The early church often met for a fellowship meal, followed by observance of the Lord’s Supper. At Corinth, the initial meal had become a drunken, disorderly feast characterized by arguments and selfishness.
Continue reading WHAT CAN GO WRONG WITH THE LORD’S SUPPER?
At the annual celebration of the Passover in Jerusalem (see note on Matthew 26:19), the Roman governor released on Jewish prisoner who was selected by the people. This was a gesture of goodwill to the Jews, who resented the Roman occupation of their country.
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (BARABBAS, NOT JESUS)
Guilt is bad, many counselors and therapists tell us. Guilt is therapeutic, we learn from the counsel of the Bible. Which is right? to feel guilt is to:
Continue reading WHAT IS THE POINT OF FEELING GUILT?
There is nothing wrong with women wanting to look their best. Paul’s point in this passage is that flamboyance and immodesty in dress are out of place in public worship. Our appearance should not be a distraction to others as they seek to commune with the Lord. And this applies to men as well as women!
Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (DRESS FOR WORSHIP)
One of three major Jewish feasts, also derived from the Greek word meaning “fifty.” Pentecost occurs in the month of Sivan (May/June), 50 days after Passover, and celebrates the end of the grain harvest. The Pentecost that followed Jesus’ death and resurrection was the occasion on which the Holy Spirit was given to believers in Jerusalem.
Continue reading DEFINITION OF THE DAY (PENTECOST)
Jeremiah declared that God’s judgment would bring an end to the sounds of celebration throughout the nation of Judah. Even the songs of joy associated with weddings would be heard no more. Continue reading BIBLE CUSTOMS AND CURIOSITIES (WEDDING CELEBRATIONS)
The word feast comes from the same Latin word that gives us festival. Today we think of a feast as primarily a very special meal. In the Bible feasts were more like festivals, and they commemorated great acts of God. Many of these festivals included a feast or banquet as a central part of the celebration. For a long time we have stopped using the term festival or Continue reading SIGNS AND SYMBOLS OF THE BIBLE (FEAST/BANQUET)
We begin to understand the significance of Passover when we realize that the word is actually two words: pass over. Passover originated in one the greatest events records in the Old Testament, when the people of Israel were released after four hundred years of slavery in Egypt. God ensured the nation’s exit from bondage with a tenth plague on
Feast and festivals –The holy convocations, the regular assemblies of the people of Israel for worship of the Lord. The feast and festivals of the nation were scheduled at specific times in the annual calendar and they were both civil and religious in nature. Some feats and festivals marked