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Posted by Chester Morton / Sunday, 9 June 2019 / No comments

The Prophet Amos and the basket of summer fruits

<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/pear-immature-fruit-growth-3560106/" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0a88d3; cursor: pointer; font-family: Open Sans,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; outline-color: invert; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img alt="Pear, Immature, Fruit, Growth" data-lazy="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/07/24/21/47/pear-3560106__340.jpg" data-lazy-srcset="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/07/24/21/47/pear-3560106__340.jpg 1x, https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/07/24/21/47/pear-3560106__480.jpg 2x" height="285" src="https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/07/24/21/47/pear-3560106__340.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: currentColor; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border-left-color: currentColor; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: currentColor; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: currentColor; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; height: auto; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; width: 100%;" width="427" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>THE PROPHET AMOS SEES THE END OF ISRAEL IN THE VISION OF A BASKET OF SUMMER FRUITS</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Introduction</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The Prophet Amos, in
the vision of “summer fruits”, actually received a revelation from God about
how the nation of Israel was going to be finally punished. In other words,
just as ripened fruits were ready to be eaten by people, so also Israel was
also ready to be eaten by the enemies God was going to send into their lives.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt;"><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Amos’ vision</i></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">In a vision, Amos saw
a basket full of summer fruits and God asked him to confirm what he had seen.
Amos said he saw a basket of summer fruits. God now explains the picture Amos
had seen as a revelation of the coming end of the northern kingdom of Israel.
Again, God vowed never to forgive them again. He promised to punish them this
time, without fail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Amos said when the
day comes; the songs which were sung in the great temple at Bethel shall be
turned into wailings. The events of the day shall make them shout at the top of
their voices. Amos prophesied that many people were going to die and their bodies
shall be strewn all over the cities and towns where the swords of the enemy
shall strike. There shall be total silence in the temple where there used to be
singing and merrymaking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Amos confronted the
oppressors of the people who are only interested in the mega profit they make.
The greed they manifest in awaiting the new moon so they can sell their corn or
the end of the Sabbath so they can start business again. How they decrease the
amount of grain by adjusting the measuring container and increase the price
instead of decreasing it. How they mix the chaff with the wheat and sell to the
people. For these things, according to Amos, the Lord was never going to
forgive them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Prophet said the
people shall tremble at the sight of all they were going to behold and the day
shall turn into darkness. He said the Lord shall turn their feasts into
mourning and they shall mourn as if they were mourning the death of an only
son.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Prophet said God
was going to bring a famine upon the land. A type of famine which was different
from the famine where there is the absence of food and of water. This was a
famine in which the word of God shall be rare. In other words, there shall be no prophet to speak the words of God to the people. He said the people run around
from place to place but shall never find to interpret the word of God to them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The destruction of
the day shall be so intense that the young men and women, who were expected to
be stronger and be able to withstand and endure, shall faint. Those who
worshipped the gods built for them by Jeroboam I, to rival the temple in
Jerusalem, shall fall, never to rise again.</span></div>
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The Prophet Amos and the basket of summer fruits

THE PROPHET AMOS SEES THE END OF ISRAEL IN THE VISION OF A BASKET OF SUMMER FRUITS Introduction The Prophet Amos, in the vision of “...

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Posted by Chester Morton / Monday, 11 June 2018 / No comments

The sins of the sons of Samuel

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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>THE SINS OF THE SONS OF SAMUEL</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>                      (1 Samuel
8:1-5)</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
Samuel became old, he made his two sons, Joel and Abijah priests to carry out
his duties on his behalf just like Eli before him did. Joel and Abijah judged
in Beersheba.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">The sons
of Samuel did not walk in the ways of their father. Instead, they followed
after worldly things. They took bribes and perverted justice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
reaction to the irresponsible behavior of the children of Samuel, all the
elders of Israel got together and went to Samuel. They reminded him of how he
had become old and how he had made his two sons priests over the people. Then they told him how
his children were not walking in the ways of their father, how they took bribes and perverted justice. Therefore, they
demanded from Samuel to give them a king like all the nations that had
surrounded them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
request from the elders of Israel for a new king, rejecting the kingship of God displeased Samuel. He prayed to God putting
the matter before him. The Lord told him to hearken to the requests of the
people and give them a king. He told Samuel not to feel rejected because he was
not the one who was rejected but rather it was he, the Lord, who was rejected by the people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>WAYS IN
WHICH PARENTS CAN FULFILL THEIR PARENTAL OBLIGATION TO THEIR CHILDREN</b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">1.
Providing the children’s material needs, like food, clothing and shelter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">2.
Satisfying their emotional and psychological needs, like exhibiting love to
them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">3.
Ensuring that they are well educated according to their ability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">4.
Ensuring that they are provided with adequate healthcare. Where there is not
enough money, making sure they are enrolled with the National health Insurance
Scheme.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">5. Give
the children good moral and religious education.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">6.
Ensuring that the child grows with good moral values.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">7.
Preventing the child from committing sin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><b>THE
EFFECTS OF BAD PARENTING</b></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">1. The
children become truants, skipping school etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">2. The
children end up in the streets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">3. They
drop out of school at an early age.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">4. Some
may become drug addicts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">5. The
girls become pregnant in their teens making the boys become pre-matured
fathers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><b>SAMPLE
QUESTION(S)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;">1. a. Give
an account of the behavior of the sons of Samuel when they were appointed as
priests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span>b. What was the immediate consequence of
their misconduct?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>ALSO READ:</b><br />
<a href="http://www.virtualkollage.com/2016/01/parental-responsibility-the-example-of-eli-the-priest.html" target="_blank">The sins of the sons of Eli</a><br />
<a href="http://www.virtualkollage.com/2017/01/good-parenthood-the-example-of-king-asa-of-israel.html" target="_blank">King Asa, an example of a good parent</a><br />
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The sins of the sons of Samuel

THE SINS OF THE SONS OF SAMUEL (1 Samuel 8:1-5) When Samuel became old, he made his two sons, Joel and Abija...

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Posted by Chester Morton / Monday, 2 October 2017 / No comments

Some reasons why Jesus performed miracles

<img src="https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/644002951_640x360.jpg" /><br />
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<b>REASONS WHY JESUS PERFORMED MIRACLES</b><br />
<b><i>Introduction</i></b><br />
A miracle can be defined as any phenomenon that goes contrary to the laws of nature. Miracles formed one of the major aspects of Jesus’ ministry on earth. Jesus’ miracles can be grouped into four major areas, that is, healing miracles, nature miracles, resurrection of the dead and exorcism or casting out evil spirits.<br />
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There were several reasons why Jesus inculcated miracles into his ministry.<br />
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<b><i>To display God’s love and mercy </i></b><br />
One of the reasons why Jesus used miracles was to exhibit the love and mercy of God toward the plight of human beings. In the healing of the leper, for example, it was because Jesus had pity on the person.<br />
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<i><b>To prove his identity</b></i><br />
Another reason why Jesus performed miracles was to show the people his identity as the Messiah. The Prophet Isaiah had written many years before Jesus was born, that the Messiah would heal the blind, the deaf, the lame, the dump and many others. Jesus’ miracles were to prove that he was the Messiah that Isaiah had written about.<br />
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<b><i>As a means of arousing faith</i></b><br />
Sometimes Jesus used miracles as a means of arousing faith in his followers and the benefactors of the miracles. When Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea, he aroused the faith of his disciples. Also, when he raised Jairus’ daughter, he also aroused the faith of the child’s father.<br />
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<i><b>As an evidence of the presence of the kingdom of God</b></i><br />
Another reason why Jesus performed miracles was to show that the kingdom of God had arrived through him (Jesus). For example, when Jesus was accused of employing the powers of Belzebub to cast our demons, he replied that if he is able to cast demons by the spirit of God, it means the kingdom of God had arrived.<br />
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<b><i>As crusade against Satan</i></b><br />
Jesus used healing miracles, for example, as a means of attacking the kingdom of Satan. After the seventy got back from their mission, they told Jesus how they performed miracles in his (Jesus’) name, Jesus said, “I beheld Satan fall like lightening from heaven”.<br />
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<i><b>To win souls for God</b></i><br />
Jesus used the miracles to attract followers to his ministry and subsequently to the kingdom of God. Other people, however, deny that this was the case.<br />
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<i><b>To prove the need to fast and pray</b></i><br />
One day Jesus’ disciples could not heal an epileptic who was brought to them until Jesus himself came to heal the child. Later, Jesus advised them that such miracles could be performed through fasting and prayer.<br />
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<i><b>SAMPLE QUESTIONS</b></i><br />
1. Highlight six reasons why Jesus performed miracles.<br />
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2. In which six ways were miracles important in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.<br />
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Some reasons why Jesus performed miracles

REASONS WHY JESUS PERFORMED MIRACLES Introduction A miracle can be defined as any phenomenon that goes contrary to the laws of nature. M...

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Posted by Chester Morton / Saturday, 20 May 2017 / No comments

The commissioning of Joshua to conquer the land of Canaan

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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>THE COMMISSIONING OF JOSHUA TO CONQUER THE LAND OF CANAAN</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After the death of Moses, God told Joshua to go across the
Jordan River, into the land of Canaan and to conquer it. God promised that
wherever the soles of his feet shall tread, there He has given to the the people of Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God promised to give them the lands of Lebanon to the Great
River, to the River Euphrates, the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea
toward the West.  God told Joshua that
nobody would be able to defeat him all the days of his life. God said he would
be with Joshua all the days of his life and he would never fail or forsake him.
God advised Joshua to be strong and of good courage, to obey all the laws that
Moses had taught him. He said Joshua should meditate on the laws day and night,
not turning to the left or to the right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After this, Joshua told the people of Israel to get ready
because, in three days, they were going to go over the Jordan River to take
possession of the land that God had promised to their forefathers. Joshua
reminded the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh about what
Moses had told them to let their men of valour go over and help them conquer
their portion of the promised land before they come back to settle on theirs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh
accepted what Joshua said and promised to follow all his instruction. They also
affirmed that anybody who disobeyed the instructions of Joshua shall be put to
death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">SAMPLE QUESTION(S)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">1. Give a detailed account of the commissioning of Joshua by
God to conquer the land of Canaan.</span><br />
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The commissioning of Joshua to conquer the land of Canaan

THE COMMISSIONING OF JOSHUA TO CONQUER THE LAND OF CANAAN After the death of Moses, God told Joshua to go across the Jordan River, into...

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Posted by Chester Morton / Friday, 19 May 2017 / No comments

The fall of Jericho

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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>THE FALL OF JERICHO </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The fame of the Israelites had spread across the land of
Canaan and many of the cities in the region were in great fear of them. One of
those cities was Jericho. It was a fortified city with very thick and high
walls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">For fear of the Israelites, the people of Jericho had
barricaded themselves inside the city. Nobody was coming out and nobody was
going in. It was humanly impossible for the people of Israel to conquer Jericho.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God told Joshua that he had given the land of Jericho into
the hands of the Israelites together with their kings and men of valour. God
instructed Joshua to take seven priests, carrying seven trumpets of ram’s horn
going before the Ark of the Lord and they should march round the city of Jericho
once every day for six days. On the seventh day, they shall march round the
city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets in front of the Ark of
the Lord. On the seventh time, Joshua should give a signal and the people must
shout a great shout and the walls of Jericho shall fall down. After that, the
people shall enter the land and conquer it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After this encounter with God, Joshua told the priests to
take out the Ark of the Lord and get seven priests bearing one ram’s horn
trumpet each and to blow them in front of the Ark of the Lord. Joshua said armed men should be in front of the seven priests and another group of armed men at the
back of the Ark of the Lord. Joshua cautioned them not to make any noise or
shout until he gave them the signal to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One morning, Joshua told the people to move in the formation
he had given them and to march round the walls of Jericho once. After that,
they went into their camp and spend the night. The second day also they did the
same thing and spent the night in their camp. They marched round the city of
Jericho in this same fashion every day for six days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One the seventh day, they marched round the city seven times
with the priests still blowing the trumpets continually. On the seventh time,
as the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua signaled the people to make a great
noise because God had given the land of Jericho into their hands. He said everything
in the city must be destroyed but they should spare Rahab, the harlot who
helped the two spies he had sent into Jericho to spy the land. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Joshua warned the people not to touch anything that had been
devoted for destruction, otherwise, they may bring a curse upon the land and
Israel may be opened for destruction. The only things they were to take were
the gold, silver, bronze and iron which were to be placed in the treasury of the
Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When the people shouted, according to the instruction of
Joshua, the walls of Jericho fell down flat. Then Joshua instructed the two
spies whom he had earlier sent into the land, to go and fetch Rahab and her family
based on the agreement they had made with her. After they had fetched Rahab and
her entire family, father, mother, sisters and brothers, the city of Jericho
was burnt down to ashes. Everything within the city was destroyed except the
gold, silver, bronze and iron, which were dedicated to the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Joshua placed a curse on the city of Jericho so that nobody
shall attempt to rebuild it in the future. He said anybody who shall rebuild
the city shall lose his eldest son after laying the foundations of the city and
after erecting the gates of the city he shall lose his youngest son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Lord was with Joshua and his fame spread across the
lands.</span><br />
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<b>MORAL LESSONS THAT CAN BE DRAWN FROM JOSHUA'S LEADERSHIP</b></div>
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1. We must be willing to step forward when the mantle of leadership falls on us.</div>
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2. We be ready and willing to follow a true leader.</div>
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3. Our character as leaders must make people willingly follow us.</div>
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4. A leader must be able to encourage his followers and give them hope for a better future.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">SAMPLE QUESTIONS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1. What circumstances led to the fall of the walls of
Jericho?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2. Give a detailed account of the fall of Jericho.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The fall of Jericho

THE FALL OF JERICHO The fame of the Israelites had spread across the land of Canaan and many of the cities in the region were in great...

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Posted by Chester Morton / Wednesday, 29 March 2017 / No comments

The message of John the Baptist

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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">THE MESSAGE OF JOHN THE
BAPTIST</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In those days, John appeared in the wilderness with a leather
girdle around his waist and dressed in a dress made with Camel’s hair. His
food was locust and wild honey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">John preached in the wilderness about repentance because the Kingdom
of God was near. He said that it was a fulfillment of the prophesy of Isaiah
that they should “prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All the people in the region of Judea and round about the region
of the Jordan came to be baptized. When John saw them, he called them “brood of
vipers”. He asked them who told them to flee from the wrath that was coming.
John warned them not to say Abraham was their father because God would raise
children for Abraham from stones. He further said the axe is ready and anybody
who would not bear the right fruit would be cut down and thrown into the fire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">John further said he was baptizing them with water but the one
who would come after him is mightier than him and he (John) was not even worthy
to stoop and untie his sandals shall baptize them with the Holy Spirit. That
person, according to John, was holding his winnowing fork and would gather the
wheat into the granary and the chaff shall be thrown into the burning fire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Luke gave the story a historical setting. Luke wrote that in
the 15<sup>th</sup> year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontus Pilate
was the Tetrarch of Galilee and Annas and Caiaphas were high Priests, the word
of God came to John the son of Zechariah. Then he went out into the regions
around the Jordan to preach baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
He also quoted from the book of Isaiah saying “Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his path straight.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Like Matthew’s account, when the people gathered, he asked
them who told them to flee from the wrath which was coming. He told them to
bear good fruits. John warned them not to say Abraham was their father because
God would raise children for Abraham from stones. He further said the axe is
ready and anybody who would not bear the right fruit would be cut down and
thrown into the fire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The people asked John what they must do and he told them that
those who had two dresses should give one out to another. Also those who have
food must share with others. Then the tax-collectors came and asked John what
they must do. John told them not to collect more that they are assigned. The
soldiers came and asked what they must also do and John told them not to rob
anybody with violence and to be content with their wages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As the people were wondering what the whole thing was about,
whether it was the Messiah that had come, John told them that he was baptizing with
water but the one who is to come after he (John) would baptize with the Holy
Spirit. That person, he (John) was not worthy to even stoop down and untie his
sandals. That person has his winnowing fork in hand and is coming to gather the
grains and throw the chaff into an unquenchable fire. John also gave advice on
many other matters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">According to Luke, Herod the Tetrarch, who had earlier been reprimanded
by John on account of his marriage of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and
reproved for other evil deeds of his, arrested John and put him into prison. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SAMPLE QUESTION(S)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. What message, according to Matthew, did John the Baptist
bring to the people in Judea and around the region of the Jordan?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2. What message, according to Luke, did John the Baptist
bring to the people in Judea and around the region of the Jordan?</span></div>
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The message of John the Baptist

THE MESSAGE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST In those days, John appeared in the wilderness with a leather girdle around his waist and dressed...

The Lukan account of the birth of Jesus

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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">THE LUKAN ACCOUNT OF
THE BIRTH OF JESUS</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Six months after Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah had become
pregnant, an angel of the Lord, called Gabriel, visited a virgin, called Mary,
who had been betrothed to a man from the line of David, called Joseph.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Angel Gabriel said to Mary, “O favoured one, the Lord is with
you.” This greeting troubled Mary and she wondered what kind of greeting it
might be. The angel calmed her down by saying she should not be afraid because
she had found favour in the sight of the Lord. He said, Mary would conceive and
bear a child to be called Jesus.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Knowing that she had not been with any man and was still a
virgin, Mary asked the angel how that was going to be possible, but the angel
said the Holy Spirit would come upon her and she would become pregnant and the
child to be born shall be called Holy. Then the angel hinted that even her
kinswoman, Elizabeth was also with a child and the pregnancy was about six
months old and therefore, with God nothing is impossible. Mary said to the
angel “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your
word.” Then angel Gabriel left.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Getting close to the time Mary was due to have her child, a
decree was passed by Caesar Augustus for a census to be carried out. Everyone
was expected to go to his or her village to be enumerated. So Joseph also went
to his village, Bethlehem, together with Mary who was by this time, heavily
pregnant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While in Bethlehem, Mary’s final moments to deliver came and she
was successfully delivered of a baby boy. The child was wrapped in a swaddling
cloth and laid in a manger because there was no room in the available hotels
for them to lodge in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That same night, there were some shepherds out in the field,
looking after their flock. An angel appeared to them and the glory of God shone
around them which frightened them. The angel told them not to be afraid because
he had brought them good news. The good news was that, in the city of David,
Bethlehem, a savior, Christ the Lord, had been born. They shall find the child
wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger. Immediately, many other angels joined
the angel and they sung praises to God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After the angels had left, the shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem
and see things for themselves. They hurried to Bethlehem and found Mary and
Joseph with the baby lying in a manger. Then the shepherds told the people what
had been told them on the field about the child and everybody was wondering
about what the shepherds had said but Mary kept the sayings in her heart
pondering over them. The shepherds returned, praising God for the things they
had heard and seen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After eight days, baby Jesus was circumcised according to the
laws of the Lord which He covenanted with Abraham. He was named Jesus, which was
the name that the angel mentioned before he was even conceived in his mother’s
womb. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The custom in Israel was that every male child that opens the
womb of a woman shall be called Holy to the Lord. As part of the custom, a pair
of turtle doves or two young pigeons shall be sacrificed. When the time came
for this custom to be performed, because Jesus was the first male to open his mother’s
womb, Jesus was sent to Jerusalem for the purification ceremony according the
laws of Moses.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
FROM THE ACCOUNT</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. One of the lessons to be learned from the story is that it
does not matter the humble circumstances surrounding one’s birth, one can still
achieve great success in life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2. Another lesson is that there are no impossibilities when
God is concerned. Naturally speaking, Mary could not have gotten pregnant if
she had not had sex but with God, everything is possible.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3. The next lesson is that civic responsibilities should not
be treated with disrespect. Taking part in a population census exercise is an
important element of one’s civic responsibility.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4. God can use anybody to achieve his purpose for humanity,
regardless of the person’s humble beginning.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">REASONS FOR THE RITUALS
OF CIRCUMCISION AND PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. The ritual of circumcision was a requirement of the law.
Every Jew is mandated to be circumcised on the eighth day after birth.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2. Another reason for the circumcision was that it was part
of the covenant that God had with Abraham many years earlier that every male
born in a Jewish home shall be circumcised on the eighth day.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3. The ritual of presentation of the child in the Temple was
also a requirement of the tradition of the people of Israel. The custom
demanded that where a woman’s first child is a male, or a male child opens her
womb, the child becomes a Holy child of God and must be presented to God in the
Temple.</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4. The sacrifice of two turtle doves or two pigeons was to
lessen the burden of the ritual for poor parents so that they can fulfill the
requirement, which in reality is to be the usual goat or sheep. This indicates
that Jesus’ parents could not afford the sheep of goat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">WAYS IN WHICH LUKE’S
ACCOUNT DIFFERS FROM MATTHEW’S ACCOUNT</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. One of the ways in which Luke’s account differs from that
of Matthew is that there was no mention of an angel visiting Mary in Matthew;
it was Joseph who encountered the angel in a dream. Also the name of the angel
was not mentioned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2. Another way in which the two accounts differ is that Luke
did not record that Joseph tried to secretly divorce Mary when he discovered
that she was pregnant, only Matthew recorded this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3. Another difference between the two accounts was that
Matthew did not say anything about Elizabeth as was done in the book of Luke. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SAMPLE QUESTIONS</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. a. Describe the Lukan account of the annunciation of
Jesus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">b. In what two ways is this account different from the
Matthew account?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2. a. Highlight the main features in the account of the
birth, the circumcision and the presentation of Jesus in the Temple.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">     </span>b. Give two
reasons for the two rituals of circumcision and the Temple presentation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3. a. Outline the Lukan account of the birth of Jesus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span>b. What two lessons
can be learned from the circumstances of Jesus’ birth?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.virtualkollage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><<Back to Home Page</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://virtualkollage.blogspot.com/p/christian-religious-study.html" target="_blank">Go to other topics in Christian Religious Studies>></a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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The Lukan account of the birth of Jesus

THE LUKAN ACCOUNT OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS Six months after Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah had become pregnant, an angel of the Lo...

Home CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Posted by Chester Morton / Tuesday, 28 March 2017 / No comments

Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus

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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fP6gWbBhY11n1CJWAiBHalSHWIZpZVgXrE1MqmG7tgZwIujMJEl-5-S4tJacWdQ1sQv9yDZ-dheZNGOw6o1sgD4xeAE_MmAOBxUQ83GcxP1ckH4_cTbMHe4KUDKDkThjesNtSe7UQUnw/s1600/baptism.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fP6gWbBhY11n1CJWAiBHalSHWIZpZVgXrE1MqmG7tgZwIujMJEl-5-S4tJacWdQ1sQv9yDZ-dheZNGOw6o1sgD4xeAE_MmAOBxUQ83GcxP1ckH4_cTbMHe4KUDKDkThjesNtSe7UQUnw/s320/baptism.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">MATTHEW’S ACCOUNT OF THE
BIRTH OF JESUS</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jesus’ mother, called Mary, was betrothed to a man called
Joseph but before they could get married, it was discovered that she was with a
child of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband to be, being a just man did not
want to send Mary away in disgrace so he planned to quietly divorce her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While Joseph was still contemplating this line of action, the
Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him not to divorce Mary because the
child in her belly was a son of the Holy Spirit. The Lord said, Mary shall have
a baby to be called Jesus because he would save the world from their sins.
Joseph obeyed the Lord’s advice and did exactly what was told him. He took Mary
as his wife but he did not sleep with her until the child was delivered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At the birth of Jesus, a star appeared in the east. Wise men in
the East saw the star and followed it till it took them to Jerusalem to come
and worship the child that was born. King Herod became worried that a king was
born. He called together the High Priest and the scribes to find out where the
child was to be born and he was told it was going to be in Bethlehem because
that was what the prophets had written.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With this knowledge, King Herod invited the wise men from the
East to come and he asked them exactly what time the star had appeared. He told
them to go to Bethlehem and diligently search for the child and after they had
found him, they must come to tell him so that he could also go and worship him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The wise men followed the star until it rested on the place
where Jesus was born. When they finally saw the child, they bowed down and
worship him. They presented gifts to the child; gifts of gold, frankincense and
myrrh. On their way back home, they were warned in a dream not to return to King
Herod, so they went through another route back home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After the wise men had left, an angel appeared to Joseph and
told him to take the child and the mother and flee to Egypt because the King
was after the life of the child. He was to stay there until he is told to come
back. That very night, Joseph took the child and his mother and fled to Egypt. When
Herod realized that the wise men had left and he could not locate the baby, he
gave a decree that all babies who were two years or less should be killed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Joseph stayed in Egypt until Herod died. After that the Lord
appeared to Joseph again and told him to take the child and mother and go back
to Israel because the people who wanted to kill him had died. Upon his return,
he did not go back to Judea because Archelaus, the son of Herod, was the ruler
there, and he was afraid of him. Instead, he went to Galilee and settled in a
city called Nazareth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SAMPLE QUESTIONS</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1. a. Give Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>b. In what three ways is Matthew’s account
different from that of Luke?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2. a. Narrate the account of the birth of Jesus, according to
Matthew.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span>b. What two lessons
can be learned from the role of dreams in the life of man?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.virtualkollage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><<Back to Home Page</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://virtualkollage.blogspot.com/p/christian-religious-study.html" target="_blank">Go to other topics in Christian Religious Studies>></a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
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Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus

MATTHEW’S ACCOUNT OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS Jesus’ mother, called Mary, was betrothed to a man called Joseph but before they could ge...

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Matthew's account of the birth of Jesus

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