Week 33, "The Family Tree"
August 13-19
Discussion Questions
Old Testament
Why did God tell Nehemiah to register all of the people?
New Testament
What does it mean to partake of the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner? How do we make sure that we do so? 1 Corinthians 11:27
Notes and Commentary
Old Testament
Why did God tell Nehemiah to register all of the people?
Some commentators have said the purpose of the registry was to enable the population to increase.
The New John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible. The purpose of the registry was so “that their number might be known, and of what families they were, and in what cities they formerly dwelt; and this was not only of use for the present purpose of Nehemiah, but was of service hereafter to show the pedigree of families, and that it might be clearly known from whence the Messiah sprung.”
New Testament
What does it mean to partake of the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner? How do we make sure that we do so?
1 Corinthians 11:27 says, “whoever eats this bread or drinks the Lord’s cup in a way unworthy of the Lord will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.” Therefore the penalty for this behavior seems to put us in the same category as Judas Iscariot, or the Jews who shouted for Pontius Pilate to crucify Jesus.
Some commentators have suggested the “unworthy” behavior refers being irreverent or profane as referred to a few verses previous. That is, eating or drinking too much at the Lord’s Supper.
Others have emphasized the “examination” referred to in 1 Corinthians 11:28 to suggest a spiritual worthiness beyond table manners. Some denominations extend the examination to be a formalized set of questions. The questions may have typically posed by church leaders in former times; or more often today as self examination. Typical questions might be along the lines of the following:
-
Are you still in the faith of the gospel as you declared at your baptism? Do you still believe?
-
Are you, as far as you know, in peace and union with the church? Are things right between you and others in the church?
-
Will you still labor with brothers and sisters in Christ for an increase of holiness both in yourselves and others? Are you serving others in ministry? Are you still striving for holiness?
Random Quotes
Quotes attributed to Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States:
-
Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.
-
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
-
We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.
-
You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
-
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
-
Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?
Notes:
© Tom Truex 2014, Davie, FL