Tag: Alden Thompson

Living by Faith

• Lesson 11 for the week of March 7 to March 14

Biblical References: Proverbs 28-29 Leading Question: If one wants to be a law-abiding citizen, does Proverbs make it perfectly clear how to do that? The quick answer to that leading question is no – yet...

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Behind the Mask

• Lesson 10 for the week of February 28 to March 7

Biblical References: Proverbs 25-27 Leading Question: “What is the danger of thinking too highly of oneself?” The first verse of this section of Proverbs (25:1) indicates that this is a another collection of Solomonic proverbs...

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Words of Truth

• Lesson 9 for the week of February 21 to February 28

Biblical References: Proverbs 22-24 Leading Question: “How can we determine when other faith communities or even secular communities, maintain truths that we should support?” At the heart of this week’s discussion is a piece of...

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Words of Wisdom

• Lesson 8 for the week of February 14 to February 21

Biblical References: Proverbs 20-22 Leading Question: What can be done to cure laziness? Proverbs has lots to say about the lazy person – the NIV prefers the more colorful term “sluggard.” The following proverbs all...

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Dealing with Fights

• Lesson 7 for the week of February 7 to February 14

Biblical References: Proverbs 17-19 Leading Question: Does Proverbs help us understand whether and when there might be times when one should actually pick a fight? Fighting is not good (mere descriptions): In Proverbs 17 –...

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What You Get Is Not What You See

• Lesson 6 for the week of January 31 to February 7

Biblical References: Proverbs 14-15 Leading Question: Proverbs 14:12 declares: “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” How can the believer tell when what appears to...

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Blessings of the Righteous

• Lesson 5 for the week of January 24 to January 31

Biblical References: Proverbs 10-13 Leading Question: Do the “secular” proverbs make sense to believers and non-believers alike? Proverbs 10 introduces a new compilation, this one of Solomonic proverbs. Derek Kidner, in his Tyndale Old Testament...

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Divine Wisdom

• Lesson 4 for the week of January 17 to January 24

Biblical References: Proverbs 8-9 Leading Question: Proverbs celebrates wisdom. But can wisdom become dangerous? In popular thinking, education is often seen by ordinary people as something that puts faith at risk. But we should distinguish...

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A Matter of Life and Death

• Lesson 3 for the week of January 10 to January 17

Biblical References: Proverbs 6-7 Leading Question: When can we know that a duty is a matter of life and death?” Note: In Proverbs 7, “commands” are directly linked with warnings against adultery. In Proverbs, adultery...

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From Ears to Feet

• Lesson 2 for the week of January 3 to January 10

Biblical References: Proverbs 4-6 Leading Question: “Is doing right more important than giving God the credit? In the three chapters which are the focus of our study this week – Proverbs 4, 5, and 6...

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“The Call of Wisdom”

• Lesson 1 for the week of December 27 to January 3

Biblical References: Proverbs 1-3 Leading Question: “Go to the ant thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise” (Prov. 6:6). What does the Holy Spirit have to do with a proverb like that? The book...

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The Everlasting Gospel

• Lesson 13 for the week of December 20 to December 27

Synopsis: Escaping from James to Find the Gospel? The official study guide reveals, perhaps unintentionally, how powerful Luther’s argument against the book of James as been. Instead of dividing James into 13 sections, the editors...

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Prayer, Healing, and Restoration

• Lesson 12 for the week of December 13 to December 20

Synopsis: Restoration of the Sick and the Lost As James draws his book to a close, his final section deals with restoration, first of the sick (5:13-18) through the prayers of the righteous, then of...

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Getting Ready for the Harvest

• Lesson 11 for the week of December 6 to December 13

Synopsis: Patience and Swearing After firmly condemning the rich, James then turns to his readers/listeners and admonishes them to be patient. After nearly inciting them to riot by condemning the rich landowners (or so it...

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