Month: January 2015

Martha – 10 Points for Bible Study 01/31/2015

From our lesson of  Martha, Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-12:3 , here are some important points. The points do not directly answer the questions on pages 192-195 of the text, but may help you in our discussion of the Saturday Bible Study 01/31/2015.

1. Martha, her name, the feminine form of “Lord”, means “Lady”. (4, page 355)

2.  Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus (John 11:1-2) lived together in Bethany, a village less than two miles from Jerusalem (John 11:18). 

3. All three were intimate friends with Jesus (John 11:5).

4. Martha was the pratical type: the mistress of the house (Luke 10:38; John 12:2) impatient over her sister’s contemplative bent (Luke 10:40) and collected enough in her bereavement to meet Jesus on his approach to Bethany and explain the situation concerning her brother Lazarus’ death (John 11:20-27). (2, page 287)

5.“Distracted with Much Serving ( Luke 10:38-42 )– “This story of Martha and Mary, one of the most exquisite in the Gospels, is found only in Luke. One can no more than guess as to why it is given its particular location in the narrative. Is it because the writer or his source rushed to caution against a conception of Christian life which would make it consist alone in deeds of the benevolent, like that of the good Samaritans? This has been suggested, but is at best doubtful. Still a major point of the story is undoubtedly that service of others is not enough; indeed, that it is possible to be distracted with much serving. It is possible to lose one’s soul in a program of highly useful activities.Our services to others must be in a relation of contract alteration or rhythm with our sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to his word“ (1, page 197)

6. Martha knew that Jesus had the power to heal (John 11:21).

7 She felt free to ask Jesus for favors (John 11:21).

8. She believed in the resurrection of the dead on the final day (John 11:24).

9. She felt that after a person was dead for 4 days, even Jesus could not raise them from the dead (John 11:39).

10. Jesus visited the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus shortly before the Passover and His death. Martha served a dinner in his honor. (John 12:12).

1. The Interpreter’s Bible, In Twelve Volumes, Volume 8, Abingdon Press, 1956

2. The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, Volume Three K-Q, In Four Volumes, Abingdon Press, New York 1962.

3. The NIV Study Bible, Zondervan, 1995. (All Scriptures)

4. Women of the Bible,  One Year Devotional Study of Women in Scripture, Ann Spangler and Jean E. Syswerda, Zondervan, 2007.

5. Women of the Bible, 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups, Jean E Syswerda, Zondervan, 1999.

“Women of the Bible” – Study Returns January 31, 2015

Women of the Bible, Bible Study returns on January 31, 2015. We will return to the lessons as previously scheduled, starting with Martha.  For complete schedule refer to: Women of the Bible, 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups – Schedule, Posted on April 8, 2014. Lessons omitted due to Glenda’s hospitalization and surgeries will be added to the 2016 schedule. The group will meet at the home of Frank and Glenda through January, February and March and probably throughout Glenda’s Chemotherapy treatments. Substitute group leaders will be necessary during Glenda’s treatments. We thank those that have agreed to substitute for Glenda.

Your next 10 Points for Bible Study for the study Martha will be published Sunday January 25, 2015. If you have questions, please send them to contact@homewordsministry.com.

Happy New Year to All!

We at Homewords Ministry hope that all had a God Blessed Christmas and we pray that God’s continued Blessings be yours in 2015.

Please excuse our silence for about 45 days. Our Bible Study took a forced break because Glenda was in the hospital for 21 days, undergoing cancer surgeries.  One of our priorities at this time is to follow God’s guidance, in the daily processes of  adapting to the changes that will give Glenda a renewed quality of life.

We give thanks to God for successfully bringing Glenda and the family through a very difficult 21 days. We give thanks to God for sustaining us in the challenges ahead, as we know that the days of hospitalization are just the beginning.  We thank all of you for your continued prayers during this difficult time. Through it all we hold to; But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. (Psalm 73:28)

Toward the task ahead of renewing the Bible Studies and blogs, please continue to pray that we do God’s will, as you hear more for us in the future.

The Season of Epiphany/Matthew 2:1-2

As we enter The Season of Epiphany, here is a post from our archive.
Enjoy the Season of Epiphany.

Homewords Ministry

The Season of Epiphany is the third season of the church year, and the best way to describe the season’s meaning is this: Epiphany means Making God Manifest. God is manifested in His son, the Christ Child, who is then revealed to the Magi (the Three Wise Men) and, as such, to the world.

What is an epiphany?  This term is widely used to describe a “light-bulb moment” or a sudden realization, as when something hits us in our realm of awareness that we may not have clearly seen or acknowledged previously.

When I think about the season of Epiphany as celebrated in the Episcopal Church, I think of a couple of things.  I think of the Magi, who, according to Scripture, actually visited with King Herod and discussed that they were looking for the child who was recently born king of the Jews.  They had seen the star which…

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