2022 - 2023 The Book of Judges
This Bible study meets in the church Fellowship Hall, 7 - 8:30pm. All are welcome. During the fall of 2022 and the winter/spring of 2023, we will work our way through the book of Judges. The overall schedule can be found here.
Week Seventeen (Mar 21, 2023)
We discussed Judg 15:1 - 6:3.
The audio recording of week seventeen can be found here.
The marked-up text of Judg 15:1 - 16:3 can be found here.
Week Sixteen (Mar 7, 2023)
We discussed Judg 14.
The audio recording of week sixteen can be found here.
The marked-up text of Judg 14 can be found here.
Week Fifteen (Feb 28, 2023)
We discussed Judg 13.
The audio recording of week fifteen can be found here.
The marked-up text of Judg 13 can be found here.
Our list of character descriptions from Judg 13 can be found here.
Week Fourteen (Feb 21, 2023)
We discussed Judg 11:29 – 12:15.
The audio recording of week fourteen can be found here.
The marked-up text of Judg 11:29 – 12:15 can be found here.
Week Thirteen (Feb 14, 2023)
We discussed Judg 10:17 – 11:28.
The audio recording of week thirteen can be found here.
The marked-up text of Judg 10:17 – 11:28 can be found here.
The parallel between the negotiations of chap 10 and chap 11 can be found here.
Week Twelve (Feb 7, 2023)
We discussed Judg 10:1–16.
The audio recording of week twelve can be found here.
The marked-up text of Judg 10:1–16 can be found here.
Week Eleven (Jan 31, 2023)
We discussed Judg 9:22–57.
The audio recording of week eleven can be found here.
The marked-up text of Judg 9:22-57 can be found here.
Week Ten (Jan 24, 2023)
We discussed Judges 8:29 - 9:21.
The audio recording of week ten can be found here.
The marked-up text of Judg 8:29 - 9:21 can be found here.
The brief application points we discussed can be found here.
Week Nine (Jan 17, 2023)
We discussed Judges 8:1 - 28.
The audio recording of week nine can be found here.
The marked-up text of Judg 8:1-28 can be found here.
Week Eight (Jan 10, 2023)
We discussed Judges 6:33 - 7:25
The audio recording of week eight can be found here.
The marked-up text of Judg 6:33 - 7:25 can be found here.
The application notes we created together can be found here.
Week Seven (Jan 3, 2023)
We discussed Judges 6:1-32
The audio recording of week seven can be found here.
The marked-up text of Judges 6:1-32 can be found here.
Week Six (Nov 8, 2022)
We discussed Judges 5
The audio recording of week six can be found here.
The marked-up text of Judges 5 can be found here.
My summary (thus far) of the theology of the book of Judges can be found here.
Week Five (Nov 1, 2022)
We discussed Judg. 4.
The marked-up text of Judges 4 can be found here.
The photo of Mt. Tabor can be found here (Mt. Tabor in center background; Jezreel Valley in foreground).
The audio recording of week five can be found here.
Week Four (Oct 25, 2022)
We discussed Judg. 3:7 - 31.
The marked-up text of Judges 3:7-31 can be found here.
The diagram of the structure of the book of Judges can be found here.
The diagram of the cycle of punishment and rescue can be found here.
The diagram depicting all of Judg. 3:7 - 16:31 can be found here.
The list we created of application points from Judg. 3:7-31 can be found here.
The audio recording of week four can be found here.
Week Three (Oct 11, 2022)
We discussed Judg. 2:6 - 3:6.
The marked up text of Judges 2:6 - 3:6 can be found here.
Our structural analysis of Judges 2:11-14 can be found here.
Daniel Block's diagram illustrating the meaning of the Hebrew word for "judge" can be found here.
The diagram illustrating the cycle of punishment and rescue throughout Judges can be found here.
The audio recording of week three can be found here.
Week Two (Oct 4, 2022)
We discussed Judg. 1:22 - 2:5.
The marked-up text of Judg. 1:22 - 2:5 can be found here.
The diagram of Judges 2:1-5 can be found here.
The audio recording of week two can be found here.
Week One (Sept 27, 2022)
We discussed Judg. 1:1-21.
The diagram of the structure of the book of Judges can be found here.
The audio recording of week one can be found here.
June/July 2022 The Abolition of Man, by C. S. Lewis
Updated and Expanded Version of the Tao
At this link, you can find Dennis Danielson's updated version of Lewis' Tao.
Book Summary
At this link, you can find two summaries of The Abolition of Man. The first summary is five pages long, the second is one page long.
Vocabulary List
At this link, you can find a glossary prepared by Prof. Rob Koons. It lists some of the more difficult words in the book in alphabetical order. Additional vocabulary with definitions can be found in each of the four "chapter outline & notes" handouts below (one for each week/chapter).
Week One (Jun 28, 2022)
The outline, notes, and discussion questions for the Appendix can be found here.
On 6/28 we discussed Natural Law and the Appendix. I also provided an introduction to Chapter One. The notes I showed on-screen can be found here.
Week Two (Jul 5, 2022)
The chapter outline, notes, and discussion questions for Chapter One can be found here.
We discussed: (a) from Acts 17, the question of whether the Appendix could lead someone to downplay the importance of the Bible; (b) Chapter One; (c) an extension of the ideas in Chapter One to the issue of same-sex marriage; and (d) I provided a brief introduction to Chapter Two. The notes I showed on-screen can be found here.
Week Three (Jul 12, 2022)
The chapter outline, notes, and discussion questions for Chapter Two can be found here.
On 6/12 we discussed Chapter Two, and I also recommended, for conversations with non-Christians: (a) developing an ear for self-contradictory statements and (b) asking questions. I also provided an introduction to Chapter Three. The notes I showed on-screen can be found here.
Week Four (Jul 19, 2022)
The chapter outline, notes, glossary, and discussion questions for Chapter Three can be found here.
On 6/19 we discussed Chapter Three, and also the book as a whole. The notes I showed on-screen can be found here.
2021 - 2022 The Book of Revelation
Details
Trinity Fellowship's Tuesday Night Bible Study is led by Stefan Matzal. During the fall of 2021 and the spring of 2022, we worked our way through the book of Revelation.
Week Twenty-Three (May 24, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 22:10-21.
The marked-up text of Rev. 22:10-21 can be found here.
The diagram of the entire book of Revelation can be found here.
The diagram of Rev 4-16 can be found here.
Stefan's 12-point summary of the theology of Revelation can be found here.
Week Twenty-Two (May 17, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 22:1-9.
The marked-up text of Rev. 22:1-9 can be found here.
Discussion of views regarding the rapture.
Here are links to the rapture views diagram and chart.
I also referenced the millennial views again; that diagram can be found here.
Week Twenty-One (May 10, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 21:9-27.
The marked-up text of Rev. 21:9-27 can be found here.
The chart of parallels between Rev. 17:1-3 and Rev. 21:9-10 can be found here.
Week Twenty (May 3, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 21:1-8
The marked-up text of Rev. 21:1-8 can be found here.
Ian Paul's proposed chiastic arrangement of Rev. 21:1-5 can be found here.
Week Nineteen (Apr 26, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 20.
The marked-up text of Rev. 20 can be found here.
The chart of Premillennialism and Amillennialism can be found here
Week Eighteen (Apr 5, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 19:11-21.
The marked-up text of Rev. 19:11-21 can be found here.
Week Seventeen (Mar 29, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 19:1-10.
The marked-up text of Rev. 19:1-10 can be found here.
Week Sixteen (Mar 22, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 18.
The marked-up text of Rev. 18 can be found here.
Week Fifteen (Mar 15, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 17.
The marked-up text of Rev. 17 can be found here.
Week Fourteen (Mar 8, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 15 - 16.
The marked-up text of Rev 15-16 can be found here.
Week Thirteen (Feb 15, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 14.
The marked-up text of Rev 14 can be found here.
The diagram of the structure of Rev. 4 - 16 can be found here.
Week Twelve (Feb 8, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 13.
The marked-up text of Rev 13 can be found here.
Week Eleven (Feb 1, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 12.
The marked-up text of Rev 12 can be found here.
A simple summary of the basic storyline of Rev 12 can be found here.
A difficult interpretive issue is trying to understand the timing of Satan being cast out of heaven. Two options are presented here.
Week Ten (Jan 25, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 10-11.
The marked-up text of Rev 10-11 can be found here.
Week Nine (Jan 18, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 8-9.
The marked-up text of Rev 8-9 can be found here.
I created a chart representing the somewhat-chronological unfolding of the seven seals, trumpets, and bowls of Rev 6-16. My reading of the text is that the seventh seal consists of the seven trumpets, and that the seventh trumpet consists of the seven bowls. That understanding is visualized in this chart.
Week Eight (Jan 11, 2022)
Discussion of Rev. 7:1 - 8:1. To understand the significance of the sealing (Rev 7:2-3), see Rev. 9:4.
One key question is whether the 144,000 is a reference to ethnic Jews or if it is using Israelite language to talk about the church (Jew and Gentile) in general. I used this chart to talk about that question.
The marked-up text of Rev 7 can be found here.
At the beginning of the study, I showed the diagram of the structure of Rev. 4-16 which you can find here.
Week Seven (Nov 9, 2021)
Discussion of Rev. 6.
During the study I showed a chart depicting a part of Mark 13, which you can find here.
Week Six (Nov 2, 2021)
Discussion of Rev. 5.
The marked-up text of Rev. 5 is available here.
Week Five (Oct 26, 2021)
Discussion of Rev. 4.
The marked-up text of Rev. 4 is available here.
Two quotations about the theology of Revelation can be found here.
Week Four (Oct 19, 2021)
Discussion of Rev. 3.
The marked-up text of Rev. 3 is available here.
(The Bible study did not meet on Oct 12).
Week Three (Oct 5, 2021)
Discussion of Rev. 2.
The marked-up text of Rev. 2 is available here.
Week Two (Sept 28, 2021)
Discussion of Rev. 1:9-20.
The marked-up text of Rev. 1:9-20 is available here.
A map showing the locations of Patmos and the seven churches can be found here.
A chart showing different interpretations of Revelation 1:19 is available here.
Week One (Sept 21, 2021)
Introduction to Revelation, and a discussion of Rev. 1:1-8.
The marked-up text of Rev. 1:1-8 is available here.
A simple diagram of the structure of the entire book of Revelation can be found here.
Notes about the structure of Revelation, the theology of Revelation, and the theme of Rev. 1:1-8 can be found here.
Introduction
There are three major approaches to the book of Revelation. (1) The "past tense" view sees much of the content of Revelation as referring to or being fulfilled in events that took place in the first century AD, especially those events surrounding the destruction of the temple in AD 70. (2) The "timeless truths" view is not very concerned with pinning the events described in the book to any particular set of events in human history, past or future, but is instead interested in the principles for Christian living found in the book. (3) The "future tense" view sees much of the book of Revelation as describing events that are still future to us today.
I think that in light of, for example, the phrase, "what must take place after this" in Rev. 4:1, the future tense view is the best view. However, the other two views are important because they remind us that Revelation was written to Christians in the first century and meant something to them in their context. The book was intended first of all to call Christians to persevering faith and behavior in the face of opposition from the world. We need to hear this message today as well. The future comes into play because Christ's future victory over all evil encouraged the original readers and encourages us today to not assimilate to the patterns of the world, but instead to live courageously in light of future vindication.