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Spring 2024  Examining Our Faith   Unit 1: Faithful vs Faithless

The Greek word for faith appears over two hundred times in the New Testament. Its usage can refer to at least two different but related concepts. This quarter will explore the significance of faith and how the people of God live with faith.

During Jesus’ ministry, he interacted with Jews and Gentiles. One shocking thing in the Gospels is how many stories highlight people outside of Jewish ancestry exercising faith in Christ. Jesus even told a centurion that his faith was greater than any faith Jesus found in Israel (Matthew 8:10)!  Jews and Gentiles came from very different cultural and religious backgrounds. However, the first-century church evolved from a world under Roman rule and included people shaped by Roman, Greek, and Jewish thinking. Thus, it is beneficial for us to look at how these people groups understood faith with respect to their religious and cultural heritage.

Community Faith

The expression “the faith” refers to the beliefs and paradigms distinct to followers of Jesus (examples: Acts 6:7; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Corinthians 13:5; 1 Timothy 3:9; Titus 1:13; Jude 3). The most central belief and the key to the faith itself is the resurrection of Jesus Christ (see Mark 16:1–8, lesson 5). Without Jesus’ death and resurrection, our faith would be in vain.
Following “the faith” consists of being filled with Christ and indwelt by God’s Spirit. The apostle Paul encourages believers to practice self-examination regarding the presence of Christ in their lives and whether or not they are “in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5, lesson 2). The point of this self-examination is not to win an argument or to fill oneself with pride. Instead, it aims to build up the body of Christ, which is the church (13:10–11).
Believers in the faith are likely to face trials and persecutions. Followers of Jesus have experienced these things since the birth of the church (example: Acts 6:7–15, lesson 4).
Additionally, believers are likely to come across the influence of false teachings. Therefore, the writers of Scripture frequently teach how a believer might defend the faith. Jude guards the “most holy faith” against destruction (Jude 17–20, lesson 1). Peter presents the faith as the foundation of the Christian life, worthy of defense (1 Peter 3:8–16, lesson 3). These writers encourage believers to contend for the faith.

Lesson 1   Sustaining Our Faith  Jude 17-25
Jude is a brief letter, and it reflects a perilous time similar to our circumstances. Some ambitious and prideful people have attached themselves to congregations, presented themselves as leaders, and practiced an immoral lifestyle. Jude calls them “ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality” (Jude 4). These intruders exploited their welcome by promoting immorality (v. 4). They mocked the judgment of God and behaved as if God would not hold them accountable for their actions and immoral ethics. They despised authority, spoke evil of others, and sought wealth in their greed (vv. 8, 11). Jude called them “blemishes at your love feasts” who had nothing true or valuable to offer. They were like clouds “without rain” and fruitless trees (v. 12). They followed “their own evil desires,” and though they influenced many, their words were filled with their own ambition (v. 16). This was a dangerous time for the churches, and Jude addresses the situation directly with both warning and hope.

Lesson 2  Testing Our Faith  2 Corinthians 13:5–11
Paul had established the church in Corinth during a personal visit to that city in about AD 52 (Acts 18:1–18). We are not certain how many letters he wrote to that church, but there were at least two—the ones we call 1 & 2 Corinthians.  Paul wrote 2 Corinthians in preparation for a return visit (2 Corinthians 10:2; 12:20–21; 13:10). While the church in Corinth had, in general, responded favorably to Paul’s previous letter (see chapter 7), he knew some problems remained (12:20–21).  At least part of the reason for those problems was that some doubted that Christ was speaking through Paul; they wanted proof (2 Corinthians 13:3). Was he a true apostle of the Lord Jesus, or was Paul a con artist? Some Corinthians thought that Paul’s weaknesses—his weak presence and suffering-filled ministry—meant that the answer was no. But Paul proved earlier in the letter that such weakness and suffering proved the opposite (much of chapters 6; 10, and 11).

Lesson 3  Defending Our Faith    1 Peter 3:8–17
The letter of 1 Peter is one of two existing letters by that apostle (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1). The recipients of both letters were the various churches found in an area of northeastern Asia Minor, located in modern-day Turkey (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 3:1). The first letter was likely intended to be circulated among the regions, perhaps by way of Silas, an assistant to Peter (1 Peter 5:12). Were the intended recipients primarily of Jewish background, primarily of Gentile background, or a roughly even split? The letter’s dozen or so quotations from the Old Testament could indicate that the intended audience was primarily of Jewish background. A stronger case can be made, however, for seeing the audience as primarily Gentile in background as Peter addressed their former lives of “ignorance” (1:14; compare Paul’s use of this same word in Ephesians 4:17–19 to refer to Gentiles).

The occasion for Peter’s letter was primarily a response to the suffering of believers, particularly since more was yet to come (see 1 Peter 1:6–7; etc.). Peter could address whatever suffering his audience had or would experience because he had been “a witness of Christ’s sufferings” (5:1); Peter himself had suffered for that name (Acts 12).

Lesson 4  Living in Faith  Acts 6:7–15
For first-century Judaism, the temple in Jerusalem served as the faith’s physical and spiritual center. The temple complex was the focus of the people’s worship and served as the headquarters for religious leadership.

Several versions of the Jewish temple existed. Construction on the first began in about 966 BC during the reign of Solomon (1 Kings 6:1). After 13 years, Solomon’s Temple was completed (7:1) and dedicated (1 Kings 8). During his reign, the temple became a place to worship God and store valuable artifacts. As such, it was a notable place for enemy forces to plunder (example: 14:25–28).   In 597 BC, the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem, took the people into exile, and looted Solomon’s Temple (2 Kings 24:10–14). In 586 BC, the Babylonians destroyed Solomon’s Temple and took the remaining artifacts from the temple (25:8–17).   There would be attempts to rebuild this place of worship. In 538 BC, the Persian king Cyrus allowed Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple (see Ezra 1:1–4; 6:1–12; 2 Chronicles 36:22–23). Under the oversight of Zerubbabel (see Ezra 3:2, 8; 4:2), construction faced delays. Eventually, it was finished, and the temple was dedicated in 515 BC (see 5:1–6:22). That temple—sometimes called Zerubbabel’s Temple—was smaller and less impressive than the temple of Solomon’s day (see Haggai 2:3).

Lesson 5    The Resurrection: Key to Faith    Mark 16:1–8
The Gospel’s description of the last week of Jesus’ ministry highlights its inclination toward action. Of the nearly 700 verses of the Gospel, 241 of them—more than one-third of the Gospel—recount events from that week (Mark 11:1–16:8). In describing scenes from that week, the Gospel jumps quickly between scenes. Mark tells us how Jesus entered Jerusalem on that Sunday (11:1–11) and taught others regarding righteousness (11:12–25; 12:28–34). On that Thursday, he ate a final meal (14:12–31) before he was arrested (14:43–52) and tried (14:53–65; 15:1–15). Finally, on that Friday, he was crucified and killed at the hands of Roman soldiers (15:16–41).

Friday evening of that week, Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin, approached Pontius Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body (Mark 15:43). Before granting the request, Pilate wanted confirmation that Jesus was truly dead (15:44–45). There was to be no doubt on the part of Pilate that Jesus was indeed dead. Once Pilate received this verification, Joseph took Jesus’ body and prepared it for burial.  To begin the burial proceedings, Joseph wrapped Jesus’ body in linen (Mark 15:46a). The Gospels do not indicate whether or not Jesus’ body was washed as was customary at this time (example: Acts 9:37). Joseph then placed the body in a rock tomb sealed with a stone (Mark 15:46b). After the burial, two women observed the burial location (15:47). They would return after Sabbath to finish caring for Jesus’ body.
Some students believe that the original ending to this Gospel came at Mark 16:8 and that Mark 16:9–20 was a later addition in the decades after Mark wrote. Much of the information in verses 9–20 is reflected in the other Gospels (Matthew 28:19–20; Luke 24:13–43, 50–51; John 20:14–18). In this lesson, we will engage in a what-if. What if Mark did end at verse 8? What could that abrupt ending teach us today?

 

 

BIBLE STUDY

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Adult Bible Study |  Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. To join virtual Bible Study please visit Zoom.us and enter Meeting ID: 802 973 031  To join by phone, dial 312-626-6799 and enter Meeting ID: 802-973-031

 

 

 

 

January 3rd – March 13th, 2024

 

Broken marriages, shattered friendships, racial divisions, war between nations — we live in a fractured world. How can the pieces be put back together?

In this eleven-session Bible Study on Ephesians, Paul lifts the veil from the future to allow us to see God’s plan to unite everyone and everything in Christ. Studying this book will renew your hope.

 

1. The Purpose of God (Ephesians 1:1-14)    Lesson 1 Replay

 

2. I Keep Asking (Ephesians 1:15-23)    Lesson 2 Replay

 

3. Amazing Grace (Ephesians 2:1-10)    Lesson 3 Replay

 

4. We Are One (Ephesians 2:11-22)       Lesson 4 Replay

 

5. Prisoner & Preacher (Ephesians )        Lesson 5 Replay

 

6. Unity & Uniqueness (Ephesians 4:1-16)        Lesson 6 Replay

 

7. Something Old, Something New (Ephesians 4:17-32)

 

8. I Live in Love, Live in Light (Ephesians 5:1-20)        Lesson 8 Replay

 

9. Love & Respect (Ephesians 5:21-33)       Lesson 9 Replay

 

10. Honor & Obey (Ephesians 6:1-9)

 

11. Prayer Wars (Ephesians 6:10-24)