4G Family

In Exodus 4 God instructs Moses to claim Israel and identifies the nation as His firstborn. Thus, the command in Exodus 13 to consecrate firstborn animals and sons to God gives opportunity to explore how this principle plays out throughout the Bible.   Ultimately, the story of God's redemption is the story of how those who aren't firstborn can become truly firstborn through Jesus and his amazing w...

This passage reviews the scale of the Exodus and the institution of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread.   Passages studied are excerpted here .

In this lesson Bill reviews some of the things that people have added to the Spring religious festival season (like Mardi Gras) and some of the things that have been taken away (like full observance of Passover).

In this introductory lesson we learn the basics of the Passover and raise some interesting questions about how it all happened!   Study notes are here .

In Chapter 11 we are reminded of how God is fulfilling his promises. We see evidence of the concept of "reaping what you sow". The story is building to a climax that will cover the next several chapters: God is an awesome God (and there is no other!)   Study notes, including introductory remarks comparing St. Patrick and Moses (hopefully not too big a stretch!) are here .

During this one week break from the study in Exodus, Larry shares a very small passage with a very large potential. 9Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.” 10Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep...

As this third cycle of plagues is documented several things become clear:      God's purposes are way higher than Pharaoh's      God's power is far greater than Pharaoh's His power in this cycle demonstrates power over the essence of creation and is a reminder of His work in Genesis.  We are reminded of who He is. This also clarifies who we are!   Study notes are here.

These chapters describe the classic showdown between God's power to send plagues against Egypt and Pharaoh's resistance to "let my people go."   Study notes are here.

In this passage we learn of Moses' initial attempts to obtain the release of the people of Israel from Pharaoh. He resists. More than that, he makes the people work even harder.   Class notes are available here .

In Chapter 4 God continues to speak to Moses (and to us) in a number of ways -- all of them leading to his marvelous work of redeeming His people from Egypt.  The chapter ends where we should all end:  believing God and worshiping him.   Study notes are here .

After getting Moses' attention with a bush on fire, God reveals a great deal about himself -- and a plan for Moses.   Study notes are here .

In this Chapter we learn of Moses' birth to two members of the tribe of Levi and his rescue from the Nile by the daughter of Pharaoh. We see God's providence throughout the story.  We learn of Moses' flight from Egypt to Midian where he finds hospitality, an occupation and a wife. Interesting background on Midian from bibleatlas.org is here . Study notes on the lessons are here.

In these closing chapters of Genesis we conclude the story of Joseph and his brothers.  Once again, the brothers go to Egypt to buy grain.  Ultimately, Joseph and his wealth and influence is revealed to his brothers. They fear retribution but are given love, acceptance and forgiveness.   Jacob concludes his days on the earth with prophecy and blessing. He (and Joseph) procures a promise that he no...

The sojourn of God's people to Egypt for 400 years was part of God's covenant conversation to Abram all the way back in Genesis 15.  We pick up the story with Joseph, the eleventh and most favored son of Jacob (a nice list of Jacob's 12 sons is in Genesis 35 :22b-26), as he goes to meet his older brothers who are tending their flocks far away from home. Points to consider: In what ways does Joseph...

Hebrews wraps up with a series of exhortations for those in the family of God. Background info on the Gaither song "The Family of God" quoted in Bill's introduction is here and the song itself is here.   Lesson outline and study notes are here.

Matthew 1 highlights that Jesus' virgin birth was the (second) fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 7.    What does the virgin birth of Jesus tell us about God and us?   Study material is here.

Hebrews 12:14-25   Verse 11      11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. [1] Verse 14      “Pursue peace with all men . . .”      Ravi Zacharias’ ministry includes apologetics but with kindness. His YouTube channel      At the Mormon Tabernacle Romans 12: 18 If possible, so fa...

Hebrews 11 shows us that God's people relate to Him by faith. In ways big and small, outcomes seen or not, endings happy or sad, He commends the faithful How can we retell the stories of faith to our children. How can we weave in our own?   See the rich commentary excerpts, along with their proper attribution and credit, and some discussion questions here.

The writer of Hebrews continues to open the family photo album to highlight examples of faith. None were perfect. Yet, because of faith, they could have a relationship with God.   Commentary excerpts, etc. are here.

10:31 The writer of Hebrews was guarding against apostasy on the part of the members In our present day, we have risk for this in a number of ways: More forceful inflammatory comments that are often made on social media that wouldn’t be made face to face The watering down of principle within churches (reading from Slouching Toward Gomorrah by Robert Bork) Five Facts about Faith – Chuck Swindoll in...

From the opening verses of Hebrews, the author has been explaining the superiority of Christ from a number of angles. His argument has built gradually but relentlessly to a culmination of Jesus instituting the New Covenant. A Covenant with a single, sufficient, completed sacrifice.   Unlike the priest who is still standing with work left to do, Christ is seated at the right hand of God -- the sacr...

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinklin...

(Publisher note:  technical issues prevented recording of the prior two weeks of teaching.)   The author of Hebrews continues building the case of "better" in chapters 7 and 8. First, he asserts that Jesus is from a better priestly line (that of Melchizedek). Next, he explains that a better priest requires a better covenant. And, the new covenant is superior to the former.   Commentary material is...