Essential Bible Studies essentialbiblestudies

This is the second part to our season three testimony. Stan Isbell continues the amazing story of how God has worked in his life. Stan recalls considering ending his life before one conversation would change everything. Along the way Stan relates lessons learned through the years and how we can more effectively preach the word of God to others.


The chart of God's 7000 Year Plan that changed Stan's life can be found here.


The cover photo is from the Texas Christadelphian Camp and Conference Center, a place dear to Stan, but that's another story.  Photo courtesy of @hannah.young104.

For our season three testimony we welcome Stan Isbell to share his story of how God has worked in his life. Stan recalls his early life in Texas, the experiences that led him to drug addiction, and to thoughts of ending his life before God stepped in and brought him back from the abyss. The is the first of a two part series because it is so amazing.

This is the second of a two part study on Jesus' words in John 10:22-38. In response to the Jews accusing Jesus of making himself equal with God, Jesus quoted Psalm 82:6 "I said, you are gods." What did Jesus mean by this and how did it help to answer his antagonists? Tim Young and Tom Colby find the answer in the context of Psalm 82. Follow this lead and you'll see the wonder and beauty of Jesus' response.


Episode Outline


Introduction
Previous podcast, setting the scene (John 10:22-24)

Jesus’ answer is quoting from Psalm 82:6




Understanding Psalm 82 and God Manifestation
Elohim = judges (Ex. 22:8-9; Deut. 1:16-17; 2 Chr. 19:5-7)

Using this to better understand Psa. 82:1,6. The judges were supposed to manifest God.

Relating this back to Jesus’ argument in John 10:34-36




Conclusion
This is how Jesus and the Father are one (John 10:38)

We too must strive to manifest God (John 17:20-22)

This is the first of a two part study on Jesus' words in John 10:22-38. In verse 30 Jesus said, "I and the Father are one". It's important to understand the context of the argument Jesus is having with the Jews. Tom Colby and Tim Young spend some time unraveling the meaning of this phrase to reveal a very important Bible principle called God manifestation. This is the culmination of some of the studies we've been having this season. It is sure to make you appreciate the Lord Jesus Christ more and how we pray to be one with him as he is with the Father.


Episode Outline


Introduction
Previous podcasts on God manifestation… and now we study how it relates to Jesus using John 10:22-38

Setting the scene (John 10:22-24)




Jesus manifesting the name
The works I do in my Father’s name (John 10:25) cp. “I am come in my Father’s name (John 5:43-44)

Given a name above all names (Phil. 2:9-11)




What does it mean God and Jesus are one?
Not the Trinity. My Father is greater than all (v. 29) seems contradictory to “I and my Father are one” (v. 30). How do we explain this?

Comparing to Jesus’ prayer in chapter 17
Jesus’ manifested the name (17:6)

The oneness of the Father, Jesus and all believers (17:11, 21-26)







Conclusion
The reaction of the Jews

The answer of Jesus saved for the next podcast

How did Christians living in the first century know what was true and what should be included in the Bible? How can we be confident what is in the Bible is what is supposed to be there? The answer is in the Bible. Jay Mayock and Tim Young discuss the role of prophets and how the Holy Spirit gifts of the first century were used to test the prophet's words to be true or false. This essential Bible study brings us confidence in the Bible as the word of God and provides the tools to reject false doctrines.


Theme Verse – 2 Timothy 2:15


“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”


Show Outline:


The Gospel of Judas


A copy was found that is 1700 years old

Released in 2006 (National Geographic published an article)

Reverses the role of Judas, vindicates him as the one who understood Jesus

There were lots of ‘false gospels’ circulated in the early days of Christianity

How did first century Christians know what was really the word of God?


The Role of Prophets


Both foretelling and forthtelling the word of God – lexicons and context

True vs. False prophets (18:20-22)

Jeremiah vs. Hananiah (28:2-4, 10-11)

Agabus (Acts 11:27-30)


Prophecy: One of the Spirit Gifts


Prophets were one of the most important gifts (3:5)

The whole point of the gifts was to build up the whole ecclesia (4:11-16)

All members had to work together to help each other

Specifically, prophets had to work together with ‘provers’


Authenticating the Word – An Ecclesial Work


Context #1 – Spirit, prophecy, discerning, spiritual good for all (1 Cor. 12:4,10,7)

Context #2 – Spirit, prophecy, weighing, spiritual learning and encouragement for all (1 Cor. 14:12,29,31)

Context #3 – Spirit, prophecy, testing, holding fast to good (1 Thes. 5:19-21)

Counterfeit messages! (2 Thes. 2:2; 1 John 4:1; Rev. 2:2)

The church, ecclesia, need to work together to develop the unity of the faith

They did attain it, because the gifts were withdrawn! (4:13-14)


Lessons for Us Today


The prophets’ words were confirmed in part through the accuracy of their predictions, and also by those who had the gift to discern, weigh the spirits.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit were withdrawn after the ecclesias attained unity in the faith.

‘False’ gospels do not undermine our NT.

Now that we have received the word of God from the prophets, we must test any teaching with that word. In short, we must: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”  (2 Tim. 2:15)

This is the second of a two part study on Exodus 33 and 34 (the first part is here). We ascend the mountain with Moses to have the name of Yahweh revealed to us. Tim Young and Stephen Macfarlane discuss this surprising and powerful revelation and what it means for us in our discipleship.


The cover photo is from the summit of Mt. Sinai. Photo credit: Mohammed Moussa - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link