Studying “The Good Samaritan”

/ Holly Stoner / Leave a comment

Let’s look at this parable told by Jesus today. What was he saying? How can we apply this? What is the deeper meaning, if there is one? Read Luke 10:25-37. This parable starts out with a man described as being an expert in the law (religious law this would mean) asking Jesus what he must do to obtain eternal life. Jesus asked this man to tell him what the law says and the man replied with,“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus tells him that he is correct. But then the man asks Jesus to tell him who a “neighbor” is. The motive behind these questions is not clear in the text but we see it read, “to justify himself” which could indicate selfish reasons. Jesus answered him with a parable about a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and encountered robbers who robbed him, beat him and left him for dead.

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Studying “The Rich Man”

/ Holly Stoner / Leave a comment

Luke 16:19-31 Read the passage

This passage of scripture Jesus is telling the parable of the rich man and a man named Lazarus (this is not the Lazarus he rose from the dead). This Lazarus is described as a poor man covered with sores, compared to the rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen (purple symbolized royalty or wealth). Both men died in this parable but Lazarus was said to have gone to Abraham’s side, a place of comfort, while the rich man went to Hades, a place of torment. So why did these 2 men go to different places and what are these 2 different places? What was the reason Jesus told this parable?

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What is Worship?

/ Holly Stoner / Leave a comment

You have gotten up early, you got dressed, you drove the distance, even if it was snowing, and you walked into the building. You were either ushered to a seat or found your own. The musicians are on the stage and than the worship leader asks you to stand for worship. This is probably what 80 percent of Christians today think worship is. To worship for most who attend church means singing, whether that is classic hymns or more modern contemporary tunes. But is that really what worship is or can it be something else? What does it mean to worship? Who are we worshipping? Is there a rule or command that tells us how? Does it matter if it’s public or private? Is there a scripture about worship?

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Digging Deeper – Calvary

/ Holly Stoner / 1 Comment
1–2 minutes

When you read the account of Jesus’ death on the cross at Calvary (Golgotha), are you seeing the whole picture? Many people don’t. They see one thing happen there and that one thing is Jesus’ death, but is there more? What about his death? So many people can tell you he died there but they really don’t know the significance or anything outside the fact that he died hanging on a cross. What about the other 2 men who were also there hanging to their deaths? Do they have any significance? It wasn’t an accident or just by chance that they were there, I can tell you that. God always has a plan. Nothing that is done is by accident or just by chance because God is in control of all things and everything is significant. Do we see it? Do we make this scene about us? Is it? What does it say about God? Let’s look at it together. First you need to read the scripture so you know what is being discussed. You can read the account in several places and we are only focusing on the day of the crucifixion but please read the events leading up to it and after (his burial and resurrection). I suggest reading all 4 passages.

  • Matthew 27:32-56
  • Mark 15:20-41
  • Luke 23:32-49
  • John 19:16-37
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Digging deeper – The Fiery Furnace

/ Holly Stoner
1–2 minutes

This will be a multiple part study. That said, in my personal study and growth I want to see more than what I’ve heard for most of my life growing up in church and attending Sunday school. What do I mean? Well if you’ve spent any amount time growing up in Sunday school you no doubt have heard all the tales from the Bible and probably have missed their deeper meanings. I’m not just talking about as a child either. I know many churches use curriculums and I’ve been a teacher myself so I know what Bible stories are being told and what we as teachers are told to convey about them to the students. It never felt quite right, but not quite wrong either. When I began to homeschool my own children my perspective changed a lot as I was digging deeper into what I was reading in preparation to teach my kids. This preparation became a meaningful study of the scripture for me and opportunity to discuss with my own children at home. It also meant that I had to correct things they were hearing at church or that I had to go deeper to explain what God’s word was actually saying. If you don’t study the Bible at home with your children, I’d encourage you to do so. Teaching kids doesn’t mean you have to water down what the Bible says either. Just teach them the truth. In the end this will help them as they grow up to have a better and deeper understanding of the scripture and their relationship with Christ. There is equally no reason to make things too simple, losing the actual meaning, for adults. Just speak the truth. The Holy Spirit will take it from there. You can’t change hearts, only he can.

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