OC Bereans

Gentlemen,

During last week’s Bible study we introduced the Letter to Thyatira by exploring the first mention of this city in the New Testament … namely in Acts 16:13-15.  During the apostle Paul’s “2nd Missionary Journey,” just after receiving an unusual vision from the Lord, Paul journeys to Philippi.  Since Philippi did not have enough Jewish male residents to warrant a synagogue, Paul and his entourage head down to the river, seeking a place to pray.  There he finds Lydia, a “seller of purple fabrics” from Thyatira.  We looked briefly at ten character traits / behaviors of this international business woman:

1. She worshiped God.
2. She was a woman of prayer.
3. She was listening.
4. The Lord opened her heart.
5. She responded.
6. She influenced her household.
7. She obediently and publicly professed her new faith in Jesus.
8. She was judged to be faithful.
9. She extended hospitality.
10. She was insistent.

This coming Monday we will continue this discussion by comparing and contrasting Lydia with Jezebel, the woman Jesus warns in Revelation 2:18-29.  Who is Jezebel?  Check out the exploits of her O.T. namesake:  1 Kings 16:29-31;  18:4, 13;  19:1-2;  21:1-16, 23;  2 Kings 9:30-37.

The following questions were first listed in an earlier post, so we will cover them, too:

• What is communicated by the title and character traits of Jesus noted in Revelation 2:18?   (cf., 1:13-15)
• What specific things does Jesus know [οἶδα] about the Christians in Thyatira?  (2:19)  Do you detect a “pattern” in these items, or some sort of interconnectedness?
• Identify the warnings that Jesus issues.  (2:20-23)

Roc will bring the dessert, so plan to arrive by 7 pm to enjoy that.  Our time in the Word will begin shortly after that.

Shalom!

~ tr