OC Bereans

Gentlemen,

In addition to the home-made calories you took away from the past couple of Monday nights …

… cream puffs & chocolate-dipped strawberries …

… apple tarts …

What take-aways from Revelation chapter one can you share with us?  Simply respond with a comment to this post so we can all benefit from what God has been telling you this past month.

Questions for chapter two will be posted in a couple days.

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

As we wrap up our study of the first chapter in Revelation this Monday night, we have at least seven unanswered questions from previous posts, plus two new ones:

1. What did John mean by “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day”? (v. 10)
2. How is what John sees in chapter one similar to what the O.T. prophet Daniel saw in Daniel chapters 7 and 10?
3. What might each of the seven dimensions of Jesus’ glory, character and ministry signify? (vv. 13-16)  Please download, copy, and bring with you this handout:  Dimensions of Jesus’ Glory.
4. What is significant about John’s response to what he saw? (v. 17) … Does this remind you of others’ reactions in Scripture?  Who?  When?
5. Identify three times in your life when Jesus has said to you, “Fear not!”
6. What else do we learn about Jesus in vv. 17-20?
7. What have been your biggest “take-aways” from this chapter one?
8. Note the different “postures” of Jesus … compare 1:13, 16 with 2:1.
9. Since last Monday’s study, how/when did you see Jesus?

Chuck W. is bringing the dessert, so plan to arrive no later than 7 pm to enjoy that.  The study will start shortly after that.

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

The attached two-page handout includes details and a map for this Saturday morning’s Solitude + Fellowship @ Beach – Feb 2013 (7 – 9 am).  Feel free to invite a friend (or two) and share the handout with them, too, or simply direct them to this blog.

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

As you prepare for next Monday’s Bible study on the remainder of Revelation chapter one, use the following questions to aid your study.

• In the Doxology of 1:5b-6, what/Who is worthy of praise?  Compare 1 Peter 1:2-4.
• Define the term “Amen” (vv. 6, 7)
• Why was John on the island of Patmos? (v. 9)
• What did John mean by “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day”? (v. 10)
• Did God exile John to Patmos in order to use him in this way?
• How is what John sees in chapter one similar to what the O.T. prophet Daniel saw in Daniel chapters 7 and 10?
• How many dimensions of Jesus’ glory, character and ministry are described in vv. 13-16?  What might each of them signify?  Please download, copy, and bring with you this handout:  Dimensions of Jesus’ Glory.
• What is significant about John’s response to what he saw? (v. 17) … Does this remind you of others’ reactions in Scripture?  Who?  When?
• Identify three times in your life when Jesus has said to you, “Fear not!”
• What else do we learn about Jesus in vv. 17-20?
• What have been your biggest “take-aways” from this chapter one?

Two new pages have been added to this blog: Members and Revelation Bibliography.  Check the tabs in the photo header at the top of this page.  You will discover that Members is password-protected … come Monday night and I’ll share the password with you!

Remember to arrive before 7 pm … to secure the best parking spot! … and to enjoy the dessert.  Brent (a.k.a. “King of Desserts”) has the honors this week!

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

I converted five of the slides from Monday night’s slideshow into a .pdf handout that you can download from the Downloads tab.  The handout, Four Interpretive Views, gives details about the four basic ways that biblical scholars have approached their understanding of this mysterious book.

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

For the past few years I have intentionally used a biblically-based signature on most of my emails.  In 2011, I signed off with “Abide in the Vine!”  In 2012, it was “Embrace God’s Grace!”  This year it is “Shalom!”

But what does shalom mean?  Is this Hebrew slang for our 21st Century “peace out”? … hardly!

Although we typically think of shalom as a synonym for peace, or the absence of conflict, the Bible paints a fuller, more detailed picture.

The word derives from a root verb meaning to be complete, perfect and full.  According to Strong’s Concordance, shalom [שלום] occurs 242 times in 210 Old Testament verses (NASB).  Depending on the context for each verse, the term is translated as completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.

One of the most profound blessings ever pronounced in all of Scripture is what God commanded Moses to say about the nation of Israel:  “The LORD bless you, and keep you; the LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance on you, and give you shalom.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

Proverbs 18:21 indicates that there is life or death in the power of the tongue.  Therefore, whenever we employ the word shalom, we are speaking into someone’s life all the wonderful things that shalom means!

Hope to see you all in my living room on Monday night.

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

By the time Scott B. and Scott H. left my home after Monday night’s study on Revelation 1, they had created a new T-shirt design!

“I feel the need to heed” emblazoned across the chest …

Shalom! … on the back.

If you were present at the study, then you know exactly what this means.  If you were not with us, then take another look at our first memory verse … 1:3 … and the second half of John’s two-fold blessing/greeting in v. 4.

Since we really only answered the first of the 12 study questions listed in the previous post, then please review questions 2 thru 12 before next Monday night.

We also explored some of the new features of this blog and how to maximize them; plus, we demonstrated how to use the Blue Letter Bible in your daily study of the Bible.  If you were not with us on Monday, I will happily show you, too!

Remember to check the Dessert Rotation tab to see when you are scheduled to provide that for the men.  If you will not be with us on your scheduled dessert night, then please contact the next person on the list to request a trade … then please notify me, too.  This coming Monday, Bob J. is up for this.

Plan to arrive by 7 pm to enjoy that … we will start our study shortly after that.

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

One of the first posts I made to this blog four years ago was titled “Mississippi Wisdom.”  In that post I shared an adage that has remained as a mainstay in my philosophy of ministry.  I invite you to read that January 8, 2009 post in the archives.

“Focus sharply on Jesus Christ” is the primary theme of Revelation chapter one, as it will be for our study tomorrow night.  Invest part of your “Sabbath rest” today reflecting on the following questions:

1. John greets the seven Asian churches with a two-fold blessing (v. 4) … why is this significant?
2. Can you find the Trinity in chapter one?
3. Describe three roles of Jesus in v. 5.
4. Define the term “Amen” (vv. 6, 7).
5. Why was John on the island of Patmos? (v. 9).
6. What did John mean by “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day”? (v. 10)
7. Was John’s “forced solitude” on Patmos necessary for God to reveal to him the things in this book?
8. Compare what John sees in chapter one with what the O.T. prophet Daniel saw in Daniel chapters 7 and 10.
9. What are some of the most striking attributes in the description of Jesus in vv. 12-20?
10. What is significant about John’s response to what he saw? (v. 17) … does this remind you of others’ reactions in Scripture?
11. Identify three times in your life when Jesus has said to you, “Fear not!”
12. What else do we learn about Jesus in vv. 17-20?

Another new feature has been added to the blog!  … a Downloads page … check the tab located in the lower left corner of the picture of Lake Mission Viejo in the header, next to the Dessert Rotation tab.

Plan to arrive by 7 pm tomorrow night to enjoy the dessert!   We will start our study shortly after that.

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

“His bond-servant John” is the initial description given for the human writer of the book of Revelation.  Who is he?  What do we know about him?  Click on this link for a handout on What we know about John that I referred to this past Monday night.  These are my notes, so it is in a bullet format.

I am still working on more study questions for this coming Monday’s gathering, but I can assure you that we will still be camped out in chapter one, so keep re-reading that in the meantime.  You may also want to employ the questions suggested by Dr. J. Vernon McGee in the handout from two posts ago.

A new feature was just added to the blog!  … a Dessert Rotation … check the tab located in the lower left corner of the picture of Lake Mission Viejo in the header, next to the Calendar tab.  Now, you can plan your dessert creations in advance!

Shalom!

~ tr

Gentlemen,

Please accept my apology for not posting this information sooner, but download and print the following four handouts for tomorrow night’s study, and bring them with you.

1.  Introduction to Revelation

2.  Outline of Revelation

3.  Seven Beatitudes of Revelation

4.  Revelation 1:1-8

See you by 7 pm … Shalom!

~ tr