Click below to read my post on Substack.com regarding the Jewish holiday of Rosh HaShanah and the book of life:
Posted in Book of Life | Tagged Book of Life, Prayer for Rosh HaShanah, Rosh HaShanah |
One of the prayers I came across for Rosh HaShanah goes like this: “Remember us for life, O King Who desires life, and inscribe us in the Book of Life for Your sake, O Living G-d”
I find this intriguing in light of the New Testament teaching on the Book of Life and those whose names will be found therein. For example, in Revelation 3:5, we read “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” This is Jesus who is speaking here. He is making it clear that He, Jesus, is the one who determines whose name is in the Book of Life.
In Revelation 20:12, John tells us “I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.”
Revelation 20:15 confirms the importance of the Book of Life stating that “anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”
In speaking of the new Jerusalem, in Revelation 21:27, John tells us “there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
The interesting thing about the Book of Life in the New Testament is that it is linked to Jesus. Jesus is the judge and only those whose names are listed in the Book of Life with be with Jesus in the new Jerusalem.
Father God, maker of heaven and earth. Hear the prayers of our Jewish brethren this Rosh HaShanah and cause their names to be forever written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. May they come to know Jesus, the Christ and enter into the atonement provided by His shed blood on the cross of Calvary.
Posted in Book of Life, New Testament, Old Testament | Tagged Book of Life, Prayer for Rosh HaShanah, Rosh HaShanah |
Rosh HaShanah (Feast of Trumpets) is one of the 7 holidays instituted by God which were intended to be times to meet with God. It was NOT one of the feasts during which Jewish males were required to go to Jerusalem. Rosh HaShanah marks the beginning of the Civil New Year on the Jewish calendar. The 10 days of repentance that follow and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) make up the High Holy Days for Jewish people.
Prior to Rosh HaShanah, the shofar (ram’s horn) is blown to call people to repentance and to remind them that it is time for the holy days.
In Leviticus chapter 23, the LORD spoke to Moses regarding this feast day saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.’
The Jewish tradition teaches that God writes every person’s words, deeds and thoughts in the Book of Life, and He opens it and examines it on Rosh HaShanah. Jewish tradition further holds that if an individual’s good deeds outnumber sinful ones for the year, that person’s name will be inscribed in the book for another year on Yom Kippur. As a result, during Rosh HaShanah and the 10 days of repentance following it, people can repent and do good deeds to increase the likelihood that their names will be written in the Book of Life the following year.
Many Christians believe that Rosh HaShanah along with the other 2 fall holidays (Day of Atonement and Feast of Booths) will be fulfilled at the second coming of Christ.
Posted in Bible, Leviticus, Old Testament | Tagged Feast of Trumpets, Leviticus 23, Rosh HaShanah |
Read Acts Chapter 14
1. Where were Paul and Barnabas in Acts 14:1? What happened?
Going deeper: Where was Iconium?
2. What did the unbelieving Jews do in Acts 14:2?
3. How did Paul and Barnabas respond according to Acts 14:3?
4. What do you learn from Acts 14:4?
5. What happened in Acts 14:5-7?
Going deeper: Where was Lystra? Derbe? Lycaonia? What country is that in the modern world?
6. Who did Paul see while he was speaking according to Acts 14:8-9? What did he observe about him?
7. What did Paul say to him in Acts 14:10? What happened?
8. What was the response of the crowd in Acts 14:11-13?
9. How did Paul and Barnabas respond in the following verses?
Acts 14:14
Acts 14:15
Acts 14:16
Acts 14:17
10. What was the reaction of the crowd in Acts 14:18?
11. Who came from Antioch and Iconium? Why?
12. What happened in Acts 14:19-20?
13. Where did he go the next day with Barnabas?
Going deeper: Where was Derbe? What modern country is that in?
14. What did they do in Derbe according to Acts 14:21?
15. What did they do when they left Derbe in Acts 14:21-23?
16. Where did they go next according to the following verses? How did they travel to get there?
Acts 14:24
Acts 14:25
Acts 14:26
16. What happened in Antioch according to Acts 14:26-28?
It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page.
Posted in Acts | Tagged Acts 14, Bible study acts 14, Paul and Barnabas |
Read Acts Chapter 13
1. What does Paul say happened in Jerusalem in Acts 13:27-31?
2. Copy Acts 13:32 here. What is this “good news” promised to the fathers? Where is it found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)?
3. What does Paul say about Psalm 2 in Acts 13:33?
4. What does Paul say about Isaiah 55:3 in Acts 13:34?
5. What does Paul say about Psalm 16:10 in Acts 13:35?
6. What does Paul say about David in Acts 13:36?
7. What meaning or understanding (midrash) does Paul give for Psalm 16:10 in Acts 13:37?
8. What is the significance of this one who did not see corruption according to Acts 13:38-39?
9. What warning does Paul give in Acts 13:40-41?
10. What happens in the following verses?
Acts 13:42
Acts 13:43
Acts 13:44
Acts 13:45
11. What do Paul and Barnabas tell the Jews in Acts 13:46?
12. Copy Isaiah 49:6 here.
13. Copy Isaiah 45:22 here.
14. Copy Acts 13:48-49. How does your heart react to this “good news” (the scriptures your copied from Isaiah 49:6, 45:22 as spoken by Paul in Acts 13:47) that God seeks to reach the ends of the earth. Consider those you see as most detestable because of their crimes, their sins, their lifestyle, their values (or lack of them). How does your heart react to the thought of them with your in church, in heaven? Ask God to show you where your heart is not aligned with His in this message Paul and Barnabas are preaching. Where does this not resonate as rejoicing in your soul?
15. What did the non-believing Jews do in Acts 13:50?
16. What was the response of the disciples in Acts 13:51-52?
It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page.
Posted in Acts | Tagged Acts chapter 13, Bible study Acts |
Read Acts Chapter 13 (Paul’s First Missionary Journey)
1. Who was in the church in Antioch according two Acts 13:1?
2. What were they doing when the Holy Spirit spoke to them in Acts 13:2?
3. What did the Holy Spirit say in Acts 13:2?
4. What did they do after the Holy Spirit spoke in Acts 13:3?
5. Where did they go according to Acts 13:4? Why?
Going deeper: Where was Selucia in the first century? Where was Salamis?
6. What did they do when they arrived at Salamis? Where? Why?
7. Who was with them?
8. Who was Bar-Jesus? Where did they find him?
9. Who was with Bar-Jesus?
10. Who does Luke describe Sergius Paulus?
Going deeper: What is the meaning of “magos” in Greek? What is the implication about Greek culture?
11. What was the response of the magician to Barnabas to Saul? Why?
12. What do you learn of Saul’s name from Acts 13:9?
13. What does Paul say to the magician in Acts 13:10-11?
14. What happened to the man in Acts 13:11?
15. What was the reaction of the proconsul?
16. Where did Paul and his companion sail to according to Acts 13:13?
17. Who left and returned to Jerusalem?
18. To where did Paul and friends continue?
Going deeper: Where were the following locations in the first century: Paphos, Perga, Pamphilia, Pisidia? In what modern countries were these ancient cities located?
19. What did they do on the Sabbath day in Acts 13:14? Why?
20. What happened after the readings according to Acts 13:15?
21. What did Paul do in response in Acts 13:16?
22. What does Paul say to them in the following verses? Reflect as you answer on how this history speaks of God’s “chesed” (loving kindness) and long-suffering with His people.
Acts 13:17
Acts 13:18
Acts 13:19
Acts 13:20
Acts 13:21
Acts 13:22
Acts 13:23
Acts 13:24
Acts 13:25
23. Copy Acts 13:26 here. How does your heart respond to this? Do you count yourself among the family of Abraham? Why or whynot? Ask God to speak the truth of His salvation message to you.
24. Which of the following books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) does Paul refer to in his sermon? (Circle all that are referenced) Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers
Deuteronomy Joshua Judges 1 & 2 Samuel 1 & 2 Kings Psalms
It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page.
Posted in Acts | Tagged Acts Bible study, Acts chapter 13, Paul and Barnabas, Paul's first missionary journey |
Read Acts Chapter 12
1. What did Herod do around this time according to Acts 12:1-5?
2. What annual feast was going on at that time? Why is that significant?
3. What was the church doing while Peter was in prison in Acts 12:5?
4. What was about to happen to Peter according to Acts 12:6?
5. What was Peter’s physical situation in Acts 12:6?
6. What happened in Acts 12:7-8?
7. Record what the angel said to Peter.
8. What did Peter think about the events that were happening?
9. Happened in Acts 12:10?
Prayer prompt: Put yourself in Peter’s shoes. How would it feel for you to be awoken from a dead sleep and led out of several locked prison gates? What would that communicate to you about God? About His purposes for your life? His connection or relationship to you?
As you think thru this amazing historical event, ask God to show you the prisons He has led you out of and the locked-impassable doors or barrier He has helped you cross or opened for you.
10. What does Peter say about the situation in Acts 12:11?
11. What does Peter do in Acts 12:12-13?
12. What happened when Peter knocked on the door of the gate in Acts 12:13-14?
13. What is the reaction of those praying in the house? What do they say to her when she tells them Peter is at the door in Acts 12:14-15?
14. What did Peter do according to Acts 12:16?
15. What was the reaction of those who opened the door and saw Peter?
16. What did Peter do according to Acts 12:17?
17. What what was the reaction among the soldiers over Peter? Why?
18. What did Herod do when he learned of Peter’s escape in Acts 12:19?
19. Who came to see Herod in Caesarea according to Acts 12:20? Why?
Going deeper: Where was Tyre? Sidon? Why would they have been coming to Herod?
20. Herod delivered a speech to them in Acts 12:21. What was the reaction to the speech according to Acts 12:22?
21. What happened next in Acts 12:23?
Going deeper: Which “Herod” is being described in this story? Who was his father? Brothers?
Look up the following passages in the Apocrapha (sefaria.org) and think about how they might refer or apply to this passage on Herod’s fate: Judith 16:17-18, 2 Maccabees 9:9.
22. Review Ezekiel 28:1-10. What is the fate of those who think themselves a god or worthy to be called one?
23. Copy Acts 12:24 here. Allow this to penetrate your heart. Sit with God and ask Him to show you where you stand with this truth. Do you believe that God does such things? Can God’s word advance by God’s power alone?
24. What did Barnabas and Paul do after they completed their mission? Who was with them?
It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page.
Posted in Acts | Tagged Acts chapter 12, Bible Study, Peter in prison |
Read Acts Chapter 11
1. What news had spread to the apostles and others according to Acts 11:1?
2. How was Peter treated when he went up to Jerusalem? By whom?
3. What did they say in Acts 11:3?
4. How did Peter respond in Acts 11:4-14?
5. What did the Spirit tell Peter before he left according to Acts 11:12?
6. What does Peter say happened when he began to speak in Acts 11:15?
7. What came to Peter’s memory at that time according to Acts 11:16?
8. What conclusion does Peter draw from these things in Acts 11:17?
9. What was the reaction to Peter in Acts 11:18?
10. To where did those forced to scatter because of the death of Stephen flee according to Acts 11:19?
11. To whom did those scattered speak?
12. Who did the men of Cyprus and Cyrene speak to according to Acts 11:20?
Going deeper: Where was Cyprus? Where was Cyrene? How far were they from Jerusalem?
13. Copy Acts 11:21. Meditate on this. Have you experienced this? What happened? If you haven’t experienced it, do you wish to? Have a conversation with God about this.
14. Why was Barnabas sent to Antioch?
Going deeper: Where was Antioch?
15. What did Barnabas see when he arrived in Antioch? What did he tell them in according to Acts 11:23?
16. How is Barnabas described in Acts 11:24?
17. Why did Barnabas go to Tarsus according to Acts 11:25?
Going deeper: Where was Tarsus?
18. What does Barnabas do when he locates Saul? What did they do in Antioch according to Acts 11:26?
19. According to Acts 11:27, who came down from Jerusalem to Antioch?
20. Who was Agabus? What did he foretell in Acts 11:28 through the Spirit?
21. What did the disciples do as a result of hearing this prophecy in Acts 11:29-30?
It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page.
Posted in Acts | Tagged Acts, Acts chapter 11, Barnabas, Bible Study, Death of Stephen in Acts 7 |
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