Girlfriends Bible Study

Ep 142 - Selfishness vs Selflessness

We begin a new theme - "Selfishness vs. Selflessness."
Selfishness is defined as "being concerned excessively or exclusively for oneself or one's own advantage, pleasure or welfare, regardless of others."Selflessness is often equated with altruism: "concern more with the needs and wishes of others than with one's own."
Scriptures:1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (Love scripture)John 15:13 (Selfless love)Luke 10:25-37 (The Good Samaritan)
Selfish people in the Bible:King Saul (1 Samuel)Potiphar's Wife (Genesis 39)Prostitutes and Babies (1 Kings 3)
We asked the question: Is greed a form of selfishness or is selfishness a form of greed?What do you think?

Ep 141 - Hotness: Love Stories in the Bible

We finish our July theme of "Hotness in the Bible" with a study of some famous love stories in the Bible.
Adam & Eve (Didn't we almost have it all?)Boaz & Ruth (Second time around)Abraham & Sarah (Original Baby Mama Drama)Isaac & Rebekah (Playing favorites)Jacob, Rachel & Leah (Sibling rivalry)Samson & Delilah (Bad girls)Solomon & the Shulamite WomanMary & Joseph

Ep 140 - It's Better to Marry than to Burn

Our July theme is "Hotness in the Bible" and in this study we are talking about people who burned with lust in the Bible.
David & Bathsheba - 2 Samuel 11 & 12Amnon & Tamar - 2 Samuel 13Joseph & Potiphar's Wife - Genesis 39
And here are some words of wisdom:1 Corinthians 7:8-9Matthew 5:27-281 Corinthians 6:18-20

Ep 139 - Did Jesus Descend Into Hell

In this Bible Study (7/13/23), we continue our study of "Hotness in the Bible" as we discuss whether or not Jesus descended into hell (Hades) before ascending to the Father. We also read and discussed The Apostles Creed (which you can read here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles%27_Creed).
Scripture references that support the descension:Colossians 2:15Romans 6:8-10Ephesians 4:9Matthew 12:40
Scripture reference that implies Jesus went immediately to heaven:Luke 23:39-43

Ep 138 - Hotness in the Bible

July has begun and with it a new theme: "Hotness in the Bible."
In this Bible Study, we discuss the different names for "hell."We also read about Lazarus and the Rich Man.
SHEOL (Hebrew) (SHEE-all)In some texts, Sheol is considered to be the home of both the righteous and the wicked, separated into respective compartments; in others, it was considered a place of punishment, meant for the wicked dead alone, and is equated with Gehenna in the Talmud. Sheol had come to have a definite connection with sin and judgment. It meant the humiliation and destruction of the wicked.
HADES (Greek)Hades is a place of suffering, of punishment for sin. This conception was growing among the Hebrews long before New Testament times. Hades, according to various Christian denominations, is "the place or state of departed spirits", borrowing the name of Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. It is often associated with the Jewish concept of Sheol.
Sheol and HadesPrior to Jesus’ atonement for the sins of man, the souls of all who died went to a place called Sheol (Hebrew).  It is defined as the world of the dead, the underworld, and, in the Old Testament, the word is translated into English as the pit, the grave, and hell. 
In the New Testament, the Greek word for this place is Hades, and our English translation is Hell.In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus described the abode of the dead as having two compartments.  One, a place of torment.  The other, a place of comfort called Abraham’s Bosom, which is no longer inhabited.
TARTARUS (Greek)In some Greek sources Tartarus is another name for the underworld (serving as a metonym for Hades), while in others it is a completely distinct realm separate from the underworld.  Tartarus is generally understood to be the place where 200 fallen Watchers (angels) are imprisoned.GEHENNA (Greek) (je henna)Gehenna is the Greek term for the Hebrew Gai-Ben-Hinnom meaning Valley of the Son of Himmon. – It is an actual valley outside of old Jerusalem that was a smoldering garbage dump at the time of Jesus.

Ep 137 - Hopefulness

With all that's going on in the world, it can be hard to be hopeful. When our dreams haven't yet been fulfilled, it's hard to be hopeful. But without hope, without faith, our dreams and visions won't be fulfilled.
In this study, we read and discuss what the Bible says about hope and faith.
Psalm 42:11Isaiah 40:31Romans 4:18-25Romans 5:52 Corinthians 1:10-11Hebrews 6:13-20
The difference between hope and faith:Hebrews 11:1Romans 8:24-25
Hope for the future - He's talking to us!Jeremiah 29:11Proverbs 23:18

Ep 136 - Siblings & Friends: Part 2

In this Bible Study, we continue our discussion about Siblings & Friends in the Bible.Our scriptures:Luke 10:38-42 - Jesus goes to visit Mary, Martha, and Lazarus - who become His friendsJohn 11:1-44 - After the death of Lazarus, Jesus returns to His friends' home to raise him from the deadJohn 15:12-15 - Jesus tells His disciples, they are no longer just disciples, but friends
And from Proverbs, we learn about different types of friends (or frenemies):18:24 - a friend who sticks closer than a brother (NIV)18:24 - you have to be a friend to have a friend (KJV)27:6 - about frenemies22:24-25 - don't be friends with a hot-tempered man (or woman!)19:4, 19:6 - fair-weather friends16:28 - don't be friends with a perverse man or a gossip

Ep 135 - Siblings & Friends in the Bible: Part 1

In part one of this Bible Study we examine sibling rivalry, which began with the first recorded siblings in the Bible: Cain and Abel.Britannica defines sibling rivalry as "Intense competition among siblings for recognition and the attention of their parents." It further states that "sibling rivalry normally begins when a new baby is introduced to a family."Famous Siblings in the Bible:Cain & Abel - Genesis 4:1-12Isaac & Ishmael - Genesis 16, 21Jacob & Esau - Genesis 25:21-34 and Genesis 33:1-11Rachel & Leah - Genesis 29:9-30Joseph and his brothers - Genesis 37:12-36 and Genesis 45:1-15

Ep 134 - Push Through Fear

On tonight's Bible Study Live, we'll be reading in Numbers 13 & 14 about the Israelites who were unable to push through their fear and enter the promised land - the land they'd dreamed about. What dreams have you yet to accomplish because you haven't been able or willing to push through your fear?

Ep 133 - Imprisoned

Speaking truth to power doesn't always end well. Sometimes the results are miraculous. Other times they're disastrous. We take a look at several people who were imprisoned for telling the truth.Joseph - Genesis 39:6-23Daniel - Daniel 6:13-24Samson - Judges 16:18-21Jeremiah - Jeremiah 37:1-2, 13-16Paul & Silas - Acts 16:22-28Peter - Acts 12:5-10John the Baptist - Mark 6:17-24Hebrews 11:32-40