DAILY, WEEKEND, AND HOLIDAY INTERNET EVANGELIZE TO THE WORLD MINISTRY

Pan flute ‎ The figurine shows the Greek god Pan with the flute that is his trademark. In the Greek-Italian area, this type of flute is known since 6th/5th century BCE. It is also played in Palestine since the 1st century BCE. The Bible does not mention the pan flute .

Kefar Kenna Clay wedding jars

Standing genes from Ashurnasirpal II palace

The Rage of the Nazarenes ‎That first sermon of Jesus to His own townfolk did not close as winningly as it began. Jesus knew the heart of these people, knew their selfish desire to profit by His greatness. So He warned them that His miraculous powers were not to be exerted to them. He would neither bring them into worldly honor nor cure their sick. At this, they rose against Him in tumultuous anger. They hustled Him out from the synagogue. Then, their wrath increasing with its expression, they haled Him to the top of a cliff beyond the town, meaning to cast Him from the edge and slay Him. “But he passing through the midst of them went his way.” ‎Thus the first persecution which broke out openly against the Christ was in His own native town. It was an example of the way other men were to rage against Him when He crossed their evil desires. As Jesus sadly said to the Nazarenes in His sermon, “No prophet is accepted in his own country.”

The Significance of the Burning Bush Exodus 3:2 Excerpt The burning bush had a threefold significance. It was a picture of God ( Deut. 33:16 ), for it revealed His glory and power, yet it was not consumed. Moses needed to be reminded of the glory and power of God, for he was about to undertake an impossible task. Second, the bush symbolized Israel going through the fire of affliction, but not consumed. How often nations have tried to exterminate the Jews, yet have failed! Finally, the bush illustrated Moses—a humble shepherd, who with God’s help would become a fire that could not be put out! Note that Moses was brought to the place where he bowed before God and adored Him in wonder, for this is the true beginning of Christian service. Servants who know how to take off their shoes in humility can be used of God to walk in power. Later we see that before God called Isaiah, He revealed His glory ( Isa. 6 ). The memory of the burning bush must have encouraged Moses during many a trying mi...

Foundational Truth Hebrews 6:1–2 Excerpt What are the foundation truths on which we can rely? • Repentance from dead works. Coming to Christ we realize that our works had nothing to do with salvation or the life Jesus offers. We turn away from a “works righteousness” in the Christian life as well. • Faith in God. Trust in God is the key to salvation. That transaction of saving faith is complete. • Instruction about baptisms. In the early church, careful instruction preceded baptism. It is likely this refers to the basic doctrines taught and accepted before baptism took place. • Laying on of hands. This may refer to church discipline (leaders were appointed with the laying on of hands) or perhaps to teaching about the Holy Spirit (whose entry into the believer was so symbolized). • The Resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. These doctrines summarize the believer’s hope. More Richards, Larry, and Lawrence O. Richards. The Teacher’s Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 19...

Her Firstborn Luke 2:7 Excerpt The reference to Jesus as the “firstborn” does not preclude Mary’s and Joseph’s later having had children as “only” ( monogenēs ) would, but it need not require the birth of other children either. An ancient grave inscription that speaks of the deceased as having died while giving birth to her “firstborn” son proves this (cf. also 2 Esdra 6:58; Pss. Sol.13:9; 18:4 ). In light of the later references to the “brothers and sisters of Jesus” ( Luke 8:19–21; Acts 1:14; cf. Mark 6:3; etc .), Luke probably used “firstborn” instead of monogenēs because he knew of other sons. Luke clearly did not want to indicate that Jesus was Mary’s only son, or else he would have used monogenēs. In addition Matt 1:25 strongly implies that Joseph and Mary lived in a normal marital relationship after Jesus’ birth. This reference to Mary’s firstborn son prepares the reader for Luke 2:22–24 . Stein, Robert H. Luke. Vol. 24. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992. Pr...

June 30: By Your Example Esther 8:1–10:3; 3 John 5–15; Psalm 118:17–29 By nature, we are creatures of imitation. Children mimic the traits of their parents, and even in later life we are influenced by the habits of our friends. People naturally imitate, even if they don’t realize it or intend to. This is one reason why “lead by example” is such a powerful principle. It’s also why leaders can change the direction of a whole community—for better or worse ( Jas 3:1 ). Diotrephes, an ambitious member of the early church who misused his power, was unwilling to heed the advice of John and others who reprimanded him. In his letter to Gaius, a church leader known for his faithfulness and love, John gives this advice regarding Diotrephes: “Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God” ( 3 John 11 ). Throughout his letters, John emphasizes that people’s actions reflect their heart. Diotrephes’ actio...

Morning, June 30      Go To Evening Reading          “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them.”          —John 17:22 Behold the superlative liberality of the Lord Jesus, for he hath given us his all. Although a tithe of his possessions would have made a universe of angels rich beyond all thought, yet was he not content until he had given us all that he had. It would have been surprising grace if he had allowed us to eat the crumbs of his bounty beneath the table of his mercy; but he will do nothing by halves, he makes us sit with him and share the feast. Had he given us some small pension from his royal coffers, we should have had cause to love him eternally; but no, he will have his bride as rich as himself, and he will not have a glory or a grace in which she shall not share. He has not been content with less than making us joint-heirs with himself, so that we might have equal possessions. He ha...

June 30th Do it now Agree with thine adversary quickly. Matthew 5:25 . Jesus Christ is laying down this principle—Do what you know you must do, now, and do it quickly; if you do not, the inevitable process will begin to work and you will have to pay to the last farthing in pain and agony and distress. God’s laws are unalterable; there is no escape from them. The teaching of Jesus goes straight to the way we are made up. To see that my adversary gives me my rights is natural; but Jesus says that it is a matter of eternal and imperative importance to me that I pay my adversary what I owe him. From our Lord’s standpoint, it does not matter whether I am defrauded or not; what does matter is that I do not defraud. Am I insisting on my rights, or am I paying what I owe from Jesus Christ’s standpoint? Do the thing quickly, bring yourself to judgment now. In moral and spiritual matters, you must do it at once; if you do not, the inexorable process will begin to work. God i...

June 30   Let us not sleep, as do others         1 Thess. 5:6 There are many ways of promoting Christian wakefulness. Among the rest, let me strongly advise Christians to converse together concerning the ways of the Lord. Christian and Hopeful, as they journeyed toward the Celestial City, said to themselves: “To prevent drowsiness in this place, let us fall into good discourse.” Christians who isolate themselves and walk alone are very liable to grow drowsy. Hold Christian company, and you will be kept wakeful by it, and refreshed and encouraged to make quicker progress on the road to Heaven. toSpurgeon Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour. Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

June 30   Let us not sleep, as do others         1 Thess. 5:6 There are many ways of promoting Christian wakefulness. Among the rest, let me strongly advise Christians to converse together concerning the ways of the Lord. Christian and Hopeful, as they journeyed toward the Celestial City, said to themselves: “To prevent drowsiness in this place, let us fall into good discourse.” Christians who isolate themselves and walk alone are very liable to grow drowsy. Hold Christian company, and you will be kept wakeful by it, and refreshed and encouraged to make quicker progress on the road to Heaven. toSpurgeon Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour. Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

The Consolation of Israel Luke 2:25 Excerpt This refers to the consolation that would be brought about by the inauguration of the messianic age. Compare Luke 2:26 , where this consolation is described as “seeing the Lord’s Christ” ( cf . also 1:54, 68–75 ). For Luke, this referred not to the fulfillment of Jewish political hopes involving deliverance from their enemies and restoration of David’s throne but rather to the salvation Jesus brought. This is clear when one compares 2:30 with such verses as 19:10 . See the discussion at 1:69 . Like other devout model believers (Anna, 2:38 ; Joseph of Arimathea, 23:51 ; cf . also 12:36 ; Acts 24:15), Simeon was looking forward to Israel’s consolation ( 2:25 ), i.e., Jerusalem’s redemption ( 2:38 ); the coming of God’s kingdom ( 23:51 ); the Master’s return ( 12:36 ); the resurrection of the just and the unjust ( Acts 24:15 ). Stein, Robert H. Luke. Vol. 24. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992. Print. The New American Comment...

Woe to Me! Isaiah 6:5 Excerpt This vision of God’s majesty, holiness, and glory made Isaiah realize that he was a sinner. When Ezekiel saw God’s glory he too responded with humility. ( Cf . the responses of Job, Job 42:5-6; Peter, Luke 5:8; and the Apostle John, Rev. 1:17 .) Isaiah had pronounced woes (threats of judgment) on the nation ( Isa. 5:8-23 ), but now by saying Woe to me!( cf . 24:16 ) he realized he was subject to judgment. This was because he was unclean. When seen next to the purity of God’s holiness, the impurity of human sin is all the more evident. The prophet’s unclean lips probably symbolized his attitudes and actions as well as his words, for a person’s words reflect his thinking and relate to his actions. Interestingly Isaiah identified with his people who also were sinful (a people of unclean lips). Martin, John A. “Isaiah.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures . Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 1. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 198...

“Spoken by the Prophets” Excerpt The first line is from Isa. 62:11 , the rest from Zech. 9:9 . John ( 12:14f .) makes it clear that Jesus did not quote the passage himself. In Matthew, it is not so plain, but probably it is his own comment about the incident. It is not Christ’s intention to fulfil the prophecy, simply that his conduct did fulfil it. More Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament . Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933. Print.

Words Not Heard By Human Ear Excerpt Both by day and by night, God’s creation is speaking ( v. 2 ), but this speech is not heard with the human ear. Verse 3 should read, “There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard” ( NIV ). We hear the voice of God in creation by seeing His wisdom and power. Certainly, so complex an entity as our universe (and the universes beyond our own universe) demands a Creator and Sustainer. To believe that the universe evolved out of nothing and arranged itself in this orderly manner is folly. Wiersbe, Warren W. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament . Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1993. Print.

No Vain Repetitions Excerpt Used of stammerers who repeat the words, then mere babbling or chattering, empty repetition. The etymology is uncertain, but it is probably onomatopoetic like “babble.” The worshippers of Baal on Mount Carmel ( I Kings 8:26 ) and of Diana in the amphitheatre at Ephesus who yelled for two hours ( Acts 19:34 ) are examples. The Mohammedans may also be cited who seem to think that they “will be heard for their much speaking” ( ἐν τῃ πολυλογιᾳ [ en tēi polulogiāi ]). Vincent adds “and the Romanists with their paternosters and avast.” The Syriac Sinaitic has it: “Do not be saying idle things.” Certainly, Jesus does not mean to condemn all repetition in prayer since he himself prayed three times in Gethsemane “saying the same words again” (Matt. 26:44). “As the Gentiles do,” says Jesus. “The Pagans thought that by endless repetitions and many words they would inform their gods as to their needs and weary them ( ‘fatigare deos’ ) into granting their requests” (Bru...

The Nature of Christ Philippians 2:6 Excerpt The word translated nature ( morphē ) in verses 6 and 7 is a crucial term in this passage. This word (trans. “form” in the KJV and NASB ) stresses the inner essence or reality of that with which it is associated ( cf . Mark16:12 ). Christ Jesus, Paul said, is of the very essence (morphē) of God, and in His incarnation, He embraced perfect humanity. His complete and absolute deity is here carefully stressed by the apostle. The Savior’s claim to deity infuriated the Jewish leaders ( John 5:18 ) and caused them to accuse Him of blasphemy ( John 10:33 ). Though possessing full deity ( John 1:14; Col. 2:9 ), Christ did not consider His equality with God ( Phil. 2:6 ) as something to be grasped or held onto. In other words, Christ did not hesitate to set aside His self-willed use of deity when He became a man. As God, He had all the rights of deity, and yet during His incarnate state He surrendered His right to manifest Himself visibly as the Go...

Praying to His Father Excerpt As Jesus turns to address the Father his speech implies that he is taken up into the eternal presence (cf. Brown 1970:747). He speaks as if his work were already complete ( for example , v. 4 ). Indeed, he even says, “I am no longer in this world” ( v. 11 , completely obscured in the NIV ). But right after that he says, I say these things while I am still in the world( v. 13 ). He is right there with his disciples just before his death, but he is praying from the realm of eternity. Just as the book of Revelation reveals from a heavenly perspective the certainty of God’s unfolding will, so this prayer of Jesus shows that he is completely confident in the outworking of that will. Whitacre, Rodney A. John. Vol. 4. Downers G

June 29: Behind the Scenes Esther 3:1–7:10; 3 John 1:1–4; Psalm 117:1–118:16 Sometimes life can look so bleak that it seems as if all hope is gone. This was the situation for Esther and Mordecai: “Letters were sent by couriers to all the provinces of the king to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women, and children” ( Esther 3:13 ). Genocide was upon Esther, Mordecai, and their people, and it seemed that little could be done. Yet God unexpectedly used Esther to do His work and made Mordecai a hero for thwarting the enemies’ plan to destroy God’s people ( Esther 5–7 ). As a result, the people who wanted to kill Mordecai ended up dead ( Esther 7:7–10 ). But these events depicted more than poetic justice; they provide an example of hope in the midst of adversity. This story shows that God is at work even when we don’t realize He is there—when even prayer feels like a waste of energy. While God is not a “character” in the book of Esther, His pr...

Morning, June 29                                         Go To Evening Reading          “Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”           —1 Thessalonians 4:14 Let us not imagine that the soul sleeps in insensibility. “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise,” is the whisper of Christ to every dying saint. They “sleep in Jesus,” but their souls are before the throne of God, praising him day and night in his temple, singing hallelujahs to him who washed them from their sins in his blood. The body sleeps in its lonely bed of earth, beneath the coverlet of grass. But what is this sleep? The idea connected with sleep is “rest,” and that is the thought which the Spirit of God would convey to us. Sleep makes each night a Sabbath for the day. Sleep shuts fast the door of the soul, and bids all intruders tarry for ...

June 29th Direction of discipline And if thy right hand offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. Matthew 5:30. Jesus did not say that everyone must cut off the right hand, but—‘If your right hand offends you in your walk with Me, cut it off.’ There are many things that are perfectly legitimate, but if you are going to concentrate on God you cannot do them. Your right hand is one of the best things you have, but Jesus says if it hinders you in following His precepts, cut it off. This line of discipline is the sternest one that ever struck mankind. When God alters a man by regeneration, the characteristic of the life to begin with is that it is maimed. There are a hundred and one things you dare not do, things that to you and in the eyes of the world that know's you are as your right hand and your eye, and the unspiritual person says—‘Wha...

June 29   Sleep on now, and take your rest         Mark 14:41 Never did that sacred opportunity to watch with Christ return to His disciples. Lost then, it was lost forever. And now when Jesus is still beholding the travail of His soul in the redemption of the world if you fail to be with Him watching for souls as they that must give account, remember that the opportunity will never return. “Watch, therefore,” says your Lord, “lest coming suddenly, he may find you sleeping.” A. J. Gordon Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour. Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

Loom ‎Spinning wool and weaving it into textiles belonged to the tasks done by women. ‎Exod 28:32; 35:35; 39:27; Lev 19:19; Judg 16:13; 1 Sam 17:7; 2 Sam 21:19; Luke 12:27; John 19:23

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

Near-Eastern plane tree ‎The Near-Eastern plane ( Platanus orientalis ) grows mainly in northern Palestine in ravines where the streams have water during the entire year. Planes can reach a height up to 20 m. ‎Gen 30:37; Ezek 31:8; Sirach 24:14

Flow Chart Showing the Process of Olive Oil Extraction OLIVE CULTIVATION IN ANCIENT ISRAEL The cultivation of olive trees, the production of olive oil, and its transshipment were significant components of the economy of the Levant from at least the Chalcolithic period, as attested to by olive pits found in Chalcolithic sites (e.g. at Teleilat el-Ghassul), with the olive tree having been cultivated already in the Neolithic period, as witnessed to by the recovery of olive stones from the excavations in Jericho in Natufian and PPNB contexts. At most Palestinian sites, however, olive wood is not found in large quantities until the Early Bronze Age when large-scale cultivation of the olive tree appears to have coincided with the onset of urbanization (Frankel, 1997:179). Archaeological investigations have provided considerable evidence concerning the abundance of olives in ancient Israel. Olive stones have been found in numerous sites, but since olives were transported fr...

Be Hospitable Excerpt Hospitality ( philazenos , “love of strangers”) is a telltale virtue of the people of God. Paul told the Roman church to “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality” ( Romans 12:13 ). “Practice” means “pursue” or “chase” and sometimes means “strenuous pursuit.” Christians and especially leaders are not simply to wait for opportunities for hospitality but are to pursue them. They are to do it “without grumbling,” as Peter says ( 1 Peter 4:9 ). Today’s elder must be a joyous host. He must invite people to his table. His home must be open. Hospitality is all over the New Testament. And the writer of Hebrews offers an enchanting motivation: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it” ( 13:2 ). These are God’s thoughts on hospitality! Hughes, R. Kent, and Bryan Chapell. 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus : To Guard the Deposit. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000. Print. Preaching the Word.

Torah in Proverbs Proverbs 3:1 Excerpt Proverbs knows of Torah as an advice of a parent ( 1:8; 3:1) or a sage ( 13:14 ). Torah is paralleled to reproof ( 1:8 ), command ( 3:1 ), and a good lesson ( 4:2 ). Although many of the occurrences of Torah here are in the sense of general wisdom, the specific use of Torah as religious instruction appears also ( 28:9; 29:18 ). Achtemeier, Paul J., Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature. Harper’s Bible dictionary 1985 : 1084. Print.

Darkness Psalm 139:11–12 Excerpt Imagery based on darkness is especially prominent in the poetic books where it represents destruction, death, and the underworld ( Isa. 5:30;47:5; Ps. 143:3; Job 17:13; cf. Mark 15:33 ) in a manner similar to that known in other ancient Near Eastern cultures. Conceived as a curse or punishment ( Deut. 28:29; Ps. 35:6 ), darkness characterizes the coming Day of the Lord ( Joel 2:2; Amos 5:18 ). God’s appearance is often accompanied by darkness ( 1 Kings 8:12 ), which, according to Gen. 1:2 , prevailed prior to creation, although Isa. 45:7 and Ps. 104:20 assert that it was created by God. The Dead Sea Scrolls contrast light and darkness as representing the forces of good and evil, both metaphysically and psychologically; a similar view has been noted in the Gospel of John. Achtemeier, Paul J., Harper & Row and Society of Biblical Literature. Harper’s Bible dictionary 1985 : 207. Print.

June 28: Meet and Greet Esther 1:1–2:23; 2 John 7–13; Psalm 116:1–19 “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not speak a greeting to him, because the one who speaks a greeting to him shares in his evil deeds” ( 2 John 9–11 ). This passage is sometimes used as support for forming exclusive communities—ones that don’t interact with people who don’t believe in the gospel or who have a different faith. Based on this passage, some believe that we as Christians are not permitted to interact with nonbelievers. Is that what John is really teaching? John issued this warning during a time when false teachers were spreading confusing doctrines about Christ. He exhorted believers to “test the spirits” to see if these teachers were actually from God ( 1 John 4:1 ). They would know if these teachers were from God if they confessed the true message of Jesus Christ—specifically that He had come in the flesh and was from God ( 1 Jo...

June 28th Apprehended by God If that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended. Phil. 3:12. Never choose to be a worker; but when once God has put His call on you, woe be to you if you turn to the right hand or to the left. We are not here to work for God because we have chosen to do so, but because God has apprehended us. There is never any thought of—‘Oh well, I am not fitted for this.’ What you are to preach is determined by God, not by your own natural inclinations. Keep your soul steadfastly related to God, and remember that you are called not to bear testimony only, but to preach the gospel. Every Christian must testify, but when it comes to the call to preach, there must be the agonizing grip of God’s hand on you. Your life is in the grip of God for that one thing. How many of us are held like that? Never water down the word of God; preach it in its undiluted sternness. There must be unflinching loyalty to the word of God; but when you come to pers...

June 28   Be ye, therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect         Matt 5:48 Seeking the aid of the Holy Spirit, let us aim at perfection. Let every day see some sin crucified, some battle fought, some good done, some victory won; let every fall be followed by a rise, and every step gained become, not a resting-place, but a new starting-point for further and higher progress. Guthrie Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour. Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

Morning, June 28                                         Go To Evening Reading          “Looking unto Jesus.”           —Hebrews 12:2 It is ever the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan’s work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, “Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of his children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus.” All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: he tells us that we are nothing, but that “Christ is all in all.” Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that s...

Marriage Ceremony, Cairo ‎We have remained in Egypt with the holy family long enough not simply to give representations of the tombs and monuments they saw nearly two thousand years ago, but also to give pictures and descriptions of customs and ceremonies and structures which have grown out of the civilization in the midst of which they spent the time of the flight. The Egyptian girl is generally married in her twelfth or thirteenth, and sometimes as early as her tenth year. Before the wedding, the bride is conducted in gala attire, and with great ceremony to the bath. The procession is called “Zeffet et Hammam.” Musicians with hautboys and drums head the procession. Pairs of married friends and relatives of the bride follow, and after these come a number of young girls. The bride is usually enveloped from head to foot in a cashmere shawl. On the head, she wears a small cap or crown of pasteboard. The procession is followed by another body of musicians. Hideous shrieks of jo...

The first covenant Excerpt God placed two special trees in the middle of the Garden: the Tree of Life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ( Gen. 2:9 , 17 ; 3:3 , 22 , 24 ). Eating from the tree of life would confer immortality ( v. 22 ). Eating from the second tree would confer an experiential knowledge of good and evil, but it would also bring death ( 2:17 ). Since they had never experienced evil, Adam and Eve were like innocent children ( Deut. 1:39 ; Isa. 7:15–16 ). When they disobeyed God, they became like Him in being able to discriminate between good and evil; but they became unlike Him in that they lost their sinlessness and eventually died. But why did God have to test Adam and Eve? There may be many answers to that question, but one thing is sure: God wanted humans to love and obey Him freely and willingly and not because they were programmed like robots who had to obey. Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Basic. Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub., 1998. Print. “Be” Comme...

Beware of the World Excerpt John begins this verse by issuing the command that the believer is not to love the world or anything in the world. Initially, this command sounds strange given the fact that John 3:16 says clearly and beautifully that God loves the world and the fact that 1 John 2:2 says the Son made atonement for the sins of the world. What is the difference? The difference is found in the way John uses the term kosmos in each instance. Contextual considerations are crucial. In these epistles and the Gospel, John employs this term in three distinct and basic ways: (1) the created universe ( 3:17 ; 4:17 ; John 1:10 ); (2) the world of human persons ( John 3:16 ; 1 John 2:2 ); and (3) an evil organized earthly system controlled by the power of the evil one that has aligned itself against God and his kingdom ( 4:3–5 ; 5:19 ; John 16:11 ). In these verses , John uses the third meaning. One should note that John is not advocating an ontological dualism or a dualistic cosmol...

The Sea of Galilee ‎This sea is called the Sea of Galilee because it is embraced in the province by that name. It is called the Sea of Tiberias because this is the largest city on its shores. It is called the Sea of Gennesaret because of the fertile plain which skirts its western shore. Lamartine, says when he first looked down upon this lake: “I had come to look on the very shores, on the very waves which had borne Him, on the hills on which He had sat, on the stones on which He had rested His head. He had a hundred times walked on that beach which I now trod. With reverential humility, His feet had trod the dust which was now under my feet. He sailed in the banks of the fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. He walked on its waves, stretching His hands to the apostles.” Here lies before us the scene of so many of our Savior’s miracles and teachings. In the times when Christ was here, the cities were very numerous. According to Josephus, the smallest of them contained more than f...

The Temple in Samaria John 4:20–25 Excerpt According to the Samaritan Pentateuch, which to Samaritans was the only authoritative text, the mountain is the site of Joshua’s altar ( Deut. 27:4 ; JB mg.; MT “Mount Ebal”). The Samaritans also held Gerizim to be the mountain on which God commanded Abram to sacrifice his son Isaac, reading Moreh for Moriah ( Gen. 22:2 ; cf . Gen. 12:6 ). Samaritan tradition also maintains that the “sanctuary of the Lord” of Josh. 24:26 was a temple on Mt. Gerizim. Probably owing to the shift of sacred activity to Jerusalem under King David, and perhaps because of efforts on the part of Judean writers to detract from the importance of northern sites, the mountain is not mentioned again in the Old Testament . Following the Exile, however, the Samaritans maintained the tradition regarding the mountain, establishing a temple there in the fourth century B.C. Although desecrated by Anticohus IV Epiphanes ( 2 Macc. 6:2 ) and later destroyed by the Jewish king John...

The Sphinx What is the Sphinx? It is the body of a lion couchant, with the head of a man—“a symbol of animal power and of human intellect.” The whole figure was typical of kingly royalty and set forth the power and wisdom of the Egyptian monarch. One traveler describes the present appearance of the great Sphinx as, “a ball of stone rising on a neck some forty feet above the sand.” Miss Edwards says, “the sphinx is purely an Egyptian monster and of immemorial antiquity. The great sphinx of Gizeh is probably the oldest monument in Egypt. There are thousands of sphinxes in Egypt of various sizes, but the great Sphinx is this one at the base of the pyramids. It is carved out of the summit of the original rock from which it has never been separated. Its body is over one hundred feet long; its head is thirty feet long and fourteen in width; the marks of paint still remain on the face—on the eye-brows and on the right cheek. The face is much mutilated; the body is hidden by drifting...

Ruined Brick Building, Ephesus

June 27: The Truth about Truth Nehemiah 12:1–13:31; 2 John 1–6; Psalm 115:1–18 John the Evangelist’s letter to the “elect lady” presents a picture of joy and hope, as he “rejoiced greatly to find some of [her] children walking in truth, just as we were commanded by the father” ( 2 John 4 ). One word keeps reappearing in John’s letter, focusing his message: truth. John says that he loves the elect lady and her children “in truth” ( 2 John 1 ). He says that all who know the truth also love them. His reason is simple: “the truth … resides in us and will be with us forever” ( 2 John 2 ). When John speaks of truth, he’s referring to Jesus ( John 14:6 ). After his initial greeting, John goes on to express his wishes: May “Grace, mercy, [and] peace … be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father in truth and love” ( 2 John 3 ). In acknowledging the source of truth, John acknowledges his connection to it. All believers live in truth because they are link...

Morning, June 27                                        Go To Evening Reading          “Only ye shall not go very far away.”          —Exodus 8:28 This is a crafty word from the lip of the arch-tyrant Pharaoh. If the poor bondage Israelites must need to go out of Egypt, then he bargains with them that it shall not be very far away; not too far for them to escape the terror of his arms and the observation of his spies. After the same fashion, the world loves not the non-conformity of nonconformity or the dissidence of dissent; it would have us be more charitable and not carry matters with too severe a hand. Death to the world and burial with Christ are experiences which carnal minds treat with ridicule, and hence the ordinance which sets them forth is almost universally neglected, and even condemned....

June 27th The overshadowing personal deliverance I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 1:8. God promised Jeremiah that He would deliver him personally—“Thy life will I give unto thee for a prey.” That is all God promises His children. Wherever God sends us, He will guard our lives. Our personal property and possessions are a matter of indifference, we have to sit loosely to all these things; if we do not, there will be panic and heartbreak and distress. That is the inwardness of the overshadowing of personal deliverance. The Sermon on the Mount indicates that when we are on Jesus Christ’s errands, there is no time to stand up for ourselves. Jesus says, in effect, ‘Do not be bothered with whether you are being justly dealt with or not.’ To look for justice is a sign of deflection from devotion to Him. Never look for justice in this world, but never cease to give it. If we look for justice, we will begin to grouse and to indulge in the discontent o...

June 27   Be perfect, be of good comfort         2 Cor. 13:11 A glance at the words is enough to make us feel how contradictory they are. Be perfect—that is a word that strikes us with despair; at once we feel how far away we are from our own poor idea and alas! how much further from God’s ideal concerning us. Be of good comfort—ah, that is very different! That seems to say, “Do not fret; do not fear. If you are not what you would be, you must be thankful for what you are.” Now the question is this—How can these two be reconciled? It is only the religion of Jesus Christ that reconciles them. He stands in our midst, and with the right hand of His righteousness He pointeth us upward, and saith, “Be perfect.” There is no resting-place short of that. Yet with the left hand of His love He doth encompass us, as He saith, “Soul, be of good comfort; for that is what I came to do for thee.” Mark Guy Pearse Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman ...

Happy Birthday! Ms. H. Toy Roberts

Lesson for June 26, 2016 Ignoring God’s Plain Truth Romans 1:18-32 Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson . Scott teaches  preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri, and has held preaching ministries in Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado . This lesson treatment is published in the June 19 issue of  The Lookout  magazine and is also available online at  www.lookoutmag.com . ______ By Mark Scott   “There is none so blind as he who will not see.” Today’s text describes a descent into depravity. Paul’s summation of the gospel is Romans 1:16, 17 —the transforming power of Christ’s faithfulness to everyone. But before that transforming power can be effectual, sin must be acknowledged. This is Paul’s argument in Romans 1:18–3:20 . The depravity factor must be admitted. The old adage, “You have to get them lost before you can get them saved” rings true here. Paul traced (primari...

SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2016 | PENTECOST SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST YEAR C              Old Testament       1 Kings 19:14–21              Old Testament       Jonah 3:3–4:4 ( Supplemental )              Psalm       Psalm 62               New Testament       Galatians 5:1, 13–25              New Testament       2 Corinthians 11:21b–30                                                                       ( Supplemental )               Gospel       Luke 9:51–62 Christian Worship Three Year Lectionary (with ...