Category

MARK 6 REJECTION + SENDING + DEATH OF JOHN Bible Background: In Mark, Jesus’ popular appeal hits a roadblock. People in his home town can’t believe he’s a prophet. They can’t grasp the change and challenge and opportunity Jesus brings. Mark (who is usually... Read More →

Luke 1 = Zechariah and Baby John! Bible Background: Luke’s gospel carefully sets the stage for Jesus’ birth. John the Baptist’s birth is foretold, and then Elizabeth conceives. Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel, and then she conceives. John is born and his... Read More →

1 Kings 12 = The Kingdom Divided Bible Background: After King Solomon dies, his son Rehoboam takes charge. He acts badly, ruling with an iron fist. God had said he would “tear the kingdom” from Solomon’s son, and now the kingdom is torn in two. Israel (Northern... Read More →

KING DAVID – 2 SAMUEL 5–6 Bible Background: David is a central figure in the story of Israel. If Moses was somewhat the ‘founder’ of the nation, David was seen as its ‘savior’. David (great-grandson of Ruth & Boaz) was a shepherd boy, who... Read More →

THE BOOK OF RUTH Bible Background: Ruth seems to be the story of an ‘outsider’, who, amid all the ups and downs of life, becomes an ‘insider’, whose famous great-grandson grows up to be King David (and ultimately has a place in the family... Read More →

DIGGING DEEPER INTO THE STORY OF ISAAC’S BIRTH Bible Background: God has promised to Abraham and Sarah that they will be ancestors of a great nation; and that through them-all the families of the earth will be blessed. There’s just this one little problem: no... Read More →

GENESIS 2, Creation version 2.0 Bible Background: Genesis 1 and 2 offer different and complementary stories of how God created the heavens and the earth and humankind. Chapter 1 lifts up the goodness and good order of God’s creation. Chapter 2 gives a much more personal... Read More →

THE CURIOUS BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES Bible Background: “Ecclesiastes was written to warn us against placing our hope in anyone or anything other than God. It does so by pointing out the meaninglessness of life lived ‘under the sun’, a phrase that could be replaced... Read More →

LADY WISDOM CALLS – PROVERBS 8 Bible Background: It’s very interesting that Wisdom speaks loud and clear with the voice of a woman, in Proverbs 8. We refer to her as “Lady Wisdom” or “Woman Wisdom”. She is the opposite of “Dame... Read More →

2 Peter 3 = God’s Timing! Bible Background: The last chapter of this short letter seeks to reinforce the beliefs and lives of the Christian community; warn false teachers of judgement; and look forward to the return of Christ as Lord of all creation! Digging Deeper: 1.... Read More →