Gilbert House Fellowship

Our study of 2 Corinthians concludes this week as Paul counters criticism from "super-apostles" who had apparently wormed their way into the church at Corinth and turned them away from the gospel with impressive public speaking skills. Paul critiques and encourages the Corinthians, and in so doing reminds us that judging one another on our physical gifts -- not just appearance, but speaking abilit...

A COMMON thread through the Proverbs is the wisdom of listening to correction or reproof. As hard as it can be to hear that we need to rethink the way we're doing things, true wisdom comes from listening to guidance. Continue reading →

THE GIFTS of the Spirit and Paul's instructions for their application are just part of this week's study based on Paul's letters to the church at Corinth. We discuss the resurrection of the dead, apologetics based on eyewitness testimony, and the death of the gods as we cover some of the most remarkable chapters in the New Testament. Here is the link  to the podcast Derek mentioned, a discussion b...

WISDOM IS a goddess? There are some who would draw that conclusion after reading Proverbs 8. However, in Hebrew, the word "wisdom" is grammatically feminine although there is nothing physical about the term. Continue reading →

WE CONTINUE our study of the most remarkable books of the Bible, 1 Corinthians. This week, we cover Paul's instructions to the church concerning sexual immorality, lawsuits against fellow believers, the right of those in full-time ministry to earn their living in that calling, marriage and divorce, eating food sacrificed to idols, and taking the Lord's Supper with an unrepentant heart. We also dis...

SOLOMON'S WISDOM is legendary, and to the extent it is recorded in the Bible, it is also divinely inspired. This week, we begin our study of the Book of Proverbs. Continue reading →

PAUL'S SECOND missionary journey takes him through Corinth and Ephesus, where Paul's preaching triggers a riot. Apparently his preaching was drawing people away from the patron goddess of the city, Artemis (the Greek version of the Roman goddess Diana). We also discuss the first six chapters of 1 Corinthians, a letter prompted by a report that the church Paul planted was dividing between those who...

KING SOLOMON and his assumption of the throne in Jerusalem is the focus of our Old Testament study this week. We discuss his request for wisdom and a psalm asking God to bless the new king, and then we read one of the most unusual books of the Bible, the Song of Solomon. Continue reading →

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...