A Gentle Ramble Through the Bible - Evers Bible Class

  Romans (Part 2) Paul throws us in the deep end here. Romans is densely packed with theology. Don’t worry. We take it in bite-sized chunks. He talks about the value (or not) of being a Jew as opposed to being a Gentile. Paul has deep roots in the Law but he sees it now as something that pointed to Christ--something fulfilled in Christ. We join Paul as he reflects on how the sin offerings und...

                                    Romans (Part 1) Paul is nearing the end of his 3rd Missionary Journey. As he turns south towards Corinth, his heart yearns to continue westward to Rome to meet the church of believers that has formed there in the heart of the Empire.  He can’t go to see them quite yet,...

                                   2 Corinthians (Part 3) We finish our series on 2 Corinthians today. Paul spends some time talking to the Corinthians about what it means to be a cheerful giver. The idea that he might get to Corinth and they won’t have gathered a collection for the poor in Jerusalem, or even...

                                   2 Corinthians (Part 2) Paul is in the middle of his letter to the Corinthians. He wants to make sure they understand that he and the other apostles are just men--jars of clay--and subject to all the hardships that go with that. And yet, Paul regards these hardships as nothin...

                                  2 Corinthians (Part 1) Paul is ready to leave Ephesus, and that’s good because they are ready to kick him out. There’s a huge riot because Paul is converting so many idol-worshippers that it’s impacting the sales of paraphernalia and trinkets feeding off the worship at the temple...

                                 1 Corinthians (Part 7) We wrap up 1 Corinthians today. Paul continues with his strong words about the chaos in the worship gatherings the Corinthians have. They’ve been blessed with an abundance of spiritual gifts of the Spirit, but they’re trying to shout over each other. Are you...

                                 1 Corinthians (Part 6) The Corinthians are a clique-ish group. Some are rich and some are poor, and they obviously don’t mix. The “Lord’s Supper” is a literal meal but everybody brings their own food and they don’t share! It’s not even a potluck. Paul is horrified. He says they are...

                                 1 Corinthians (Part 5) Paul addresses two huge issues the Corinthians are having.  It was a thing back then to be invited by your patron to dine at the local god or goddess’s temple. Can Christians eat in a pagan temple? And leftover meat sacrificed to these gods and goddesses...

                                 1 Corinthians (Part 4) Paul has a lot more to say to the Corinthians--some of it in response to a message they send to him with a bunch of their questions. Paul focuses on the physical body in this part of his letter. He talks about sexual immorality, about marriage, and about trea...

                                 1 Corinthians (Part 3) We hit 1 Corinthians 6:9 this week--one of the most famous “clobber” verses in the Bible. It’s one of those verses often used to bludgeon each other and to exclude each other from fellowship with other believers.  We use our backpack tools to determine w...

                                 1 Corinthians (Part 2) Paul is writing a scathing letter to the Corinthians. They are in serious danger of losing their way entirely. At this point there is not much to distinguish them from the unbelievers and idol worshippers they live among. There is an overlay of puffed-up, pri...

                                1 Corinthians (Part 1) Paul is ready for another missionary trip, this third one being more ambitious than either of the other two. He leaves from Antioch in Syria and heads overland through Galatia where he picks up his trusted porter and messenger, Timothy. They wander through Asia Min...

                               1 Thessalonians (Part 2) The Thessalonians have lots of questions. They’re not feeling particularly sure-footed in their faith. Paul writes to tell them that God wants them to be holy. That’s a tall order! But he goes on to give a list of what that entails, and the list makes a lot of sen...

                               1 Thessalonians (Part 1) Paul, Silas and Timothy spend a year and a half in Corinth. And while they are there, Paul becomes desperate for news from the new church he left back in Thessalonica.  He tries several times to go visit them but is prevented “by Satan” so he finally sends Ti...

                               Thessalonica, Athens & Corinth Paul, Silas and Timothy continue down the Via Egnatia to Thessalonica where Paul’s preaching lands him in hot water again. They are smuggled out by night to Berea where Paul still cannot seem to keep his mouth shut.  He preaches everywhere, no matte...

                               The Church at Philippi Barnabas wants to take his nephew John Mark along on their second missionary journey, but Paul absolutely refuses, saying J-M “deserted” them last time. They disagree so vehemently they end up splitting up. Barnabas takes J-M and sets sail to Cyprus, while Paul team...

                              Wrapping Up Galatians Paul tries everything he can think of to convince the Galatians not to fall back into the Law. He tries a pretty unique argument, making the distinction between “seed” singular and “seed” plural, saying the singular version in the Abrahamic Covenant refers to Jesus. Intere...

                              Trouble in Antioch Paul and Barnabas are back in Antioch after their missionary journey to Galatia. Peter comes for a visit and mingles with all the new believers--Jews and Gentiles alike.  All is well until some Jewish believers show up from Judea and insist that all Gentile believers mus...

                              Journey Thru Galatia Barnabas and Saul are sent by the church in Syrian Antioch to preach the Good News far and wide. They, along with Barnabas' young relative John Mark, head out for Galatia. Along the way they meet with great success and with great hardship. John Mark throws in the towel, but...

                             Peter and Cornelius Peter, along with James the brother of Jesus, is the clear leader of the new church. In this story he has an epiphany that leads him to the household of a Roman centurion named Cornelius. Jews aren’t supposed to associate with, go in the houses of, or eat with Gentiles such a...

                             Saul Sees The Light Saul is a young, zealous Pharisee, passionate about the Law of Moses and the authoritative oral traditions that now surround it. He sees the folks proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah as a direct threat to everything Judaism stands for. He is passionate about stamping this t...

                             The Ethiopian Eunuch We run into the “Angel of the Lord” this week. The angel of the Lord is not just a regular messenger-type angel. This phrase is used in the Bible to identify the Lord showing up in human form at some particularly important juncture in the history of Israel. Often the angel o...

                             The Story of Stephen The apostles and other leaders such as Stephen continue to be harrassed by the religious leaders in Jerusalem. But things turn ugly now. Apostles are flogged, and Stephen becomes the first believer to be martyred. Stephen’s words at his trial take us on a flyover of the stor...

                             Ananias & Sapphira The religious leaders are very upset when Peter and John heal a lame man in the Temple and tell the people that Jesus is the Messiah and that he’s risen from the dead. They arrest Peter and John, but they can’t really do much more than that because everyone saw the healing...

                             Pentecost The Jerusalem community of 120 believers is filled with joy in the weeks following Jesus’ resurrection. For nearly six weeks, Jesus has walked and talked and eaten with them. Then, suddenly, just a week ago he left! He ascended into heaven, and angels had told them he’d come again the...