May I have a WORD with you?

References: 

• Helpful context for getting into Ruth
  • The time of the Judges - see Judges 2:6-19
  • Judges 10:6 - 12:7 - Jephthah (Ammon & Moab) 
  • "Israel had no king and everyone did what was right in their own eyes" - Judges 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25
• Ruth is an amazing story of God’s salvation for Israel.
  • From no king (last sentence of Judges) to David, the great king whose Son, Jesus, became the King of kings
  • This...

References: 

• Back from visiting 5 NPs and many other wonders
  • Experienced joy in the discovery, awe, marvel, etc.
  • Isa 55:12 NLT - You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
  • Ps 16:11b - in your presence there is fullness of joy
    • But can we give God joy?
• We can grieve the Holy Spirit.
  • Eph 4:29-32 ESV
• Luke 15 - the lost sheep and ...

References: 

• 2 Th 1:3-12; 1 Th 5:23-28; 2 Th 3:1-18
  • Escape the “pay-back” mentality
    • 2 Th 1:6 - ἀνταποδίδωμι (an-tap-od-ee'-do-mee)
      • in a good sense, to repay, requite
      • in a bad sense, penalty and vengeance
    • Lk 14:12-14 - God will reward you
    • Rom 12:19 - Dear friends, never take revenge.
    • Heb 10:30 - also said, “The Lord will judge his own people. 
  • The tri-unity of our being
    • 1 Th 5:23 - ὁλόκληρος (hol'-ok&ap...

References: Happy 4th of July!

• 1 Th 4:13-18; 5:1-11; 2 Th 2:1-12
  • “Heaven,” “Hell,” and the fullness of God’s Kingdom
    • The mystery - the “resurrection of the body” and the Kingdom in it’s fullness
    • Rapture theology (Darby) and (pre) (post) (a)millennialism confusion
      • ἁρπάζω (har-pad'-zo) caught up (in Latin: raptus)
        • Acts 8:39 - Philip
        • 2 Cor 12:2, 4 - Paul
        • Rev 12:5 - Jesus
      • Matthew 24:37-42
    • 1 Th 4:17 - clouds and...

References:

• 1 Th 4:1-12; 5:12-22; 2 Th 3:6-15
  • God’s will - θέλημα - (thel'-ay-mah) will, what one wishes or has determined shall be done
    • of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ
      • Connection to 1 Tim 2:4 
    • of what God wishes to be done by us
      • commands, precepts
      • Lord’s Prayer - thy will be done on earth…
  • Holy and loving rather than unclean and lazy
    • ἁγιασμός (holiness) vs ἀκαθαρσία (unclean...

References:

• Participation in Christ
  • 1 Thess 2:1-13
    • Flattery - κολακεία (kol-ak-i'-ah) only here
    • Similes of familial relationships
      • Like children (infants)
      • Like a mother
      • Like a father 
    • Their faithful response to the Word of God
      • λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ - Word of God
      • vs 13 and the three understandings of Word of God
  • 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 - Suffering Persecution
  • 1 Thess 2:17-20 - A Good Report
    • v 18 - ἐγκόπτω (eng...

References:

• Historical Setting - Acts 17:1-15
  • 2nd Mission Journey
    • Paul and Barnabas go separate ways
      • Barnabas and John Mark
      • Paul and Silas
    • Acts 16-17
      • Thessalonica
      • Berea to Athens
• 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3
  • Greeting and prayer of thanksgiving
    • Faith–hope–love v 3
      • ἔργον (er'-gon) work [of faith]
      • κόπος (kop'-os) labor [of love]
      • ὑπομονή (hoop-om-on-ay') [of hope]
• 1 Thess 1:4-...

References:

• Acts 2
  • The significance of “heaven” or “the heavens”
    • οὐρανός (oo-ran-os') - the heavens
      • Acts 2:2, 2:5, 2:19, 2:34
      • The upper story, the lower story, our story
      • Lord’s Prayer - “on earth as it is in heaven”
    • Think throne or rule/reign
• The Temple of God - ναός (nah-os') “the sanctuary or cell of the temple, where the image of the god was placed which is distinguished from the whole enclosure....

An Application of the Ascension

References:

• How the Gospels end
  • Matthew 28:16-20
  • Mark 16:8 - +shorter ending - +longer ending
    • 16:20 - συνεργέω (soon-erg-eh'-o)
      • James 2:22 - trust and response (faith & actions)
      • Romans 8:28 - who is working? God & those who love Him
  • Luke 24:49-53 - οὐρανός (oo-ran-os') - the heavens
  • John 21:18-25
• The Beginning of Acts
  • Acts 1:1-5
    • Proofs of Resurrection and ...

References:

• The power of God’s Word
  • Isaiah 55:11 - empty -  רֵיקָם  (ray-kawm'), void, without effect, vainly
  • Exodus 3:19-22 - illustrate how God’s word will not return without accomplishing its purpose 
    • Ex 12:31-36
• Taking the Chapter apart
  • Isa 55:1-5
    • An Invitation to the abundant life of covenant relationship
    • Satisfy - שָׂבְעָה (sov-aw')  
    • Isa 56:11, Jude 1:
  • Isa 55:6-7
    • A Call to Repentance and...

References:

• Inspiring passages
  • John 14:12
    • “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater (μείζονα) works, because I am going to be with the Father.
  • John 15:5
    • “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing (οὐδέν).
  • 1 Timothy 6:12
    • 12 Fight (ἀγωνίζου) the good fi...

References:

• Matthew 14:22-33 - Jesus calls Peter out of the boat
  • v 27 - ① Θαρσεῖτε ② ἐγώ εἰμι· ③ μὴ φοβεῖσθε
    • ① Courage! - imperative
    • ② I Am!
    • ③ No fear! - imperative
  • v 28 - ① κέλευσόν με ② πρὸς σὲ ③ ἐλθεῖν
    • ① Command me
    • ② Unto you
    • ③ To come (infinitive)
  • v 29 - Ἐλθέ
    • Come! (imperative - command)
• The story’s application
  • Consider what the boat represents
    • The church
    • Safety
    • Familiarity
  • Consider what the ...

References:

• Ephesians 5:15-20
  • v 15 - ἀκριβῶς (ak-ree-boce') - exactly, accurately, diligently, circumspectly
    • from ἀκριβής - strict, exact, careful
    • of the strictest sect: the most precise and rigorous in interpreting the Mosaic law, and in observing even the more minute precepts of the law and tradition
  • v 16 - ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιρόν - “redeeming the time”
    • ex-ag-or-ad'-zo - to redeem
      • by payment of a pri...

References:

• John 15:9-17
  • v 11 - joy overflowing - πληρόω (play-ro'-o) - to make complete in every particular; to render perfect:
• Heb 12:1-2
  • αἰσχύνης καταφρονήσας - the shame despising
    • αἰσχύνη - ignominy, disgrace, dishonour, a thing to be ashamed of
    • καταφρονέω - despise, disdain, think little or nothing of
• JOY
  
  
• You see a smile on my face
• It’s an asset I’d never trade
• It’s not a joke. I’m not just ...

References:

• Meaning of Good Friday
  • The fulcrum of the lever of life
    • Jesus goes from life in human form to life in resurrected human form through the cross
  • Becoming cursed to remove our curse - substitutionary atonement
  • The cross as a symbol or sign of salvation
• The cross in Paul’s writings
  • Phil 2:8 - σταυρός (stow-ros') cross [see also 3:18]
    • “Even” death on a cross 2:8
    • Enemies of the cross 3:18 - How? Why?...

References:

• The final week of Lent is called Holy
  • From the Triumphal entry to Easter
    • Mt ch21-28; Mk 11-16; Lk 19:28-24; Jn 12-20
    • Of 89 chapters in the four Gospels, nearly 30% are given to this one week
  • Passion Narratives - passion meaning suffering
    • Prophecy - Isaiah 53
      • v 9 - רָשָׁע (raw-shaw') wicked vs עָשִׁיר (aw-sheer') rich    
    • Born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate
      • Historical...

References:

• Missional Strategy - Chapters 2 and 3
  • strategic Christian Communities for the spread of the Gospel throughout the Medeteranian region
  • Transformation through the Gospel - Poem 3:3-7
    • Transformed households - ὑγιαίνω (hoog-ee-ah'-ee-no) 1:9, 1:13, 2:1, 2:2 (sound, free of error)
      • The world looks at the Christian houshold and sees no difference from any other household.
        • Discrediting God’s Word
        • Gospel isn’t ...

References:

• Introduction - vs 1-4
  • The truth that shows us how to live godly lives
  • We have confidence because
    • God, not pseudo-gods
    • ἀψευδής (aps-yoo-dace') - not lying or false
      • From ἄλφα (as a negative particle) and (think how a is used as a prefix for “not” like asymptomatic
        • ψεῦδος - whatever is not what it seems to be
          • of perverse, impious, deceitful precepts
          • Pseudonym, pseudo-science
• The ...

References:

• Lent is a time when we get attentive of our need for confession and repentance. Our sin, individually and collectively bring consequences and God’s wrath.
  • Isaiah 24:1-6 ESV
    • v 4 - אָמַל  (aw-mal') languish
      • to be weak, to droop, 
      • to languish, to be exhausted 
  • Jer 14:1-3, 7-10, 13-16, 20-22 NLT
  • How does the behavior of God’s Chosen people resemble our world today?
• A comparative Greek word - ἀσθε...