Month: March 2016

Woman of the Bible Study: Dorcas

The Bible Study of Dorcas – March 19, 2016 – Acts 9:36-43

  1. Dorcas is Greek and means Gazelle, the Hebrew equivalent is Tabitha. (page 213)
  1. She was from Joppa, which means beauty, this town is along the Mediterranean sea approx. 35-38 miles Northwest of Jerusalem. Today it is called Jaffa and it is a suburb of Tele Viv. (V36 & footnote)
  1. She is a disciple. Per the text, she is the only woman to be named/called a disciple. Disciple: someone who is taught by Jesus and follows Jesus’ ways. (page 214)
  1. Dorcas was known as always doing good works and acts of love in helping the poor. She made robes and other clothes for the poor. (V36&V39).
  1. Dorcas became ill and died. Her body was washed and placed in the upper room. (V37)
  1. Peter was in Lydda and they sent 2 men to go get him, to come right away. He was approximately 12 miles away. (V38).
  1. Burials normally happened the same day the person died in Jerusalem but outside the city the body maybe delayed for up to 3 days and therefore was placed in an upper room. (V39, see NIV footnote)
  1. Peter got down on hands and knees and prayed before he said “Tabitha get up” (V40) Peter had the Faith Jesus told him he would need to do the things he saw Jesus do (John 14:12)
  1. Peter took her by the hand and helped her to her feet and presented her to the widows and other believers, alive. (v41)
  1. The widows of Joppa and many others believed that day, this became known all over Joppa. (V42)
  1. Her name Dorcas suggest she was a Hellenist: Jewess who lived among the Greeks and spoke the Greek language, who was a Christian. (page 222 Woman who made Bible History)

Reference:

NIV Study Bible,Zondervan

Women in the Bible:Harold J Ockenga 1962 Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Syswerda, Jean E, Women of the Bible, Zondervan, 1999

 

The Widow with Two Coins – 10 Points for Bible Study

  1. The Temple Treasury located in the court of women, contained 13 trumpet-shaped receptacles for contributions brought by worshipers. Key Scriptures & NIV Study Note- Mark 12:41
  2. The widow, though extremely poor is described as one of the most greathearted people in the Bible. She dropped two copper coins,  worth less than a penny. into the temple treasury. Key Scriptures & NIV Study Notes, W.O.B. pg 205
  3. Jesus had earlier cleansed the temple of money changers (those who changed other coins to Jewish shekels) as he opposed the buying and selling inside of the temple. Matthew 21:12-13. W.O.B. pg 206
  4. The teachings of Jesus is an emphasis in the book of Mark. Jesus models a lesson of giving  in this display by the widow for his disciples. Mark 12:43 “Calling his disciples to him…”; NIV Introduction to Mark
  5. The widow gave more than the rest and put in all she had willingly and lovingly.  Mark 12:43-44.  Willingness is advised by Peter to the elders of the church when he writes to them about being willing shepherds of God’s flock,  eager to serve and not greedy for money. 1 Peter 5:2, W.O.B. pg 206  
  6. The others gave out of their wealth but the widow gave out of her poverty. Her giving was a matter of attitude; it was not the amount that mattered but that she gave ALL she had to live on. Luke 21:4; Guidelines for Giving, BibleGateway
  7. When we are concerned about the amount we give to the Church, to the poor or to a cause; what we give pales in comparison to what our Lord Jesus Christ gave to and for us. 2 Cor 8:9; 10 Essential Truths about Christian Giving, Ligon Duncan III, Crosswalk
  8. Money is the root of all evil is the misquoted statement of Paul who wrote to Timothy. Paul correctly stated the love of money is the root of all evil.  Money is the root of no evil, nor is it an evil of any kind. Its the love of it that brings the concern.   1 Tim 6:9-10; Clarke’s Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:10 
  9. Giving to the needy is not something that requires announcements, trumpets and fanfare. Matthew 6:2
  10. The lure of money can be quite enticing to all including Christians. It can block us from an intimate relationship with our Lord & Savior but Jesus reminds us in        Luke 16:13 “…You can not serve both God and Money”.

 

Resources

Women of the Bible: 52 Bible Studies for Individuals and Groups; Jean E Syswerda; Zondervan, 2002

NIV Study Bible; Zondervan

http://www.biblegateway.com/…/commentaries/; Guidelines for Giving, BibleGateway, IVP New Testament Commentaries

www.biblestudytools.com/bible…/christian-…; 10 Essential Truths about Christian Giving, Crosswalk: Bible Study Tools; Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III

http://www.godvine.com › Online Bible › 1 Timothy › 1 Timothy 6; Clarke’s Commentary

IF gathering 2016

by Pat Riley-Sanderson

I gathered this weekend with women who crossed all boundaries of color, age, culture and even denomination to begin answering the question, what IF we lived, loved, prayed and served like Jesus.  It was called the IF gathering 2016 and we listened, prayed, worshiped and discussed through video presentation of an IF gathering of hundreds of women and our own assembly of Sisters in Christ at my own church, Pinellas Community Church. We began with praise and worship inviting Jesus into our space, lifting our voices in praise, love and awe of his power. We listened as the first speaker reminded us of who Jesus is.  In John 14:6 “Jesus answered I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  The note on this scripture from the NIV study Bible says Jesus is not one way among many, but the only way.  We Sisters in Christ discussed at our table answers to several questions including when did we first invite Jesus into our lives and what did we have to give up to be a child of God and a follower of Jesus. It was illuminated that we may have given up some but that Jesus gives us so much more than what we may have denied ourselves.

We listened to other speakers talk about the love of Jesus.  In John 15:12-13 Jesus says “My command is this: love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus’ love for us is not ordinary, it is exceptional, it is not condescending or obligatory.  And as we demonstrate our love for those who are marginalized – the poor, those in prison, those who are labeled or lost, we may be hated. Jesus says in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”

And lastly we learned that all of his teachings, who Jesus is , how he loves and serves us, is to redeem and transform us so that we too can be disciples for him. He wants us to be Jesus followers.  In the Great Commission, Jesus tells his 11 disciples who have seen him many times since his death and resurrection, who have witnessed his miracles and heard his word in Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded…” What IF we as Sisters of Christ took up this mission to live like Jesus and because we know who he is and how he loves and how he hope for us, we are redeemed and transformed. We go then with the Holy Spirit guiding us and one by one we disciple to those who do not know Jesus. one person at a time affecting many nations.

How To Face Life Changing Events

Matthew 7:7-8

We all have had circumstances in our life that were “life changing events”. Some of these situations were negative, like loss of job, catastrophe to possessions such as home or cars, sickness or sudden death of loved ones. Some of these situations were positive such as job promotions, the birth of new family additions or financial gain. Good or bad all “life changing events” have one thing in common, the need for persistent action to make the adjustment. Matthew 7:7 reminds us of the path we can take when there are unexpected changes in life; “Ask and it will be given to you seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open to you.”

Unexpected “life changing events” requires “personal change” to adapt and move forward. We need to ask for the necessary tools to adapt to a “life changes”, we should seek new direction to accommodate “life changes” and most of all when God opens a door, we need to be receptive to the direction, the newly opened door is taking us. With God, every adversity has an open door. When God allows adversity and pain in our lives, we are usually being guided to a door of “God’s Blessing”, that we never would have discovered without the adversity.

Remember, in adversity or success, always knock on the door that God is leading you to and it will be opened.