• The primary argument against Bible classes is that there is no direct Biblical example for them. This is true, but examples are not the only way we learn what a church is authorized to do.

Authority

General

Specific

Specific

Expedient

Addition

I Corinthians 11:24-25 (Lord’s Supper)

Take

His Supper

Saint

Container / hour (I Corinthians 14:16)

Different supper / sinner

Genesis 6:4

Build

Ark

Noah

How obtained / bound

Different boat / builder

I Timothy 5:16

Relieve

Widows indeed

Local church

Buy / rent

Different widow / organization

Philippians 4:15-16

Collective support

Teacher of the Word

Local church

Dollars / house

Different teacher / organization

Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:2

Feed

The flock among you

Local church

Gospel meeting / Bible classes

Different flock / organization

• Matthew 6:10
• The kingdom is coming
  • Isaiah 9:1-7
    • Matthew 4:12-17
    • Luke 1:31-33
  • Daniel 2:31-45
• The kingdom is at hand
  • Matthew 3:1-2; 4:17; 6:10; 10:7; 16:18-19, 28
  • Acts 1:6-8
• Acts 2
  • Acts 2:1-4, 29-39
• The kingdom is here now
  • Colossians 1:13-14 – Paul was in the kingdom!
  • Revelation 1:9 – John was part of the kingdom back then, so it must have already existed!
• Why this matters
  • It helps us to not be carried away by false doctrines
    • “The kingdom is in the future.”
      • Revelation 20:1-7
    • “The kingdom came in 1914.”
      • Danuel 4:23-25
      • Nothing in Daniel 4 points to a larger fulfillment.
  • It reminds us to serve King Jesus now!
    • John 18:33-37

• Psalms 22-28
• Psalm 22:
  • John 8:28-29
  • John 16:31-32
  • Psalms 22:1 – It appeared to those around David (and later Jesus) that God had forsaken David (and Jesus). God had not in fact forsaken either one.
  • Psalms 22:7 – See Matthew 27:39
  • Psalms 22:9-11 – David had a lifetime trust in God.
  • Psalms 22:12-18 – These verses are definitely Messianic prophecies about Christ.
  • Psalms 22:31 – The last phrase is more properly translated, “It is finished.”
• Psalms 23:3 – Our purpose in life is to live for His name’s sake.

[Many thanks to Larry Bunch for catching me up on the notes I missed for this lesson. -MRW]

• Last lesson
  • Role of women in 1st century Jewish society
    • Start with status in Old Testament times
    • Finish next week
• Question from last week:
  • Did Josephus mention demon possession?
  • Answer:
    • Yes
    • Antiquities chapters 2, 5, 8, 45-48
    • Wars of the Jews chapter 7.6.3
    • Bizarre references to a root “described” by Solomon
    • “Eyewitness” account
    • No mention with regard to Jesus or disciples
• Status of women in Old Testament times
  • Women’s main purpose
    • Promulgate God’s blessing on Abraham
      • Genesis 22:15-19
      • Psalms 105:24
    • Continuing the family line – Deuteronomy 25:5-10
    • Shame of being barren – I Samuel 1:1-11
  • Limitations of women
    • Scriptural (Old Testament) limitations few
    • Innovative limitations were multitudinous
• Range of women’s activities in Old Testament times
  • Shared in the teaching of their children – Proverbs 1:8
  • Performed chores outside home
    • Genesis 29:9-10
    • Exodus 2:16
  • Prophetess: Exodus 15:20-21; Numbers 12; Judges 4; 2 Kings 22:14-20
  • Judge over Israel: Judges 4
  • Shadow combatant: Judges 4, 9
• Women’s Old Testament activities continued …
  • Commerce, real estate, etc. – Proverbs 31
  • Manual labor – Exodus 35:25; Ruth 2:7; I Samuel 8:13
  • Musicians in the tabernacle/temple – Psalms 68:25
  • Lead women in song of praise – Exodus 15:20-21
• How women were considered in Old Testament times
  • Included in the covenant – Deuteronomy 29:9-12
  • Sources of wisdom – 2 Kings 22:14-20
  • Wisdom personified as feminine – Proverbs 7:4, 8
  • Having great prudence – I Samuel 25:23-42
  • Wife is a very good find – Proverbs 19:14; 18:22
  • Life of a women on par with life of a man – Exodus 21:22-29
• Coming weeks
  • Comparing women in Old Testament times to 1st century
  • Social strata of Jerusalem
  • Religious sects
  • Temple
  • Priesthood