Archives of Previous Studies
Here you can download videos and handouts of previous Bible studies
January 17, 2019
Rev 4:11, 5:9-10,12: Praise the Lamb Who Makes Us a Kingdom and Priests
In tonight's study, we look at a canticle of praise comprised of several verses in Revelation 4 and 5 used as the last of the psalms in the Evening Office for the Solemnity of All Saints. We also examine the verses in between to gain context. This leads us primarily to a discussion of how great Jesus is, how He is the bridge between the Creator and creation, the Mediator, the Way, how He Himself is the Gospel, and why we would burst into such praise of Him. We explore some of the Old Testament images and themes used by John in Revelation. We digress a bit about how our prayers and lives can be a pleasing aroma to God as well as on the Millennium and possible answers to the question of over whom the Saints reign in the Kingdom. We then stopped the cameras and prayed the Evening Office together.
January 10, 2019
Psalm 116:10-19: I Trusted Even When Afflicted
This study spends a lot of time on the Psalmists' statement that he trusted even when afflicted including an example of this from the diary of Saint Faustina. We spoke of the need to recognize bounty even in the midst of trials and looked at some statements from Saint Paul in this regard. We examined some of the sacrificial practices mentioned and considered how seriously God takes affliction and even the death of His people. The connection between love and trust was a persistent theme as well as how far and how deep that love and trust can go.
January 3, 2019
Psalm 110: God Exalts His Christ
We begin our study of this of this historically messianic psalm with thoughts on the love of the Father for the Son. We explore Christian and Jewish understandings of the "adoni", the lord to whom the LORD speaks. We explain some of the cultural allusions in the psalm and spend quite some time on Melchizedek, the priesthood of Jesus, and the references to Psalm 110 in the Letter to the Hebrews. We conclude examining the shift in perspective at the end of the Psalm and the somewhat enigmatic conclusion.