Bible Resources
Bible Resources
The gracious power of the cross: Lenten Studies February March 2013
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- Category: Studies for Groups and Individuals
The gracious power of the cross: Lenten Studies February March 2013
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"The gracious power of the cross"' is available as a downloadable pdf file, ready to be printed as a small booklet. Click here to view, right click to save to your computer. |
Our aim is to understand better what the cross means for us, and to be able to put into words how God saves people through the death of Christ. These studies are suitable for individual as well as small group use. They follow the sermon series for this period at Christ the King Willetton. Audio recordings of the sermons will be available by clicking the titles below.
Lenten Studies February March 2013
Week ending
February 10 The cross ... atones for sins Leviticus 16.1-34
February 17 The cross ... brings peace Isaiah 52.13 - 53.12
February 24 The cross ... saves believers 1 Corinthians 1.18-2.5
March 3 The cross ... reconciles sinners 2 Corinthians 5.14-21
March 10 The cross ... puts sinners to death Galatians 2.15-21
March 17 The cross ... shows God's love 1 John 4.7-14
March 24 The cross ... glorifies the Lamb Revelation 5.1-14
Notes on Luke 20.27-40 November 10
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- Category: Notes on the Gospel readings from Luke
Notes on Luke 20.27-40 November 10
There are two pieces of background information that will help us understand this story.
The Sadducees were a group of Jews who did not believe in angels or in the resurrection. Many members of the Sanhedrin were Sadducees. They usually opposed Jesus.
The man brother must marry the widow (20.28). The law of Moses said that if a man died without having any children, his brother must marry his widow. The purpose of this was so that the brother who died would have descendants and his family would continue (Deuteronomy. 25:5- 10).
In this story, the Sadducees give an extreme example to try to show that the idea of resurrection is impossible. The story is about a woman who is married to seven brothers, one after the other. Each of them dies without having any children. So she must marry the next brother. But, in the resurrection, whose wife is she?
Jesus gives two answers. First he says that in the age to come, in the resurrection, people will not marry. Nor will they die. They are like the angels (which the Sadducees did not believe in). They are God’s children, they are children of the resurrection. This means that the Sadducees’ question is mistaken. They do not understand about the resurrection.
Notes on Matthew 1.18-25 Advent 4 22 December 2013
- Parent Category: Bible Resources
- Category: Notes on the Gospel readings from Matthew
Notes on Matthew 1.18-25 Advent 4 22 December 2013
The beginning of Matthew’s gospel is more interesting than it looks. Matthew gives 8 verses to tell about the birth of Jesus from the point of view of Joseph (the actual birth is described in just one verse). He gives 17 verses to explain that Jesus descended from Abraham.
The genealogy does not seem very interesting. It seems to be a long list of names. But there are two things we should note. One is to notice the five women who are mentioned, and to remember their stories. The other is to see that Matthew organises his list of ancestors into three sets of fourteen generations. He makes Abraham, David and the exile the significant starting points for the story of God’s people.
Matthew wants us to see that Jesus comes from the line of Abraham and David. In this way he comes as the one who fulfills the promises of the Old Testament.
The story of Mary’s pregnancy fits the stories of the women in the genealogy. Joseph is very embarrassed that Mary has become pregnant before they have been married. Although they are engaged, or pledged to each other, the marriage had not yet taken place. Until they were married they were not allowed to have sexual relations.
The fact that Mary was pregnant meant that Joseph could divorce her. It could have been a very bad event for Mary. Joseph decided to divorce her quietly so that she would not suffer public shame.
Read more: Notes on Matthew 1.18-25 Advent 4 22 December 2013
Galatians Reading Guide
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Reading Guide to Galatians
You might like to use this sheet to help you read the letter to the Galatians
First read the letter right through in one sitting.
Then read it again looking for:
1. Context:
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To whom was it written? Is this unusual among NT letters?
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Where were they located?
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When had Paul visited them?
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When did Paul write the letter? Was it after or before the Council in Jerusalem (Acts 15)?
2. People:
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What does Paul tell us about himself?
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What is his explanation for his change of direction?
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What does the letter tell us about the “false brothers”?
3. Content:
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What themes in the opening greeting (1.1-5) are developed in the rest of the letter?
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What is the main issue in the letter?
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What is the relationship of the death of Christ to the main issue?
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How does Paul think believers should live the Christian life if they are freed from observing the law?
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What kinds of slavery does Paul describe?
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Which of this teaching is found in the Old Testament? What is new to the NT?
4. Us:
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What does the letter have to say to modern Christians and churches?
Psalm 92
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- Category: Help from the Psalms
Thoughts on Psalm 92
Psalm 92 A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath Day. The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition), copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. |
This is the psalm of a happy person who wants to sing. But did they always want to sing like this? Were there times when they were not happy? It is called a psalm for the Sabbath, but what about last Wednesday or Monday? Why are they happy now and why does that make this a Sabbath Psalm? The cause of happiness is the work of the Lord. Especially, it seems, in bringing about the defeat of the enemies of the psalmist. In a way it is a victory psalm, or a song of thanksgiving for victory. But victory thanksgivings presuppose struggles. In fact here the outcome of the struggle was not at all clear - at least for those who were defeated - and probably also for the victors. The outcome has shown clearly that "you, O Lord, are on high for ever". Last Monday the Psalmist may have been down in the dumps. But on the Sabbath he gives thanks that God continues to help the righteous flourish. But what about next Wednesday? Another struggle is sure to happen. And then we will have to trust the Lord in the same way as before. We will look forward to the same kind of outcome for the same reason - the Most High is on high and he is our Rock. And after a lifetime of struggle and seeing the work of the Lord, the righteous are living proof that the Lord is a rock, completely faithful, never unreliable or unjust. So why is this a Sabbath Psalm? Because for one thing the joy in seeing God's work ought to be proclaimed in the assembly. Not everyone will be happy. Some will still be struggling, feeling overwhelmed by their foes, and so the songs of joy of others will help lift them up. Also if one is going to sing (with a band!) one needs an audience. In fact the psalmist assumes that the thanksgiving is spoken out loud so others can hear. But the Sabbath is exactly the right day for this kind of victory thanksgiving because it is the day that represents God's salvation, the completion of his final work, when all his people will enter into his rest. And even though young people may be able to make more noise, it is the old timers who have most to say about the works of the Lord. And words like this can be heard by those who are still sad, or troubled, or overwhelmed. We may not be able to sing this psalm every Sabbath, but it is there as a model for all those times when we too sing praises to the Most High for exalting us again. Dale |