Free Will, Love, and Divine Providence

Opening QuestionDo we ever see God working in obvious ways through the nations of the world or in secular governments? IntroductionWhile every human is individually accountable to and beloved by God, we also see larger groups of people become the object of God’s regard or judgement, nations through which He can work, show His power, or choose as His special possession; or nations that reap the results of God’s wrath for their iniquity. The lesson this week explores the role that the Babylonians played in later prophetic literature, and how the call of and covenant blessings to Abraham finds fulfillment ...

Opening QuestionWhat use is there for “marriage” outside of a Judeo-Christian worldview? Why would anyone want such a commitment in our western world? IntroductionGenesis 1-2 introduces God making humankind according to His own image. Reading Genesis 1:26-31 we find that image is contained in a male-female relationship with the possibility of producing offspring to fulfill God’s command to “be fruitful and multiply. Thus, the image of God is found in this special bond. Not surprisingly, it is also one of the most parodied, mocked and attacked social institutions of our society. But just what is being attacked? It's not just ...

Opening QuestionHow might the beginning of God’s story in the Genesis hint at how the Bible ends with Revelation? IntroductionCommentators have frequently noted Revelation’s allusions to Genesis and the rest of the Torah (books of Moses). But provides much more than simply ideas for John to use in the apocalypse; it provides the context and origin from which the rest of the Bible’s farthest reaching and deepest issues are developed and concluded. Every major topic in theology has it’s roots here. Themes (systematic categories) such as God, Man, Creation, Marriage, Sabbath, the Fall, Sin, Death, Judgment, Destruction of Wicked, Prophecy, ...

Opening QuestionIf you believe in a God who knows the future, is that comforting to you? Why or why not? IntroductionThe lesson this week introduces the idea of God’s foreknowledge as the basis for prophetic messages. Christian doctrine often includes as part of theology proper (the study of “God,”) a belief in God’s omniscience. If God knows everything, then He knows the future as well. God’s knowledge of the future is fairly standard orthodox belief in most Christian denominations. However, there are some scholars who believe the future is unknowable, and thus God cannot know it. Also, questions of free ...

Theme: “Love Is the Fulfillment of the Law” Leading Question: Is the word “law” friendly or frightful? Almost no one uses the word “law” in a friendly way. When someone says, “It’s the law!” It usually a hard-liner. Let’s look at examples of the different ways we use law: Mr. Thompson, you have broken the law. You have fulfilled the requirements for your BA degree. You broke your arm because you fell, breaking the law of gravity. Question: Assign a “friendliness” number to each of those uses. Use this scale: NegativeNeutralPositive-5-4-3-2-10+1+2+3+4+5 Briefly describe why you gave the number you did. Another way of looking at law is to reflect ...

Relevant Verses: atthew 7, 22, 23; 1 John 4; Micah 6; Psalm 82; Luke 10 Theme: “Love and Justice: The Two Greatest Commandments” Leading Question: Is it possible to identify the two greatest sins as well as the two greatest commandments? If we make the two greatest sins parallel with the two greatest commandments, then we can say that the greatest sins would be not loving God and not loving human beings. And Jesus seems to be suggesting a way of bringing the two together: the best way to love God is to love human beings. Two of his statements in the ...

Relevant Verses: Isaiah 5; John 3, 1 John 3; Matthew 21; 1 Corinthians 4 Theme: “What More Could I Have Done?” Leading Question: Does God always do everything he can to save his people? Our lesson for this week is entitled, “What more could I have done?” echoing the question Isaiah asks in the parable of the vineyard: Isaiah 5:3-4: “And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. 4 What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield ...

Relevant Verses: 1 Kings 18; Deut 32; 1 Cor 10; Isa 44; Rev 12; Job 1,2 Theme: “Rules of Engagement” Leading Question: Does the Bible make clear that in the cosmic conflict God sets limitations on himself and on humans? We will return to the question of “limits.” But let us begin where the official study guide begins, at the confrontation on Mt. Carmel. Here is the narrative as found in 1 Kings 18:19-40: 1 Kings 18:19-40: 20 So Ahab sent to all the Israelites and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah then came near to all the people and said, ...

Relevant Verses: Gen 1-3; Isa 14; Ezek 28; Matt 4, 13; Eph 6; Rev 12 Theme: “The Cosmic Conflict” Leading Question: What passages in the Bible teach most clearly that there is a cosmic conflict? Genesis 1-3: Tree and the SerpentIsaiah 14: Fall of Lucifer (King of Babylon)Ezekiel 28: Covering Cherub (King of Tyre)Matthew 4:1-11: Wilderness TemptationMatthew 13:24-27: An Enemy at workEphesians 6:12: We Wrestle Not against Flesh and BloodRevelation 12:7-9: War in Heaven Question: If you were uninitiated, which of these passages would be most helpful? Here is each passage, noting the questions, strengths and weaknesses of each passage: Genesis 1-3: The tree ...

Relevant Verses: Genesis 50; 1 Corinthians 13; Psalm 81; Deuteronomy 6; John 16 Theme: “Free Will, Love, and Divine Providence” Leading Question: How does one tell if a particular event is “providential,” “natural,” or “demonic”? Exploring the providential: A biblical story that reeks of providence is the story of Joseph. At the conclusion of the story, after the death of Jacob, Joseph’s brothers feared that he would be seeking revenge on him. Joseph’s comment to his brothers is remarkable for its forgiving spirit: Genesis 50:15-21: 15 Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against ...