CHART: Origin of the Nations / Descendants of Noah

Here is a chart I worked up based on the genealogies of Genesis chapters ten and eleven for the generations that span between Noah and Abram (Abraham).

Hopefully this will help demonstrate the familial proximity of different nations (people groups) that are found in the early historical books of the Bible.

It is worth noting that Canaan was disinherited in the earth. As a result the land that he and his descendants settled would be promised by God to Abraham and his descendants.

It is also worth noting that the Philistines, who antagonized the Jews  for decades, were themselves not a Canaanite people.

Feel free to use this chart as a teaching tool. I only ask that you leave the small attribution box on the chart.

DIAGRAM: Israelite camp in the wilderness under Moses in relation to the Tabernacle.

While teaching on the Tabernacle of Israel during the wilderness wanderings I needed a chart depicting the probable layout of the Israelite camp. I couldn't find one I liked so I made my own. I am happy to share it with you. I used simple math to figure the ratios of the area needed to accomodate those listed for each tribe in the Biblical census. By grouping those tribes on each side of the tabernacle you can figure the total area needed on each side. When you divide that area by the length of the respective side of the tabernacle you can figure the distance from the tabernacle that the encampment on that side would have gone. The formula for the area (square feet per man) really doesn't matter as long as you are consistent throughout. The ratios will remain the same which is what you really need to illustrate the shape anyway.

Copy and use this as you need it as a teaching aid, as long as you aren't selling the image. Please credit the image as IMAGE: Tony Thomas, 2013.

LESSON OUTLINE: "Love Letters: Communication within the Godly Family”

“Love Letters: Communication within the Godly Family”

Lesson prepared by Tony Thomas

Family Life Class 

June 15, 2014

 Photograph: David Levene/Public Domain

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." [Hebrews 4:12 ESV]

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." [Ephesians 4:29 KJV]

Foundational Truth #1: God Communicates with us through His Word.

1. In Proverbs 30:5 what one word is used to characterize the Word of God?
2. In Hebrews 4:12 how is the Word of God described.
3. What word would you use to describe what Jesus is saying about His Word in Matthew 24:35?
4. Does God protect his Word?
5. Can we trust our modern English translations of the Bible?*
6. Why are there sometimes differences between different translations?*

{*For questions 4 and 5 you need to thoroughly study "Translation Philosophy" and know the practical difference between what is known as the "majority text / Textus Receptus" and the "revised text".} The following links should prove useful.

http://www.mardel.com/UserFiles/File/Bible%20Translation%20Chart.pdf

http://www.uv.es/~fores/programa/majorityvscritical.html

 Foundational Truth #2: God Communicates with us through His Spirit.

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." [John 16:13 NKJV]

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" [Ephesians 6:18 KJV]

"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" [Romans 8:16 KJV]

Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

• In what ways does the Holy Spirit communicate with the church?

  Family Life Application: Communication within the home

• We know that God’s Word is pure, alive, powerful, penetrating, and discerning. As we live as an imitation of Christ how should this knowledge affect how we talk to each other?

• Are short answers okay? Matthew 5:37, James 5:12.

• Are long conversations okay? Reference Song of Solomon.

• In what way does the human spirit affect our conversation?

Consumerism "Worship"

I am both a minister and a salesman. I have the salesman job, as they say, "to support my preaching habit".  

Now I know I am not the only guy who has both a calling and a vocation, but I do believe that wearing both of these hats does, at times, give me a little extra insight into people and why they do what they do. For instance, we all know that $999 is just $1000 minus $1. Everyone knows the practice of "rounding down" exists, but it is used because it works. It is not dishonest or deceitful. You know exactly what you are getting, but it is used in retail because, despite all  logic, it works. It is my experience that customers have become so accustomed to things ending in 9's that any other number seems to disturb them. In some weird twist of circular reasoning retailers must end their prices with 9's because retailers always end their prices with 9's.

Sometimes I take my "retail brain" to church...and the Christian book store...and let it listen to Christian radio...

and my retail antennae start buzzing...

You see, if you could time travel to any era of the church, in any part of the world, there are a few things you would find that remain constants. Christians gather together. They pray together. They worship together. They learn together...and then they worship and pray some more. These are fundamental facets of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. By its very nature, at the core of its existence, are the practices  of prayer, worship, and preaching. These practices are Biblical, and necessary for the health of the Church.

Now we time travel back to our own time and culture. By the standards of past centuries, even the poorest among us are wealthy. Think about the things you have that practically no one had 150 years ago: indoor plumbing, refrigeration, fresh produce year round (that someone else grew), electric lights, and the ability to talk to almost anyone you know with the push of a button. You also have access to nearly unlimited amusement.  

And I am thankful for all of those things...except for the  amusement.

By definition "a-muse" means to "not think".  

It is my observation, that the cultural obsession with amusement has deeply rooted itself in the church. 

Let the pastor preach a moderately deep, theologically sound sermon and many people's eyes begin to glaze over... Don't make me think. 

Call for a spontaneous "testimony service" and many will scrunch down in panic... Don't make me think.

Try to draw people into worship...well you know...don't make me think. 

You see, instead of gathering together with the intent of contributing to worship, I suspect many of us gather with the intent to consume worship as if we were going to a concert.What we are really seeking is amusement. We want to be entertained. And if the musicians mess up, or the singer is off key, or too loud, or too quiet, or too fast, or too slow, or the pastor preaches too deep, or too shallow, or the prayer is too long, or the Sunday School teacher rambles, or senile Sister Suzie embarrasses us, or the unruly kid three pews back disturbs us or...(etc.)... then I just didn't "get fed" or [use spiritual voice here]  "I didn't feel God there".

  Really?

"Well, I put my money in the offering and I should get something for it."

  Oh, I see. Consumerism. I pay. Amuse me. 

If you try to dance your pastor on that string it will kill him.

If he agrees to dance on that string it will kill you.

Here is the thing. Biblical worship means that I come to contribute  worship not consume worship, even if (especially if) it requires sacrifice on my part. I "worship" because I deem God to be "worthy" of my adoration. My walk with God on a daily basis prepares me to give to God  when I am among His people.

To be honest in church not every song rocks my world...

not every lesson gives me a great insight on life...

not every sermon I hear (or preach) inspires me to conquer spiritual giants...but it's not about me. It's about Jesus.

This does not mean we should settle for mediocrity. Every musician, singer, preacher, teacher and window washer should strive to hear from God and perform their sacred duties with fidelity, reverence and awe...and if I sit in the congregation, so should I. Worship is not passive.

Worship requires participation, and personal contribution. If I expect a pastor to come to the pulpit prepared, and I expect musicians and worship leaders to come prepared, shouldn't I also arrive at the time of corporate worship with my heart prepared to do my part? 

God help me to live a lifestyle of worship so that I may be totally consumed in you!

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." [Hebrews 13:15 KJV]

IMAGE ATTRIBUTION: By Peter17 (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons