant blood
- covenant meal
D. Come up to the cloud
Seeing Jesus: the NEW Covenant
Reflecting Our Redeemer in All of Life: Covenant Words & Rules
Exodus 21–23
“Pay attention to all that I have said to you…” —Exodus 23:13
1 Respect human life (Exodus 21:1-32)
2 Respect personal property & restitution (Exodus 21:33-22:15)
3* Reflecting Our Redeemer’s Heart (Exodus 22:16-31)
4 Respect for the truth & integrity (Exodus 23:1-9)
5 Remember & Rest (Exodus 23:10-19)
6 Looking ahead to the Promised Land - the Blessings of Obedience (Exodus 23:20-33)
Lesson 12, Exodus 19-20
Our Redeemer Has Spoken From Heaven
- The Story: 5 Plot Points
- 5 Lessons from the Story
- The Words
- Applications
Lesson 11 | Our Redeemer’s Life-Giving Water and Protection Exodus 17–18
1- no water ….. Our Redeemer the Thirst Quencher (Living Water) (17:1-7)
2- protection … Our Redeemer is our Defender (17:8-16)
3- good news … Our Redeemer Saves, Reconciles and Reunites (18:1-12)
4- wisdom … Our Redeemer is our Teacher (18:13-27)
Handout is available by contacting the Admin Asst for Care and Counseling, North Campus
rebekah.hemken at bethlehem.church
Our Redeemer’s Glorious Provision Exodus 15:22–16:36 “And in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against the LORD.” —Exodus 16:7
- The LORD provided gloriously for his people.
- Trust Jesus’ provision for us- HE is the Living Water and the Bread of Life and our Sabbath rest
Scene 1: Grumbling and the Gracious Provision of Water | Exodus 15:22–27
Scene 2: Grumbling and the Glorious/Gracious Provision of Bread | Exodus 16:1–21
- God’s promise to provide.
- God’s glory!
All along this Exodus journey, God did what he did for his glory. If we take away nothing else from our study of this book, let it be that the LORD our Redeemer does all things for the ultimate praise of his glory. He saved them for his glory and he saves us for his glory! And all along our faith journey, we see glimpses of his glory. When he lovingly cares for us in times of grief and sadness, when we are in danger and call out for rescue, when we feel our faith will fail and we call out for him to hold us fast … in each ordinary and extraordinary providence of your life, see his sovereign hand at work and give him the glory!
Gracious Provision of the Sabbath | Exodus 16:22–30
Remembering Our Redeemer’s Provision | Exodus 16:31–36 Seeing Jesus
- A condensed historical review of Genesis, to understand the CONTEXT
- An Exodus overview
- A summary of Exodus themes
- Review of Exodus 1–15, Our Redeemer, Mighty to Save
Praise Our Redeemer … Redemption Leads to Rejoicing!
AIM: That your heart will well up with songs of praise and thanksgiving to the LORD because there is no one like Him in majesty and mercy.
1– He saves (Exodus 15:1-3)
2– He is glorious in power (Exodus 15:4-12)
3– He leads and redeems (Exodus 15:13-17)
4– He reigns (Exodus 15:18)
5– Sing to the Lord! (Exodus 15:19-21)
Our Redeemer, Mighty to Save & Lead
AIM: that you would TRUST the LORD, our faithful, ever-present Leader, our strong Deliverer, our mighty Redeemer, even when WE can’t see or understand.
1-Trusting the LORD our faithful, ever-present leader even when we can’t see (Ex 13:17-22) By faith he left Egypt, ... for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
2-Trusting the LORD our strong Deliverer even when WE can’t see or understand WHY...HE will fight for us! (Ex 14:5-16)
3-Trusting the LORD who gets the glory (Ex 14:17-31)
Our Redeemer Reveals Himself in the Passover Lamb and Exodus
SEE and TRUST Jesus, the Passover Lamb of God, God’s own firstborn Son, who died in our place!
1-Needing the Lamb (Ex 11)
2-Choosing the Lamb (Ex 12:1-6)
3-Killing the Lamb and Applying the Blood to the Door (Ex 12:6-7)
4-Eating the Lamb (Ex 12:8-16,43-47)
5-Eating Unleavened Bread (Ex 12:17-20)
6-Trusting the Lamb (Ex 12:21-28)
7-Seeing the severity and the mercy of God (Ex 12:29-32)
8-Remembering God’s Deliverance (Ex 12:33-42) The EXODUS
9-Celebrating with Strangers 12:43-50
10-Remembering the Strong Hand of the Lord (13:1-16)
Worthy Is the Lamb….Christ, our Passover lamb
In Exodus 7–11, we learned that the LORD could have wiped Egypt off the face of the earth with one word. He could have destroyed them all. He didn’t need ten plagues. He could have snapped his fingers. One plague could have done it. But in his mercy and kindness, he gave warning after warning, strike after strike, pain after pain, chance after chance. He crushed the pagan gods of Egypt one by one. Yahweh is exactly who he said he is. Like Moses, like Pharaoh, like the people of Israel and the people of Egypt, our greatest need is to KNOW that the LORD is God.
When we really see God’s sweet, stunning, shocking sovereignty, the way the LORD has made himself known in the plagues, we will know that he is God and we are not, and in that we will find freedom and joy. His intention is not just to be known grudgingly, but known as awesome and amazing … that we would bow down in joy-filled worship, knowing that this great God is for us, not against us. My prayer is that you see and know this God of sovereign splendor!
Exodus 5-6
Darkest Before the Dawn: When God Waits
When our circumstances are dark, we must fix our eyes on our LORD and Redeemer, trusting His promises and confident that His rescue is sure, for our Rescuer has come.
Our Redeemer Equips, Encourages and Sends with Power
Exodus 4 - Our Excuses | His Encouragement & Power
God is full of grace and power--and he calls imperfect, weak people to join him in his work
Review: Excuses #1 & #2 in Exodus 3
Excuse #3 “The people won’t believe or listen.” (1)
Encouragement: 3 signs
1-staff (2-5)
- Gen 3:15; Col 2:15
2- hand in cloak (6-8)
- Is 35:5-6; Matt 9:35
3- water poured on ground became blood (9)
- IRONY
- blood
How does this point to Jesus? (Rom 5:8-9)
Does God encourage us with his power? (Acts 1:8)
Excuse #4 (10) “I’m not a good speaker!”
2 Cor 10:10; 11:6; 2 Cor 2:1-5
Encouragement: (11-12)
How does this point to Jesus? (John 9:2-3)
How does God encourage us? (2 Cor 12)
Excuse #5 (13) “May I please be excused?”
Anger (14)
Encouragement: (14-16)
How does God encourage us? (Matt 28:20; John 14:26)
Egypt bound: (17-21)
Firstborn son (22-23)
- Exodus 11:5-6 ; Hosea 11:1-2; Galatians 4
Circumcision (24-26) sign of the covenant, marking the sons of Israel
Obedience & Belief (27-31)
The impossible mission would NOT fail….but not because Moses was so great.
Yahweh equipped him, Yahweh encouraged him and Yahweh sent him with HIS almighty power.
God is full of grace and power--and he calls imperfect, weak people to join him in his work.
What is our calling as believers? He calls us to share the good news of redemption in Jesus.
God REVEALS himself as our Holy Redeemer who comes down and calls
When our Redeemer (I AM) comes down and calls, trust in his character and name.
1-The LORD reveals Himself- His Person (v2-6)
2-The LORD reveals His past works, His present knowledge and His plan for deliverance (v7-10)
3-The LORD reveals his name
How do we see Jesus in Exodus 3?
TRUST our faithful God, who hears, remembers, sees and knows.
An outline:
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Growing in Population (God Grows His People)
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Groaning under Persecution (God hears, God KNOWS!)
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Game “Plan B”- a new strategy: Genocide (but God’s people fear Him rather than the king)
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God’s Plan for a Deliverer
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Moses Points to Jesus
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God Hears Israel's Groaning (and ours!)
Welcome to our study of Exodus, Our Redeemer: Mighty to Save! If you are new to Bethlehem North Women’s Bible Study, a special welcome! Thank you for joining us! Information on registering for our classes is available at bethlehem.church/womensbiblestudy/#north
Our Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning on-site classes have a lecture portion that will be recorded each week and made available here each week. If you prefer a video format, please subscribe to our Bethlehem North Women's Bible Study YouTube channel.
John 17: Jesus Prays for Us
Aim: Hear Jesus’s pleas to the Father for himself, for the disciples, and for all believers to live in unity and on mission.
- That the Father would glorify Jesus in the completion of the divine mission (vv 1–5).
- That the disciples would be protected, sanctified, and on mission after Jesus leaves the world (vv6–19).
- That the church would be united, be on mission, and display the love of the Father (vv20–26).
Paul prays for his beloved church that they would be:
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Strengthened with power in their inner being by the Holy Spirit
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So that Christ would dwell in their hearts through faith (even though they were already believers!)
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So that they would be rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, and be overwhelmed by the depth, length, breadth, and height of that love
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And so be filled even more with all the fulness of God.
Psalm 51 will help you understand more of the heart of your Heavenly Father. May you see more clearly...
- God’s steadfast love and abundant mercy toward his confessing children
- God’s pursuit of justice and heart change in his children
- God’s provision of a covering for sin in Jesus
- God’s gift of joy for the forgiven
- God’s help to follow through on the resolves of the forgiven heart
Remember that God has revealed himself as, The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin (Exodus 34:6–7).
May you run to Him quickly when you recognize your sin!
Judges 4–5 gives us a surprising, hopeful, powerful picture of deliverance from bondage that we could never escape alone.
If you are less familiar with the history of God’s redemptive story, find a refresher of the overarching picture with this 3-minute video or the full KINGDOM seminar video. This week’s story occurs in the period of the judges, when Israel has entered the Promised Land but failed to fully obey God by removing the idolatrous people of the land. Where does this partial obedience (i.e. disobedience) land them? Under the oppression of the Canaanites.
But God does not save us because we are good enough! And so this story goes on to describe the faith of two women (the judge Deborah and a surprising “deliverer” Jael), the hesitation of God’s appointed military leader (Barak), the different responses of the Israelite tribes, and the foreshadowing of a nail that crushes the head of the enemy … pointing forward to our true, perfect Deliverer, Christ Jesus.
Because we have such a Hero, we can walk in courageous faith and express our hearts in praise for the large and small deliverances that God accomplishes for us.
By God’s grace, the prayers of Hannah and Mary are recorded for us in the Bible. These are women who loved God and were familiar with disappointment and uncertainty.
As you reflect on the prayers of Hannah and Mary, consider the following:
- When you are suffering or struggling, God hears you and invites you to pour out your soul before him (2 Samuel 1:15, Psalm 62:8). Rest in the truth that He understands every cry of your heart. He is working powerfully, even in your loneliest moments.
- Remember that God can (and has!) reversed the most impossible situations. He can make something beautiful from ashes (Isaiah 61:3), grant the kingdom to those who are persecuted (Matthew 5:10), bring down the mighty and exalt the humble (Luke 1:52) and grant the weakest people strength (1 Samuel 2:4, 2 Corinthians 12:9)
- God can write words of worship and praise in our own hearts, even in difficult circumstances—especially in difficult circumstances.
Listen to the first day of our summer Bible study, June 9, 2021, "He Hears Me: Prayers of the Bible," and get to know our teaching team:
- Charisse Compton
- Kacie Liechty (absent)
- Amy Katterson
- Lindsay Osborne
- Jenni Naselli (absent)
- Julia Dembeck
“Teach us to pray, Lord,” the disciples asked after observing Jesus in close communion with his Father. In response, Jesus offered the Lord’s Prayer as a template. Like a skeleton giving structure to a body, this simple, six-petition template forms the framework for the muscles, tissues, and flesh of our own prayers.
I like to think of the template as the triple A’s of prayer. We first address God as “our Father in Heaven,” fully aware of both the privilege and cost of doing so. We then agree with the goodness of God’s purposes in this world, asking him to hallow his name, bring his kingdom and accomplish his will. Based on God’s will, which we have labored in prayer to align our own hearts with, we then ask God to meet our every need, to continue forgiving our sins, and to nurture in us a forgiving heart. We close our prayer time by asking our Father to keep us from anything that does not hallow his name and to protect us from the predations of the Evil One. With unwavering faith, we request all these things, knowing God intends to grant them.
Ignoring this template results in prayers with broken bones and deformed bodies. For instance, if we consistently prioritize our “needs and greeds” in prayer, it could be that our hearts are not in agreement with God’s will, and our requests stem instead from sinful lusts and desires. If we habitually forget to repent of our sins, we may be startled to find a vengeful and self-righteous spirit taking root in our hearts. If in pride or foolishness we continually fail to ask God’s protection from temptation, we may be surprised to find how easily sin derails us. If our hearts do not beat as one with God’s in his desire to build his kingdom, we could be sidelined in His cause and miss out on the great joy of being used to advance the gospel.
If however, we follow the template, we have confidence that God will grant our requests. He is already hallowing his name. His kingdom is on the march. More and more people are doing his will. He has promised to provide our material needs. He has promised to forgive our sins. He has promised he will not tempt us or allow us to be tempted beyond our ability. He is doing and will continue to do all these things through the prayers of his people. In our Father’s mysterious and wise economy, he takes our prayers and turns them into the tools of his trade. So pray as Jesus instructed because God powerfully works when we do!
Psalms 139: Search me, O God, and know my heart
Message Outline:
Stanza 1: The All-Knowing God, 1–6
- Truth:
- Scope:
- Response:
Stanza 2: The Ever-Present God, 7–12
- Truth:
- Scope:
- Response:
Stanza 3: The All-Creating God, 13–18
- Truth:
- Scope:
- Response:
Stanza 4: The Ever-Worthy God, 19–24
- Truth:
- Scope:
- Response:
Click here for the printable outline handout: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C6aH6pDuwpfmUq719z3qY6fBOwRy25X5i2dKEtk1YuU/edit?usp=sharing
Psalm 130 A Song for the Depressed
With the Lord there is forgiveness, SO … I will wait for Him, hope in his word and trust his forgiveness, steadfast love and plentiful redemption!
Out of the depths
- Our crisis (1)
- Our cry: mercy! (2)
- Our problem (3)
- Our Forgiver (4)
- “Blessed but” (CH Spurgeon)
- Is 53:5; Ps 32:1-2; Rom 3
Our HOPE: (5-6) Ps 5:3; Is 33:2
- IN the Lord and IN His word
- WITH the Lord
- forgiveness (4)
- Daniel 9:9; Jer 31:34; 1 John 1:9; Rom 8:1
- steadfast love (7)
- 1 Jn 4:10; Rom 8; Heb 13:5
- plentiful redemption (7)
- Deut 7:8; 9:26; Hos 7:13; 13:14
- Individual redemption:
- David (2 Sam 4:9)
- Abraham (Is 29:22)
- Jeremiah ((Jer 15:21)
- Psalmist (Ps 26:11; 31:5)
- Grace (Romans 5:20; Ephesians 1:7).
- … HE will redeem!
“Oh, the depths …”
- Eph 2:4-9
- Romans 11
What does it mean to “bless” the Lord?
How does David bless the Lord in Psalm 103? With ALL that is within me.
By remembering personal benefits:
- Forgives all our iniquity
- Heals all your diseases
- Redeems your life from the pit
- Crowns you with steadfast love and mercy
- Satisfies you with good
By remembering community benefits:
- Justice
- Revelation
- Covenant
- Compassion
- Eternal Commitment
- Kingship
Who are the recipients of these benefits?
Who else blesses the Lord?
How does Psalm 104 relate to Psalm 103?
How does the psalmist of 104 bless the Lord?
- By marveling at God’s greatness
- By marveling at God’s creation
- By marveling at God’s provision
- By marveling at God’s judgment
- By recognizing God’s delight in his own work
- By celebrating God’s work
- By asking God to delight in his (the poet’s) work
How should we respond to God’s works?
- Forget not all his benefits!
- Offer your work as praise to God.
Psalm 90 ... A Sobering Song
Teach Us to Number Our Days
God’s steadfast love satisfies and fills our short, difficult lives with eternal significance.
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Context:
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Book IV
- Author
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Occasion
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Content:
The Foundation, 1–4:
- The eternal God
- Is your dwelling place
The Landscape, 5–11:
- Nature of life:
- Short
- Difficult
- The Reason:
- Invitation to Reflect:
The Building Permits, 12–17:
- Teach:
- Return:
- Satisfy:
- Show:
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Establish:
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Conclusions:
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Do not devalue any of the work God has given you to do.
- Pray like Moses.
- For God’s people, even death is full of meaning and significance.
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All God’s promises are Yes! and Amen! in Jesus. 2 Corinthians 1:20
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Has God promised to judge mankind for sin?
- Romans 1:18, Acts 17:31, Romans 8:1
- Has God promised to save mankind and to reverse the curse?
- Genesis 3:15, John 3:17, Revelation 21:5,
- Has God made a covenant with us to love us and never forsake us?
- John 1:12, Matthew 28:20, Romans 8:38–39
- Has God promised to forgive our sins?
- I John 1:9
- Has God promised to hear our prayers?
- Hebrews 4:16, Romans 8:34,
- Has God promised to make our redeemed lives significant?
- I Corinthians 15:58,
- Has God promised to redeem our lives from the grave?
- Romans 6:5,
- Has God promised to be our eternal home?
- John 14:2–3, I Thessalonians 4:17b,
Psalm 118 A Song of Steadfast Love
The command: give thanks
The reason: “for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
A song of steadfast love: “Thank You, God! for Your faithful, loyal love and salvation.”
1. Praising God for His great mercy and deliverance (1–18)
- The call (1–4)
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The testimony (5–18)
- Brief testimony and reflection on God’s steadfast love (5–9)
- Longer, more specific report (10–14)
- Joyful gratitude (15–18)
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Corporate praise (19–29)
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OUR GATE (19–21)
- OUR CORNERSTONE (22–24)
- OUR SALVATION (25–26)
- OUR LIGHT (27; also Jn 8:12; Jn 1:4–5)
- OUR SACRIFICE (27)
- OUR THANKSGIVING (28–29)
A Song for the Doubting: "I Will Remember"
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Context
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Content
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The First Complaint (1-3)
- Second Complaint (4-9)
- Resolution to Remember (10-15)
- Meditation and Reflections (16-20)
Psalm 80, A Song of Restoration, “Restore us, O God!”
Stanza 1: The FLOCK Crying Out to the Shepherd (vv. 1-3)
This bold prayer is based on the PERSON and the PROMISES of God.
- -He is our sovereign KING. (v1; Ps 2)
- -He is our sovereign SHEPHERD. (v1; John 10; Heb 13:20-21)
- -He is MIGHTY and able to SAVE. (v2)
Stanza 2: The intensity of their situation (vv. 4-7)
- -1st question: HOW LONG? (v4 & Ps 30:5)
- -more passionate, urgent 2nd chorus, v7, calling on O God of hosts
Stanza 3: The VINE Crying out to the vine-keeper (vv. 8-19)
Their prayer is based upon God’s PURPOSES for His people, who are like a vine.
- -The image
- -The planter
- -Their history
- -The 2nd question: WHY? (v12)
- -The hedge -The keeper
- -The cry: is also based on the faithfulness and compassion of God.
- -The son -The contrast (smile v3 vs frown/rebuke v16)
- -The giver of life (Rom 8:11; 10:13) … divine initiative and human responsibility (Romans 10:13; 8:11)
- -The final, climactic chorus: appealing to O LORD, (God’s covenant name,Yahweh) God of hosts
Psalm 46 is a rallying cry for God’s people in times of trouble. It teaches us to boldly stare our troubles in the face and courageously sing, “We will not fear, [for] the Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Though the psalm describes cataclysmic trouble in both the natural and civilized world, it fills our hearts with confidence that if God can be our help and refuge in times such as those, he will surely come to our aid in our day to day troubles as well.
Psalm 40 … A Song for the Waiting
Because God’s faithfulness and steadfast love is rock solid, remember His past grace, praise Him and point others to trust in Him, and prayerfully wait with confident hope for more grace in the future.
- Past grace
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Waited: God’s merciful rescue (1-3) (5 consecutive past actions)
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Our responses (some present tense, some past)
- Praising: A New Song (3)
- Trusting: God’s multiplied blessings (4-5)
- Obeying: Our response to God (6-10)
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Proclaiming and declaring: (9-10)
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Present plea/prayer (11-17)
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Preserving: His appeal to God’s character. (11)
- Admitting: His failure (12)
- Pleading: His cries for God’s help (13-15)
The rock bottom foundation of our forgiveness and our fearlessness and our joy is the commitment that God has to his own great name. First, he is committed to act for his own name’s sake. And then, for that reason, he is committed to act for his people. (John Piper)
- Future waiting with confident hope (16-17)
“God’s grace is ever cascading over the waterfall of the present from the inexhaustible river of grace coming to us from the future into the ever-increasing reservoir of grace in the past. In the next five minutes, you will receive sustaining grace flowing to you from the future, and you will accumulate another five minutes’ worth of grace in the reservoir of the past.” (John Piper)
Psalm 22 A Song for the Suffering
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Context
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Content
a. Cries and Complaints (1-11)
b. Depictions of Suffering (12-18)
c. The Turn (21)
d. The Vow (22)
e. Fulfilling the Vow (23-26)
f. Foretelling (27-31)
- Three Story Structure
a. Israel/David
b. Jesus
c. You
- 8 Reflections
Psalm 8 is a song of praise that points us to Jesus.
- He is the Lord with the majestic name above all names that should be praised.
- He is the Baby, the Incarnate Son of God, the offspring of the woman who was promised back in Genesis 3.
- He was praised by children, and those songs fueled the rage that ultimately led to the cross where he defeated God’s enemy, Satan.
- He used the foolishness and weakness of the cross to confound the wisdom of the wise and the strength of the strong.
- He is the Second Adam that came and put everything under his feet.
- One day all will be restored and His majestic name, the name above all names, will truly be honored and praised in ALL the earth!
Charisse introduces our study of selected Psalms, "A Song For Every Season," by teaching through Psalm 1 and 2. Her title, "Your Blessed Life Now" is a parody of Joel Osteen's book titled, "Your Best Life Now."
A Grace-filled, Cross-Centered Gospel Goodbye
CONTEXT:
Paul’s grace-filled greeting (Gal 1:1-5) introduced us to the gospel that is from God and for God’s glory.
- Paul defended his authority and the one true gospel in chapters 1-2.
- He explained the gospel of grace and the glorious freedom it brings in chapters 3-4.
- And in chapters 5-6, he applied the gospel by commanding us to love and serve one another in everyday life.
Paul ends this letter (Gal 6:18) with “ … the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers.”
STRUCTURE:
The cross is the center of this passage, and it has been a central theme in Galatians.
- V12-13 The cross and circumcision (notice circumcision 3x in v12-13)
- V14 The cross- our only boast
- V15 A new creation not circumcision (notice circumcision 2x in v15)
OUTLINE:
1- The Cross Exposes Our Motives
- The Motives of the Judaizers (6:12-13) SELF-boasting
- Their pride
- Their persecution-avoiding
- Their Pharisaical actions
- The Motives of Paul (6:14-17) CROSS-boasting
- The power of the cross
- The purpose of the cross
- The Person of the cross
2- The Cross Defines Our New Life
Galatians 6:1-10
Burden-bearing: our spiritual life as a believer, under grace not law, is evidenced by loving one another and persevering in doing good.
A. The Dangers/warnings are stark. Temptation v1 Deception v3 Pride v3-4 Boasting v4 not sowing to the Spirit v8 weariness v9
B. The Commands are many: 1-Watchfully and gently restore v1 2-Lovingly and humbly bear one another’s burdens v2 3-Test your own work v4 4-Share all good things with your teachers v6 5-Sow to the Spirit v8 6-Do not grow weary; do not give up v9 7-Do good to everyone v10
C. The Stakes are huge according to verse 8: We reap what we sow!
Galatians tells us what Jesus purchased for us on the cross. It is because of Jesus we have: DELIVERANCE FREEDOM JUSTIFICATION REDEMPTION ADOPTION THE SPIRIT! IDENTITY: IN Christ
How specifically are we to be like Jesus in this passage? GENTLY-RESTORING: Because Jesus has restored us WATCH-KEEPING: (temptation): Because Jesus suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. BURDEN-BEARING: Because Jesus bore our burden at the cross and has given us the Spirit, we can care for one another, by bearing others’ burdens and doing good to all. HUMILITY: Phil 2 SHARING & GIVING: Because Jesus gave His very life, we are to share with one another. Sacrificial giving, like Jesus gave. DOING GOOD: Because Jesus is good, always good, we will seek every opportunity to do good. NOT GROWING WEARY: Because Jesus never grows weary, we can turn to Him for more grace when we feel like giving up; Heb 12; 2 Cor 12:9
Benediction from Heb 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Barbara's original title was "Teaching the Gospel to Children." Sadly, many of us are not clear about the difference between moralistic behaviorism and gospel-centered teaching. We would never teach an adult that God’s acceptance of us is based on our behavior. But we often apply the Bible to children in this way. How easily we twist the beauty of the gospel of grace into the subtle deception of moralism. Come hear how to keep the gospel central as you talk with, discipline, and teach the children in your life.
As the corona virus pandemic swept the globe, Barbara adjusted her message slightly, "How to Teach the Gospel During a Pandemic!"
Our Freedom, Our Fight, Our Flesh and God’s Fruit in Our Lives
Galatians 5:13-26 | Pam Larson | 3.27.2020
1-Our Freedom (13-15)
- Free FROM…
- Freedom TO...
2-Our Fight (16-18)
-
HOPE for the fight … 3 reasons ...
- 1-Because of A promise! the Spirit’s help! (16)
- 2-Because the battle is real and is hard!- but we have the Spirit (17)
- 3-Because if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (18)
-
So we have the Spirit living in us, we WALK in the Spirit, we are led by the Spirit and we plead for the Spirit’s help in fighting the battle.
- We also need the Word, God’s promises, to fight this battle against the flesh.
3-Our Flesh (19-21) (Paul contrasts our flesh with the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.)
- The works and a warning
- our past
- our present
4- God’s Fruit (22-23)
- Love, joy and peace all are “gospel overflows” of the saving grace of Christ in our lives
- Those lead to the sweet ways we then interact with others around us...with patience, kindness and goodness
- As the fruit of the Spirit ripens, our radical transformation manifests in faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...becoming more and more like Jesus.
Our Ongoing Fight (24-26)
- An imperative- walk by the Spirit/keep in step with the Spirit
- An indicative- Because you are crucified with Christ, and have crucified the flesh, keep crucifying those fleshly desires, walking by the Spirit, living by the Spirit, keeping in step with the Spirit
We are free from sin and death, free to love, fighting our flesh in the power of the Spirit and walking, living, being led by the Spirit. This means we are continually directed by and influenced by the Spirit, and His fruit.
The False Gospel of Feminism (ADRIEN SEGAL)
How does our having our identity rooted in Jesus give us the tools to discern and confront the subtle worldly influences that surround us? Adrien will share how she has grown in understanding the Bible’s high calling for women and the joys promised to us.
AIM: See the clear choice—Christ is all or Christ is nothing! We can’t add to Jesus’ work on the cross.
The math:
- Christ + anything = NOTHING
- Christ + nothing = EVERYTHING
1--Christ is nothing
A. IF-- Circumcision accepted (v2-4)
- No advantage (2); obligated to keep the whole law (3);
- severed from Christ (4) and fallen away from grace
B. THEN--Continued warnings (v7-12)
- hindered you from running well (7)
- NOT from him who calls you! (8)
- leaven (9) is legalism ...clean it out! “Cast out” (4:30) the false gospel of legalism.
- will face penalties!
- And a word of hope here: Paul is persuaded that the false teachers will NOT ultimately win the Galatians over to their view….why? Paul has His confidence in the LORD!!)
- troubling you (10) … the false teachers will face penalties!
- Persecuted you (11)
- take away the offense of cross by preaching salvation is Jesus plus circumcision (11)
- Unsettled you (12)
- emasculate themselves (12)
2- Christ is all! (v5-6)
- through the SPIRIT
- by FAITH
- HOPE!
- in CHRIST
- only FAITH
G.R.A.C.E.—God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
G.R.A.C.E.—God’s Rescuing And Caring Exertion (John Piper)
Cross-references: 1 Corinthians 15; Romans 5; Romans 11:29; John 8:31-32; Jeremiah 32:40; 1 Corinthians 1:8–9; Philippians 1; Jude 24; 1 Thess 5:23-24; Romans 8:30; 1 John 2:19; Hebrews 3:14
Galatians 4:21-5:1
My aim for us this week is that we would understand our identity in Christ as children of promise, and that because we know our identity we would walk in the freedom that Christ purchased for us on the cross.
- vv. 21-23: Paul engages the Galatians with a contrasting analogy related to Abraham
- vv. 24-30: Paul explains the analogy to the Galatians
- vv. 24-25: Hagar represents slavery to the law
- vv. 26-28: Galatian believers are free/children of promise
- vv. 29-30: Like Isaac, the Galatian believers are being persecuted by those who are born according to the flesh
- 4:31-5:1: Paul encourages the Galatian believers by reminding them of their identity and exhorts them to stand firm in grace/freedom.
Become as I am!! In Christ ... Christ in you!
1- IN Christ (Become as I am! … I am IN CHRIST.)
- How? (12)
- Why? (12c-14) Remember…..
- 1- He was WEAK (13)
- 2- But they WELCOMED him (14)
- 3 theories
- What? (15-16) But now? …..
- Contrasting motives (17-18)
- Motherly pain (19-20)
2- Christ in you (Until Christ is formed in you!)
“Christ being formed in us is the same as our being formed in Christ. For we are born that we may be new creatures in him. And he, on the other hand, is born in us so that we may live his life.” (Calvin, John, John Calvin's Commentaries On St. Paul's Epistles To The Galatians And Ephesians, p86)
- Col 1:27-29 Christ IN me!
Become like Paul who is IN CHRIST, free and not under the law.
Become like Christ! … Christ IN you!
VV.1-7: You are no longer a slave, but a son
- VV.1-2: Paul explains the heir/child/slave dynamic
- VV.3-5: Paul applies the model to their situation
- VV.6-7: Paul gives evidence of their adoption to remind them of their status
VV. 8-11: Don’t go back to slavery!
- V.8: Paul reminds the Galatians of their previous status
- V.9-11: Paul contrasts God’s choosing of the Galatians with their wandering
Galatians 3:15-29
Promise and Law: Leading Us to Jesus
A. Promise and Law (15-18)
B. WHY the Law? (19-25)
- The law was added “because of transgressions.” (increased sin, 3:19, 24)
- The law was temporary. (In force only until Christ, 3:19)
- The law was inferior. The promise is BETTER! (intermediary 3:19-20)
- The law was not contrary to the promise. (3:21)
- The law could not give life. (3:21-25)
- Imprisoned
- Captive
-
Guarded
-
The law pointed to Jesus!
C. Trace OFFSPRING
- Genesis 3:15
- Gal 4:4
- WHO is the promise made to? (16)
- Mediator? (19)
- NOW who are we? (29)
D. Trace CHRIST
- Promise to Christ (16)
- Law until Christ (19)
- Both fulfilled in Christ (22-25)
- Identity in Christ (26)
- Identity in Christ leads to Unity in Christ (26-29)
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, therefore let us live by faith.
Outline:
- Vv.10-12 As many as are of works of the law are under a curse
- V.10: All who rely on works of the law are under a curse, because who can do all the things? (Both passive and active)
- V.11: It’s obvious that no one is justified by the law, because “the righteous shall live by faith” quotation.
- V.12: The law is not a matter of faith, but of doing.
- Vv.13-14 Christ redeemed us from the curse, so that we might receive the blessing of Abraham
- V.13: Christ redeemed us from the curse by becoming a curse for us
- V.14: SO THAT/SO THAT: so that the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
The main point that Paul is making in Galatians 3:1-9--
ALL of the Christian life is By FAITH, through the Spirit, NOT by what you DO
1- A Rebuke: Reflect on your own history! (the PERSONAL argument v1-5)
2-A Review of Redemptive history (going back to Abraham) (the BIBLICAL argument v6-9)
Galatians 2:15-21 November 20, 2019 Pam Larson
It is only in Christ that we are justified. By faith in Jesus we are made right with God.
And in Christ, we are dead to the law and alive by grace because Jesus lives in us!
1- In Christ ...
- Justified by faith (15-16)
2- In Christ…
- Dead to the law (17-19)
- Alive by grace (20-21)
In our lesson this week, Galatians 2:11-14, we learned that Paul continued his story, to affirm his authority as an apostle and the authority of the gospel. Julia led us on a journey through this short, but impactful narrative together, using three points:
- Cephas Opposed- (11)
- Conduct Exposed- (12-13)
- The Gospel Line to Hold- (14)
Julia’s aim for us — “to so treasure the gospel that we would be compelled to confront others when we see the gospel compromised.”
- What is the setting? “SOMEBODY” (verses 1- 3) CONTINUATION of the story
- CONTEXT
- COMPANIONS
- CIRCUMCISION
- COMMUNICATE CLEARLY the GOSPEL
-
At stake: CONFIRMATION of Paul’s gospel & CHURCH UNITY
-
What is the conflict? (verses 4-5) CONFRONTATION with false brothers
"BUT…."
- CIRCUMCISION to be added??
-
CONFRONT those who CONTRADICT gospel truth
-
What is the resolution? "THEN" (verses 7-9) CONFIRMATION of Paul’s gospel and ministry
4 verbs:
- ADDED nothing
- SAW
-
PERCEIVED GAVE the right hand of fellowship
-
What is the new setting? The “SO”? (verses 9b-10) COMMISSION to ministry
- One true gospel is affirmed, but that gospel is presented in a way that seeks to connect with different groups. Same gospel, same content. The one true gospel message will come across with different nuances, depending on the audience’s circumstances, or religious or cultural background.
- Paul was eager to remember the poor, as he was eager to be like Jesus!
**3. What is the CLIMAX? (verses 5-6) CORRECT DOCTRINE
Gospel truth preserved!! ONE TRUE GOSPEL! NOTHING ADDED to Christ! Christ alone for salvation!
Galatians 1:11-24
No Other Gospel
- V.11: Paul’s Thesis: Not man’s gospel
- V.12: Paul’s Argument: Not from man, but from God
- VV.13-24: Paul’s Argument, cont’d: Let me tell you what happened
- VV. 13-17: Exhibit A: Paul’s miraculous conversion
- VV. 18-24: Exhibit B: They glorified God because of Paul
Do not turn to a false gospel, but trust in the pure gospel of Christ, which alone gives life.
Julia will unpack this as she goes through these three points—
-
Paul’s reason for writing, in verses 6-7
-
Paul’s reaction to false gospels, in verses 8-9
-
Paul’s motivation for speaking, in verse 10
For more information on joining this Bible study on Galatians, contact women@bethlehem.church
Galatians 1:1-5 | A Grace-Filled Gospel Greeting
Pam Larson, October 9, 2019
Paul’s grace-filled greeting introduces us to the gospel that is from God and for God’s glory.
- 1-greeting ……..v1-2….. BELIEVE the MESSENGER, who is NOT from man Paul’s grace-filled greeting introduces us.. (this is the FROM/TO section)
- 2-gospel ……v3-4…...BELIEVE the MESSAGE: Grace to you and peace the gospel that is from God
- 3-glory …….. v5……..Closing for God’s glory.
Jacque Boldt helped us to have a clear, working knowledge of the main point of the book of Galatians. She said, “Our destination is understanding the main point of Galatians. To get there, we will travel through three stops: Background information, What does the text say?, and What does the text mean?”
Here is how Jacque helped us to get there::
- Used Google Earth to help us see the terrain of the region of Galatia in Paul’s day, which is in modern-day central Turkey.
- Brought us in on the method that the teaching team has been using to analyze and process the text, and gave us a chance to practice it.
Genre: The type of literature--Galatians is an epistle, or letter
Literary Context: The passages immediately before and after the passage you are studying
Biblical Context: Citations and allusions from Scripture, and historical connections to other books of the Bible
Historical Context: The circumstances of the audience
Melodic Line: The main theme of the book, which distinguishes it from all other books in the Bible. It is like a thread woven through the book, which each section helps to “unpack.”
On Wednesday, Sept 25, Pam Larson introduced our Women’s Ministry theme for this year, “No Other Gospel,” which comes from Galatians 1: 6-7 followed by a panel discussion with our Wednesday morning Women's Bible Study teaching team: Pam Larson, Jacque Boldt and Julia Dembeck.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
This wonderful gospel of grace is sweet and precious and unique. One-of-a-kind good news. The wonderfully liberating news of the gospel is that Christ alone has performed perfectly for us!
- We are not saved by what we do, but by what Jesus has done for us.
- We are not saved by making promises to God (which we fail to keep) but by believing His promises.
Adding any requirements to what Jesus has already done, on the Cross, to save us, robs him of glory and robs us of the freedom his precious blood bought for us. Galatians reminds us to embrace and follow the true gospel message and not allow ourselves to be misled by the ‘false gospels,’ of our day.
Our prayer for all of us this year is that we:
- will fall more deeply in love with Jesus,
- see more clearly the true wonders of grace,
- and more readily recognize false teaching when we hear it.
Bethlehem North Women's Ministry Kickoff ... our theme for the coming year is, “No Other Gospel,” based on Galatians 1:6–7.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
In this media-heavy age, we face a barrage of messages every day. Some are wholly and obviously untrue, but many more contain a confusing mix of truth and error. We have a crafty adversary constantly luring us with deceptively appealing and persuasive ideas, and the need for careful, biblical discernment is crucial.
Pam Larson opened the evening, introducing Women's Ministry at the North Campus and also introduced our theme, "No Other Gospel." A panel of North women from across the generations discussed this theme, with Abigail Dodds as moderator, and four women from four generations on the panel, each offering her unique perspective on the issue:
- Adrien Segal
- Liz Stein
- Jenni Naselli
- Addalai Nowlin
*Note: this was recorded from the audience, using a phone, so the quality is not great.
Pastor Sam Crabtree preached this memorial service message March 14, 2019 for Lyle Johnson, at Bethlehem Baptist Church, North Campus. Shared with permission from the family.
John 20
My aim: is for you to SEE (the truth) and BELIEVE Jesus and have radical new life in believing in Him, our risen Savior.
4 characters/groups have one thing in common: the emotion of grief
-
Mary
-
Peter/John
-
Disciples
-
Thomas
For each, ask:
- How does the progression of sight and belief tie into the aim of the whole book? And how do the senses play a role--seeing, hearing, touching….
- HOW were each of them transformed by Jesus’ resurrection?
So we know, heading into Chapter 18 from last week, and Chapter 19 this week, that Jesus’ suffering and death are motivated by two things: the glory of the Father and the Son being made known, and the Father’s love for the Son being given to his own, who will be united to him by faith.
Last week, Amy led us through Chapter 18, which ended with Jesus in Pilate’s custody. We saw Jesus betrayed by Judas, the contrast of Peter’s fear which resulted in his denial of Jesus, Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas, the high priest, and finally, Jesus’ trial before Pilate, who, seemingly out of the blue, asks Jesus if he is the King of the Jews.
But of course, if we remember what the Jewish people had called Jesus just a few days earlier, it’s not so out of the blue. When Jesus entered Jerusalem in Chapter 12, what did the people say? “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’”
As a Roman governor, it makes sense that Pilate would be concerned about someone claiming to be a King. But, Jesus tells Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world, and that he came to bear witness to the truth. Pilate was satisfied that he was not guilty of a crime deserving death, not a threat to Rome, but to placate the Jewish leaders, he offers them a customary Passover release. He offers these religious leaders a religious king, but they reject this king for a criminal instead.
So, at the end of Ch. 18, we are mid-trial, at Pilate’s headquarters, the praetorium. Jesus’ hour of glorification has arrived. We are looking for glory and love.
So, let’s look at our outline for this week’s chapter, chapter 19:
The Glory of the King of Israel
- 19:1-16a: Pilate and the Jewish leaders debate the fate of the King
- 19:16b-37: The King becomes the Lamb, according to the Scriptures
- 19:38-42: The burial of the King
Chapters 1-12 unfolded the public ministry of Jesus, as He revealed Himself in words and works from the Father, over 3 years’ time. Then, in chapters 13-17, the lens focused in on one single evening, as Jesus comforts and prepares the hearts of His disciples for the great climax of His ministry and life. He serves them, teaches them, and prays for them. And now, as we turn to John 18, the action rolls forward as Jesus moves to the moment of glory and agony that He has prepared them for. As we walk through the sections of this chapter, I’m going to periodically insert a brief reading from the Old Testament, primarily from the psalms of lament. As Jesus, the Lamb of God, goes to His death, He is loving His own to the end. I hope that you will hear in the emotion and ache of these laments the deep, unstoppable love of God as Jesus is poured out so that He might take you in.
- Betrayed: Jesus meets His betrayer in the garden (1-3)
- Unprotected: Jesus delivers His followers and refuses deliverance (4-11)
- Tried: Trials 1 and 2: Jesus before the Jews (12-14, 19-24)
- Denied: Peter denies Jesus three times (15-18, 25-27)
- Tried: Trial 3: Jesus before the Romans (28-38a)
- Exchanged: Pilate offers release; the people choose Barabbas (38b-40)
Jesus has finished his Farewell Discourse, which took place from the last 8 verses of chapter 13 to the end of chapter 16. Some commentators think that Jesus and his disciples left the Upper Room at the end of chapter 14, and that Jesus led his disciples through Jerusalem, while teaching them chapters 15 and 16, to the path along the city wall that leads to the brook Kidron, where they will cross to the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives in 18:1.
It’s along this path that Jesus will pray, and our outline will follow the petitions that he makes of the Father.
- 17:1-5: Jesus Prays for Himself: Father, Glorify Me
- 17:6-19: Jesus Prays for His Disciples: Father, Keep and Sanctify Them
- 17:20-26: Jesus Prays for Those Who Will Believe: Father, Make Them One and Let Them See My Glory
Jesus has just told his disciples, “Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:32-33). Now let’s pick up with them on the path to the garden where Jesus prays aloud.
Abiding is being connected to Jesus through faith. Are you abiding in Jesus?
1- Our relationship to Christ, a METAPHOR (15:1-11)
We saw that true faith abides in Jesus and produces fruit.
2- Our relationship with believers, a COMMAND (15:12-17)
We learned that faith produces fruit of love and obedience, too.
3- Our relationship with the world, a WARNING (15:18-16:4)
We discovered that faith in Jesus brings on hatred from the world and also handles the world’s
hatred … how? We are encouraged that it is only through the power of the Spirit, our HELPER.
4- Our relationship with the Spirit, a HELP(ER) (15:26-16:15)
- Faith’s power comes from the Spirit.
- Helping us SEE (16:16-19) and turning Sorrow to JOY! (16:20-24)
5- Jesus is our Overcomer and source of PEACE (16:25-33) when we have faith in our Overcomer...we find peace in Him
Do we imagine that we are abiding in Jesus because we are better or smarter? We have no grounds for pride or boasting. Jesus chose us and set us apart -- appointed us. To do what? Jesus commands us to love one another as He has loved us. That is sacrificial, laying-down-your-life kind of love. How can we possibly do that? Only by ASKING for His help! When the Father gives us this fruit, our love will be an evidence of our abiding and an example to the world….and the world will hate us-- guaranteed by Jesus who the world hated first.
John 13:31-14:31 "Jesus' Farewell Discourse: Comfort and Prepare"
13:31-38: Jesus means to gives the disciples a new commandment (Prepare)
14:1-7: Jesus is the way to “where” He’s going (Comfort)
14:8-14: Jesus addresses belief in his identity, promises the Holy Spirit (Prepare)
14:15-24: Jesus will come again for his loving, abiding, obedient disciples (Comfort)
14:25-31: Jesus leaves his disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit and his peace. (Comfort and Prepare)
The Christ Who Cleanses Calls Us To Wash Feet
1-The Backdrop: Jesus Knows and Loves (1-3)
- Jesus knew his hour had come
- Jesus had loved his own who were in the world and loved them to the end
- Jesus knew his betrayer
- Jesus knew all things were his, he came from God, he was going back to God
2-The Dramatic Scene: Jesus Serves (4-5)
- Jesus’ actions
- Cultural commentary
3-The Disciple Revolts: Jesus Cleanses (6-11)
- Peter refuses and Jesus answers: His washing is required to belong
- Peter exceeds and Jesus explains: The completely clean need only feet washed
4-The Drama Explained: Jesus Calls (12-17, 20)
- Teacher and Lord washed your feet
- You ought to wash one another’s feet
- Sent is not greater than sender
5-The Unclean Exception: Jesus Sends Out (18-19, 21-30)
- Scripture will be fulfilled
- One of you will betray
- Private identification
- Public sending out
To tie John 11 to John 12, I read from Lauren Chandler’s new children’s book, Goodbye to Goodbyes, which is based on John 11-12. Some of you may not be familiar with her husband Matt’s diagnosis of brain cancer, so I’ve included a few links that you may find helpful. The sweet book concludes, “Jesus knows it is sad to say goodbye. So Jesus came to end goodbyes. And one day, Jesus and all his friends will say goodbye to goodbyes - forever!” Lauren writes a note for parents, “We are very acquainted with illness and the possibility of saying goodbye for what may feel like forever. [John Piper’s prayer for Matt Chandler at T4G2010] We have asked Jesus “why” in the midst of our pain. We have questioned his methods but have been comforted by his heart. He weeps with those who weep. He rejoices with those who rejoice. He is the God who is with us in our sorrow and our joy. Although our family’s story [watch more] hasn’t ended in a goodbye, it will one day. But it won’t be forever. For those who have believed Jesus to be their only hope, physical death will mean immediate presence with him (Phil 1:21-23) For those who are left behind, there is still hope -- hope in the life to come, and hope that Jesus will be with us “always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:20)
For thousands of years, the people of Israel had been looking for a Messiah King. They were expecting a great military leader, one who would defeat all of their enemies and restore their land to its former greatness and glory.
- But what they had not expected was that their Messiah, their King would come as a lowly son of a carpenter …. that He would have no weapons, no army and no political power.
- They could never imagine that He would be crucified, lifted up, on the cruel cross that the Romans designed for maximum torture.
- However, over and over they were shown who Jesus was. Evidence upon evidence. Miracle upon miracle. Sign upon sign.
Yet, they refused to believe that He was in fact their Messiah. Over and over he showed who He was. And over and over, they rejected Him. John put it this way in 1:11, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.”
My aim in teaching John 12 (audio here) was to convince you that Jesus is the King of the world, the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of Man, the Lamb of God, rejected by His own and whose hour has come to lay down His life for those who believe.
Here is the outline for John 12
- Anointing King Jesus (1-11)
- Expecting King Jesus (12-19)
- Seeking King Jesus (the Greeks) (20-22)
- Timing of King Jesus’ Glorification (23-27)
- Lifting Up King Jesus (27-36)
- Rejecting King Jesus (37-50)
- Why unbelief? 37-43 (for more help with this hard section, see John Piper’s sermon on John 12:37-50, Belief in Jesus: Its Barriers and Blessings)
- Why Jesus came? 44-50
On his way to die, as King Jesus heads to the cross, he invites us to come to him and receive some glorious promises his death has bought for us. He says, “whoever sees me sees him who sent me.” (12:45) and “whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (12:46)
He begs us to believe in the light, to become sons of the light. He invites us to come out of the darkness of sin and death and come to the light. As the Light of the world, Jesus alone has the power to break the chains of sin! Jesus specializes in taking ruined, broken lives and renewing them by His power.
King Jesus offers us a home, an inheritance, a seat at God’s royal table, and entrance into His kingdom of love and grace. Eternal life with King Jesus!
Jesus is the King of the world, the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of Man, the Lamb of God, rejected by His own and whose hour has come to lay down His life for those who believe.
Our right response is belief and worship.
Aim: Jesus is the resurrection and the life, the Christ, the son of God and we can trust Jesus, his love and purposes.
Concluding encouragements:
- Trust Jesus, His love for you, and His purposes for you in whatever painful circumstances you are in right now.
- Perhaps your circumstances tempt you to question God’s love for you. Remember that He is accomplishing purposes beyond what we can even imagine.
- He is good, He is God and we are not. He loves us and wants us trust him, the resurrection and the life.
- The sisters expected Jesus to come and heal their brother, but he didn’t. Their hearts were broken, but they learned that when Jesus writes their story, He has a purpose much bigger and much better than theirs.
- God’s glory is shown in His incredible love for us. Please don’t be tempted to put the love of God up against the glory of God. This passage tells us that Jesus stayed where He was for two reasons: the glory of God (v. 4), and his love for this family (v. 5).
- Preach to yourself the truth of God’s love. There WILL be times in your life that your feelings [or other people] will try to convince you that God doesn’t love you. Maybe answers to your prayers are delayed. You may be tempted to think that God has failed you, betrayed you, that He doesn’t love you. Stand on His promises in the Word.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life, the Christ, the son of God and we can trust Jesus, his love and purposes. He loves you!
John 10: True Shepherd, True Gate, and Jesus’ True Sheep
- A Word Picture Introduced: A Sheepfold (1-6)
- The Picture Unpacked: Jesus Is the Door and the Good Shepherd (7-18)
- Jesus the Door (7-10)
- Jesus the Good Shepherd (11-18)
- Jesus’ Words Divide the People (19-21)
- Jesus the Christ, Heard by His Flock (22-30)
- Jesus the Son, With Works from the Father (31-39)
- Jesus Departs and Some Follow (40-42)
(This John 10 teaching audio was recorded by Amy even though we did not have class this week due to severe weather. The levels in the recording vary, and some technical challenges caused some static periodically.)
Jesus is the light of the world and is sovereign over sight ...both physical and spiritual. He is sovereign over suffering and salvation.
John 9 OUTLINE
Cure (1-7)
- The problem: Who sinned? (1-2)
- The purpose: Works of God (3-5)
- The plan: Healed! (6-7)
Conflict/ controversy (8-34)
- Man and neighbors (8-12)
- Investigation by Pharisees
- The Man (13-17)
- The Parents (18-23)
- The Man, part 2 (24-34)
Confession (35-38)
- Jesus found the man!
- “I believe!”
Conviction (39-41)
- Jesus and the Jewish leaders
- Judgment: Guilty
John 7 & 8
Jesus is our Thirst-quencher and the Light of the World
who is shining in our darkness and is hated by the world.
1-Thirst-quencher
- “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” (7:37-38)
2- Light of the world
- “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (8:12)
John 7
A. 7:1-13 Jesus’ brothers mock him privately
B. 7:14-52 Various speakers publicly challenge Jesus
- v14-24 centers around Jesus’ authority (esp his teaching and miracles)
- v25-36 center on his identity, (esp his origin and mission)
- v37-39 “come to me and drink”
C. The Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles)
- past
- present
- future
D. 7:40-52 Various responses to Jesus
- v40-44a mixed response among the crowd
- v45-52a mixed response among the leadership
John 8:12-59
The Light of the World at the Feast of Booths
Exegetical Outline (Klink III, Edward W. John (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Kindle Locations 10972-10978). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.)
A. “The Light of the World”: The Accusations of Jesus the Judge (8:12–59)
- First Accusation: The Charge against Inappropriate Belief (vv. 12–30)
First Verbal Exchange: The Authority and Judgment of the Son (vv. 12–20)
(1) Charge: “I Am the Light of the World” (v. 12)
(2) Responses: The Witness of the Father and Son (vv. 13–18)
(3) Verdict: “You Know neither Me nor My Father” (vv. 19–20)
Second Verbal Exchange: The Origin of the Son (vv. 21–30)
(1) Charge: “You Will Die in Your Sin” (v. 21)
(2) Responses: “You Are from the World; I Am Not from This World” (v. 22–27)
(3) Verdict: “You Will Know That I Am” (vv. 28–30)
- Second Accusation: The Charge against Illegitimate Origin (vv. 31–59)
First Verbal Exchange: The Identity of the People of God (vv. 31–47)
(1) Charge: True Disciples Abide in my Word (vv. 31–32)
(2) Responses: Abraham and the Father (vv. 33–43)
(3) Verdict: “You Belong to Your Father, the Devil” (vv. 44–47)
Second Verbal Exchange: The Counterclaim by the Jews: Heresy! (vv. 48–59)
(1) Charge: “You are a Samaritan and Have a Demon” (v. 48)
(2) Responses: “Before Abraham Was [Born], I Am” (vv. 49–58)
(3) Verdict: The Attempted Stoning of Jesus (v. 59)
Our Bread of Life & Sovereign Savior
John 6
-
V1-15 The Bread FEEDS the crowd-showing his identity, his person (the bread, our provider, true host, serving us)
- Sovereign Satisfier and Sustainer!
-
V16-21 The Bread is in the boat- showing his presence
- Sovereign over the Sea
- 22-71 And then the remainder of the chapter, Jesus tells us WHO he is …. the first “I AM” statement of Jesus … “I AM the Bread of Life.”
- Sovereign in Salvation
- And then all the implications when he unpacks that … like increasing hostility and unbelief.
Jesus does not just give us bread, (presents) He IS the Bread of Life and has promised to be with us, (presence) to never leave us.
He is our sovereign sustainer, satisfier.
He is sovereign in salvation.
O taste and see Jesus for who he is, and find your satisfaction in Jesus above all things.
Last week, in Chapter 4 we saw two examples of believing Jesus’ WORD in the Samaritan woman and her town, and in the Roman official whose son was at the point of death, contrasted with the people of Galilee who would not believe “unless [they saw] signs and wonders.” (v.48)
In this week’s SETTING, Jesus is back in Jerusalem, for an unspecified feast. In the RISING ACTION, we’re going to see a healing that takes place on the Sabbath, and CONFLICT with the Jewish leaders, CLIMAXing in the Jewish leaders desire to kill Jesus--because they don’t believe his WORD. Then, in the FALLING ACTION*, we see Jesus explaining from where his authority originates which leads to the challenge: prove it! In the RESOLUTION, Jesus gives multiple witnesses to answer this challenge, confirming his identity as the Son of God/Son of Man to whom such authority is given.
*This section is structured as a chiasm, a literary tool where the parallel passages move inward to highlight the central point. Note:
- Verses 19 and 30: Jesus affirms that he does nothing on his own, but only the will of the Father/what the Father is doing.
- Verses 20 and 28-29: Jesus addresses “marveling” at great works, like healing, and even greater works like raising the dead to judgment.
- Verses 21-23 and 26-27: Jesus, like the Father, has life in himself, and has been granted by the Father to execute judgment, that he might be honored as the Son of Man
- The Center: Verses 24 and 25: Jesus affirms that the hour has come when those who hear his voice and believe him have passed from death to eternal life.
Jesus presses the issue of his identity that the Jewish leaders might be saved, and that we might be saved. We serve a God who confronts us with our unbelieving, self-oriented hearts, so that we can repent and believe, and in believing in the truth of Jesus’ identity--have eternal life. Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? It is only in believing that we have life.
John 4:1-6: Context: When and Where and Why
John 4:7-26: Conversation: Jesus Speaks to a Thirsty Woman
John 4:27-42: Conclusion: Jesus, the Woman, and the Disciples Sow and Reap a Huge Harvest
John 4:43-45: Context: When and Where and Why
John 4:46-50: Conversation: Jesus Speaks to a Desperate Father
John 4:51-54: Conclusion: Jesus’ Sign and the Father’s Faith
John 3 New Life in Jesus
Unbelievers or new believers are often directed to read John. Certainly, John 3 is a "must read" chapter of the Bible. Look at the "must statements" in John 3 and see how they relate to John’s aim “that we may believe!”
- First section, verses 1-13…..WE must be born again (7)…. We must BELIEVE
- Second section, verses 14-21….JESUS must be lifted up (14)
- … and we must look to him and believe!
- Third section, verses 31-36…..JESUS must increase (30)
- … John is a faithful witness who points to Jesus and wants us to believe… HE is above all!
- and John (and I) must decrease (30)
- Last verse (36) summarizes in this way: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Jesus replaces the emptiness of Religious Rites as the Better Bridegroom
Jesus replaces the Sacrificial System as the Lamb of God Jesus is the True Temple Believing Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God gives eternal, abundant life
Welcome to the Bethlehem North Women’s Bible study podcast for September 25 & 26, 2018! Both of our live recordings for this podcast had technical malfunctions, so Pam recorded this after class.
Hello to our listeners from around the US and over 15 other countries. We are so glad that you are joining us in our study of the Gospel of John this year.
Seeing and Sharing Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:19-51, 9/25&26, 2018)
- 19-34 JOHN … sharing about Jesus
- SEE, the Lamb of God!
- 35-51 JESUS … disciples SEE and share and follow Jesus
Here are the words we followed to see the layers John used to structure his “overture.”
1-with God…... (1:1–2 connection with 1:18)
2-through Him…..(1:3 connection with 1:17)
3-receive…..(1:4–5 connection with 1:16)
4-John/witness…..(1:6–8 connection with 1:15)
5-response…..(1:9–10 connection with 1:14)
6-his own…..(1:11 connection with 1:13)
7-receive… believe (1:12)
8-children of God/born of God (1:12)
Here is a beautiful Poem by D.A. Carson on the Incarnation of Christ
Welcome to our study of the Gospel of John! What a joy to be gathering together and sharing what we are learning!
I am praying that the Gospel of John will speak to you wherever you are today. Ask God to open your eyes through His Spirit to give you understanding and life in his name. May you SEE Jesus, in all of his glory and may you trust in Him, believe Him with all your heart!
2 slides from the introduction to John:
Glimpses and references to the promised Lamb of God are scattered throughout the Old Testament.
- The whole Bible tells the story of Jesus.
- Every story, every genealogy, every page, every detail speaks of our Redeemer.
To trace God’s beautiful story of redemption, we can follow a thread, a red strand that is woven throughout the Bible....looking for the lamb of God.
Where is the Lamb?
Behold the Lamb!
Worthy is the Lamb
Here is the outline for Ruth 4:
1) Boaz Sets the Stage
2) Boaz Strikes a Bargain
3) The People Prophesy
4) The LORD Gives A Redeemer
We had three application points:
1- God does it all.
He chooses. He plucks people out of Moab. He makes a people out of those of us who are not his people. That’s all of us in here. We are all Moabites, in one sense. We are far off from God, without hope. But God brings us near through the most peculiar circumstances. He redeems us, he gives us a new name, calling us daughter. He chooses to redeem a people and it looks, from a human standpoint, like he is getting a really bad deal with us. Just like it looked like Boaz should have reconsidered his options. But God he goes ahead makes us his bride, against all human wisdom. He makes the unlovable, lovely, by his beautifying love. God does it all.
2- God’s people act like God’s people.
This may seem to contradict the first one. If God does it all, who cares how we act? Let’s not focus on Ruth or Boaz, let’s just focus on God. But part of focusing on Ruth and Boaz’s worthiness and honorableness is that it actually glorifies God. We get to see what it looks like when God is working in the life of his people and what obedience is like.
They show us what it looks like to be Israelites on the inside. It doesn’t look like staying a Moabite. It doesn’t look like sin. It looks like honoring others and humble submission, and costly leadership. And so, if it’s true that God does it all and that God’s people act like God’s people, that means that God is at work in us causing us to work really hard. And we should praise God for that. We should praise God for God and we should praise God for Ruth and Boaz and Naomi.
3- God’s purposes for your story go way beyond your story.
It was true of Ruth and Boaz and Naomi and it’s true of us. We are not in the upline of Jesus, but we know this: we are his downline. We are his descendants and heirs. We are born of him, the very children of God. We cannot know his purposes for our lives, but we must not live like they end when we die. We must be working for goals 1000, 10000 years from now. DO you have that in your flowchart of goals?
What aroma do you want to pass down to your spiritual children? That aroma may far outlast the remembrance of your name. What godly, Christ-like, inheritance are you bequeathing to the people around you? Your children, your nieces and nephews, the kids in Sunday school, your neighbors, your co-workers, your friends? Remember God is faithful to a thousand generation of those who fear him. Who will come after you in the line of Jesus?
We need a redeemer who will give us rest, eternal rest.
- Jesus will be your Redeemer and welcome you into His family.
- Jesus will cover you with His wings and be your refuge.
- Jesus will give you His robe of righteousness to cover your nakedness.
- It does not matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been.
- We are all undeserving of His grace.
- The invitation is open.
In trust, come to your Redeemer who will give you rest.
Under Your wings I am safely abiding;
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust You, I know You will keep me;
You have redeemed me, and I am Your child.
Under Your wings
Who from Your love can sever?
Under Your wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.
Under Your wings—what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to Your rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blest.
Under Your wings—oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me;
Resting in YOU Jesus I’m safe evermore.
(adaped from "Under His Wings," a hymn by William Cushing, 1823-1902)
When I outlined chapter 2, I framed it around Boaz. Here are five points to observe about Boaz:
1) Boaz’s greeting
2) Boaz’s protection
3) Boaz’s provision
4) Boaz’s prayer
5) Boaz’s position
What can we take away from this scene in Ruth 2? It’s a wonderful story. It’s a chapter where no one sins—at least not explicitly in the text! Did you notice that? I think that’s why it’s such a pleasure to read. Only good examples in chapter two. And that’s what I want us to consider—how different this chapter is from Gen. 3, not to mention Judges and so much of what we observe in the Bible and in our own lives.
Contrast Boaz in Ruth 2, with Adam in Genesis 3. But don't stop there. The point of the story isn't that Boaz seems to be a lot better than Adam. The point is that Boaz is a pointer to the Better Adam: Jesus. And when we compare Boaz to Jesus, we see just how much better Jesus is than anyone else in history--even worthy Boaz.
We can trust our faithful, sovereign, redeeming, saving, covenant God who works through unlikely ways and means of grace!
4 scenes in Ruth 1:
Think about the gospel as a three-act story…
Plot arc of Ruth 1:
Scene 1 (v1-2) Bethlehem --> Moab
- Setting ... a famine
Scene 2 (v3-5) in Moab
- Crisis ... three funerals and three widows
Scene 3 (v6-18) Moab --> Bethlehem
- food
- a follower of Yahweh with flawed faith?
- climax ... the faith of a foreigner
Scene 4 Bethlehem
- resolution/new setting ... Hints of filling … and our faithful God
The book of Ruth holds treasures to be mined. It reveals the beauty and character of God. It is a beautiful story of God’s grace. My prayer is that you will see Him with your eyes, understand Him with your mind and love Him with all your heart.
- We hope you will be blessed by focusing on the book of Ruth this summer
- I’ve intentionally included some “how-to’s” for you in the workbook.
- Each lesson has an “Extra Time” section.
- Some questions may seem easy and other harder
- If you find a question too difficult, skip over it and come back to it if you have time at the end of the week
- Our focus is the Scripture itself, so spend your time soaking in the Word and digging in to understand. We believe that the Bible is living and active and able to transform our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit as we study.
- Benjamin Warfield, wrote in 1911, "Sometimes we hear it said that ten minutes on your knees will give you a truer, deeper, more operative knowledge of God than ten hours over your books. 'What!' is the appropriate response, 'than ten hours over your books, on your knees?'" ("The Religious Life of Theological Students," in Mark Noll, ed., The Princeton Theology, [Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1983], p. 263). We all want this kind of heart. Yes, we must pray. We will not understand or see wonderful things in Ruth this summer if the Spirit doesn't open our eyes. But praying does not take the place of studying and thinking.
One of my favorite verses is what Paul writes to Timothy: “Think over what I say, FOR the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2 Tim 2:7) We read and study and dig and think hard. But we won’t understand unless the Lord gives us understanding. This verse also tells us that we can’t just pray for understanding without actually opening up our Bibles to read, study and think! This is not either-or. This is both-and.
An Invitation to Ruth
Jason DeRouchie is a churchman, scholar, husband, and father. He is committed to helping others exalt Jesus and treasure the hope of the gospel from the whole of Christian Scripture—the Old and New Testaments. He and his wife, Teresa, have six children, three brown and three peach, three boys and three girls, and the younger three all came from Ethiopia, a land that he loves. As a family, they delight in academic and church ministry and are delighted to be a part of the Bethlehem community. Jason wrote, “Being here has changed us, helping us cherish the gospel more and birthing within us a love for the nations, especially among the poor. I now have so many from other cultures whose names and stories I know and whom I love and long to see celebrating Christ in eternity.”
As a family, they enjoy camping, hiking, canoeing, and moose-watching, and their favorite place to get away is the north shore of Lake Superior. Whenever possible, he loves to return to Ethiopia to help the church there train its leaders, care for the poor, evangelize the lost, and reach the unreached. He is a former associate pastor and presently serves as a North Campus elder. He has taught in a number of Christian colleges and seminaries and joyfully serves now as Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology at Bethlehem College & Seminary.
More information available in your Ruth workbooks:
- On page 14, you will find an address for Dr. DeRouchie’s website, where you will be able to listen to an audio lecture overview of Ruth, and other resources, including notes on Ruth that he has given to his seminary students and a chapter on Ruth in “What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About.”
- On page 9, you will find notes for Jason’s teaching.
More resources by Dr. Jason DeRouchie
An Invitation to Ruth
Jason DeRouchie is a churchman, scholar, husband, and father. He is committed to helping others exalt Jesus and treasure the hope of the gospel from the whole of Christian Scripture—the Old and New Testaments. He and his wife, Teresa, have six children, three brown and three peach, three boys and three girls, and the younger three all came from Ethiopia, a land that he loves. As a family, they delight in academic and church ministry and are delighted to be a part of the Bethlehem community. Jason wrote, “Being here has changed us, helping us cherish the gospel more and birthing within us a love for the nations, especially among the poor. I now have so many from other cultures whose names and stories I know and whom I love and long to see celebrating Christ in eternity.”
As a family, they enjoy camping, hiking, canoeing, and moose-watching, and their favorite place to get away is the north shore of Lake Superior. Whenever possible, he loves to return to Ethiopia to help the church there train its leaders, care for the poor, evangelize the lost, and reach the unreached. He is a former associate pastor and presently serves as a North Campus elder. He has taught in a number of Christian colleges and seminaries and joyfully serves now as Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology at Bethlehem College & Seminary.
More information available in your Ruth workbooks:
- On page 14, you will find an address for Dr. DeRouchie’s website, where you will be able to listen to an audio lecture overview of Ruth, and other resources, including notes on Ruth that he has given to his seminary students and a chapter on Ruth in “What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About.”
- On page 9, you will find notes for Jason’s teaching.
More resources by Dr. Jason DeRouchie