Gilbert House Fellowship

WE CONTINUE our study of Paul's Second Missionary Journey. This week, we discuss the run-in with the citizens of Thessalonica and why they were upset by the gospel. We also talk about why the Bereans were more noble than the Thessalonians and Paul's message on Mars Hill in Athens. Then we turn to Paul's letters to the church at Thessalonica and the prophecies he shares of the Lord's return: Paul's...

THE LONGEST Psalm in the Bible is part of our study this week. Then we look at the first acts of the reign of Solomon--his request for wisdom and the famous Judgment of Solomon. Continue reading →

THE BALANCE between grace and Law is the focus of this week's New Testament study. We discuss the Council of Jerusalem, and then we read Paul's letter to the Galatians, who had apparently come under the influence of Judaizers. Continue reading →

ANOTHER SON, another rebellion. Adonijah, son of Haggith, makes his play for the throne before David's death. Continue reading →

THE HOLY Spirit finally reveals His true purpose for Saul of Tarsus, called Paul for the first time in the readings that we study this week. Then we turn to the epistle of James, a remarkable letter from the half-brother of Jesus. Continue reading →

DAVID PROCLAIMS Solomon his successor and announces the construction of the Temple. Interestingly, the account of Solomon's anointing in 1 Chronicles skips over the rebellion of his half-brother, Adonijah (spoiler!). Continue reading →

OUR JOURNEY through the book of Acts continues with the account of Saul's vision on the road to Damascus and the beginning of the outreach of the church to Gentiles. Continue reading →

AS DAVID approached the end of his life, he focused his efforts on handing power to Solomon and preparing things for the Temple. Today we read several Psalms from this time in David's life and the details of how the priests and musicians were organized. Continue reading →

THE EARLY church grows by leaps and bounds in the days after Pentecost. But things aren't perfect because (surprise!) the apostles were human, too. Continue reading →

David's census gets him in serious trouble with the Lord. Continue reading →

WE CONCLUDE our study of the gospels this week with the accounts of the Resurrection. We discuss the gospel accounts of the encounter at the empty tomb and why the apparent contradictions are not contradictions at all, the significance of the first witnesses to the risen Christ being women, and Peter's sermon on Pentecost, the first post-Resurrection sermon in the history of Christianity.

DAVID NEARS the end of his life as our chronological study of the Old Testament continues. Continue reading →

TODAY WE recount the final hours of Jesus' life on Earth. We discuss the weakness of Pilate, the spiritual forces behind the priests and scribes, and the supernatural effects of the moment that Jesus gave up his spirit.

THE REBELLION of Absalom has been quashed but a new one rises up in its place. Continue reading →

JESUS LEAVES his disciples with some final teachings before the Crucifixion. We discuss the accounts of the Last Supper, his declaration that no one comes to the Father except through him, and Jesus' clear claim of divinity before the Sanhedrin. We also touch on the timing of Jesus' appearance on Earth at the height of the power of the Roman Empire. It is no coincidence that he arrived at the earl...

THE REBELLION of Absalom comes to a quick and bitter end. The wise counsel of David's former adviser, Ahitophel, is disregarded, giving David and his loyal forces much-needed time to regroup and rest. Continue reading →

MATTHEW 24 and 25 are among the most important chapters in the New Testament. Jesus spells out the future days of vengeance on Israel, the days of Tribulation, and the return of the Messiah to reign on Earth. We discuss these chapters and why their intended audience was the Jews (although some scholars disagree, arguing that Matthew 24 and 25 apply to the Church and not to the Jewish people). We c...

THE PSALMS in our study this week reflect the mood of David after his sin in sending Uriah the Hittite to his death. Continue reading →

JESUS IS in Jerusalem and, knowing that his time is short, begins to speak of his return, both directly and in parables. We discuss the parable of the wedding feast and what it means that some at the feast will be bound and cast into outer darkness, the abomination that causes desolation (another "already but not yet" fulfillment of prophecy), Jesus' condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees, and...

DAVID IS at the high point of his kingship, and -- as happens all too often with us mortals -- he decides he isn't satisfied with the blessings that God has bestowed. Continue reading →

OUR NEW Testament study moves to the events of the final week of Jesus' ministry before the Crucifixion. We discuss the Kingdom of God, the prophetic nature of the parable of the ten minas, the salvation of Zacchaeus the tax collector, Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the growing plot to kill Jesus (and Lazarus!), and the significance of the Mount of Olives.

The War of the Beards is the core event of this week's Old Testament study. Continue reading →

MARRIAGE AND divorce can be sensitive topics, so it's no wonder the scribes and Pharisees tried to use them to trip up Jesus. As with every encounter between them, however, Jesus turned the tables and discredited his antagonists. We discuss the request by James and John to sit at Jesus' right hand in his kingdom, the cursing of the fig tree, Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and several well-...

DAVID CONSOLIDATES control over his kingdom, extending his control from the border with Egypt to the Euphrates River. We also study a number of Psalms, including one that is clearly a polemic against Ba'al. Continue reading →

THE PLOT against Jesus moves to a new level as the Sanhedrin responds to accounts of Lazarus being raised from the dead in a curious way: Rather than admitting that Jesus is the Messiah, they decide to have him killed so the Romans won't put them all out of a job! Also: The faith of little children, the stumbling block of wealth, and the failure of those nearest to Jesus to understand his mission.