Concordia Adult Bible Class

Scandals involving hypocrisy have left a bad mark on the integrity of the Church. Living with integrity is paramount in our witness to Christ. Everyone is a hypocrite in one way or another, but rather than hiding this, we must confess it and repent of it.

Aren’t Christians being exclusive when they claim that only Christ is the way to salvation? Claiming that all paths lead to the same God is itself an exclusive claim because it excludes those faiths that claim differently. Every claim is, in some sense, exclusive. So, we must discern which claims are true.

It is often assumed that either Christianity or science is true and that the Scriptures reject rational, scientific inquiry. In truth, the Scriptures invite it because they assert that there is a rational God who created a rational universe that we can joyfully investigate.

People want to know about the “weird” Bible verses, especially in the Old Testament – the ones against mixing fabrics and eating shellfish. Do we not take such verses seriously? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus invites us to see all Scripture as fulfilled and interpreted through Him.

Karl Marx famously said, “Religion is the opiate of the masses.” He saw faith as nothing more than a crutch for the weak to deal with the vicissitudes of life. The reality is that Christianity is, in some ways, a crutch – one that we all need, because we’re not as strong as we’d like to think we are. But it is also more than just a therapeutic crutch. It is a divine reality.

So often, we conceal the things we should reveal – like our sin in confession – and reveal the things we should conceal – like our righteous acts. Jesus invites us to give up boasting and do our best work in secret. These are the works that God honors.

It can be difficult to confess sin because it requires you to give up your pride. The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable is proud, but it is the tax collector who confesses his sin who finds mercy.

As we celebrate service at Concordia, we remember that Jesus came to serve us. Jesus gave up His rights and privileges to be served and instead took up a towel to serve us. He invites us to do the same for others.

The Sabbath was a day to give up work so people could take up rest. Sadly, the religious leaders turned the gift of rest into a burden. Jesus invites His followers to experience the Sabbath as a gift rather than a requirement.

In Matthew 4, Jesus spends 40 days fasting. The discipline of fasting – giving up food – can help us take up spiritual control. When we can tame our physical appetites, we can better endure spiritual temptations.

Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar are a family who breaks each other's hearts. But even in the midst of pain and betrayal, God is giving them a new start. How can God give us a new start even when we struggle and suffer with a broken heart?

Because every human relationship is between two sinners, offenses will happen. Adam and Eve sinned against God, but also against each other – especially when Adam blames Eve for feeding him some forbidden fruit. Yet, Adam and Eve stayed together. How do we stay together when we hurt or are hurt by each other? The answer lies in how God stays with us – through forgiveness.

What is the secret that people in long-term relationships know? It is simply this: always humbly put the other person first. The first century world was patriarchal. The man was expected to be first and be treated as first. But Priscilla and Aquilla provide a counter-cultural example. While Aquilla, the husband, is at first named first, primacy is quickly given to Priscilla. Being willing to take a secondary role instead of jockeying for position ascribes value to another person and is the secret the relationships that go the distance.

There can be certain aspects of relationships that just “happen” to you. For example, a child does not choose their father or mother. But for a relationship to thrive, assembly is required. You must not just feel love, but choose to be committed to another person. The story of Ruth and Naomi is a beautiful example of this intentional choice.

It can be scary to share Scripture! We’re worried about whether or not we’ll have an answer to a question someone is asking, or we’re worried we don’t know the Bible well enough to share it with anyone else. We can learn how to share the Bible with others by looking at the way Jesus shared the Bible with His disciples.

Reading the Bible can be frustrating because so much of it can sound so foreign. This is why the Psalmist invites us not just to read the Bible, but to meditate on it. Studying the Bible takes time and effort. So, it’s okay if you still feel like you have a lot to learn about the Bible!

Many people have read the Bible, but they don’t know the backstory to the greatest story ever told. How did this book come together? In the introduction to his Gospel, Luke tells us that careful research went into all the books that in the Good Book.

A popular acronym to understand the theme of the Bible is Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. But though the Bible does contain plenty of instruction, instruction is not its primary theme. Jesus is. Paul speaks of how the Scriptures are able to make us “wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.” If we miss Jesus, we miss the main point of the Bible.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:5-6

See our Christmas Lineup! With all that we have been through, our souls can feel shriveled at times. In Matthew 12, Jesus restores a man with a shriveled hand. What He did for this man physically, He can do for us spiritually.