The Book of James – Introductions

Preface

We are going to try something a little different; we would like to do a bible study in the book of James.  This will be somewhat of a departure from our normal routine although Brother Gary did do a series on the seven churches in Revelations a while back.

We would really like your feedback on this one to see if taking a book and studying through it is helpful.  We want our posts to be a blessing so if you find this study on the book of James helpful let us know.  If the comments section and the likes fall silent three or four lessons in then we will take the hint.

Why the book of James?  The epistle of James is a very practical guide to Christian living.  James, in a very clear way, gets right down to it and describes the true nature God wants all Christians to have.  This is an instructional book addressing a wide range of subjects.  It does get specific with regards to Jewish culture to help them understand and embrace the finished work of salvation through Jesus Christ.  Even with those specific references this is a book for all people everywhere to know and understand the mind of God regarding what He expects from us.  This is plain talk coming from a man who knew Jesus personally.

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Twice Blinded – Judges 13 – 16

Introduction

I was blessed to have been born into a Christian family.  Starting at one week old, according to my mother, I started attending church.  In my youth my imagination was set on fire by all the Sunday School lessons covering David and Goliath, Moses & The Red Sea, Elijah and the prophets of Baal, Joshua & Jericho and the list goes on.  I was especially interested in Samson; after all, what boy, at least in my generation, doesn’t want to be strong?

In later years I could see another side of Samson; this is a side where personal dependence spurred him to make bad choices.  These choices ultimately led to his death.

I’d like to take a moment and hit the highlights of the life and times of Samson.

 

Give Me That Man-Made Religion – Acts 7:40b-41

Introduction

The title of my post is a play on words of an old song entitled “Give me that old-time religion”.  Our scripture text is taken from Acts chapter 7 covering the events leading up to the stoning of Stephen.  Before they stoned him Stephen recounted a history of the nation of Israel.  We will focus on one event in that history, the making of the golden calf.  The original account of the story Stephen mentions is in Exodus chapter 32.

In Acts 7:40 the children of Israel told Aaron, Moses’ brother…“Make us gods to go before us”.  Moses, as commanded, had ascended the mountain to meet with God.  He had been gone, in the estimation of some, too long and his return was called into question.  They saw an opportunity to make some changes due to the fact that they were already questioning Moses’ leadership.  They had decided to create a god in their image and to their own liking.

You might be thinking “that’s insane”, you can’t create a god.  First off I would agree, that is insane, but you don’t have to be a history major to know that since the beginning of recorded time our history is full of such efforts.  In my years on this earth I have personally witnessed the birth of new man-made gods.

Why does man seek to create their own god?  Clearly, in the case of Israel, they wanted a god they could see.  Over and over again the children of Israel desired to be like the nations around them who served rocks, trees, crafted precious metals and even the sun and moon.  An inanimate object, like the golden calf, is not going to deliver any laws.  This is man’s effort to tell God how things are going to work from now on. How great is this?  Decide what your god will look like and how it will act.  You can then make up your own rituals and rules to fit your lifestyle.

 

The Watchman – Ezekiel 2:8 – 3:21

Introduction

A title like “The Watchman” sounds rather ominous in today’s world.  There are confirmed and unconfirmed reports of government programs peering into emails and phone records.  Let me tell you up front this post has nothing to do with such programs.

If you are looking for something witty or edgy in this post let me save you some time, stop reading now.  This is addressed to all who have called upon the name of Jesus Christ and made him Lord.  If you owe Jesus everything, read on.

The first three chapters of Ezekiel cover the call and commission of Ezekiel to preach to the people of Israel.  This calling will also contain one doozy of an object lesson along with the most sobering of warnings for not delivering God’s words.  It is important to note that the huge responsibility was placed on the delivering of the message, not in the accepting of it.