Bible Study - First Presbyterian Church

Nancy Piper

  1. 17m ago

    Entering God’s Rest -Hebrews 4- Faith, the Living Word

    Entering God’s Rest (Hebrews 4): Faith, the Living Word, and Jesus Our Great High Priest The group opens in prayer thanking God for grace through Jesus’ death and resurrection and asking for insight while studying Hebrews 4. The discussion focuses on what it means to enter God’s rest “today,” contrasting true rest with inactivity and warning that striving in one’s own strength can forfeit peace. Using Israel’s refusal to enter the Promised Land, they connect unbelief with disobedience and emphasize that faith and trust are the condition for entering rest. A personal story about frustrating condo repairs illustrates how small troubles can steal peace. They examine Hebrews 4:12–13 on the living, active Word of God that exposes the heart and brings healing through painful “surgery.” The lesson concludes with Hebrews 4:14–16, highlighting Jesus as the great high priest who sympathizes with weaknesses, was tempted yet sinless, and invites believers to approach the throne of grace with confidence for mercy and help, including in struggles like worry. Chapters: 00:00 Opening Prayer 03:23 Entering God’s Rest 06:27 Israel’s Wilderness Warning 10:07 Creation Sabbath Rest 13:38 Rest Still Available Today 15:57 Curtains and Keeping Peace 22:16 Unbelief and Disobedience 27:08 Diligent to Enter Rest 33:13 Faith That Grows 34:26 Word of God Like a Sword 35:46 Word Not Nice 36:48 Sword Like Words 40:07 Heart Surgery Truth 45:49 Living Word Promises 48:24 Jesus Great High Priest 57:14 Sympathy And Boldness 01:03:13 Finding Rest Today 01:07:44 Prayer And Sending

  2. 6d ago

    Hebrews 3 Bible Study Jesus Greater Than Moses, Warning Against Unbelief, and Entering God’s Rest

    Hebrews 3 Bible Study: Jesus Greater Than Moses, Warning Against Unbelief, and Entering God’s Rest The session opens with prayer praising God as Creator and Redeemer and asking for healing, guidance in studying Scripture, and lives that bless others. The teacher recommends the Blue Letter Bible website as a study resource and notes a prior detour on angels from Hebrews 1–2, emphasizing Jesus is greater than angels and that people do not become angels. Returning to Hebrews 3, the lesson explains Jesus is greater than Moses and discusses Moses’ role in the Pentateuch and Israel’s worship practices. The group examines how Hebrews addresses “brethren” and “partakers,” describes Jesus as both apostle and high priest, and contrasts Moses as a faithful servant with Christ as a faithful Son over God’s house. A warning from Psalm 95 is explored, highlighting Israel’s wilderness unbelief, hard hearts, and failure to enter God’s rest, linking unbelief to disobedience and urging believers to encourage one another and live in God’s peace and trust. Chapters 00:00 Opening Prayer 03:29 Bible Study Tools 07:17 Angels Detour Recap 09:32 Jesus Greater Than Moses 12:12 Warning Passages Explained 20:14 Consider Jesus Roles 25:55 Faithful Son and Servant 32:43 Moses Points to Christ 34:49 Moses Prophet Preview 35:45 Moses High Priest 36:00 Golden Calf Intercession 41:15 Prayer Changes Minds 44:29 Atonement And Mediation 46:20 Christ Greater Than Moses 48:17 Warning Against Drifting 50:11 Psalm 95 Context 53:04 Meribah And Massah 57:04 Entering God’s Rest 01:01:54 Unbelief Breeds Disobedience 01:04:19 Walking In Rest 01:06:45 Closing Prayer

  3. Oct 20

    Bible Study on Angels (Part 1) -Angels in the Old Testament: Purpose, Appearances, and God’s Messages

    Angels in the Old Testament: Purpose, Appearances, and God’s Messages The session opens and closes with prayer, then a Bible study surveys Old Testament passages about “the angel of the Lord,” emphasizing the purpose of each encounter rather than fascination with experiences. The teacher notes angels may appear as humans, sometimes possibly as the second person of the Trinity, and highlights that angels bring instruction, calling, protection, warning, judgment, and sometimes destruction—not a sentimental cultural image. Key examples include Hagar (Genesis 16, 21), Abraham and Sodom (Genesis 18–19), the sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22), guidance for Isaac’s wife (Genesis 24), Jacob’s visions and guidance (Genesis 28, 31), Moses’ call in the burning bush (Exodus 3), angels at Sinai (Deuteronomy 33; Acts 7), guidance in the wilderness (Exodus 14), Balaam and the donkey (Numbers 22), Isaiah’s call (Isaiah 6), Judges’ rebuke and calls (Judges 2; Gideon; Samson’s parents), David’s census judgment (2 Samuel 24), Elijah’s strengthening (1 Kings 19), Assyrian defeat (2 Kings), Zechariah’s visions, and Daniel including Gabriel and spiritual conflict. Chapters: 00:00 Opening Prayer 03:00 Why Study Angels 06:08 Angel of the Lord Overview 08:52 Hagar in the Wilderness 13:57 Hagar and Ishmael Saved 17:43 Sodom Gomorrah Warning 24:04 Isaac Sacrifice Stopped 25:36 Guidance for Isaac Wife 27:09 Jacob Ladder Dream 31:04 Moses Burning Bush Call 33:41 Angels at Sinai 35:31 Septuagint and Angels 39:08 Exodus Angel Guidance 40:33 Balaam and the Donkey 44:31 Angels as Judgment 45:36 Isaiah Temple Vision 50:36 Judges Era Overview 54:46 Gideon Called by Angel 57:06 Samson and David 01:00:12 Elijah to Daniel Wrap 01:04:23 Lessons and Discussion 01:07:23 Closing Prayer

  4. Oct 20

    Bible Study on Angels (Part-2): Messengers, Warriors, and Christ’s Supremacy (Hebrews 1)

    Bible Study on Angels: Messengers, Warriors, and Christ’s Supremacy (Hebrews 1) The session opens with prayer praising God as Creator and Redeemer through Jesus, asking for the Spirit’s help in understanding Scripture and interceding for the church and various ministries. The lesson then reviews Old Testament angel appearances, emphasizing that angels often appeared as men and served as God’s messengers who aided, protected, fought, corrected, and executed divine judgment (e.g., Lot and Sodom, Moses, Sinai, wilderness guidance, Gideon, David, Elijah, Hezekiah), alongside cherubim and seraphim in the tabernacle/temple and visions (Isaiah 6). Moving to the New Testament, the group notes angels’ prominence in Jesus’ birth, temptation, arrest, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, connecting this to Christ’s humility (Philippians 2) and his supremacy over angels. The discussion surveys angels in Acts and the epistles, warns against angel worship and deception, outlines evil angels and spiritual warfare (Revelation 12, Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28, Daniel 10), and closes with prayer for guidance and truth. Chapters: 00:00 Opening Prayer 05:37 Angels in the Old Testament 07:40 Judgment and Protection Stories 11:04 Calls and Corrections 15:32 Cherubim and Seraphim 19:56 Why Cherubs Look Cute 24:37 Heavenly Order and Noise 28:45 Angels in Jesus Life 32:03 Philippians Two and Humility 35:29 Jesus on End Times Angels 38:25 Angels at Judgment Day 39:20 Heaven Rejoices Repentance 40:16 Devil and Angel Myths 41:03 Angels in Acts 44:23 Epistles on Powers 47:23 Revelation and Refining 50:37 Origins of Fallen Angels 52:55 Isaiah and Ezekiel on Satan 58:27 Spiritual Warfare and Deception 01:00:38 Testing Spirits Today 01:06:58 Tracing Themes Scripture 01:10:28 Prayer and Closing

  5. Oct 15

    Bible Study on Angels (Part 1) -Angels in the Old Testament: Purpose, Appearances, and God’s Messages

    Angels in the Old Testament: Purpose, Appearances, and God’s Messages The session opens and closes with prayer, then a Bible study surveys Old Testament passages about “the angel of the Lord,” emphasizing the purpose of each encounter rather than fascination with experiences. The teacher notes angels may appear as humans, sometimes possibly as the second person of the Trinity, and highlights that angels bring instruction, calling, protection, warning, judgment, and sometimes destruction—not a sentimental cultural image. Key examples include Hagar (Genesis 16, 21), Abraham and Sodom (Genesis 18–19), the sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22), guidance for Isaac’s wife (Genesis 24), Jacob’s visions and guidance (Genesis 28, 31), Moses’ call in the burning bush (Exodus 3), angels at Sinai (Deuteronomy 33; Acts 7), guidance in the wilderness (Exodus 14), Balaam and the donkey (Numbers 22), Isaiah’s call (Isaiah 6), Judges’ rebuke and calls (Judges 2; Gideon; Samson’s parents), David’s census judgment (2 Samuel 24), Elijah’s strengthening (1 Kings 19), Assyrian defeat (2 Kings), Zechariah’s visions, and Daniel including Gabriel and spiritual conflict. Chapters: 00:00 Opening Prayer 03:00 Why Study Angels 06:08 Angel of the Lord Overview 08:52 Hagar in the Wilderness 13:57 Hagar and Ishmael Saved 17:43 Sodom Gomorrah Warning 24:04 Isaac Sacrifice Stopped 25:36 Guidance for Isaac Wife 27:09 Jacob Ladder Dream 31:04 Moses Burning Bush Call 33:41 Angels at Sinai 35:31 Septuagint and Angels 39:08 Exodus Angel Guidance 40:33 Balaam and the Donkey 44:31 Angels as Judgment 45:36 Isaiah Temple Vision 50:36 Judges Era Overview 54:46 Gideon Called by Angel 57:06 Samson and David 01:00:12 Elijah to Daniel Wrap 01:04:23 Lessons and Discussion 01:07:23 Closing Prayer

  6. Oct 1

    Hebrews 2: Don’t Drift—Jesus Our Merciful and Faithful High Priest

    Hebrews 2: Don’t Drift—Jesus Our Merciful and Faithful High Priest The session opens with prayer for the church, caregivers, ministries, world concerns, and gratitude for preserved lives on a plane, then introduces Hebrews’ five warning passages, beginning with the brief warning against drifting. The teacher explains Hebrews 2:1–4 as an aside applying chapter 1’s truths about the Son’s divine greatness and superiority to angels, using nautical imagery of mooring and drifting to urge closer attention to the gospel. Discussion covers the law “spoken through angels,” its unalterable penalties, and the greater accountability for neglecting salvation first spoken by the Lord, confirmed by eyewitnesses and miracles. Hebrews 2:5–18 is traced to Jesus’ incarnation, suffering, and exaltation, linking Psalm 8, Philippians 2, and Psalm 22 to show Jesus became like his brethren, defeated the devil’s power of death, made propitiation for sins, and serves as a merciful, faithful high priest able to help the tempted. Chapters: 00:00 Opening Prayer 02:56 Hebrews Warning Passages 07:32 Drifting From Truth 12:43 Law Given Through Angels 23:19 Signs, Wonders, Miracles 27:23 Jesus Named At Last 29:32 Psalm 8 And Dominion 32:48 Incarnation And Philippians 2 33:30 Christ’s Humble Descent 36:15 Suffering Completes the Savior 38:18 The Great Exchange 40:09 Not Ashamed to Call Us Family 46:25 Partaking Our Nature 48:55 Freedom From Fear of Death 53:06 Merciful High Priest 57:26 Propitiation and God’s Wrath 59:54 Help in Temptation 01:02:12 Closing Prayer and Announcements

  7. Sep 27

    Hebrews 1 Study: God Speaks in His Son—Greater Than Angels

    Hebrews 1 Study: God Speaks in His Son—Greater Than Angels In a Bible study on Hebrews 1, the teacher opens and closes with prayer and reviews an outline highlighting warning passages, then focuses on how God has spoken in many ways—through creation, the law, prophets’ words and actions, and supremely in His Son. The group discusses key truths from Hebrews 1:1–4 about the Son: heir of all things, co-creator of the ages, radiance of God’s glory, exact representation of God’s nature, sustainer of all things, purifier of sins, and seated at God’s right hand, emphasizing completion and Christ’s ongoing intercession. The lesson then traces Old Testament quotations (Psalms, 2 Samuel) to show the Son’s superiority to angels, including Psalm 110’s Messiah as king, priest, and judge, and notes the persecution context tempting some to return to Judaism. Chapters: 00:00 Opening Prayer 01:33 Hebrews Overview Handout 02:58 God Has Spoken 04:31 Creation Speaks 06:34 Audio Interruptions 08:18 Prophets And Law 10:57 Listen And Obey 16:13 Jesus The Final Word 18:45 Son And Trinity 20:01 Heir And Firstborn 25:42 Radiance Of Glory 30:42 Exact Image Of God 35:47 Upholds All Things 37:11 Word of His Power 37:40 Purification by Blood 38:53 Seated at God’s Right Hand 41:20 Sevenfold Portrait of the Son 44:52 Better Than Angels 49:35 Old Testament Prooftexts 53:53 Begotten Son vs Created Angels 01:00:42 Psalm 110 King Priest Judge 01:07:57 Angels Serve the Heirs 01:09:27 Worshipful Wrap Up and Prayer

  8. Sep 21

    Precepts - Hebrews Overview: Jesus Our Great High Priest, Better Than All

    Hebrews Overview: Jesus Our Great High Priest, Better Than All The session opens and closes with prayer, thanking God for redemption and asking for understanding while studying Hebrews and for needs in the church and community. The teacher introduces an overview of Hebrews, discussing whether it is a letter or sermon, uncertainty about the human author (arguing it was likely not Paul based on Hebrews 2:3), and the unclear identity of the recipients, possibly a mixed group of Jewish and Gentile believers, with quotes often from the Greek Septuagint and references framed around the tabernacle. The class suggests a likely date before the temple’s destruction in 70 AD, noting present-tense descriptions of worship (e.g., Hebrews 9). The teacher explains the book’s structure of theology interrupted by six escalating warning passages, highlights “better” as a key comparative theme, and emphasizes the purpose statement in Hebrews 13:22 as a “word of exhortation” centered on security in Jesus Christ, our great High Priest. Chapters: 00:00 Opening Prayer 03:06 Jesus Our High Priest 04:03 Is Hebrews A Letter 04:49 Authorship And Canon 07:32 Who Was It Written To 11:56 Septuagint And Audience Clues 14:51 Tabernacle Versus Temple 19:54 Dating Before 70 AD 22:41 Warning Passages Overview 24:45 Course Roadmap: Angels And Tabernacle 28:26 How To Study Hebrews 29:55 Better Than Everything 31:00 Jesus Greater Than Moses 32:49 Better Covenant Promises 33:50 Purpose Word of Exhortation 35:40 Cheat Sheet Hebrews Outline 36:41 Mixed Audience and Persecution 42:55 Warning Passages and Drifting 46:30 God Has Spoken Listen Up 49:27 Homework and Class Q&A 51:27 Holy of Holies and Ark 54:43 Closing Prayer and Sendoff

See All (158)

Information