Men’s Bible Study Fellowship
Bible Study Fellowship starts on September 10th on Wednesdays at 7 PM in the classroom building. Men 18 and older are invited to join for this 30-week study. Call or see Tom Peeples(727-244-2755) to register for the study!
Beyond the obvious personal blessing that comes from reading every page of God’s inspired Word, why should someone living in the 21st century read a bunch of books written approximately 2,500 years ago?
Glad you asked! Exile & Return isn’t just an Old Testament history lesson. These books speak to people who feel displaced, weary, or like they’re waiting for something more (which sounds like my experience today). Walking through these often-ignored pages will uncover the ache of living in a world that is not our home while continually pointing toward our hope of Jesus’s return. Surprisingly, this study reveals the unwavering heart of our Savior, who meets us in every chapter of our lives.
Here are three reasons you’ll love Exile & Return.
1. Exile & Return is written for exiles.
Did you realize that believers live like exiles right at this very moment? While far too many people around the world currently live in physical exile from their homeland, every follower of Jesus Christ awaits their true homeland with God in His kingdom. While Revelation: The Hope addressed this, we must still find a way to live for God’s glory in our present “exiled” circumstances. That is exactly where Ezekiel, Daniel, Esther, and Malachi found themselves. Even in exile, living far from their true home as strangers in a strange land, God did not call His people to hide. Instead, He instructed them to plant gardens, build homes and hold weddings (Jeremiah 29:5-7).
What does this mean for us today? As we struggle with life far from our heavenly home, 1 Peter 2:11-12 reminds us of our mission, “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.”
That said, how do we “live such good lives…that they may see your good deeds and glorify God”? Exile & Return provides practical answers.
2. Exile & Return addresses deeply relatable situations.
Despite being written more than two millennia ago, the books in this study speak directly to our life circumstances today. We could all benefit from practical lessons on:
God using people in the midst of their sin (Ezekiel)
God’s complete sovereignty over nations and leaders (Daniel)
God’s faithfulness to always keep His word (Ezra)
Using influence and position to stand apart for God’s glory (Esther)
Prioritizing God over personal comfort (Haggai)
God restoring repentant sinners through the redeeming work of Israel’s Messiah (Zechariah)
Godly leadership principles (Nehemiah)
Standing firm against moral corruption (Malachi)
And these are only a few of the themes Exile & Return will explore. Through BSF’s study, we will learn to place each book within its historical context, while also discovering personal applications that speak to our practical, often desperate needs for godly guidance today.
3. Exile & Return features Scripture Jesus loved.
People love picturing Jesus as the good shepherd. But did you know the “shepherd” reference to the Messiah first appeared in Ezekiel 34?
Jesus loved to quote Old Testament Scripture. In fact, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17).”
That means one of Jesus’ goals in coming to earth was to fulfill everything written in Scripture, including the eight books we will explore. His life, teachings, and mission are inextricably linked to and interwoven within the Old Testament. Anyone wanting to gain a complete picture of our Lord and Savior should absolutely study these amazing books.