This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27 NASB Religion – John Gager points out that the word “religion” did not exist before the Christian era. The idea is worth investigation. …
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles 1 Corinthians 1:23 ESV Stumbling block/ folly – Why is the Messiah crucified a stumbling block to Jews? Why is the Messiah crucified folly to Gentiles? Why does Paul choose two different words for two different groups of people? If the…
O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 NASB Earnestly – “I shall seek You earnestly.” What does that mean to you? Does it mean that you will rouse up passion…
I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. Psalm 119:19 NASB Stranger – What is required for a stranger to become a welcomed member of the community? You might find yourself in that situation if you travel outside your native land. You want to establish connection, create new bonds, become…
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. Psalm 22:27 ESV Worship – “The philosophy of Jewish living is essentially a philosophy of worship. For what is observance, if not a form of worshipping God?”[1] Once you grasp the…
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! Psalm 141:2 ESV Sacrifice – Come and worship the King! Surrender your vanities, burn your insolence, abandon your bias.[1] But do not think that you will go away unscathed. Do not imagine His holiness will…
Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules. Psalm 119:108 ESV Rules – Does the God of grace have rules? You bet! If you thought grace meant “no rules,” then you are not only Roman/Greek in your worldview, you have also never read Scripture in its own culture. Just as…
Join in Scripture Study with Skip Moen, visiting Perth 23 November View this email in your browser Special Invitation to Scripture Study and Fellowship as we invite Skip Moen [D. Phil], on Saturday 23 November, to share from God’s Word. We have the joy to invite you all to a special Shabbat gathering in two weeks time,…
Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God. Psalm 119:115 ESV Keep – The company you keep has a direct effect on your ability to delight the Lord. Old places and old faces, as every Twelve-Stepper knows, will certainly drag you back down the addictive path. Anyone who thinks…
