Author: winnipegbiblestudents

August 31, 2025

Luke 15:11–32 ESV

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.  Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.  And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.  So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.  And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.  “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’  And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.  And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.  And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.  “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.  And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.  And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’  But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’  And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”

Discussion Questions:

1)  What is the lesson of this parable to the audience that heard it at the first advent?

2)  What is the lesson of this parable throughout the Gospel Age?

Discussion Summary:

In this parable Jesus was able to bring the lesson of “finding what was lost” to an emotional level.  It speaks to the importance of heart attitude when dealing with those who stray from God’s household and when they repent and return to God.

The religious leaders who were the intended audience of this parable were unable to rejoice when the publicans and sinners came to hear Jesus and to be healed by him.  The end of the parable becomes a commentary on the heart of these leaders who showed less mercy than God.  They could not even acknowledge their own brothers.

This story reveals its truth as the reader puts themselves in the position of each of the characters.  The father represents the Heavenly Father who is always eager for repentence.  The older brother represents the religious rulers of Jesus’ day who denied Jesus’ messiahship and prevented the unlearned people from accepting his message.  The younger brother represents those who had strayed from the practice of the mosaic law.  They were the “sinners” Jesus preached to.

Applying this parable to ourselves we see that we want to have the same attitude towards those who stray as the Heavenly Father does.  We want to look for their return.  We want to show mercy.  We want to rejoice.  1 John 4:9,10 describes this God-like love, “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.  In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son….”

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August 27, 2025

1 Corinthians 7 ESV

Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.  To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.  To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.  If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.  For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.  But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.  For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?  Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.  Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.  For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.  Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.  Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)  For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ.  You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.  So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.  Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.  I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.  Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.  But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.  This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none,  and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.  I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.  But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin.  But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well.  So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.  A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.  Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Discussion Questions:

In this chapter the Apostle Paul is responding to a previous letter that the Corinthian brethren wrote to him.  According to verse 1, the Corinthian brethren propose “that it is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”  In other words, they were promoting celibacy for all, even within marriage.  The Apostle Paul attempts in this chapter to correct this imbalanced thought. 

What does Paul say about celibacy in marriage (verses 1 – 7)? 

What does Paul say about marriage (verses 17 – 35), divorce (verses 10 – 16) and remarriage (verses 8-9, 39 – 40)?  

And what does Paul say about the obligations a man has to his fiancée and/or a father giving away his daughters in marriage (verses 36 – 38)?

Discussion Summary:

The epistle of 1  Corinthians was written by the Apostle Paul in response to a letter sent to him by the Corinthian brethren.  They had many questions and issues that they wanted Paul to answer for them.  Because we do not have that first letter we are sometimes unable to fully understand the answers Paul is giving them.   In this chapter, while the details remain obscure, we see that Paul is making the argument that personal convictions cannot be made into a rule for others.

When it comes to celibacy within the relationship of marriage, Paul explains that it is already too late to follow that rule.  That conviction cannot be imposed upon your spouse.

When it comes to divorce, Paul explains that wanting to follow that conviction is not grounds for divorce.  He quotes Jesus in Matthew 5:31,31.  There Jesus explains that the Christian has stricter responsibilities to their marriage vows than was allowed under the Mosiac law.One of the reasons for this stricter responsibility is that marriage of two Christians reflects the relationship between Christ and his church (Ephesians 5:22,23; Revelation 19:6-9; 21:2).

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August 24, 2025

Today we cancelled our regular study in order to join a Canada-wide online meeting. We discussed the book of Philemon.

August 17, 2025

Luke 15:1–10 ESV

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’  Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Discussion Questions:

1)  What are the lessons of these two parables to the audience that heard them at the first advent?

2)  What are the lessons of these two parables throughout the Gospel Age?

Discussion Summary:

Jesus had given the parable of the invitation to the banquet in chapter 14:16-24.  These parables seem to be a further commentary on those who are asked to come to the banquet after the first ones have declined.  The religious leaders could not understand that they were rejecting God’s invitation through Jesus and that Jesus was extending that invitation to others who were less religious than they were (Matthew 9:9-13).  These who were far from God, who were lost, had a greater appreciation for the mercy being shown them (Luke 7:47).

In Ezekiel 34:1-10 we read of a prophesy against the false shepherds of Israel.  These were the religious leaders of Ezekiel’s day who preyed upon the people rather than caring for them.  This should have been a harsh warning to the religious leaders of his day.  Christian leaders should also heed this warning as they too are described as shepherds in 1 Peter 5:1-4.

Jesus calls the people of Israel the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6).  He also tells his apostles that he has “other sheep that are not of this fold,  I must bring them also” in John 10:16.  We understand this to refer to the gentiles who in God’s eyes were also lost and needed to be recovered.

God’s mercy is extended to all (1 Timothy 2:4) and as his angels rejoice at repenting sinners, so should we.  We notice in verse 8 the effort the woman makes to find her lost coin and we must ask ourselves if we are making the same effort to preach the good news and support those whose faith is weak.  This is a privilege of service (Romans 10:14,15).

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August 13, 2025

1 Corinthians 5 ESV

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.  But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.  For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?  God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

Discussion Questions:

1)  What is the issue within the Corinthian church that Paul is calling out?

2)  What does Paul demand the Corinthian brethren do?

Discussion Summary:

Corinth was a very cosmopolitan city.  The society was rich and indulgent.  However, a brother in Corinth was engaging in a type of immorality that even the non-Christian society condemned.  It is said that “a man has his father’s wife.”  While we are unsure of the exact circumstances this refers to some commentators believe a Christian man had married his father’s second wife after his father had died.  This would have been against what is called the law of consanguinity.  It refers to the degree of blood and family relationships in marriage and inheritance rights.  These laws are made to protect family ties and to maintain societal cohesion.

Paul is demanding that the congregation of the Corinthian brethren address this problem.  He directs them to “put him away” in other words to shun him or disfellowship him.  This would involve not allowing him to meet in the congregation or partake of communal meals or the Lord’s supper with them.

While this is a difficult action for the brethren to take because no one wants to be unloving, too judgemental or have a “holier than thou attitude,” it is necessary to bring this brother back into a full relationship with God.  Disfelloshipping is mimicking God’s diminishing relationship with this brother because of sin.  This action says to the brother, if you feel the loss of our fellowship consider the loss of full fellowship you have with God.  Repentant and come back and be accepted back into the fold of God.

This action is also necessary on the part of the congregation because as leaven transforms the whole dough, so sin can infect a congregation.  Once the bar of sin is lowered, human nature will take advantage of that in many directions.  We can see how pride was taking hold of these brethren (verse 6 and chapter 4:18) even while this sin was being tolerated.  The Church of Christ has a standard to uphold (1 Timothy 3:15).

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August 10, 2025

Luke 14:25–35 ESV

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them,  “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.  Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.  For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?  Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’  Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?  And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.  So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.  “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?  It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Discussion Question:

In our previous study (verses 15-24) Jesus spoke about those who refused the invitation to God’s banquet.  However, Jesus now sets forth the details of what accepting that invitation means.

What are the conditions of discipleship?

Discussion Summary:

Jesus began his ministry with a call of discipleship to simple fisherman (Matthew 4:18-20).  He invited them to “leave all and follow me.”  He will reiterate this call to the rich young ruler in Luke 18:22.  This is the core condition of discipleship.

Hating our family and even our life is an obvious exaggeration designed to startle the hearer and make them understand that they must love God and his son supremely.  This is shown by the parallel scripture in Matthew 10:37.  Disciples must have unconditional love for God recognizing that he is more valuable than anything else.

As we begin this new life of discipleship we have no idea of what experiences we will be given.  We understand that they will involve sacrifice and suffering as represented in the cross that we bear (Romans 5:3-5).  However, we do have to consider whether we have given our full heart loyalty to God.  If we have we can give our “all” and trust in the power of God working in us.

Assessing our heart loyalty is an important first step.  The example of a tower builder gives us the idea that if we can put our trust in the architect, the blue print we will have the ability to construct the finished product.  The example of the battle shows us that even if we are outnumbered 2 to 1 by spiritual foes we will be the victor as long as we have remained loyal to God in our hearts.

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August 6, 2025

Today we had a meeting of praise to our Heavenly Father. We shared our testimonies of how the Lord has been evident in our lives.

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August 2 & 3, 2025

Today we cancelled our study so that we could join an online/in-person Bible Student convention. This was the theme text of the convention.

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July 30, 2025

1 Corinthians 4  ESV

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.  We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.  To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.  That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.  Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.  But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.  For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

Discussion Questions:

This chapter sets forth Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian ecclesia.

1)  (Verses 1-5) What does Paul say about their ability to assess him as a leader?

2)  (Verses 6-13) How are the Corinthian brethren to compare their Christian experience with Paul’s?

3)  (Verses 14-21) How does Paul establish his authority within the ecclesia?

Discussion Summary:

Verses 1-5:  Paul dismisses the Corinthian brethren’s assessment of him as a leader because God is the true judge of such matters.  Humans can only judge the outward appearance by God judges the motivation, the heart.  Paul’s work of ministry would be revealed in time in the hearts of the Corinthian brethren.  If he was a good apostle the brethren in Corinth would mature in Christ and prove faithful.

Verses 6-13:  The brethren in Corinth were not experiencing persecution in that city (verse 8).  Paul on the other hand was experiencing many hardships and suffering as he preached the gospel throughout the region (2 Corinthians 11:23-29).  This difference had developed in these brethren a pride and arrogance that their knowledge gave them a better, different Christian experience.  They began to be ashamed of Paul for his life and even appearance (2 Corinthians 10:10).

Verses 14-21:  Paul established his authority by the power of the Holy Spirit working through him (verses 17,18).  We read in Acts 19:6, 11, 12 that Paul was given the ability to work miracles.  Paul had his own assurance that his authority was from God as it was told to him at his conversion (Acts 9:15).

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July 27, 2025

Luke 14:15–24 ESV

When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”  But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.  And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’  But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’  And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’  And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’  So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’  And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’  And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.  For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’ ”

Discussion Question:

What are the lessons of this parable to those hearing it at the first advent and for Christians throughout the Gospel Age?

Discussion Summary:

The exclamation by the Pharisee in verse 1 seems to be a sarcastic response to Jesus’ comment in Luke 14:13,14 to invite the blind and lame.  Jesus gives this parable to show that the invitation to become God’s children, part of Christ’s body was being spurned by the religious leaders and by the people (John 1:11,12).  The other part of the population who were spiritually blind and lame would have been happier to be invited but they were being hindered by the religious leaders themselves (Matthew 23:13).  So the invitation would have to go those who were not interested, those who needed to be compelled.  An example of this group can be found in Acts 17:16-34 when the Apostle Paul preached to the pagans of Athens on Mars Hill.  They were not looking for salvation or interested in Jehovah God, but listened out of curiosity.  Even so, some believed.

We also noted the odd excuses made to decline the invitation.  The feast was in the evening and yet one needed to look at oxen, another needed to look at this field.  The last excuse was not even said politely.  These all indicated the excuses were not true and valid.

For Christians we understand the invitation to be a time-limited offer.  Are we indifferent and preoccupied with other things instead of with our relationship to Christ?  We should enquire of ourselves, are these things that I am occupying myself with really more pressing than my Christian life?