Is Exodus a symbol of our walk with Christ? Ric and Mary Joyner of Biblestudycompany.com start our Exodus study asking God questions. What if we are not trained in bible study will You still speak to us? Why did the Hebrews go into slavery? How do we respond to God?
Let’s take a different approach to the bible. What if we change our focus to finding out what God’s agenda is for our lives? Are we not in a relationship with Him? The intimacy we have with people in our lives is in direct proportion to the time and knowledge of the person. The disciples had a close relationship with the Lord. We are called to be disciples so we can carry out His Will. And now we are going to open our bible study with Exodus Chapter 1 discussing the methods and principles we learned from Dr. Baruch Korman of Loveisrael.org. Come join us on discovering intimacy with our Creator and how to respond.
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What is the Kingdom of God? How do we find it? How should we respond? Dr. Baruch of Loveisrael.org and Ric Joyner of Biblestudycompany.com are discussing this very topic on the latest Podcast for Pew-sitters. Coming to an understanding of the Kingdom of God is vitally important to us as believers. Christ came as a King and He said to Pilate, just before the crucifixion for our sins, that “My Kingdom is not of this world….” We can read a scripture and take the meaning for granted. At Loveisrael and Biblestudycompany, our mission is read scripture to find God’s agenda as our Creator. Thus, everything in this world is made by Him and for His glory. We want to see His plan and will for our lives so that we too can live a praiseworthy life to God. Why should we seek to find the Kingdom of God? Come with us as we ask these questions. Don’t forget to dialogue with us on our blog.
See full post & commentsRic and Mary Joyner discuss Exodus 25 and 26 where God commands Moses several times to follow the pattern. Ex:25:40 "See that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain." (NASB) The symbolism in this verse is plentiful, and you should take the time to dig into the symbols using biblestudycompany tools. But we see two things God does when building the tabernacle. He speaks to us from Heaven and then asks us to follow the pattern carefully. What is the pattern? We discuss what this pattern is during the podcast. Please join us. In fact, the reason for this podcast is to set the stage for studying Exodus with two pew-sitters; Ric and Mary. We need to understand that studying scripture is a pattern given to us from Heaven. Ultimately Christ is the pattern for us to follow. But we begin the pattern with God speaking to us, and we need to have hearts willing to implement His truth in our lives. Look at Exodus 3 and God moving to draw Moses. He was unwilling to take on the role God gave him at the burning bush, but now in Exodus 25-26, we see Moses being careful to follow the pattern. Listen to the podcast and see what you think. Can we pay close attention to what God says because we were all made to serve Him? We are His creation. Many scriptures verify this truth. Can we become skillful workmen and women in studying the bible? Is our heart willing? Can we be honest enough to admit we might not want the task? Or are unsure of ourselves? What if we have tried and got nothing out of the bible? Or there is too much to learn? Whatever the reason for not studying, will you join us and be willing? Ask the Lord to help you, we did, and we are changed in unexpected ways.
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Erin and Pete Janus are new to bible study and are coming into the podcast to learn. Grab your favorite beverage and open-up biblestudycompany.com and study with us.
Exodus is a key book to start our study of the bible using Bible Study Company tools. It shows the Hebrews believing in the Passover lamb and salvation from Egypt slavery and bondage. We learn that Egypt is the world system ruled by a Pharaoh who is bent on killing the Hebrews, stealing their labor and enslaving them harshly. This sounds like the "god of this world (the devil)" and what we face daily. Even if we ask Christ into our hearts, we will go into the wilderness after believing in the Messiah as the Passover lamb. Or will we? It was a choice to leave Egypt because God made the way and it is a choice for us to leave the world system. Exodus is symbolic in God's plan for us and what happens after we believe in the Passover Lamb. Christ is our Passover lamb. God is a promise keeping God.
We will discover topics like: Why send the Hebrews into the wilderness? How bad IS the wilderness? How will we survive? What does Egypt mean? Some important metaphors develop: Souls, beit or house, Egypt, Wilderness, tent, complaining, manna etc. and how it helps us see God's agenda in our modern lives. Come join us as we explore how to study the bible and look for ways we can find God's agenda and then choose to live a praiseworthy life to Him. His Agenda not ours.
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Bible Study Basics for Pew Sitters Part 2 is a "redux" with less "scholarly" content. We think you will enjoy the nuts and bolts of bible study and take the "fear" or mystery out of study. We are to be disciples of Christ and thus He is our Teacher. If we turn toward Him and ask Him for His agenda we open a whole new world where the bible invades our life. Trials and stresses all now make sense. Why? Because He is working to show us what is in us so we can grow for His purposes and to be used by Him. Come join Ric Joyner and Dr. Baruch Korman of Loveisrael.org discuss the basics of bible study for Pew-Sitters.
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Most of us are what we at Biblestudycompany.com call "pew-sitters". We are not professionals at studying scripture. Good news. The disciples weren't either. Did you know that when Christ sent us the Holy Spirit, He will teach us? Do you have to be an ancient languages expert? No! Do you need advanced degrees to study the bible? No! Biblestudycompany.com can research the languages and definitions and does all that for you with a click of a button or finger push. Join Ric Joyner interviewing Dr. Korman of Loveisrael.org to learn how to study the Bible and what methods work well. It takes a willing heart praying for the Holy Spirit to open up the Word to us. The Holy Spirit is sent to teach us and bring order into our lives through God's Word. Let's shift our focus from knowledge about the Bible to knowledge about Him and His agenda for our lives. Lord, we pray for your will to come. Come follow Jesus by studying His word!
We join Erin and Peter Janus as they explain how God's Presence came into their lives after asking Christ to prove if He is the One True God. What happened next is extraordinary! Their conversion and ensuing trials, lead them to walk away from their life of "all paths" and run to a faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Erin and Pete realized that God's presence was so real that they could be making an ETERNAL mistake by staying with their all paths faith. Will you? We each have a choice. A journey awaits you!
We have included resources below if you want to pursue more of a relationship with God and the truth.
Please share with others and if you have taken the challenge please share with us. To watch Erin and Pete's baptism here is the link.
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If you are ready to make a decision or explore further, here are some suggested prayers.
"Dear God, please show me whether Christ is the Son of God and I am open to searching for the truth, wherever that leads."
Dear Heavenly Father, (Matt. 6:9)
I want a relationship with You...not a religion. I come to You and open my heart. (John 3:16) I will be honest and sincere with You. (John 4)
I am running my life and need Your help. (Matt. 6:10)
I was made in Your image and I won't be happy until I am in a relationship with you. (Gen. 3)
Most of my behavior does not please You. (Romans 3:23, Exodus 20)
I know I am a sinner, so please forgive my sins because Jesus Christ, Your Son, came to die for me. (John 3:16) I believe Jesus Christ is my savior and salvation is a free gift! It cannot be earned through good works. (Eph. 2:8) You did this so that I can be in relationship with You on earth and for all eternity. (Romans 10:9-13)
And, I will forgive those who have sinned or hurt me too, since you have forgiven me. Take away any bitterness or resentment I carry. (Matt. 6:13-14)
Please show me and teach me how to live a praiseworthy life on earth to You. (Matt. 6:33, Acts 9 and 10)
I know You love me Father, and I want to love You as well and that you have a purpose and plan for my life.
Please teach me to pray. (Matt. 6:9)
Thank you, God for saving me to Yourself (Ex. 19:1-8) and making me a new person! (2 Cor. 5:17)
In Jesus name I pray, Amen!
Please let us know if you prayed this prayer.
Learn to grow at www.biblestudycompany.com
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Growing up in church doesn’t guarantee a relationship with Christ. Here is a story of Erin and Pete Janus who grew up in Christian homes but found religion versus a relationship. Religion can be dry and not satisfying. So they sought after a more "universal" path which took them on a search that led them to many gods and religious experiences. Occult practices, positive thinking projection and the study of other eastern thought showed them that it led not to "enlightenment" but darkness. A simple question to God, that if He was real and that if Christ was the Son of God, brought a new and fresh revelation of who Christ really is. The awareness of God’s presence brought excitement, and their realization that "all paths actually led away from the True God and His Son Jesus Christ". Listen to Podcast 1 to see the build up to the revelation, how Erin challenged God and how He responded to her sincere prayer and the startling changes that they both experienced. Praying Christian parents can have hope for their adult children.
In the Gospel of John 14:1-11 Christ said: "I am the Way the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father but through me..."
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Overview: Dependence on God versus people, things or even churches is an interesting concept, but could anything other than dependence on God be idolatry? WOW! That’s a scary thought. Let’s take a look at how the Bible fits into churches and how we, the pew sitters, fit into a relationship with God!
This podcast sets the stage for our future Bible Study of Exodus.
Your hosts, Ric and Mary Joyner of Bible Study Company take you on a journey of discovery. Can we depend solely on God? What does that mean? What about people and churches? Churches can wound people. People wound people. Is that something God wants for His people? We are studying Scripture to find out what pleases God and act on that. We aren’t looking for formulas. Performance and formula-driven people fill churches and companies. Is God looking for performers? We are all broken pottery. By spending time with the Lord, we get filled to the brim and then we “leak” out to the world around us. Ric tends toward formulas and performance for approval and Mary is grounded in the knowledge that she is loved because she is part of her organic family. You are part of God’s organic family! He is looking for a relationship with us. Grab your favorite cup of “joe,” or your favorite beverage. We can travel together because God is not a formula! He is a deep relationship. Let us know what you think!
Thank you and please provide feedback!
Ric and Mary Joyner
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