Introduction

• Ezra 7:6-10
• Ezra 9:3-4, 6-8 – Ezra was appalled at the sin of Israel and prays to God.
• Ezra 10:3-5

Spend time in the Bible.

• Psalms 119:161-168 – We should rejoice in our time in the Bible.
• Colossians 4:16
• I Thessalonians 2:13
• Luke 11:28
• If you want peace, stability, and wisdom in your house, spend time in the Bible!

Live the Bible.

• Matthew 7:15-27 – People can tell who you truly are by your actions. Beware of hypocrisy and empty lip service to God.
• There must be:
  • Forgiveness
  • Thankfulness
  • Handling criticism well
  • Prayer – Romans 12:12
• Ephesians 5:25
• Ephesians 6:4
• Genesis 12:11-13; 20:2; 26:6-7 – Isaac told the same lie as Abraham.
• I Kings 12:28; 15:25-26
• What bad habits are my kids picking up from me?

Plan with the Bible.

• Genesis 17:7-8; 18:19
• Deuteronomy 6:7
• Psalms 78:6-7
• II Timothy 2:2
• II Peter 3:18
• God wants us to grow.

“Amen”

Origins

• Egyptian – amun
• Hebrew – amen
• Greek – amen

Use

• Old Testament – ceremonial
• New Testament – dual usage

Archaic

• What would we use today?
• Would it be appropriate?

How was it used?

Old Testament uses

• First uses – Numbers 5:22, trial of jealousy
• Next use – Deuteronomy 27, curses from Mt. Ebal
  • Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim
    • Curses for violating God’s commands
    • Blessings for obeying all His commands
• Common use in I Kings 1:36?
  • Speaking to King David
• David’s song of thanks
  • David’s song
  • People replied “amen” and praise the Lord
  • I Chronicles 16:8, 36
• Other uses
  • Twice in Nehemiah – Nehemiah 5:13; 8:6
  • Four times in Psalms – Psalms 41:13; 22:19; 89:52; 106:48
  • Twice in Jeremiah – Jeremiah 11:5; 28:6

New Testament uses

• Greek word “amen”
• Not exactly same in meanings
• “Verily” – 101 times
• “Amen” – 51 times
• Case in point
  • John 21:25 – Some have “amen” at the end. Most do not.
• Some uses
  • End of “Lord’s prayer”
    • Matthew 5:13
  • Added at end of great commission
    • Matthew 28:20
  • I Corinthians 14:16
  • The last word in the New Testament.

Conclusion

• No dedicated word
• No exclusive use
• Used as it was in Israelite worship
• From where does the meaning come?

Introduction

• I Peter 4:10-11

What do we mean when we say … ?

“Lord willing”

• James 4:13-15

“Pastor”

• Ephesians 4:11 – Only occurrence of the term in the Bible.
• The term refers to a shepherd or elder.
• I Peter 5:1-2
• Pastor and preacher are two different roles.

“Promised Land”

• Genesis 12:7
• Hebrews 11:9

“Lord’s Supper” / “Communion”

• I Corinthians 11:20-26
• I Corinthians 10:16

“The inspired writer …”

• II Timothy 3:16
• We usually mean that the writer was inspired by God.
• I Thessalonians 2:13
• I Corinthians 2:13

Jargon or insider language

“Gospel meeting”

“Go forward” and “invitation song”

• Acts 2:37
• James 5:16

“Local church” and “universal church”

• Ephesians 5:23

“liberal church”

• II Corinthians 9:13
• If it means generous, every church should be liberal.
• If it means loose with the scriptures, no church should be liberal.

“institutional” vs. “non-institutional”

• How is the church’s money to be used? Institutional churches take the position that the local church’s money can be used to fund orphan’s homes and missionary societies. Non-institutional churches take the position that these institutions should not be funded with money from the church, although individuals can certainly contribute to them as they wish.

“marriage, divorce, and remarriage” and “Scriptural marriage / divorce”

A number of cultural sayings come from the Bible:

• “wash my hands of this” – Matthew 27:21
• “writing on the wall” – Daniel 5
• “by the skin of your teeth” – Job 19:20
• “apple of my eye” – Deuteronomy 32:10
• “wolves in sheep’s clothing” – Matthew 7:15
• “go the extra mile” – Matthew 5:41
• “eye for an eye” – Exodus 21:24
• “fall from grace” – Galatians 5:4
• “forbidden fruit” – Genesis 3
• “spare the rod, spoil the child” – Proverbs 29:15
• “a little birdie told me” – Ecclesiastes 10:20

Some sayings sound like they’re in the Bible, but they’re not.

• “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
  • Ancient Babylonian or Hebrew proverb that was revived during the Victorian era.
• “God works in mysterious ways.”
  • Not an exact quote from the Bible. Compare Isaiah 55:9.
• “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.”
  • Compare II Thessalonians 3:11; I Timothy 5:13.
• “This too shall pass.”
  • From an English poem called “Deor’s Lament.”
• “God helps those who help themselves.”
  • From Aesop’s Fables: “Hercules and the Wagoner”
• “Good things come to those who wait.”
  • From a poem by Violet Fane in 1892. The original wording was “all things come to those who wait,” but it got changed over time.

Matthew 27

• Matthew 27:1-5 – Judas tries to return the betrayal money, but the Jews refuse to take it back. This fulfilled the prophecy in Zechariah 11:12-13.
• Matthew 27:7-8 – This “field of blood” was a clear geographical fact that early readers of the gospels would have been able to check.
• Matthew 27:11-14 – Jesus did speak, but He did not answer to any charges, in fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 53:7.
• Matthew 27:17-23 – Pilate tried to rally support for Jesus, but when he couldn’t, he bowed to pressure from the crowd and sent Jesus to be crucified.
• Matthew 27:26 – The fact that scourging is mentioned so lightly here indicates that this writing is inspired. A human author would have made much more of this.
• Matthew 27:35 – Like scourging in Matthew 27:26, crucifixion is almost treated as an aside here. The soldiers dividing Jesus’ garments fulfills the prophecy in Psalms 22:18. See John 3:14 where Jesus compares His own death to the bronze serpent.
• Matthew 27:38 – See Isaiah 53:9. Jesus being crucified with criminals and being buried in the tomb of a wealthy man were both prophesied.
• Matthew 27:39-44 – See Psalms 22:7-8. This prophecy is fulfilled almost word for word.
• Matthew 27:46 – See Psalms 22:1.

Matthew 28

• Matthew 28:1-10 – See I Corinthians 15:3-8 – This is a summation of the gospel:
  • Christ died.
  • He was buried.
  • He was raised.
  • He appeared to more than 500 people.
• Matthew 28:11-15 – This is one of many theories propounded to try to disprove the resurrection of Jesus.
• Matthew 28:16-20 – Jesus gave the great commission to the eleven disciples. Note Acts 8 where the disciples went everywhere spreading the gospel.

God does not expect us to believe blindly

• Jesus feeds 5,000 with loaves and fishes.
• Jesus heals the man let down through the roof.
• Can you communicate your faith to others?

The importance of compassion

• Matthew 14:14; Mark 6:34 – Jesus had compassion on the crowd.
• Mark 1:40-41 – Jesus had compassion on the leper.
• Matthew 20:32-34 – Jesus heals the blind men.
• Luke 7:11-15
• John 11
• Matthew 23:37
• If I’m going to be like Jesus, I must develop compassion, even when I am tired or frustrated.

Bring your faith

• Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25 – We must know that Jesus hears and cares.

Let it be done for you according to your faith

• Matthew 8:5-13 – Jesus heals the centurion’s servant.
• Matthew 9:27-31 – Jesus heals the blind men.
• James 1:5-8 – Ask without doubting.
• What can God not do through me because I don’t trust Him?
• Mark 9:23-24 – “I belief! Help my unbelief!”

Don’t let others deter your faith

• Luke 18:35-43
• Mark 5:21-43

Hatred is powerfully toxic

• Luke 22:47-54 – No one was turned from their hatred, even by seeing Jesus miraculously heal a man.
• James 3:13-18 – Warning against bitterness and selfish ambition.
• Matthew 5:43-48
• Romans 12:14-21 – Overcome evil with good.