Concordia Adult Bible Class

See our Christmas Lineup! Many know that Jesus was born in a manger... but who did He turn out to be?

Contentment is great! Gratitude is even better, for gratitude is not only happy with what it has – as nine of the lepers healed by Jesus were – but actively thankful for what it has. In this way, gratitude blesses others because gratitude is an expression of contentment and fulfillment.

Join a Concordia Group! The Israelites were wildly blessed by God while wandering through the wilderness – but, for them, it was never enough. Grumbling misses the blessings God gives. The first step out of the trap of grumbling is contentment.

Join a Concordia Group! David refused to even drink water if the water was a product of someone else work and risk. David wanted to work for what he had. Part of stewardship is working for what we have so we can share what we have. Are we more interesting in working or taking?

Join a Concordia Group! Joseph was entrusted with a huge estate. But things quickly turned sour when he was falsely accused of mismanaging what he had been given. How can we be faithful with what God has given us, even when being faithful means sacrificing like Joseph?

Join a Concordia Group! From the very beginning of history, God entrusted people with the responsibility of taking care of His world. What you have is still part of His world. Are you cultivating what God has given you or wasting or hoarding it?

Join a Concordia Group! One of the hardest challenges families face is when they are divided over faith. Jesus’ own family struggled to believe in Him! But when we hold on to our faith, our household becomes divided against Satan. And, as Jesus reminds us, a house divided cannot stand. There is hope for your family members who are outside the faith!

Join a Concordia Group! Some of the hardest sayings of Jesus have to do with family. Jesus called twelve men away from their families to be His disciples. Jesus challengingly invites us to remember that, as important as family is, family without Him is idolatry and will only lead to pain.

Join a Concordia Group! Every family encounters problems and conflicts. Before Isaac and Rebekah even have children, God promises their sons will fight with each other. Looking at our family through the eyes of faith – through how Jesus sees them – can help us navigate the short-term conflicts with a larger goal in mind.

Join a Concordia Group! We will often speak of our “friends and family.” There are some friends who are like family (Proverbs 18:24). Paul talks about how we are part of Christ’s family by faith in Galatians 3. When our own family fails us, we have a larger family that extends through space and time.

A family apart from faith can attempt some spectacular things, as does the human family in Genesis 11 when they build the tower of Babel. But our success will only be temporary. Each family must ask: what is most important?

When God created Adam and Eve, He created history’s first family. He also placed them in an idyllic setting. Their yard was perfect. But Adam and Eve’s sin stained not only their family, but the whole human family. The white picket fence was replaced by a flaming sword to keep Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24). But in the middle of this mess, God promises a descendant who will restore their family. What our family needs most of all is not a white picket fence, but a cross.

When God is putting forth plans for the building of the tabernacle, He gives people the talents to do the work He needs. God has given us talents, too. How we steward our talents will guide how we feel about our work. Work can be a burden. But when we steward our talents well, work can also be a gift.

Moses dies before Israel enters the Promised Land. But Moses leaves a lasting legacy. He had a special, close relationship with God that ultimately foreshadows Christ’s perfect relationship with God.

God warns the Israelites that if they do not obey Him, there will be consequences. They will be cast out of the land God is getting ready to give them. Sadly, the Israelites do fall into rebellion and the lessons they learn are painful. We are called to learn from Israel and live in obedience to God for our own good.

As God establishes a covenant with Israel, He expects them to obey the stipulations of His covenant. Obedience leads to blessings. History, however, reminds us that the Israelites do not obey this covenant. This is why God must establish a new covenant in Christ.

One of the most common questions that people ask about the Old Testament has to do with the violent stories in it. In this section, God lays down some rules of engagement for war. We see that God is not bloodthirsty, but careful and thoughtful and uses battle not as a first, but as a last, resort.

God forecasts that the Israelites will eventually cry out for a king to lead them, which they do (1 Samuel 8:4-21). In this section, God reminds the people that any leader they have should be led first by God and His Word. A leader is at his best when he first follows the Lord.

God blesses the Israelites bountifully. But God also expects the Israelites to use their bountiful blessing to bless others. Israel’s generosity is to extend both to people to whom they are close and to people who are outside their social circles and national identity.

The ancient Israelites lived as monotheists in a polytheistic society. Anything that takes their attention away from the one, true God is spiritually dangerous. In this section, Moses instructs the people how to discern true religion from false religion.