By Sam E. Stone Today’s lesson comes immediately after last week’s text (Nehemiah 8:2, 3, 13-18). Following the observance of the Feast of Tabernacles, the people had a single day off. Then their feasting turned to fasting. James B. Coffman points out, “A very important revelation of this chapter is that it was the […]
By Dan Lentz 1. What was the last event you participated in about which you can honestly say, “I had a great time”? Explain why you felt that way. Read Nehemiah 8:2, 3, 13-18. 2. For the returning exiles, the Feast of Tabernacles was a time to get away from the norm […]
By Sam E. Stone Nehemiah went to Jerusalem in 444 BC. Ezra had been there 13 years at the time of today’s text. Ezra served as a priest, however, while Nehemiah came as the civil governor to rebuild the wall and restore Jerusalem as a fortified city. The opening chapters of the book that […]
By David Faust The apostle Paul debated Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in first-century Athens (Acts 17:18). These two groups held contrasting philosophies. The Stoics faced life grimly with a stiff upper lip, while the hedonistic Epicureans considered pleasure the highest good. To be fair, Epicurus argued for reasonable restraint, not unbridled self-indulgence. For example, […]
By Bob Hightchew When I was young, I remember two days that were always special in our community. On July 4th our city celebrated Independence Day with parades and fireworks. On June 6th we celebrated D-Day, marking the invasion of Normandy that eventually led to the end of the war in Europe. At that […]
