Biblical Literacy Podcast

10-2-22 Biblical-Literacy

Mark continued with the study of the Minor Prophets and week 3 of Jonah. Mark showed us in today’s lesson that characters drive a good story. In the 47 verses of Jonah, we not only see Jonah in action but the sailors, the Ninevites, and Jesus.

Sailors: each cried out to their own god for deliverance from the storm.

Ninevites: they were receptive due to the Holy Spirit’s call to repent due to plagues, revolts, and an eclipse of the sun.

Jesus: shows us humility. Jonah personifies disobedient Israel, and Jesus represents obedient Israel.

Mark wraps up with these Points for Home:

1. Why do the Jews read Jonah during Yom Kippur?

2. Where does your fear drive you?

The importance of growing.

Mark continued with the study of the Minor Prophets: Part II of Jonah. Mark shares examples how “stories” have always been an important means of communication. In this lesson we learn what the story of Jonah says—

Of God: God speaks! God cares about all people. God plans. God saves.

Of Jonah: Disobedient. Uncaring. Out of sync with God. Miserable.

Of me: Importance of growing. What are my priorities? Crisis reveals character.

Listen to Mark teach of how Jonah’s struggles and challenges are similar to ours and how we can grow closer to God.

Mark continued his series on the minor prophets with study of Jonah. Mark provided critical insight into Jonah’s life and the historical context.

Jonah’s job was a prophet counselor to King Jeroboam II c793 BC before God directed him to Nineveh and call the people to repentance. Instead, of obeying God’s new job, Jonah flees via boat in the opposite direction to Tarshish.

Mark taught that we are to live life as a job: life is work. God has work for us to do, and we can’t run from God. We are to seek God’s presence in thankfulness and praise, even when our life's job is not what we want. Psalm 95:2 and Psalm 100:2

Mark continued teaching the series on Minor Prophets with Joel - Part II. He divided the lesson into three parts.

Before the hinge: Joel 1:1-2-11

Joel is one of God’s speakers for His message.

The hinge: Joel 2-12-17

Return to Me wholeheartedly, repent, and rend your heart.

After the hinge: Joel 2:19-27

God’s blessings for repentant people.

God's spirit will fall on believers. Pentecost: Acts 2:16-21

Mark concludes with Points for Home as he recaps the words of God through Joel and the application for today.

Mark started a new series on The Minor Prophets beginning with the prophet Joel. Good indications suggest Joel is the earliest of the minor prophets.

Historical context: Joel was likely written in 8th B.C. after Israel was divided.

Biblical context: The Jews were entrusted the Word of God. The prophets are God’s speakers.

We learn that Joel means Jehovah is God. God has a message for us.

Listen to Mark discuss the history of the world during Joel’s time, Israel’s importance to the Egyptian and Assyrian empires, and the word of God as spoken by the prophet Joel to the people of Israel.

Pastor Brent Johnson taught the final lesson of Snapshots of Jesus. He posed the question: How should we take action from what we’ve learned from Snapshots of Jesus? Pastor Brent encouraged us to live the Christian life as Jesus modeled during his short time on earth. We are to hear the Word of God and do it by taking action. Pastor Brent shares through scripture how we each have a responsibility to inform our world with compassion and inspiration recognizing the importance God places on relationships.

Dr. David Fleming was the guest lecturer continuing with the Snapshots of Jesus series. Dr. Fleming’s focus was the three “lost” parables from the Gospel of Luke and how Jesus’ was making an overall single point from the three stories.

Dr. Fleming used three questions to teach from the parables:

1. What did the parable mean then to them?

2. How does the parable fit in the context?

3. What is the point of the parable?

Listen to Dr. Fleming conclude with points of application for today:

1. When you’re out, come in;

2. If you are in, join in, celebrate Good News

3. If you can’t . . . Good News . . . see #1

Hanging around the Father’s house doesn’t mean you have the Father’s heart.

Dr. David Capes guest taught a lesson in Snapshots of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke. Dr. Capes addressed the question of eschatology.

1. What is eschatology? Derived from two Greek words that mean final things. A branch of theology that deals with end times. It has individual and cosmic meanings.

2. A review of: Luke 11:20; Luke 12:13-21; Luke 19:11, and Luke 17:34-37

3. Conclusions drawn: this world is the realm of redemption; life is not about all the stuff, and the kingdom is already, but not yet.

Listen to Dr. Capes discuss eschatology with passages from Luke; what end times means for the Jew and the Christian, and the danger of allowing our possessions to possess us.

Guest teacher Pastor Jarrett Stephens taught Snapshots of Jesus today from Luke 9 - The Transfiguration.

The Transfiguration: God is revealing the glory of His Son Jesus to us who is 100 Percent God and 100 percent man. Pastor Jarrett compares this mountain top experience to other mountain top experiences described in scripture.

1. The Transfiguration takes place following a time of prayer

2. Only Jesus

3. We don’t see the glory of God without being changed

Listen to Pastor Jarrett show us through the Scripture who Jesus is, the priority of prayer, and a changed life through the Transfiguration.

Mark continued his teachings on Snapshots of Jesus from the Gospel of John 4 that features the woman of Samaria.

After reviewing the story, Mark offered insights into the passage including:

Jesus didn’t have to pass through Samaria; He chose to be on mission for God.

Jesus offered living water which is fresh.

Jesus revealed He was the Christ.

Listen to Mark teach the meaning of living/running water is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit and how we are to worship God in spirit and truth. Mark concluded the lesson by encouraging us to 1) Hear God, 2) Focus on God and 3) Be touched by God.