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Building Biblical Literacy 2016

January 4, 2016 by memullin

WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?

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As with anything, consider the benefits of becoming more Bible literate in 2016.

For each of the following scriptures, either copy the verse or summarize the benefit discussed in the verse in your own words.

1. Joshua 1:8

2. Psalm 119:9

3. Psalm 119:11

4. Psalm 119:24

5. Psalm 119:25

6. Psalm 119:28

7. Psalm 119:42

8. Psalm 119:49

9. Psalm 119:50

10. Psalm 119:105

11. John 15:7

From these verses, choose one which speaks to a need in your life. Perhaps you need hope–Psalm 119:49 promises hope.

Perhaps you need to know how to answer those who reproach you–Psalm 119:42 provides that.

Perhaps you need to be cleansed–Psalm 119:9 provides instruction on that.

Mediate on your selected passage. Allow God to reveal how He will keep His promise to work in you  and your life through His word.

Posted in Bible, Biblical Literacy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , |

Building Biblical Literacy at Christmas (Part 4)

December 23, 2015 by memullin

When?

It is common to run into the non-believer who would point out that Jesus wasn’t really born in December. That is true–He was not. It is much more likely that He was born in a warmer part of the year, perhaps late Spring. The celebration of the birth of Christ is not based on remembering the day that He was born, but rather that He was born. That God was born a man is something certainly worth celebrating no matter when the day falls.

In this portion of our study, we will look at what the Bible says about when Jesus was born.

1. According to Luke 2:1-6, when was Jesus born?

2. What does Galatians 4:4-5 add to this?

Below see pictures of Bethlehem and the surrounding area I took in 2014 when I visited. Today Bethlehem lies in an area occupied by the Arabs. I imagine the hills where the sheep graze are still much as they were 2000 years ago. As I looked towards Bethlehem in the distance, a shepherd led his flock of sheep up a nearby hill.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He died on a hill not far away. He was buried, but He rose again, death could not hold him. The tomb is empty.

 

Posted in Bible, Biblical Literacy, Christmas, Uncategorized | Tagged , |

Building Biblical literacy at Christmas (Part 3)

December 16, 2015 by memullin

Who is He?
The world has struggled with this issue since Jesus came on the scene more than 2000 years ago. Was Jesus simply a man? Was he a great prophet or teacher? Or was He the Christ–the Messiah–the Promised One, fulfilling hundreds of prophecies of the Old Testament prophets?

1. What does Isaiah 7:14 foretell about Jesus (the Messiah-the Promised One)?

2. What does Isaiah 9:6-7 tell us about the Messiah?

3. What additional information is given regarding the Messiah in Isaiah 11:1?

4. What do you learn from Isaiah 53:1-3

5. When did Isaiah live and give his prophecies?

6. What does the prophet Micah tell us about the birth place of Messiah in Micah 5:2?

7. When did the prophet Micah live and give his prophecies?

8. What does the prophet Zechariah tell us about the Promised One in Zechariah 9:9?

9. When did the prophet Zechariah live and give his prophecies?

10. When read these prophecies, given hundreds of years before the person they describe was born, by three different men, and you learn that they came true in the person of Jesus, what does that make you think about the Bible? God?

Closer to the birth of Jesus, months before, we are given additional information about Jesus.
Read Luke 1
11. What has Mary been chosen to do? Why?

12. What prophetic information is given about the child in this chapter? Provide a verse reference.

13. What happens when Mary goes to visit Elizabeth? What prophetic information does Elizabeth speak about the child Mary is carrying?

After Jesus was born, people were still speaking about His future and who He was.
Read Luke 2:8-15
14. What was spoken about the Messiah to the shepherds? Who delivered the message?

Read John 1
15. What do you learn about Jesus from this chapter? On what did John base his knowledge about Jesus?

16. What does Peter say about Jesus in Matthew 16:13-17? Who does Jesus say gave him that information?

17. What does Jesus say about who He is in the following verses?
▸ Matthew 9:6

▸ Matthew 26:63-64

▸ Mark 8:31

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Posted in Bible Study, Biblical Literacy, Christmas, Jesus, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , |

Building Biblical Literacy – Christmas Part 2

December 5, 2015 by memullin

Going to be counted
1. Why did Mary and Joseph have to go to Bethlehem?

2. Where was Jesus born? Why?

3. What did Mary do with Jesus after He was born?

4. What happened out on the plains outside of Bethlehem that night?

5. To whom was the first recorded announcement of the birth of the Christ Child made according to Luke 2:8-14?

6. What does Luke 2:15-16 tell us was the shepherd’s response?

7. What was the response of the shepherds to seeing Jesus in the manager? (Hint: Luke 2:17-20)

Posted in Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Literacy, Christmas, Uncategorized | Tagged , , |

Building Biblical Literacy – Christmas (Part 1)

December 2, 2015 by memullin

The Announcement

1. According to Luke 1:26, who came as a messenger from God to Mary?

2. Where was Mary living at the time?

3. To whom was Mary betrothed? Of what lineage was Joseph?

4. How does Gabriel greet Mary in verse 28?

5. What is her reaction in verse 29?

6. What does Gabriel say to comfort her?

7. For what job has Mary been chosen according to verse 31?

8. How does Gabriel describe Jesus in verse 32?

9. What does Gabriel say that Jesus will do in verse 33?

10. What is Mary’s very practical question in verse 34?

11. What is Gabriel’s response in verse 35?

12. What does Isaiah 7:14 foretell about the Messiah (promised one)?

13. What is Mary’s response to the message from God through Gabriel in verse 38?

14. Who does Mary go to visit during her pregnancy according to Luke 1:36-41. Why?

mary_angel

Posted in Bible Study, Christmas, Uncategorized | Tagged , |

Advent Begins

November 30, 2015 by memullin

One of my favorite Sundays of the year as a child was the first Sunday of Advent when we would sing this song:

o come o come

Posted in Advent, Christmas, hymns, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , |

Looking towards Christmas

November 27, 2015 by memullin

Christmas is the season of hope and promise.

  • Jesus is seen throughout the Old and New Testaments.
  • Jesus is in the Old Testament predicted.
  • Jesus is in the gospels revealed.
  • Jesus is in the Acts preached.
  • Jesus is in the epistles (letters) explained.
  • Jesus is in the Revelation expected.

In the coming weeks as we prepare for Christmas and search the scriptures for what they tell about the coming Christ, we will see that much was promised and we have a great hope in Jesus, the Christ.

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Count Your Blessings

November 23, 2015 by memullin

This is definitely the time to count your blessings. It helps to have a song to sing along with as you do!

count-your-many-blessings

Posted in hymns, Thanksgiving | Tagged , , | 1 Comment »

Thanksgiving Bible Study

November 22, 2015 by memullin

As part of my mission to help others and myself improve Bible literacy, this post is dedicated to a Thanksgiving Bible Study I prepared for my friends. I hope you enjoy working your way through it.

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THANKSGIVING BIBLE STUDY

When we begin to give it serious thought, we can find many things for which to be thankful–family, jobs, income, homes, running water, good weather–all of which are gifts from God. This Thanksgiving season, it may be helpful to turn our focus to some other intangible things we received from God through Jesus Christ.

Read Ephesians 1:3-14
1. List at least five things that God had done for you from this section of scripture.

2. Copy Ephesians 1:4 here or into you journal or simply onto a blank piece of paper.

3. What does it mean to be chosen by God?

4. What do the following verses teach about God’s having chosen us?
▸ Deuteronomy 14:2

▸ Psalm 4:3

▸ Romans 8:30

▸ 2 Thessalonians 2:13

▸ 2 Timothy 1:9

▸ 1 Peter 2:9

5. Copy Ephesians 1:7a here or into you journal or simply onto a blank piece of paper.

6. What does it mean to have redemption (be redeemed)?

7. From what are we redeemed?

8. What do the following verses teach?
▸ Psalm 49:7-8

▸ Matthew 20:28

▸ Galatians 3:13

▸ Galatians 4:5

▸ Titus 2:14

▸ Hebrews 9:12

▸ 1 Peter 1:18-19

9. Copy Ephesians 1:7b here or into you journal or simply onto a blank piece of paper.
10. What does it mean that we have forgiveness of sins?
11. What do the following verses teach?

▸ Romans 3:23-26

▸ 1 John 4:10

▸ Revelation 1:5

12. Copy Ephesians 1:5 here or into you journal or simply onto a blank piece of paper..

13. What does it mean that God has predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ?

14. What do the following verses teach?
▸ Romans 8:14-17

▸ Galatians 4:4-7

15. As you consider this study, what does your heart long to tell the Father? For what are you grateful? Pour out your thanks to God for all that He has done, is doing and will do for you and on your behalf.

Posted in Bible, Bible Study, Biblical Literacy, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized | Tagged |

Quiz Answers!!

November 18, 2015 by memullin

Here are the answers to yesterday’s Quiz. Hopefully, you did well.adorable

Who is the man who built the ark? NOAH
Who is the female judge mentioned in the book of Judges? DEBORAH
Who was Elijah’s successor? ELISHA
Who parted the Jordan River so the children of Israel could walk through? GOD – When the priests stepped into the water
Which of the following is not one of the 12 original disciples of Jesus? (John, Peter, Matthew, Luke)
Where was the place of worship when the Israelites were in the wilderness? TABERNACLE
What was Paul the Apostle’s name before he converted? SAUL
Who wrote the book of Revelation? JOHN
How many books are there in the Bible? 66
Who which of the following is a Major prophet? (Micah, Daniel, Amos, Jonah)

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