Scripture Study with Bibi: Genesis 1-8

"However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts."  - John Calvin

Last week, we covered some introductory points about the Bible. This week, we shall examine the period beginning with Creation to the end of the Flood (Genesis, chapters 1-8).

To gain a better perspective of the sequence of events, and understand the characters, locations, etc., that were involved, I urge you to read the chapters thoroughly prior to completing the exercises.

I admit that this is not a deep study of the Bible, nor did I intend for it to be. My goal is to provide a thumbnail overview of Scripture. Even so, I pray these concise studies will inspire you to pursue even further learning.

Before we start, permit me to provide a bit of background information about the Book of Genesis. This will enable both the new and the seasoned Bible students to begin on equal footing.

The Book of Genesis was written and put together by Moses while in the Wilderness of Sinai. It is also known as the book of beginnings. One can see why this so by reading the opening statement (Genesis 1:1).

In Genesis we encounter the written record of several "beginnings," including the beginning of: the heavens, earth, plant, animal, and even human life. Also included, are the beginnings of human relationships, laws, customs, etc.

Genesis is the first of five books of the Bible commonly known as "the Pentateuch" (from two Greek words meaning "five books"). These books are traditionally accepted as being written by Moses, the Israelite leader and are part of the Old Testament.

Let's begin our study with prayer: Dear LORD, as we meet together to learn, grow, and change in study, help us move into a deeper understanding of your truth. Amen

Now, for the assignments:

1.) First, read Genesis, chapter 1. According to your reading, write in order the six (6) formative or influential periods, and what was done in each.

2.) In recent years there has been a surge of individuals interested in tracking their family history in order to learn more about their roots. Genesis, chapter 2, provides the story of Adam and Eve, our first ancestors.

What does Genesis, chapter tell us about the creation of man? What does it tell us about the place that was assigned to him (Adam)? What command was Adam given by God? How was the first woman (Eve) brought into the world?

3.) Genesis, chapter 3, discusses the fall of Man. What led to this, and what were the consequences of it? Also, within this chapter is a promise that points to the Messiah. In what verse can it be found?

4.) Genesis, chapter 4 contains the story of Cain and Abel. After their expulsion from the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had to struggle for survival in the world. It was in this state of affairs that Eve first gave birth to a son, Cain, and then his brother, Abel.

Abel became a shepherd, and Cain a farmer. Describe the major event recorded here between the two brothers. What do you think was the reason for this? What lesson can we gather from the story of Cain and Abel?

5.) Genesis, chapter 5 contains the written account of Adam's lineage, specifically Adam and Seth's. It is an abbreviated family history connecting Adam to Noah. The emphasis here is on connections or ties rather than chronology.

What were the names and ages of the six descendants who lived longest? How are Methuselah and Noah related?

6.) We know that the perfect paradise of Adam and Eve, as provided to them by God, was no longer available to them. Humanity began to multiply at a rapid rate and it's bad characteristics along with it. 

What was the consequence for the wickedness of humanity? (Genesis, Chapter 6, verses 1-7).

What was God's command to Noah? (Genesis, chapter 6, verses 13-22)

7) Read the story of the Flood in Genesis, chapter 7). Why did the Lord tell Noah to take seven pairs of certain animals and not of others?

8.) After the flood water subsided, Noah, his family, and the creatures disembarked from the ark (Genesis, chapter 8). What was the first thing that Noah proceeded to do? What was God's promise to Noah?

This concludes our studies for now. Next time, we will resume from the close of the Flood through the call of Abraham (Genesis, chapters 9-11). I encourage you to read ahead in preparation. Until then, have a blessed and safe weekend!

Scripture: Psalm 31:19; Psalm 145:9; Psalm 34:14; Proverbs 25:26; Psalm 5:4

Closing prayer: Dear LORD, strengthen me with the hope of my salvation and the many other blessings you provide with your continuous presence in my life. Amen

May you all be blessed!

Bibi

Video - Sheila Walsh: The Turning Point

Prayer is a powerful means of communicating with God. Surprisingly, many don't use it for a variety of reasons. Inspirational writer, speaker, and Bible teacher, Sheila Walsh discusses her experience with the power of prayer in her own life. If you find yourself up against a wall, or feeling that you can't possibly live up to God's expectations, help is always within reach. Listen up!   ~Eve

"What Is Your Request..?"

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."  - Matthew 7:7

We see in the above verse taken from The Sermon on the Mount, that fewer words were ever spoken more wonderfully; yet they are confirmed every day by devoted disciples of Christ (Psalm 116:1).

By way of our asking, seeking, and knocking we reveal our desires; and desire is the key of heaven. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6).

We must not hold back from asking for whatever we truly desire. Neither should we keep from seeking what we know is infinitely precious. 

And we can always, with full confidence, knock at the door that stands between us and the object of our loving affection. "What is your petition?... It will be given you" (Esther 7:2).

Scripture: Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 21:22; John 14:13-14; James 1:5; Colossians 3:17

Prayer: 

Father, I ask for thy tender kindness, which is better than life itself. 

Son of God, I seek thy grace, which in weakness makes me strong. 

Holy Spirit, I knock at the door which is always opened to the humble and broken heart. 

May all they mercies and my frailties compel me to never stop asking until You have given, to seek without fail until I have found, and to knock without fear until it has been opened. Amen.

Grace and blessings,

LeeAnne

Scripture Study with Bibi: A Beginning

"To get the full flavor of an herb, it must be pressed between the fingers, so it is the same with the Scriptures; the more familiar they become, the more they reveal their hidden treasures and yield their indescribable riches."  - John Chrysostom, A.D. 347-407   

As a semi-regular contributing writer here for many years, I am always pleased and thankful to be able to share my love for God and His Word with others!

To help celebrate the tenth anniversary of The Coffeehouse Bible Ministry, I was given the privilege of presenting a series of Bible studies which I hope you will find informative and useful.

After much careful thought, I decided that these studies should not be so drawn-out that I risk giving the individual too much at one sitting, making them lose interest early on.

Many prefer to begin their Bible studies in the New Testament. I see nothing wrong with this as it is the most familiar for many. I, instead, would like to commence from a different place.

The Old Testament serves to provide the groundwork leading to, and connecting with, the New Testament. And it is in the Old Testament that we shall launch our studies here.

Let's begin our study with prayer: Dear LORD, as we meet together to learn, grow, and change in study, help us move into a deeper understanding of your truth. Amen

Here are some general features of Bible. We will find that there are many narratives among 39 books in the Old Testament, and 27 books in the New Testament for a total of sixty-six in the Bible.

There is a great variety in the nature and personalities of the writers, therein. Some lived in palaces, and others in prisons. Some were princes, philosophers, even scholars. Still, others were shepherds, fishermen, manual laborers and artisans.

The Bible is made up of writings covering a span of about 1400 years and includes some 40 writers. The earliest were probably written between 1400 and 1500 BCE, the latest about 96 CE.

As our studies unfold, I hope that the distinct objective of the Bible will become clear to you. That is, that the Holy Bible is a revelation of religious truth from God to man.

Assignments: 

1. The Books of the Bible are organized or divided by sections. These are:

(Old Testament) - Law, History, Poetry, Major Prophets and Minor Prophets
(New Testament) - Biographies, History, Epistles, Prophecy

See if you can classify the Books of the Bible into the above categories.

I hope you will join me next time when we shall examine Genesis, Chapters 1-8: (from Creation to the close of the Flood). Until then, have a blessed and safe weekend!

Scripture: Mark 13:31; Romans 15:4; Psalm 119:105; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Closing prayer: Dear LORD, strengthen me with the hope of my salvation and the many other blessings you provide with your continuous presence in my life. Amen

May you all be blessed!

Bibi

Pray, Pray, Pray by John Piper (Audio Clip)

We are told to pray dozens of times in the Bible. God loves us and He wouldn't tell us to do something that's bad for us. Prayer is a staggeringly, awesome privilege. American pastor John Piper talks about prayer in this audio clip. Definitely worth a few minutes of your time!    ~Eve

Jesus and the Parable, Conclusion

Jesus was rejected as the Messiah by the Jewish leaders and by some of the people. God had graciously offered them every opportunity to accept Jesus' message. Still, they didn't believe Him.

Here lies a critical juncture in the earthly ministry of Jesus (Matthew 13). He has implied that temporal relationships are being replaced by spiritual connections. That, obedience to God, the Father overrides Jewish birth.

Thus, by using parables (earthly stories with a heavenly meaning), Jesus provided a glimpse of the new form the kingdom would adopt in the interim between His rejection, and future appearance as King of kings.

So, why did Jesus use parables? His disciples wanted to know why, as well. Jesus reply is found in Matthew 13:11, 14, 15. He tried to get His message of the kingdom across but they didn't want to hear it or receive it.

Basically, their unwillingness to receive His message of the kingdom of God was why He taught in parables. They heard the truths of the kingdom, but didn't understand. The message wasn't kept from them, they just didn't want to hear it.

What is the takeaway from all of this? We are directed to a great truth. As mentioned, God provided the people with numerous chances to accept the message of Jesus. In addition, the evidence of His Messiahship was set out for all to see in His miracles.

Even so, their belief in Him was not there. Sadly, as a result the realities of the kingdom were beyond their grasp. Nevertheless, those who did believe in Jesus as the Messiah would perceive, both, the meaning of the parables, and the truths regarding the Kingdom of God.

Going forward in His ministry, whenever Jesus taught in parables He would explain them only to His disciples. Those who had constantly rebuffed His message were left in spiritual darkness to ponder what He meant.

Because of their acceptance of Jesus' truth, they were bestowed with ever increasing amounts of it. This applies to all believers who have been granted the gift of the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth (John 16:13).

Jesus was well aware that the truth would not appeal to everyone. When it comes to the deep things of God, some have neither interest in, nor regard for it. Herein lies the point of Jesus speaking in parables.

To any who have a true and honest hunger for God, the parable is a powerful and unforgettable way to impart divine truths. Jesus' parables consist of many truths in a minimal amount of words. They are also abundant with imagery, making them extremely memorable.

Finally, the parables of Jesus are stories unlike any others. Each is a blessing to any who are willing to hear them. And to those with apathetic hearts and unwilling ears, the parable is also a tool of judgment and mercy.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, let Your presence show greatly in my actions, lessons, and miracles. Thank You for listening to me, In Your Name, Amen.

May God be with you always,

Kaelyn

Strife Is Destructive!

"Two aged men, that had been foes for life, Met by a grave, and wept - and in those tears They washed away the memory of their strife; Then wept again the loss of all those years."  - Jean Paul

If you think you are immune from strife, think again. Families, political opponents, nations, and even believers, to mention a few, are all susceptible to it. If left unchecked, it can quickly lead to discontent, violence, and destruction.

 

God loathes strife (Proverbs 6:16-19). The Bible provides many warnings against it, such as in Proverbs 20:3; Proverbs 17:1; Proverbs 18:6 and 22:10. Even so, strife is a very formidable foe to avoid in this life.

In Genesis 13:6-7 Abram and Lot strove with one another, In Numbers 20:2 the Israelites gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. During New Testament times, the early church tangled with strife (1 Corinthians 3:3; 1 Timothy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 12:20). 

Some rebuff or reject the viewpoint of others, demanding their way or none. They may also refuse to compromise, debate, or be respectful. What this tells us is that even the strongest, most-devout, person can never rest against strife.

Pride, hate, and jealousy are some things that can fan the flames of strife. We are encouraged to love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:39), yet there is always the possibility that strife will step into our lives at anytime.

But, we are not completely helpless or hopeless against it. Someone once said that the best defense is a good offense. First and foremost, we should try and avoid situations where strife is a real possibility, if we can.

Cooler heads prevail. Nothing gets accomplished when anger rules the day. Self-restraint and calm dialogue reduces the chances for strife. Remember the Golden Rule..? Try it out the next time strife comes calling (Matthew 7:12; Galatians 5:22; Colossians 3:12-13).

Extending compassion, patience, and being courteous are some other common sense ways we can use to oppose and frustrate strife in our daily life. And, finally, we should pray to God for His help and support in dealing with strife (1 Timothy 2:8).

Scripture: Deuteronomy 1:12; Romans 12:18; 1 Corinthians 3:3; Proverbs 13:10; Proverbs 22:10 

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I pray for a heart of mercy when it comes to dealing with strife. Help me to show mercy as You have shown me. Amen.

God bless you always,

Rona