Weekly Bible Study Review
August 28, 2011

 


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In This Issue
Cafe Class
Read-to-Believe Class
Class Schedule
Go to www.theocentrix.org click on the "Events" tab
for maps and more information.


Cafe Class
Culture Cafe
1359 N Altadena Drive
Pasadena CA 91104
Wednesdays 10:30 am

classroom
Read-to-Believe Class
Lake Avenue Church
Family Life Room 201
309 N Lake Avenue
Pasadena CA 91101
Thursdays 7:00 pm

peacock 1
Arbo Class
LA County Arboretum
301 N Baldwin Ave
Arcadia CA 91007
Saturday 12:00 noon
Once per month

January 22

February 26

March 26

 April 30

May no class

June 4

July 9

August 13

September 17
October 15
November 12
December 10


PCC Class
"How to Read the Bible  with Confidence"
Pasadena City College
Extended Learning Center
www.pcclearn.org
September 28 and
October 5, 2011

topofpageGreetings! 

This newsletter is sent to everyone who attends Sandy's weekly Bible studies. The left column has a table of contents and the current class schedule. Be sure to watch for the links in each article. Clicking on them will lead you to charts, diagrams and additional articles related to your class.  
Anyone can subscribe to this free newsletter by using the link in the upper left corner. If you would like to forward this issue to a friend all you have to do is click on the link below.




Do You SKYPE?
Looking for 5-10 people in the U.S. or Canada who would like to participate in the Thursday night Bible study via Skype.

Contact Sandy for more information.
[email protected] or call (626)531-6641. 

cafeclassWednesday Cafe Class 
Romans
Romans 15:1-16:27

15:1-12 The strong need to be patient with the weak and build them up. Christ is strong and was willing to be patient with them. Paul makes an appeal for unity and prays that God will give them endurance and encouragement. Their unity glorifies God. The believers are to accept one another. Paul quotes several OT passages to remind the readers how it had been prophesied that Jews and Gentiles would be united in Christ.

 

v. 13-19 The readers must trust God and be filled with the hope that comes by His Spirit. Paul is confident that his readers are believers and that they are competent to instruct one another. He's been "bold" on some points but that's because he has "the priestly duty" of preaching the gospel to Gentiles so they will become an acceptable offering to God. Paul sees himself as a priest who prepares an offering but instead of sheep or bulls he prepares Gentiles by preaching the gospel and discipling them. Paul's "priestly" ministry has been verified by God through miraculous signs and wonders.

Click to read more... 

 


New Class in Anaheim
Once a month on Saturday morning at 11:00 am.
Contact Sandy for more information.
[email protected] or call (626)531-6641. 

rtbclassThursday Read-to-Believe Class  1Corinthians

1 Corinthians 14:1-40    

14:1-5 Paul again reminds them to "follow the way of love."  

He contrasts two of the spiritual gifts-- tongues and prophecy. 


Tongues

Prophecy

speaking to God

speaking to men

not speaking to men

  for their strengthening

no one understands him

  for their encouragement

utters mysteries

  for their comfort

edifies himself

edifies the church

tongues is a good thing

prophecy is greater than tongues

but needs an interpreter

 

 

v. 6-8 Paul asks what good would it do for him to come to their gathering and speak to them in tongues. He should instead bring "some revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or word of instruction." Even lifeless things (a flute, harp, or trumpet) are supposed to give a clear signal that means something to the hearers.

 

v. 9-11 So it is with the church. They must speak intelligible words or else they are simply speaking into the air. If they all speak in tongues when they are gathered together it's no different than if they were all foreigners to one another. But Paul wants them to "excel in gifts that build up the church."

 

v.12-13 Speaking in tongues builds up the one who is speaking--unless there is an interpreter. Edifying oneself is not a bad thing. However, Paul wants those who speak in tongues to pray that they will also be able to interpret. Then their speaking will build up those who listen.

Click to read more... 

 
Since ancient times the Bible has been read aloud to groups of people who were eager to hear the words of Life. We're really no different today. Believers still look to the Bible for wisdom and instruction. We belong in the Word together. Thank you for your participation in these classes. I hope you will pass this email on to others and invite them to attend a Bible study.

Grace and peace,
Sandy Blank


cafeWednesday Cafe Class (continued)
Romans 15:1-16:27

v. 20-33 Paul always preached in new territory rather than building on another evangelist's work. But he's traveled that whole region preaching the gospel and wants to come visit them in Rome on his way to Spain. First he's going to Jerusalem to deliver aid that the Gentile believers want to give the impoverished Jews there. Paul says this is right because the Gentiles have shared the spiritual blessings of the Jews and now should share physical blessings with them in their time of need. Paul asks the readers to pray that he will be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and accepted by the believers in Jerusalem.

 

16:1-16 Paul commends Phoebe and asks the Romans to receive her. Perhaps she delivered this letter to them. He greets many others in Rome by name. Priscilla and Aquila risked their lives for Paul. Epenetus was the first Christian convert in Asia. Mary was a hard worker. Paul's relatives, Andronicus and Junias, were in Christ before he was. Read through the list carefully and you'll get a glimpse of how personally Paul knew these men and women.  

 

v. 17-20 Now he takes one final opportunity to warn them about false teachers saying, "Keep away from them." Paul doesn't say to engage them in debate or fight them in some way, but simply avoid them. Such men are deceptive and are not serving the Lord. Their smooth talk and flattery deceives na�ve people, but soon God will conquer Satan and crush him under their feet.

 

v. 21-27 Paul mentions some of the men who are with him-- Timothy, Tertius (who penned the letter), Gaius, etc. Then he closes by praising God as the one who is able to establish them by the gospel according to His revelation that was hidden for ages but is now revealed. As we read earlier, this mystery is that Jews and Gentiles will be united in the Body of Christ. This mystery had been prophesied but remained hidden until Christ revealed it. It was revealed so that "all nations might believe and obey him." Paul concludes this letter by saying, "To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."

 

That's it for Romans. Next time we'll start the book of Revelation.

--Sandy Blank
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readtobelieveThursday Read-to-Believe Class (continued)

1 Corinthians 14:1-40

v. 14-15 The one who speaks in tongues does not necessarily understand what he or she is saying. Paul says the person's spirit prays or sings in tongues but their mind is "unfruitful." He wants them to pray or sing with both their mind and their spirit.

 

v. 16-17 Someone may praise God by speaking in tongues but others who are near him will not understand and therefore can't agree with the speaker (or "say Amen") because they don't know what he's saying. Tongues without an interpreter doesn't edify or build up the listeners.

 

v. 18-19 Paul is not against speaking in tongues. He says that he speaks in tongues more than all the Corinthian believers. But when he is in the assembly of the church he would rather speak five words that people can understand rather than 10,000 words in a tongue they do not understand.

 

v. 20-21 He wants the readers to think like adults. They should be child-like and innocent when it comes to evil but adults when it comes to spiritual gifts. Isaiah 28 is quoted.

 

v. 22-25 Tongues is a sign for unbelievers but prophecy is for believers. It's easy to see how prophecy is for believers because it is by definition speech that encourages and strengthens believers. Paul contrasts the difference between the whole church speaking tongues at the same time and the whole church prophesying at the same time. If some unbelievers come in while everyone is speaking in tongues they will not understand what's being said and will come to the conclusion that "you are out of your mind." But if some unbelievers come in while everyone is prophesying, they will be convicted of their sin and fall down to worship God saying, "God is really among you!"

 

v. 26-32 Paul is instructing the Corinthian readers in how to conduct their worship service. Each of them brings something to the service-- a hymn, some instruction, a revelation, a tongue or interpretation. All of these are good and necessary for the strengthening of the church. But only two or three should speak in tongues and only if someone is able to interpret. Similarly, only two or three should prophesy and the others should weigh carefully what is said. People with the gift of prophecy are not infallible. Their words should be evaluated by mature believers. Only one person should speak at a time. If a word comes to another person while one is speaking then the first one should sit down and allow him to speak. A person with a prophetic gift is in control of his faculties. He or she is able to stop prophesying and yield to another prophet.

 

v. 33-35 God is not a God of disorder. Paul reminds them that in all the congregations outside of Corinth the women remain silent in the church service. "They are not allowed to speak." If they have a question they are to ask their husband at home (not during the assembly). An unmarried women would likely ask her father or another male family member who is in a position of authority over her. Paul is expecting the Corinthian believers to operate the same way as other congregations. He is not saying women are forbidden to speak in tongues or prophesy in other settings. Obviously a woman may pray in tongues at home or speak prophetic words of encouragement to friends or family members out in the marketplace or other settings. Paul is only restricting the women's speech within the church service.

 

v. 36-38 "Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?" Paul's rhetorical questions suggest that the Corinthians may have viewed themselves as unique or special. But he wants them to conduct themselves in the same orderly manner that he expects of all the churches. If they are spiritually mature they should acknowledge that this is "the Lord's command." Those who ignore his instruction "will be ignored."

 

v. 39-40 Here's the bottom line-- Paul wants the Corinthian believers to "be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."

 --Sandy Blank 

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This newsletter is maintained by Sandy Blank (Ph.D. Educational Studies, Biola; MA Biblical Studies, Grace University). If you would like further information about any of her classes or would like to know how to start a Bible study in your area please contact her at [email protected]. This newsletter is sponsored by Theocentrix, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting God-centered Bible literacy. Visit www.theocentrix.org for more information.