Opening QuestionCan God affect human events without violating our freedom of choice?IntroductionIn this study, the author examines stories from the Old Testament that in one way or another foreshadow, typify, or parallel some final events of the New Testament. The concept here is called typology. Essentially, typology is when an Old Testament histo…

Opening QuestionWhat is the greatest struggle you’ve endured?IntroductionThe Psalms offer encouragement to God’s people as they journey through the struggle with sin and seek victory. One of the ways god encourages us is by painting pictures of a glorious future, providing hope of a world restored. This is a major theme of the Psalms, as well as th…

Opening QuestionDo you love poetry? Why or why not?IntroductionThe figurative language of poetry allows us to not only express specific ideas, but also feelings, images and pictures in ways that prose cannot. The use of symbols, of metaphor, simile, parallelism, and chiasm all contribute to create literary pictures and emotions that resonate in the…

Opening QuestionHow do you think you would respond if you met God face to face?IntroductionThis lesson directs us to the throne, and to the living beings and their activities around it. While not a tremendous amount can be known of the angelic world—indeed some angelology goes far beyond scripture!—several books of the Bible highlight their role an…

Opening QuestionWhat would you give up for someone you love?IntroductionThe lesson this week is how the concept of sacrifice found throughout the Bible plays a role in the prophetic literature. As an earlier lesson noted, Genesis is the starting point for most major topics in Scripture, and certainly in Revelation. Sacrifice is so much a part of Re…

Opening QuestionWhat good does human-led government provide us, and are there potential pitfalls?IntroductionScripture is clear about God wanting to be Israel’s sole leader; humans do poorly at ruling when they trust to their own abilities, thinking, plans, and effort. This is not to say that all humans have failed, but that leadership and rule inh…

Opening QuestionDo we ever see God working in obvious ways through the nations of the world or in secular governments?IntroductionWhile every human is individually accountable to and beloved by God, we also see larger groups of people become the object of God’s regard or judgement, nations through which He can work, show His power, or choose as His…

Opening QuestionWhat use is there for “marriage” outside of a Judeo-Christian worldview? Why would anyone want such a commitment in our western world?IntroductionGenesis 1-2 introduces God making humankind according to His own image. Reading Genesis 1:26-31 we find that image is contained in a male-female relationship with the possibility of produc…

Opening QuestionHow might the beginning of God’s story in the Genesis hint at how the Bible ends with Revelation?IntroductionCommentators have frequently noted Revelation’s allusions to Genesis and the rest of the Torah (books of Moses). But provides much more than simply ideas for John to use in the apocalypse; it provides the context and origin f…

Opening QuestionIf you believe in a God who knows the future, is that comforting to you? Why or why not?IntroductionThe lesson this week introduces the idea of God’s foreknowledge as the basis for prophetic messages. Christian doctrine often includes as part of theology proper (the study of “God,”) a belief in God’s omniscience. If God knows everyt…

Theme: “Love Is the Fulfillment of the Law”Leading Question: Is the word “law” friendly or frightful?Almost no one uses the word “law” in a friendly way. When someone says, “It’s the law!” It usually a hard-liner.Let’s look at examples of the different ways we use law:Mr. Thompson, you have broken the law.You have fulfilled the requirements for you…

Relevant Verses: atthew 7, 22, 23; 1 John 4; Micah 6; Psalm 82; Luke 10Theme: “Love and Justice: The Two Greatest Commandments”Leading Question: Is it possible to identify the two greatest sins as well as the two greatest commandments?If we make the two greatest sins parallel with the two greatest commandments, then we can say that the greatest sin…

Relevant Verses: Isaiah 5; John 3, 1 John 3; Matthew 21; 1 Corinthians 4Theme: “What More Could I Have Done?”Leading Question: Does God always do everything he can to save his people?Our lesson for this week is entitled, “What more could I have done?” echoing the question Isaiah asks in the parable of the vineyard:Isaiah 5:3-4: “And now, inhabitant…