You will never know the strength of your Anchor until you face the stress of the storm.

As you probably know, James letter was controversial because you could read it as a works-based salvation, but instead, it was we are saved by faith alone, but true faith is never alone. It results in fruit. The word “religion” which is “thrace-kos” (comes from the base of G2360 in Strongs which means ceremonious in worship) and occurs only once in all of Scripture, and that is in James, when he is calling out those who think they are religious, yet lack evidence. He says 

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27 NIV)

Sunday:

1. What stands out to you from the fact that the word “religion” is used only once in Scripture — and how James uses it?
2. How have you seen God in your life recently in joy or in trials?

Monday: Cartoon Overview and James 1:1-18

3. Watch the cartoon overview of James from the Bible Recap. Scroll down on the Devotional and find it. What stands out to you and why?

4.  Read James 1:1-18 and make observations. Then choose the one that stands out the most and share why.

Blogger Quotes from our past study with Paige on James 1:

Rebecca: God has built my muscle of dependance on Him in not doubting His character and in falling in His arms.

Laura: “We, out of all creation, became his prized possession.” (James 1:18 NLT) Wow. I am His prized possession.

Bing and Susan both liked a quote from Dr. Motyer :We live about what we love. The shape of our lives is determined by the joy of our hearts.

Patti: I couldn’t help thinking about why wealth and money can threaten our devotion to God

Tuesday: James 1:19-26

5. Make observations on James 1:19-26 then share your favorite and why.

Wednesday: James 2:1-13

You have probably heard the story of the Rescue station on a Great Lake that had such great community that they stopped rescuing boats in trouble and just enjoyed one another. So many churches have stopped rescuing and turned into “Country Clubs.” James understands this danger. Our churches should be filled with ragamuffins and rescuers, so different than the world’s elite.

6. Make observations on James 2:1-13 and then share your favorite and why.

Thursday: James 2:14-26

7. Make observations and then share your favorite and why.

Blogger Quotes from our past study with Paige on James 2:

Lydia: Our community needs Jesus, not a “Christian Club”. 

Susan:  Paige emphasizes that receiving is not the same thing as hearing, or understanding, or agreeing. What matters is the lab! What matters is responding!

Friday: Tara-Leigh Cobble

We’ll listen to Tara this week, She confused me a bit when she said James didn’t write this but “Jacabo” but what she meant was that “Jacabo” is the correct Hebrew name and the English translation is Jacob, and James is a mistake. But this is the half brother of Jesus. It is interesting to me that James, and some if not all of his siblings didn’t believe until the resurrection.

7. What stands out to you from Tara and why?

Saturday: God Shot?

8. What is your God shot and why?

The post James 1-2 with Tara-Leigh and Dee appeared first on Dee Brestin Ministries.

Crooked as a corkscrew

The fleeting praise of man is a huge stumbling block for me. How I want to be like Paul and Barnabas who boldly spoke the truth to the Bar-Jesus whom The Message says “was crooked as a corkscrew.” They didn’t fear having a curse from the devil put on them! They knew God was more powerful.

Women of high standing

And when respected women of high standing turned against them and drove them from the city, the Message says “they shrugged their shoulders and went on to the next town, Iconium, brimming with joy and the Holy Spirit, two happy disciples.” (Acts 13:51-52)

Oh Lord, help me to find that same joy in pleasing you, no matter what people think! I want to live to please You alone, but You know how I struggle. Change my heart, O God.

Sunday:

1. How did you experience the power, joy, or peace of the Lord this week?

Monday: Acts 13:1-12

I was struck how the Lord spoke to the four men worshipping and fasting. My daughter Sally had this experience in high school when she and her friends fasted lunches and prayed — and it ended up bringing the Jesus Film to a secular high school. 

2. Make observations and then write about the one that impacted you the most and why.

3. Have you ever had the experience that the four men had in hearing from the Lord after worshiping and fasting together? (verses 1-3) If so, share.

4. Make observations about Paul’s sermon in verses 13-39. What stood out to you the most and why?

Tuesday: Acts 13:40-52

5. How does Paul end his sermon in verses 40-41? 

6. I wonder if preaching is different in third world countries, for I doubt many American preachers could do this. We tried a Paul Washer sermon at our church and while some liked it, others really were upset at how harsh he was. I wonder how Jonathan Edwards would fare today. Thoughts?

7. Make observations about the various responses of the people in 42-52.

8. What strikes you the most and why?

9. What is your God shot for all of Acts 13?

Wednesday: Acts 14:1-18

10. Make observations for Acts 14:1-7

11. I am most interested in this: “They spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.” I want more details. How do you think they spoke?

12. Make observations for Acts 14:8-18 What stands out the most and why?

Thursday: Acts 14:19-28

13. Make observations for verses 19:23. What stands out and why?

14. Make observations for verses 24-28.

15. What is your God shot for Acts 14.

Friday: Tara Lee

16. What Tara and share what stands out and why.

Saturday: Pray your Application

17. How might you apply this. Now pray for help here.

The post Acts 13 & 14 with TLC and Dee appeared first on Dee Brestin Ministries.

I live on a road that has over 30 summer homes, and in the winter, only myself and another widow have been here. Bible-believing Christians are as rare as finding shade in the desert.  So when the home next door went up for sale, I prayed for a Christian neighbor who might be around in the winter as well. I was as astonished as Rhonda when God answered my prayer. Scott and Duska moved in. My handyman brought Scott over, and though my handyman is not a Christian, said, “Dee – -I knew you would be excited to know your new neighbor is a Christian.” I WAS! Though he and Duska travel all over the world for his business, he “happened” to be here when I so needed him during our historic storm in March. He dug this long tunnel for me in  so I could get to my garage. See below.

When he came in for a well-deserved cup of coffee, I told him again how surprised I was that God had answered my prayer. He said that a friend told him that as we mature in the Lord, we get less surprised when God answered our prayers!

Sunday:

The Lord is always with us, but sometimes He makes us very aware of His presence. Last week, did you have an answer to prayer, unusual timing or circumstances, help to do His work, Scripture becoming radioactive, or a sense of His presence through creation or fellowship?

1. Share a God Hunt and any comments from the above.

To Get Started Follow These Steps (They are pretty easy, but if you have trouble, find someone young!)

1. Search for “Bible App by YouVersion” in the App Store (if you don’t already have it).
2. Tap “Plans” (bottom menu)
   • This is where all reading plans live.
3. Search for: “The Bible Recap”
   • Look for:
     • The Bible Recap (New Testament)
     • or The Bible Recap with Tara-Leigh Cobble
4. Open the plan
   • Tap “Start Plan”
5. Customize your start
   • Choose
     • Then look for “Adjust Plan” or “Start from Day…”
     • Scroll until you find Day 50 in N.T. Tap into that day and follow the directions for each day — It will usually look like this:

1. Devotional (Prayer)
2. Read the chapters (Usually one a day — and highlight)
3. Share one thing you learned
4. Watch Tara (Scroll down on the devotional button.)
5. Share your “God Shot” 

Monday: Acts 11:1-18 

2. First, read it aloud to yourself, asking God to help you truly see. Share one thing that stands out.

3. Summarize and make observations.

4. Meditate on the criticism of the “circumcision party.” How were they adding to the gospel? What are some other ways people have added to the gospel?

Tuesday: Acts 11:19-30

My friend Cristian, for whom some of you have been praying, was surprised to learn from me that the Spirit only dwells in Christians. He found that out because I asked him, “What more do you need to surrender to Jesus?” He said, I want to know what God would ask of me. I told him he couldn’t know that until he had the Spirit.

5. Optional: What thoughts do you have on my discussion with Cristian — agree or disagree?

6. Read, highlight, and share what stood out to you from Acts 11:19-30 and why. Or just your God Shot. 

7. The moving of the Spirit seems so powerful. Give examples from this passage. Then pray it for yourself for today.

Wednesday: Acts 12:1-19

8. Do the SOAP method from Bev:

• Summarize in a sentence
• Observations
• Application
• Pray it into your life

Thursday: Acts:12:20-25

9. Yesterday we saw how God astonished Rhoda. Share a time when God astonished you by answered a prayer.

10. What do  you learn from this scary passage and how could you apply it?

11. Pray you will here!

Friday: Tara, God Shot

Go back to the devotional and scroll down to see the Bible Recap — should look something like this:

12. Watch, take any notes, and share your “God Shot.”

Saturday:

13. Any questions you want to ask of your sisters? Or comments on something one shared?

The post Acts 11 and 12 with TLC and Dee appeared first on Dee Brestin Ministries.

Our daughter Beth was 12 when we adopted her. One of the first things we did was to get her glasses, for her eyesight was so compromised. I’ll never forget her wonder as she walked out of the office wearing her new glasses. Suddenly all the blurry beauty she had missed become clear: trees, flowers, people! She was like the man who needed a second touch from Jesus to see clearly.

She cried and so did we.

God can do the same with us by making familiar passages radioactive.

 This week we study two very famous familiar chapters, so pray with me:

Oh Lord, give us eyes to see these historical accounts afresh, to see what You want us to see. May we not skim, but truly see.

Sunday: SPYING GOD

The Lord is always with us, but sometimes He makes us very aware of His presence. Last week did you have an answer to prayer, unusual timing or circumstances, help to do His work, Scripture becoming radioactive, or a sense of His presence through creation or fellowship?

To Get Started Follow These Steps (They are pretty easy, but if you have trouble, find someone young!)

1. Search for “Bible App by YouVersion” in the App Store (if you don’t already have it).
2. Tap “Plans” (bottom menu)
   • This is where all reading plans live.
3. Search for: “The Bible Recap”
   • Look for:
     • The Bible Recap (New Testament)
     • or The Bible Recap with Tara-Leigh Cobble
4. Open the plan
   • Tap “Start Plan”
5. Customize your start
   • Choose
     • Then look for “Adjust Plan” or “Start from Day…”
     • Scroll until you find Day 50 in N.T. Tap into that day and follow the directions for each day — It will usually look like this:

1. Devotional (Prayer)
2. Read the chapters (Usually one a day — and highlight)
3. Share one thing you learned
4. Watch Tara (Scroll down on the devotional button.)
5. Share your “God Shot” 

Monday: Acts 9:1-25

1. First, read it aloud to yourself, asking God to help you truly see. Share one thing that stands out.
2. Optional: Make ten observations and then share one that stands out and why.
3. Personally, have you known someone who dramatically changed because of Christ as Saul was? If so, share how.

Tuesday: Acts 9:26-43

4. Read, highlight, and share what stood out to you. Do more, or just your God shot.

5. Optional “Barnabas Action Assignment” Ask the Lord to bring to your mind a believer that needs encouragement. Write a note, text, or visit that person and encourage them. Share what you did.

Wednesday: Acts 10

6. Read, highlight, and share what stood out to you and why. Or just your God Shot. Or do more.

7. There are civil, ceremonial, and moral laws in the Old Testament. The only ones we still obey are moral. I’m going to give an example of each. What is it?

A. Civil: (Governing Israel as a nation, dealing with property, debts, boundaries…) Deut 22:8

B. Ceremonial: (Dealing with worship that points the way to Christ) Leviticus 1:4

          C. Moral: (Timeless principles of right and wrong) Exodus 20:3

Thursday/Friday: Tara, God Shot

Go back to the devotional and scroll down to see the Bible Recap — should look something like this:

8. Watch, take any notes, and share your “God Shot.”

Saturday:

9 Any questions you want to ask of your sisters? Or comments on something one shared?

The post Acts 9-10 with TLC and Dee appeared first on Dee Brestin Ministries.

What helped Keller was practicing two principles of sound hermeneutics: context and repetition of a subject. So we will look at that on Monday before we plunge in.

Sunday: SPYING GOD

The Lord is always with us, but sometimes He makes us very aware of His presence. Last week did you have an answer to prayer, unusual timing or circumstances, help to do His work, Scripture becoming radioactive, or a sense of His presence through creation or fellowship?

To Get Started Follow These Steps (They are pretty easy, but if you have trouble, find someone young!)

1. Search for “Bible App by YouVersion” in the App Store (if you don’t already have it).
2. Tap “Plans” (bottom menu)
   • This is where all reading plans live.
3. Search for: “The Bible Recap”
   • Look for:
     • The Bible Recap (New Testament)
     • or The Bible Recap with Tara-Leigh Cobble
4. Open the plan
   • Tap “Start Plan”
5. Customize your start
   • Choose
     • Then look for “Adjust Plan” or “Start from Day…”
     • Scroll until you find Day 49 in N.T. Tap into that day and follow the directions for each day — It will usually look like this:

1. Devotional (Prayer)
2. Read the chapters (Usually one a day — and highlight)
3. Share one thing you learned
4. Watch Tara (almost under 10 minutes) Scroll down on the devotional button.
5. Share your “God Shot” 

Monday: Context and Repetition for Acts 7

1. Look back at Acts 6:13-15 and Acts 7:1 to see the context for Stephen’s sermon.

1. 1. Of what two things was Stephen accused in 6:13?
   2. What question did the high priest ask in 7:1

Stephen’s sermon, Keller explains, was to refute that Jesus spoke against the Temple and the Law. Here is what Keller says about Stephen explaining that Abraham, Moses, and Joseph all met with God with no temple.

As he goes through the history of Israel, almost the whole of the Hebrew Scriptures, he first of all says, “Well, I don’t think we need the temple to find God. Abraham met God, and Abraham didn’t have the temple. God was with Joseph in Egypt, and Joseph didn’t have the temple. God met Moses out in the wilderness at the burning bush, and there was no temple.” Even after the temple was built, he quotes where Isaiah 66 says God does not dwell in a house made with hands. He’s not a tribal deity. He can’t be confined to a box. The first thing he does if you look through the speech is he’s saying, “No, you don’t need the temple in order to find God, in order to meet God.

2. Summarize what Keller said above.

3. Read Acts 7:49-50. How does God show that a temple is not needed to worship Him?

Keller continues, addressing the Law:

By the way, that creates a problem, and it mainly has to do with the law, because the accuser would’ve been sitting there saying, “Well, wait a minute. In the temple you have the sacrifices, so how in the world can you possibly meet God unless you obey the law and then when you don’t obey the law there are the sacrifices?” Then he turns to the law, and as he goes again through the whole history of Israel, first of all, he says, “Under Moses you didn’t obey the law. Under Aaron you didn’t obey the law. Amos says you didn’t obey the law.” He’s going through, and Stephen is saying, “Look. The law is good. I believe in the law. The law of God is important. It’s inviolable. You can’t put it aside. You can’t ignore it, but the problem is you’ve never obeyed it and you never will obey it. So if we’re saved by obeying the law, we have a problem.” He answers, “No, you don’t need the temple in order to meet God.” Secondly, “Yes, you do need to obey the law in order to meet God, but you can’t do it.”

4. Summarize what Keller said above.

5. Read Acts 7:51-53. How does Stephen show them they were not able to keep the Law?

Keller looks at the repetition in Stephen’s sermon and says this:

Thirdly, he brings up something he sees in the history of Israel he wasn’t asked about but in many ways is the key to everything he says. That is, he says, “I’ve noticed a pattern in the history of our people. Every time God sends a deliverer, that deliverer is rejected and persecuted by the very people he was sent to save.

6. Summarize what Keller said above.

Tuesday: Acts 7

7. Read, highlight, and share what stood out to you. Do more, or just your God shot.

8. What are some ways you worship God all day long without a temple?

9. Give an example of how the gospel or the Spirit of God has helped you obey the Law. Be specific.

Wednesday: Acts 8

10. Read, highlight, and share what stood out to you and why. Or just your God Shot. Or do more.

11. Have you ever had a similar experience as Philip did with the eunuch, sensing you should talk to someone about the gospel? Share.

Thursday/Friday: Tara, God Shot

Go back to the devotional and scroll down to see the Bible Recap — should look something like this:

12. Watch, take any notes, and share your “God Shot.”

Saturday:

13. Any questions you want to ask of your sisters? Or comments on something one shared?

The post Tara-Leigh Cobble, Dee, Keller, and Acts 7-8 appeared first on Dee Brestin Ministries.

I’m adding a few questions to make it a bit more personal for this wonderful group. These are challenging chock-full chapters. We’ll be pondering:

Are we praying for boldness like they did? When is the last time you were bold?

What idol caused Ananias and Sapphira to lie to the Holy Spirit?

What did Stephen see when dying? Have you been at the deathbed of someone who was like that?

Sunday: SPYING GOD

The Lord is always with us, but sometimes He makes us very aware of His presence. Last week did you have an answer to prayer, unusual timing or circumstances, help to do His work, Scripture becoming radioactive, or a sense of His presence through creation or fellowship?

To Get Started Follow These Steps (They are pretty easy, but if you have trouble, find someone young!)

1. Search for “Bible App by YouVersion” in the App Store (if you don’t already have it).
2. Tap “Plans” (bottom menu)
   • This is where all reading plans live.
3. Search for: “The Bible Recap”
   • Look for:
     • The Bible Recap (New Testament)
     • or The Bible Recap with Tara-Leigh Cobble
4. Open the plan
   • Tap “Start Plan”
5. Customize your start
   • Choose
     • Then look for “Adjust Plan” or “Start from Day…”
     • Scroll until you find Day 48 in N.T. (Acts 4-6)

Tap into that day and follow the directions for each day — It will usually look like this:

1. Devotional (Prayer)
2. Read the chapters (Usually one a day — and highlight)
3. Share one thing you learned
4. Watch Tara (almost under 10 minutes)
5. Share your “God Shot” 

Monday: Acts 4

Begin on Day 48 in the New Testament Version and Pray the Prayers in the Devotional

1. Read Acts 4 and highlight. Then share one thing that stood out to you and why.(Do more if you like – do that what when, why questions, or make 10 observations, or just share one thing.)
2. Are you praying for boldness? Share the last time you were bold for the Lord!

Tuesday: Acts 5

3. Read, highlight, and share what stood out to you. Do more, or just your God shot.

4. What idol might have been beneath Ananias and Sapphira’s sin? When did you last struggle with the idol of affirmation and how did you handle it? Be specific.

Wednesday: Acts 6

5. Read, highlight, and share what stood out to you and why. Or just your God Shot. Or do more.

6. What did Stephen see at the end? Have you been at a deathbed or heard about one that moved you?

Thursday/Friday: Tara, God Shot

Go back to the devotional and scroll down to see the Bible Recap — should look something like this:

7. Watch, take any notes, and share your “God Shot.”

Saturday:

8. Any questions you want to ask of your sisters? Or comments on something one shared?

The post Tara-Leigh Cobble, Dee, and Acts 4-6 appeared first on Dee Brestin Ministries.

 I’ve arranged this study so if you have a crazy day or are in other studies, you can do the minimum with no guilt! You could just do your “God Shot” after you read a chapter, and again after you Listen to Tara. Minimal time!

But we also know, as Tara often closes her teaching, “He is where the joy is.” So we can also put into practice the principles we know about slowing down, making observations, and praying through a passage. I’m in this with you. I am in several other studies, but I do also know that as I abide in Him and He abides in me, I will bear much wonderful fruit and experience His presence.

This is such a rich group and truly, we see so much more together. 

I feel privileged to be doing this with you!

Sunday: SPYING GOD

The Lord is always with us, but sometimes He makes us very aware of His presence. Last week did you have an answer to prayer, unusual timing or circumstances, help to do His work, Scripture becoming radioactive, or a sense of His presence through creation or fellowship?

To Get Started Follow These Steps (They are pretty easy, but if you have trouble, find someone young!)

1. Search for “Bible App by YouVersion” in the App Store (if you don’t already have it).
2. Tap “Plans” (bottom menu)
   • This is where all reading plans live.
3. Search for: “The Bible Recap”
   • Look for:
     • The Bible Recap (New Testament)
     • or The Bible Recap with Tara-Leigh Cobble
4. Open the plan
   • Tap “Start Plan”
5. Customize your start
   • Choose
     • Then look for “Adjust Plan” or “Start from Day…”
     • Scroll until you find Day 47 in N.T. (Acts 1-3(

Tap into that day and follow the directions for each day — It will usually look like this:

1. Devotional (Prayer)
2. Read the chapters (Usually one a day — and highlight)
3. Share one thing you learned
4. Watch Tara (almost under 10 minutes)
5. Share your “God Shot” 

Monday: Beginning Acts

Begin on Day 47 in the New Testament Version and Pray the Prayers in the Devotional

1. Read Acts 1 and highlight. Then share one thing that stood out to you and why.

Tuesday: Acts 2

3. Read, highlight, and share what stood out to you. Or just your God shot.

Wednesday: Acts 3

4. Read, highlight, and share what stood out to you and why. Or just your God Shot.

Thursday/Friday: Tara, God Shot

If you haven’t had a young person help you with the app yet, you can do it this way to give you another week. Click below for her on you-tube: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2k8whJgqac&list=PLkgWIAVOhHuDDVn7ArHWB78Zix9C1pEZn&index=54

Go back to the devotional and scroll down to see the Bible Recap — should look something like this. On the “Devotional” scroll down and you will see two videos — one is a summary of Acts, and the Other is Tara-Leigh. Watch Tara Leigh.

5. Watch, take any notes, and share your “God Shot.”

Saturday:

6. Any questions you want to ask of your sisters? Or comments on something one shared?

The post Introducing Tara Leigh Cobble and Acts Chronologically appeared first on Dee Brestin Ministries.

Pam and I were new Christians, in our twenties,

dangling our feet in the water at the end of the dock in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

“Pam, what surprised you the most about Christianity?” 

“That I’m supposed to submit to my husband and that Jesus is coming back!”

I laughed. And then Pam made me belly laugh by saying: “I’m so glad I got my antiques before I was saved.”

Some Scriptures are either hard to accept or puzzling. We’re going to consider some important principles when we come across a passage like that — and we will look as some doozies! And this is a safe place to disagree and give your reasons. But please take this slowly — especially Thursday. 

Sunday: Seeing God in Everyday Life

We’ve called it spying Him or “The God Hunt.” Here are some ways that can happen:

• Scripture become radioactive, giving you what you need
• An answer to prayer
• Unusual timing or circumstances
• The splendor of God’s creation
• His peace in a time of anxiety
• His help to do His work in the world
• His wisdom in a decision

1. How have you “spied” God this week? 

Monday: Wives, Submit!

2. Many are upset by this verse: Wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22)

A. How does the context of Ephesians 5:21 show you this isn’t just for wives?

B. How does looking at the context of Ephesians 5:25 help?

3,  In the same way, Peter says: “Likewise, wives be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives.” It is important to look at the word “Likewise.” Find what this is referring to in:

A. 1 Peter 2:13

B. 1 Peter 2:18

C. 1 Peter 2:21-23  

D. And later 1 Peter 3:7

      4. What clarity does this bring? What has submission been like in your marriage and what have you learned?

Tuesday: The Distortions

In the 70’s and 80’s, Bill Gothard had a huge following, but he distorted many Scriptures. Some were very strange, such as his strong view of complete submission “even when the authority is wrong.” He told wives to submit to everything and that if it was wrong, God would deliver them in the nick of time, as He did Sarah in the following situation. I will always remember a letter I received from a woman who obeyed her husband who asked her to get an abortion. She said, “I thought God would deliver me in the nick of time, but HE DIDN’T! HOW CAN I TRUST GOD ANYMORE?” She could trust God, but not Gothard, and he had made two big mistakes in interpreting Scripture. He didn’t consider the genre of the Abram and Sarai story which is history. This is an account of the many ways God’s people both obeyed and disobeyed. It is not to be a model for us, otherwise we’d be practicing polygamy. Second, Scripture interprets Scripture. Men are to be servants leaders (Ephesians) and if man goes against God, we are to obey God. (Acts)

When Steve and I wrote Building Your House on the Lord, we addressed the distortion of headship. My editor, and late poet Luci Shaw gave us this great quote: “My husband Harold is the head of our home, and I submit to him. But in thirty years of marriage, it’s only come up twice.” 

5. Read Genesis 12:10-20.

A. What did Abraham tell Sarai to do and why?

B. What happened?

C. If there is a positive outcome from lying or stealing or any sin, does that mean God approves of it? Explain.

6. How can considering the genre of this passage (a historical account) help you understand that God is not advocating submission to sin? (Principle of genre)

           7. How does Acts 5:29 clarify a principle about submission? (Principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture)

 8. Have you ever refused to submit? Was it because of your sin or your husband’s request being sinful? Explain. (If you are single, pass or share a story from a friend.)

Wednesday: Should Women Be Silent and Not Teach Men?

I have opinions here with which you are free to disagree in love. The following is confusing because there are verses that say women should be silent and not teach men, and yet we have biblical examples of women doing exactly the opposite and being blessed by God — women like Deborah, Priscilla, and Philip’s prophetic daughters. So this is a conundrum! Again, I think hermeneutics will help. When Scriptures seem to disagree, there is only an apparent conflict. I’ve heard so many explanations of these hard verses, but they don’t hold up like John Stott’s did to me. He was such a godly man, and an intellect, much like Keller.

         9. Read Acts 18:24-27

              A. What did Apollos teaching lack?

              B. Who helped him understand the gospel and which name comes first of the two?

             C. How do you see diplomacy in verse 26?

10. Rarely, but at times, a passage will given eternal principal, but then some cultural examples that are only relevant for that time. One example is 1 Peter 3:3-4. What is the eternal principle? Do you think the examples might be cultural instead of eternal? (Stott says the strict interpretation would say it all should be eternally obeyed. Liberal interpretation would say none of it should be obeyed. He says the eternal principle should be obeyed, but we are not bound to the example.)

11. Read 1 Timothy 2:8. Can you see both an eternal principle and a cultural illustration?

12. Read 1 Timothy 2:9-10. Can you see both an eternal principle and cultural illustrations? (Repeated in 1 Peter 3:3-4)

This picture is for Laura == the wealthy women hired a full time slave for their hairdos. Here is one hairdo, and many went two feet high!

13, Read 1 Timothy 2:11-14. This one is harder, but if you consider how part of it disagrees with other Scriptures concerning women you might be able to separate the eternal from the cultural. Or you may disagree. Tomorrow you’ll read John Stott’s exposition of it.

Thursday: John Stott (Chew, chew, chew!)

One of my favorite expositors is the late John Stott, who was head pastor at All Souls in London for decades. Tim Keller credited him with beginning the evangelical movement. In his InterVarsity commentary on 1 Timothy 2:8-14, he said there were both eternal principles and cultural illustrations given to both men and women.

Here are some excerpts from Stott. Scripture is a blend of eternal truth which transcends culture and its transient cultural presentation. The former is universal and normative; the latter is local and changeable. But how shall we distinguish between them? … There are some who enthrone the cultural form…so they adopt a rigid literalism…they will insist that men must always lift up their hands when they pray (8), that women must never plait their hair or wear jewelery (9) and women should be quiet and not teach men.

There are others who far from enthroning both, dismiss both.

ˆ12. Summarize the restrictive and the liberal view of verses 8-9. (Stott disagrees with both.)

13. Have you experienced either?

Our first church as Christians was Free Methodist, which had many wonderful qualities and people. But as I matured I could see the restrictive view which I think was legalistic, and missing the main priniciple. Women, at that time, where not allowed to wear any jewelry, not even a wedding ring.

In many churches women are also not allowed to teach men. Stott says that if the reason given is that women were deceived but men were not, then women shouldn’t be teaching anyone! He makes a strong case for verse 11 being an eternal principle, and verse 12 being the cultural illustrations. This set me free when I was asked to speak at Moody Founder’s week. I was hesitant as men had walked out on women far my superiors: Elisabeth Elliot and Ann Graham Lotz. The then president of Moody, Joseph Stowell, encouraged me to come, feeling the restrictive attitude was lessening and I would be treated more kindly. I spoke from the floor instead of the stage and began by telling them I was under the authority of the male leadership of Moody, Dr. Stowell. Only two men walked out.

I’m taking excerpts so as not to commit the sin of plagiarism, but recommend the whole guide which is inexpensive on kindle. (I Timothy by John Stott) First, read again verses 11-14. Then read this from Stott.

We can now sum up this distinction as it has recurred three times in the second half of 1 Timothy 2. As men should pray in holiness, love and peace, but not necessarily lift up their hands while they do so; and as women should adorn themselves with modesty, decency and good works, but not necessarily abstain from all hair-styling, gold, pearls; so women should submit to the headship (caring responsibility) of men, and not try to reverse gender roles, but not necessarily refrain from teaching them. In verses 13 and 14, as the conjunction for implies, Paul supplies a biblical basis for what he has written in verses 11 and 12. From the men and women of his own day he looks back to Adam and Eve, the original human pair.106 His argument for male ‘headship’ rests on the facts of the creation and the fall.

What is the relation between these two antitheses. (Verses 11-12) (Are they parallel or does one state an eternal principle and another a cultural?) Could it be legitimate to see the submission-authority antithesis as permanent and universal (because it is grounded in creation) while seeing the silence-teaching antithesis as a first-century cultural expression of it, which is therefore not necessarily applicable to every culture, but open to transposition into each? (P. 94 of Kindle edition)

13. Let’s take this slowly:

1. Stott says verse 11 is the eternal principle, based on the order of creation. What is that principle?
2. Stott says verse 12 are cultural illustrations that are not normative, but for that time. What are they?
3. How would this interpretation fit with the preceding context of verses 8 and 9?
4. Do you agree or disagree with this interpretation? Explain.

Friday: Translations versus Paraphrases

Both have value in my mind. Paraphrases are interpretations and can shed light on a hard passage, but because, they are interpretations , they can be wrong. Let’s consider these verses both in a translation and then in two paraphrases. I thought Eugene Peterson got it right, but Kenneth Taylor did not. See what you think!

TRANSLATION

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission (Verse 11)

 do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. (Verse 12)

For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. (Verses 13)

NIV

PARAPHRASE from Eugene Peterson

I don’t let women take over and tell the men what to do. They should study to be quiet and obedient along with everyone else. Adam was made first, then Eve; woman was deceived first—our pioneer in sin!—with Adam right on her heels. 

MSG

PARAPHRASE FROM KENNETH TAYLOR

• 11 “A woman must learn to listen quietly and always be fully prepared to obey.”
• 12 “I never let women teach men or lord it over them. Let them be silent in your church meetings.”
• 13 “Why? Because God made Adam first, and afterwards he made Eve.”
• 14 “And it was not Adam who was fooled by Satan, but Eve, and sin was the result.”

14. Which paraphrase did you think was more accurate and why?

Saturday:

15. What did you learn about God this week? About Bible interpretation? What was helpful to you?

The post Puzzling or Upsetting Passages For Women appeared first on Dee Brestin Ministries.

I loved it when our own Chris slowed down and, for the first time, saw that the Pharisees were actually plotting to kill Lazarus, and how that revealed their true hearts. This will also guard us from misinterpretations. This week, with the help of a short video from John Piper, in which he uses diagramming to help him slow down and see, we will learn that God actually brings suffering into our lives for a purpose. Even if our persecutors or Satan seem to be doing it, God is allowing it for a purpose. Some think the Bible says:

GOD WILL NOT GIVE YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN BEAR

But that is absolutely not true, as we will see, either in Scripture or in life. Think of the testimonies of Corrie ten Boom, Charles Spurgeon, or Paul himself. Think of David lamenting in the psalms. THEY ALL EXPERIENCED MORE THAN THEY COULD BEAR. Think of your own life! So why do people say that? They didn’t walk but ran through this Scripture, misinterpreting 1 Corinthians 10:13 as a promise that God won’t give you more suffering than you can bear when the promise is about temptation.

Sunday:

1. How have you experienced the goodness of God this week?

Monday: Looking Closely at 1 Corin. 10:13

2. What is the main subject in the preceding context of this passage? Look at 1 Corin. 10:6-13a. (“a” means the first part of verse 13)

3. Now we are ready to examine the rest of verse 13 with the help of diagramming. Here is the verse:

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corin. 10:13)

In diagramming, you start by writing out the verse. Then look for the main subject and place it on the left; next, find phrases that support the main idea and indent them. Look for prepositions like but, so, therefore, if…) or clauses that support the main idea with reasons or contrasts. Here is how I would diagram 1 Corin 10:13, though it is not the only way.

(Main idea)

GOD IS FAITHFUL IN TEMPTATION

(Supporting phrases)

and will not let you be tempted beyond your ability

but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape

that you will be able to endure it.

4. Can you see how this verse is not about suffering? What is it about? 

5. Do you see anything new through this method of slowing down? If so, what is helpful to you in regard to overcoming temptation? (I will share too, after you!)

Tuesday: More Thoughts on 1 Corin. 10:13

What I noticed that was new was that the verse doesn’t say “a way of escape” but “the way of escape.” I also noticed in the context that their main problem was idolatry, and perhaps assuming that even if they engaged in idolatry, God would deliver them, which is putting God to the test. It was such a lightbulb for me 15 years ago to see that idolatry was the sin beneath every sin and that “the way of escape” was not to trust in my idol but instead, to trust in God to deliver me. For example:

Instead of trying to control people my way with passive-aggressive comments,

I needed to trust God’s way by either speaking the truth in love or overlooking it in love — and then prayerfully surrender that person to God’s control.

Or:

Instead of trying to comfort myself my way by grazing on food 

I needed to trust God to comfort me in His time, and walk away, enduring the pain for a time.

6. Now it is your turn. What is your temptation, and what is an idolatrous attempt to solve it, and what would be God’s way?

Wednesday: Looking Closely at 2 Corin. 1:8-9

6. What is the main idea in the context? (Look at 2 Corin 1:3-7)

7. How has God comforted you in your affliction that has helped you to comfort others? Give a specific example.

Now look carefully at our passage — normally I’d have you write it out, but I want us to work with the same translation — in this case, ESV.

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers of the affliction we suffered in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death itself. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 

A simple way to diagram this is to find the main idea, the subject, first, and put it on the left. Then look for the prepositions or adverbs that support the main idea either in a negative way (what not to do) or in a positive way (what to do.) Try your hand at diagramming. I’ve given you help by making important words in bold. There is more than one way to diagram this – some of you will have just one indent after the subject, and some of you will have three.

8. Diagram it.

9. Did you see anything new?

Thursday: Piper’s Diagram

John Piper diagrams 2 Corinthians 1:8-9. Watch it and take notes on a separate paper. 

10. What did you learn from Piper?

Friday: More Thoughts on 2 Corinthians 8-9.

11. Piper believed that their hope would be that even if they died, they would be raised from the dead. I wondered if, instead, it could mean we could trust God because He has shown us He is trustworthy by even raising the dead. What do you think?

12. Share a time of intense suffering that pressed you into God. What did you learn from it?

13. I’ve liked several of Lynn Austin’s historical fiction books. One phrase I remember from one is this prayer: “Lord, may our suffering make us compassionate, and may our sins make us forgiving.” Has that been true in your life?

Saturday: God Shot

14. What did you learn about God from this study?

The post DIAGRAMMING TO SEE MORE appeared first on Dee Brestin Ministries.

But now that Ron grasps the gospel, he weeps through this song, for the gospel changed that grizzly bear into a teddy bear.

We are going to continue our hermeneutics this Resurrection week with one section that is so familiar, but my challenge is to see more, to learn more about our God by slowing down and with another short podcast from Tara-Leigh-Coppell.

Sunday:

1. How have you experienced the presence of God this Holy Week or this Resurrection Sunday?

Monday: Matthew’s Account of The Women Walk, Don’t Run 

1. Context: Read Matthew 27:62-66. Albert Mohler says there is great irony in verses 63-64. Do you see it?

One way to see more in a narrative is to ask the journalism questions of who, what, where, why, and how.

2. Read Matthew 28:1-10

A. When is this happening?

B. Who is going to the tomb? (Tara-Leigh calls the unnamed Mary the “bonus Mary.”)

C. What supernatural events happen when they arrive? (verses 2-4)

D. What does the angel look like? Remind you of anything?

E. Find at least six things the angel tells the women.(5-7)

E. How did they feel? (v. 8) Have you ever felt fear and joy simultaneously? Why would they have?

F. What did they do when Jesus met them? Does this remind you of another incident with another Mary?

F. What did Jesus tell them and how did they respond?

G. What were they to tell the men?

H. Did this help you see more? What stood out to you?

Tuesday: Different Details from Mark & John

2. Read Mark 16:1-8. What is similar to Matthew and what is different?

3. Some of the details will seem to conflict. Tara will give one explanation. What explanations have you heard? (She will also give a great timeline that is helpful.)

4. Read John 20:1-10. What did they note about the grave clothes and why would that cause them to believe that His body had not been stolen but that He might have risen?

5. Compare these two passages and share your thoughts. This was new for me! John 20:12 and Exodus 25:17-22

Wednesday-Thursday

If it does crazy when I post it, go to you-tube and type in

Bible Recap Tara-Leigh Cobble Matthew 28

6. What stood out to you and why?

Friday: Questions on Tara’s Talk 

7. Did you know that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 15 only 30 years after the fact? Significance?

8. What thoughts did you have on the Bible referring to angels as human males?

9. What reason did Tara give for the apparent contradictions from the gospel writers?

10. Why did she say it was “such a Jesus move” to appear first to Mary Magdalene?

Saturday: What’s Your God Shot?

I’m going to steal this closing from Tara much more often — it’s so much better than what is your take-a-way because we become like Him by beholding Him.

11. What’s your God shot?

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