New Life Bible Study discussion

September’s BOTMs are 1 Peter (5 chapters) and Genesis (we’ll read the first 25 chapters this month and the last 25 chapters in October). Here are some ways you can participate!

✿ Just read them at your own pace and share your thoughts with us!

✿ Memorize verses

Here’s a list of verses I like from our BOTMs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e...

Choose 9 of them (or any other verses you’d like, from the list or not) to put in this bracket according to which number it is:

[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ]
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ]
[ _ ] [ _ ] [ _ ]

When you memorize a verse, put an X in the bracket. Try to get 3 in a row, then another 3 in a row, then maybe even a blackout! Post your bracket here and update us on how you’re doing.

✿ Youversion plans

I’m not sure if I’m going to do Youversion plans this month, as I always fall behind, but please feel free to choose one and invite me to it! https://www.bible.com/reading-plans

Please add me as a friend if you haven’t- I’m Catherine C and my profile’s the same as the one on GR, or you can tell me what your profile is. If you haven’t made a free account on Youversion yet, sign up HERE! https://www.bible.com/sign-up

✿ BibleProject Video

Here are video overviews by BibleProject:
~ 1 Peter: https://bibleproject.com/explore/vide...
~ Genesis Pt 1: https://bibleproject.com/explore/vide...
~ Genesis Pt 2: https://bibleproject.com/explore/vide...

✿ Sermons

I listen to Tim Keller & Gospel in Life: https://gospelinlife.com/all-resource...

✿ Bible Commentary

~ Enduring Word: https://enduringword.com/
~ BibleRef: https://www.bibleref.com/

If you have other resources, please share them with us! Thank you:)

[ 17 ] [9 ] [ 11 ]
[ X ] [ 7 ] [ 14 ]
[ 15 ] [ 2 ] [ 25 ]

I know that both 1 Peter and especially Genesis are so, so rich with so many hidden gems. Does anyone have any to share?? I wish I spent more time looking for the gems.

I learned something about a genealogy from the Youversion plan Lilly invited me to- I'll add it later and the link to the Youversion plan in case anyone else would like to follow along later!

I haven't been memorizing my verses 😭

As for the genealogy in Genesis 5, here's what I found: https://www.khouse.org/personal_updat...

Essentially it says that all of the names come down to meaning "Man appointed mortal sorrow; the Blessed God shall come down teaching, His death shall bring the despairing rest."

I tried looking up the definition of their names separately and got slightly different definitions, but it's still very cool:)

To what extent should we follow 1 Peter 2:13? ('Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, ')

When authorities are unjust and oppressive, rebellion wouldn't go against Scripture, right? Or no?

The German Peasants' War occurred because the upper class was taking advantage of the peasants and oppressing them. The peasants responded violently, pillaging and burning and so forth. Martin Luther at first supported them, but then called them mad dogs or something like that. The nobles ended up crushing the peasants with overwhelming force. Do you think Luther was wrong to support the nobles?

Certainly I believe peaceful protest is the way to go, but what if that doesn't work and the authorities still won't listen?

On Genesis- God made men and women both in His image and both have equal value before God. He called them both "very good." However, men have an immense advantage over women and have abused that advantage time and time again since the beginning of history. I understand my Creator is infinitely more wise than I am, but does anyone have any sort of idea of why He made women the way He did- so vulnerable? The victims of so much injustice and violence?

I do not mean to offend anyone at all, and if I did, please let me know. I'm sorry :( This is something that I've been struggling with though, and I know others who have been as well.

And 1 Peter 3:7! ('Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.') Weaker partner? What kind of wording is this? The ESV and KJV both have the same word (weak). The Message translation says, "As women they lack some of your advantages."

I firmly believe the Bible is God's Word. Why is God calling me weak?

I've been reading the term "righteousness" in the Bible a lot recently. Abraham believed in God's promise and God credited it to Him as righteousness, Proverbs talks about how the righteous will do well in life, 1 Peter 4 references Proverbs 11:31 (“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”), and of course the Breastplate of Righteousness in Ephesians 5.

What exactly is righteousness? Being right with God, I heard, but that seems pretty broad. How are we right with God? Through Jesus' precious blood, but then what did righteousness mean to the Old Testament authors? Thoughts?

Before I archive this thread, I suppose I'll jot down what I've learned from my previous questions.

On 1 Peter 2:13 and governmental authority (is that a phrase? haha), I heard an awesome sermon (https://gospelinlife.com/sermon/argui...) about Mark 12 and Jesus saying, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and God what is God's."

Yes, we must submit to earthly authorities, but we must ultimately submit to God first. The Greek word that Jesus uses when He says, "Whose image is this?" (referring to the denarius) means "image." We are made in God's image- we are what is God's. Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and God what is God's- ourselves.

On why Peter calls the woman the "weaker partner" and why God created a power imbalance that has been exploited, I still don't know, but I'm just hanging on to that verse in Genesis. "It was very good."

On righteousness, I had come to a conclusion, but I forgot XD But I do remember that reading James 2:20-26 was quite helpful. Perhaps true righteousness is only attainable through the precious blood of Jesus, but we can be righteous when our faith is shown through good deeds.

A part of me is wondering why I'm writing this down. I guess it does help me actually seek out answers to my questions and remember the (some) of the answers when I write it down.