Understanding The Bible: Poetic and Wisdom Writings

 

Outline of Service 21^st June 2026

Understanding The Bible:  Poetic and Wisdom Writings

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:32

 Hymn 102:  Joy in God’s Presence
The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

Psalm  30:1 -12:  God’s Wisdom in Our Lives

Bible Readings:

·       God’s Wisdom Available to Us: Psalm 119:97-104

·       Philosophy of Life: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15, 12:13-14

·       Advice for a Good Life: Proverbs 15:1-9, 23-33

·       Jesus Expounds the Psalms: Luke 24:44-49

·       God’s Power is Greater than Our Abilities: Luke 12:22-32

Summary of Readings

§     The Poetic and Wisdom Books of the Bible give us an insight into how God wants us to live in this world

§     We are told to love God, and our neighbours as ourselves, and to seek to God for wisdom to help us adjust in this life

§     God’s wisdom is different to the world’s wisdom, and often His ways are not appreciated by the world, but we still need to seek to follow them

§     In the Last Days God will bring together a remnant who will live in accordance with His wisdom and be preserved wholly - in spirit, soul and body, ready to meet Jesus Christ when He returns. (1 Thess 5:23)

 

                            Hymn 23: Types and Figures
Message
Hymn 51:  Seek Wisdom to See God

Doxology

The New Covenant With Israel

 

Outline of Service 31^st May 2026

Renewal:  The New Covenant With Israel

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:  Jeremiah 31:31

 

Hymn 117:  Past, Present and Future

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

Psalm  44:1 -8:  ..In God We Boast

Bible Readings:

·       The Original Covenant with Israel: Exodus 19:1-9

·       The Covenant Not Kept: Psalm 78:53-64

·       A New Covenant Promised: Jeremiah 31:31-37

·       The Source of Renewed Life: John 6:41-51

·       The Promised New Covenant: Hebrews 8:7-13

Summary of Readings

§     God established a Covenant with Israel as He led them out of slavery in Egypt

§     Israel was not faithful to the Covenant they had made with God, and God said that He would need to establish a New Covenant with them

§     In establishing a New Covenant with Israel, through the Sacrifice of Jesus, God also extended salvation to all people

§     In The Latter Days, prior to Jesus Christ’s return, God will renew the Covenant with a remnant of the descendants of Israel -the 144,000

§     God will regather the remnant to live in the “Promised Land” – through being preserved wholly - in spirit and soul and body. (1 Thess 5:23)

 

Hymn 88:  Israel Awake!

Message

Hymn 47:  The Covenant of Life

Doxology

Responding to Renewal: Jonah and Elijah

 

Outline of Service 26^th April 2026

Responding to Renewal

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb  Revelation 15:3

 Hymn 34:  Incline Their Hearts To Obey

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

Psalm  46:1 -11:  God Is Our Refuge

Reminder – The Process of Change

Bible Readings:

·       Some Refrozen, and Some Not: Jonah 1:1-3, 3:1-5,10, 4:1-11

·       Changed, But Not Refrozen: 1 Kings 18:25-40

·       The Call to Renewal: Romans 7:7-25; 8:14-17

·       The Renewed Condition: Revelation 15:1-4

Summary of Readings

§     Change often looks good, but making it, and keeping it are not easy

§     The “refreezing”, or adjusting to the change, often calls for giving up something that we already have, and maybe like, for something unknown

§     Jonah himself, and Israel after Elijah’s sacrifice, could not continue to implement the changes required

§     When we ask God to “deliver us from evil” do we really want Him to, or do we just want His protection whilst we keep doing what we like to do?

§     God will remove the evil from the 144,00 –give victory over the beast - they will stand with The Lamb, being renewed, and made as He is. (Rom 8:17)

 

Hymn 20:  Respond to the Voice from Heaven

Message

Hymn 100:  Follow The Master

Doxology

Renewal - The Process of Change

 

Outline of Service 22^nd March 2026

Renewal:  Requires a Process of Change

Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.    Romans 12:2

 Hymn 102:  The Hope of Joy in Thy Presence

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

Psalm  51:1-2, 7-12:  Renewed Relationship

Introduction – The Process of change

Bible Readings:

·       In This World Change Is Constant and Cyclical: Eccles 3:1-15

·       Israel in Egypt (Unfreezing): Exodus 1:8-14, 2:23-25

·       Call to Change (Change Process): Ezekiel 33:8-11, 36:23-28

·       Change Needed, offered, but Rejected: Jeremiah 18:1-10

·       New Gives Way to the Old (Refreezing): Ephesians 4:20-25

·       Goal of Renewal: Romans 12:1-5

Summary of Readings

§     In this world there is constant change, which results in a need for constant renewal

§     God led Israel through a “change process”, with the incentive of a renewed life in the Promised Land, and now holds out incentives to us if we follow Him

§     People today, like Israel of old, still baulk at going through the change – they want renewal, but don’t want to give up what they have!

§     The transformation starts with a renewing of our minds, and ends with an incorruptible or immortal life at Jesus Christ’s return. 

 

Hymn 57:  It’s Worth the Change!

Message

Hymn 23:  Renewed in His Likeness

Doxology

Paul's Radical Theology

 

Journeying With Paul:  Paul’s Radical Theology

Behold I show you a mystery…  1 Cor 15:51

 Hymn 105:  He’s All Men’s Saviour..

 The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 Psalm 30  – Seeking God’s Favour

 Bible Readings:

·       Old Testament Theology: Josh 23:6-16

·       A Light in the Darkness Foretold: Isaiah 60:1-5

·       Paul’s Commission: Acts 9:10-18

·       Paul’s Revelation: Romans 3:21-31; Ephesians 2:8-9

·       Dual Messages: 2 Timothy 2:14-21; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

Summary of Readings

§   Under the Old Testament laws given to Israel obedience to God’s instructions was expected, and disobedience was not well tolerated 

§   Whilst many Prophets realised that “obedience is better than sacrifice”, they foretold of a coming change in relationship with God for the Gentiles

§   Jesus initially sent His disciples to “the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel”, but after His resurrection He said, “Go ye into all the World”

§   Paul was selected by God as a “chosen vessel” to carry the message of the hope of salvation by faith to the Gentiles

§   Christians accept the message of forgiveness through seeing Jesus as the Lamb of God, but the promises to Israel have never been revoked

§   As we journey with Paul we come to understand that he proclaimed dual messages:  salvation to the Gentiles through faith in Jesus alone, as well as seeing the message for Israel through obedience, all to be fulfilled in God’s time.

 

Hymn 47:  The Banner of Love

Message

Hymn 83:  What a Joy and Surprise!

 

Doxology

The Twofold Sacrifice of Jesus

 

Outline of Service 25^th January 2026

Journeying With Jesus:  The Two-Fold Sacrifice

The resurrection, and the life …- John 11:25

 

Hymn 102:  Joy in God’s Presence

 

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 

Psalm 16 – Fulness of Joy

 

Bible Readings:

·       Obedience Transcends Sacrifice: 1 Samuel 15:1-31

·       Evil and Sin: Romans 7:21-8:2, 11, 22-3

·       Promised Life: 1 Corinthians 15:51-58

·       The Resurrection and The Life: John 11:20-27

 

Summary of Readings

§   Simeon prophesised of the two-fold Mission of Jesus, saying - a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel Luke 2:32

§   Jesus understood God’s Plan for mankind perfectly:  As the Lamb of God, His blood was shed for the sins of the World (Lev 17:11), as foreshadowed in the Old Testament

§   Jesus also gave His body (life) and died, but rose again, thus overcoming Satan’s power over physical death (Acts 2:31)

§   Samuel pointed out to Saul that obedience was better than sacrifice

§   We can be assured of soul salvation in the resurrection through the sacrifice of Jesus, through faith and forgiveness of sins

§   Through Jesus overcoming physical death we are also able to seek to God to remove the evil from within us and to be obedient to His Laws, and overcome physical death (Rom 8:23, John 15:13)

§   As we journey with Jesus Christ we understand more of God’s mercy and grace as we see the mansions promised for when He returns.

 

Hymn 125:  Deliver Us from Evil

Message

Hymn 59:  Promised Glories

 

Doxology