Showing posts with label Bible Study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible Study. Show all posts
Monday, December 27, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
A Christmas Quiz: How much of what we know is really just tradition?
By Steve and Ella Pettit
We’ve all seen and heard the Christmas story so many times that we know exactly what God's Word says about it, right? Or do we sometimes let tradition overtake the truth?
Dates and Mates1. For the journey to Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph
a) walked
b) Joseph walked; Mary rode a donkey
c) rode a bus
d) Who knows?
2. When Mary became pregnant, Mary and Joseph were
a) married
b) just friends
c) engaged
d) none of the above
3. When Mary became pregnant,
a) Joseph married her
b) Joseph wanted to dissolve their relationship
c) Mary left Nazareth for a while
d) an angel told them to go to Bethlehem
e) both b and c
f) both b and d
4. Christmas has always been observed
a) on December 25
b) on January 17
c) at Grandma’s house
d) none of the above
Kings and Wings5. Who directed Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem?
a) Herod
b) an angel
c) Caesar
d) the IRS
6. Just what is a "heavenly host"?
a) an angelic choir
b) the welcoming angel in heaven
c) an army of angels
d) none of the above
7. How many angels spoke to the shepherds?
a) a multitude
b) two - Gabriel and Michael
c) one
d) Who knows?
8. What song did the angels sing?
a) "O Little Town of Bethlehem”
b) "Joy to the World”
c) "Glory to God in the Highest”
d) none of the above
Barns and Yarns9. The baby Jesus was born in a
a) cave
b) manger
c) hurry
d) barn
e) Who knows?
10. What animals were present at Jesus’ birth?
a) cows, sheep and camels
b) cows, sheep and donkeys
c) lion and tigers and bears
d) none of the above
11. What is a manger anyway?
a) a barn
b) a place for hay
c) a feeding trough
d) a Greek term for the church nursery
12. When did baby Jesus cry?
a) when He opened the wise men’s gifts
b) whenever babies usually cried
c) when the cattle started lowing
d) "No crying He makes”
Signs and Lines13. Joseph’s family was from
a) Jerusalem
b) Nazareth
c) Bethlehem
d) none of the above
14. Who saw the star over Bethlehem?
a) Mary and Joseph
b) shepherds
c) the three kings
d) both b and c
e) none of the above
15. What sign were the shepherds to look for?
a) a star over the stable
b) a barn outlined with Christmas lights
c) a baby in a manger
d) both a and c
e) none of the above
16. What did the innkeeper say to Mary and Joseph?
a) “I have a stable out back.”
b) “Come back after the holidays.”
c) “There’s no room in the inn.”
d) both a and c
e) none of the above
Wise Guys and Testing Lies17. How many wise men came to see Jesus? ____ (Write in correct number)
18. What in the world are Magi?
a) Eastern kings
b) magicians
c) astrologers
d) wise enough to follow the star
e) none of the above
19. When the wise men brought their gifts to Jesus, they found Him in
a) a manger
b) a house
c) Vacation Bible School
d) none of the above
20. In what books of the Bible will you find these fascinating facts?
a) Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
b) Matthew and Luke
c) Mark and Matthew
d) Matthew, Mark and Luke
Answers:
Dates and Mates1. d The Bible gives no record of their means of travel.2. c Matthew 1:18
3. b and c Matthew 1:19; Luke 1:39, 56
4. d December 25 was selected late in the 4th century as the day to celebrate Christ’s birth
Kings and Wings
5. c Luke 2: 1
6. c
7. c Luke 2:10 (“the angel said to them”)
8. d Luke 2:13 (They didn’t sing; they said. OK, if you picked c we’ll give you a point.
Barns and Yarns9. e Luke 2:7 (We aren’t told where Jesus was born, only that after His birth He was laid in a manger.)
10. d The Bible doesn’t say anything about animals being present.
11. c
12. b He was fully human as well as fully God.
Signs and Lines13. c Luke 2:4
14. e none of the above (Three kings are not mentioned in the Bible. Only in songs.)
15. c Luke 2:12
16. e An innkeeper is never mentioned in the Scriptures.
Wise Guys and Testing Lies17. The Bible doesn’t say how many – only that Magi came bringing gold, frankincense and myrrh (see Matt. 2 :12).
18. c Astrologers who dabble in the natural sciences.
19. b Matthew 2:11
20. b Check it out!
Scoring:19-20 correct: Congratulations! You can separate fact from fiction.
18-16 correct: Not Bad! Truth wins over tradition.
15 – 11 correct: Uh oh! You’ve been to too many Christmas plays.
10 or below correct: Ouch!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
HONEST DOUBT OR STUBBORN UNBELIEF? (Part #1)
"THE FACTS OF THE MATTER"
"A weekly letter of encouragement to business and professional men and women"
April 07, 2010
Good Morning!
HONEST DOUBT OR STUBBORN UNBELIEF? (Part #1)
The other day, a young, newly minted PhD philosophy professor sat in my living room, expressing with angst doubts he harbors concerning the veracity of the Biblical accounts. It is obvious that his blue chip education is crashing head on with his faith in Jesus.
Tell me, do you ever have moments of doubt? Ever wonder if the whole Christian thing is a charade? Ever fear that God won’t show up in your time of crisis? How do you think God views our struggles with doubt? Is it ok to doubt? Is there a difference between honest doubt and unbelief?
The Scripture seem to divide honest doubt into three categories.
#1 Weak Faith: Remember the father whose son Jesus delivered from an evil spirit? Said the father, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us,” to which Jesus replied, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Said the man in response, “Lord I believe…help my weakness of faith.” (Mk. 9:23 – Amp, 24). My guess is that what this father meant in his heart of hearts was, “Lord, it is useless to hide this unbelief that still struggles in my heart. I wrestle with it and cry out for your help against it.” Obviously, the Lord had compassion on him. After all, he healed his son.
The disciples on the Road to Emmaus after the crucifixion said, “We thought [Jesus] was the Messiah,” to which the Master replied, “O foolish ones [sluggish in mind, dull in perception] and of heart to believe.” (Lk. 24:25 Amp.) Commentator Adam Clarke writes of these men: They were “slow of heart – backward, not easy to be persuaded of the truth, always giving way to doubtfulness and distrust.” Yet, it was these very men Jesus commissioned to take the Gospel to the ends of the world. We know from history that most of them were martyred for their faith.
#2 Wavering Faith: John the Baptist, languishing in prison while awaiting execution - after powerfully heralding the coming of Christ – wavers in his faith, sending an emissary to Jesus, asking, “Are you the Christ, or do we seek another?” And Jesus’ response? Castigation? Angry disappointment? No, exoneration. ”I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.” (Matt. 11:3, 11)
Remember the account of the disciples observing Jesus walking on the water? Peter asked if he could walk to Christ. “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’" That is, Why did you “waver?” (Matt. 14:30, 31) Yes, Peter wavered in his faith. But he grew in faith to become the powerful leader of the 1st Century church. Years later, he wrote this powerful statement on faith: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (I Pet. 1:6, 7) Some years later Peter was martyred for his faith.
After the resurrection, Jesus met the eleven on the mountain where he commissioned them to take the Gospel to the world. Yet, “When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.” (Matt. 28:17) That is, they wavered in their faith. Had this been my training program, I probably would have said, “Hey guys. Time out. Let’s take another year or so and go back over this issue of faith.. Given your shaky belief system, I’m not quite ready to entrust the future of Christianity into your hands.” Not Jesus. He went with what he had, knowing, as history has proven, that their wavering faith would mature into stable, strong convictions.
Next week we will conclude our discussion with “Perplexed Faith,” and “Stubborn unbelief.”
My prayer is that you are having a great week!
R. Dwight Hill
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Bible Study Title: In Jesus' Name
Bible Study
Title: In Jesus' Name
Date: May 18, 2009
Topic(s): Prayer
Scripture: Philippians 2:9-10, Matthew 28:18, Matthew 6:9-10
Ever wonder if God hears your prayer? Have you ever desperately needed the assurance that God was listening when you prayed? The Bible teaches us some great truths about prayer that can bring a sense of confidence.
What Does God Say?
Here, from Jesus, is the first truth: "In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven" (Matthew 6:9, NKJV).
Jesus taught us that we can communicate with God in prayer, just as we would talk with a father who is loving and caring. God is our Heavenly Father. And so, just as a child eagerly comes to his father to share with him, so a Christian may confidently go to God in prayer.
What do you think might be the second truth? Search for it as Jesus continues to teach.
"Hallowed be Your name.Your kingdom come.Your will be doneOn earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:9-10 NKJV).
Notice where the emphasis is? Jesus reminds us that the focus of prayer is not us but God. If prayer becomes about us, when God doesn't answer our prayers, we begin to say, "Well, prayer didn't work for me because I didn't get an answer." But the whole point of prayer is not to get answers; the whole point of prayer is to communicate with God.
The last truth has to do with our access to God and the authority by which we pray: I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name" (1 John 2:12, NIV).
We pray in the name of Jesus because it is through Him we can come before God (His shed blood makes it possible for God to forgive our sins.) and by His name we acknowledge the authority God has given Him.
"For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (Philippians 2:9-10, NASB).
"And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth' (Matthew 28:18, NASB).
So, prayer is communicating with the Father in the name of Jesus.
My Thoughts
Has it ever seemed to you like praying in the name of Jesus was just a convenient or traditional way of ending prayers? What is the significance of ending your prayer in Jesus' name?
If prayer is about communicating with God, what is it that you most would like to share with Him?
Sometimes, we experience an urgent or deep need to talk to God. Do you realize that God wants us to talk to Him and wants us to feel privileged and blessed to pray to Him.
My Part
Spend a few minutes in prayer now. Pray, guided by the truths you have learned about praying.
Are there times when you do not feel like praying? The best thing you can do in those moments is to talk to God about how you feel.
Title: In Jesus' Name
Date: May 18, 2009
Topic(s): Prayer
Scripture: Philippians 2:9-10, Matthew 28:18, Matthew 6:9-10
Ever wonder if God hears your prayer? Have you ever desperately needed the assurance that God was listening when you prayed? The Bible teaches us some great truths about prayer that can bring a sense of confidence.
What Does God Say?
Here, from Jesus, is the first truth: "In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven" (Matthew 6:9, NKJV).
Jesus taught us that we can communicate with God in prayer, just as we would talk with a father who is loving and caring. God is our Heavenly Father. And so, just as a child eagerly comes to his father to share with him, so a Christian may confidently go to God in prayer.
What do you think might be the second truth? Search for it as Jesus continues to teach.
"Hallowed be Your name.Your kingdom come.Your will be doneOn earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:9-10 NKJV).
Notice where the emphasis is? Jesus reminds us that the focus of prayer is not us but God. If prayer becomes about us, when God doesn't answer our prayers, we begin to say, "Well, prayer didn't work for me because I didn't get an answer." But the whole point of prayer is not to get answers; the whole point of prayer is to communicate with God.
The last truth has to do with our access to God and the authority by which we pray: I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name" (1 John 2:12, NIV).
We pray in the name of Jesus because it is through Him we can come before God (His shed blood makes it possible for God to forgive our sins.) and by His name we acknowledge the authority God has given Him.
"For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (Philippians 2:9-10, NASB).
"And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth' (Matthew 28:18, NASB).
So, prayer is communicating with the Father in the name of Jesus.
My Thoughts
Has it ever seemed to you like praying in the name of Jesus was just a convenient or traditional way of ending prayers? What is the significance of ending your prayer in Jesus' name?
If prayer is about communicating with God, what is it that you most would like to share with Him?
Sometimes, we experience an urgent or deep need to talk to God. Do you realize that God wants us to talk to Him and wants us to feel privileged and blessed to pray to Him.
My Part
Spend a few minutes in prayer now. Pray, guided by the truths you have learned about praying.
Are there times when you do not feel like praying? The best thing you can do in those moments is to talk to God about how you feel.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Parenting Without Fear
Get rid of your anxieties and learn to trust God.
By Sheila Wray Gregoire,
for the study, “Fear Factors in Parenting.”
“Jonathan, don’t run so fast!” Andrea called as we sat on the park bench watching our 3-year-olds play. It was tough to get a word in edgewise between all of her warnings to her son. When she realized that I had uttered far fewer “watch outs!” to my daughter, Andrea turned to me and said, “I guess you think I’m pretty paranoid. It’s just so easy for them to get hurt, and Jonathan never looks where he’s going.”
Andrea’s not alone in her “paranoia.” Some degree of fear is natural in parents. We love our kids so much that the thought of anything bad happening to them sends us into a panic. Yet if we’re not careful, this caution can become oppressive. When we let fear dominate our parenting, we can actually shield our kids from the very things they need to be dealing with.
It’s important to let go of parenting fears if we want our kids to be confident and responsible. By acting as watchdog we run the risk of raising kids who are unable to look after themselves. Fear has a way of silencing the God-given instincts we all have for discerning what’s right and wrong, safe and unsafe.
While being conscious of safety issues is important, we have to know when to draw the line and let our kids experience life, even the painful parts. That might mean letting your toddler climb on the jungle gym in the park, even when you’re afraid she might stumble. Or you might need to let your 10-year-old ride his bike to a friend’s house a few blocks away rather than drive him there. Ultimately, only God can completely care for our children. He trusts us to protect them and love them, but as Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’” This is our hope as Christian parents: God is in control and we can trust him. He really does have only the best planned for our children.
The world is a scary place. A mere glance through the newspaper reminds us just how many dangers our children face. When you find yourself struggling to let go of your fears, take these steps to help you place your children in God’s hands with faith and confidence.
Surrender Your Children to God
It’s easy to think that we have control over our children’s futures. The fact is, most of the time, our kids’ lives turn out completely different than we plan.
Evelyn Christenson, author of What Happens When We Pray for Our Families (Victor), encourages parents to pray “releasing prayers” for their kids. By releasing your children to God in your prayers, you’re acknowledging his sufficiency—a scary prospect. What if we surrender our kids only to have God respond by doing something awful? I had to pray a releasing prayer when I held my one-month-old son Christopher the morning of his open-heart surgery. I gave my son to God, and Christopher died five days later. But I know now that my prayer didn’t cause Christopher’s death. Instead, it prepared me for the loss because I’d already acknowledged that he belonged to God. Instead of anger, there was peace.
Thankfully, most of us won’t have children who die young. However, God may ask you to release your kids in other ways. I have known parents who pray desperately for God to use their children—just not as missionaries. We must be prepared to trust God, whether he chooses to send our kids to the jungles of Africa, the inner city of Chicago, or a quiet house around the corner.
Live with Hope
The next step is to mold our concept of hope to match God’s. True hope isn’t wishing for something, crossing our fingers and holding our breath until it comes true. To have true hope means believing that God will use your children and guide them through their lives, even if he never reveals how or why.
With this perspective, it’s easier to view our children’s difficulties as character-builders rather than obstacles. I’m sure Joni Eareckson Tada’s parents never dreamed their daughter would be paralyzed in a diving accident. They probably also never dreamed she would impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Tada’s life proves that God can use even the most devastating situation for good. She demonstrates daily the paradox that God’s power “is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). To parent with hope is to understand that the circumstances our kids face are not the final goal, but rather the tools used to shape their character.
Foster Responsibility
In order to parent with hope, we have to change our attitude from overprotection to one that teaches responsibility. Once we allow our children to suffer the age-appropriate consequences of their actions, even if it means watching them get hurt a bit, we give them the chance to learn a little more about how life works. A tumble off the swing set teaches them not to be so reckless. Failure to study results in a poor grade. It’s through experience that our children learn which choices work and which ones don’t.
Rebecca, our 4-year-old, runs to us constantly whenever a child won’t share with her. Since we want her to learn to solve problems on her own, we rarely jump in and insist that the other child share. Instead, we encourage her to work out her own problems with her friends and ask her to think of ways to get along, whether or not she gets her way.
A child who learns to be responsible and independent is ultimately a child who knows how to succeed in life. But as a parent, it’s tough to know when your kids are ready for more freedom. It’s important to allow your child as much independence as possible without jeopardizing his safety. As you watch your child grow in confidence and ability, you’ll be better able to trust his judgment. And the more you allow your children to build life skills, the more you’ll find your fears subsiding.
Pray, Pray, Pray
The final step in overcoming fear is actually the most important: pray often and pray with purpose. Rather than simply asking God to keep our kids from harm, we need to focus our prayers on the character God’s molding in our children.
When Paul prayed for his spiritual children, the Philippians, he didn’t ask that they be spared from persecution. Instead, he told them, “My prayer [is] that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ” (Phil. 1:9,10). By praying this way, you’re reinforcing a fundamental truth: being a Christian is no guarantee that life will be easy or free from pain. As you show your children that you trust God to walk beside your family, no matter what life brings, you’ll be showing them that they can trust God with their futures as well.
—Sheila Wray Gregoire is a freelance writer. She and her family live in Belleville, Ontario.
By Sheila Wray Gregoire,
for the study, “Fear Factors in Parenting.”
“Jonathan, don’t run so fast!” Andrea called as we sat on the park bench watching our 3-year-olds play. It was tough to get a word in edgewise between all of her warnings to her son. When she realized that I had uttered far fewer “watch outs!” to my daughter, Andrea turned to me and said, “I guess you think I’m pretty paranoid. It’s just so easy for them to get hurt, and Jonathan never looks where he’s going.”
Andrea’s not alone in her “paranoia.” Some degree of fear is natural in parents. We love our kids so much that the thought of anything bad happening to them sends us into a panic. Yet if we’re not careful, this caution can become oppressive. When we let fear dominate our parenting, we can actually shield our kids from the very things they need to be dealing with.
It’s important to let go of parenting fears if we want our kids to be confident and responsible. By acting as watchdog we run the risk of raising kids who are unable to look after themselves. Fear has a way of silencing the God-given instincts we all have for discerning what’s right and wrong, safe and unsafe.
While being conscious of safety issues is important, we have to know when to draw the line and let our kids experience life, even the painful parts. That might mean letting your toddler climb on the jungle gym in the park, even when you’re afraid she might stumble. Or you might need to let your 10-year-old ride his bike to a friend’s house a few blocks away rather than drive him there. Ultimately, only God can completely care for our children. He trusts us to protect them and love them, but as Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’” This is our hope as Christian parents: God is in control and we can trust him. He really does have only the best planned for our children.
The world is a scary place. A mere glance through the newspaper reminds us just how many dangers our children face. When you find yourself struggling to let go of your fears, take these steps to help you place your children in God’s hands with faith and confidence.
Surrender Your Children to God
It’s easy to think that we have control over our children’s futures. The fact is, most of the time, our kids’ lives turn out completely different than we plan.
Evelyn Christenson, author of What Happens When We Pray for Our Families (Victor), encourages parents to pray “releasing prayers” for their kids. By releasing your children to God in your prayers, you’re acknowledging his sufficiency—a scary prospect. What if we surrender our kids only to have God respond by doing something awful? I had to pray a releasing prayer when I held my one-month-old son Christopher the morning of his open-heart surgery. I gave my son to God, and Christopher died five days later. But I know now that my prayer didn’t cause Christopher’s death. Instead, it prepared me for the loss because I’d already acknowledged that he belonged to God. Instead of anger, there was peace.
Thankfully, most of us won’t have children who die young. However, God may ask you to release your kids in other ways. I have known parents who pray desperately for God to use their children—just not as missionaries. We must be prepared to trust God, whether he chooses to send our kids to the jungles of Africa, the inner city of Chicago, or a quiet house around the corner.
Live with Hope
The next step is to mold our concept of hope to match God’s. True hope isn’t wishing for something, crossing our fingers and holding our breath until it comes true. To have true hope means believing that God will use your children and guide them through their lives, even if he never reveals how or why.
With this perspective, it’s easier to view our children’s difficulties as character-builders rather than obstacles. I’m sure Joni Eareckson Tada’s parents never dreamed their daughter would be paralyzed in a diving accident. They probably also never dreamed she would impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Tada’s life proves that God can use even the most devastating situation for good. She demonstrates daily the paradox that God’s power “is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). To parent with hope is to understand that the circumstances our kids face are not the final goal, but rather the tools used to shape their character.
Foster Responsibility
In order to parent with hope, we have to change our attitude from overprotection to one that teaches responsibility. Once we allow our children to suffer the age-appropriate consequences of their actions, even if it means watching them get hurt a bit, we give them the chance to learn a little more about how life works. A tumble off the swing set teaches them not to be so reckless. Failure to study results in a poor grade. It’s through experience that our children learn which choices work and which ones don’t.
Rebecca, our 4-year-old, runs to us constantly whenever a child won’t share with her. Since we want her to learn to solve problems on her own, we rarely jump in and insist that the other child share. Instead, we encourage her to work out her own problems with her friends and ask her to think of ways to get along, whether or not she gets her way.
A child who learns to be responsible and independent is ultimately a child who knows how to succeed in life. But as a parent, it’s tough to know when your kids are ready for more freedom. It’s important to allow your child as much independence as possible without jeopardizing his safety. As you watch your child grow in confidence and ability, you’ll be better able to trust his judgment. And the more you allow your children to build life skills, the more you’ll find your fears subsiding.
Pray, Pray, Pray
The final step in overcoming fear is actually the most important: pray often and pray with purpose. Rather than simply asking God to keep our kids from harm, we need to focus our prayers on the character God’s molding in our children.
When Paul prayed for his spiritual children, the Philippians, he didn’t ask that they be spared from persecution. Instead, he told them, “My prayer [is] that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ” (Phil. 1:9,10). By praying this way, you’re reinforcing a fundamental truth: being a Christian is no guarantee that life will be easy or free from pain. As you show your children that you trust God to walk beside your family, no matter what life brings, you’ll be showing them that they can trust God with their futures as well.
—Sheila Wray Gregoire is a freelance writer. She and her family live in Belleville, Ontario.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Matthew: The Passion Week
Joy in Easter Week
Celebrate this phenomenal week with deep appreciation.
By JoHannah Reardon
A cartoon that appeared in Leadership journal shows a couple leaving church and shaking hands with the pastor. The man says to the pastor, "You're in a rut, Reverend. Every time I come here, you preach about the Resurrection."
We chuckle at that, but sometimes those of us who faithfully come to church more regularly than on Easter have a similar attitude. We want to have a devoted attitude. Instead we fall into, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. I know all that."
It's tempting to turn the most fantastic event of human history into routine.
Each year, I find I need to slow down and reflect on the events of Easter week so that I can absorb its wonder. Sometimes just walking through those familiar events stirs my heart to remember all that Christ did for me.
Easter week begins with Palm Sunday, which celebrates Christ riding into Jerusalem in great triumph. On this day, all of those following Christ must have been elated. Kings rode horses into battle but rode donkeys at times of peace. The way the crowd responded to Jesus' entrance that day was the response they would give to royalty. No wonder the Pharisees were nervous and wanted Jesus to rebuke his disciples. And no wonder Jesus said that the stones would cry out if they kept quiet.
The triumphal entry was Jesus' chance to announce himself as king. He gladly accepted this exultation, knowing he deserved it, but also knowing what was coming a few days later. This day teaches us that crowds are fickle and only true disciples keep walking with Christ to the Cross.
Then on Passover, Jesus celebrated what has come to be known as the Last Supper. It was the last meal Jesus would eat before his death on the cross. In an incredible display of love, Jesus knelt down and washed the feet of his friends, giving them an example of the kind of behavior he expected of them. It's also astonishing to think that when Jesus knew what he would suffer in a few short hours, he wanted to comfort and pamper his friends, rather than demand that he be comforted and pampered. Perhaps most amazing is that he washed the feet of the one he knew would betray him.
And, of course, Jesus instituted the amazing practice of Communion, saying the bread was his body given for them, asking them to remember him when they took it. Then taking the cup, he declared it to be the new covenant in his blood, poured out for them.
That night led to Jesus' arrest and his eventual death on the cross. Martin Luther said we all carry the nails that crucified Christ around in our pockets. Mel Gibson also portrayed this thought in his movie, The Passion of the Christ. In the film, his hands are the ones nailing Jesus to the cross.
Until we feel our culpability in Jesus' death, we will not understand the extent of our sin nature or the expanse of Christ's forgiveness. We deserve to be the ones punished for our sins. Instead, the faultless one volunteered to take the punishment in our place.
This is the same person that the apostle Paul says in Philippians 2:9 will cause every knee to bow "in heaven and earth and under the earth." The one who should have been worshiped as king instead died in humility and shame.
Fortunately for us, the story doesn't end there. We are privileged to have firsthand accounts of his resurrection from the dead. Paul tells us that without Christ's resurrection, our faith is useless.
This is the best news of all. Death has lost its sting and has been swallowed up in victory. We should bring out the band, dance in the streets, and shout from the rooftops this good news. The reality of this hope should surpass a New York ticker tape parade.
Joseph Bayly in "Psalms of My Life," which appeared in Christianity Today magazine, shares this excellent perspective on Easter:
Let's celebrate Easter with the rite of laughter.Christ died and rose and lives.Laugh like a woman who holds her first baby.Our enemy death will soon be destroyed.Laugh like a man who finds he doesn't have cancer, or he does but now there's a cure.Christ opened wide the door to heaven.Laugh like children at Disneyland's gates.This world is owned by God, and he'll return to rule.Laugh like a man who walks away uninjured from a wreck in which his car was totaled.Laugh as if all the people in the whole world were invited to a picnic and then invite them.
As you approach Easter week, ponder the story as if you've never heard it before. Or ponder it as if you've heard it 5,000 times—and it's just beginning to sink in.
JoHannah Reardon is an associate editor with ChristianBibleStudies.com
Celebrate this phenomenal week with deep appreciation.
By JoHannah Reardon
A cartoon that appeared in Leadership journal shows a couple leaving church and shaking hands with the pastor. The man says to the pastor, "You're in a rut, Reverend. Every time I come here, you preach about the Resurrection."
We chuckle at that, but sometimes those of us who faithfully come to church more regularly than on Easter have a similar attitude. We want to have a devoted attitude. Instead we fall into, "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. I know all that."
It's tempting to turn the most fantastic event of human history into routine.
Each year, I find I need to slow down and reflect on the events of Easter week so that I can absorb its wonder. Sometimes just walking through those familiar events stirs my heart to remember all that Christ did for me.
Easter week begins with Palm Sunday, which celebrates Christ riding into Jerusalem in great triumph. On this day, all of those following Christ must have been elated. Kings rode horses into battle but rode donkeys at times of peace. The way the crowd responded to Jesus' entrance that day was the response they would give to royalty. No wonder the Pharisees were nervous and wanted Jesus to rebuke his disciples. And no wonder Jesus said that the stones would cry out if they kept quiet.
The triumphal entry was Jesus' chance to announce himself as king. He gladly accepted this exultation, knowing he deserved it, but also knowing what was coming a few days later. This day teaches us that crowds are fickle and only true disciples keep walking with Christ to the Cross.
Then on Passover, Jesus celebrated what has come to be known as the Last Supper. It was the last meal Jesus would eat before his death on the cross. In an incredible display of love, Jesus knelt down and washed the feet of his friends, giving them an example of the kind of behavior he expected of them. It's also astonishing to think that when Jesus knew what he would suffer in a few short hours, he wanted to comfort and pamper his friends, rather than demand that he be comforted and pampered. Perhaps most amazing is that he washed the feet of the one he knew would betray him.
And, of course, Jesus instituted the amazing practice of Communion, saying the bread was his body given for them, asking them to remember him when they took it. Then taking the cup, he declared it to be the new covenant in his blood, poured out for them.
That night led to Jesus' arrest and his eventual death on the cross. Martin Luther said we all carry the nails that crucified Christ around in our pockets. Mel Gibson also portrayed this thought in his movie, The Passion of the Christ. In the film, his hands are the ones nailing Jesus to the cross.
Until we feel our culpability in Jesus' death, we will not understand the extent of our sin nature or the expanse of Christ's forgiveness. We deserve to be the ones punished for our sins. Instead, the faultless one volunteered to take the punishment in our place.
This is the same person that the apostle Paul says in Philippians 2:9 will cause every knee to bow "in heaven and earth and under the earth." The one who should have been worshiped as king instead died in humility and shame.
Fortunately for us, the story doesn't end there. We are privileged to have firsthand accounts of his resurrection from the dead. Paul tells us that without Christ's resurrection, our faith is useless.
This is the best news of all. Death has lost its sting and has been swallowed up in victory. We should bring out the band, dance in the streets, and shout from the rooftops this good news. The reality of this hope should surpass a New York ticker tape parade.
Joseph Bayly in "Psalms of My Life," which appeared in Christianity Today magazine, shares this excellent perspective on Easter:
Let's celebrate Easter with the rite of laughter.Christ died and rose and lives.Laugh like a woman who holds her first baby.Our enemy death will soon be destroyed.Laugh like a man who finds he doesn't have cancer, or he does but now there's a cure.Christ opened wide the door to heaven.Laugh like children at Disneyland's gates.This world is owned by God, and he'll return to rule.Laugh like a man who walks away uninjured from a wreck in which his car was totaled.Laugh as if all the people in the whole world were invited to a picnic and then invite them.
As you approach Easter week, ponder the story as if you've never heard it before. Or ponder it as if you've heard it 5,000 times—and it's just beginning to sink in.
JoHannah Reardon is an associate editor with ChristianBibleStudies.com
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Motivation for Service/ Ministry
Title: Motivation for Service - 1
Date: Oct 28, 2008
Topic(s): Obedience/Discipleship
Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20, Matthew 6:1, Luke 12:21
Tami Weissert: Need some motivation for serving God? Then take a listen to this Bible Minute with Woodrow Kroll.
Woodrow Kroll: Loving Jesus, serving Him--that's good. That's good motivation, by the way, but God doesn't stop there. His gracious rewards are a strong and legitimate motivation for you and me to serve the Lord. In fact, Jesus commands us to lay up for ourselves "treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt" (Matthew 6:19 -20). He urges us to be rich toward God, Luke 12:21.
The Lord Jesus Himself lists rewards as a motivation for service. Listen to this, Matthew 6:1, "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you'll have no reward from your father who is in heaven."
Tami Weissert: The Bible has a lot to say about your motivation and service.
Title: Motivation for Service - 2
Date: Oct 29, 2008
Topic(s): Obedience/Discipleship
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:17, 2 John 8, 1 Corinthians 9:24
Tami Weissert: Think about this -- what motivates you to serve God? Here's today's Bible Minute with Woodrow Kroll.
Woodrow Kroll: Now, rewards ought to be an important motivation for us. First Corinthians 9:24, "Do you not know that in a race, all runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So, run, so that you may attain it." That's rewards. That's motivation.
First Peter 1:17, "And if you call on Him as Father, who judges impartially according to one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile." God will judge us impartially but He will judge us according to our deeds. Rewards are designed by God to motivate us to service.
Tami Weissert: Heavenly rewards -- they were God's idea! See how that shapes your service, when you pick up today's study at bibleminute.org.
Title: Motivation for Service
Date: Oct 28, 2008
Topic(s): Service/Servanthood, Obedience/Discipleship
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 2 John 1:7-9, Matthew 10:42, Matthew 16:27, Philippians 3:13-14, Matthew 25:21, Matthew 6:1
A loaded station wagon pulled into the only remaining campsite. Four youngsters leaped from the vehicle and began feverishly unloading gear and setting up a tent. The boys then rushed off to gather firewood, while the girls and their mother set up the camp stove and cooking utensils. A nearby camper marveled to the youngsters' father: "That, sir, is some display of teamwork."
The father replied, "Well, I have a system. No one goes to the bathroom until the camp is set up."
There are many ways to motivate people; the one God uses is rewards.
What Does God Say?
The Lord Jesus Himself lists rewards as a motivation for service (Matthew 6:1, 10:42, 16:27). But how can you serve in such a way that you will be eligible for rewards? Here are three ways:
Diligence: "Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward" (2 John 1:8, NLT).
Read 2 John 1:7-9 and answer the following questions:
Who are the "deceivers" and what are they teaching?
What do those who remain faithful to the teachings about Christ possess?
How are we to treat those who hold false teachings?
Dedication: "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us" (Philippians 3:13-14, NLT).
Why is it important to focus your energies on the future?
What is Paul working for?
Through whom does God call us to heaven?
Determination: "That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NLT).
What part of you is being renewed every day?
How does it encourage you to know that your troubles today are temporary and short-lived compared to eternity?
What do today's problems produce?
How successful are you at "fixing your gaze on things that cannot be seen."
My Thoughts
Every Christian should hope to someday hear Jesus personally say to him or her, "Well done, my good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21, NLT). The greatest reward of all is to know that you have pleased your Lord and Master. But that can't be won lightly. Determine today that you will strive with all your might to be one of those who will be received with such a commendation.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19-20, ESV).
My Part
What is your strongest motivation for service to the Lord? Identify what motivates you, and then ask the Lord for sensitivity, opportunity and strength for service for Him--our Lord and our God
Title: Run the Race
Date: Oct 29, 2008
Topic(s): Christian Living/Situational
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:8, Matthew 16:27, Hebrews 12:1, Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 3:8, Luke 6:23, Revelation 22:12, 1 Corinthians 9:24
As the world reels under the impact of what some have called an "economic tsunami," one thing is pretty clear: Many corporate leaders made decisions based on greed rather than wisdom. They were lining their own pockets at the expense of everyone else.
So, it's only natural to wonder if considering rewards as a motive for service is not the same issue. Could it be a sign of greed or is it something the Bible approves of? Let's see what God's Word says.
What Does God Say?
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." (1 Corinthians 9:24, ESV).
What is the prize that Paul is talking about in this verse?
Paul compares the Christian life to a race. How are we to run it?
In light of the comparison Paul makes, what are some of the implications if you want to win the prize?
My Thoughts
If you answered the first question as "salvation," think again. Salvation is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9), not something that we win by our own efforts. Instead, Paul is talking about rewards. And, instead of seeing it as a sign of greed, he actually urges us to do everything that we can to win them.
My Part
Consider today how you might be able to run the race better and win the prize. Take a sheet of paper and divide it down the middle. On one side, list some of the attitudes/activities that need to be cast off to run the race well (see Hebrews 12:1, Colossians 3:8). On the other side, list some of the attitudes/activities that you should put on (Colossians 3:12).
Date: Oct 28, 2008
Topic(s): Obedience/Discipleship
Scripture: Matthew 6:19-20, Matthew 6:1, Luke 12:21
Tami Weissert: Need some motivation for serving God? Then take a listen to this Bible Minute with Woodrow Kroll.
Woodrow Kroll: Loving Jesus, serving Him--that's good. That's good motivation, by the way, but God doesn't stop there. His gracious rewards are a strong and legitimate motivation for you and me to serve the Lord. In fact, Jesus commands us to lay up for ourselves "treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt" (Matthew 6:19 -20). He urges us to be rich toward God, Luke 12:21.
The Lord Jesus Himself lists rewards as a motivation for service. Listen to this, Matthew 6:1, "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you'll have no reward from your father who is in heaven."
Tami Weissert: The Bible has a lot to say about your motivation and service.
Title: Motivation for Service - 2
Date: Oct 29, 2008
Topic(s): Obedience/Discipleship
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:17, 2 John 8, 1 Corinthians 9:24
Tami Weissert: Think about this -- what motivates you to serve God? Here's today's Bible Minute with Woodrow Kroll.
Woodrow Kroll: Now, rewards ought to be an important motivation for us. First Corinthians 9:24, "Do you not know that in a race, all runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So, run, so that you may attain it." That's rewards. That's motivation.
First Peter 1:17, "And if you call on Him as Father, who judges impartially according to one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile." God will judge us impartially but He will judge us according to our deeds. Rewards are designed by God to motivate us to service.
Tami Weissert: Heavenly rewards -- they were God's idea! See how that shapes your service, when you pick up today's study at bibleminute.org.
Title: Motivation for Service
Date: Oct 28, 2008
Topic(s): Service/Servanthood, Obedience/Discipleship
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, 2 John 1:7-9, Matthew 10:42, Matthew 16:27, Philippians 3:13-14, Matthew 25:21, Matthew 6:1
A loaded station wagon pulled into the only remaining campsite. Four youngsters leaped from the vehicle and began feverishly unloading gear and setting up a tent. The boys then rushed off to gather firewood, while the girls and their mother set up the camp stove and cooking utensils. A nearby camper marveled to the youngsters' father: "That, sir, is some display of teamwork."
The father replied, "Well, I have a system. No one goes to the bathroom until the camp is set up."
There are many ways to motivate people; the one God uses is rewards.
What Does God Say?
The Lord Jesus Himself lists rewards as a motivation for service (Matthew 6:1, 10:42, 16:27). But how can you serve in such a way that you will be eligible for rewards? Here are three ways:
Diligence: "Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward" (2 John 1:8, NLT).
Read 2 John 1:7-9 and answer the following questions:
Who are the "deceivers" and what are they teaching?
What do those who remain faithful to the teachings about Christ possess?
How are we to treat those who hold false teachings?
Dedication: "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us" (Philippians 3:13-14, NLT).
Why is it important to focus your energies on the future?
What is Paul working for?
Through whom does God call us to heaven?
Determination: "That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NLT).
What part of you is being renewed every day?
How does it encourage you to know that your troubles today are temporary and short-lived compared to eternity?
What do today's problems produce?
How successful are you at "fixing your gaze on things that cannot be seen."
My Thoughts
Every Christian should hope to someday hear Jesus personally say to him or her, "Well done, my good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21, NLT). The greatest reward of all is to know that you have pleased your Lord and Master. But that can't be won lightly. Determine today that you will strive with all your might to be one of those who will be received with such a commendation.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:19-20, ESV).
My Part
What is your strongest motivation for service to the Lord? Identify what motivates you, and then ask the Lord for sensitivity, opportunity and strength for service for Him--our Lord and our God
Title: Run the Race
Date: Oct 29, 2008
Topic(s): Christian Living/Situational
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:8, Matthew 16:27, Hebrews 12:1, Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 3:8, Luke 6:23, Revelation 22:12, 1 Corinthians 9:24
As the world reels under the impact of what some have called an "economic tsunami," one thing is pretty clear: Many corporate leaders made decisions based on greed rather than wisdom. They were lining their own pockets at the expense of everyone else.
So, it's only natural to wonder if considering rewards as a motive for service is not the same issue. Could it be a sign of greed or is it something the Bible approves of? Let's see what God's Word says.
What Does God Say?
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." (1 Corinthians 9:24, ESV).
What is the prize that Paul is talking about in this verse?
Paul compares the Christian life to a race. How are we to run it?
In light of the comparison Paul makes, what are some of the implications if you want to win the prize?
My Thoughts
If you answered the first question as "salvation," think again. Salvation is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9), not something that we win by our own efforts. Instead, Paul is talking about rewards. And, instead of seeing it as a sign of greed, he actually urges us to do everything that we can to win them.
My Part
Consider today how you might be able to run the race better and win the prize. Take a sheet of paper and divide it down the middle. On one side, list some of the attitudes/activities that need to be cast off to run the race well (see Hebrews 12:1, Colossians 3:8). On the other side, list some of the attitudes/activities that you should put on (Colossians 3:12).
Friday, October 24, 2008
What God invites us to call him says volumes about his relationship to us.
The following article is located at:http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/areas/biblestudies/articles/080326.html
How Excellent Are Thy Names
What God invites us to call him says volumes about his relationship to us.
By Ken Hemphill
Most of us have several names or titles to which we respond. In my work, I am called "Dr. Hemphill." In most social settings, I am called "Ken." My wife calls me "Honey." My mother refers to me as "Son." Now that all three of my girls are out of the house, I love to pick up the phone and hear the words, "Hi, Dad, what are you doing?" And when any of my daughters says "Daddy," it still melts my heart.
Names are important. They are a means of self-revelation. They tell people something fundamental about us. What's more, the names people use to address us reveal something about the nature of their connection to us. When we meet someone, one of the first pieces of information we desire is that person's name. The disclosure of the name is the prelude for building a relationship.
Throughout the Old Testament, God reveals himself to his chosen people through various names or titles—both those that he gave to himself and those that his servants were inspired to ascribe to him or to the place where he appeared to them. These names served to identify and describe God, but they also exhorted God's people to holy living, gave them hope, reminded them of their heritage, and challenged them to continue their pilgrimage of faith.
The names of God are one way in which God speaks to us today. Studying them unlocks for us a fuller understanding of God's multifaceted character and offers us insight into his divine expectations. They are an invitation for us to know intimately and fully the God of creation and redemption.
All biblical names of God are built around two core names—"El," a general term for a god, and "Yahweh," a more personal and covenantal moniker. In the Scriptures, the name or title used for God depends on who's using it and the context in which it's used.
El, the common word for "deity" in the ancient Middle East, is used occasionally in the Old Testament to refer to heathen gods but most frequently designates the God of Israel. The name most likely means "first" and indicates that God is the strong and mighty One. The singular name El is rarely used alone in the Old Testament; it is most frequently found in compound constructions such as El Shaddai (God Almighty) or El Elyon (God Most High).
In Genesis 1:1, the Hebrew name for God is Elohim, the plural form of El. Though technically a plural term, Elohim is usually translated in the singular. Some scholars believe that the use of Elohim points to the triune nature of God. In Genesis 1:26, for example, Elohim is used with the plural pronouns us and our: "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness"' (NKJV).
Other scholars argue that the plural form simply intensifies the subject, indicating God's supremacy. Thus when Israelites confessed the name Elohim, they were acknowledging that God contained within himself all the divine attributes. In a predominantly polytheistic age, it was no small thing to assert that God alone is the one true God and that he can be known personally. This is not the place to debate the Trinitarian implications of Elohim, but God's triune nature and his supremacy are throughout Scripture. The God of creation is the one true God who, to provide for our salvation, has revealed himself as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
The name Yahweh is not without its own theological controversies, though most biblical scholars agree that it is the closest thing we have to a proper, personal name for God. The name occurs 6,823 times in the Bible. In Hebrew, Yahweh is written with only four consonants—YHWH—and no vowels. (Theologians call this four-letter name "The Tetragrammaton"—the ineffable name of God.) Since about 300 B.C. the Hebrews avoided speaking the name for fear of profaning its holiness. When they came to yhwh in the text, they would substitute Adonai, the common Hebrew word for "Lord." Today, most English Bibles translate YHWH as "Lord."
Sometime before the 10th century, Jewish scholars inserted the vowel signs from the name Adonai between the letters in YHWH—or JHVH, as it was sometimes rendered. Consequently, the name Jehovah came into popular use. It remained in vogue from the 16th century, during the Renaissance period, until about 100 years ago. The name has since fallen out of favor with most scholars, who believe Yahweh is a more accurate transliteration.
Yahweh comes from the Hebrew verb "to be." At its very essence, "to be" is to have life. Some scholars believe this hints at a truth that became clearer later in history: The name Yahweh implies that God is absolutely self-existent. He is the One who in himself possesses life and permanent existence. When God spoke to Moses through the burning bush in Exodus 3, he revealed himself as "Yahweh." Most English translations render it I AM WHO I AM—an attempt to convey the idea that God was, is, and always will be.
Sometimes children surprise their parents with the question, "Who created God?" It's an inquiry that can give pause to even the most erudite mom or dad. Christian parents, however, will usually turn to Genesis 1: "In the beginning was God." Unsatisfied, the children repeat, "But who created God?"
The point of the name Yahweh is this: God is the uncaused cause. He is the first cause and before him there was no other and after him there will be no other. Life is found in him.
Overwhelmed by the MysteryMany parents remember the agonizing struggle to choose a name for our firstborn. We considered honoring a relative or friend, we purchased books explaining the meaning of names, and we pondered our hopes and aspirations for our child.
My oldest daughter was born while my wife, Paula, and I were living in Cambridge, England, where I was a graduate student at the university. Ecstatic about the impending arrival of our new baby, we obsessed for months over possible names. We narrowed our list of choices for girls' names to two. But we couldn't make our final decision until we held her in our arms and looked into her face. Somehow we then knew that her name was Kristina. No matter how much we prepared for it, in the end, the process was rather mysterious.
Similarly, a certain degree of mystery will always attend our renderings of God's holy name, as it should. Putting the inexpressible into perfect words is finally impossible. Yet because words have some relation to meaning, God invites us to call upon his name and experience its truthfulness.
In the Old Testament, prophets and patriarchs were often inspired to declare a name of God in response to a theophany, a wondrous experience of the presence of God. They were so overwhelmed by God's visitation that they had to frame it with a title. They couldn't help themselves. It was a spontaneous act of worship.
For example:
When Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac, God provided a ram for the offering in Isaac's stead, prompting Abraham to declare that he now understood God as Yahweh-Yireh, The Lord Will Provide (Gen. 22:14).
After God empowered Israel's army to defeat the Amalekites, Moses built an altar and named it Yahweh-Nissi, The Lord Is My Banner (Exod. 17:15).
Upon receiving God's call to be an instrument to deliver Israel, Gideon built an altar and named it Yahweh-Shalom, The Lord Is Peace (Judg. 6:24).
Reflecting upon God's faithfulness through both exhilarating victories and depressing defeats, David called him Yahweh-Rohi, The Lord Is My Shepherd (Ps. 23:1).
At the conclusion of the detailed description of the New Jerusalem, speaking for God, Ezekiel prophesied that the place would be called Yahweh-Shammah, The Lord Is There (Ezek. 48:35).
God's people came to realize that his resources were inestimable: Every revelation, every miracle, pointed to a different side of Yahweh.
The various names for God that we find throughout the Old Testament are not the invention of men who were struggling to define a hidden and unknowable God. Rather, they are a sort of gift from God—a personal and intimate self-expression of God and a vehicle for our worshipful response to him.
Power in the Names
When we discover the unique emphasis of each new title of God, it is as if we are turning a diamond in our hands and gazing at it as the light of revelation strikes a new and previously unexplored facet of the stone. God's names were a continual unveiling of his character in response to the unique challenges faced by his people.
As I have preached, prayed, and meditated on these names, my understanding of God's Word has been enhanced and my spiritual walk deepened. There are three particular reasons every believer should study the names of God.
It enhances our worship and prayer.
A number of contemporary musicians have, through their lyrics, introduced certain names into our vocabulary of praise (e.g., "El Shaddai" by Michael Card). These songs have greatly enriched praise and worship in many churches. Note how the Psalmist teaches us to sing praise (7:17), set up banners (20:5), boast in (20:7), ascribe glory to (29:2), trust in (33:21), exalt (34:3), wait on (52:9), fear (61:5), lift up our hands (63:4), and rejoice (89:16) in the name of the Lord.
It promotes spiritual growth.
As I grew to understand the significance of God's names, I better understood God's character as well as his desire for my life. To encourage me in my spiritual growth, the Holy Spirit calls certain names to mind when I pray (and throughout the day). When I face temptation and possible spiritual defeat, I am reminded that he is Yahweh-Nissi, my banner of victory. Yahweh-Mekadesh (The Lord Who Sanctifies You) reminds me that he is constantly transforming me into his likeness (Lev. 20:8). And, of course, all of the names in some way point to the ultimate revelation of God to his people. In the New Testament we find names, such as Immanuel (God With Us) and Abba (Aramaic for Father), that take our relationship with God to a whole new realm. Through Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit, God now dwells among and within his followers.
It reminds us of our witness to the world.
God wants his people, who are called by his name, to glorify his name through their daily behavior. The prophet Ezekiel (36:20-23) tells the Israelites that God had poured out his wrath on them because they had profaned his name among the nations. The Babylonian captivity was punishment for disobedience, but the peoples of other nations had wrongly concluded that the God of Israel was unable to care for his own. The Lord declared that he would deliver them from captivity in order to vindicate the holiness of his great name. The end result speaks of global evangelization: "Then the nations will know that I am the Lord."
We bear God's name; therefore our speech, attitudes, and actions lead others to make certain conclusions about the credibility of the God we serve. In Psalm 23:3, David says: "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." That phrase does not mean that God is acting to save his reputation. What it means is that God is acting in conformity with his own nature. That is, God leads in paths of righteousness because he is by nature a righteous God. His names are a reflection of his character.
The day I left for college, I was prepared for the son-going-out-into-the-world speech from my dad—you know, the one with the extensive list of do's and don'ts. Instead, he gave me a single piece of advice: "Son, I have only one thing to give you. It's my name. Don't take it anywhere I wouldn't take it. Don't associate it with anything I wouldn't." With that sage counsel he sent me out into the world.
Just as I carry and represent the name Hemphill, I also bear my heavenly Father's name. The question is: What am I going to do with it?
Ken Hemphill is president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. His latest book is The Names of God (Broadman & Holman, 2001).
Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today.
How Excellent Are Thy Names
What God invites us to call him says volumes about his relationship to us.
By Ken Hemphill
Most of us have several names or titles to which we respond. In my work, I am called "Dr. Hemphill." In most social settings, I am called "Ken." My wife calls me "Honey." My mother refers to me as "Son." Now that all three of my girls are out of the house, I love to pick up the phone and hear the words, "Hi, Dad, what are you doing?" And when any of my daughters says "Daddy," it still melts my heart.
Names are important. They are a means of self-revelation. They tell people something fundamental about us. What's more, the names people use to address us reveal something about the nature of their connection to us. When we meet someone, one of the first pieces of information we desire is that person's name. The disclosure of the name is the prelude for building a relationship.
Throughout the Old Testament, God reveals himself to his chosen people through various names or titles—both those that he gave to himself and those that his servants were inspired to ascribe to him or to the place where he appeared to them. These names served to identify and describe God, but they also exhorted God's people to holy living, gave them hope, reminded them of their heritage, and challenged them to continue their pilgrimage of faith.
The names of God are one way in which God speaks to us today. Studying them unlocks for us a fuller understanding of God's multifaceted character and offers us insight into his divine expectations. They are an invitation for us to know intimately and fully the God of creation and redemption.
All biblical names of God are built around two core names—"El," a general term for a god, and "Yahweh," a more personal and covenantal moniker. In the Scriptures, the name or title used for God depends on who's using it and the context in which it's used.
El, the common word for "deity" in the ancient Middle East, is used occasionally in the Old Testament to refer to heathen gods but most frequently designates the God of Israel. The name most likely means "first" and indicates that God is the strong and mighty One. The singular name El is rarely used alone in the Old Testament; it is most frequently found in compound constructions such as El Shaddai (God Almighty) or El Elyon (God Most High).
In Genesis 1:1, the Hebrew name for God is Elohim, the plural form of El. Though technically a plural term, Elohim is usually translated in the singular. Some scholars believe that the use of Elohim points to the triune nature of God. In Genesis 1:26, for example, Elohim is used with the plural pronouns us and our: "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness"' (NKJV).
Other scholars argue that the plural form simply intensifies the subject, indicating God's supremacy. Thus when Israelites confessed the name Elohim, they were acknowledging that God contained within himself all the divine attributes. In a predominantly polytheistic age, it was no small thing to assert that God alone is the one true God and that he can be known personally. This is not the place to debate the Trinitarian implications of Elohim, but God's triune nature and his supremacy are throughout Scripture. The God of creation is the one true God who, to provide for our salvation, has revealed himself as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
The name Yahweh is not without its own theological controversies, though most biblical scholars agree that it is the closest thing we have to a proper, personal name for God. The name occurs 6,823 times in the Bible. In Hebrew, Yahweh is written with only four consonants—YHWH—and no vowels. (Theologians call this four-letter name "The Tetragrammaton"—the ineffable name of God.) Since about 300 B.C. the Hebrews avoided speaking the name for fear of profaning its holiness. When they came to yhwh in the text, they would substitute Adonai, the common Hebrew word for "Lord." Today, most English Bibles translate YHWH as "Lord."
Sometime before the 10th century, Jewish scholars inserted the vowel signs from the name Adonai between the letters in YHWH—or JHVH, as it was sometimes rendered. Consequently, the name Jehovah came into popular use. It remained in vogue from the 16th century, during the Renaissance period, until about 100 years ago. The name has since fallen out of favor with most scholars, who believe Yahweh is a more accurate transliteration.
Yahweh comes from the Hebrew verb "to be." At its very essence, "to be" is to have life. Some scholars believe this hints at a truth that became clearer later in history: The name Yahweh implies that God is absolutely self-existent. He is the One who in himself possesses life and permanent existence. When God spoke to Moses through the burning bush in Exodus 3, he revealed himself as "Yahweh." Most English translations render it I AM WHO I AM—an attempt to convey the idea that God was, is, and always will be.
Sometimes children surprise their parents with the question, "Who created God?" It's an inquiry that can give pause to even the most erudite mom or dad. Christian parents, however, will usually turn to Genesis 1: "In the beginning was God." Unsatisfied, the children repeat, "But who created God?"
The point of the name Yahweh is this: God is the uncaused cause. He is the first cause and before him there was no other and after him there will be no other. Life is found in him.
Overwhelmed by the MysteryMany parents remember the agonizing struggle to choose a name for our firstborn. We considered honoring a relative or friend, we purchased books explaining the meaning of names, and we pondered our hopes and aspirations for our child.
My oldest daughter was born while my wife, Paula, and I were living in Cambridge, England, where I was a graduate student at the university. Ecstatic about the impending arrival of our new baby, we obsessed for months over possible names. We narrowed our list of choices for girls' names to two. But we couldn't make our final decision until we held her in our arms and looked into her face. Somehow we then knew that her name was Kristina. No matter how much we prepared for it, in the end, the process was rather mysterious.
Similarly, a certain degree of mystery will always attend our renderings of God's holy name, as it should. Putting the inexpressible into perfect words is finally impossible. Yet because words have some relation to meaning, God invites us to call upon his name and experience its truthfulness.
In the Old Testament, prophets and patriarchs were often inspired to declare a name of God in response to a theophany, a wondrous experience of the presence of God. They were so overwhelmed by God's visitation that they had to frame it with a title. They couldn't help themselves. It was a spontaneous act of worship.
For example:
When Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac, God provided a ram for the offering in Isaac's stead, prompting Abraham to declare that he now understood God as Yahweh-Yireh, The Lord Will Provide (Gen. 22:14).
After God empowered Israel's army to defeat the Amalekites, Moses built an altar and named it Yahweh-Nissi, The Lord Is My Banner (Exod. 17:15).
Upon receiving God's call to be an instrument to deliver Israel, Gideon built an altar and named it Yahweh-Shalom, The Lord Is Peace (Judg. 6:24).
Reflecting upon God's faithfulness through both exhilarating victories and depressing defeats, David called him Yahweh-Rohi, The Lord Is My Shepherd (Ps. 23:1).
At the conclusion of the detailed description of the New Jerusalem, speaking for God, Ezekiel prophesied that the place would be called Yahweh-Shammah, The Lord Is There (Ezek. 48:35).
God's people came to realize that his resources were inestimable: Every revelation, every miracle, pointed to a different side of Yahweh.
The various names for God that we find throughout the Old Testament are not the invention of men who were struggling to define a hidden and unknowable God. Rather, they are a sort of gift from God—a personal and intimate self-expression of God and a vehicle for our worshipful response to him.
Power in the Names
When we discover the unique emphasis of each new title of God, it is as if we are turning a diamond in our hands and gazing at it as the light of revelation strikes a new and previously unexplored facet of the stone. God's names were a continual unveiling of his character in response to the unique challenges faced by his people.
As I have preached, prayed, and meditated on these names, my understanding of God's Word has been enhanced and my spiritual walk deepened. There are three particular reasons every believer should study the names of God.
It enhances our worship and prayer.
A number of contemporary musicians have, through their lyrics, introduced certain names into our vocabulary of praise (e.g., "El Shaddai" by Michael Card). These songs have greatly enriched praise and worship in many churches. Note how the Psalmist teaches us to sing praise (7:17), set up banners (20:5), boast in (20:7), ascribe glory to (29:2), trust in (33:21), exalt (34:3), wait on (52:9), fear (61:5), lift up our hands (63:4), and rejoice (89:16) in the name of the Lord.
It promotes spiritual growth.
As I grew to understand the significance of God's names, I better understood God's character as well as his desire for my life. To encourage me in my spiritual growth, the Holy Spirit calls certain names to mind when I pray (and throughout the day). When I face temptation and possible spiritual defeat, I am reminded that he is Yahweh-Nissi, my banner of victory. Yahweh-Mekadesh (The Lord Who Sanctifies You) reminds me that he is constantly transforming me into his likeness (Lev. 20:8). And, of course, all of the names in some way point to the ultimate revelation of God to his people. In the New Testament we find names, such as Immanuel (God With Us) and Abba (Aramaic for Father), that take our relationship with God to a whole new realm. Through Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit, God now dwells among and within his followers.
It reminds us of our witness to the world.
God wants his people, who are called by his name, to glorify his name through their daily behavior. The prophet Ezekiel (36:20-23) tells the Israelites that God had poured out his wrath on them because they had profaned his name among the nations. The Babylonian captivity was punishment for disobedience, but the peoples of other nations had wrongly concluded that the God of Israel was unable to care for his own. The Lord declared that he would deliver them from captivity in order to vindicate the holiness of his great name. The end result speaks of global evangelization: "Then the nations will know that I am the Lord."
We bear God's name; therefore our speech, attitudes, and actions lead others to make certain conclusions about the credibility of the God we serve. In Psalm 23:3, David says: "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." That phrase does not mean that God is acting to save his reputation. What it means is that God is acting in conformity with his own nature. That is, God leads in paths of righteousness because he is by nature a righteous God. His names are a reflection of his character.
The day I left for college, I was prepared for the son-going-out-into-the-world speech from my dad—you know, the one with the extensive list of do's and don'ts. Instead, he gave me a single piece of advice: "Son, I have only one thing to give you. It's my name. Don't take it anywhere I wouldn't take it. Don't associate it with anything I wouldn't." With that sage counsel he sent me out into the world.
Just as I carry and represent the name Hemphill, I also bear my heavenly Father's name. The question is: What am I going to do with it?
Ken Hemphill is president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. His latest book is The Names of God (Broadman & Holman, 2001).
Copyright © 2001 Christianity Today.
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