In this episode, Ric and Mary Joyner of Bible Study Company discuss why they went to Israel. What did they see? And did how Israel and the tour touched them? Ric said: "It is fair to say that we left our hearts in Israel. We see why this country has been through so much as it literally is in the center of the world and where the trade routes went through for the entire known world. Was this an accident? Or does God have plans for lands, peoples and us? Psalm 24: 1 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. 2 For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers. As always we want to line up with His agenda not our own. This is why we study the bible. We are His creation and therefore we can choose to serve Him or ourselves. Which will it be?"
Going to Israel was fraught with anxiety and safety concerns but we discovered that this was a false narrative. We went on tour with Dr. Baruch and Rivka Korman of loveisrael.org. This was a teaching tour. Meaning, that we would include tourist areas but also spend time teaching at specific spots to relate the Bible and God's agenda to the land. It was over the top good. Loveisrael.org is having another tour in 2019. Their website has details. So join us for a time of discussion in this podcast about our trip for part 1. Two pew-sitters who are studying the Bible using principles Dr. Korman taught us and we went to actually see the Holy Land! WOW!
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We are still in Chapter 1 and reading about some very brave Hebrew midwives who were told by Pharaoh to kill the Hebrew children. They disobey Pharaoh. WHOA, drama and tension heat up the story! They are called to provide an explanation to Pharaoh! Have you ever faced a fear that could end your life? The midwives did. But they chose the fear of the Lord over the fear of Pharaoh. They let God handle the outcome. At Biblestudycompany.com we feel it is easy to understand the fear of the Lord. It is not a cowering fear; it is the “fear to offend Him”. In this case, the midwives were protecting God’s Children from a wicked man. When things look the darkest, God is in control and we can learn either to complain, blame or turn and worship God for His future outcome. We want to live a praiseworthy life, so we respond by choosing the fear of the Lord and worship Him with thanksgiving in the midst of our fears and trials. We are also exploring the sufferings of the Hebrews and how they got into slavery.
We finish Exodus Chapter 1 with Pharaoh brutalizing the Hebrews. In addition, we are starting to look at several tools in our approach to scripture. A tool we love to use is immersion. Simply stated, we are immersing ourselves in the lives of the Hebrews. They will react like we would if we were threatened, for example. We are no longer viewing some of the Bible as stories for children, but as real people in extraordinary situations for our instruction. By taking this approach the Bible now comes alive with richness, drama, and depth. Join us and tell us what you think in the blog or on Facebook.
Notice another interesting phenomenon. There were many silent years in the bible and then prophecy is being fulfilled by an amazing series of events converging to an outcome. This outcome was the destruction of Egypt (Genesis 15:13-15) and another was Christ coming.
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Ric and Mary Joyner explore, Exodus 1 Part 2 which discusses the Hebrews entering a crisis of faith and fear called slavery that will last almost 80 years. This is a harsh reality. How did the Hebrews go from high stature in Egypt under Joseph to being brutalized? What happened? The story may surprise you, which the Bible so often does, that there are patterns and principles that affect us today! Join us for this exciting study of a God who keeps promises and discover how to live a praiseworthy life to God. This is His creation and we are His servants! He is in control! Glory to God!
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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!