1st And 2nd Samuel (2015)

What happens in a country when the Word of God is no longer taught or considered important? Listen to this lesson to hear about Israel’s history over a period of years when they neglected God’s Word. Find out about a series of evil kings who brought chaos to their country and then a few kings who brought God’s revelation back to the people and restored biblical worship for a period of time. See that idolatry, which is worshiping anything more than God, takes over and that all of us are susceptible when we neglect God’s Word. There are several Worship-related series available on the Dean Bible Ministries website. Click on the following links to go to the series that interests you: Worship and Music series (includes Revelation and Colossians) Biblical Worship Through the Dispensations 2013 Chafer Conference featuring worship instruction from Scott Aniol

Does your life revolve around God or do you only dwell on Him occasionally when you’re at church? Listen to this lesson to learn that the Bible teaches us to have a divine-centered mental attitude throughout the hours of our days. See that we praise and glorify God by telling others what He has done and is doing for us. By hearing about His divine attributes from us, others will be encouraged to see how God is intervening in their lives and solving their problems. Be encouraged to live intentionally, managing your time as you walk by means of the Spirit.

Where can we learn how to praise God? Listen to this lesson to see that the Book of Psalms is a songbook filled with praise to God. See that our praise must be based on biblical truth and not on human emotion. Our thanksgiving and praise should be a response to God that must come from what we have learned from the Word of God. Find out the difference between thanksgiving and praise. Recognize that we are the ones who need God and should tell others about Him and all He has done for us.

Why should we bother to learn about Old Testament priests, required sacrifices, and the yearly calendar of festivals? Listen to this lesson to learn that worship in the Old Testament was meant to teach about the important doctrines, such as redemption and sanctification so in the Church Age it gives us a deeper understanding. See the difference between ritual forgiveness and real forgiveness and its application to us today. See how the yearly religious calendar helped to keep the people focused on the importance of their spiritual life, which is a reminder of our need to focus on our spiritual life.

Take a journey back in time in your mind’s eye and view the tabernacle that was built to God’s specifications. See the articles of furniture and how each was designed to teach an aspect of God’s character and His plan for the human race. Find out abut the uniform of the high priest with its expensive fabrics and precious stones, all of which held deep meaning. Learn why a pomegranate was the symbol used in the hem of the garment. Hear a summary of the five sacrifices and how they were all fulfilled by Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross. Be challenged to see the significance of the worship in the tabernacle and how it can enrich our understanding of God’s provision for all believers today.

“Take time to be holy. Speak oft to the Lord.” Listen to this lesson to learn the meaning of the words of this hymn. See that all believers are commanded to be holy and that it is important not to confuse our position in Christ with our need for sanctification or spiritual growth. Follow the Old Testament description of how the Israelites were to take time to prepare for worship and see the layout of the tabernacle and its emphasis on cleansing. Be challenged to approach worship solemnly, taking time to prepare to be set apart to serve God.

Go back in time and imagine you are one of the Israelites traveling to the land God has promised. Moses, your leader, tells you to prepare yourself to be in the presence of God. Picture a smoky cloud over a quaking mountain and actually hearing the voice of God. What would your reaction be? Awe? Fear? Reverence? Listen to this lesson to learn about these events and their significance as the people were being chosen to be a kingdom of priests to proclaim God’s message to the world. Learn what sanctification meant then and the importance of being set apart to serve God in our own lives. Find out what the opposite of holy is and how we can prepare ourselves to worship God. Dr. Dean referenced several books during his discussion on universities, including: The Book That Made Your World: How the Bible Created the Soul of Western Civilization by Vishal Mangalwadi, How Christianity Changed the World by Alvin Schmidt, How the West Was Won by Rodney Stark, and The Rise of Universities by Charles Homer Haskins.

What do you think of when you hear the word “holy”? Someone who is “saint-like” and perfect? Listen to this lesson to learn that holy means to be set apart and that God is set apart from all His creation and unique in His holiness. Find out why we are not able to make ourselves holy and the meaning of sanctification, starting with the necessity for cleansing. Hear about the nation of Israel and their purpose to be kings and priests. As we learn that we in the Church Age are called to be holy so we can serve God, find out how to fulfill this requirement in a way that brings glory to God and not to ourselves.

Why have governments of the world throughout the ages feared Jews and Christians? Listen to this lesson to hear that who we worship becomes our ultimate authority. Hear about Moses’ and Aaron’s challenge to Egypt’s Pharaoh when they requested that the Israelites be allowed to worship in the wilderness. See how Daniel’s insistence on praying to God got him in trouble with the authorities. Find out what the name God said He should be called showed that He is a God who hears our prayers and intervenes in human history.

Are there things we can do that will help enrich our worship of God? Listen to this lesson to learn what some of the mature believers in the past did in this area of their lives. Hear eight important things Abraham learned about God that will give us confidence in God’s goodness as we worship Him. Find out that biblical accounts of people who came into the presence of God resulted in fear and awe over His majesty. As believers when we face adversity we can remember an incident in Jacob’s life to learn that God has promised to be with us always.

Soft music, dim candle lighting, and fog machines. Is that what we need in order to worship God? Listen to this lesson to learn that worship must come from our mental attitude and be an appreciation for God as the Creator of the universe and the provider of all we have. See the elements of Abraham’s worship which included ritual, the giving of thanks, and burial. Learn about Melchizedec and what it means when the Bible says Abraham offered tithes to him. Find out that as we come to learn more about God’s greatness we can understand more fully our own sinfulness.

Are you impressed with someone who is willing to stand up for what they believe no matter the cost? Listen to this lesson to learn that it’s the content of what we believe that makes it meaningful, not just standing up for it. See the importance of teaching children the gospel. Learn when Abraham proclaimed the name of the Lord and gained many people on his side. Find out the difference between positional and experiential righteousness. During this class Dr. Dean mentioned a blog by Scott Aniol. You can view it here.

Why did God punish mankind with a universal flood in the days of Noah? Listen to this lesson to learn about bizarre occurrences among the fallen angels that involved infiltration of the human race. Find out what proclaiming the name of the Lord means and how Abraham praised God for His attributes of grace and mercy. See that when we worship we should recall who God is, what He has done for us, and how we can have a relationship with Him.

A long as we’re expressing reverence for God in our own way, does it matter how we worship? Listen to this lesson to learn that from the beginning God revealed how we were to worship on His terms and not on our own. Find out what was wrong with Cain’s offering but right about Abel’s. See what “fat” signifies. Learn the importance of names in the Bible and what it means to call on the name of God.

Imagine what it was like in the Garden of Eden when God came to fellowship with Adam and Eve every day. Listen to this lesson to see that today we are to worship God by trusting and praising Him daily. Find out what sanctuary means and how it differs in the Church Age. See Satan’s actions in the Garden as he inhabits the serpent. Compare Jesus’ handling of Satan when tempted by him with Eve’s lack of knowledge of the Word of God. After they sinned see how Adam and Eve reacted and how God provided the solution to their problem.

Is there a connection between the Garden of Eden and Israel’s later places of worship? Listen to this lesson to see that the furnishings and articles of the Tabernacle and the Temple reflect God’s original design in the Garden. Learn which two trees hold particular significance and hear how pagan religions corrupted these by worshipping the trees rather than the Creator. See which tree the Menorah represents and what the Tablets of Law in the Ark of the Covenant reflect. See how easy it is to allow our corporate worship to lose its purity as we try to make people feel at home in the church.

What is the significance of water in the Bible? Listen to this fascinating exploration of water beginning in Genesis and woven throughout Scripture until Revelation. Learn that water is always a sign of life and shows us that God is the One who created life, sustains it, and provides for all of our needs. Hear about the Samaritan woman at the well and what Jesus told her about living water. Learn about water under the Temple in Jerusalem and see how water refers to the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer in the Church Age.

Is the Garden of Eden an actual place or just symbolic? Listen to this thoroughly gripping account of a real place which God created as His dwelling place on earth. Hear about its beauty and the magnificent trees, precious stones, and gold in it. See how a study of Eden and the Tabernacle and Temple show us how to worship God. Learn that before his fall Satan appears to have had a high priestly function. Understand how learning that God is the light of the world and that out of Him flow living waters assures us of His provision for all our needs.

Do you think a church service should be designed to lift your spirits and make you feel better? Listen to this lesson to learn that the purpose of a worship service should be to help you know God as defined in Scripture. Hear a number of definitions of worship telling both what it is and what it isn’t. Find out why it is important to study worship in the Old Testament. Begin an intriguing new study of what a sanctuary is and learn that as believers study God’s Word and mature spiritually they will come to trust and obey God on a daily basis.

How is an understanding of creation central to worshipping God? Listen to this lesson to hear nine foundations for the study of creation being essential for true worship of God. See that angels worship God’s creation throughout the ages and into the future, just as believers will in the eternal state. Hear examples of this worship in Psalms and many other Scriptures. Understand that it is only when we grasp the marvels of God creating all things out of nothing that we are able to fully appreciate His majesty and power.