Tag: study
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My People: Lessons from Ruth (Part 1 – Introduction)
I’m excited to dive into another incredible story from the Bible with a new series, “My People: Lessons from Ruth”. Ruth is a wonderfully simple story that takes place during the period of Israel’s judges. If you’ve read through the book of Judges, you might have noticed that Ruth is a refreshing reprieve from the […]
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The Divine Pursuit: Seeking Love and Holiness in the Song of Songs (Part 11)
Love Awakened (Song 8) The conclusion of the poetic saga that is Song of Songs calls the reader back to several key themes introduced previously in the poem: Frustrated Longing (8:1-4) – Throughout the Song, the young woman has expressed a deep desire to be united with her beloved, and at the same time frustration […]
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[New Podcast Episode!] Theologizing Life: End-Times Theology
A new episode of Theologizing Life is available now! We are discussing eschatology – the theology of the end times – in light of the events unfolding in our world today. Topics include: How does our Western mindset influence our understanding or anticipation of Jesus’ return? How can we better understand the message and purpose […]
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Study Guide: The Plot (Matthew 2:1-12)
Micah 5:2-4 Study Notes This is the prophecy of the prophet Micah. At the time it was written (between 750 and 687 B.C.) Judah faced a growing threat from the neo-Assyrian Empire. Micah interpreted the impending invasion as a wake-up call from God and a just punishment for the many injustices committed by the nation’s […]
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Study Guide: The Prophecies of Zechariah. Part 1 (Introduction)
Historical Context In 587 B.C., the prophet Jeremiah was imprisoned in the palace of Zedekiah in Jerusalem. The city had been under siege by the Babylonian army for a year, and the Babylonian hordes were only moments away from overwhelming the city’s defenses, capturing Jerusalem, and shipping her inhabitants off to exile in Babylon. The […]
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The ‘Acts Church’ as Fulfillment of the Sabbatical Year
In preaching courses, we are usually taught that maybe 10 to 20 percent of our sermon-prep research makes it into the actual sermon. So, as a general rule, preachers don’t usually get to talk about everything they discovered about the passage they are preaching on. This is simply for clarity’s sake; the small details of […]
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Study Guide: Paul’s Letter to Philemon
Reading Paul’s letter to Philemon might take you less than a minute and a half, but don’t let its brevity lead you to think that the letter is insignificant. Philemon is a case study in the gospel’s power to bring about reconciliation in human relationships. Purpose It is generally understood that Philemon lived in Colossae […]
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The Divine Pursuit: Seeking Love and Holiness in the Song of Songs (Part 4)
Read Part 3 “Heaven Meets Earth Like” . . . (Song 2:1-17) Chapter 2 opens with the woman’s words: “I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.” The first home my wife and I moved into in Warsaw, Indiana had a large backyard that was overrun with rose of Sharon. It is […]