Concordia Adult Bible Class

Studies show that the average person wastes approximately two hours per day at work socializing, surfing the internet, and running personal errands. During the summer months, we are keenly aware that rest is good! Laziness, however, is not. Do we work hard, knowing that our efforts form our character and serve the needs of others?

Wisdom does not begin with what a person knows, but with who a person knows. To fear the Lord and to trust his Word is to have wisdom. Notice that Solomon says that it is the “beginning of knowledge” (verse 7). Hence, wisdom is a journey. We have only begun to become wise. There is always room for growth. This series is devoted to helping us grow in wisdom.

Adam was not meant to be alone. He needed a “helper” (verse 18). The title “helper” is not meant to be derogatory toward Eve, relegating her to Adam’s slave, as this same moniker is used of God Himself: “The LORD is with me; He is my helper” (Psalm 118:7). This title is instead meant to describe the special gifting a wife has as her husband’s helpmate, helping him as God helps His people. In this message, we discuss the woman’s role as a helpmate and talk about the temptation that women face to nag their husbands bitterly rather than to support them joyfully.

Esther was a strong woman. As the favorite female of the king, she could have lived out her days in ease and luxury. Instead, she chose to work fiercely and fearlessly to save her people, the Jews. And God, though He is never explicitly named in this book, is there the whole time, giving Ester the strength she needs for the daunting tasks in front of her. On Mother’s Day, we give thanks for the moms who work fiercely and fearlessly, knowing that they, like Esther, need God’s strength.

What a strange way to begin a series on how God views the family! Jesus here talks about dividing the family and causing feuds, not uniting the family and fostering love. And yet, here we find a fundamental truth concerning the family: unless our families are rooted and founded in following Christ, they will ultimately fail. Christ comes first. He is the one who blesses and keeps our families. Our families must rally around Him and be united by Him.

“The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” This axiom reminds us that sometimes, we must push, prod, and cajole to get what we want or need. In Jesus’ Parable of the Unjust Judge, the woman must do just this simply to get justice. Jesus’ point, however, is that our Father is a just judge who will bring us justice according to His righteousness. No cajoling is needed.

Scripture tells us that there is a chasm between us and God, created by sin. God Himself bridges this gap by sending His Son, Jesus, to die in our place for our sin. The punishment of hell is reserved for those who do not want God to stand in the gap between them and Him. This is why Abraham reminds Lazarus, in hell, “A great chasm has been fixed” (verse 26). The call in this life is to trust in Christ who bridges the gap between us and the Father so that gap does not become fixed eternally. In this message, we will address the doctrine of hell, as well as some of the issues raised by Rob Bell’s new book, “Love Wins.”

It’s not just Elizabeth Bennet who suffers from pride and prejudice in the Jane Austen novel, it’s a tax collector who suffers pride and prejudice in the Bible. The Pharisee is both prideful of himself and prejudiced against the tax collector. And yet, God is not prejudiced against this taxman because of his sin. Instead, God sees his humble faith and gladly forgives him.

The lawyer of Luke 10 asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor” (verse 29)? According to the Parable of the Good Samaritan, your neighbor is not merely one who is closest to you, be that in physical proximity or relational affinity; rather your neighbor is a person who you may despise or who may despise you. Nevertheless, you are called to help them in Jesus’ name.

Parables are generally titled, “The Parable of…” For example, we find in the Gospels “The Parable of the Talents” and “The Parable of the Prodigal Son.” Though this parable is generally titled “The Parable of the Sower,” it could also be titled, “The Parable of the Parables,” for, in this story, Jesus explains the purpose of His parables and how people either believe or reject them. In this opening message, we introduce the parables and explain their purpose and meaning for our lives.