Sunday Bible Study

Machine transcription, lightly cleaned; Scripture readings set to the KJ3 text.

Part 1

0:00:32[The stream opens with the song “His Workmanship,” Ephesians 2:1–10 sung.]

0:04:00ErnstWelcome to our Sunday Bible study and open forum program. Thank you so much for joining us today, and let's go to the Lord in prayer, shall we?

Heavenly Father, we thank you again for this Sabbath day, for the fact that you have set apart this day as a day dedicated to you and to our relationship with you, and to the things belonging to the kingdom of God. And so we're grateful that we can open your word and we can discuss things from your word, and we thank you for the comfort and patience of the scriptures. And we pray that whoever is listening or watching or will be listening and watching will be blessed in some way, by a scripture passage, by something that is said from your word. And we pray for your richest blessings upon your people this day, wherever they might be around the world. And you're aware of each one of them, and you are aware of their needs. You are aware of everything about their lives individually. And we thank you for each member of the body of Christ that is alive on earth today. And we commit this time to you and ask all of these things with thanksgiving in Jesus' name. Amen.

Last week we were in Corinth, where believers lined up behind the names of their teachers: Paul, Apollos and Cephas. Paul asked them whether Christ had been divided, and last week's main line was this: Christ is not my label. I am His. This week we ask what brings people together, and whether they agree on whether what they agree on is right before God.

Before we go further: if you have ever been welcomed into a group very quickly, because you share their opinion of someone who was not there, think back to that time. Maybe it was at work. Maybe in a family. Maybe online. You had not necessarily known these people long. But you were all against the same person, and for an hour it felt like belonging. We're going to come back to that.

The question this whole series follows is the lawyer's question in Luke 10:29. Luke 10:29.

0:07:17

But desiring to justify himself, he said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor?

Luke 10:29 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

And Jesus did not answer him with a definition. He told him a story about a road. We will be walking that story all throughout this series, week by week. This week it brings us to two places where people were joined together: a plain in the land of Shinar and a day in Jerusalem when two enemies became friends.

The first story is set after the flood. Here it is, all nine verses, Genesis 11:1 to verse 9. Genesis 11:1–9.

And the whole earth was of one lip and of one speech. And it happened, as they pulled up [stakes] from the east, they found a level valley in the land of Shinar. And they lived there. And man said to his neighbor, Come, let us make brick, and burning burn them. And they had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. And they said, Come, let us build a city and a tower with its head in the heavens, and make a name for ourselves, that we not be scattered on the face of all the earth. And Jehovah came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of Adam had built. And Jehovah said, Behold, the people [is] one, and the lip one to all of them, and this they are beginning to do, and now all which they have purposed to do will not be restrained from them. Come, let Us go down and confuse their language so that they cannot understand one another's speech. And Jehovah dispersed them from there, over the face of all the earth. And they stopped building the city. On account of this its name is called Babel, because Jehovah confused the language of all the earth there. And Jehovah scattered them abroad from there on the face of all the earth.

Genesis 11:1–9 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

0:10:18Look at what these people had. One lip, one speech, one plan. And man said to his neighbor, there is our series word, neighbor, early in the Bible. And what neighbor said to neighbor was: come, let us build. They shared a language and a purpose.

So what was the purpose? Verse four tells us, and it is on the screen: make a name for ourselves, that we not be scattered on the face of all the earth.

Two things held them together. A name they wanted to make for themselves. And a wish not to be scattered.

Then Jehovah says something about their unity in verse six.

And Jehovah said, Behold, the people [is] one, and the lip one to all of them, and this they are beginning to do, and now all which they have purposed to do will not be restrained from them.

Genesis 11:6 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

Jehovah does not say they were weak. He says nothing they purposed would be restrained from them. Their agreement made them strong. It did not make them right.

Listen to how Jehovah answers them. They had said, come, let us build a city. He says, come, let us go down. The same words, and his plan overturns theirs.

Their plan also ran the other way from what had already been said. Two chapters earlier, after the flood, God spoke to Noah and his sons in Genesis 9:1. Genesis 9:1.

And God blessed Noah and his sons. And He said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.

Genesis 9:1 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

Fill the earth. At Babel they built so that they would not be scattered over it. And the very thing they built to prevent is the thing that happened. And Jehovah dispersed them from there, over the face of all the earth.

0:13:27So the first question is not whether people agree. It is what they agree to do, and what is holding them together while they do it.

After Babel comes a list of generations, and then Jehovah speaks to one man, Abram. In Genesis 12:2–3. Genesis 12:2–3.

And I will make of you a great nation. And I will bless you and make your name great; and you will be a blessing. And I will bless those who bless you, and curse the one despising you. And in you all families of the earth shall be blessed.

Genesis 12:2–3 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

At Babel, the people wanted to make a name for themselves, and not be scattered. To Abram, Jehovah says he will make your name great, and the blessing reaches all families of the earth. A name they would make for themselves. As opposed to a name Jehovah gives.

The second story is from the day Jesus was crucified. Two rulers are in it. Pontius Pilate governed Judea. Herod ruled Galilee. Jesus has been brought to Pilate, and Pilate has already given his verdict. In Luke 23:4, Luke 23:4.

And Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, I find no cause of death in this Man.

Luke 23:4 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

Let's go on to Luke 23:6–12. Luke 23:6–12.

And Pilate, hearing Galilee, asked if the man is a Galilean. And knowing that He is from Herod’s jurisdiction, [he] sent Him up to Herod, he also being in Jerusalem in these days. And Herod, seeing Jesus, greatly rejoiced, [for] [he] was wanting to see Him for a considerable time, because [he wished] to hear many things about Him, and he hoped to see some [miraculous] sign being done by Him. And he questioned Him in many words. But He answered him not a thing. And the chief priests and the scribes stood vehemently accusing Him. And Herod having despised [Him] with his soldiery, and having mocked Him by putting around Him luxurious clothing, [he] sent Him back to Pilate. And on that same day, both Pilate and Herod became friends with each other, for they before were at enmity [between] themselves.

Luke 23:6–12 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

0:17:27Look at Herod first. He greatly rejoiced to see Jesus. He hoped to see some miraculous sign being done by him. Jesus answered him not a thing. Two verses later, the man who had greatly rejoiced to see him is described this way: Having despised him with his soldiery. Herod hoped for a sign, and he got silence. Then he mocked.

Luke tells us they had been enemies. He does not tell us why. And he does not explain the friendship. He tells us the day it began, on that same day, the day they passed Jesus back and forth between them.

Look at what both rulers acknowledged. Pilate did not find him guilty, and he says Herod did not either. A few verses later he tells the crowd in Luke 23:15,

But neither did Herod, for I sent you up to him; and, behold, nothing worthy [of death] is done by [Him].

Luke 23:15 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

Neither of them had found anything worthy of death in him. Yet Herod mocked him, and Pilate gave him over to their will. That's in Luke 23:24 and 25. Knowing he was innocent did not keep either of them from taking part.

In the book of Acts, the believers in Jerusalem describe what the two of them did, in a prayer. Peter and John had just been threatened by the chief priests and elders, and let go. When the believers heard it, they prayed in Acts 4:24–28. Acts 4:24–28.

And hearing [they] with one passion lifted voice to God and said, Master, You [are the] God, the [One] “making the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all [things] in them,” who through the mouth of Your servant David said, “Why did the nations rage, and the peoples meditate vain things? The kings of [the] earth stood up, and the rulers were assembled on the same [day] against the Lord, and against His Anointed [One].” For on a truth both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with [the] nations and the peoples of Israel, were assembled against Your holy Servant, Jesus, whom You anointed, to do as many [things] as Your hand and Your purpose before determined to occur.

Acts 4:24–28 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

0:21:25They quote the second psalm in their prayer. Kings and rulers gathered together against Jehovah and his anointed one. Then they named Herod and Pontius Pilate among those assembled against your holy servant, Jesus.

And listen to how the believers end that sentence: to do as many things as your hand and your purpose before determined to occur. Even the day Herod and Pilate joined against Jesus was not outside God's hand.

Notice on the screen. For they were for they before were at enmity between themselves.

Enmity is the only word we will look at today. The word Luke uses there is the same word Paul uses for an enmity that Christ ended. Paul is writing to believers from the nations, about the nations and Israel made one. Let's go to Ephesians 2:14–16. Ephesians 2:14–16.

For He is our peace, He making us both one, and breaking down the wall of partition, in His flesh having made to cease the enmity, the Law of the commandments in decrees, that He might in Himself create the two into one new man, making peace, and might reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, slaying the enmity in Himself.

Ephesians 2:14–16 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

Same word. Two ways an enmity ends.

Paul says Christ is breaking down the wall of partition. A wall keeps two peoples apart. He did not make them friendly across the wall. He broke it down.

0:24:34Herod and Pilate's enmity ended on the day they were assembled against Jesus. Their friendship began there.

In Ephesians, the enmity ends in him. In his flesh having made to cease the enmity. He did it so that he might reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, slaying the enmity in himself. Herod and Pilate became friends with each other. In Ephesians, believers from Israel and from the nations are reconciled in one body to God, through the cross.

Two enemies became friends on the day they were assembled against him. In himself, he slays the enmity.

Stay with the believers who prayed that prayer in Acts 4. They had real opponents. The chief priests and elders had just threatened Peter and John. And this is what they asked for in Acts 4:29–30. Acts 4:29–30.

And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings and give to Your slaves to speak Your Word with all boldness, in Your hand to stretch out unto healing and [miraculous] signs and wonders to happen through the name of Your holy Servant, Jesus.

Acts 4:29–30 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

They asked God to look at the threats. And they asked for boldness to speak his word. They did not ask to be united against anyone.

They had prayed with one passion. And a little later Luke describes them in Acts 4:32. Acts 4:32.

And of the multitude of those who believed, the heart and the soul were one. And no one said any of the possessions belonging [to] him to be [his] own, but all things were common to them.

Acts 4:32 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

The heart and the soul were one. Herod and Pilate were joined on a day they spent against Jesus. These believers were one in heart and soul, and it showed in what they did with what they had. And Luke tells us what marked that assembly in Acts 4:33. Acts 4:33.

0:28:10

And with great power the apostles gave testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

Acts 4:33 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

The believers' unity showed in their testimony about Christ and in their care for one another.

At Babel, they were united around what they wanted to build and the name they wanted to make. In Jerusalem, two enemies became friends on the day they were assembled against Jesus. These are different, but both show that agreement by itself cannot tell us whether people are right.

So here is a test we can take home, for unity that rests on being against someone. It is not from any one verse. Take away what the group is against and what is left?

And we can ask it of ourselves. If the group I belong to no longer had the person we regularly speak against, would we still have something to say to one another? Would we still have a reason to meet?

None of this means agreement is bad. In fact, Paul asks the Philippians for it in Philippians 2:2. Philippians 2:2.

Fulfill my joy, that you think [the] same, having the same love, one in soul, being mindful of the one thing.

Philippians 2:2 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

The same love. One in soul. That is the union Paul asked for.

And none of this means we never stand against anything. He, in fact, wrote in Jude 1:3, Jude 1:3.

Beloved ones, making all diligence to write to [you] about the common salvation, I had need to write to you to exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith once given over to the saints.

Jude 1:3 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

0:31:14Contending for the faith is right. Last week we said scripture draws lines around the gospel itself, and those lines stand. But contending for the faith is not the same as being held together by the people we contend against. What Jude's readers shared was the common salvation.

We may need to stand together against wrongdoing. But our fellowship must have more holding it together than the person we oppose.

If a moment came to mind at the start of our study, bring it back now: a group that welcomed you quickly, because you shared their opinion of someone who was not there. How much of that welcome was about you, and how much was about the person you were all against?

Now turn it around. Is there someone my own circle has quietly agreed to be against? Not a teaching we have examined with the text open. A person. And if that person sat down with us, would we still have anything to talk about? When our circle agrees to keep someone outside, are we still willing to act as a neighbor to that person?

That is the question for this week. What would still hold us together if we no longer had that person to be against?

So let's talk about this together and I would like to hear from you.

And now we're going to go to the table. Luke 23:15 says,

0:34:18

But neither did Herod, for I sent you up to him; and, behold, nothing worthy [of death] is done by [Him].

Luke 23:15 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

Luke 23:15.

Pilate and Herod both said Jesus had done nothing to deserve death. They went along with the crowd anyway. Why do we go along with the group when we know it is wrong?

Oh, by the way, if someone has their hand up, and I, for some reason, don't see it, please be kind enough just to remind me. Sometimes I can't see everything that's going on because I'm navigating text and the study and other things that pop up. So I would appreciate that. I want to be sure I don't forget anybody's question or comment.

Why is it so hard to stand apart from a group, even when we know it is wrong?

Yes, Roger, go right ahead.

0:36:14RogerYeah, I think our group is like Philippians 2:2.

ErnstYeah, thank you. Appreciate that, for sure. But, you know, speaking outside of ourselves, even though we want to apply it to ourselves as well, if we need to. Why is it so hard to stand apart from a group, even when we know it is wrong?

Yes, Patricia, go right ahead.

PatriciaMaybe because we don't want to feel left out. We don't want to feel like we're, you know, the only ones that stand the right thing and we'll get kind of looked down on. That could be the reason.

0:37:18ErnstYeah, I think that's valid, definitely. You know, that that can come up very, very easily. And as we say in Luke 23:11,

And Herod having despised [Him] with his soldiery, and having mocked Him by putting around Him luxurious clothing, [he] sent Him back to Pilate.

Luke 23:11 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

Next question.

PatriciaCan I—

ErnstYeah, please go right ahead.

PatriciaYeah, I'm sorry. I'm going to, I'm going to add a little something to that. My, my neighbor and I, which were were and are, I believe, you know, friends, but there was a new person that came into the town to take over things and she did it. She didn't do it correctly, administratively correct. And we were like against her, against her. And then the other person ended up becoming a really liaison with our our dwelling here. Can you see me? Hello? Hello? All right. You got me now? Okay. And the administrator ended up being in in in her rightful place. And we had to go to her if we want something. And I needed to have grab bars installed into the shower. And I had to go through her to to get get it done. And it seems as though we became friends now and the other person kind of, you know, stayed out of the way. I didn't you know, I didn't hear from her. I talk all the text and everything. And I think she's like she knows that I had to do the right thing with the administration and to get things done. But the administration at the first time, she was doing things in in her way. But the other my neighbor knew better. And she she stepped in and made the end stop wrong things from happening. But when we ended up that we have to use that liaison and I had to go through to her to ask if I can have an emotional pet and everything. And I'm getting what I'm asking for. The other the neighbor stopped speaking to be answering my phone calls. But she came back around yesterday when the ambulance and everything was there. Everybody wanted to know what's going on. So it seems that and I had a birthday card and a gift for her daughter and she didn't respond about it. I said, why is she not talking to me anymore? We were very good friends. And I'm thinking that it's, she maybe she's thinking I'm two-faced. And I want I was I was wanting to talk about that, too. And I'm glad we are on that subject. She may think that I was two-faced, but I'm only doing what needs to be done to get things done. I'm not talking about the other girl to the other girl or the other girl to the other girl. You know what I'm saying?

0:41:05ErnstSure. Sure. That's that. Yeah. Thank you for bringing up that example.

Yes, Roger. Go right ahead.

RogerProverbs 6:19.

ErnstOK, do you have it there? I don't, I have, I have two screens open. I don't have the Bible study, the Bible reader open. Can you read that?

RogerA false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

ErnstYeah, thank you. That's definitely something to watch out for because it is it is very common. Abby also, thank you, Roger. Appreciate that.

Abby said, sometimes it's because both parties can benefit from the outcome; they want to keep their status. And thank you for that, Abby, because this is also what we see with with Herod and Pilate as well. I appreciate that.

Let's go to question number two.

And Jehovah said, Behold, the people [is] one, and the lip one to all of them, and this they are beginning to do, and now all which they have purposed to do will not be restrained from them.

Genesis 11:6 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

And this is Genesis 11:6. Hold on just a second.

Part 2

0:00:05[The stream was cut off by accident here, as the table reached its second question. It went live again about sixteen minutes later as a second video, Part 2, which begins with the last of the four questions. Times from here on are positions in Part 2.]

ErnstWelcome back. Apparently our stream got disconnected. So this is going to be part two. Our last question is, what would our unity in Christ lead us to do for someone we have kept at a distance?

And of the multitude of those who believed, the heart and the soul were one. And no one said any of the possessions belonging [to] him to be [his] own, but all things were common to them.

Acts 4:32 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

Their oneness showed in how they treated one another. Is there someone we need to hear fairly, someone we have spoken about carelessly or someone whose need we have overlooked? We never want to name anybody, only what kinds of people.

Yes, go right ahead, Patricia.

0:01:22PatriciaI was listening to one of your Light for Your Path, about the person that you owe. And when you come united in Christ, it'll lead you to do what you're supposed to have done. You may have kept them at a distance for a while, but it's only right to do the right thing and pay that person what you promised that you would pay. And don't wait because it might be too late to actually pay that person. And I listened to that. I could not think of anyone that I owed. And then I said, oh, yes, wow. Yes. And I kept them at a distance, so-called had my reason, but I still owe. And I'm going to make that payment and prayerfully in time because they know I belong to Christ. And if they know I belong to Christ, it would not look right at all. Thank you.

0:02:46ErnstYeah, thank you.

PatriciaYeah, that was difficult for me at the time. I was very convicted about that. And I'm glad the Lord allowed me to see that in myself, for sure.

ErnstSo what is the one thing we could do this week for someone we have kept at a distance? And Patricia answered that by reaching out to them in some way. Okay.

We're back to our chair. The chair is for a fellow believer your circle has quietly agreed to be against. That is one part of our question about the neighbor and not the whole of it. Not a teaching we have examined with the text open, a person who belongs to Christ. What kind of person is that in your circle? Possibly the ones from another group or assembly, the ones who read a passage differently, the ones we never warmed up to. If you want to answer, you can type the kind of person. And I will, whether on chat or tell me, and then I will post it in the chat. Again, never a name. And if you'd rather keep it to yourself, that's fine too.

Yes, Roger, go right ahead.

0:04:48RogerYeah, I don't know the Scripture, but if somebody has something against you, you're supposed to approach them and tell them and work it out. It's scriptural, the Scripture remedy.

ErnstYes, absolutely. Absolutely. And so we don't want to name anybody by name. We want to maybe, if people want on the screen or on the text, you can put the kind of person, generally speaking, and then I can type that in if you want to. You don't have to, but you can if you want to.

And again, the chair is for a fellow believer we have kept at a distance this week. Yes, Al, go right ahead. Thank you, Roger. All right, thank you. I'm sorry, let me, let me unmute you.

0:06:15AlYes, you want to look. I think Roger was talking about Matthew 5 verse 23 and 24 says, If then thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thine gift before the altar, and go thy way. First be reconciled unto thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

ErnstGreat, yeah, thank you so much for finding that. And that's exactly the point, because we're talking about a believer in the chair this week. Other weeks and previous weeks, we talked about people in general that we would not sit next to. But here we're talking specifically about a believer we might have kept at a distance. And thank you for finding that. Appreciate it, Al.

Now, I should mention that welcoming someone means also taking what they have done seriously. This question does not ask anyone to overlook harm for sure.

The chair is for those who belong to Christ, as we read earlier, “For He is our peace, He making us both one, and breaking down the wall of partition” (Ephesians 2:14) We saw that two enemies, Herod and Pilate, became friends on the day they were assembled against the Lord. The Lord himself has slain the enmity in himself.

So the one question to carry home this week is, what would still hold us together if we no longer had that person to be against?

Next week, we are going to return to Athens in Acts 17:26, One Blood. And the question for next week is, what is true of every person at this table?

0:09:22So now we're going to turn to the open forum segment of our afternoon Bible study. And feel free, anyone can ask a question either about the study or any other question or any other comment you would care to make.

Yes, Patricia, go right ahead.

PatriciaBecause I still have this daily meditation for working through grief, healing at the loss. Today's October the 25th was a Psalm 131. It looks like it was the, it's only three verses there. And it says in this, I don't know what version this is, but oh Lord, my heart is not lifted up. My eyes are not raised too high. I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me, but I have calmed and quieted my soul like a child quieted at its mother's breast, like a child that has quieted its soul. So the story goes, our mind flies this way and that speculating about destiny and truth, the state of our loved one, what we can believe and how all that lies ahead. These are questions without answers. Yet we continue to worry like a dog wearing a bone. There are places and times when we need to think about all these things, but we also need to give ourselves some respect. We realize that we are not responsible for the fate of even our private world, let alone for answering cosmic questions. Think of an infant helpless, sometimes so agitated and how at its mother's breasts, that if that infant becomes a picture of contentment and peace, the image from the psalmist is good for us to remember when life seems too much and we don't know where to turn like a child. That is quieted in my soul. So when I read these meditations, some of them stand out a little more because it's telling you that you don't know what state they're in. You don't know what they're doing, but you know that you have to quiet yourself, your soul, and the quiet in your souls. Just reading these songs, I'm just finding out that these are all songs. I think the whole Bible is a song, but I know the songs are. They're songs, and when I hear them played on the songs on Bible BMI, I recognize they can take any chapter and whoever's doing their singing and they can sing a whole song. It could be Daniel, but when you're in here, you learn so much and just learning who Korah was, and the sons of Korah. I knew Korah was a bad man, but it's for the sons of Korah. You have to really get in there and see about these strings, instruments and all that. I know I'm going way off on another subject, but it's fascinating when your eyes are actually open. I thought they were open, I guess, but they're opening a little more and a little more and a little more. This seemed like this is the new life that Christ has given me. I had a wonderful life with David, and he showed me a lot, but this here is like the daughter's taking me higher in himself. I'm really grateful that I have company that I can talk to this about because nobody, a lot of people don't want to hear this. Abby, she loves hearing this, and others who are listening. But he did not leave us alone. No matter what happens today, tomorrow, he has not left us alone. I'm grateful to be here and for even speaking because I thought I was going to be in the hospital again, but he released me from that, sent me home, and I did a few more things in the house today without any danger, and I know when to stop, to stop. My son came up today, the one who was going to go with me to see Emmanuel. He came up and he helped move some boxes around for me, and somebody had brought me some Chinese food up and everything. My other neighbor brought me a Jamaican dish, so I have food for a couple of nights I don't have to cook. I said, wow, you know, you're blessing me.

0:15:00I cry, but I think those crying tears are really joy tears because that's what they turn into. So it's really just a testimony that God is, he loves us, he really loves us. And he's trying to let us know his word. You know what happened already, what's happening now. And I know Revelation is far out there, but where we are right now is more human, face-to-face with each other. And getting out those things that are hidden down in our soul that need to be expressed. And see where we really stand with our neighbor, where we stand with others. And are we holy like he is holy? That's serious, don't say that you're holy. And you know that you still have ought against your brother or your sister so when you say these things, it resonates back to you so that you know, okay, alright, I gotta do this. And it's not gonna kill you, it's gonna make you better. And to give, you know, to give not only to your organization but you know, be freely. He said, freely you have received, freely give and what do I have that he didn't give me? Praise the God, I just wanted to say that.

0:16:35ErnstYeah, thank you so much for that and you're right about the Psalms and other portions of Scripture. There's so much, I mean it is all musical, there's also a tremendous amount of, particularly in the Psalms. But all throughout Scripture, you know, the depth of meat in the Word. That God has put there and he sustains us, you know, by his mercy and grace each day. We only have today, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. We have no idea what's gonna happen tomorrow, we can't change what happened yesterday. But we know that as you said, you know, God will never leave us or forsake us. And that's such a wonderful promise that he gives us. Anyone else care to share anything along those lines?

Thank you very much, Patricia, appreciate that, and we continue to uphold you in prayer and your loved ones. Was that Sabur that came over to help you with the boxes? That's wonderful. Glad to hear that and look forward to when you're able to see Emmanuel again and praying for your whole family.

0:18:14PatriciaAnd it was good to hear from Abby's voice yesterday. She called, I got the number, you gave me her number and I called her and she was very happy. And I was happy to hear her voice, and we spoke to each other in [unclear], and I love her already, you know I know she wanted to be on but I know she's around though. Sometimes this happens with me on the screen, but I just keep on going back and then I ask Joe or Roger. So Abby, I'm glad you're here, and I know the rest of you, you're back there. Only 10 people will be on that one time, that I know, but if somebody else want to come on, I'll come off and I'll listen. Thank you.

ErnstYeah, thank you. And we have, you know, five other spots available. It is 10 you're correct about that but yeah, thank you so much for sharing that I'm not sure, did— Roger, did you have your hand up? I didn't see it. Yeah, go right ahead. Thank you, Patricia.

0:19:18Roger1 John 3:15. 1 John.

ErnstWas that John, 1 John, or John? John 3:15, or?

Roger1 John 3:15.

ErnstSorry. John 3:15, “that everyone believing into Him should not perish, but may have everlasting life.” (John 3:15) Is that the right one?

RogerOh, it's 1 John. 1 John.

ErnstOkay. All right. Let's go to 1 John 3:15. Thank you.

Everyone hating the brother is a murderer, and you know that every murderer does not have everlasting life abiding in him.

1 John 3:15 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

Again, a very, very sobering verse. Thank you very much for sharing that. There's a lot of warning in the scriptures about you know, hating your brother.

0:20:35RogerThat's right.

ErnstAnd you know, the mark of the believer is love, love for Christ, love for his word, and love for the the fellow believers. You know even as we read about in Acts 4. With the the believers there that were all of one mind. And one soul as well.

Yeah, thank you for that. Excellent verse. Appreciate that. Thank you, Roger.

RogerThank you.

ErnstGo ahead, Patricia.

PatriciaAnd what if we didn't come together like this? What if we didn't come together like this and didn't have all the tools. The KJ3 or any Bible. What if we didn't come together? He said, delight thyself also in the Lord, and I had that scripture written on the walls somewhere. And um, and you know, do not forsake this the assembling of yourselves. We we know that we knew that back in the church, you know. Not the forsake it the assembly we are assembling when David and I were together we were assembling. But he's not here. So I'm not going to sit there and not assemble. But we all five of us and and the rest of the rest everybody else Charlie and everything. We assemble together and that's what the Lord requires of us, you know. And um, what would it be like if we didn't have this platform? So, Gunther, we thank you and Lindy for all your all the work that y'all put into this here that lord has really given you that time together. Both of you, you know, both of you just are like the both of you and that's beautiful when it's both of you are intense with this or with the with the ministry and and I think I thank— for that.

0:22:48ErnstThank you very much, and you know, our son is an integral part of that. Without him none of this would be possible.

PatriciaIs that Karl?

ErnstYeah, and no, it's not Karl. His name is Baron.

PatriciaBecause Karl von Harringa, he'd be on YouTube with things, doesn't he?

ErnstRight. Karl is helping out eBible. Yeah, he's helping them out. But our our other son Baron is helping us out. And so we uh, really appreciate uh him as well.

Hi Matthew. Good to see you. Welcome.

PatriciaHi Matthew.

MatthewHello again.

ErnstYeah. Hi. Hi, this is open forum. But yeah, go right ahead, Roger, sure.

RogerLots of scripture. Hebrews 10:25.

Ernst10:25? Okay, let's let's go there. Great verse, Hebrews 10:25. What Patricia was telling us earlier.

Not forsaking the assembling together of ourselves, as [is the] custom of some, but exhorting, and by so much more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:25 · KJ3 · quoted reading — read by Ernst

Absolutely. Thank you so much. And I appreciate, thank you, Roger. I appreciate what Patricia said about um that we're to delight ourselves, you know in the Word of God and even if we didn't have a forum like this we could still uh delight ourselves in the Word of God because we have the Word of God and that is uh foremost.

I remember think, hearing a story about a man that was in Haiti when they had one of the uh devastating earthquakes there and he had lost everything and he was clutching his Bible and he goes at least I have my Bible I have the Word of God. I don't have anything else, but I have the Word of God and it was such a a touching story uh, and really brought home the point that really uh we what we have is is what Mary was commended for when she was at Jesus feet listening to his word. And the Lord commended her. He you know, he told Martha you're troubled about a lot of things but Mary has chosen that good part which will not be taken away from her.

And it's a really good reminder that uh, if we have nothing else we have his word. We have the Lord who says I will never leave you or forsake you wonderful precious promise.

0:26:05Let's go right ahead Patricia.

PatriciaI just love the Bible stories. And there's so many different ones, and I say, okay, which one am I going to read? Which one am I going to listen to tonight? I never get through the whole thing because I go to sleep. But I hear the first one and the and the stories they're short, but they're distinct everything is everything is said in those Bible stories and about each character and um and I I heard the little song, you know that comes on before it, you know I really enjoyed it. I go to bed and I just laid there and I said. It's Story Time. Is every part of this here is good I don't know and I felt like I missed so much. I did not know this was going on for years. You got a it's a lot of studies in here. A lot of Light for Your Path, and I was really wonder what the, the grief and everything I said. I didn't know this all was here all this time. How it's been there all that time. I have plenty of to do. I can't say I don't have anything to do I just want to share that.

0:27:14ErnstThank you for sharing that. Were you able to find the other voice? I know you didn't like the one narrator's voice.

PatriciaThe man? Only Samara. I like when she reads.

ErnstOh nice. Nice.

PatriciaOh yes, me and Samara, we get along real good.

ErnstWell, I know we we appreciate your your feedback about that because that prompted us to put up a couple other voices on Story Time or Story Hour. Which comes on between 5 and 6 p.m., West coast time. You can change the voice of the narrator. It can be a woman or a man.

PatriciaSometimes people— now you've just done that because it wasn't like that before.

ErnstYeah, we we the reason we did that is because of what you said and we we appreciate any feedback we get from all of you, Uh, because we do earnestly take that to heart and we try to implement that for example uh, we're on Roku TV and the only reason we're on Roku TV is because there was a woman who said all I have is Roku TV I I don't have I don't have a phone. I don't have a computer. And so we thought about that. We said, you know what? Why don't we try to get on Roku TV and that's exactly what we did, you know by God's mercy. And so we we appreciate all of your feedback and we we do take that very very seriously.

0:28:47PatriciaI think on Roku I I have you on Roku. I have it on Roku TV, but you can't talk the the listener can't.

ErnstYou know, correct, right, but you can listen.

PatriciaBut you can watch yeah. Sometimes if I'm in the room with the Roku I'm there, but you just can't hear me or see me, but I'll be there I'm not going anywhere.

ErnstRight and Roku is nice because it's on 24 seven. You want it on that long it's on all all day all night. And so it's a blessing. You know to hear the scripture put to music as well as the scripture themselves and any other programs as well. Yeah, and thank you again so much, Patricia.

PatriciaI know I got so much to say. I'm just—

ErnstWell, we appreciate it very much.

PatriciaThank you.

ErnstIt's all good. It's all good. That's that's what we're here for Yes. That's it.

Well, if no one else has any other questions or comments, I do want to just take the opportunity to thank each of you, those on text, Abby, as well as those of you on screen. It's always a blessing to spend this time with you each Sunday. And Lord willing, we will do it again next Sunday. And so hope to see you then. Hope everyone has a blessed week.

Thank you very much.

0:30:37ParticipantThank you.

ErnstBye now.

ParticipantThank you. Bye. Bye.

Recordings: Part 1, What Holds Us Together? — Who Is My Neighbor? Study 4 | Sunday Bible Study (43:43); Part 2, What Holds Us Together? — Part 2 (30:41). Times in the margin are positions in that part's recording.