Study Notes

Branches with Fruit

Julie / November 18, 2014

In John 15 Jesus makes His famous speech about “I am the vine; you are the branches,” and when we studied the passage in Bible study at my church about a month ago the metaphor really stuck in my head as… fearsome.  The passage (vv 1-8, hcsb): “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper.  Every…

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Studying God

A Holy Priesthood

Julie / November 8, 2014

The concept of believers as “a holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5) as I have long understood it is very much the object of derision and scorn.  “The Bible isn’t clear!”  Whether it’s formal ordination by an approved apostolic body or a Th. D. and peer-reviewed papers, the ability of the simple Christian to understand Scripture effectively is in serious question.…

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Study Notes

Judges: God uses broken people.

Julie / October 17, 2014

I just finished my study of the book of Judges, and, wow, so many thoughts. The stories that have stuck out to me: Deborah and Barak.  Gideon.  Abimelech.  Jephthah.  Samson,  Micah, Gibeah.  With a few others stuck in.  Every single story is about the failure of people to do the right thing.  First we have Barak (Judges 4), who ought…

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