Saturday, May 30, 2015

Touching Base - Part 276

Series: The Book - Part 5
“The Bride of Christ as the Virtuous Woman”
(Psalm 31:10-31)


This is a useful tool for small group discussion, personal reflection or in a one-on-one conversation. We believe that if the Sunday teaching is discussed outside the morning services, it will be an opportunity to go deeper and build community because God's Word needs to be discussed in community.


We continue our Spring and Summer series called The Book. Over the next several months we are going to be teaching out of all the sections of the Bible and seeing how it’s put together, seeing common threads that connect the books of the Bible to make up The Book.

We now have arrived in the part of the Bible we call “Wisdom Literature”, and here we find some really interesting stories, sayings and people:

1. Job - although a godly man, he lost everything and struggled to make sense of the meaning of it all (worldly wisdom vs. heavenly wisdom)
2. The Psalms – the expressions of human emotion from rage, to despair, to almost ecstatic-like adoration.
3. Ecclesiastics - where we are told that “everything is meaningless”
4. The Song of Solomon – where most things you read are supposed to have a sexual innuendo.
5. The Proverbs - where wisdom and folly are contrasted as two types of women: folly as the prostitute and wisdom as the admirable woman.

From an “English literature” perspective, the texts change in this section. There are many more poems (or songs), and there is much more use of analogies and metaphors. Some scholars actually differentiate these as “covenant texts” (most of the works before the Psalms and the major and minor prophets) and “wisdom texts” (the five books I just mentioned.)

In an Old Testament framework, the covenant is the “what”…the contract and the laws of obligation, and the wisdom literature is the “how”. Wisdom literature deals with the messiness of life and human nature, and how to be human and live in the covenant.

Note: How to read wisdom literature…with wisdom!!!
The other thing that is an important distinguishing feature of wisdom literature is that there is always a deeper meaning. Unlike the historical books, which were meant to be read plainly and factually, the writers of wisdom literature embed a deeper meaning in the text itself. There can be space for a literal interpretation (for example: it probably really is easier to live on the corner of the roof of your house than with a contentious woman) but there is also the deeper meaning or implication. But it assumes there is a deeper meaning than just the original surface reading. So let’s get started!

Proverbs 31: 10-31 – for Discussion & Reflection
Stop, reflect and share:
What has been your framework for understanding Proverbs 31? Do you think that this falls in line with the author’s original intention? (Recall that Proverbs was written by a man for young men.)
What can be learned from a LITERAL interpretation of Proverbs 31? (In other words…what wisdom can be learned from this text?)

In Ephesians 5, Paul draws a comparison between the marriage of a husband and wife, and that of the relationship between Christ and the church. He does the same in 2 Corinthians 3, mentioning it briefly. The writer of Revelation discusses the marriage of the Lamb in Chapter 19. The church is the bride of Christ, and it is the standard of the Virtuous Woman found in Proverbs 31 to whom we will draw comparison in the following section.

Now let’s find the deeper meaning for us, using the sermon guidelines.
Reflect on the following verses.

What does she look like? (Verses 17, 22 & 25)
What strikes you about these verses? (This can include what was mentioned on Sunday)
Select some of the following questions to discuss and some practical implications. Be intentional about discussing the difference of the church as a body (corporate) and what this means for you personally.
What does this mean for us? What does this mean for us today in a society where people’s identity is their physical appearance? What does the bride of Christ look like? What does she look like? What do we look like?

What does she do? (Verses 13, 16, 20…and other verses you would care to discuss.)
As you read the verses of her “doing”, ask yourself what this implies about her character.
What type of person is she to engage in these issues and to do these types of things?
Using these verses as a grounding point, discuss possible implications for the church’s involvement (as a community) and your individual involvement (personally as a small group) with each other.

How this woman interacts with other characters mentioned in the passage. (Verses 11, 23, 28-29)
How is this woman viewed by her husband and children?
What did we learn about in the earlier verses that would inspire this kind of reaction? (Think in character, not just in tasks.)
How does this inspire (or perhaps challenge) the church of today? In what ways (be practical) would we need to act in this world?
What are the implications for you personally?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Christ’s response to us was the same as the husband in this passage? That He would trust us? That we would be blessed by Him, and that as a result of our deeds He would be praised and well-known in all the land! Oh that we would strive to be this bride!

Amanda
If interested in joining or starting a small group contact our Director of Worship and Discipleship Amanda Van Halteren amandavh@kingston.net

CARMEN’S CORNER!

This week, you’ll note that Amanda was speaking about verses 10 and onward in Proverbs 31. So I thought I would bring up something interesting in verse 6 of Proverbs 31, where King Lemuel’s mother (he was passing on her teachings to him) recommends that he “Give strong drink to those who are perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress.”

BUT, back in Proverbs 20:1, we’re told that “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” HUH?!

Again, an apparent contradiction resolved by CONTEXT: Proverbs 21:1 is talking about social drinking of the “I’m-going-to-drink-till-I-drop” variety, drunkenness, which leads astray and is strongly spoken against throughout scripture (Prov. 20:1; 31:4–5; Isa. 24:9; 1 Cor. 6:9–10; Eph. 5:18).

Proverbs 31:6, on the other hand, is talking about a medicinal use of strong drink - i.e. in the case of one who is “perishing” or in “bitter distress” – he’s not talking about a weekend party gone wrong!

We also note it in the New Testament when Paul told Timothy he ought to drink a little wine for the sake of his stomach and his frequent ailments.

Everything in context, folks!

RESOURCES

Arthur, Kay. Teach Me Your Ways: The Pentateuch (New Inductive Bible Study Series) Harvest House Publishers, 2002. ISBN: 978-0736908054. Begin at the beginning - Creation, marriage, sin, civilization. Then learn about God's continuing lovingkindness and faithfulness to His covenant people, even when they let Him down.

Geisler, Norman L., and Thomas A. Howe. When Critics Ask : A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1992.

Grudem, Wayne et al. Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible: A Guide to Reading the Bible Well (p. 40). Crossway. Kindle Edition.)

Koukl, Greg. How Does the Old Testament Law Apply to Christians today? Available at the Stand to Reason website at http://www.str.org/articles/how-does-the-old-testament-law-apply-to-christians-today#.VTpOJSFVikp

Longman III, Tremper. Making Sense of the Old Testament. Baker Books, 1998. Answers 3 questions: What are the keys to understanding the OT? Is the God of the OT also the God of the NT? How is the Christian to apply the OT to life?

Redford, Douglas. The Pentateuch. (Vol. 1, Standard Reference Library: Old Testament). Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing, 2008.

Schreiner, Thomas. 40 Questions about Christians and Biblical Law. Kregel Publications, 2010. (ISBN 978-0825438912) – all that Law… what still applies to us? What doesn't? Why or why not?

Zacharias, Ravi and Vince Vitale. Why Suffering?: Finding Meaning and Comfort When Life Doesn't Make Sense. FaithWords, 2014.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Touching Base - Part 275

Series: The Book, Part 4
The King that Wouldn't Go Away
24 May 2015


We continue our Spring and Summer series called The Book. Over the next several months we are going to be teaching out of all the sections of the Bible and seeing how it’s put together, seeing common threads that connect the books of the Bible to make up The Book.

We continue in the Historical books, a thousand-year period that starts in Joshua and ends with Esther. These books tell the story of
(1) Israel’s entry into the Promised Land of Canaan under Joshua;
(2) Israel’s life in the land under the judges and the transition to kingship;
(3) the division of the nation into two rival kingdoms (Israel and Judah) and life in both;
(4) the downfall and exile of each kingdom;
(5) life in the exile; and
(6) Judah’s return from exile.

One of the threads of the historical books, that ties this section to every other section of Scripture, is in regards to what is said to King David by the prophet Nathan. Read 2 Samuel 7:4-29. How many times do you read the word “forever”? How would God establish David’s throne forever? For a clue, go to Acts 2:29-32.

Jesus, in contrast to all the Kings that would sit on the throne of Judah, would be superior. In fact, you could sum it up in three words, KING OF KINGS!

ULTIMATE LAMP

Last week we saw how the prophet Ahijah came to Jeroboam and prophesied that he would be king of the northern kingdom, Israel. But notice what he says about Judah. Note his use of the imagery of a lamp.

“Yet to his son I will give one tribe (Judah), that David my servant may always have be a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name.” 1 Kings 11:36

The lamp reference apparently refers to the customary practice in Israel of burning a lamp in the window of a house to indicate the family was at home. When the lamp was extinguished, it indicated the breaking up of the home and the destruction of the family.

There were 20 Kings that would rule over Judah, and each one would die. But Jesus was different. Check out the following that speak of Jesus: Luke 1:33, Romans 9:5, Hebrews 1:8,5:6,7:24,13:8

“That lamp of David’s promised reign would be ignited once and for all in the eternal reign of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, whom the Scriptures say was ‘of the house of David.’”

Note one more thing before we move on… a lamp is a picturesque way of describing a successor or successors who would dispel all kinds of darkness. Who ultimately would dispel darkness as a light, lamp? See John 1, 2 Corinthians 4:6.

ULTIMATE TEACHING

Listen to what William Lane Craig says.

“His authority comes to expression in the content and style of His teaching. These two aspects of His teaching are especially evident in the Sermon on the Mount. A Jewish rabbi’s typical style of teaching was to quote extensively from other learned teachers, who provided the basis of authority for his own teaching. But Jesus did exactly the opposite. He began, “You have heard that it was said to the men of old …” and quoted the law of Moses. Then he continued, “But I say to you …” and gave His own teaching. Jesus thus equated His own authority with that of the divinely-given law. It’s no wonder that Matthew comments, “When Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (Matt. 7:28–29 RSV).”

Notice that he adjusted the law on his own authority - “But I say to you…” Here is another example:

“You have heard the law that says, “A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.” But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.” (Matt. 5:31–32 NLT)

Jesus was placing His own authority over the divine law.

TWO THINGS TO THINK ABOUT IN RESPONSE.

• We sometimes make Jesus out to be, not the King of Kings, but one of many good influences of society. So we lump Jesus in with Gandhi, Muhammad, the Dali Lama, and Buddha, and we see Jesus’ teachings perhaps on par with other good teachers. This is a very politically-correct stance. No feathers are ruffled, no offense is made. Yet Jesus’ own self-awareness and what the Scriptures declare from Genesis to Revelation is that there would come a King of Whom John said, “the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” (John 1)

King of Kings - ultimate light, ultimate teaching!

• If he is truly the KING of KINGS, think about all that He is entitled to rule and reign over in your life. Should there be anything that we hold back?

I have started a list, perhaps you can add to it.

- I can trust him with my finances
- I can trust him with my biggest fears
- I can put my confidence in him for my future
- When facing crisis I can know He can guide me
- In death I can be at peace
- Building my life around His values, character makes the best sense
- Using my resources to align with His purposes is the best investment
- Studying His life is the best of all subjects to shape my thinking, values and morals
- …???


KING OF KINGS - Why not start each day this week by declaring that Jesus is the KING OF KINGS and then go out and live like it!

Mark
If interested in joining or starting a small group contact our Director of Worship and Discipleship Amanda Van Halteren amandavh@kingston.net

CARMEN’S CORNER!

So last week, I talked about apparent contradictions among similar texts referring to the Kings of Israel and Judah. This week, let’s stay with that theme… what is UP with Jesus’ two seemingly-different genealogies in Matthew 1 and Luke 3:23-38?

Some say that this is proof of errors in the Bible. “But wait, says any-historian-worth-his-salt, the Jews were meticulous record keepers!” Did you know that a scribe who was copying a page of Scripture and who made ONE error was required to throw that page out and start over again? A pretty expensive and time-consuming error to make when you think that everything was done by hand! So the answer must lie elsewhere – there is NO WAY that Matthew and Luke, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to boot, would have allowed such contradiction to appear.

Well then, let’s turn it over to Dr. Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe, respected Christian scholars:

“This should be expected, since they are two different lines of ancestors, one traced through His legal father, Joseph and the other through His actual mother, Mary. Matthew gives the official line, since he addresses Jesus’ genealogy to Jewish concerns for the Jewish Messiah’s credentials which required that Messiah come from the seed of Abraham and the line of David (cf. Matt. 1:1). Luke, with a broader Greek audience in view, addresses himself to their interest in Jesus as the Perfect Man (which was the quest of Greek thought). Thus, he traces Jesus back to the first man, Adam (Luke 3:38).

That Matthew gives Jesus’ paternal genealogy and Luke his maternal genealogy is further supported by several facts. First of all, while both lines trace Christ to David, each is through a different son of David. Matthew traces Jesus through Joseph (his legal father) to David’s son, Solomon the king, by whom Christ rightfully inherited the throne of David (cf. 2 Sam. 7:12ff). Luke’s purpose, on the other hand, is to show Christ as an actual human. So he traces Christ to David’s son, Nathan, through his actual mother, Mary, through whom He can rightfully claim to be fully human, the redeemer of humanity.”

Well there ya go… another problem solved! See you all next week!

RESOURCES

(New this week) Geisler, Norman L., and Thomas A. Howe. When Critics Ask : A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1992.

Arthur, Kay. Teach Me Your Ways: The Pentateuch (New Inductive Bible Study Series) Harvest House Publishers, 2002. ISBN: 978-0736908054. Begin at the beginning - Creation, marriage, sin, civilization. Then learn about God's continuing lovingkindness and faithfulness to His covenant people, even when they let Him down.

Grudem, Wayne et al. Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible: A Guide to Reading the Bible Well (p. 40). Crossway. Kindle Edition.)

Koukl, Greg. How Does the Old Testament Law Apply to Christians today? Available at the Stand to Reason website at http://www.str.org/articles/how-does-the-old-testament-law-apply-to-christians-today#.VTpOJSFVikp

Longman III, Tremper. Making Sense of the Old Testament. Baker Books, 1998. Answers 3 questions: What are the keys to understanding the OT? Is the God of the OT also the God of the NT? How is the Christian to apply the OT to life?

Redford, Douglas. The Pentateuch. (Vol. 1, Standard Reference Library: Old Testament). Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing, 2008.

Schreiner, Thomas. 40 Questions about Christians and Biblical Law. Kregel Publications, 2010. (ISBN 978-0825438912) – all that Law… what still applies to us? What doesn’t? Why or why not?

Zacharias, Ravi and Vince Vitale. Why Suffering?: Finding Meaning and Comfort When Life Doesn't Make Sense. FaithWords, 2014.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Touching Base - Part 274

Series: The Book, Part 3
Anyone Watching?
17 May 2015


We're continuing a series called The Book. Over the next several months we are going to be teaching out of all the sections of the Bible and seeing how it’s put together, seeing common threads that connect the books of the Bible to make up The Book.

Now we find ourselves in the Historical books, a thousand-year period that starts in Joshua and ends with Esther. These books tell the story of

(1) Israel’s entry into the Promised Land of Canaan under Joshua;
(2) Israel’s life in the land under the judges and the transition to kingship;
(3) the division of the nation into two rival kingdoms (Israel and Judah) and life in both;
(4) the downfall and exile of each kingdom;
(5) life in the exile; and
(6) Judah’s return from exile.

Specifically we are looking at the story found in 1 Kings 12:1-24. This story refers to the dividing of Israel, a key event in the Historical books. Take a moment and read it through (read the previous chapter to get the context.) Notice in particular v.15 and v.24.

What do you think the writer wants us to see?

Here is how I would put it – God’s in the front row - watching and working! In other words, as we live out our lives, God is not only watching, but working in our lives, in our story.

What the writer wants us to see is that the doctrine of providence (providence refers to God’s active governance of the universe, because He is indeed a God who sees. He sees everything that takes place in the universe), is one of the most fascinating, important, and difficult doctrines in the Christian faith. It deals with difficult questions, such as, “How does God’s causal power and authority interact with ours..?”, “How does God’s sovereign rule relate to our free choices…?”, “How is God’s government related to the evil and suffering in this world…?” and “Does prayer have any influence over God’s providential decisions…?”

Believe you me, you could spend an eternity wrestling with these questions. BUT, note that the author does not want us to get caught up in these questions. He is telling the story to help us see that God’s in the front row - watching and working.

How do we see God’s providence working out in this story and thus ours?


1. Power

Think of your own story, your own narrative - are there any power encounters going on?

The stubborn will of a child, the rebellious posturing of a spouse, the gritty grip and control of a boss, the persistent push back of a friend, the defiance of a roommate, the incalculable invasive control of your in-laws - power that can make one think, “How could God ever work in this situation? How could any good thing come from this?” Everyone has their mind made up - how could God ever work?

Look at our biblical story. Look at the power encounter in this story. What kind of power do Rehoboam, Jeroboam and the crowd have? How is it demonstrated? Who seems more powerful?

But note again v.15 and v.24 - what does the author want us to see? Who holds the real power?

Got any power encounters in your story?
Does it ever feel like in your story that all you see is the strong will of people?
Do you ever look at the power encounters in your story and wonder, “How will God ever be glorified in this?”

2. Sin

Power can, at times, result in great evil. Again review this story and ask, “How is power being used by these characters? What sin is manifesting? Regarding Jeroboam also read v.25-33.

Once you are done that exercise, scan your story. What examples of human sin lace your story, your family narrative, and your family tree? What has been the sin you have brought into the narrative? All of us could talk for hours about how sin has tainted our stories. For some sin has had devastating effects on our family story.

But note again v.15 and v.24 - what does the author want us to see? Does it appear that God has a front row seat to all that is happening? Does it appear that he is not only watching but working?

God is using the pernicious power, and the toxic sin to bring about His perfect purposes.

Check out v.15 again and ask, “Who is Ahijah?” Check out 11:26-43. God is bringing judgment upon the house of Solomon and he is using the sin and pernicious power of people to accomplish just that. He is also preserving the line of David (see v.36). Why? Check out Romans 1:1-4.

God’s in the front row - watching and working! His providence means He holds the power and can accomplish His purposes even when life looks really bleak.

What pernicious power is in your story that you need to ask God to work through these days?
What toxic sin is in your story that you need to trust that God can work through? Are you abusing power and thus sinning in your story?

Don’t allow the complexities of sovereignty, God’s providence, to rob you of the hope it can give us as we live out our story. Misguided power and sin that is embraced can be the very thing God uses in our story to accomplish His work. Mystery? For sure! Hope? Absolutely!

Mark Kotchapaw
If interested in joining or starting a small group contact our Director of Worship and Discipleship Amanda Van Halteren amandavh@kingston.net

CARMEN’S CORNER!

DID YOU KNOW?

This week, as Mark discusses the Kings, I thought I’d remind you of a great principle to remember: a contradiction and an apparent contradiction are two different things.

Many atheists like to use the genealogies of the kings of Israel to show so-called “contradictions” in the Bible. However, you can be reassured that these contradictions are apparent contradictions only and can usually be resolved with some historical research and common sense (after all, if God wrote the Bible, which Christians contend, there is simply no way He would allow such a simple error!)

As an example, we are told that in one text (let’s say, 1 Kings) that King X was in charge, but in another text (1 Chronicles for instance, talking about the exact same time period), it says that King Y was in charge! So which is it? Well, it’s quite simple really: they’re BOTH right – it turns out the first King was on the throne, but the other was his son who acted as Regent until his father’s death.

We still see this even today: our own Queen Elizabeth II is still the reigning monarch, but her son Prince Charles has taken on more and more of her duties as she ages. See?!

Count on it: when God writes a book, you can trust the content, even if it’s not always easy or obvious!


RESOURCES

(New this week) Grudem, Wayne et al. Understanding the Big Picture of the Bible: A Guide to Reading the Bible Well (p. 40). Crossway. Kindle Edition.)

(New this week) Zacharias, Ravi and Vince Vitale. Why Suffering?: Finding Meaning and Comfort When Life Doesn't Make Sense

Arthur, Kay. Teach Me Your Ways: The Pentateuch (New Inductive Bible Study Series) Harvest House Publishers, 2002. ISBN: 978-0736908054. Begin at the beginning - Creation, marriage, sin, civilization. Then learn about God's continuing lovingkindness and faithfulness to His covenant people, even when they let Him down.

Koukl, Greg. How Does the Old Testament Law Apply to Christians today? Available at the Stand to Reason website at http://www.str.org/articles/how-does-the-old-testament-law-apply-to-christians-today#.VTpOJSFVikp

Longman III, Tremper. Making Sense of the Old Testament. Baker Books, 1998. Answers 3 questions: What are the keys to understanding the OT? Is the God of the OT also the God of the NT? How is the Christian to apply the OT to life?

Redford, Douglas. The Pentateuch. (Vol. 1, Standard Reference Library: Old Testament). Cincinnati, OH: Standard Publishing, 2008.

Schreiner, Thomas. 40 Questions about Christians and Biblical Law. Kregel Publications, 2010. (ISBN 978-0825438912) – all that Law… what still applies to us? What doesn’t? Why or why not?
y or why not?