A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Book Study

God’s Covenants

By 8 Comments

An aside before I start reading this chapter. I know that covenants are looked at different by the various branches of Protestant denominations. I find myself holding my breath wondering what approach Allan Harman will take in Learning about the Old Testament. Let’s dig in shall we? 🙂

God's Covenants

Covenant in the Old Testament, or testament in the New Testament often signify the same thing. In the Old Testament covenant refers to relationship between two people, a relationship of a formal nature. It also refers to the relationship between God and mankind. Many times these covenants made have a ceremony attached to them, where God promises something and the people also promise something in return.

A covenant, or treatise, between nations or between people was a very common one in biblical times. They had a particular formula to them and God replicated this formula quite often when he dealt with his people. When God did this, he helped his people more easily grasp the significance of their relationship with him.

In the New Testament we see a less formulated covenantal process. We see more of God stooping down to help the helpless. Of God making a promise to help people who can’t help themselves. Here we see him fulfilling old covenants and then making a new covenant (or testament).

The old points to the new

So we see how the Old Testament covenants always point their way to the new covenant made in the New Testament.

Part of me wants to spell out everything Harman writes in this chapter, but to do so gives YOU no incentive to go out and get this helpful book for yourselves. I was delighted to see how Harman connected the Old and New Testaments so well. He pointed out several situations which showed how the Old Testament covenants point to the new covenant God made. Harmon also showed how the New Testament linked the old and the new together. It is very interesting reading and pondering on.

But it’s important to understand that the Old Testament people well understood the concept of a covenant, of the promises made between a king and his people, between one nation and another, and what obligations a covenant wrought upon both parties. As we read the Old Testament we need to remember how it points to the New, and how covenants impacted the lives of the people in it.

Background of the Old Testament

By 2 Comments

Our next chapter in Learning about the Old Testament takes us on a search through the background of the Old Testament.

Background of the Old Testament

The Old Testament was written in the Near East. The lands of Egypt, Palestine and Israel. I was about to say and section of Greece, Crete etc…but realized that was during New Testament times! Good catch eh?

Anyways, because it took place in the Near East means that it took place among a particular cultural setting as well. Understanding the culture and place helps us to put words and situations into context.

Background of the Old Testament

Palestine strategically important

Palestine is the English version of the word ‘Philistia’. This area was situation on the Mediterranean coast in the Near East. It was a strategically good position. It covered the trade routes between Egypt and Assyria. Unlike many of the other countries around it, this was a land the bible tells us that was “flowing with milk and honey”. It had easy access to sea, ample sources of water and more.

This land was originally called Canaan. This was a land that was divided into five geographic areas.

  • rich coastal plain
  • upland area stretching from hills of Galilee south to Judean hills
  • Jordan Valley
  • Hills of Transjordania
  • Negev

Understanding the geography helps us to understand why people moved the way they did and why cities were set up where they were (strategic defense).

Archaeology Helps

Current archaeologists are helping us understand the people of Palestine better. They can’t tell us everything, they give us clues regarding people movements and lifestyle, but there are huge gaps in our understanding.

First off because archaeology can’t excavate all of Palestine! Imagine if it could eh? Everything would be dug up with no place for people to live. Or even if they tried only to dig up the important places… people still live there a lot of the time. Plus archaeology can only provide us with an educated guess. They can’t tell us with complete certainty everything we might want to know.

BUT archaeology often validates (that might not be quite the right word) what the Bible tells us. Showing us the historical accuracy contained within the pages of God’s glory. As Allan Harman tells us “The biblical faith rests on the historical basis of the bible.”

Background of the Old Testament

Approaching the Old Testament

By 2 Comments

I just finished going through The Faith-Shaped Life and was looking for another book to study every week. My eye fell upon “Learning out the Old Testament” by Allan Harman. It’s a book that my hubby received while at The Banner of Truth pastor’s conference that he attended yearly. An excellent conference that churches should send their pastor’s too!

Anyways, with 19 chapters it shouldn’t take me as long to get through as the Faith-Shaped life did, hopefully we’ll learn alot together eh?

Approaching the Old Testament

Pivotal Details

Harman starts off this first chapter reminding us some pivotal details

  • The Old Testament is just not an old manuscript. It is the very word of God written down for us.
  • As such we need to approach it obediently with reverence and devotion
  • There are 39 books in the Old Testament that we should be intimately familiar with.
  • It has been translated many times since it was written in Hebrew. Different versions from the original king james serve people in a variety of languages and times.
  • We need to keep in mind the “distinction between translation and interpretation” (p.3) It is an ancient document and care needs to be taken by teachers and preachers to convey it’s message to modern audiences.
  • The Old Testament is part of a unified bible. Together with the New Testament it provides the whole written revelation of God.
  • The New Testament helps us to understand the Old. Giving the end game so to speak. Shows us what the Old Testament was leading up too.
  • The Old Testament gives depth to the New. Understanding the flow of history, helps to understand the framework of the New Testament authors.

I haven’t spoken to everything Harman wrote, after all.. you should go get it yourself. I love how he points out the the more we learn about God, the more we engage in bible study, the more we should want others to know God. Isn’t that the way it should be?

Using scripture to talk about scripture so that in the end, we just want more people to know this magnificent God who put it all together.

One Thing I Do

By 8 Comments

Oh, this chapter in The Faith-Shaped Life took me by surprise.  Dr. Hamilton told the story of a pastor he had as a young man.  This pastor, James Philip, was speaking and asked “Are you a one-thing-I-do-man, a one-thing-I-do-woman?”  … Paul did many things, but in all things he did there was one thing he was always doing. He was always pressing on ‘toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.’  … There was an inerradicable heavenly-mindedness to Paul’s faith.” (p140-141)

One Thing I Do

Why the Surprise?

One Thing I Do… oh that thought just grabbed a hold of me.  Spawning off into stories in my brain, and making my heart throb.  What is the ONE thing I do?   Am I like Paul, wholly committed to Christ.  Wanting to be with Christ more than any other thing… even if that other thing is totally worthy?

Not Always so Easy

It’s not always so easy though is it?  This is something that Paul admits to as well.   It’s hard to forget the things that lie in our past.  Sins that we cling to, sins that we did that the Devil wants to keep us ashamed of, and sins that just seem to show up.  It is a hard battle.

We need to remember this though.  To remember our past, to remember our shame, because then we are more keen to recognize God’s grace in our lives.   This recognition keeps us pressing forward.  You see it right?

God’s grace pulls us onward.  Even though it is hard (and it is!) but despite how hard it can be, his grace pulls us onward.  Helping us to remember our love for the Lord.  Our desire to put him first above all other things. 

To make Christ our “One Thing I Do”. 

One Thing I Do

Stop the Drift

By 8 Comments

Dr. Hamilton starts this chapter off talking about Phil 2: 19-24. In these verses he points out two facts from Paul’s letter. These facts concern the supreme interest of the Christian.

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

Stop the Drift

Two Groups

First he commends Timothy to them as a man who is genuinely concerned about their welfare.    He then speaks of those who don’t share that same concern.  He speaks of those who seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.  

So we have two outlooks juxtapositioned against each other.

The first group with a genuine love for Christ and a love for the people of God.   Against the second group the professes to love God but is highly influenced by self-interest, greed, pride, or whatever.  This latter group serves their own self-interest.

The Drift

It’s easy to do you know?   To become complacent in our faith, to drift along with the tides of the world we live in. It’s easy to forget what our first priority should be. 

The Cross

To escape this drift, we need to remember the words of our Lord.  Take up our cross and follow him.  He doesn’t promise it’s easy, but he does promise that by seeking the genuine good of those around him, that by searching our own hearts and lives, and by actively pursuing the Lord others will see Christ in us. 

After reminding us of this truth, Dr. Hamilton calls us to action.  Calling us to remember how we show love to others. 

Stop the Drift

Our Fellowship

One of the best ways to prevent drift is to have a genuine love and concern for our fellowship of believers.  Taking the time to care for those around us.   From writing a letter of gratitude, to spending time with a shut-in, making a meal for a family in need, taking the time to babysit for a young family, or to help rebuild a porch.  Taking the time for others put our own self-love on the back seat.   And that helps to keep us aware of the drift and able to step out of it. 

It makes me think of Bondi Rescue, a show my 13 year old really likes to watch.  In this show the lifeguards are constantly reminding people to swim between the flags and watch where they are going.  If they do that, they will stay out of trouble, and not need to be rescued.

So too, as believers, we need to be alert to where we are.  We need to be watchful of the drift that naturally occurs.  Caring for our fellow believers stops the drift.  Just like watching for where the flags are and what the waves are doing, keeps the non-swimmers safe on the beach. 

Be safe, be alert and be caring.  Stop the drift.

The Christian’s Obsession with Christ

By Leave a Comment

One of the things my hubby pastor says frequently “I need to preach Christ”.  That means regardless of the scripture passage being used, Christ is to be preached.  He is central to the entirety of scripture.   He is woven throughout the fabric of our history, from the beginning of the world until it’s very end.  Christ is always to be found.

Therefore, Christianity is Christ. This is the central theme of this chapter from the Faith-Shaped Life.

The Christian's Obsession with Christ

Throughout the gospels this truism is seen most clearly.  Jesus doesn’t tell people in Matthew 11 to some other being in order to find rest.  He says “come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”.   He calls people to himself. 

Jesus was very much aware that he was the answer to people struggling with the affects of sin in their lives. 

It’s so True

Consider how God took care of all the details when his Son died.  How he made sure all scripture was fulfilled, that Jesus had a witness, and more.  God gave us his everything.  So we have EVERYTHING… not just what we need, but everything possible.  It’s all tied up in Jesus. 

In John 15 Jesus tells us that he is the vine and we are the branches.  He is the ONE that gives us the life that we need to flourish. 

This means that if we are struggling, the first thing that we must do is turn to Jesus.  We need to look to him for the answers.  

And wow.. it’s so easy to forget that eh?   We find ourselves down in the dumps and what do we do?  Everyone has their own thing.

 I know what I do!   I make myself busy and force myself to be involved in the world around me.. even if all I want to do is curl into a ball and stay away from the world.  But that’s not turning to Christ first.  That’s me making decisions about what I think I need to do.  It’s the same advise I give to others who struggle.  Stay involved, don’t shut yourself away, community is there for a reason. 

When perhaps, if I turned to Christ first, if I looked to him for the answers, he might have another solution for me.  A solution that would be better in the long run instead of a short term solution.   If instead of losing myself in an electronic game, tv show or book.  That instead, I took a walk and spent time just talking with God.  Or spent time perusing scripture. 

I need to remember when I am struggling to look to Jesus.  In him I can find the solution I need.  How about you?

Watch and Pray

By 5 Comments

I was orginally going to entitle this post, the wicked shall not inherit, but then I read the chapter again.   While it is true that that wicked shall not inherit the earth, it is more true that our job is to watch AND pray.   Let us then consider WHY we should watch and pray.

Watch and Pray

In 1 Corinthians 6, Paul is talking with a church that he has spent a lot of time with.  He’s seeing things in them he doesn’t like to see and so offers a series of six questions.   Questions that begin with Do you not know?

  1. Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 
  2. Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life!
  3. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?
  4. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute?
  5. Do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her?
  6. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Watch and Pray

We are Not Immune

You would think that all believers would know these truths, particularly ones that have been taught by solidly biblical pastors.    But that might not true.   People don’t always know what we expect them too.   Sometimes the world influences us in ways that we don’t expect.

Take the age that we live in now.  Sensuality and money influences about everything you can think of.  Think you aren’t influenced by that?   Please… think again.  We cannot for one moment take for granted that we are immune to certain sins, even some of the grosser sins in Paul's catalogue! The Faith Shaped Life by Ian Hamilton Share on X

Watch and Pray

Watch and Pray

So we need to watch and pray.   We need to pray that we are kept from the evil one, that our churches not succumb to the pressures of the age in which we live.  We need to be alert to influences of the world creeping in in ways that we might not expect. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us that we need to “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

We need to pray that we don’t deceive ourselves, that we not be compromised by the prevailing wickedness of the world around us.   Watch and Pray.  The earth belongs to the Lord but the devil fights him hard.  Let’s not help him.   Bring glory to God. 

If you’d like to follow along in The Faith-shaped life, amazon link is below.

Before I leave today, I’ve just realized I only have 6 more chapters to go before I am done this amazing book. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been thoroughly enjoying going through this book. I’m getting rather curious about what book I should go through next. These are the books that I am considering. What are your thoughts?