Category Archives: Bible Study

Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 3 (Excursus on Divine Call)

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Class #3:  In Galatians 1:1, St. Paul is holding up his divine apostolic call, saying, “Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father…).”  In order to better understand the reason that St. Paul would magnify his call, we are taking an excursus through the Scriptural doctrine of the Divine Call, this week and next week.  All Christians (as members of the priesthood of believers) have a general call to proclaim the Gospel (Rom 10:9) and speak the Word of God in their vocation(Col 3:16).  Nevertheless, in order to perform the public ministry of Word and Sacrament in the church, a divine call into the Office of the ministry is required(Rom 10:15, Heb 5:4).  In this lesson, we begin to define and illustrate the divine call into the Office of the Ministry.

Handout: Galatians Overheads class 3

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 2

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Class #2:  St. Paul’s greeting to the Galatians begins with (1) an abrupt defense of his divine apostolic call, followed by (2) a bare bones reference to the recipients, and (3) an extended blessing.  The origin of St. Paul’s apostleship is not from (apo) men, meaning that the source of his call is human and not divine.  Furthermore, St. Paul’s apostleship is not a mediate divine call by means (dia) of a Christian congregation, but is an immediate divine call directly from God (Acts 9).  St. Paul was called by (dia) the risen Christ and the source of his Gospel is God Himself.

Handout:  Galatians Bible Study class 1  and Galatians Overhead Class 2

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Galatians Bible Study, Pt. 1

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Introduction to Galatians:  After taking the summer off, it’s time to return to podcasting our Adult Bible Class.  This class introduces the author, recipients, time and themes of the book of Galatians.  A cursory look is given toward the Judaizers and the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).

PDF Handout:  Galatians Bible Study class 1

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Ecclesiastes Bible Study 3: Meaningful Conclusion

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Solomon teaches that success lies only in the hands of God.  We are given to do our work in the present, but we cannot control the future.  He tells us that we should receive a quiet and peaceful heart and commit everything to God.  Some fools respond by saying, “Then let us do no work.”  When Solomon teaches us to reject our counsels and anxieties, but to do the work, then fools either fall into despair or become prideful.  When their plans are thwarted they despair.  When their plans succeed they become presumptuous.

Similarly, the Gospel teaches an alien righteousness earned by the merit of Jesus Christ and freely received by faith.  The fool responds, “Then let us not do any good works.  If faith is sufficient, let us sin.”  When we teach about the fruits of faith and true good works, the fool trusts in them for salvation.

Solomon attempts to teach about the meaningful life of the Christian, who gives thanks for the gift of salvation.  He is not concerned about the future, but is content with his present vocation.  The grace of God provides an abundance of gifts, including daily provisions and satisfaction in the work of his daily vocation(Eccl 2:24-25).

 

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Ecclesiastes Bible Study 2: Vain Desires of the Heart

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When Solomon says that man’s labor under the sun is meaningless, he is not speaking about the work of our vocation, which God has given man to do.  Solomon is speaking about man’s toil and striving apart from God (or even against God’s will).  Everything which God has made is good.  It is the misuse of God’s gifts in accordance with our sinful desires that is meaningless.  Not only will we fail to accomplish what God has not willed, but we will afflict ourselves with trouble.  In Matthew 6:19-34, Jesus teaches His disciples to seek first Christ’s kingdom.  With salvation secured through the merit of Christ, we know that God is working out everything for our good.  This gift of God makes us content and at peace, without care and anxiety for the future, which is in God’s hands.   Solomon teaches us to remain and find enjoyment in the Word and work of God.

Overheads: Overheads Lesson 2 May 15 2016
Handouts: The Three Books of Solomon, Luther’s Prefaces to the Book of Ecclesiastes

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Ecclesiastes Bible Study 1: Introduction

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For the month of May, we are going to give a cursory look at the book of Ecclesiastes.  Ecclesiastes teaches us about the vanity of man’s heart which is not content with his present vocation but always desires future honor and wealth and fame.  “What does the worker gain from his toil?”  Whatever man seeks apart from God is a vain striving and accomplishes nothing.  It is the gift of God for man to enjoy his work.  The Christian is content to live the good life of thanksgiving for forgiveness before God and the world.

Handouts: The Three Books of Solomon, Luther’s Prefaces to the Book of Ecclesiastes
Overheads: Overheads Lesson 1 May 8 2016

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Baptismal Life Bible Class – Third Use of the Law, Part 15

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Knowing that the Law can only produce “works of the law”(Rom 3:28) while the Gospel creates faith, which brings forth “fruits of the Spirit” (Gal 5:2) 1 Timothy 1:5), we might wrongly decide that the Law is not to be preached to believers.  In this study, we examine the Scriptural teaching concerning the third use of the Law as it is found in the Formula of Concord, VI and Romans, chapters 3-8.  This concludes the Bible Study on the Baptismal Life.

Handout: Baptism Apr 24 2016 Lesson 14

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Baptismal Life Bible Class – The Baptized Using the Law Lawfully, Part 14

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The law can only produce “works of the law”(Rom 3:28).  The Gospel creates faith, which brings forth good works, which are called “fruits of the Spirit”—“love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5).  So what are Christians to do with the law?  How do Christians use the law?  St. Paul tells Timothy, “But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully…” (1 Timothy 1:8).  This lesson introduces the topic of using the law lawfully.

Handout: Baptism Apr 24 2016 Lesson 14

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Baptismal Life Bible Class – The Fruits of Faith: Spiritual Impulses and Works, Part 13

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The fruits of faith are so much more than good works.  Without faith in Christ, which produces new spiritual impulses, we could not do good works.  Those impulses include submitting to God’s will, contentment, love, mortifying the old Adam, enduring suffering, facing death with peace and hope, etc.

“Therefore we also hold that the keeping of the law should begin in us and increase more and more. But we mean to include both elements, namely, the inward spiritual impulses and the outward good works.  Our opponents slanderously claim that we do not require good works, whereas we not only require them but show how they can be done” (Ap IV, 136).

Handout: Baptism Apr 13 2016 Lesson 13

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Baptismal Life Bible Class – The Image of Christ or Moses, Part 12

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There is a Scriptural difference between “the new man” who should daily emerge and arise and what the new man does “to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.”  One is faith and the other is the fruits of faith.  “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God” (Gal 2:20).  The Christian mind is faith, which is produced by the ministry of the Word.  When Christ is formed in you(Gal 4:19), faith brings forth good works.  When your confidence rests on the law, it is the image of Moses that is formed in you.

Overheads:
Lesson Twelve Overheads Baptism Apr 10 2016

Resources:
Lesson 11 Yellow Sheet LW v26 p431
Lesson Nine Baptism Mar 20 2016

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