Month: February 2015

Mary Magdalene —10 Key Points for Bible Study on February 28, 2015

Our Lesson on Mary Magdalene comes from Matthew 27:56, 61; 28:1, Mark 15:40, 47; 16:1-19; Luke 8:2; 24:10; John 19:25; 20:1-18 of our main text Women of the Bible by Jean E Syswerda. Here are some important points. These points may not directly answer the questions on pages 211-212.

Mary Magdelene
Her name means “Bitterness”
Ten points of information:
1. Mistakenly characterized as a prostitute.
2. She was possessed by seven demons. She probably suffered from a serious mental or physical illness from which Jesus delivered her.
3. She went to the tomb where Jesus was buried and saw that the stone had been rolled away, at the entrance. She explained to the two angels that she saw that the body of her Lord had been taken away and that she did not know where to find him. She was the first to see the Resurrected Jesus Christ.
4. She cried out in Aramaic “Rabboni” (which means teacher) when she recognized who Jesus was.
5. She was one of several women who took the time out to play a role in the ministry of Jesus. She traveled with Jesus and the twelve disciples. She cared for their needs during the time that they were not earning a living.
6. The women that cared for Jesus and his disciples used their own financial resources to support Jesus and his disciples. They either had no children or their children were grown.
7. They spent their time purchasing food; preparing it; and serving it; while Jesus was teaching and healing.
8. Perhaps they found homes for Jesus and his disciples to stay in during their travels.
9. When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.
10. She announced to the disciples that she had seen the Lord. She informed them that he told her to tell them that he was ascending to his Father and our Father, to his God and our God.

Scriptures:
Matthew 27:56 – Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
Matthew 27:61 – Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
Matthew 28:1 –  After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
Mark 15:40 – Some women were watching from a distance, Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome.
Mark 15:47 – Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
Mark 16:1 – When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.
Luke 8:2 – And also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;
Luke 24:10 – It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
John 19:25 – Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
John 20:1 – 18 – Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. (2) So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” (3) So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. (4) Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. (5) He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. (6) Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, (7) as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. (8) Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (9) (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) (10) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. (11) Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb (12) and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. (13) They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” (14) At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. (15) He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” (16) Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). (17) Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my Brothers and tell them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” (18) Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news. “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

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Women of the Bible – Mary Magdalene – 02/28/2015

Mary Magdalene is our twentieth study in our series from Women of the Bible, 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups by Jean E Syswerda. The study of Mary Magdalene is found on page 209. The Bible Study will meet 4:00p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For complete information contact Glenda at 727-542-4683.

The Lenten Season (Lent), by Yolande Brunson Collins

The Lenten Season – Previously Release

Homewords Ministry

The Lenten Season, or the Season of Lent, is a solemn time.  It represents the ancient season of preparation for baptism on Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent, and the season lasts 40 days – not counting Sundays. During Lent, Sundays are considered Feast Days, and it is acceptable to rest from the strictness of Lent.

Why does Lent last 40 days? The number “40” has special spiritual significance regarding preparation. Moses was on Mt. Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights, without food or water, preparing to receive the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28). We read in 1 Kings 19:8 that Elijah “went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb (another name for Sinai), the mountain of God.” And, we know that before He began His public ministry, Jesus fasted and prayed for 40 days and 40…

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LUKE 10:41-42 – Bible Verse and Reflection

“Martha, Martha,” The Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

We need to focus on what is important and that is one thing, Jesus Christ. He is instructing us in this Scripture that He is the right choice and nothing else is as important…Life is like a camera. Focus on what is important. Capture the good times. Develop from the negatives. And if things don’t work out, take another shot…GodVine.com

Jesus is always available to us. We have to make the right choice to choose Him over all else.

MARY OF BETHANY —10 KEY POINTS FOR BIBLE STUDY ON February 14, 2015

BY PETRA VAUGHN FEBRUARY 14TH, 2015

Our Lesson on Mary of  Bethany, comes from Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 10:38-42 & John 11:1-12:11, here are some important points. These points may not directly answer the questions on pages 199-200.

1. Mary of Bethany, her name may be “Bitterness” page 196 Women of the Bible.

2. Mary of Bethany, is the sister of Martha and Lazarus, not to be confused with Mary, Jesus’ mother or Mary Magdalene.(John 11:1-2) Martha, Mary and their brother Lazarus lived together in Bethany, a village less than 2 miles from Jerusalem.

3. Mary stepped outside of the Cultural expectations of the time by sitting at the feet of Jesus with the men. Luke 10:39, She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

4. Mary annoints Jesus head with very expensive oil in a Alabaster Jar.Matthew 26:7, A woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he as reclining at the table. Mark 14:3b a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. John 12:3, Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume, she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

5. Jesus took up for Mary, due to her kind gesture of pouring the oil on him, since the gesture seemed to cause an concern for one of the Disciples( Judas Iscariot). Matthew 26:10, Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.”Mark 14:6 “Leave her alone” Jesus said, ”Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.” John 12: 7, “Leave her alone,” Jesus said, “It was intended, that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.

6. Mary will always be remembered for her gesture of love torwards Jesus. Matthew 26:13 & Mark 14:9, “ I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she had done will also be told, in memory of her.”

7. As Mary sat listening to Jesus, her sister Martha wanted Jesus to make her help her serve. Luke 10: 40-41, But Martha was so distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

8. Mary and her sister sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was sick. John 11:3, So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

9. Mary waited expectantly for Jesus to come while her brother was sick. John 11:28-33

10. Mary wept at the death of her brother Lazarus John 11:32-33

1. The NIV Study Bible, Zondervan 2008 Edition (All scriptures)

2. Women of the Bible 52 Bible Studies for Indivuals or groups: Jean E Syswerda

Women of the Bible – Mary of Bethany – 02/14/2015

Mary of Bethany is our nineteenth study in our series from Women of the Bible, 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups by Jean E Syswerda. The study of Mary of Bethany is found on page 196. The Bible Study will meet 4:00p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For complete information contact Glenda at 727-542-4683.

1 Timothy 6:6-10

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many briefs.

 

To possess, the basic needs (food and clothing) is a reason to be content in following God. When we are blessed beyond that point, we are faced with challenges of handling the blessings in a Godly manner. Blessings beyond the basic require a fight to stay Godly.