WebClass Bible Study Archive
Email us.
Return to main WebClass page...
Our current teacher is Dr. Stephen
“Steve” C. Booth.
 Steve
serves Richmond's First Baptist Church as Associate Pastor for
Christian Formation. He was ordained by the Highland Baptist Church, Louisville,
Kentucky. He came to First Baptist Church after having served
churches in Virginia, North Carolina, and Indiana. Steve is a
native Mississippian with family roots in North Carolina. He is
a graduate of Campbell University and The Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary. He holds the Doctor of Ministry degree in
supervised ministry from Andover Newton Theological School. He
and his wife, Barbara, are parents of Jordan, Megan, and
Meredith and grandparents to Jackson. Jordan and his wife,
Erin, are Jackson’s parents. Megan, and her husband, Peter,
live in Charleston, SC.
Study Resources for May 13, 2012 - Hindrances to
God's Mission?
-
See the
session.
-
Read
focal text Acts 10:44-48.
Background passage: Acts
9:32-11:18.
-
Lesson Outline:
• Special Status - “By no means, Lord ...” (Acts 10:9-33)
- Who do we exclude from the Kingdom?
- In what ways are we hindrances to God’s mission in the
world?
• Who’s Judging Who – “God shows no partiality ...” (Acts
10:34-43)
- In our culture, what group’s behaviors do we treat as if
they do not deserve the Kingdom of God?
Why?
- How does your judgment of their behavior change when it
comes to God’s calling?
- What hard beliefs and ideas do we have that keep us from
being able to be transformed?
• Acceptance for the Unacceptable – “They have received the Holy Spirit just
as we have.” (Acts 10:44-48)
- Can you think of any experiences in your life, when the
Holy Spirit has drawn you closer to believers who are different from you?
Explain.
- What ways does God break down the barriers today between
groups of Christian believers, or between believers and non-believers?
- Resources used in this session:
- Amazing Grace - an
emotional video showing transformation through grace.
Watch
it online.
- Gridiron Gang -
Coaches persuade athletic director to play their team.
Watch
it online.
- I Am (Nicole Nordeman), a music video.
Watch
it online.
Study Resources for May 6, 2012 - What Prevents Me?
-
See the
session.
-
Read
focal text Acts 8:26-40.
Supplemental texts:
• Isaiah 53:1-8 (The text Philip helped the Ethopian eunuch understand.)
•
Deuteronomy 23:1
-
Lesson Outline:
• Hearing God’s Call (vv. 26-29)
Most scholars agree that Philip was not the Apostle Philip (one of the 12)
but one of the seven chosen to be a deacon in the early church. Read Acts
6:1-7 to discover characteristics of those chosen to be deacons. What might
be the connection between Philip’s character and his ability to hear the
voice of God’s messenger (8:26-29)?
• Explaining God’s Message (vv. 30-38)
What were some possible reasons for the eunuch’s confusion and inability
to understand Isaiah’s prophecy about a “suffering servant of God”? When
have you struggled with understanding a Biblical passage and had someone
help you discern its meaning?
• Living as God’s Example (vv. 39-40)
The text demands that we ask ourselves if we are willing to reach out to
anyone, of any color, of any background, without regard for whether we think
they deserve it, or whether their presence makes us uncomfortable in some
way. What prevents us from sharing the good news of grace that knows no
limits?
Study Resources for April 29, 2012 - We Cannot Keep
From Speaking...
-
See the
session.
-
Read Acts 4:1-22.
Outline:
• A rude interruption (4:1-4)
• A loaded question (4:5-7)
• A compelling witness (4:13-22)
-
Resources used in this session:
- Video Clip, "Why I hate religion but love Jesus/Spoken Word,"
a poem.
Watch
it online.
- Excerpt from Martin Luther King’s last
speech.
Watch
it online.
- Questions to ponder:
1. Peter said many starling things during his sermon (4:8-12)
– including the accusation that the Jews and religious leaders had killed
Jesus. But according to verse 2, what was it about Peter’s message that so
disturbed the religious leaders? Why do you think this upset them more than
the other things we said?
What is clever about the council’s leading question in verse 7?
2. What is clever about Peter’s response to the question?
3. Luke tells us in verse 13 that Peter and John were common,
uneducated men. Why would this be so surprising to these highly educated
religious men?
4. What had these men “seen and heard” that was so difficult
to keep quiet? Have you ever had such an experience with Christ that you
could not keep from speaking about what you had seen and heard?
5. What obstacles keep us from sharing the Good News about
God’s love through Jesus? What keeps us from being as bold as Peter? In what
ways do we share our faith?
Study Resources for April 15, 2012 - Holding All
Things In Common
-
Resources used in this session:
- Video Clip, "Waking Ned Devine," a town hall meeting
scene.
Watch
it online.
- Video Clip, "It’s A Wonderful Life" scene with "Hark
the Herald" and "Auld Lang Syne."
Watch
it online.
- Video Clip, "Border Song" by Elton John (performed May
1970).
Watch
it online.
- Video Clip, "Get It Together" by The Youngbloods.
Watch
it online.
- Questions to ponder:
1. What do you think Luke, the author of Acts, was trying to
communicate about the earliest Christians when he wrote,
“those who believed were of one heart and soul”?
2. On the surface, it might seem like the earliest Christians
in Jerusalem were living communally in which everyone pooled
their possessions and all lived from a common fund. This
text has often been used to justify certain kinds of
political and ideological stances. What do you think? And,
if not making a political statement, what do you think Luke
intended to communicate regarding the earliest days of the
church following the resurrection?
3. In verse 33, Luke says “with great power the apostles gave
their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” Can
you share a story of how a personal faith experience gave
power to a theoretical theological idea? (an idea such as
“God is love” or “God provides” or “God’s way are deeper
than our ways.”)
4. “Great grace was upon them all.” (verse 33) What do you
think this phrase means? How might it inform the early
Christians generosity and service to each other?
5. Looking past our focal passage, read Acts 5:1-11. What
happened to the faith community’s “one heart and soul”
attitude as a result of Ananias and Sapphira’s choices?
6. How would our lives look like if we let go of our fears
and viewed our material possessions through eyes of faith?
How would our church look? Our communities?
Study Resources for April 8, 2012 - The Rest of
the Story
-
See the
session.
-
Read Acts 10:34-43.
-
Read
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24.
-
Read
1 Corinthians 15:1-11.
-
Read
Mark 16:1-8, 9-20.
-
Resources used in this session:
- Video Clip, "What is Easter?"
man on the street interviews by Joe Perez. Watch
it online.
- Video Clip, "Easter Song" by Keith Green. Watch
it online.
- Video Clip, "Easter is Coming" from
WorkingPreacher - the Center for Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary. Watch
it online.
- Video Clip, "Christ The Lord Is Risen Today" a
hymn by Charles Wesley. Watch
it online.
- Questions to ponder:
1. Watch the video clip,
“What Is Easter?” What do you think of the answers given in this video?
What does it say about our culture’s perception of the Easter story?
2. Why do you think the Church seems to focus more on the defeating
death of Jesus than on his victorious resurrection?
3. You may notice
in your Bibles that there are footnotes about multiple endings for
Mark’s gospel. Most Biblical scholars agree that Mark’s gospel
originally ended at verse 8. Later, other scribes added verses 9-20.
Read verse 8 again. If Mark did end his gospel here, what do you think
he was hoping to get across to the reader?
4. When Jesus appeared to
the disciples in Mark 16:14, “he upbraided them for their lack of faith
and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after
he had risen.” Is it still hard for us to trust the testimony of persons
who tell incredible stories of healings, miracles, and divine
interventions? Why are we hesitant to believe?
5. Twenty-five or so
years later, the apostle Paul would write. “For the message of the cross
is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved
it is the power of God.” (I Corinthians 1:18) How does God’s power in
the Easter story shape the way you think and live?
6. Dr. Tony
Cartledge in his commentary on this passage says, “We may desire to hold
on to Easter as the bedrock of our faith, but Mark’s gospel won’t fill
us with certainty and assurance. If we show up on Easter to get a
booster shot of orderly and systematic religion, we won’t find it in
Mark.” Does the messiness of the Easter story bother you?
Study Resources for April 1, 2012 - The Quest
Requires... A Different Kind of Power
Our teacher April 22: Walter Morton.
 Walter
Morton is a graduate student attending Baptist Theological
Seminary in Richmond for his Masters in Theology. A former
church staff Media Minister in Texas and holder of a Masters in
Media Studies from the University of South Florida, Walter has
many years experience in leading Bible study as well as teaching
media courses to university students. His approach to study is
multi-disciplinary. Walter lives with his wife, Sandra, a
practicing licensed Masters Social Worker. And their cat Molly.
Study Resources for April 22, 2012 - A Healing in the
Temple at Jerusalem
Our teacher for
the first quarter of 2012 was Dr. Phyllis Rodgerson
Pleasants.
 After
interesting and varied careers as high school history teacher,
office manager/paralegal, registered lobbyist in Washington, D.C.,
and church history professor for twenty years at academic
institutions both in the US and in Europe, Phyllis has launched
out on her own as a consultant/educator for local congregations
and businesses. Her focus is thinking historically in order to
participate in creating the future. As one friend said, "she is a
historian of the future -- neither trying to recreate the past nor
idealize the past, but use the past to build on and point to the
future." Phyllis's education include a BA at Mary Washington
College, MEd at the University of Virginia, MDiv & PhD The
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and external study with
Bishop Kallistos (Timothy Ware) at Oxford University, England.
Phyllis grew up in Bon Air Baptist Church where her father was the
founding pastor. Her mother, Bernice Rodgerson, is a member of
First Baptist Church.
Study Resources for March 25, 2012 - Every Quest
Requires Renewed Commitment to the Quest
-
See the
session.
-
Class outline (pdf).
-
Read Jeremiah 31:31-34.
-
Read
Psalm 51:1-12.
-
Read
Psalm 119:9-16.
-
Read
Hebrews 5:5-10.
-
Read
John 12:20-33.
-
Resources used in this session:
- "Agnus Dei," Benjamin Britten,
Missa Brevis, Mosede Church Girls Choir, Denmark.
Watch
it online.
- Selected scenes from the motion picture, "Luther,"
MGM, 2003.
- "Agnus Dei," Bach, B Minor Mass, Rene Jacobs, soloist. Watch
it online.
Study Resources for March 18, 2012 - Every Quest
Requires a Symbol
Study Resources for March 11, 2012 - Every Quest
Requires Rules/Guidelines
Study Resources for March 4, 2012 - Every Quest
Requires Participants: What is Required to be a Participant
-
See the
session.
-
Class outline (pdf).
-
Read Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16.
-
Read
Psalm 22:23-31.
-
Read
Romans 4:13-25.
-
Read
Mark 8:31-38.
-
Resources used in this session:
-
J.S. Bach: Mass B Minor 4. Gloria in Excelsis, 5. Et in Terra Pax / Eric
Ericson Chamber Choir.
Watch
it online.
- An example of a Massively Multiplayer Online
Role-playing Game -
Watch
it online.
- Mozart: Gloria in excelsis Deo, Great mass in C
minor.
Watch
it online.
-
Following this session, Jeannie Dortch, one of the class participants,
passed along a link to a talk by John Hunter, inventor of the World
Peace Game, along with this comment: "I was blown away with what I am
sure are similarities between this game and the MMORPG that we have been
discussing in class. There is no religious conversation involved and it
is not real, but it is full of truth, love, compassion, and sacrifice.
It brought tears to my eyes and a new sense of perspective in terms of
what gamers learn in their quests. Could it be that God is so big that
he sees ways of reaching others that even I could not imagine?"
Watch
the talk online.
Study Resources for February 26, 2012 - Quest for
Easter: Entrance
Study Resources for February 19, 2012 -
The Kingdom of God: It Takes a Community
-
See the
session.
-
Class outline (pdf).
-
Read
Isaiah 43:18-25.
-
Read
Psalm 41.
-
Read
2 Corinthians 1:18-22.
-
Read
Mark 2:1-12.
-
Resources used in this session:
- A video clip showing the work of
some seminary students in Charlotte, NC.
Watch
it online.
- A video clip of Bruce Springsteen's song, "What Love
Can Do."
Watch
it online.
- "Oscar Romero, quoted in Celtic Daily Prayer, 2002,
p. 329.
-
"Why Peasants Responded to Jesus," William R. Herzog II, in
Christian Origins: A People's History of
Christianity, Vol. 1, Fortress Press, 2005
- John Chrysostom,"Homilies on Matthew," XXIX, p. 195-198.
- "An Experiment in Love" (1958), in A Testament of Hope: The Essential
Writings of Martin Luther King, Jr., edited by James M. Washington, San
Francisco: Harper & Row Publishers, 1986, p. 16ff.
- Spoken prayer from The Alternative Service Book 1980, Church of
England.
Study Resources for February 12, 2012 - No one
untouchable in the Kingdom of God
Study Resources for February 5, 2012 - The
Kingdom of God: Authority, Signs and Wonders - Is that all there is?
Study Resources for January 29, 2012 - Teaching
with Authority
Study Resources for January 22, 2012 - The
Kingdom of God
Study Resources for January 15, 2012 - Calling
-
See the
session.
-
Class outline (pdf).
-
Read
1 Samuel 3:1-20.
-
Read
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18.
-
Read
1 Corinthians 6:12-20.
-
Read
John 1:43-51.
-
Resources used in this session:
- "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of
the Ring"
- "Te Deum in C", Haydn, The Vienna Choir
Boys with Chorus Viennensis, and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra
- Jonathan
A. Draper, "The Tip of the Ice-berg: the Temple of the Holy Spirit,"
Journal of Theology for Southern Africa, 1987
- John Chrysostom, "Homilies on John," 19-21
- Spoken
prayer from The Alternative Service Book 1980, Church of England.
Study Resources for January 8, 2012 - Baptism
-
See the
session.
-
Read
Genesis 1:1-5.
-
Read
Psalm 29.
-
Read Acts 19:1-7.
-
Read Mark 1:4-11.
-
Class outline (pdf).
-
"Shining Like the Sun," by Kate
Campbell, www.katecampbell.com.
-
YouTube clips:
John the Baptist, Jesus, baptism
Eastern Orthodox Baptism, St. Lawrence Orthodox Church, Felton, CA
Kenny Chesney & Randy Travis, Baptism
-
Resources used in this session:
- Baptismal Instructions, John
Chrysostom (4th century)
- The Didache or Teaching of the Twelve
Apostles, author unknown (2nd century)
- The First Apology, Justin the
Martyr (2nd century)
- Tertullian, "On Baptism," (2nd/3rd century)
-
The Celtic prayer is found in many devotional guides and hymnals. The
words are from an ancient Irish verse.
Study Resources for January 1, 2012 -
Epiphany
Return to main WebClass page...
Email us.
Our teacher
for the 1 Thessalonians and Advent series is Dr. Michael
Harton.
 Dr. Harton is a popular speaker and well-known in
Virginia as an outstanding educator. His professional background is varied
and extensive, including formally serving as the Regional Coordinator for
the Initiative for Ministerial Excellence with the Cooperative Baptist
Fellowship, Interim Dean of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond,
interim staff educator at various churches, Professor of Christian Education
at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and as the Director of Bible
Teaching and Discipleship for Virginia Baptists. He is the co-author of
The Religious Education of Adults (Smyth & Helwys) and is contributing
editor for The Church’s Ministry to Adults, and Handbook on
Adult Religious Education. Dr. Harton and his wife, Raylene,
are active members of Richmond's First Baptist Church. 1 Thessalonians
Introduction and overview (October 9, 2011)
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (October 16, 2011)
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 (October 23, 2011)
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 (October 30, 2011)
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (November 6, 2011)
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (November 13, 2011)
Psalm 100 (November 20, 2011)
We regret that, due to technical difficulties, we were unable
to record this session and make it available here. But Dr. Harton has provided
his
class notes and outline so that you may study Psalm 100 on
your own.
Advent, 2011
Mark 13:24-37 (November 27, 2011)
Mark 1:1-8 (December 4, 2011)
John 1:6-8, 19-28 (December 11, 2011)
Luke 1:26-38 and John 1:1-14 (December 18, 2011)
Email us.
Return to main WebClass page...
|
