Tag: bsf lesson 11

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BSF Study Questions Romans: From Guilt to Grace Lesson 11 Day 4: Romans 6:17-18

November 4, 2026October 25, 2026 by atozmom, posted in BSF Romans: From Guilt to Grace 2026/2027

Summary of Romans 6:17-18

Thank God that although you were once enslaved to sin, you now obey from the heart, having been freed to become willing slaves to righteousness.

BSF Study Questions Romans: From Guilt to Grace Lesson 11, Day 4: Romans 6:17-18

9a) Following rules relies on external compliance—often driven by fear, obligation, or pride—leaving a person’s inner desires entirely unchanged. Conversely, obedience from the heart is a willing, internal submission fueled by love and gratitude for God’s grace, flowing naturally from a radically transformed identity rather than a rigid checklist.

b) There are some things that are rule-based we have to do, like stopping at red lights when we are in a hurry. Yet, we want to do that to ensure people’s safety. Similarly, we want to glorify God, so we choose to care for others and be kind.

10) The pattern of teaching is the gospel of grace: believers are freely justified by Christ’s atoning sacrifice and united with His resurrection to permanently conquer sin and live holy lives.

11) Thank God for freedom from sin’s crushing tyranny, release from the law’s condemnation, and the Spirit-given power to joyfully obey Him from a transformed heart.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Romans: From Guilt to Grace Lesson 11, Day 4: Romans 6:17-18

Admittedly, the subtle differences in these passages are hard to understand. Praise be to God for that understanding!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Romans: From Guilt to Grace Lesson 11, Day 4: Romans 6:17-18

Sin is no longer in charge; righteousness is.

Jesus gives us the power to resist sin and temptation.

We have been set free, so now, we can live as such!

We all serve someone or something, so which would you rather serve: God or sin?

True freedom allows us to be who God made us to be — those who bring Him glory by obeying His will in our lives.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

In Romans 6:17-18, Paul erupts in spontaneous thanksgiving as he describes the profound, definitive shift in a believer’s allegiance, transitioning from the theoretical concept of slavery into the actual, lived experience of the Roman church.

Here is the breakdown of his argument in these verses:

Divine Intervention (Verse 17a): Paul begins with “But thanks be to God,” attributing the believers’ liberation entirely to God’s grace rather than human effort. He acknowledges their definitive past—they used to be slaves to sin—highlighting that their former enslavement is a closed chapter, defeated by God’s power.
The Gospel Mold (Verse 17b): He celebrates that they have “come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching.” This signifies that their new obedience is not a grudging, external compliance to a legal code, but a willing, internal transformation. In the original Greek, the phrasing suggests the believers were “handed over” to this teaching. The apostolic gospel acts as a mold or matrix; believers are poured into it so that their lives begin to take on the exact shape of Christ’s truth.
The Radical Transfer of Masters (Verse 18): Paul reiterates that spiritual emancipation is never autonomous independence. To be “set free from sin” immediately and simultaneously means having “become slaves to righteousness.” The chains of the old tyrant have been shattered only to bind the believer to a new, benevolent master whose rule brings genuine life.

Conclusion

Paul establishes that true Christian freedom is not the right to do whatever one wants; it is a radical transfer of ownership. By the grace of God, believers have been recast in the mold of the gospel, resulting in a deep, heartfelt obedience. They are permanently liberated from the destructive dictatorship of sin specifically so they can joyfully and exclusively serve their new master: righteousness.

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BSF Study Questions Romans: From Guilt to Grace Lesson 11 Day 3: Romans 6:15-16

November 3, 2026October 25, 2026 by atozmom, posted in BSF Romans: From Guilt to Grace 2026/2027

Summary of Romans 6:15-16

Grace is not a license to sin. You become enslaved to whatever you obey: serving sin leads to death, but serving God brings righteousness.

BSF Study Questions Romans: From Guilt to Grace Lesson 11, Day 2: Romans 6:15-16

6) Both questions address the fleshly temptation to abuse God’s grace, and both receive Paul’s vehement rejection. They are alike in exposing the human instinct to turn spiritual freedom into a license to rebel.

However, they differ in their specific distortions. Romans 6:1 asks if believers should habitually live in sin to maximize God’s grace (abusing grace as a theological strategy). Romans 6:15 asks if believers can occasionally sin because the strict penalty of the law is removed (abusing grace as a moral loophole).

Together, they reveal that human nature fundamentally misunderstands grace. True grace is never a permit for sin; it is the active, transformative power to finally conquer it.

7) Being a “slave to sin” means being completely dominated by destructive desires, where sin dictates your choices and inevitably leads to spiritual death. Conversely, being a “slave to obedience” means willingly surrendering your life to God, where His grace empowers you to live a life that produces righteousness.

Paul uses the extreme imagery of slavery to destroy the illusion of human neutrality. His point is that absolute autonomy does not exist; every person is continually serving a master. You either submit to sin, which destroys you, or you submit to God, whose mastership actually brings true freedom and life.

8 ) A believer, free from sin’s tyranny to live under His righteous reign of grace, empowered by the Spirit for joyful, holy obedience.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Romans: From Guilt to Grace Lesson 11, Day 3: Romans 6:15-16

I’m glad BSF asked the question about the difference from these verses and Romans 6:1. The difference is subtle, but important enough to address it. Bottomline, we must not sin on purpose at all, and if you are a believer, you won’t want to (praise be to God!).

End Notes BSF Study Questions Romans: From Guilt to Grace Lesson 11, Day 3: Romans 6:15-16

We have to serve somebody: either sin or obedience. Which one will you choose? To live in freedom that grace offers, or to live in slavery that sin brings?

Fun Fact: Almost one-third of believers were slaves themselves of some sort in the first century A.D. Aren’t you glad you live in the 21st century?

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

In Romans 6:15-16, Paul anticipates and dismantles a dangerous distortion of his teaching on grace. Having just declared in verse 14 that believers are “not under the law, but under grace,” he addresses the immediate human temptation to view this spiritual freedom as a license to rebel.

Here is the breakdown of his argument in these verses:

The Anticipated Abuse of Grace (Verse 15): Paul voices the inevitable, fleshly objection: If the strict condemnation of the law is gone and God’s grace covers all failures, why not occasionally indulge in sin? His response is an explosive, categorical denial: “By no means!” (or “God forbid!”). He emphasizes that being released from the law’s penalty does not mean being released from reflecting God’s moral character. Grace is a power to overcome sin, not a permit to practice it.
The Myth of Human Autonomy (Verse 16a): Paul introduces a universal spiritual axiom using the cultural concept of slavery. He argues that absolute human independence is an illusion. Whenever a person continuously yields their will to obey a behavior or a desire, they actively bind themselves as a slave to that master. You cannot casually dabble in sin without it progressively asserting ownership over your will.
The Two Trajectories (Verse 16b): Paul presents a stark, binary reality with no middle ground. Humanity is divided into two distinct servitudes, each with an unavoidable destination. Yielding to sin is a trajectory that inescapably “leads to death” (spiritual separation, moral decay, and ultimate destruction). Conversely, yielding to God’s commands is a trajectory of “obedience, which leads to righteousness” (conformity to God’s character and true spiritual flourishing).

Conclusion

Grace does not make a believer masterless; rather, it radically changes who their master is. Paul shatters the illusion that a Christian can claim the liberating benefits of grace while continuing to casually serve their old dictator. True grace does not produce a desire to flirt with sin—instead, it fundamentally redirects a believer’s core allegiance, binding them to a new, willing obedience that actively produces righteousness.

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BSF Study Questions Romans: From Guilt to Grace Lesson 11 Day 2: Romans 6:12-14

November 2, 2026October 25, 2026 by atozmom, posted in BSF Romans: From Guilt to Grace 2026/2027

Summary of Romans 6:12-14

Refuse to let sin rule your body. Instead, offer yourselves to God as instruments of righteousness, because you live under grace, not under the law.

BSF Study Questions Romans: From Guilt to Grace Lesson 11, Day 2: Romans 6:12-14

The word “therefore” in Romans 6:12 acts as a hinge, pivoting Paul’s argument from the profound theological truths of the previous chapters to a direct, practical command. It rests upon a foundation of specific spiritual realities established in chapters 4 through 6:

Justification through Faith (Romans 4:22-25): Believers are forgiven and officially declared righteous not by their own works, but because they believe in the God who delivered Jesus over to death for their sins and raised Him to life for their justification.
The New Reign of Grace (Romans 5:17, 20-21): While sin and death once held absolute dictatorship over humanity, God’s grace has completely overpowered it. Believers now receive the abundant, free gift of righteousness so they can “reign in life” through Jesus Christ.
A Severed Enslavement (Romans 6:3-11): Through spiritual union with Christ, a believer’s “old self” was definitively crucified. Because they share in Christ’s death and resurrection, the absolute mastery of sin has been broken, and they are commanded to calculate themselves as legally dead to sin but fully alive to God.

The “therefore” signifies that Christian obedience is a response to a completed victory. Because God has already justified the believer, replaced the rule of sin with the rule of grace, and permanently broken sin’s authority, therefore the believer has the power and the obligation to stop letting sin dictate the actions of their mortal body.

4a) Positive: “Offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.”

Negative: “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires”, “Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness,”

Lasting spiritual change requires a dual process: actively rejecting destructive habits (putting off the old self) and intentionally adopting righteous behaviors (putting on the new self). Eliminating sin requires replacement with Godly character to endure.

b) People are tempted to offer their minds to pride, tongues to hurtful gossip, eyes to lust, and hands to selfish greed instead of serving God.

Union with Christ shatters sin’s mastery, empowering believers through the Holy Spirit to surrender their bodies and minds as instruments of righteousness to honor God. I’m personally tempted in every way. I pray through it all.

5) Verse 14 guarantees that the fight against sin is not a hopeless struggle against an unbeatable foe. Grace ensures that when a believer actively chooses to resist sin and offer themselves to God, they are operating from a position of guaranteed, structural victory.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Romans: From Guilt to Grace Lesson 11, Day 2: Romans 6:12-14

Being used by God for His purposes should be out ultimate goal. It can be challenging to know if you are being used some days, but we persevere in faith, knowing He has got our backs!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Romans: From Guilt to Grace Lesson 11, Day 2: Romans 6:12-14

“Therefore” is a transition that Paul uses to emphasize his next words of being dead to sin and alive in Christ.

“Offer” here is like offering a sacrifice.

Paul is trying to help us live out the freedom he has given us with practical advice.

We must not walk in sin but instead walk in righteousness.

We are under grace and should live as such.

Our lives will slowly become more and more like Jesus if we are under this grace.

We cannot abide in sin, nor can we tolerate it. When we sin, it feels so wrong, so we repent immediately and grow more in Him.

So, so powerful!

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

In Romans 6:12-14, Paul transitions from declaring the theological realities of a believer’s new identity to issuing direct, practical commands for daily living. Having established that Christians are “dead to sin,” he now explains how to actively enforce that reality.

Here is the breakdown of his argument in these verses:

Denying Sin’s Reign (Verse 12): Paul commands believers not to let sin “reign” in their mortal bodies. He personifies sin as a deposed monarch trying to reassert its lost authority through human appetites and physical desires. Because the believer has died to this master, they must actively refuse to obey its illegitimate orders.
Reassigning Your Instruments (Verse 13): Paul uses imagery that can be translated as either tools or weapons. He urges believers to stop offering their physical faculties (eyes, hands, mind, tongue) to sin as “instruments of wickedness.” Instead, because they have been brought from death to life, they must consciously surrender every part of themselves to God to be used as active instruments of righteousness.
The Promise of Grace (Verse 14): Paul grounds these commands in a massive theological promise: “sin shall no longer be your master.” He explains that this freedom is possible because believers are no longer “under the law,” which only exposes sin and condemns the sinner without providing the power to change. Instead, they are “under grace,” a new realm that supplies both the forgiveness and the spiritual power necessary to live a holy life.

Conclusion

This passage shifts the focus from what God has fundamentally changed in the believer to how the believer must practically respond. Because God’s grace has permanently broken the dictatorship of sin, Christians are now responsible for managing their daily habits and physical bodies in alignment with that freedom. Grace is not just a passive pardon; it is an active, liberating environment that empowers believers to offer their entire lives as dedicated tools for God’s righteous work.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 5: Ezra 8:21-36

November 6, 2025October 17, 2025 by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezra 8:21-36

Ezra asked God for a safe journey. He gave the priests the silver, gold, and other articles to protect and carry to Jerusalem. Everyone (and the gold) arrived in Jerusalem safely, thanks to God.

They praised God and sacrificed burnt offerings to Him. They conveyed the King’s orders to the governors there, too.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 5: Ezra 8:21-36

12a) They fasted and humbled themselves before God. They asked God for a safe journey.

b) It allows people to recognize that they totally depend on God. A humble posture of prayer recognizes God’s ultimate sovereignty, power, and goodness. It acknowledges our own limitations, vulnerability, and complete dependence on Him for protection and provision. It is an act of submitting our will to His authority and trusting in His character, not our own merit.

13a) Because he had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him,” so it would look like they didn’t trust God if they had asked.

b) I need to trust God with my coaching, my novel, and my future career.

14a) He put the provisions (gold, silver, and such) in the hands of the priests. He counted it out before they left and then, when they arrived to ensure it all had arrived safely and had not been stolen.

b) It’s just always a good idea to safeguard items. People learn that true faith and practical action work together. Ezra modeled this by fasting and praying (divine trust) while also creating meticulous accountability (human responsibility). His story shows God faithfully protects those who boldly depend on Him and manage His provisions with integrity.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 5: Ezra 8:21-36

Great lesson on relying on God for all your life’s journeys!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 5: Ezra 8:21-36

Fasting can have immense power.

Robbers were always a threat in ancient times. Yet, God was faithful!

The gold and silver were worth millions of dollars in today’s money. This was an important job, indeed.

God’s hand was upon them (as His is on us!).

The journey from Babylon to Jerusalem took 4 months.

The accounting and stewardship were amazing here.

The burnt offerings showed gratitude to God and dedication to Him. A sin offering was made as well.

12 bulls for the 12 tribes of Judah.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezra 8:21-36 records Ezra’s profound act of faith, his meticulous care for God’s holy items, and the safe arrival of his contingent in Jerusalem, proving God’s faithfulness.

Interpretation

Faith over Fear (vv. 21-23): Before beginning the dangerous journey, Ezra proclaims a fast, asking God for protection. He does this because he had previously told King Artaxerxes that “the good hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him.” Ezra was ashamed to ask for a military escort after making such a bold declaration of faith. He chose to rely radically on God’s protection rather than the king’s army, and the text confirms, “He answered our prayer.”
Accountability and Sanctity (vv. 24-30): Ezra demonstrates wise leadership by entrusting the vast treasures of gold and silver to twelve consecrated priests and their Levite assistants. He weighs everything, gives them a solemn charge to guard these “sacred” items, and makes them accountable for delivering the exact weight upon arrival. This shows his respect for the sanctity of the items and his prudence in managing them.
God’s Protection and Mission Accomplished (vv. 31-36): The group completes the perilous four-month journey safely, as God delivers them from “enemies and bandits on the way.” Upon arriving in Jerusalem, they rest, meticulously weigh and deliver the treasures to the Temple, and offer burnt offerings to God. They also deliver the king’s decrees, ensuring the mission has the full backing of the Persian authorities.

Conclusion

This passage is a powerful testament to faith in action. Ezra’s decision to forgo a military guard was a risky demonstration of his total trust in God, and God honored that faith with safe passage. The section highlights a perfect balance of divine reliance (fasting and prayer) and human responsibility (meticulous accounting and stewardship), resulting in the successful completion of the mission and the joyful restoration of worship.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 4: Ezra 8:1-20

November 5, 2025October 17, 2025 by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezra 8:1-20

Ezra lists the heads of the families who came with him to Jerusalem. Ezra realized that no Levites (the priests) were coming, so he recruited some.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 4: Ezra 8:1-20

9) Ezra recorded the lineages to establish the community’s legal and spiritual legitimacy. This proved they were the true covenant heirs of Israel and, crucially, validated which priests and Levites were qualified by ancestry to lead the newly restored Temple worship according to the Law of Moses.

10a) Ezra realized that no Levites were with him. The Levites were the priests, so he needed them to lead the people in faith.

b) Ezra summoned leaders and men of learning to bring some Levites with them. God helped, and some came! They also brought temple servants!

11a) He recruited others to help and enlisted God’s help. He refused to go to Jerusalem without them, knowing that worship of God was a high priority.

b) Right now, my passions and my dreams. He’s calling me to trust Him in this.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 4: Ezra 8:1-20

I love Ezra’s approach to his problem. He relies on others and God for help!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 4: Ezra 8:1-20

We can guess that the total number of people coming with Ezra was between 6-7,000 based on his list of names.

Note that Ezra carefully planned his persuasion tactics!

Map of Ezra’s journey back to Jerusalem and the probable location of the Ahava Canal:

map of Ezra's journey to Jerusalem and the Ahava Canal — Courtesy of generationword.com

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezra 8:1-20 records the roll call of the returning exiles and Ezra’s first leadership crisis, which reveals his uncompromising priority: restoring legitimate worship.

Interpretation

The Register (vv. 1-14): This section is the official list of the heads of families who returned with Ezra. It’s more than a headcount; it’s a legal document establishing the genealogical purity and credentials of the group, beginning with the most prominent lines of priests and the royal house of David. This list validates their identity as the true, restored people of Israel.
The Crisis and Resolution (vv. 15-20): After gathering the caravan by the river Ahava, Ezra inspects the people and has a stunning realization: there are no Levites present. His mission was to restore the Law and worship, and the Levites were essential personnel for Temple ministry and teaching. Instead of proceeding, Ezra immediately halts the entire journey and sends a delegation of leaders on a specific mission to recruit ministers for God’s house. “By the good hand of our God upon them,” the mission succeeds, bringing back skilled Levites and Temple servants.

Conclusion

This passage demonstrates Ezra’s meticulous, non-negotiable commitment to spiritual purity and proper worship. The list of names established the identity of the community, while Ezra’s refusal to move without the Levites proved his dedication to restoring the function of the community according to God’s Law. It showed he would not compromise on divine requirements for the sake of convenience or speed.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 3: Ezra 7:11-28

November 4, 2025October 17, 2025 by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezra 7:11-28

King Artaxerxes gave a letter to Ezra, stating that anyone could return to Jerusalem with him with the silver and gold taken from the temple and more. He told him to use the money to buy offerings to God and to buy materials to build the temple. All the treasurers are to provide him with whatever he needs. He is to be in charge of administering justice and teaching the law to others. Those who do not obey the laws may be punished by death or imprisonment.

Ezra praised God for putting it in the king’s heart to help the Israelites and for extending good favor to him.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 3: Ezra 7:11-28

6) God moved King Artaxerxes to authorize the return, provide lavish funding (silver, gold, supplies) from the royal treasury, grant tax exemption to all Temple workers, and give Ezra full civil authority to establish and enforce God’s Law, using state power to protect and provision the mission.

7) God’s providence included “stirring the spirit” of pagan kings. He moved Cyrus to release the exiles, Darius to find the lost decree and fund the Temple, and Artaxerxes to grant Ezra full authority and resources to restore the law.

8a) Ezra praised God for putting it in the king’s heart to help the Israelites and for extending good favor to him. He gathered up leaders from Israel to go with him.

b) Everything — food, clothing, shelter, life.

c) It’s important for us to remember what God has done in our lives so that when times get hard, we can go back to God’s faithfulness and use it to fuel us during the bad times. And, it’s crucial because it stops us from taking credit for God’s work and reminds us that we are not self-sufficient. We acknowledge His active hand in our lives. This moves us from thinking, “I’m so good/lucky” to “God is so good.” It cultivates gratitude and humility, actively pushing back against pride and reminding us that our successes are a result of His favor, just as Ezra did when he praised God for moving the king’s heart.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 3: Ezra 7:11-28

I love how God can (and does) use anyone to help His people.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 3: Ezra 7:11-28

The king commissions helpers, a copy of the Law, and gifts for the temple to go with Ezra upon his return to Jerusalem. The king encourages others to return to make Israel great again. The king was very generous in his offerings to Ezra.

Artaxerxes wanted to placate the gods (in this case, the One and Only God) so that he could be blessed. This was a common belief in those times.

Ezra was given significant authority. He knew that only God could create this!

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezra 7:11-28 details the official letter of commission from King Artaxerxes to Ezra. This decree grants Ezra extraordinary authority and resources for his mission to restore the Jewish community in Jerusalem.

Interpretation

The letter from the Persian king, the most powerful ruler on earth at the time, contains four astonishing provisions:

Official Permission (vv. 12-13): The king formally authorizes any Jewish person, priest, or Levite in his empire to return to Jerusalem with Ezra.
Royal Funding (vv. 14-23): Artaxerxes and his counselors donate a massive amount of silver and gold for the Temple. He further commands his treasurers west of the Euphrates to give Ezra whatever else he needs—up to 100 talents of silver, plus wheat, wine, oil, and salt—”without limit” and “promptly.”
Tax Exemption (v. 24): The king grants complete tax immunity to all priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and other Temple servants.
Civil Authority (vv. 25-26): Most significantly, the king empowers Ezra to appoint magistrates and judges to govern the entire province based on the Law of God. He gives Ezra the full power of the Persian state to enforce this law, including imprisonment, confiscation of goods, banishment, or even death.

Conclusion

The passage concludes with Ezra’s own reaction (vv. 27-28): a burst of praise to God. Ezra recognizes that this incredible political and financial backing was not a human achievement but a divine miracle. He blesses God for “put[ting] such a thing as this into the heart of the king.” This letter demonstrates God’s absolute sovereignty, showing His ability to move the heart of a pagan king to not only fund the restoration but to legally establish God’s Law as the law of the land.

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 2: Ezra 7:1-10

November 3, 2025October 17, 2025 by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Ezra 7:1-10

Ezra left Babylon during the reign of Artaxerxes with some of the Israelites back to Jerusalem. He was given everything he needed.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 2: Ezra 7:1-10

3) Ezra was a priest and expert scribe qualified by his direct lineage and deep personal devotion to God’s Law. The king agreed to his request due to God’s divine influence (“the good hand of his God was upon him”) and a smart political strategy to ensure a peaceful, loyal province. God moved Artaxerxes to be agreeable to Ezra’s request.

4a) Verses 6 and 10

b) God’s people would need a leader and someone who knew God’s Word so that they could reestablish their lives, customs, and traditions.

c) Ezra brought up all kinds of people back to Jerusalem. However, the list reveals Ezra’s priority was legitimate worship. By halting the entire journey to recruit Levites, he showed that having the correct personnel for Temple service was non-negotiable. The detailed census itself served to define and purify the community, laying the foundation for his spiritual reforms.

5) He’s given me this forum to help others. He continues to bless my life as I try to follow Him the best I can.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 2: Ezra 7:1-10

I love how Ezra is called and chosen here. We all are, and it’s good to remember this.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 11, Day 2: Ezra 7:1-10

Sixty years passed between Ezra 6 and 7 with not much to-dos. The book of Esther takes place in this timeframe when Xerxes reigned, who was married to Esther.

Ezra 1-6 is the first wave of exiles returning to Jerusalem
Ezra 7-10 is the second wave with Ezra himself (around 458 BC)
Nehemiah led the third wave

The point of the list of names is to show that Ezra is of the Levite tribe, descended from Aaron, and a rightful priest for the Jews.

Ezra returned during the second phase. He was an expert in God’s law, whose job was to preserve, teach, and observe God’s laws.

The journey from Babylon to Jerusalem was about 900 miles.

Ezra’s job was to teach the word of the Lord to the people.

Fun Fact: The Bible has more than 40 human authors.

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Ezra 7:1-10 introduces the book’s second main figure, Ezra, a priest and expert scribe in the Law of Moses. It establishes his authority through a detailed lineage tracing back to Aaron, the first high priest, and highlights the divine favor upon him, which is key to his mission.

Interpretation

Ezra’s Credentials (vv. 1-6): The passage opens by establishing Ezra’s impeccable qualifications. His long genealogy validates his priestly authority, while his description as a scribe “skilled in the Law of Moses” confirms his expertise. He is not just a priest by birth but a scholar by devotion.
The Second Return (vv. 7-9): Decades after the initial return under Zerubbabel, Ezra leads a second, smaller group of exiles to Jerusalem. This journey is explicitly successful because “the good hand of his God was upon him.” This phrase underscores a central theme: Ezra’s success is a direct result of divine favor, not just his own skill or royal permission.
Ezra’s Motivation (v. 10): This key verse reveals the heart of Ezra’s mission. He had “set his heart” to do three things in order:
1. To study the Law of the LORD.
2. To do it (i.e., to live it out personally).
3. To teach its statutes and rules in Israel. This demonstrates that his purpose was a deep, spiritual revival based on a foundation of personal devotion and scholarly knowledge.

Conclusion

This passage serves as a formal introduction to Ezra, presenting him as the divinely appointed and qualified leader for the next phase of Israel’s restoration. His mission was not to build a physical temple, which was already done, but to rebuild the spiritual and legal foundation of the nation by teaching God’s Law. The success of his journey, attributed to God’s “good hand,” sets the stage for the religious and social reforms he would soon implement.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 5: 2 Peter 3

November 7, 2024October 26, 2024 by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of 2 Peter 3

2 Peter 3:1-10: Peter is imploring the people to wholesome thinking. In the last days, scoffers will come, skeptical and evil, questioning God, forgetting the creation. The world was destroyed in the flood and the day of judgment will come when the world will be destroyed by fire.

The Lord’s time is not our time; a thousand years are like a day. He is patient, giving everyone a chance to repent. But the Day of Judgment will come, and everything will be destroyed.

You should live holy and godly lives until a new heaven and earth come. Be spotless, blameless, and at peace with God. Be on your guard so that you do not fall away.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 5: 2 Peter 3

13a) Peter encourages us to wholesome thinking. wholesome thinking. He wants us to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. This is important because we must be ready for when Jesus comes again, and the devil is perpetually looking to trip us up and make us fall.

b) Those who do not believe in Jesus are wont to commit sins without repentance or caring. They justify their actions no matter whom they hurt. They act this way because they are slaves to the flesh, to themselves, to what feels good at the time, and to the devil. They have no moral compass as to what is right or wrong.

c) With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. It means that His time is not our time. We must have patience for God to do His thing for us.

14) The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

15a) We should live holy and godly lives. Be spotless, blameless, and at peace with God. This is accomplished by staying close to God and Jesus: praying, going to church and Bible study, surrounding yourself with believing friends, reading the Bible, and relying on God for everything.

b) He is encouraging me to keep going; to keep fighting the fight for Him. And, He is encouraging me to do His will for my life. He is encouraging me to explore more His will.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 5: 2 Peter 3

I love how we are to stay close to God even though we know where we are going and are saved. We still must be vigilant in our walk with Jesus, and we are to be patient with events that happen in our lives.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 5: 2 Peter 3

There are always those who doubt Jesus who don’t put him first in their lives.

Days can seem long to us, but they are mere hours to God. Nothing limits God, not even time.

God will keep His promises and come again once all have a chance to turn to Him.

Jesus will come quickly when he does come. We should live with this in mind, seeking God and righteousness.

Peter says we can hasten Jesus’ coming by being holy and through evangelism and prayer.

We must be careful that the Scriptures aren’t twisted by others.

We must always be abiding in Jesus and striving to grow our relationship with him. That is our calling. By continually growing in our walk with Jesus, we won’t fall.

We live differently and share the Gospel, so others can as well.

“Amen” is praising God and His blessings. It is an entreatment and a prayer at all at once. How powerful!

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 4: Joel 2:28-3:21

November 6, 2024October 26, 2024 by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Joel 2:28-3:21

God will pour out His Spirit with repentance. God will show wonders, and everyone who calls on the Lord will be saved.

On the day of the Lord, the nations will be judged. The fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem shall be restored. Israel’s enemies will have returned upon them what they have done to God’s people. God will sell their sons and daughters to the people of Judah who will sell them to a far off land.

The people must prepare for war, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord will be a refuge for His people, a stronghold. They will know He is God, and Jerusalem shall be holy.

Judah’s enemies shall be desolate, while Israel blooms with blessings.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 4: Joel 2:28-3:21

10a) Peter repeats Joel verbatim, saying God will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

b) I think because we humans can see these changes, which can cause us to more readily believe and understand that Jesus is coming. Matthew 24:30 says that these are the signs of Man and that all the people of the earth will mourn when they see him coming down. It’s a warning and a sign.

11a) The Holy Spirit created the Earth. The Spirit marks us as God’s when we accept Jesus as our Savior. He guides and protects us, too. The Bible was written by prophets who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. In essence, the Holy Spirit/God has worked throughout all of history and continues to do so to this day.

b) There is just a peace that I experience that’s hard to define when I am troubled. I know God’s got it, and I believe that’s the power of the Holy Spirit at play.

12a) Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. It means my future is sealed. I am to forever dwell with the Lord after this earthly life, and it will be amazing!

b) Joel promises that no matter how much we sin, we are forgiven if we just rely on the Lord. God will reward us. This offers extreme comfort in hard times.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 4: Joel 2:28-3:21

It’s a great reminder that the Holy Spirit is always with you, acting through you, for God’s will.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 11, Day 4: Joel 2:28-3:21

The people will ultimately be restored and blessed. God’s Spirit will be poured out on all after Jesus. Peter points to how Joel’s prophecy here was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost after Jesus’ death.

The Holy Spirit is poured out on all who believe and receive.

The Holy Spirit is the author of Scripture.

Joel 3 discusses the Last Days. Technically, we are in the Last Days, which were ushered in with Jesus’ death.

Bringing back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem refers to the return of the Jews from Babylonian exile.

God will gather the nations for the final battle (Revelation 16:12-16).

God does not like it when others mistreat His people. He will retaliate against those that do. There will be a war with no hope of the other side prevailing.

It will be tragic, but God will be a shelter for His people. There will be abundance. God’s people will be forgiven.

Joel begins with a plague of locusts and ends with a promise of restoration. How great is our God!