Tag Archives: Bible study

Human Custom, Tradition, and God’s Promises

Posted on December 27, 2024 by Don Merritt

Genesis 16 The Christmas Story would never be complete without an examination of the friction between human customs and traditions, and the promises and ways of God. In our text, Sarai is getting old, yet she has never conceived a … Continue reading →

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In the Garden

Posted on December 26, 2024 by Don Merritt

Matthew 26:36-46 Matthew shifts the scene to the Garden of Gethsemane (which means “oil press”). This is another scene that is no doubt a familiar one for most all of us, a scene that has an odd feel to it, … Continue reading →

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God Makes a Covenant

Posted on December 26, 2024 by Don Merritt

Genesis 15:7-21 In this passage, the conversation of our last post continues, this time Abraham asks God how he can be sure that God will give him the land of Canaan, an amazing question, all things considered. God’s reply is … Continue reading →

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“I Am He”

Posted on December 24, 2024 by Don Merritt

John 18:1-11 This text is not actually one of the seven “I Am” statements of John’s Gospel, but it does make an interesting study nonetheless. It takes place in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Last Supper at the time … Continue reading →

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Father Abraham: Having a Candid Conversation

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Don Merritt

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram.    I am your shield,    your very great reward.” But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer … Continue reading →

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I Am the Way

Posted on December 23, 2024 by Don Merritt

John 14:5-14 In essence, this is Jesus‟ “final briefing” to His disciples. Judas is gone, they were shaken by his betrayal and Jesus opened this chapter with words of comfort, followed by Him telling them that He was about to … Continue reading →

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Bonus Post: The Passion Narrative

Posted on December 20, 2024 by Don Merritt

Matthew 26:1-28:20 This final section of Matthew’s account of Jesus is quite interesting for several reasons and is deserving of a little extra background information. To begin, it is comprised of three parts, the first of which runs from 26:1-56 … Continue reading →

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Predictions of Desertion

Posted on December 20, 2024 by Don Merritt

Matthew 26:31-35 In the entire series of events beginning with the plot of Judas and ending with his suicide, the disciples aren’t portrayed in a very flattering light, but Jesus isn’t surprised by any of this, in fact He predicts … Continue reading →

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Father Abraham: Warrior

Posted on December 20, 2024 by Don Merritt

Genesis 14 Abram remained conscious of God’s promises; he remained in Canaan and prospered. Lot saw a financial advantage and left Canaan to live on the Jordan plain, taking up his headquarters in Sodom, a town filled with wickedness against … Continue reading →

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The Last Supper

Posted on December 19, 2024 by Don Merritt

Matthew 26:17-30 This passage opens with Jesus giving instructions to the disciples about the arrangements for the Passover meal that remind us of His instructions to them in 21:1-3 about the arrangements for His entry into Jerusalem. After everything had … Continue reading →

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