Nehemiah begins about 450 years before Christ and covers the period 445-433 BC, the close of Old Testament history. It is a sequel to Ezra. Malachi covers the period around 420-397 BC and closes the Old Testament account. About 100 years earlier in 539 BC, the Persian king, Cyrus the Great, conquered the Babylonian Empire. Under Cyrus and his… Read More Nehemiah 1
In short: Given the seriousness of the pastoral office, those who are unqualified or lusting for glory should not enter it. To profane it leads to perdition. Jesus “fled from the offered glory of pre-eminence, but desired the pain of an ignominious death; that so His members might learn to fly from the favours of the… Read More The Book of Pastoral Rule (Care), Gregory the Great, Part I, Chapter III
In short: Ministers who have learned spiritual truths from drinking pure water must live out those truths and not leave the sheep to drink water polluted by their corrupt example. They must not, having a high rank, act perversely and become a stumbling block to the people, all the while being shielded by their high rank. One… Read More The Book of Pastoral Rule (Care), Gregory the Great, Part I, Chapter II
In short: Anyone seeking the pastoral office must learn and train for it before undertaking it. Spiritual health is more important than bodily health. Those who are ignorant of spiritual truths ought to be as uncomfortable acting as doctors in matters of the heart as they would be if asked to prescribe drugs for the body.… Read More The Book of Pastoral Rule (Care), Gregory the Great, Part I, Chapter I
Gregory the Great’s Book of Pastoral Rule or Care (Lat. Liber Regulae Pastoralis, Regula Pastoralisor Cura Pastoralis) is his treatise on the responsibilities of ministers. Gregory wrote it shortly after his inauguration as Bishop of Rome in A.D. 590. At the time, Rome was in a shambles due to invasions, famine, and plague. In AD 546 the Ostrogoths had plundered the… Read More The Book of Pastoral Rule (Care), Gregory the Great, Part I: Gregory to his … fellow-bishop, John (of Ravenna).
The minister should begin the service of worship by calling the congregation, consistent with the Scriptures below, to the public, corporate, and reverent worship of God. After the call, the minister should invite the congregation to begin its worship by standing and singing a hymn of praise to God, proclaiming the glories of His person… Read More Call to Worship
Nehemiah Outline Basic events: It is 445 BC, 13 years after Ezra’s reforms and 93 years after Jews under Cyrus the Great first returned from Exile in 538 BC. Artaxerxes is ruling in his 20th year and Nehemiah, a Jew, is serving as his cupbearer in the capital, Susa, where Esther’s beauty pageant had been held under… Read More Nehemiah Outline
Nehemiah Basics & Background Theme: The Lord preserves and protects His people and accomplishes His redemptive purposes through responsible human agents at all levels of social position and power; His people have a special covenantal relationship with Him and need to reform in worship and daily living under His law. Basic events: Nehemiah, a Jew,… Read More Nehemiah: Basics & Background
Matthew 3 In those days came John the Baptist: Jesus and John both virtually silent for 30 years – except for Jesus’ disputing with teachers in temple, Lk. 2:46 John possibly born and raised in nearby Hebron, – a city of priests and of refuge in the hill country of Judea, (Jos 11:21; 21:11, 13),… Read More Matthew 3
Matthew 2:1-12 Herod ruled the Jews at the time Jesus was born and was threatened by a new “king of the Jews.” Gentile magi – wise men from the east – sought out the new King. We ought to trust in God’s word and His promises. OT prophecies are being fulfilled. 1. Bethlehem of Judea – … Read More Matthew 2:1-12
WORSHIP Magazine 