OC Bereans

We just surveyed 39 books in less than 15 hours!

My hope (and prayer) for this whirlwind tour was to sufficiently whet your appetite for more in-depth study of these Old Testament books.

Six “minor prophets” (in size, not significance) were covered Monday night.  Since most of you could not attend, here are a few notes to aid your study.

Nahum (3 chs.)
“Big Idea”:  Judgment on Nineveh
Key verses:  1:1-3

Habakkuk (3 chs.)
“Big Idea”:  Divine discipline leads to faith
Key verses:  1:1,5-6; 2:4,18-20; 3:16-19
N.T. connections:  Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38; 12:4-13; Philippians 4:11-13

Zephaniah (3 chs.)
“Big Idea”:  God is sovereign and judgment is coming
Key verses:  1:1,7,14-18; 3:8-9,17,20

Haggai (2 chs.)
“Big Idea”:  Overcoming the “tyranny of the urgent”
Key verses:  1:1-4,8,14; 2:23.  “Word of the Lord” in 1:1,3; 2:1,10,20
O.T. connections:  Ezra 5:1; 6:14

Zechariah (14 chs.)
“Big Idea”:  Apocalyptic look at the glory of Messiah’s rule
Key verses:  1:1-6; 3:1-7; 4:6; 14:9
O.T. connections:  Ezra 5:1; 6:14
N.T. connections:  Matthew 23:33-36

Malachi (4 chs.)
“Big Idea”:  Challenging messages from God
Key verses:  1:1-3,14; 2:1,2,7,13-16; 3:1,7-11; 4:4-6
N.T. connections:  Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:1-3; Luke 7:27; John 1:6-7; Romans 9:10-13

~ ~ ~

Postscript: Then came 400 years of silence!  No communication from God.

Do you remember how He broke this silence?  What were His first words?

Only one Gospel writer (the only non-eyewitness) tells us.  Check out Luke 1:1-20, especially verse 13, followed by 1:26-38, especially verse 28.

~ ~ ~

Helpful follow-up notes on these Old Testament books, written years ago by Dr. J. Vernon McGee, can be downloaded for free from “Thru the Bible Radio.” A link to their website is included at the right, under “Bible Study Tools.”

~ tr

Question: What is the shortest book in the Old Testament?

Answer:  Obadiah, with 21 verses.

Question: What is the shortest book in the entire Bible?

Answer:  2 John, with only 13 verses.

At last night’s study, these questions prompted one of the men in our study (Roc) to share additional fascinating Bible trivia.  Since I have not yet figured out how to add a PowerPoint to this post, I will gladly email you a copy of “Center of the Bible” for some startling discoveries.

~ tr

Today would have been my Mom’s 88th birthday, except she went home to be with her Lord 18 months ago.  I wrote her an email this morning, then sent it to my siblings, spouse and children.  Here is an excerpt:

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Although I cannot find definitive, biblical proof, I wonder, are earthly birth days celebrated in heaven?  With all the emphasis on genealogies in scripture, they probably are.  Every “day” is a celebration, though (right?), being in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Well, I just wanted you to know that I wish I could stop by for a visit, or at least pick up the phone and call you.

I miss you!
…
Well, I have to get back to work!  But it was important for me to remember … that it would have been your 88th birthday … that I love you!  From your perspective, we will see you very soon.  From my perspective, who knows what else God has for me to do (and become)?

One of the men in our weekly Bible study announced two weeks ago that he called his Dad, after not speaking with him for over ten years.  He confessed that the Holy Spirit had been convicting him to make the call for several weeks.  He also praised God for a wonderful conversation with his Dad, and expressed the hope that this was a first step toward reconciling their relationship.

This all reminds me of a powerful song, “Finally Home,” by the band, Mercy Me.  Click on the link in the right-side toolbar, under “Blogs/sites worth visiting.”

Enjoy!

~ tr

King Jehoshaphat’s response to the impending invasion of the Moabites and Ammonites, in 2 Chronicles 20, could also be titled, “Snatching Victory From the Jaws of Defeat.” His actions yield at least four principles for surviving perilous times, which certainly have bearing on the times in which we live.  What follows are the main points, along with supporting scripture passages, for your further study.

1.  Seek God (vv. 3-4)

• 2 Chronicles 17:3-6    18:4    19:3
• 1 Chronicles 28:9    2 Chronicles 15:2, 4, 12-15
• 2 Corinthians 1:10-11

2.  Pray Intelligently (vv. 6-12)

• v. 6 – Remind God of His covenant:  Exodus 33:1
• v. 6 – Remind God of His sovereignty:  Psalm 47:2, 8
• v. 6 – Remind God of His power:  Psalm 115:1-3
• v. 7 – Remind God of His promises:  Genesis 15:8    Exodus 23:20; 33:2    Joshua 23:9; 24:12    Psalm 44:2-3    Psalm 79
• v. 9 – Remind God of His Word:  Solomon’s dedicatory prayer in 1 Kings 8:22-53    2 Chronicles 6:14-42
• v. 10 – Remind God of “His-story”:  Numbers 20:14-21    Deuteronomy 2:2-9
• v. 11 – Remind God of His ownership:  Ezekiel 34:30-31
• v. 12 – Fix eyes on God:  Psalm 123:1-2    Psalm 141:8    Hebrews 12:2

3. Prepare for Victory (vv. 13-17)

• v. 13 – Mobilize by families
• vv. 15, 17 – Fear not
• v. 17 – Who is in charge?  1 Samuel 17:47
• v. 17 – “Take up your positions … stand firm … see the deliverance … face the enemy”    Exodus 14:13-14

4.  Trust Wholeheartedly (vv. 18-22)

• v. 18 – Worship
• v. 19 – Praise
• v. 20 – A call to faith, to believe, to exercise firm trust
• vv. 21-22 – Sing:  Psalm 136

Results (vv. 22-30)

• vv. 22-24 – Victory    cf., Judges 7:22
• v. 25 – Provisions beyond imagination
• vv. 26-28 – Joy & Praise
• vv. 29-30 – Fear of God and Peace

Conclusion: Psalm 107:27-31

~ tr

Can you identify him?  Come to our men’s Bible study this coming Monday evening, January 26th, at 7 pm, and find out!

Roc promises to bring the dessert!

~ tr

Who wrote the “5th Gospel”?  Wait a minute!  Aren’t there only four Gospels in the New Testament:  Matthew, Mark, Luke and John?

Technically, yes.  However, many biblical scholars have called the Old Testament book of Isaiah the “5th Gospel.” No other OT book focuses as sharply on the person and work of Jesus Christ.  There are at least 85 quotes or allusions to the book of Isaiah in the NT, including 66 direct quotes.  Twenty out of the 27 NT books refer to Isaiah, with 12 books quoting from Isaiah.

The most famous quote from Isaiah may be from Jesus Himself, on the occasion of His “inauguration” to public ministry, in the synagogue in Nazareth, as He stood to read from the scroll of Isaiah (ch. 61):

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then He sat down and calmly proclaimed: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:18-21).

~ tr

Ever wondered why some Old Testament books are called “major prophets,” while others are referred to as the “minor prophets”?  Was this like professional baseball where some prophets toiled in the “farm system,” waiting for a call to the “big leagues”?

Come to Bible study this Monday, January 19th, at 7 pm to find out!  Mark promised to bring the dessert.

~ tr

During last night’s study we read Mordecai’s response to his cousin, Queen Esther, when she balked at approaching the king of Persia uninvited:  “… who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14b).

The lyrics to Newsong’s “Defining Moment” seem like a modern-day equivalent:

There comes a time in every heart, a time of real decision,
when we reach the point of choosing how we will live our lives.
All our hopes, all our dreams, will rise up from that moment;
the moment we surrender and choose to follow Christ.
He’s been waiting all our lives to hear us say:

“I am yours, Lord, take my hand and lead the way.”

When you believe He’s all you need,
that will be your defining moment.
As you live your life, walking in His
light, trusting Him completely,
that will be, that will be your defining moment.

All I have, all I am, is resting in His promise;
the promise that He’ll make me everything that I should be.
I will live, I will die, for the cause He’s set before me,
to take this love inside my heart for all the world to see.

All of heaven celebrates when they hear someone say:

“I am yours, Lord, take my hand and lead the way.”

His amazing grace is such a mystery,
how in an instant it can make your life complete.

The next time we encounter a “defining moment,” let’s remember the courage of Queen Esther, then choose to follow Christ!

~ tr

While living and working in Mississippi for nearly a decade (1978-1986), I happened across some wisdom which has defined my philosophy of life and ministry ever since.  Three brief bullet points, hand-printed on faded construction paper, tacked to a crumbling bulletin board, in a small school hard up against Sellers Creek, in the “quarters” of Mendenhall.

• Speak to basic human need.
• Use terms that people understand.
• Focus sharply on Jesus Christ.

A succinct list of resolutions for this new year.

~ tr

Ask any of our three children the constant charge I leave with them whenever we say goodbye. They will immediately reply: “Remember who you are … and Whose you are!”

Sound advice for all of us as we face uncertainties in this new year.

The Bible tells us a lot about both topics. I especially like what the apostle Paul declares about “who we are” in his letter to 1st Century Christians in Ephesus (1:3-14).

Regarding “Whose we are,” Paul again makes it clear and succinct in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (notice the context).

Let’s draw our identity and our daily strength from God’s Word!

~ tr