Barbara: Hi everyone- welcome to 40 minutes of faith. My name is Barbara Cox and I host this weekly podcast to explore God's word and our relationship with God.
Today I'm going to be talking about four Bible studies that I've participated in this spring with Bible verses throughout and a few key messages.
The first study that I participated in was sponsored by the Protestant women of the chapel, which is the military affiliated Bible study group here in upstate New York. And it was about the book of Hebrews. The title of the study was Better and the author was Jen Wilkin. I've done a number of different studies written by this same author over the years and have really enjoyed them.
They're very detailed and you learn a lot of new information about the Bible and obviously that particular passage. I've done her studies on first Peter and the sermon on the Mount. So in that study, I learned from the author a great deal about Hebrews. And I don't want to just spend the whole time of this podcast telling you all the details about these fantastic studies because they're published by another author. So I want to give them credit and highlight a few things for you, but also to do my own research and show my own work.
So I'm not just reading pages from this study that is available for purchase. I have a Lutheran study Bible, and that includes an explanation before each book in the Bible with a little bit of historical information and context and highlighting some details. So according to my Lutheran study Bible, the King James version of the Bible attributes the book of Hebrews to the author Paul and contemporary theologians and scholars no longer believe that to be the case. However, the exact author is also not known. Paul typically introduces himself at the beginning of the letters or books that he wrote and does not in this case. And there's a few other clues as to why they think it's not written by Paul.
But what was really neat is that there was a clear connection between many scriptures from the old Testament that are quoted in Hebrews. And at the same time that I was a student in this study, I was facilitating a different study, the title of which is Discerning the Voice of God, written by Priscilla Shirer.
The Discerning the Voice of God study also referenced numerous times back to the old Testament or the Hebrew scripture as it is also called. And I was also listening to the Bible through a year on an app. And a couple of previous episodes have talked about there's a number of either reading plans or apps for listening to the Bible.
And what I really appreciated this time around, I've read the Bible before, is that it's easy for my eyes to glaze over. I'm a little bit embarrassed to admit that, but it's the truth. And the reason I say that is that for me listening didn't allow me to glaze over. So for example, the measurements of the building of the temple were very, very detailed and specific.
Also different rules about sacrifices and the descendants and the tribes and things like that. But it was absolutely fascinating to me, how much I learned by listening to that. And different types of plans might include up to four different parts of the Bible in one lesson. So it could be a passage from the old Testament. Usually a Psalm or part of a Psalm, a proverb or two or a chapter, depending on how long and the passage from the new Testament as well. And they're all designed a little bit differently. So it was amazing to me that as a student in one study and a facilitator of another study, and then just in my personal time, listening to the Bible, how they were all just so connected in that might seem obvious, but it was really neat to me.
Hebrews 12, one to three, from the message version. “Do you see what this means? All these pioneers who blazed the way all these veterans cheering us on. It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running and never quit. No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it because he never lost sight of where he was headed. That exhilarating finish. In and with God, he could put up with anything along the way, cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourself flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through that will shoot adrenaline into your souls.”
In addition to my study Bible, one of my school textbooks is called introducing the new Testament and the author is Mark Powell. One of the things pointed out in this textbook is that being human allows Christ to become a credible example for others who suffer testing and must persevere, Hebrews chapter 12 verses one through three. That particular quote is the textbook author’s interpretation to help us understand it a little bit better.
So I appreciate this message. From both the Bible, as well as the textbook, that Jesus is an example for people who are suffering and who are being tested and who must persevere. But my current class has also talked about the way people can sometimes misuse that verse because when we are mistreated, we are being encouraged to persevere. And we know that Jesus went through trials also and persevered. But what we're talking about in my current class is that sometimes people use that verse very selfishly to control other people or to mistreat other people. So for example, in this day and age, it's not okay to say, well, we have slaves and you're just going to have to suffer because Jesus suffered.
That's one example. And then there are other ways that we mistreat each other. So not to say, it's okay to be mistreated because Jesus was mistreated. No, it's the other way around. So if circumstances have you being mistreated, then this offers a word of encouragement. It's not permission to say, well, go ahead and treat each other badly because everybody has to suffer.
Also, Jesus stands with those who suffer. That's another point that we were talking about in my current class. So if that can offer a consolation to anyone who is currently suffering, that Jesus understands suffering from a firsthand perspective.
So the Hebrews study and also the Discerning the Voice of God study talk about obedience to God. And I have a few questions for you that if you want to journal them or just think them over or talk them over with some folks, these questions are not specifically posed by the authors of any studies.
Because again, I don't want to just give away stuff for free. I mean, the gospel message certainly is our free gift, but if someone else has taken the time to research and write a study that's published, I'm not just going to read the whole study out loud. So I have some self-reflective questions that I asked myself and that maybe the other students in the class discussed among each other, as we were reflecting on these lessons.
First is, am I relying too much on myself? That's something that seems to be pretty popular these days in much of Western culture, as opposed to relying on God. And that's not to say that we should necessarily sit around and not do anything and just trust that God will provide. I guess it's a mixed message. We trust that God will provide and yet relying on ourselves exclusively is also not what we're called to do. Yes, we have jobs. We pay our rent. We buy groceries when possible. And also knowing that sometimes we really do need to rely on God to provide what it is that we need either spiritually or even physically. There's lots of stories about how we ended up helping each other and sort of serving as God's hands to help each other with our physical needs, as well as our spiritual needs.
One question that I got from the life coaching course that I took is, am I minding other people's business? In other words, God has called me to do certain things. And God has has called you to do certain things and they might not be the same thing. And that's okay. Am I trying to get you to do what it is that I'm called to do? Or are you trying to get me to do what it is that you're called to do? In other words, are we judging each other? When that's not really our place.
And there might be times when we are called to remind each other of different aspects of our faith or in our lives. But the next question is kind of related to that and that is, am I focusing on God? So am I just too busy worrying about everybody else? You know, sort of a busy body way instead of just fixing my eyes on Jesus, that's another verse.
Also the studies talked about developing spiritual maturity, for example, discernment, time in prayer. And this is not to measure how “good” you're being. So this is not to say, Oh, well, you know, you should be praying for X number of minutes per day or something like that. So that's called works righteousness.
So we're not talking about, you have to do X, Y, and Z in this certain manner. But it is encouraging prayer as a sign of spiritual maturity and discernment. That's kind of hard to try to figure out, well, what is the right thing? Sometimes it's seems very apparent, but we're going to be talking, coming up in a couple of future episodes about
ethical matters. And discernment is a complicated word because we've certainly got the 10 commandments and that's pretty clear, but I have also mentioned previously, even in Martin, Luther's large catechism, for example, there are not exceptions to the rule because I don't want to be disrespectful either, but the 10 commandments are a few sentences and then there's a lot more to it in terms of depth and nuance of doing the right thing instead of just not doing something.
So that's an example of discernment. And there's many other actually that could be its entire own episode as well. So I'll just keep going for now. But just to let you know that that was part of these studies as well as to talk about, well, what is spiritual maturity? And that's outlined pretty clearly in Hebrews and then discerning the voice of God is also something that comes with spiritual maturity as well.
And another question that one of the students in one of these classes asked is does God call us to do things differently than how we've done them in the past? And I would say by and large, we said, yes, there are some things that are constant over the years, but sometimes things change. Our world changes, situations change, and we don't always have to do things the way they've been done.
If it's just about tradition or formality,
I wanted to read to you a passage from second Corinthians chapter four verses 16 to 18. And that is something that was referenced in one of the studies that I have so many different passages underlined and highlighted in some, some of my Bibles have space. I write in the margins. Either notes or when we talked about this particular passage.
So it's, it's nice for this one for second Corinthians chapter four, verses 16 to 18. I have my message version here. And I wrote in the margin February, 2019, and I was living in Germany at the time. So this was included in whatever study I was in at the time or a retreat or something like that.
Here are the verses. So we're not giving up. How could we, even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life. Not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times.
The lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever. Yeah.
So that could be one example of discernment and spiritual maturity to know that. You know? Yeah, we, we are focused on life here on earth, but there are other priorities in the grand scheme of things.
One thing that I really enjoyed about the discerning, the voice of God study is that the participants are online and they are actually a group of folks who I met when I was living in Germany. And we were in Bible studies together over there. I lived in two different locations and since then, many of us are back in the United States and, or have even moved on
to the second next place after Germany. And we decided to get together and do a study. And when we look back, I met some of those folks in 2015. So we've been praying for each other for going on six years now, which is pretty amazing. Many of you may have been praying with other folks for far longer than that, but it's neat that across all this geographical space.
We're back together now online and whenever new studies come up, I'll be announcing those on the podcast, Facebook page, as well as in the newsletter. So if you're interested in hearing that information, either check out the 40 minutes of faith, Facebook page, or the 40 minutes of fame.com website has a newsletter sign up at the bottom of the page.
Another study that I was a student in is called. Sure. In times of disruption, it's led by sister, Sarah Cola's in Dubuque, Iowa. And although the pandemic has certainly proven to be tragic and a hardship for many, many people, in some small way for some people there have been blessings. So the example of this for me is that that particular study met in person before the COVID restrictions took place.
And then it went online. So even though I'm halfway across the country from Dubuque, I can participate online. And it's been a really wonderful study.
Again, to the point of not wanting to just repeat everything that the instructor says. I have another textbook called a short introduction to the Hebrew Bible by John Collins.
Even though the study itself has gone through numerous books of the Bible. Since I joined about a year ago, I wanted to highlight first Samuel and the textbook talks about the song of Hannah, which is in first Samuel chapter two. That that's the model for Mary song of Thanksgiving in the new Testament, in the gospel of Luke, the first chapter verses 46 to 55, which is known as the Magnificant in it.
God raises the lowly and brings down the mighty. The message version says, God rekindles burned out lives with fresh hope. So from the Dubuque study, I learned that in first Samuel chapter one, Hannah is crying and praying so hard that she was accused of being drunk, which I can, well, imagine many churches have very structured prayers, often you're reading preprinted prayers, but in other churches that I've been to that prayer can really get fervent
and loud and powerful and just pleading. So one of the questions that the instructor asked the group for consideration is what causes misunderstanding. And then all the participants just have a chance to kind of talk about it. It doesn't necessarily mean that we are misunderstood when we're praying out loud.
Someone thinks that we're drunk, but just as a way to have kind of more insight into our lives and in the world. And it could be in a faith-based setting or not necessarily. And yeah, interestingly enough, again, this is so cool how it keeps happening. So that's why I'm presenting a few different studies here with you right now.
Remember a few minutes ago, I said I was facilitating a study, discerning the voice of God. Well guess what book of the Bible is in that study? Also, you got at first Samuel. In chapter three, verses one to 10. So here we have a new question. How do we recognize God's voice?
Because God was calling Samuel and Samuel thought that it was Eli. It was another person nearby and. After a while I figured out that it was God, but at first, he just said, no, I didn't call you, go back to bed. So this is a great illustration of how do we even know? And it might not be that we're hearing God's voice in our ear, but even within our spirit, how do we recognize it?
So I wanted to, to read for you from the book of Romans chapter 12, verses one to two.
And I have both pages of this in my Bible, just highlighted and lots and lots of notes from different times. So here's Romans chapter 12 verses one to two in the message. So here's what I want you to do. God helping you. Take your everyday ordinary life, your sleeping, eating, going to work and walking around life and place it before God as an offering.
As we're talking about that. I have also another verse because I'm in the planning stages with a future guest speaker for an upcoming episode that is going to talk about some issues that might be hard to talk about for some folks. And that's okay. We're still going to talk about it, but I would like to read to you.
From the book of Colossians chapter three, verse 15 in the message.
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other in step with each other, none of this going off and doing your own thing and cultivate thankfulness. Let the word of Christ the message. Have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. One of my friends from Bible study had said, do we put Jesus in the attic and just call on him when we need him?
And that reminded me with this, with this particular interpretation,
let the word of Christ have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. And many of the studies that I participate in ask participants to paraphrase a passage in a way that's meaningful to them, or to summarize it, to just highlight certain points that sort of jump out to us in what I wrote
in my particular study guide was do the hard work of getting along with each other. Because sometimes it's not easy to get along with each other. I would love to think that I'm right a hundred percent of the time, but in fact, I'm a hundred percent certain that I'm not right all the time. And maybe I'm right
some of the time. I can live with that, but it's easier for me to judge other people based on how right I think I am. So I understood this passage to really be inviting us, to be aware of how easy it is to judge and to get along with each other means that I might not be right all the time. Even if I think I am or someone else might be right, or what if God is right
and it doesn't matter if I'm right or the other person is right. How can we extend that love in less of a judgmental way?
And of course I could spend weeks and weeks and weeks on each of these studies. So I know I'm sort of touching the surface and jumping from topic to topic. I was just really amazed at how they were tied together at different times, different weeks, different days.
The fourth study that I just wanted to briefly highlight that I'm facilitating, I'm not facilitating for studies, but I wanted to mention four studies today. And this one I'm facilitating the title of it is my neighbor is Muslim exploring the Muslim faith. And I became aware of this study back in the fall when I was enrolled in
the intro to Islam course that I had mentioned in a previous episode. And the author of one of the books that we had to read for that course, co-wrote this curriculum and it's published by Lutheran social services of Minnesota. I can have that link for you on the website. The study is free and available to anyone online. And I proposed to lead this study
as a way of just becoming aware of some of the similarities, some of the differences, some of the unique aspects of different faiths and to, to be a good neighbor, even though I'm not aware that any of my current neighbors are Muslim, we've always talked about neighbor in a broader sense, not just the people who live on either side of me or even necessarily in my own town.
And how can faith communities be aware of and supportive of each other and maybe even work together. Imagine that. So this study has been well-received by the participants. There are seven chapters and it's the whole thing it's not a huge textbook. I actually did in a previous couple of episodes about the Muslim faith recommend a couple of different textbooks, but this particular study
is less than a hundred pages long and talks about the five pillars of Islam and charity and violence and misperceptions. Even different social expectations, like body language and dress and appearance. There are some vocabulary words. So this study has been fruitful in, in yielding interesting conversation.
There are questions at the end of each chapter that can be discussed in a group. So it's not a necessarily typical quote Christian Bible study about the Bible, but I find it really interesting to offer a group conversation about another one of the Abrahamic faiths really to just have this broader understanding of the world that we live in and the people who are our neighbors, and to be open, to understanding more than what we think we know.
So that has been really nice.
Okay. Finally, I would like to encourage people as much as possible to study or pray in community. I know that in some places churches are almost back to normal. Some places they are still, which whatever normal is. I meant in terms of meeting in person. And I know that some folks aren't necessarily associated with a faith community
in terms of going to weekly worship services or Bible study or anything like that. But that's one of the concepts that was talked about in the book of Hebrews. The first study that I had mentioned in this episode, and we really are encouraged to support each other in community. However, that might look.
So, whether it's walking through a particular set of doors for a worship service or a Bible study, or even participating online or praying together, it's really powerful to see god's good works over the years. Sometimes you can be praying for something for a long time. And we've talked about that in other episodes as well, that not all our prayers get answered right away or the way we want them to be answered.
And how can we be okay with that? And how can we have praise reports to say, wow, remember we've been praying for this for a really long time and there's some good news now, some progress. Or something has happened, that we were praying that we had hoped would happen, that we had been praying for God's will to be done and whatever the circumstance was for this particular person, that things are moving along in a direction that they had hoped for.
So to just encourage you to find a way of being with people who can not only support and encourage you also to perhaps hold you accountable. That's something that's been very helpful for me having Bible study homework and the studies that I facilitate, and most of the facilitators that I've met are really kind and generous and they say, you know, Hey, if life just happened and you didn't get to your homework, please participate
anyway. So we're offering to hold each other accountable. And also offering grace, which is a really nice balance to have as well. So I hope that this podcast community can be a source of connection for you. And also my prayer would be that you have people that you can talk to in some way with prayer requests.
Or with learning something new and having the chance to sort of talk things over with people. And even if we're like-minded, or even if we're not, like-minded just to have some different perspectives and some different understandings, we've talked in some of the studies, for example, in Hebrews, it talks about baptism and that's something that different faith communities do in different ways.
So we talked a little bit about that and not to say that, Oh, this one way is right and this one way is wrong or anything like that. But just to kind of acknowledge that a lot of us have grown up with different experiences around various church rituals or sacraments as some places call them. So.
Hoping that that can be a reality in your life in any way. That's possible. Thank you so much for listening. Thank you for taking this time. And I would encourage you to spend time in your Bible. There are all kinds of free apps. Of course, there's different paid apps as well and websites, and just inviting you to take a look at some different translations.
I know I say that regularly, and interpretations that may possibly align more with different faiths. So example of my Lutheran study Bible will talk about Lutheran beliefs. So for example, in the book of Hebrews, there's a lot of law and there's a lot of gospel and that's a central Lutheran tenant to say, yes, we're being told, this is what we should do.
And yet there is also an emphasis on forgiveness and love, knowing that we can strive and strive and strive and not succeed. And that there is still hope that we are not under this punitive burden, if you will. So that's it for today. And I hope that you have a good rest of the day. Good rest of the week and looking forward to next time.
Resources:
Hebrews 12:1-3
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
1 Samuel 2, 3:1-10
Luke 1:46-55
Romans 12:1-2
Colossians 3:15
Better by Jen Wilkin
Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer
https://www.lssmn.org/services/refugees/my-neighbor-is-muslim
Introducing the New Testament by Mark Powell
A Short Introduction to the Hebrew Bible by John Collins
The Lutheran Study Bible (Augsburg Fortress)