Tag: bsf lesson 1

god's law people of the promise kingdom divided bsf lesson 1 www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 5: 1 Kings 11

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF 1 KINGS 11

King Solomon had many foreign wives despite God’s order to not marry foreigner. They led him astray from God over time, causing him to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. He built shrines to foreign gods, and God became angry with him. As punishment, Solomon’s son will lose the kingdom he built. God raised up adversaries agains Solomon, Hadan the Edomite and Rezon son of Eliada. Jeroboam, one of Solomon’s officials, rebelled against him.

Ahijah, a prophet, told Jeroboam about the prophecy God made against Solomon. He also prophesied that Jeroboam would be king of Israel. If he followed God’s statues and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, God would be with him. He would build him a dynasty and humble David’s descendants for a time. Solomon died and his son, Rehoboam, succeeded him as king.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 5: 1 Kings 11

13) Solomon has begun to worship other gods. God had raised adversaries against Solomon because of this and caused trouble in the kingdom. Many had strayed away from the Lord due to Solomon’s example.

14) Solomon’s son will lose the kingdom Solomon built, and Jeroboam would be king of Israel and have ten tribes (all except one, which would be given to Solomon’s son).

15) If you follow God and His Word, you will be rewarded. If not, there are consequences.

16) He waits for an era to end in order to begin something new sometimes. We all go through transitions in life, some of which we understand and others we do not until down the road. In the end, every event in our lives is for God’s purpose whether we recognize it as such or not.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 5: 1 Kings 11

Great example of the consequences of not following God. The consequences may not be immediate, and they may not even affect you, but it may affect those around you or future generations. Many of us forget that our actions can affect others.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 5: 1 Kings 11

Note Solomon loved many women and they were foreign — both of which went against God’s laws. (Matthew 19:4-6, Genesis 2:23-24). He wanted his wives more than he wanted the Lord. His heart turned from the Lord, too. David sinned, but his heart was always with the Lord.

God became angry with Solomon’s disobedience. The punishment is that God will divide the kingdom. 2 Chronicles 11:12) tell us that the southern kingdom was made up of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, even though it’s called only one tribe here.

God raised up adversaries against Solomon:

  1. Hadad the Edomite
  2. Rezone, son of Eliadah

Jeroboam was a fellow Israelite who rebelled against Solomon. Jeroboam means “may the people be great.”

The prophet Ahijah tells Jeroboam that he would be king of the ten tribes of Israel after Solomon dies as punishment for Solomon’s sin. God would be with Jeroboam and would give him a lasting dynasty if he would do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Solomon tried to kill him because of this prophecy.

Solomon dies, and his son, Rehoboam, succeeds him as king.

Fun Fact: This is the first mention of the divided kingdom.

Contact me today!

Great Bible Resources Moving Forward

*As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

god's law people of the promise kingdom divided bsf lesson 1 www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 4: Isaiah 5:1-7; Acts 7:1-53; and 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF ISAIAH 5:1-7

This is about God’s treatment of Judah. Israel is the vineyard, and God had done everything possible to care for them, but they only yielded bad grapes. So he lets it grow wild and uncultivated, which yields only bloodshed and cries of distress.

SUMMARY OF ACTS 7:1-53

Stephen tells us the back story: God appeared the Abram/Abraham while he was still in Ur in Mesopotamia before he left for Haran and told Abram to leave Ur and to go to Canaan. So he went to Haran. Then after Terah, his father, died God sent Abram to Canaan.

God gave him no inheritance in Canaan but He promised him his descendants would possess the land. God told Abram his children would be strangers in the land and would be enslaved for 400 years. But God would punish that nation and afterward they will come back to Canaan to worship Him. Here, God instituted the covenant of circumcision as a sign of this covenant.

Then Abraham had Isaac whom he circumcised. Isaac had Jacob who became the father of the twelve patriarchs.

Joseph was sold as a slave, but God was with him and he was made ruler over Egypt and the palace. When famine struck Canaan, Jacob brought his entire family to Egypt, so Joseph could feed them.

Moses was born and saw God in the burning bush. God sent him to Egypt to lead his people out of slavery. The people rebelled while heading to the Promise Land, making a golden calf. Joshua drove the nations out of the Promised Land so Israel could occupy it. Solomon then built God a temple, a permanent place to be worshipped.

Stephen calls the Sanhedrin stiff-necked and just like their fathers. They resist the Holy Spirit, and they killed Jesus.

SUMMARY OF 1 CORINTHIANS 10:1-13

Paul warns against being idolaters, as some of their forefathers were in Moses’s day. They should not commit sexual immorality, not test the Lord, and not grumble. Past events were recorded as warnings for us, but we need to be ever vigilant against temptation. But God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, and He’ll provide a way out to stand up against the temptation.

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 4: Isaiah 5:1-7; Acts 7:1-53; and 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

10) God took care of Israel since the time before they were born and through their lives. He treated them tenderly and watched over them. Yet, they rebelled, so He took away his protection.

11) That God has chosen me out of all the peoples of the earth. What power lies in this fact.

12a)

Stephen tells us the back story: God appeared the Abram/Abraham while he was still in Ur in Mesopotamia before he left for Haran and told Abram to leave Ur and to go to Canaan. So he went to Haran. Then after Terah, his father, died God sent Abram to Canaan.

God gave him no inheritance in Canaan but He promised him his descendants would possess the land. God told Abram his children would be strangers in the land and would be enslaved for 400 years. But God would punish that nation and afterward they will come back to Canaan to worship Him. Here, God instituted the covenant of circumcision as a sign of this covenant.

Then Abraham had Isaac whom he circumcised. Isaac had Jacob who became the father of the twelve patriarchs.

Joseph was sold as a slave, but God was with him and he was made ruler over Egypt and the palace. When famine struck Canaan, Jacob brought his entire family to Egypt, so Joseph could feed them.

Moses was born and saw God in the burning bush. God sent him to Egypt to lead his people out of slavery. The people rebelled while heading to the Promise Land, making a golden calf. Joshua drove the nations out of the Promised Land so Israel could occupy it. Solomon then built God a temple, a permanent place to be worshipped.

The main points of Acts 7 are:

  • Abraham’s calling (7:2-8);
  • the Patriarchs in Egypt (7:9-16);
  • life of Moses (7:17-36);
  • Moses and Israel in the wilderness (7:37-43);
  • and the Tabernacle of Testimony (7:44-50).

He emphasizes God’s calling and care of His people and His provision of a leader when they needed it the most. He also emphasized how God was with them without a physical temple for thousands of years.

b) I think all of our lives are like this: we have spiritual successes and failures, but the ultimate goal is to have progressively fewer failures as we move towards God and Jesus. We should learn from the past so we can be better in the future.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 4: Isaiah 5:1-7; Acts 7:1-53; and 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

A lot of reading in this lesson. I love Stephen’s summary of the Old Testament. It’s concise and covers the big picture. Great stuff!

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 4: Isaiah 5:1-7; Acts 7:1-53; and 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Isaiah 5:1-7: Israel had everything it needed to grow and follow the Lord and they chose not to. God did all He could do; the fault is solely Israel’s. So, as punishment, God stopped protecting His people and stopped giving them blessings.

Acts 7:1-53: Stephen emphasizes Israel’s perpetual rejection of God and the Law. Then he points out how they rejected Jesus, the Son of God. He is showing how Israel treated Moses and how the Jews treated Jesus the same way. Moses was divinely appointed by God, as was Jesus. Yet, Moses was repeatedly rejected by the people, as was Jesus. The people turned to idols and God let them go.

Worship does not have to be in a temple, as Israel’s history showed.

Fun Fact: This is the longest speech in Acts.

1 Corinthians 10:1-13: Paul lists all the blessings the Israelites in the wilderness had:

  • They had God as a cloud, a constant reminder of His presence
  • All were baptized via the Red Sea
  • God provided them with food and drink

Yet, they did not please God, and they died in the wilderness, never entering the Promise Land.

The point is just becuaes you are a believer, you may not be pleasing God. This is why you should not be an idolater, commit sexual immorality, not test the Lord, and not grumble.

We need to learn from Israel’s mistakes and God gives us the ability to resist our temptations.

Contact me today!

Great Bible Resources Moving Forward

*As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

god's law people of the promise kingdom divided bsf lesson 1 www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 3: Luke 24:13-49 and Romans 15:4

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF LUKE 24:13-49

After Jesus’s death, two were walking to Emmaus. Jesus appeared alongside them, but they did not recognize him. They were downcast that Christ has been crucified, hoping he was the redeemer. Christ told them about how Christ was meant to die for them, and he explained all of the foretellings about this in the Old Testament. He stayed with them, and when Christ broke bread for dinner, he was revealed to them and then he disappeared.

The men went to tell the Eleven what had happened. As they were talking, Jesus appeared. They believed him a ghost at first till Jesus began to eat. He opened their minds to the Scriptures. They are witnesses to all that has happened and would be sent the Holy Spirit as promised.

SUMMARY OF ROMANS 15:4

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 3: Luke 24:13-49 and Romans 15:4

7a) Matthew 23:39: “For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'” From Psalm 118:26

b) If Jesus quotes the Old Testament, then it’s important. Since the Old Testament foretells Jesus’s coming, it’s all intertwined, and nothing God records is wasted.

8 ) Jesus is resurrected here, fulfilling prophecy that Jesus would come and sacrifice his life so that all may live. Prophecy also says how Jesus will be resurrected as God conquers death. Jesus fulfills the law.

9) I love studying the Old Testament because I’m a history buff. It’s fascinating to read about the mistakes people made with regards to following God and his laws and how we continue to do the same thing today, even though it’s easier for us since we have God’s law to obey and we have Jesus. I’m hoping to learn more, so I can grow with God and make fewer mistakes and sins in my life because of it.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 3: Luke 24:13-49 and Romans 15:4

Great example of God’s Will and fulfilling of prophecy from the Old Testament come to fruition with Jesus’s resurrection.

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 3: Luke 24:13-49 and Romans 15:4

The two disciples are anonymous and the are lamenting Jesus’s death. Jesus listens to them and then teaches them that Christ had to suffer as the prophets said. They needed to believe with their hearts.

Jesus told them all about Moses, the Prophets, and the Old Testament, using the Old Testmant. What I wouldn’t give to hear that explained!

Jesus broke bread and revealed himself. Remember, these men were not at the Last Supper. Then, he vanished. Yet, their hearts burned because of God’s word!

They then walked 7 miles to report what had happened to the disciples.

Jesus appears to them in the flesh and eats. He teaches them and opens their understanding, so they may teach others.

All of what was written in the past (Old and New Testament) is for our learning so we can be close to God. How cool is that!

Contact me today!

Great Bible Resources Moving Forward

*As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

god's law people of the promise kingdom divided bsf lesson 1 www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 2: Psalm 19:7-11; 119; 160 and John 6:63; 17:17

by atozmom, posted in BSF People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided 2022/2023

SUMMARY OF PSALM 19:7-11

God’s law, statues, precepts, and commands are perfect. The fear of the Lord is pure, the ordinances are righteous. They are more precious than gold. You will be rewarded by keeping them.

SUMMARY OF PSALM 119:160

“All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.”

SUMMARY OF JOHN 6:63

“The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit, and they are life.”

SUMMARY OF JOHN 17:17

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”

BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 2: Psalm 19:7-11; 119; 160 and John 6:63; 17:17

4a) The Bible provides us with God’s commands on how we are to live and worship.

b) The Bible has comforted me many times in my trials. It has offered helpful advice in difficult relationships, and it’s been a beacon of light when I’m wandering lost.

5a)

Creation — The Bible tells of how the earth, heavens, mankind, and life on earth was created and offers guidance on how they are to live. God provides everything all life needs to survive and thrive.

Rebellion — Much of the Old Testament is about how mankind repeatedly rebels against God, his judgment upon them, and his care and love for them despite their rebellion. We learn how God always pulls us back to him no matter how far we wander.

Redemption — What the entire Bible is about, as well as the New Testament. It’s also the purpose of Jesus Christ. It’s the story of the Fall of Man and how God sent his Son to redeem all of humanity and bring them back to Him.

Restoration — When Jesus was crucified on the cross and died for our sins, all of humanity was redeemed and able to live forever with God in heaven. As long as you accept Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross for your sins.

b) It’s the story of God’s creation of the world, man’s perpetual rebellion against him, God’s plan to redeem humanity through his Son, Jesus Christ, and our final restoration with God upon acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

6) Lord, guide me this year in my challenges, open my heart to you through this study and in daily life, and let your will be done in my life and in the lives of those around me. Give me the strength to persevere in all things, especially those for you. Let the dreams of my heart be from you, as you open the door to make them come true. Amen.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 2: Psalm 19:7-11; 119; 160 and John 6:63; 17:17

Great opening lesson! I loved the introductory notes and the overview of the Bible. I’m definitely looking forward to this year’s study!

End Notes BSF Study Questions People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided Lesson 1, Day 2: Psalm 19:7-11; 119; 160 and John 6:63; 17:17

David’s point in Psalm 19:7-11 is to praise God for revealing himself through his Word and not just through Creation. He chooses his words wisely: law, testimony, precepts, commands, fear, and ordinances.

God’s Word is never wrong, it’s reliable, it’s right, it’s pure, it’s enduring, and it’s true and righteous. And King David didn’t even have all of the Bible!

God’s Word is more valuable than gold and sweeter than honey. It warns us, and it rewards us.

We are set apart (sanctified) for God’s purpose and pleasure. The more truth we believe and understand, the more sanctified (or the more we will be God’s) we will be.

Powerful stuff as we begin this study!

Contact me today!

Great Bible Resources Moving Forward

*As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

bsf study of matthew www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 1, Day 5: Matthew 1:1-25

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 1:1-25

Matthew lists the genealogy of Jesus in these 17 verses. You’ll find a mix of characters here, from prostitutes, such as Rahab to kings, such as David and Solomon.  Most of the names are simply that — names of people whom the Bible does not talk about. However, God chose all to be a relative of Jesus. How cool is that?

Consider that there were 14 generations from Abraham to David, from David to the time of the Babylonian exile, and from the exile to the Messiah. Why the number 14? Matthew leaves out generations in order to create this numeric lineup. The letters of the Hebrew alphabet represented numbers, too. The letters in David’s name add up to 14, which is used to show that Jesus was the son of David, but also that Jesus is greater than David.

Mary became pregnant while betrothed to Joseph. Joseph, knowing that he was not the father, wanted to divorce Mary but in a quiet way. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph as he slept and reassured him that Mary is faithful. Mary’s child she carries is from the Holy Spirit and is to be named Jesus, meaning “the Lord saves.” This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah in Isaiah 7:14.

Joseph believed the angel. He took Mary as his wife but did not lie with her until after the birth of Jesus.

BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 1, DAY 5: MATTHEW 1:1-25

14a ) Matthew emphasizes how Jesus is from the line of David as it was foretold in the Old Testament. The angel mentions how Jesus will be from a virgin birth and called Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).

b ) God has a plan and he wants to make sure his people knew exactly who Jesus was.

15 ) Their families could have ostracized them and kicked them out of their faith. They could have been social outcasts. Their reputations could have been tarnished, making it hard to make a living in Old Testament times.

16 ) Anytime you lay down yourself and your wants for others costs you something. In truth, I don’t have any earth-shattering examples, but just following him and doing the right thing can be hard and difficult at times, alienating others, too.

CONCLUSIONS BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 1, DAY 5: MATTHEW 1:1-25

In chapter 1 of Matthew, we get a sense right away of what this book is all about. We will be following Jesus’s birth and life all to the end, and we will be meeting people who aren’t exactly high society. We see how Christianity is right for everyone. Fabulous!

END NOTES BSF STUDY QUESTIONS LESSON 1, DAY 5: MATTHEW 1:1-25

I’m super excited to be studying with you all again this year! Every year is like family, and I can’t wait to see what you all learn! In addition, do comment and share when led. Welcome to BSF’s Study of Matthew! Contact me with questions!

god's plan for mary gabriel appears to mary www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 1, Day 4: Luke 1:26-38

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF LUKE 1:26-38

Luke records how the angel of God reassured Mary, too. We are told that the angel, Gabriel, went to Nazareth in Galilee to a virgin named Mary. Gabriel told Mary that the Lord was with her and that she is highly favored. However, Mary was afraid, but the angel said that God has favored her and chosen her to bear His son to be named Jesus. He will inherit the throne of David and will reign over God’s people for eternity.

The Holy Spirit will come upon her. Her relative, Elizabeth, will have a child (John the Baptist) in her old age for nothing is impossible with God. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered, and the angel left.

BSF STUDY QUESTIONS MATTHEW LESSON 1, DAY 4: GOD’S PLAN FOR MARY: LUKE 1:26-38

11a ) Gabriel told Mary that the Lord was with her and that she is highly favored. The angel said that God has favored her and chosen her to bear His son to be named Jesus. He will inherit the throne of David and will reign over God’s people for eternity. The Holy Spirit will come upon her. Her relative, Elizabeth, will have a child (John the Baptist) in her old age for nothing is impossible with God.

b ) The Holy Spirit. Because it is God’s child, his Son, the Savior of the World.

12 ) “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be as you have said,” she told the angel Gabriel upon hearing she would bear God’s Son.

13 ) How I can see everything working in my life that He planned, not me. To impact my little corner of the world as He sees fit. Everything has come to this moment.

CONCLUSIONS BSF STUDY QUESTIONS MATTHEW LESSON 1, DAY 4: GOD’S PLAN FOR MARY: LUKE 1:26-38

I love how we can have the same stories from different points of view. So great! God is good!

END NOTES BSF STUDY QUESTIONS MATTHEW LESSON 1, DAY 4: GOD’S PLAN FOR MARY: LUKE 1:26-38

Curiously enough, no writer of the Old Testament ever mentioned the town of Nazareth. This tells you how insignificant it truly was. Until this moment when God chooses the human parents of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. They live in Nazareth. Here, we get the term “Jesus of Nazarth” plus the Nazarenes, or followers of Jesus.

One could say we are all favored, blessed, and have the Lord in the form of the Holy Spirit with us.

Mary’s mind turns to the practical when asking how she will have a baby when she has never had sex. Does this show a lack of faith? No. It simply is a question that most of us would ask. How will this happen?

“Overshadow” has the same meaning as cover with a cloud what God appeared in (Exodus 16:10, 19:9, 24:16, 34:5, 40:34) and when Jesus was transfigured (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:34). The cloud is God or the Holy Spirit.

The example of Elizabeth strengthened Mary’s faith in the the angel’s words.

Mary will face scrutiny from man for her pregnancy. Yet, God’s words are stronger.

Fun Fact: Note in no other culture does a virgin birth occur.

Contact me with questions!

A great book about Mary! Happy Reading!

 

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

day 2 of BSF's 7-day challenge Matthew 1:18-25 www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 1, Day 3: Matthew 1:18-25

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

SUMMARY OF MATTHEW 1:18-25

Mary became pregnant while betrothed to Joseph. Joseph, knowing that he was not the father, wanted to divorce Mary but in a quiet way. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph as he slept and reassured him that Mary is faithful. Mary’s child she carries is from the Holy Spirit and is to be named Jesus, meaning “the Lord saves.” This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah in Isaiah 7:14.

Joseph believed the angel. He took Mary as his wife but did not lie with her until after the birth of Jesus.

BSF Study Questions Matthew: Lesson 1, Day 3: Matthew 1:18-25

7a) Joseph’s immediate thought was to divorce Mary, but he cared for her, so he was willing to do it quietly so she would not be disgraced.

b) An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph as he slept and reassured him that Mary is faithful. Mary’s child is from the Holy Spirit and is to be named Jesus, meaning “the Lord saves.” This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah in Isaiah 7:14.

8a ) Jesus and Immanuel. Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, meaning “the Lord saves” or “Yahweh is Salvation.” Immanuel means “God with us.” While Joshua saved his people from marauders in the Promised Land, Jesus would save his people for all of eternity.

b) Everything. Knowing God is wtih me and the Lord saves me gets me through the tough times and days of my life.

9 ) That no matter what I do, I am saved. I will go to heaven.  All I have to do is believe in Jesus and his salvation (Romans 10:9). It truly is that simple.

10 ) Joseph believed the angel. He did not divorce Mary. Instead, he took Mary as his wife but did not lie with her until after the birth of Jesus.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew: Lesson 1, Day 3: Matthew 1:18-25

I love the obedience. Of course, it helps to have an angel deliver news. Still, what would happen if we obeyed just as readily?

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew: Lesson 1, Day 3: Matthew 1:18-25

Luke tells us about Jesus’s actual birth. Matthew just tells us about the conception.

In the Jewish culture, couples were often engaged quite young, even as children. Betrothals followed, which was the next step towards marriage. Once you were betrothed, separation was only by a divorce. Finally, the marriage took place.

The virgin birth is a hard concept for people to grasp, which is why it’s denied. What you need to remember is all things are possible through God (Matthew 19:26). Mary’s pregnancy is a miracle by God.

Since Mary was pregnant not by Joseph, Joseph is understandable upset (wouldn’t you be). He seeks a divorce from her, which is when God (once again) steps in to preserve Jesus’s lineage. An angel visits Joseph to explain the situation and what he is to do.

Jesus was a common name at the time. It means the salvation of Yahwah. Today, it is much more significant. Jesus is to save his people (all people) from sin.

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said.” This is a theme of Matthew and the first time of many you will see this phrase used.

Meaning of Immanuel

You can debate all day long what Immanuel means. However, what matters most is what Immanuel means to you. God is with you in the pain, the sorrows, the circumstances, the hurts, the joy, the wins, the losses, in death, in death of a loved one, in birth of your child, and the list goes on. Every hour, every minute, every second of every day, of every week, of every month, of every your of your life. God is with you. When you truly grasp that, nothing on this side of heaven will shake you.

Joseph obeys after the angel appears. Jesus’s parents are now set in place.

Is Mary of David’s Line?

There is debate as to Mary’s lineage. Scholars say she is of David’s House and of the tribe of Judah because she is descended from Nathan, the third son of David and Bathsheba. Joseph, on the other hand, is from the line of David via Solomon. This point is debated with bible scholars because it is not explicity stated. BSF stays away from the debate altogether. To me, it seems logical that both are descended from David because God wants to make sure there is no doubt. Contact me today!

bsf study of matthew www.atozmomm.com

BSF Study Questions Matthew Lesson 1, Day 2: Matthew 1:1-17

by atozmom, posted in BSF Matthew 2021/2022

Summary of Matthew 1:1-17

Matthew lists the genealogy of Jesus in these 17 verses. You’ll find a mix of characters here, from prostitutes, such as Rahab to kings, such as David and Solomon.  Most of the names are simply that — names of people whom the Bible does not talk about. However, God chose all to be a relative of Jesus. How cool is that?

Consider that there were 14 generations from Abraham to David, from David to the time of the Babylonian exile, and from the exile to the Messiah. Why the number 14? Matthew leaves out generations in order to create this numeric lineup. The letters of the Hebrew alphabet represented numbers, too. The letters in David’s name add up to 14, which is used to show that Jesus was the son of David, but also that Jesus is greater than David.

BSF Study Questions Matthew: Lesson 1, Day 2: Matthew 1:1-17

3)  It was super important in the Jewish culture at that time to know that Jesus, the son of God, came from those whom God chosen, including Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David, and that he was of royal birth as the King of Kings. It lent credibility to the fact that Jesus was indeed the Messiah of the world as it proved Jesus’s royal line.

4) Matthew connects Jesus to David through Joseph. Most are names of those who were ordinary people.

5a)

TAMAR — GENESIS 38

  • Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute to lay with Judah, her father-in-law. This was because Judah would not give her his son as her husband as he was required to do by law.

RAHAB — JOSHUA 2; 6:17

  • Rahab hid the spies sent by Joshua from the king of Jericho and so only her and her family was spared when Jericho was conquered. She turned away from her gods to the One, True God and was rewarded for it. She then married Salmon and became a direct relative of Jesus.

RUTH — RUTH 1; 4:13-17

  • Ruth was a Moabitess who accompanied Naomi, her mother-in-law back to Bethlehem when her husband had died. She faithfully provided for Naomi, garnering the attention of Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer. They were married, and the rest is history.

“WIFE OF URIAH” — 2 SAMUEL 11; 12:15, 18, 24

  • The wife of Uriah was Bathsheba. David committed adultery with her, and she ended up conceiving. However, this child died as punishment for David’s adultery. The next son that was born was Solomon.

MARY — LUKE 1:26-56

  • God chose Mary to bear Jesus who was miraculously conceived.

5b ) None of these women are perfect. Tamar used deceit to conceive. Rahab was a prostitute. Ruth was a foreigner. Bathsheba committed adultery. Mary was a virgin. They all tell of how God uses whom he chooses for his purposes.

6) I think everything I have today is by God’s grace: my family, pets, home, job, etc. He gives me everything.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Matthew: Lesson 1, Day 2: Matthew 1:1-17

Check out this gem of a book I found about these great women of the Bible!

I love Matthew’s genealogy. They are all imperfect people — some of them just a written name — who all played a role in bringing salvation to the world. Pretty cool. They were all chosen by God for a purpose, as we all are chosen by Him for a purpose, too. Sometimes, we might not see that purpose right away.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Matthew: Lesson 1, Day 2: Matthew 1:1-17

The first thing Matthew emphasizes is the history of Jesus. This is to show that Jesus came from Abraham, the patriarch of God’s people and of the Jewish faith and that he came from the line of David (2 Samuel 7:12-16) to establish his rightful claim to be king. The Old Testament prophesied that the Messiah would be a son of David.

You will see throughout Matthew that he makes a concerted effort to bridge the gap between the Old Testament and the New Testament. There is a 400-year gap that is known as the Intertestamental Period (between Testaments). This time was full of upheaval, chaos, uncertainty, wars, and more. Rome took over Jerusalem. Rome oppressed the Israelites, so they realized their only hope was God. The world most definitely needed saving. And the time was right for Jesus to come. With the relative peace of Pax Romana, travel was possible, so Jesus’s disciples could indeed spread the Good News. Quick summary HERE

ABOUT MATTHEW

Matthew (also known as Levi) was a tax collector who was despised by the people. Yet, he gave it all up to become an apostle of Jesus. It is likely Matthew was well-versed in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. Furthermore, this is the only Gospel written by a disciple. It was the most highly valued Gospel and the most quoted before 180 AD. It appears first in most lists.

There are two main themes Matthew follows:

  1. Matthew connects Jesus as the Savior and King promised in the Old Testament
  2. Matthew records Jesus’s teachings to show us how to live a life with purpose by following God

THE GENEALOGY

The fact Matthew mentions the four women shows God’s grace and how God is for everyone. God identifies with sinners. God includes women. Note how Joseph is the husband of Mary, not the father of Jesus. Matthew uses the number 14 to organize his genealogy. There are 14 generations from Abraham to David, from David to Babylon, from Babylon to Jesus. It is not meant to be complete.

Luke shows Jesus’s genealogy through Mary, who is through Nathan, a different son of David. (Luke 3:31)

Interesting fact:

Matthew passed over a man named Jehoakim (2 Chronicles 36:5-8) in his genealogy between Josiah and Jechoniah (Matthew 1:11). Jeremiah the prophet revealed that God decreed that no blood descendant of Jehoakim would sit on the throne of Israel (Jeremiah 36:30-31) because he was so wicked. Mary was not a part of the blood curse on the line of Jehoiakim since she is descended from Nathan and not Solomon.

Fun facts:

  • Matthew is known as the teaching Gospel.
  • Matthew is the only evangelist to use the word “church.”
  • Matthew is the Gospel of fulfillment.

TO THINK ABOUT

God gave us the Bible to show us how to live, to show us we are forgiven by Jesus’s sacrifice, we are his, and to give us purpose. By knowing God, we can experience everything God has for us. You are where you are at for a reason. What is that reason? Contact me today!

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

bsf genesis chapter 2 www.atozmomm.com

Friday Digest: BSF’s Study of Genesis Lesson 2

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

Because God created you in His image, you have worth, dignity, and purpose.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN GENESIS CHAPTER 2:

  • God calls us to meaningful relationships
  • God gives us work to do
  • God calls us to care for others, including animals
  • The Sabbath is about rest, reflection, and replenishing
  • God loves us perfectly, as we see when He created us

Take away: Genesis 2 show how life was intended and shows us how life will be with the Second Coming. Comfort comes in knowing God wants us.

genesis chapter 1 www.atozmomm.com

Friday Digest: BSF’s Study of Genesis Lesson 1

by atozmom, posted in BSF Genesis 2020/2021

New this year: I will be doing a synopsis of the key points of the Lessons on Friday. Reading the notes, I’ve come to realize that not everyone has time to read 6 pages of notes every week. This segment will be a less than one minute read for those of you who just want a snippet of the week.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN GENESIS CHAPTER 1:

  • God created everything in this order: formless earth; light and dark; water and land; sun, moon, and stars; sea creatures and birds; land animals, humans
  • God formed the earth
  • God filled the earth
  • God saw that it was good (this is written 7 times), and as God, what He says goes!

Take away: Only God gives us purpose since He created us.