Bible Study on SermonAudio

During a recent evening service, we looked at different ways to interpret Scripture. There are some who are constantly looking for hidden meanings in the Bible. But this has led some to find meaning where none was intended. So, we concluded that the literal/grammatical/historical method of interpretation is best. This leads to a literal interpretation unless figures of speech are being used and also incorporates when and to whom the passage was written. This method of interpretation was helpful when we studied John 6. Jesus had said that His disciples needed to eat His flesh and drink His blood. Thankfully, we saw the figure of speech Jesus was using and did not take it literally. In our passage today, we must use the same method of interpretation to understand it. In John 15:1-8, Jesus refers to Himself as the true vine, God the Father as the keeper of the vine, and the disciples as vine branches. Jesus was using a metaphor to teach the disciples about the relationship between them and Him. He did this to emphasize the importance of a close relationship with Him.

The Loss of Awe in Worthless Worship

What goes in and what comes out of, the mouth. A woman called a dog? 4,000 plus, fed. The leaven of the Pharisees. Peter's great confession.

This passage is about the family of Levi. Study and transcript: https://sharonrpc.org/devotions/1-chronicles-6-1-30-the-sons-of-levi-1-chronicles-6-1-30

Para muchos, la decadencia en los países occidentales es un gran misterio. Pero con la enseñanza de este pasaje, todo es de repente muy claro.

Revelation 20 1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

In this section Paul is differentiating between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of Men. Humans do not naturally trust God, in fact, those who do trust God are in the stark minority. To a secular humanist trusting God is at best a concept and to most​, it is an absurdity. Paul starts the section by stressing the need for spiritual maturity but concludes the Corinthians have regressed into spiritual babies who are retarding their growth and keeping themselves from experiencing the power of God available to spiritual grown ups. Their jealousy, strife, and division demonstrates a carnality that is keeping them as spiritual babies. While everyone starts out as a baby, we certainly do not want to stay there. The goal is to be mature, grown up believer​s who ​h​ave allowed the Spirit of God to make them useful ambassadors for the Kingdom of God.

Job seeks to reflect upon death as the Last Journey. He recalls the Certainty of this Last Journey, "I shall go …" It will come to all. He reminds us of the Proximity of this Last Journey, "when a few years have finished." It may be nearer than we think. He comments on the Individuality of this Journey – we go alone. Yet one can go "through" with us, the Shepherd, Psalm 23:4. Job calls upon us to reflect upon the Destiny in our Last Journey – where are we going? Is it heaven or hell? Lastly we must recall the Finality of the Last Journey for there is no coming back or further opportunity. But the wonder is that the Lord Jesus came into the world to pay the price for us that we could go to be forever with Him.

This Bible study examines the initial phase of Stephen's defense before the Sanhedrin, focusing on his recounting of Israel's history from Abraham to Joseph. The speaker highlights how God's unilateral covenant with Abraham and His providential care through Joseph prefigure the rejection and subsequent salvation brought by Jesus Christ. By tracing these biblical narratives, the transcript illustrates that just as Joseph was rejected by his brothers yet became their savior, Jesus is rejected by religious leaders yet remains the Messiah. The message underscores God's sovereignty in using human failure to fulfill His redemptive purposes for His people. It serves as a theological reminder of the continuity between the Old Testament promises and the New Testament fulfillment in Christ.