Background: Before you read the story of Rahab in Joshua, picture her in this scene. She is an inhabitant of Jericho, a great walled city. She is a Canaanite woman in a pagan culture that worships multiple gods, notably the…Continue Reading →
Background: The troubling account of Judah’s relationship with Tamar, which interrupts the ongoing story of Joseph’s time in Egypt, fulfills an important role in Genesis. It focuses on the continuation of Judah’s family line (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah) and concludes…Continue Reading →
Background: In Carolyn Custis James’s book, Half the Church, we read, “Whatever we lost in Eden we find again in Jesus.”1 That is a truth worth pondering. As we dig into the stories of Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah this week,…Continue Reading →
Background: God promised Abram many descendants. As the years passed, Abram and Sarai (whom God later renamed Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 17) began to doubt God’s promises. An accepted practice in the ancient Near East culture in that day…Continue Reading →
Background: There is a spiritual battle raging all around us as Satan works to destroy the God-given institutions of marriage and family. We see it played out in the physical world, but we must not forget that it is spiritual.…Continue Reading →
Diamonds in the Rough Our study of women in the Bible begins. There can be misperceptions about women in the Bible; often they experienced mistreatment or were misunderstood. Together, we will strive to see how God views women, and see…Continue Reading →
Background: While still a prisoner, Paul wrote this letter to his friend Philemon. Philemon was a church leader in Colossae, and his slave Onesimus had run away and was now in the same prison as Paul. Paul had the joy…Continue Reading →
Background: While still a prisoner, Paul wrote this letter to his friend Philemon. Philemon was a church leader in Colossae, and his slave Onesimus had run away and was now in the same prison as Paul. Paul had the joy…Continue Reading →
Background: The early Christians were often viewed by outsiders with suspicion, distrust, and disdain. They were even considered atheists because they would not worship the gods of Rome or Greece. Many labeled them unpatriotic because they would not participate in…Continue Reading →
Background: In Colossians 1:1–20, we learned that Paul is writing to believers in the city of Colossae. Paul tells of Christ’s supremacy, of His existence before creation, that through Him God created everything, and that Christ is the visible image…Continue Reading →
Background: Paul presents Jesus as the Creator of the universe, Sustainer of the earth and all its ecological systems, and Ruler over the competing power networks of the world. Paul praises the lordship of Christ in relation to both creation…Continue Reading →
Background: Paul writes this letter toward the end of his life. He is imprisoned (most likely in Rome) and composes this letter and two others, Ephesians and Philemon. The church in Colossae most likely started during Paul’s three-year ministry in…Continue Reading →
Big Enough: A Study in Colossians Mary Dean presents an introduction to our Bible study and inductive Bible study methods. Study Guide Available For the corresponding study guide, please contact Melissa Renner at melissar@stonebriar.org.Continue Reading →
The book of Romans was written by the apostle Paul in approximately AD 57–58. Although Paul was known as the apostle to the Gentiles, he still felt called to minister to his Jewish brethren (Romans 9:1–5). It appears that Paul… Continue Reading →
In chapter one, Paul writes to believers about sharing the Gospel and his desire to come to Rome to preach the Good News. Chapter one ends with Paul writing about those who rejected God and did “every manner of shameful… Continue Reading →
Romans was written by Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, to the church at Rome. Paul calls a spade a spade with respect to the devastating nature of sin, but he also shares some of the most encouraging passages in Scripture, detailing… Continue Reading →
Romans was written by Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, to the church at Rome. Paul calls a spade a spade with respect to the devastating nature of sin, but he also shares some of the most encouraging passages in Scripture, detailing… Continue Reading →
Peter explains in his letter how believers should live as exiles in a hostile world that rejects their message. Study Guide Available For the corresponding study guide, please contact Melissa Renner at melissar@stonebriar.org.
James warns of the future judgment awaiting wealthy people who are self–indulgent. His rebuke is aimed at people who were physically rich but spiritually poor. Study Guide Available For the corresponding study guide, please contact Melissa Renner at melissar@stonebriar.org.
The overall purpose in this chapter continues a major theme woven throughout the book. James urges believers to be consistent in living out their devotion to God by their words and actions. Commitment to God is evident when Christians practice… Continue Reading →
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