Jericho and Rahab

Theme: Acting in Faith

Scriptures: Joshua 2:1-24

Notes and Questions:

B1 Background

• Rahab
• A prostitute
• Some interpret the word to mean an innkeeper.
• The Hebrew word is זָנָה zânâh, zaw-naw. But the word means:
• to commit fornication, be a harlot, play the harlot
• (Qal)
• to be a harlot, act as a harlot, commit fornication
• to commit adultery
• to be a cult prostitute
• to be unfaithful (to God) (fig.)
• (Pual) to play the harlot
• (Hiphil)
• to cause to commit adultery
• to force into prostitution
• to commit fornication
• The Greek word is the same as in Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25.
• Always referred to as “prostitute” in the Bible, because to identify her with this particular Rahab.
• After trusting in God, she was no longer a prostitute.
• She became the wife of Salmon and mother of Boaz (Matthew 1:5).
• She is also called this in Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25.
• An example of faith in Hebrews (Hebrews 11:31)
• An example that her deeds showed her faith (James 2:25)
• Two Israeli spies. Their names are unknown.
• The citizens of Jericho.
• Heathens
• Worshipped idols
• Were cursed by God (Joshua 6:17).

B2 Outline

• Spies sent Joshua 2:1
• Spies found out and ordered to be arrested Joshua 2:2-3
• Spies hid by Rahab Joshua 2:4-7
• Spies hear of Jericho’s fear Joshua 2:8-11
• Spies made to promise safety to Rahab and family Joshua 2:12-14
• Spies assisted to escape Joshua 2:15-21
• Spies leave and give report to Joshua 2:22-24

B3 What has happened to you in your background that has left scars permanently?

B4 How do we know Rahab was reborn?

B5 Spies sent. Joshua 2:1,

• Why did Joshua send spies?
• Is this wise?
• How can we apply this?

B6 Spies found out and ordered to be arrested Joshua 2:2-3,

• What do you think Rahab was thinking when she got the order from the king to turn over the Israeli spies?
• Is there a place for civil disobedience? When is it right to do so?

B7 Spies hid by Rahab Joshua 2:4-7,

• Rahab is lying.
• Is it ever right to lie? What about Corrie ten Boom?
• Allan Crowson writes in the D6 Fusion study guide for spring 2017: “Rahab lied to protect the physical survival of the spies and the people of Israel. Our lies tend to focus on saving our own reputation, or avoiding embarrassment.”

B8 Spies hear of Jericho’s fear Joshua 2:8-11,

• Why did Rahab respond this way?
• Why did the others did not?
• Did not all have opportunity to repent?
• Why do some people repent today and some do not?
• How does this verse apply? Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? says the Lord GOD: and not that he should turn from his ways, and live? Ezekiel 18:23
• Or this one: "That's why I speak to them in parables, because they seeing, do not see, and hearing, do not hear or do they understand. "The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in them that says, 'By hearing, you will hear, and will not understand, and seeing, you will see, and not able to see the meaning.' Matthew 13:13-14
• Or the Parable of the Sower as in Luke 8:5-15?
• How can we apply her witness to be our witness? She was one and maybe only one. Can we be the same?
• How do decisions and actions affect our children and grandchldren?

B9 Spies made to promise safety to Rahab and family Joshua 2:12-14,

• Why did she use the word Yahweh (Lord) in Joshua 2:12?
• Are conditional promises (as these 2 men gave) right?

B10 Spies assisted to escape Joshua 2:15-21,

• What would have happened if Rahab forgot to put the scarlet rope out the window? Would the Israelis been obligated to perform their promise?
• Does placing the rope out the window show faith?
• How can Christians today show faith?
• How does James 2:18-26 apply?
• What three tests did the men give Rahab to have the promise in effect? (The rope out the window, stay in the house, and don’t tell anyone).

B11 Spies leave and give report to Joshua 2:22-24,

• How would the men’s report be an encouragement to Joshua and the Israelis?
• How can we be an encouragement like this?

B12 Next week

• A different way of doing things
• Theme: Obedient faith
• Scripture: Joshua 6:1-27

Types of Forgiveness

Ever wonder about forgiveness? If we forgive someone, does that mean God forgives them, too?

Barbara Roberts, a writer at the web site A Cry for Justice has written such an article to answer this question. It is a good read.

Would it be be an act of unforgiveness to decide not to eat with that hypocrite? That reviler? That person who holds to a form of godliness but denies its power? Would it be a lack of Christian love?
The answer to these questions is...

Read the rest here:  https://cryingoutforjustice.com/2017/02/27/three-kinds-of-forgiveness/ 

Love Guides All

Sunday School Lesson

Theme: The Law of Love

Scriptures: 1 John 4:7-1 John 5:5

Notes and questions

B1 What is love?

B2 Love words in the New Testament

• Good loves
• ἀγάπη agápē. This is the love of choice. It is the highest and deepest love.
• ""And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." (Matthew 24:12 NKJV)
• "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 NKJV)
• "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love [is] the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:10 NKJV)
• φιλέω philéō which is the love friends have for each other.
• φιλόστοργος philóstorgos. This is the natural affection seen between spouses, parents and children as in "[Be] kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;" (Romans 12:10 NKJV)
• Eros which is emotional love. It is used for emotional and physical love. That blast of feelings with emotions. One writer describes it this way, “Eros love is that insatiable desire to be near the target of this love – the exciting, passionate, nervous feelings that sweep over people in the appropriate circumstances.”
• The list:
• φιλάγαθος philágathos--love for good people (Titus 1:8).
• Φιλαδέλφεια Philadélpheia--a city named for brotherly love (Revelation 1:11 and Revealation 3:7).
• φιλάδελφος philádelphos (φιλαδελφία philadelphía)--love as brothers or sisters, fellow citizens (Hebrews 13:1, 1 Peter 3:8).
• φίλανδρος phílandros--love for husbands (Titus 2:4).
• φιλανθρωπία philanthrōpía--love for people, kindness (Acts 28:2 and Titus 3:4).
• φιλανθρώπως philanthrṓpōs--love of others as in being courteous (Acts 27:3).
• φιλάργυρος philárgyros (φιλαργυρία philargyría)--love of money (Luke 16:14, 2 Timothy 3:2, and (1 Timothy 6:10).
• φίλαυτος phílautos--love of self (2 Timothy 3:2).
• φιλέω philéō--friendly love (John 21:15, etc.).
• φιλήδονος philḗdonos--love of pleasure (2 Timothy 3:4).
• φίλημα phílēma--kiss (Luke 7:45, 1 Thessalonians 5:26, etc.).
• Φιλήμων Philḗmōn--one who kisses (Philemon 1:1).
• Φίλητος Phílētos--beloved (2 Timothey 2:17, he was a heretic).
• φιλία philía--friendship (James 4:4).
• Φίλιπποι Phílippoi--lover of horses (Acts 16:12, etc.).
• Φίλιππος Phílippos--loves horses (Phillip as in Matthew 10:3, etc..
• φιλόθεος philótheos--lover of God (pious) as in 2 Timothy 3:4.
• Φιλόλογος Philólogos--lover of the word as in Romans 16:15.
• φιλονεικία philoneikía--lover of strife and contention as in Luke 22:24.
• φιλόνεικος philóneikos--love to argue as in 1 Corinthians 11:16.
• φιλονεξία philonexía--love for strangers as in hospitable (Romans 12:13 and Hebrews 13:2).
• φιλόξενος philóxenos--lover of guests as in generous and hospitalbe (1 Timothy 3:2, etc.).
• φιλοπρωτεύω philoprōteúō--love of being first, wanting the pre-eminence as in 3 John 9.
• φίλος phílos--friend as in Acts 10:24 and James 2:23, etc.
• φιλοσοφία philosophía--love of wisdom, so zeal for skill, knowledge, etc. (Colossians 2:8).
• φιλόσοφος philósophos--philosopher as in Acts 17:18.
• φιλόστοργος philóstorgos--mutual, natural love of parents to children, etc. (Romans 12:10).
• φιλότεκνος philóteknos--love of children (Titus 2:4).
• φιλοτιμέομαι philotiméomai--love of honor, study, as in eager to do something. (1 Thessalonians 4:11 (aspire).
• φιλοφρόνως philophrónōs--kind and friendly as in Acts 28:7.
• φιλόφρων philóphrōn--courteous, humble minded, kind (1 Peter 3:8).
• Bad loves
• φιλαργυρία philargyría as in "For the love of money is a root of all [kinds of] evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV)
• ἄστοργος ástorgos which is without natural affection. Natural affection is as parents for children, siblings, etc.
• Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 2 Timothy 3:3.
• Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Romans 1:31
• What are some English words? (love and like which cover many different areas).

B3 What is the love chapter in the Bible most think of?

B4 How do others know love based on 1 Corinthians 13.

• The actions towards others.
• The motivation for our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds.

B5 15 Things to love (from Dake’s Bible. Be careful with Dake’s for he teaches the false doctrine of adoptionism and has a faulty doctrine of the Trinity).

• God (Deuteronomy 6:5 and Matthew 22:37-39)
• Neighbors (Leviticus 19:18 and Matthew 22:38-39)
• Strangers (Deuteronomy 10:19)
• Salvation (Psalm 40:16)
• God’s name (Psalm 69:36 and Psalm 119:132)
• Wisdom (Proverbs 4:6)
• Good (Amos 5:15)
• Mercy (Micah 6:8)
• Truth (Zechariah 8:19)
• Peace (Zechariah 8:19)
• Enemies (Matthew 5:44)
• One another (referring to Christian brethren) (1 Peter 3:8)
• Husbands (Titus 2:4)
• Wives (Ephesians 5:25)
• Children (Titus 2:4)

B6 How and how much to love (from Dake’s Bible with the same cautions)

• With all the heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37)
• As one loves himself (Matthew 22:39)
• As Christ loves us (John 15:12)
• Enough to lay down life for others (John 15:13)
• Without hypocrisy (Romans 12:9)
• Unfeigned (2 Corinthians 6:6)
• Sincere (2 Corinthians 8:8)
• By service to one another (Galatians 5:13)
• Forbearing one another (Ephesians 4:2)
• With a pure heart fervently (1 Peter 1:22)
• As brethren (Romans 12:9 and 1 Peter 3:8)
• Not in word but deed (1 John 3:18)
• Without fear (1 John 4:18)

B7 Can we love God by performing rituals and sacraments?

B8 Do we love the way God wants us to? (The work of the Holy Spirit with our cooperation. Galatians 5:22-26)

B9 1 John 4:7-12,

• Do non-Christians have real love? What is the difference between how a Christian loves and a non-Christian?
• Who loved first? Did God love us first or did we love God first?

B10 1 John 4:13-18,

• What is one way we know that we are Christians?
• If someone says, “Jesus is the Son of God,” is he/she a Christian?
• How does perfect love drive out fear?

B11 1 John 4:19-21

• What is the problem with hate?
• How do we love our Christian brother and sister?

B12 1 John 5:1-5,

• How does obeying God’s rules show that we love God?
• What rules is the Apostle talking about?
• Is this happening today (Christians obeying God’s rules)?
• Do we feel overwhelmed by all the evil that is happening today? How does this passage bring comfort to us?

B13 Next week

• Surviving Jericho
• Theme: Acting in faith
• Scriptures: Joshua 2:1-24