May I have a WORD with you?

John
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Helping ordinary people read the Bible for the sake of life application and a godly transformation. In other words, for the sake of becoming more like Jesus.

  1. 3D AGO

    Ep 130 (S7E15) Beware OR Be Aware of the Yeast

    References: The Passover is a time when Jewish households do a thourough cleaning of the home to be sure all leaven is removed.Deep Cleaning: Homes are thoroughly cleaned, including searching for and removing all crumbs of chametz.Symbolism: This process represents cleaning out the spiritual "leaven" (pride or sin) from within.Bedikat Chametz: A ritual search for the remaining leaven occurs on the night before Passover, followed by burning the collected items.Jesus told his disciples to “beware the yeast of the Pharisees and Saducees.”Matthew 16:1-12 - v 6: προσέχω (pros-ekh'-o)to bring to, bring nearto turn the mind to, attend to be attentivegive attention to, take heedto devote thought and effort to1 Corinthians 5:6-8 - ζύμη (dzoo'-may)leavenmetaph. of inveterate mental and moral corruption, viewed in its tendency to infect othersSee also Gal 5:2-10Jesus also used ζύμη to teach about the Kingdom of heaven (God). Matthew 13:33 & Luke 13:20-21The Kingdom is like… a simile (yeast in dough) Only used here in Mt and Lk σάτον (sat'-on) - measurea kind of dry measure, 3 gallons (14 litres)14 liters of all-purpose flour is approximately equal to 16.33 pounds.50 lbs of flour!!! Jesus is making a point here.Think: the dough is our world represented by the 50 lbs of flour, and God’s Kingdom spreads through it all as represented by the leaven. So, beware, but be aware.

    34 min

  2. APR 3

    Ep 129 (S7E14) The Holy Triduum

    References: The “Holy”Holy - ἅγιος (hag'-ee-os): most holy thing, a saint229 times in 219 vss in NTOften associated with the Spirit (Holy Spirit)Sometimes with placesThe holy city, being JerusalemThe Holiest place in the tabernacle The Holy of holies in the Temple (Heb 9)Hagiography vs damnatio memoriaeThe Holy “Triduum” -  not a Biblical word. Latin for three days (Maundy Thu, Good Fri, Holy Sat)History that impacted our history of the Holy TriduumThe Gospel’s story in relation to the Passion NarrativesMatthew - 28.6%Total chapters = 28Chapters focused on Holy Week = 8Mark - 37.5%Total Chapters = 16Chapters focused on Holy Week = 6Luke - 23%Total Chapters = 24Chapters focused on Holy Week = 5.5John - 47.6%Total Chapters = 21Chapters focused on Holy Week = 10All total, the narrative of the last week of Jesus’ life through the resurrection makes up over one third of the total Gospel witness.Many scholars have quipped that the Gospels are about the last week of Jesus’ ministry with an extended introduction.The Early Church (1st–3rd Century)The Fourth Century ExpansionMedieval Shifts20th Century onTheological SignificanceThe Counting of the "Three Days": Following the Jewish liturgical tradition, a day begins at sunset.Day 1: Thursday evening (The Last Supper, foot washing and the “new” command).Day 2: Friday evening (Crucifixion, death and burial).Day 3: Saturday (Quiet, waiting, pause).Continuous Liturgy: Liturgically, it is treated as one event. There is no final blessing on Holy ThursdayNo opening greeting on Good Friday. The comemoration that begins Thursday evening does not formally conclude until the end of the Easter Vigil.Application1. Holy Thursday (The Lord's Last Supper, Holy Communion )2. Good Friday (Celebration of the Lord's Passion)3. Holy Saturday & The Easter Vigil

    37 min

  3. MAR 27

    Ep 128 (S7E13) Joel - Pt 5: THE Day of the Lord

    References: ReviewSetting and background/context of JoelStructurePoem 1 - 1:1-20Poem 2 - 2:1-17God’s response - 2:18-27God will defeat the invaders - 2:20-21God will restore the land - 2:22-26God will dwell with His people - 2:27THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:16THE Day of the Lord in three mirrored parts begins with God’s presenceGod with us - 2:28-32 (Chapter 3 in the Hebrew text)“I will pour out my Spirit…” Not just fill the Temple, but …Upon all people: young & old, male & female, sons and daughters & servantsOld will dream, young will prophesy & see visionsActs 2, Pentecost and the beginning of the endCosmic signs, including a blood moon (3/3)blood and fire and columns of smokeἡμέρα (hay-mer'-ah) יוֹם (yome)  a dayany part of a day (thus three days could be one whole day and a part of the day before and after)of the last day of this present age, the day Christ will return from heaven, raise the dead, hold the final judgment, and perfect his kingdomSalvation for those who call on the Name (Yahweh)God will confront evil - Joel 3:1-16Vss 1-8 - The word of the Lord against those who oppose God and God’s peopleVss 9-16 - a poetic picture of God’s judgement on evilCompare v 10 with Isa 2:4 and Micah 4:3-4Compare v 13 with Isa 63:3-6 and Rev 14:19-20Restoration of everything - Joel 3:17-21Compare v 18 with Ez 47, Zech 14 and Rev 22Conclusion

    37 min

  4. MAR 20

    Ep 127 (S7E12) Joel - Pt 4: God’s response: Mercy to Hope

    References: ReviewSetting and background/context of JoelStructurePoem 1 - 1:1-20Poem 2 - 2:1-17God’s response - 2:18-27THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:16Joel 2:18-19 - God will take pityA turning point - upon repentance God shows love for the land and His peopleAnswered prayer - grain, wine, oil = satisfactionShame removed - the surrounding nations that once mocked Israel will be silencedGod’s response in three partsGod will defeat the invaders - 2:20-21From the north? Assyria? Babylon? Northern armies   צָפוֹן  (tsef-o-nee') from   צְפוֹנִי(tsaw-fone')  The call of Jeremiah Jer 1:13-14Calling the northern kingdom (Israel) back Jer 3:11-13possibly how people moved along the fertile crescent.Into the eastern sea and the western sea (Dead & Mediterranean) - meaning complete victoryThe stench of death as a great reminderStink בְּאשׁ (be-oshe') foul odorStench צַחֲנָה (tsakh-an-aw') only here in Joel Poetic way of saying total annihilation of the enemy  God will restore the land - 2:22-26Restoration to the animals and treesRestoration to the threshing floor and wine & olive pressesRestoration of what the locusts stole (remember four locusts from 1:4Locust #1 גָּזָם (gaw-zawm)Locust #2 אַרְבֶּה (ar-beh’) most common in OTLocust #3 יֶלֶק (yeh'-lek) young locustLocust #4 חָסִיל (khaw-seel') God will dwell with His people - 2:27

    35 min

  5. MAR 13

    Ep 126 (S7E11) Joel - Pt 3: Second prophetic poem - Pt 2

    References: ReviewSetting and background/context of JoelStructurePoem 1 - 1:1-20Poem 2 - 2:1-17God’s response - 2:18-27THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:162nd Prophetic poem - Joel 2:1-17Announcement of disaster - 2:1-11The sounding of the shofar שׁוֹפָר (sho-far')The Eden imagery of 2:3 and shalomDescriptions of the judgement forcesWe’ve moved beyond locusts to a cosmic sort of army (think Rev 9)What to think of current events in light of these prophetic words?God’s army - 2:11The Lord is the One pronouncing judgementThe Day of the Lord is a terrible thingWho can survive?A call to repentance - 2:12-14Repent while there is timeRend not clothing (an outward show) but hearts (an inward sorrow for sin)God’s character (2:13)Ex 34:6Psalm 103:8God’s mystery (2:14) “who knows” 🤷An act of repentance - calling out to the lord - 2:15-17The shofar again, this time not for warning but for assemblyGather ALL people - see description in MSGPray: spare your people O Lord

    35 min

  6. MAR 6

    Ep 125 (S7E10) Joel - Pt 2: Second prophetic poem

    References: ReviewSetting and background/context of JoelStructurePoem 1 - 1:1-20Poem 2 - 2:1-17God’s response - 2:18-27THE Day of the Lord - 2:28-3:162nd Prophetic poem - Joel 2:1-17Announcement of disaster - 2:1-11The sounding of the shofar שׁוֹפָר (sho-far')Meant to trigger an immediate physiological response: fear (awe) and readiness. Military Alert: It signaled that an invading army was visible from the watchtower.Judgment: While many Israelites expected the Day of the Lord to be a time of triumph over their enemies, Joel uses the trumpet to warn that the judgment is actually directed at them. 1st use: Ex 19:16-20; 20:18 the heavenly shofarJerico - Josh 6 - the shofar as a weapon of God’s holinessThe festival of trumpets - Lev 23:23-25 (Rosh Hashanah)NT - σάλπιγξ (salpigx) trumpetAt Christ’s return 1 Cor 15:52; 1 Thes 4:16By the seven angels of Rev 8:6-11:19Specifically the 5th trumpet, 1st terrorThe Eden imagery of 2:3 and shalomGen 2 - Eden createdJoel 2 - Eden de-createdBefore - shalomAfter - desolationRev 22 - Eden re-createdDescriptions of the judgement forcesWe’ve moved beyond locusts to a cosmic sort of army (think Rev 9)What to think of current events in light of these prophetic words?God’s army - 2:11The Lord is the One pronouncing judgementThe Day of the Lord is a terrible thingWho can survive?A call to repentance - 2:12-14Repent while there is timeRend not clothing (an outward show) but hearts (an inward sorrow for sin)God’s character (2:13)Ex 34:6Psalm 103:8God’s mystery (2:14) “who knows” 🤷An act of repentance - calling out to the lord - 2:15-17The shofar again, this time not for warning but for assemblyGather ALL people - see description in MSGPray: spare your people O Lord

    33 min

  7. FEB 27

    Ep 124 (S7E9) Joel - Part 1

    References: Setting and background/context of JoelWho was Joel?When did Joel work as God’s Prophet?Some suggestions from the textTemple - JerusalemNo kings - ?Most likely post-exhile in the time of Ezra/NehemiahJoel shows familiarity with many other prophetsJoel never identifies any specific sin on Israel’s partHe announces God’s judgment, but doesn’t say why.Perhaps he assumes that the people, like himself, are familiar with the work of the other prophets.How is this short book layed out?Mirror image prophetic poems - sin leads to disasterCh 1 - a past Day of the LordCh 2 - vss 1-17 - a future Day of the LordCh 2 - vss 18-27 - God’s response - mercy leads to hopeGod’s defeat of enemiesGod’s restoration of the landGod’s presence among His peopleCh 2&3 - vss 2:28-3:21 - THE Day of the Lord - God’s Kingdom in its fullnessGod’s Spirit poured out - 2:28-32God’s defeat of evil among all nations - 3:1-16God’s renewal of all creation - 3:17-21Joel 1:1-4 - announcement of disasterThe mystery of v 4The four types of “locusts”Locust #1 גָּזָם (gaw-zawm)Locust #2 אַרְבֶּה (ar-beh’) most common in OTLocust #3 יֶלֶק (yeh'-lek) young locustLocust #4 חָסִיל (khaw-seel') A literal biological view - an infestation of desert locust described at each stage of its biological development from larvae to winged adultA political view - metaphor for four successive empires that invaded IsraelThe BabyloniansThe Medo-PersiansThe Greeks (Macedonians)The Romans A looking back - the 8th plague upon Egypt (Ex 10) has come upon IsraelTHE Day of the Lord view - Acts and Revelation draw from Joel’s imageryActs 2 - Pentecost: Peter says is a fulfillment of JoelRev 9:1-11 - the 1st terrorJoel 1:5-18 - a call to repentanceDrunkards, for there is no more wine, like a bride in black mourning her dead husbandPriests, farmers, leadersPut on sackcloth (burlap) שַׂק (sak)First mentioned in Gen 37:34 as Jacob mourned for his son JosephJoel 1:19-20 - Calling out to the Lord (an act of repentance)

    34 min

  8. FEB 20

    Ep 123 (S7E8) Ashes and the Day of the Lord

    References: 40 Days of LentA season of introspection, devotion and journeying to the cross and the empty tombConsider Biblical 40 day/night periodsNoah and the flood - Gen 7 (purifying)Moses on Mt Sinai - Ex 24 (law-giving)Elijah’s journey to Mt Sinai - 1 Kings 19 (preparing)Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness - Mt 4; Lk 4 (fighting for us)Sackcloth, dust and AshesA sign of mourning - Esther 4:1A sign of repentance - Job 42:6; Jonah 3:6Nathan in The ChosenSpiritual disciplines: Prayer, Fasting and Alms-givingMat 6:1-6, 16-21In secret - κρυπτός from κρύπτω (kryptō)Reward - ἀποδίδωμι (ap-od-eed'-o-mee)Joel and the Day of the LordOne’s heart vs one’s outward appearanceOne of the most famous lines in the passage is: “Rend your hearts and not your garments.” This is crucial for Ash Wednesday because it prevents the ritual of receiving ashes from becoming a mere outward show. It sets a mandatory annual reminder that the 40-day journey ahead is an internal transformation that God works as we humbly align with Him.A total communal responseThe great refrain: "For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love..."

    32 min
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Helping ordinary people read the Bible for the sake of life application and a godly transformation. In other words, for the sake of becoming more like Jesus.

Information

  • Creator
    John
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    130
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 May I have a WORD with you?
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    May I have a WORD with you?