Author Archives: Michael W.

Why Study (and Blog about) Hebrews?

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“Hebrews is a delight for the person who enjoys puzzles.”

A Neglected Book?

In your experience (as a Christian, or as one inquiring into the Faith), which parts of the New Testament have been most explored?  In sermons, reading, or your own study, which are most familiar?  Conversely, which parts of the New Testament canon seem like uncharted territory?  If all of Scripture is inspired by God[1] why such a disparity?  For most of us the four gospels (or at least one of them), some of Paul’s letters, maybe Acts, and bits and pieces from the Revelation fill the first list.  Sermons and Bible study groups repeatedly return to familiar territory.  But some parts seem to receive much less attention.  Hebrews would top that list for many. Continue reading →

Prisoner with a Purpose

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May 7, 2023 – 2 Timothy 1:7-14

“Guard the treasure.”

Download discussion questions:  2 Timothy 1:7-14

I encourage you to look at the passage in 2 Timothy before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

One of the observations in our group discussion noted the repeated words or themes in this passage:

An Emotional Introduction

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April 30, 2023 – 2 Timothy 1:1-7 – An Emotional Introduction

“Why was Timothy crying?”

Download discussion questions:  2 Timothy 1:1-7

I encourage you to look at the passage in 2 Timothy before you read this Blog entry.  What do you see in the text yourself?  What questions come to your mind?  How would you interpret what the writer says?  After even a few minutes examining and thinking about the text you will be much better prepared to evaluate the comments in the Blog.

The first meeting of our group focused on an introduction to the inductive method of Bible study[1].  Since not much time was left to actually explore the passage, we decided to work on our own during the week.  If you have read previous blogs here you will note that this is a difference.  In the past, the studies began and ended in the course of about an hour.  The first part of the hour was spent looking at the passage individually, which limited the time left for discussion.  Most likely, this study will follow the format of doing “homework” (as much or as little as is practical for each individual) and then pooling our results in the group discussion.  Either approach works well depending on the group you are in. Continue reading →

Why 2 Timothy?

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“In a sense it is kind of a last will and testament, a ‘passing on the mantle.’”

Why Study (and blog about) 2 Timothy?

The letter of 2 Timothy is generally grouped as part of “the Pastoral Epistles” or the letters to leaders, along with 1 Timothy and Titus.  All three provide personal and pastoral guidance to young leaders in early congregations.  So perhaps the three brief Biblical books are only intended for pastors? Continue reading →

Jesus’ Family – Mark 10:21-22, 28-31; Acts 2:42-45; Acts 4:32-37 – March 8, 2020

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Download discussion questions: Mark 10; Acts 2; Acts 4

Again this week our group looked at three passages – one in the gospels and two near the beginning of Luke’s account of the church in the Acts of the Apostles.  One feature was a degree of repetitiveness in the passages.  Someone told me a long time ago, “If God says something once, it’s important.  If He says it more than once, we really better pay attention!” Continue reading →

Jesus’ Family Values – March 1, 2020

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Download discussion questions:  Jesus’ Family Values

Getting to Philippians, the long way around.

The first comment in our group after looking at the handout with three passages from the gospels was, “I thought we were going to study Philippians.”  I explained that we are on our way to Philippians, but we are taking the scenic route.  Starting from Obadiah (last week) there are a few stops in between.  Those brief detours will make all the difference in understanding what the Apostle Paul meant as we read his letter to the church in Philippi. Continue reading →

Introduction – Philippians – February 23, 2020

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Download discussion questions:  Obadiah 1:10-14

How did we get here – from a Jewish prophet denouncing another nation to a letter from Paul to a Macedonian church?  As we finished the letter that James wrote, the plan for our group was to follow the advice James gave to “look to the prophets” (James 5:10).  However, the study of one of those prophets led us into a different direction. Continue reading →

An Invitation to a New Blog on GoodNotSafe – February 24, 2020

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Last week our discussion group completed our study of the letter that James wrote.  I hope the blog entries have been helpful and have encouraged you in your own study of Scripture.

We are beginning a new study this week.  Although the original plan was to spend time in the Minor Prophets, a change of plans has brought us to the book of Philippians.  (Some of the details behind that change will be in the next blog entry.)

The study in Philippians was partly inspired by a statement from Joseph H. Hellerman, a pastor and professor with a Ph.D. in history as well as theological training:

Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, intentionally subverts the social values of the dominant culture in the Roman colony at Philippi in order to create a radically different relational environment among the Philippian Christians.[1]

Since we are starting a new study, I wanted to remind you to subscribe to that Philippians blog on the main page of GoodNotSafe.  Fill in your name and email address, then mark the box for Philippians.  Click “Subscribe” and the blog entries for that study will be sent to you automatically.

[1] Joseph H. Hellerman, Embracing Shared Ministry:  Power and Status in the Early Church and Why It Matters Today (Grand Rapids, Michigan:  Kregel Publications, 2013), 11.