Concordia Adult Bible Class

Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar are a family who breaks each other’s hearts. But even in the midst of pain and betrayal, God is giving them a new start. How can God give us a new start even when we struggle and suffer with a broken heart?

Because every human relationship is between two sinners, offenses will happen. Adam and Eve sinned against God, but also against each other – especially when Adam blames Eve for feeding him some forbidden fruit. Yet, Adam and Eve stayed together. How do we stay together when we hurt or are hurt by each other? The answer lies in how God stays with us – through forgiveness.

What is the secret that people in long-term relationships know? It is simply this: always humbly put the other person first. The first century world was patriarchal. The man was expected to be first and be treated as first. But Priscilla and Aquilla provide a counter-cultural example. While Aquilla, the husband, is at first named first, primacy is quickly given to Priscilla. Being willing to take a secondary role instead of jockeying for position ascribes value to another person and is the secret the relationships that go the distance.

There can be certain aspects of relationships that just “happen” to you. For example, a child does not choose their father or mother. But for a relationship to thrive, assembly is required. You must not just feel love, but choose to be committed to another person. The story of Ruth and Naomi is a beautiful example of this intentional choice.

It can be scary to share Scripture! We’re worried about whether or not we’ll have an answer to a question someone is asking, or we’re worried we don’t know the Bible well enough to share it with anyone else. We can learn how to share the Bible with others by looking at the way Jesus shared the Bible with His disciples.

Reading the Bible can be frustrating because so much of it can sound so foreign. This is why the Psalmist invites us not just to read the Bible, but to meditate on it. Studying the Bible takes time and effort. So, it’s okay if you still feel like you have a lot to learn about the Bible!

Many people have read the Bible, but they don’t know the backstory to the greatest story ever told. How did this book come together? In the introduction to his Gospel, Luke tells us that careful research went into all the books that in the Good Book.

A popular acronym to understand the theme of the Bible is Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. But though the Bible does contain plenty of instruction, instruction is not its primary theme. Jesus is. Paul speaks of how the Scriptures are able to make us “wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.” If we miss Jesus, we miss the main point of the Bible.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6

With all that we have been through, our souls can feel shriveled at times. In Matthew 12, Jesus restores a man with a shriveled hand. What He did for this man physically, He can do for us spiritually.

Many know that Jesus was born in a manger… but who did He turn out to be?

Contentment is great! Gratitude is even better, for gratitude is not only happy with what it has – as nine of the lepers healed by Jesus were – but actively thankful for what it has. In this way, gratitude blesses others because gratitude is an expression of contentment and fulfillment.

The Israelites were wildly blessed by God while wandering through the wilderness – but, for them, it was never enough. Grumbling misses the blessings God gives. The first step out of the trap of grumbling is contentment.

David refused to even drink water if the water was a product of someone else work and risk. David wanted to work for what he had. Part of stewardship is working for what we have so we can share what we have. Are we more interesting in working or taking?

Joseph was entrusted with a huge estate. But things quickly turned sour when he was falsely accused of mismanaging what he had been given. How can we be faithful with what God has given us, even when being faithful means sacrificing like Joseph?