The Old Testament laws, especially those given as part of the Sinai Covenant, are sometimes difficult to understand and are therefore engaged less fruitfully. Yet we have psalmists declaring, “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” (Psalm 119:97 NIV). One of the reasons we perhaps struggle with understanding their meaning and significance is because we lack the ancient context in which they were written.

In Exodus 25, God instructs Israel to prepare offerings for the tabernacle, and also provides instructions for how to build this sanctuary. Many assume that every little detail has symbolic significance—and some of it does. However, we fail to see the practical reasons for much of its design. In this Seven Minute Seminary, Dr. Craig Keener helps situate the Tabernacle in its ancient context, noting both its similarities and contrasts with other temples in the region.

Church-planting is increasingly becoming recognized as one of the most effective ways to reach new people with the gospel in critical parts of the secular West. In today’s Seven Minute Seminary, Christian Selvaratnam of Alpha encourages those considering church-planting to use Alpha as a launching pad for gathering people together in new churches.

Ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit can refer to many things, including the signs and wonders that often attend missional ministry. It also encourages the love of Jesus and encompasses the empowerment for holy living among his disciples. In this Seven Minute Seminary, Dr. Steve Seamands encourages us to consider John Wesley as a model for how to responsibly welcome the ministry of the Holy Spirit among us.

What happens when the church reads the Bible out of context? Some of our most cherished beliefs, songs, and platitudes are based on proof-texting, which means that the original historical and literary context of the Bible is ignored.