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I've taught for over twenty years and I can help you go deeper when you open up the Word.

Study Tip: Emphasizing the Resurrection

And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 1 Corinthians 15:17

In the book of Acts in nearly every sermon from Pentecost through Paul’s trials in the later chapters, the key point is Jesus’s resurrection from the dead.

Acts 2:24, 2:32, 3:15, 4:2, 4:10, 5:30, 10:40-41, 13:30, 13:33-34, 13:37, 17:31-32, 23:6, 24:21, 26:8, 26:23

Why was the resurrection such a focal point?

Keep in mind that these sermons were often preached to Jewish crowds. In their system of sacrifices, they depended on the intercession of the High Priest. Once each year, on the Day of Atonement he would take the lamb’s blood into the Holy of Holies into the presence of God and sprinkle it on the lid of the ark of the Covenant, the box that held the Ten Commandments. The lid was called the mercy seat. The High Priest was required to follow every detail of God’s instructions, from the selection of the lamb and the preparation and presentation of the offering down to his bathing routine and clothing. If every detail was correct, if every instruction followed, God would accept the offering and withhold His judgment for a year. If the High Priest failed in any point, even a minor one, he would be struck dead and the people would fall under God’s wrath.

So when the High Priest would emerge from the tabernacle and later the Temple there was great relief among the people. The High Priest lived! That meant the offering was acceptable, their sins were covered, they were safe.

Jesus is our Great High Priest, and the Lamb of God.

After offering His life’s blood, God had to signal that the offering was accepted, that it was sufficient. The High Priest had to live. But because the offering was so perfect, the judgment was stayed not just for a year, but for eternity.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that our redemption is finished.

If He hadn’t raised from the dead, then it was only a martyr’s death and not a Savior’s death. But because He lives, we know we will too.

As you read the New Testament, notice how often the resurrection is mentioned. Do you think we focus on the resurrection more or less than New Testament believers?

(Although there is no longer a Temple or a system of sacrifices, the Day of Atonement is still observed by Jews today. You may have seen it on your calendar – Yom Kippur.)

As I was making notes, I discovered I had already posted on my topic. So yes, this is a repost but good information.

Study Tip: Peace

By Paula

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

In what some writers have called Jesus’s last will and testament, He bestows His peace on His disciples. Let’s take a few moments and consider what an awesome gift this is.

The word peace is the Greek word eirene. (You probably recognize the name, Irene, in the word.) Of course, this is a translation of the Hebrew word shalom. It encompasses all the following:

An end to enmity with God and a restoration of the relationship.
Relief from wondering where we stand before God.
Calm reassurance in the most trying circumstances.
Dissipation of fear.
Harmony in our relationships with those around us.
Stillness in the midst of the noise of the world.
A foretaste of the eternal rest that awaits us.
A confident knowledge that it is complete and irrevocable.

So in John 14:27, Jesus, our great High Priest assures us His peace is a free gift resulting from His sacrifice. It isn’t meted out based on our work or worthiness or even proof that we have or will use it wisely.

Now compare it to the last line of Aaron’s blessing on Israel. Because he was the High Priest, when Aaron spoke these words, he was pronouncing the blessing of Jehovah Himself.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Numbers 6:27

It conveys the idea of living under the full measure of His grace, favor, joy, and protection. He is the Father whose delight in us is boundless.

Spanning the Old and New Testament, peace is the summation of our relationship with God. It weaves together what He’s done for us, all that’s is available to us now and what we look forward to. As you study, be on the lookout for the word peace and take to heart the things you learn. In your daily life be ever more mindful of His peace.

Study Tip: Jesus in the Tabernacle

By Paula

Sometimes, Old Testament studies can be challenging, especially the details presented in the books of Moses. But everything God did as He instituted the system of worship for the nation of Israel pointed to the coming work of Christ. Let’s take a look at the interior of the tabernacle as an example. In Exodus 25-27 God describes how the tabernacle is to be constructed and furnished. Exodus 35-38 relate how the project is accomplished, and Exodus 40 describes the time when it is set up for use. Exodus is forty chapters and around a quarter of them are devoted to the tabernacle. That makes it kind of a big deal.

We could spend A LOT of time on the tabernacle, but I’m going to limit today’s study to just 5 of the furnishings and how each of them foreshadowed Jesus Christ.

The Bronze Laver

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And you shall put water in it, for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it. When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the Lord, they shall wash with water, lest they die. (Exodus 30:17-20)

This was essentially a big washbasin. The priests were to wash the dirt from their hands and feet as they stepped on to consecrated ground to serve God.

Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” (John 13:10)

If you want to split hairs about the fact that Aaron and his sons had to wash their hands and feet while Jesus only washed feet, feel free. However, both passages underscore the need to be cleansed before attempting ministry before God. However, Jesus’s disciples weren’t limited to just one physical location.

The Altar of Burnt Offerings
And you shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits. You shall make its horns on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze. (Exodus 27:1-2)

The bronze altar was the main altar in the tabernacle. It was the place where sins were dealt with and the relationship with God was restored whether with the individuals or with the nation of Israel itself.

The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)

Jesus dealt with our sins and restored a right relationship with God for all who believe.

The Altar of Incense
Moreover, you shall make an altar as a place for burning incense; you shall make it of acacia wood. … There shall be perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations. (Exodus 30:1,8)

The sweet-smelling incense represented the prayers of the Israelites.

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. … If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:5,7)

Jesus personally intercedes and carries our prayers before God.

The Golden Lampstand
Then you shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand and its base and its shaft are to be made of hammered work; its cups, its bulbs and its flowers shall be of one piece with it. (Exodus 25:31)

By the time the tabernacle was assembled with all its coverings, there was no outside light. The only source was the lampstand.

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” (John 8:12)

The only source of light in our dark world is Jesus Christ.

The Table of Showbread
You shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times. (Exodus 25:30)

Each week twelve fresh loaves of bread were placed on the table as a reminder that God alone sustained and provided for Israel.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. (John 6:35)

Not only are we sustained physically but Jesus provides us with eternal life.

This was a super-quick overview, but hopefully it was enough to show that the Old Testament is also the story of Jesus and His redemptive work. As you read the Old Testament, look for Jesus. I promise He’s there.

Study Tip: So?

By Paula

When we read Scripture, we tend to spend the most time on the major themes, or the narrative, or the beauty of the promises. However, if we pay attention to the little transition words, we can gain a little more insight into the passage as a whole.

Consider these opening verses in Luke 15:

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him (2) And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” (3) So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

Jesus goes on to tell the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son. The ‘So’ in verse 3, reveals the purpose for the parables. Jesus was illustrating the grace of God in receiving sinners, which was in stark contrast to the contempt the religious establishment showed them.

Another important little word is found in verses 6 and 9. ‘For’ tells us the reason for the joy. “I have found what was lost.” The restoration of the lost possessions is a metaphor for repentance. Jesus’s parables illustrate the joy at the restoration of the broken fellowship. It also shows how badly the Pharisees and scribes had misread the heart of God.

Other ‘why’ words include because, therefore (and its twin, wherefore), and occasionally ‘so’ is teamed up with ‘that’. I mark these words orange in my Bible to help them stand out. Pay attention to them and you’ll gain added insight into God’s purposes and ways.

(Bonus points if you noticed it all started with “then” which means we’re starting in the middle of the story. We really need to go back to chapter 14 to get the full context.)

Here’s another tip for you: Study Tip: Parables

Study Tip: Mount Moriah

By Paula

Often times when we study, we focus on the who and the what, rather than the where with good reason. Who and what are usually the two most important pieces of information. Besides that, the place names in Scripture can be tricky and confusing. However, sometimes the where gives some tremendous insight. Let me give you my favorite example.

In Genesis 22:2, God tells Abraham to go to the land of Moriah and offer Isaac as a sacrifice on one of the mountains there.

In 2 Chronicles 3:1, we read “Now Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.”

The same place.

God provided a substitute for Isaac in the same spot the nation would offer their sacrificial substitutes. In the intervening years, they would live as slaves and nomads until God brought them back to that place.

Then at the opposite end of that same ridge is a place called Calvary, the spot where the sacrifices would end and the debt paid by Christ. He fulfilled the promise Abraham affirmed so many years before. And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” (Genesis 22:8)

Details like this show us that nothing is random, but God orders every event to tell His redemption story. Take a few moments to consider the parallels in the events that happened at Moriah. What lessons can you take away about sacrifice, and about worship?
(If you want to read more, check out the story of David purchasing that piece of ground where Solomon built the Temple. It’s in 2 Samuel 24.)

Study Tip: Read

By Paula

Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. Psalm 119:18

The American Bible Society partnered with Barna Group to study Bible reading trends, Biblical knowledge and impact among Americans. Here are some things they found:

The vast majority of households in America own at least one Bible (88%), and many own more than one.
Nearly half of Americans strongly agree that the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life (49%).
Half of all Americans believe that the Bible has too little influence on American society today (51%).
Slightly more than one in four adults say they never read the Bible (28%). One in 10 read the Bible less than once a year and another one in 10 report reading the Bible once or twice a year.
When presented with five potential frustrations with reading the Bible, weekly Bible readers are more likely to say they never have time to read it (46%),

Read the entire report .

The encouraging thing is that we know the Bible is good for us, good for the culture. We believe the Bible has the answers, but then it’s a lot like eating right and exercising … we have trouble carrying through.

It reminds me of a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God which had been shown! But every night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the universe with their admonishing smile.”
Nature and Selected Essays

In a similar way, God has given us His very words–encouragement, admonition, instructions, life itself–and we are so familiar with them we’ve lost our sense of wonder.

So today’s tip is this: Fall in love with God’s word. Read it like a personal letter. Read it like an encouraging note. Understand it’s from the Creator God who wanted you to know Him, His character and His ways. It has changed history, culture, and countless lives, mine included. It will change you too.

What are you reading now? How has it impacted you?