Sunday - God's Covenant with Abram - Genesis 15:1-6,17-21 - 10/1/17

Background Scripture Nehemiah 9 and 10.

Ezra leads the people in confession. The people agree to obey.


Why would Abram be afraid? Perhaps he feared revenge from the kings he had just defeated. God gave him two good reasons for courage: (1) he promised to defend Abram ("I am thy shield"), and (2) he promised to be Abram's "exceeding great reward." When you fear what lies ahead, remember that God will stay with you through difficult times and that he has promised you great blessings.

According to custom, if Abram were to die without a son, his eldest servant would become his heir. Although Abram loved his servant, he wanted a son to carry on the family line.

Abram wanted promised wealth or fame, he already had that. God promised descendants like the stars and the grains of sand by the sea, too numerous to count. To appreciate the vast number of stars scattered through the sky, you need to be, like Abram, away from any interfering lights or buildings. Or pick up a handful of sand and try to count the grains - it can not be done! God's blessings are beyond our imaginations!

Although Abram had been demonstrating his faith through his actions, it was believing in the Lord, not actions, that made Abram right with God. We too can have a right relationship with God by trusting him with our lives. Our outward actions - church attendance, prayer, good deeds - will not by themselves make us right with God. A right relationship is based on faith - the heartfelt inner confidence that God is who he says he is and does what he says he will do. Right actions follow naturally as a by - product.

Why did God send this strange vision to Abram? God's covenant with Abram was serious business. It represented an incredible promise from God and a huge responsibilities for Abram. To confirm his promise, God gave Abram a sign - the smoking furnace and burning lamp. God took the initiative, gave the confirmation and followed through on his promises. The sign to Abram was a visible assurance to him that the covenant with God had made was real.

Reference summary used from The Life Application Bible, KJV, Tyndale Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL

Books of Ezra & Nehemiah ... 6/30/1203 - 7/25/2013 .. Sunday School Lessons

Ezra 3,6,8, Nehemiah 8,9,12,13, Sunday School Lesson, Jews, Sheshbazzar, Zerubbabel, Joshua, high priest, Cyrus, Temple, Darius, Joshua, Babylon, Ezra's prayer,Confession, Religion, restoration, Law, Feast of Tabernacle, Levites, Covenant, Jerusalem, dedication,abuses

My Sunday School Lesson is coming from the Books of Ezra & Nehemiah starting June 30,2013 - August 25, 2013.

These books were regarded in ancient times as one.

They may be divided into four parts: 1. Ezra 1-6 describes the first return of the Jews under Sheshbazzar or Zerubbabel and Joshua, the high priest, in the first year of Cyrus (536 B.C.), and the rebuilding of the temple (516 B.C.)... 2. Ezra 7-10 narrates the second migration from Babylon under Ezra, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes Longimaus (458-457 B.C.), and includes Ezra's prayer and confession.

Nehemiah 8-13 describes the combined efforts of Ezra & Nehemiah to effect the restoration of religion,including the solemn reading of the Law, the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, the confession of the Levites, a list of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and other cities, the dedication of the walls, and the removal of certain abuses.


Sunday - June 30, 2013 - Celebrating What Is Meaningful - Ezra 3:1-7

Commencement Of The Rebuilding Of The Temple (Ezra 3:1-4:24)



Sunday - July 7, 2013 - Finding Joy in Restoration - Ezra 3:8-13



Sunday - July 14, 2013 - Celebrating with Joy - Ezra 6:13-22

Completion Of The Rebuilding Of The Temple (Ezra 5:1-6:2)


Sunday - July 21, 2013 - Preparing for a Journey - Ezra 8:21-23

Return of More Jewish Exiles Under Ezra (Ezra 7:1-8:36)


July 28, 2013 - Generous Gifts - Ezra 8:24-30





Sunday - August 4, 2013 - Great Rejoicing - Nehemiah 8:13-18

The Reading & Exposition Of The Law (Nehemiah 7:73b-8:18)


August 11, 2013 - Admitting Shortcomings - Nehemiah 9:2,6-7, 9-10, 30-36

The Renewal Of The Covenant (Nehemiah 9:1-1039)


August 18, 2013 - Taking Pride in Accomplishment - Nehemiah 12:27-36;38,43

The Dedication Of Jerusalem's Walls (Nehemiah 12:27-43)


August 25, 2013 - Getting It Right - Nehemiah 13:15-22

Nehemiah's Second Period of Administration (Nehemiah 13:1-31)


Scripture reference used/taken from: The International Teacher's Handy Bible Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible & Zondervan Bible Commentary

Beyond Description ... June 2, 2013 .. Sunday School Lesson

II Chronicles, II Kings, Isaiah, Prophet Isaiah, Joshua, Psalm/Tehillim, God, Miracles, Confession, Angels, Revelation, Prophet, Lord, Sunday School Lesson, Jehovah, salvation, Hoshea, Jehoshua, Jeshua,Jesus

My Sunday School Lesson is coming from the Books of II Chronicles, II Kings, Isaiah, Joshua, & Psalm/Tehillim for the week of June 2, 2013. Unit I. The Prophet & Praise.

The Lesson for June 2, 2013 is shared from Isaiah 6:1-8 (Devotional Reading Joshua 24:14-24).

Isaiah received the prophetic call in the last year of King Uzziah's reign (Isaiah 6:1), and prophesied during the reigns of the three kings, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1).

Isaiah Chapters 1-6 prophecies against the sinful and idolatrous people.

Isaiah 6:1-4

Verse 1 ... God; Anthropomorphic & Anthropopathic Representatives of God; God Appears in Human Form

Anthropomorphic ... the attribution of a human form or personality to God

Anthropopathic ... having human feelings


Verses 1,2,3 ... Angels, Offices of Good Angels, They Wait on God

Verse 2 ... Angels, Good Angels; Angels are Superhuman; Cherubim & Seraphim

(We are never to worship angels)

Cherubim ... angelic being of God's order

Seraphim ... angelic being, one of the highest order, gifted with love and associated with light and purity


Verse 3 ... God; Attributes of God As Person; Holiness of God

Verse 4 ... Miracles; Miracles In The Upper Regions, & In The Atmosphere; God's Presence Manisfested by Fire

(Ezekiel 1:13; Revelation 4:8; Psalm/Tehillim 19:16; Romans 1:19-20; Exodus 19:16; Exodus 13:21-22; Numbers 9:15-23 & Exodus 19:18-25 ... Reference Scripture from Sunday School Book)





Verses 5-7

Verse 5 ... Duties To God; Confession; Examples of Confession, Individual Confession

Verses 6,7 ... Angels; Offices Of Good Angels; Convey's God's Messages

(Leviticus 6:12-13)


Verse 8 ... Mediums & Methods of Revelation; The Qualifications Of A Prophet; He Must Be Called of God

(I Chronicles 29:5)


Joshua 24:14-24

Joshua Chapter 24 contains Joshua's last speeches & his death.

Joshua 24:14-27 renews the covenant.

Joshua ... Jehovah is salvation. (Hoshea, Jehoshua, Jeshua, & Jesus)



Monday - May 27, 2013 - Setting Yourself to Seek God - II Chronicles 26:1-5

The Reign of Uzziah (II Chronicles 26:1-23)

The Divided Kingdom - The Story of Judah (II Chronicles 10:1-36:23)


Tuesday - May 28, 2013 - From Success to Pride to Destruction - II Chronicles 26:16-21


Wednesday - May 29, 2013 - Following a Father's Example - II Kings 15:32-38

A Kingdom Divided (I Kings 12:1-II Kings 17:41)


Thursday - May 30, 2013 - People Dulled to God's Presence - Isaiah 6:9-13

The prophet's call to office (Isaiah 6:1-13)

Oracles For Judah & Jerusalem (Isaiah 1:1-12:6)

Oracle .. divine inspiration or revelation


Friday - May 31, 2013 - Choosing to Serve a Holy God - Joshua 21:14-24)

The Covenant at Shechem (Joshua 24:1-28)

The Way Ahead (Joshua 23:1-24:33)
60:6)

Shechem (Joshua 17:17; Psalm/Tehillim

Charge of Joshua (Joshua 24)

Shechem (shoulder, mountain ridge), the Hivite, Genesis 34


Saturday - June 1, 2013 - Seeking the Face of God - Psalm/Tehillim 24

Psalm/Tehillim ... "Prayer, Praise, & Adoration," is 'Sepher Tehillim,' the Book of Praises.

Psalms of Adoration: Of God's power

Didactic Psalms: Showing the blessings of God's people and the misery of his enemies.

Didactic ... Instruct

Prophetic, Typical, & Historical


Sunday - June 2, 2013 ... Encountering the Holy God - Isaiah 6:1-8

The prophet's call to office (Isaiah 6:1-13)

Isaiah and King Ahaz (Isaiah 6:1-12:6)


Scripture reference taken/used from: KJV Topical Reference Edition Bible; The International Teacher's Handy Bible Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible; Zondervan Bible Commentary, Reader's Digest Complete WordFinder & Merriam Webster's Deluxe Dictionary

1 of 2 ... Life Worth Living ... 5/12/2013 (Mother's Day)

II Peter 1 . Christian Virtues . True Wisdom . Symeon Peter . Jesus Christ . Psalm/Tehillim 130 . God . Israel . Prayer . Confession . Justification . Sepher Tehillim

Sunday School Lesson for May 12, 2013 (Mother's Day). Unit III. A Call to Holy Living. II Peter 1:4-14 (Devotional Reading Psalm/Tehillim 130).


II Peter 1:4-14

Verses 4-7

Verse 4 ... The Upright Are Blessed & Prospered

Verse 4 ... Man Redeemed; Effectual Calling; The Understanding Enlightened, The Truth Received

(ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust ... lust/sexual indulgence denied Christ)

Verses 5,6,7 ... Man Redeemed; Blessedness of The New Life; Growth in Grace

Verses 5,6.7 ... 7 Christian Virtues: faith, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity (love)

(II Peter 1:3; Book of Jude; II Peter 2 .. Reference Scriptures from the Sunday School Book)


Verses 8-11

Verse 8 .... Man Redeemed; Blessedness Of The New Life; Growth in Grace

Christian growth and genuine love would come from possessing the 7 virtues from verses 5,6,7.

Verse 9 ... Man Redeemed; Duties & Graces Of The New Life; Backsliding, Under the New Covenant

Verses 10,11 ... Works of God; Purposes Of God; The Means to Be used

We are free moral agents, which means we as Christians and mankind (male/female) are allowed to pick our choices in life. The choices we make is our responsibility, whether right or wrong, good or bad.


Verses 12-14

Verse 12 ... Man Redeemed; Blessedness Of The New Life; The Impartation of True Wisdom, Actually Attainable

Verses 13.14 ... The Outward Man; The Death Of The Body; Death in Prospect, Care for Survivors

(I Peter ... Reference Scripture from the Sunday School Book)

II Peter was written by "Symeon Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, whose death Christ foretold, who was present at the transfiguration, and was the author of I Peter.

II Peter is addressed/written to all Christians, but especially to the recipients of the First Epistle.

The letter begins and ends in exhortations to grow in grace and knowledge.





Psalm/Tehillim 130 ... The psalmist professeth his hope in prayer, and his patience in hope. He exhoreth Israel to hope in God.

Verses 1,2 ... Duties To God; Prayer; Objects of Prayer, Help in Trouble

Verse 3 ... Duties To God; Confession; Examples of Confession, Individual Confession

Verses 3,4 ... Pardon for Sins & Iniquities Pardon

Verse 4,8 ... Man Redeemed; Justification; Pardon, Promised

Verses 5,6 ... Duties To God; Waiting; Waiting On God

Verse 7 ... God; Attributes Of God As Person; Mercy & Compassion

Psalm/Tehillim 120-134 are entitled "Songs of Degrees." These psalms were probably intended to be sung by the pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem.

The Hebrew title of this treasury of "prayer, praise, and adoration" is 'Sepher Tehillim,' the "Book of Praises."


Scripture reference used/taken from: KJV Topical Reference Bible & The International Teacher's Handy Bible Encyclopedia/Concordance KJV Precious Promise Bible