Bible Encounters

1. The Gospel message is rooted in Isaiah 40 and every Gospel author quotes it!

2. John the Baptist takes the people out to the Jordan river as a New Israel is created. 

3. The repentance of the people and having a new heart is key to return from exile as Deuteronomy 30:1-6 speaks of. 

1. Allusions from Exodus & foreshadowing the cross

2. Hyperlinking the Temple story to the Garden story

1. Parallels with John and Jesus

2. Jesus' dedication at the temple

3. The consolation of Israel

4. Simeon and Anna (with some cool Easter eggs...pun intended)

1. No room for them in the...guest room?

2. The good news is a birth announcement. 

3. The good news is from Isaiah.

4. The Roman empire VS Jesus' empire.

1. Circumcision and covenant matters of the heart

2. Names refer to the role one plays in a story

3. Mary and Zechariah's OT prophetic language in their songs

4. The 3 big hopes of every 1st century Jew: return from exile, the King of David, God's glory in the temple

1. Virgin Mary: Catholics and Protestants

2. Jesus is the Son of David

3. The Spirit will 'overshadow' Mary

4. God at work in the trials of conception

5. Zechariah and Mary compared

1. Reading the Gospels through an OT lens.

2. The Temple as a major theme.

3. Turning hearts is an exile reference from Ezekiel 36.

4. Luke will focus on elevating those low.

What are the Gospels and how should we approach them?

Why does Job get his stuff back? Doesn't that support the idea that God does follow the retribution principle that righteous people will prosper? How can his 10 new kids possibly replace his 10 deceased kids? Simply put, is the epilogue the POINT of the book?

Job has accused God of injustice and called God to court. God shows up in Job 38-41 and has a few questions for Job.