Boaz and Ruth: Firm Foundations

• Lesson 7 for the week of August 11 to August 18

The story Ruth and Boaz is well known and well loved. It serves as a favorite for contemporary writers of “historical Bible fiction.” As one reads the book of Ruth, it is easy to see...

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Samson and His Women: The Folly of Passion

• Lesson 6 for the week of August 4 to August 11

In a sense, Samson is perhaps both the strongest and weakest man in the Bible. His incredible physical strength was overshadowed by a lack of willpower and self-control. His story serves as a warning to...

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Moses and Zipporah: Relating with Relations

• Lesson 5 for the week of July 28 to August 4

There are many parallels between the stories of Jacob and Moses. Both flee their homes, afraid, and both meet their soon-to-be wives while at a well. In the case of Moses, however, his wife was...

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Jacob and Rachel: Labor of Love

• Lesson 4 for the week of July 21 to July 28

The Adult Sabbath School lesson quarterly emphasizes that the marriage of Jacob and Rachel stands out in the Old Testament because it is not an arranged marriage, but a “love marriage.” This love, however, did...

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Isaac and Rebekah: Rearing Rivals

• Lesson 3 for the week of July 14 to July 21

It is perhaps not surprising that the story of Isaac and Rebekah echoes that of Abraham and Sarah. The lesson quarterly notes that both couples struggled with childlessness, both had to deal with disputes over...

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Abraham and Sarah: Faith Tested and Tried

• Lesson 2 for the week of July 7 to July 14

In the New Testament, Abraham is repeatedly used as an example of a man of faith (Hebrews 11:8-19). Sarah is used as a symbol for the new covenant (Galatians 4:21-31). This is somewhat surprising in...

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Adam and Eve: The Intended Ideal

• Lesson 1 for the week of June 30 to July 7

In the introduction, I noted that this quarter’s lessons should not be viewed as a marriage manual. Instead, we will look at life lessons which can be learned by looking at the stories of various...

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Introduction

• Introduction

Guests for the taping of this series of “Good Word” (formerly “Probe”) broadcasts are two members of the School of Theology at Walla Walla University: Zdravko Stefanovic, Professor of the Old Testament, and Carl Cosaert,...

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The Word of God Endures

• Lesson 13 for the week of June 23 to June 30

When the famous Christian missionary Dr. David Livingston set out on his trek across Africa he brought with him a small collection of medical and religious books that he felt were indispensable to the success...

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Growing Through the Word

• Lesson 12 for the week of June 16 to June 23

The well-known church researcher, George Barna, recently conducted a survey examining how many American”s believe their life has been “greatly transformed” by their religious faith. 1 While 51% said their lives had been greatly transformed,...

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Daily Wisdom

• Lesson 11 for the week of June 9 to June 16

Advice for a life well lived, it seems that everyone has it now days. Most bookstores have entire sections devoted solely to books that promise tips and secrets on how to live life best. Consider,...

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The Bible and Happiness

• Lesson 10 for the week of June 2 to June 9

Happiness is part of the American dream-but one that is quite elusive. It is like a fleeting shadow that is often tantalizing close, but just beyond our reach. In an attempt to apprehend happiness, we...

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The Bible and Health

• Lesson 9 for the week of May 26 to June 2

An article on health stated, “What are your views about health? How were they formed? Have they changed over the years? For centuries, staying healthy was a means to an end-to survive, earn a living,...

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Revelation of Hope

• Lesson 8 for the week of May 19 to May 26

For many people the word “hope” is not something that has much certainty to it. Well-known idioms like “hoping against hope” simply mean, “to hope with little reason or justification.” Thus when the Bible talks...

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