After completing our 3 1/2-year cycle of readings in the Torah, we’ve decided to continue with the historical books that follow, beginning with Joshua. We’ll read first about the conquest of the Canaanite tribes, then examine the disappointing time of the Judges – punctuated by the exploits of Gideon and Samson – and the turmoil that led up to the anointing of Saul as King.
The binding of Isaac is said to have occurred on Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). The fast, which we will observe September 25-26, coincided with the sin offering offered for all Israel and the Kol Nidrei, the absolution of vows. Twin goats were chosen by lot, one for sacrifice and the other for release, bearing away the people’s guilt. It was the one time of the year that the high priest entered into the Temple’s Holy of Holies.
Jesus fulfilled this feast:
Hebrews 9:12 – “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
Also called the “Feast of Trumpets,” Rosh Hashanah marks the creation of the world and of the new year. Scholars have pinpointed this as the time of year when Christ was born; and it represents the new birth of believers, too. The feast begins the 10-day period called The Days of Awe, a time of self-reflection and repentance, ending with Yom Kippur.
With plague ravaging their land, the Philistine soothe-sayers recommend a way to return the Ark to Israel, which will determine whether the plague was from the hand of God, or merely chance. They include a box containing a very strange trespass offering.
The Philistines get more than they bargained for when they captured the Ark. Their god Dagon is toppled, and a plague ravages their cities.
Israel and the Philistines battle again, but this time the Ark is captured, and Eli’s sons are killed. When he hears the news, Eli himself falls backwards and dies, fulfilling Samuel’s prophecy.
God wakes up Samuel and gives him a dire prophecy to deliver to Eli, describing the complete downfall of his house because of his negligence in restraining his sons’ corruption.
The sons of Eli are revealed as the poster boys for religious fraud, false piety, victimization and lust. Their self-seeking is contrasted with the young Samuel, who “ministers to the Lord.”
We're starting to renew our in-person meetings as the pandemic winds down. Sunday Big Group meetings, the Buckner Tuesday Bible study and Pete's Wednesday Bible study are currently meeting in person. (A Zoom option is also sometimes still available).
Our church community gathers throughout the week at different places on The Block, a neighborhood between downtown and the Lakewood area of Dallas, Texas, near the corner of Beacon and Columbia Ave. We'd love to have you join us!
If you can’t make it to The Block, you can listen to podcasts from the archive by our late elder, Ole Anthony, recorded at his daily Morning Bible Studies, available here.
Sundays
Note: There are no Sunday Morning meetings
Potluck Meal: We gather together for a potluck meal at 4 p.m. Sunday at The Lair, our community restaurant, located at 5644 Columbia Ave., downstairs.
'Big Group': Then we all gather from 5 - 6 p.m. Sunday for worship, singing and Bible study at the home of John and Joysanna Rutledge next door at 5640 Columbia Ave., upstairs. Contact John Rutledge jhnrutledge@gmail.com or call (214) 385-0230.
Tuesdays
Bible study at 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Gary and Judy Buckner's home at 5632 Columbia Ave. Contact Gary Buckner, buckner.construction@gmail.com or call (214) 682-8007.
Spanish-language Bible Study led by Pete Evans, Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Contact Pete at pete@trinityfi.org or call (214) 738-3349.
Wednesdays
At 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Bible Study taught by Pete Evans at 5640 Columbia Ave., downstairs. Contact Pete Evans, pete@trinityfi.org or call (214) 738-3349
Saturday Brunch - Pending
We're hoping soon to re-instate our Saturday brunch from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. in The Lair, our community restaurant located at 5644 Columbia Ave. Stay tuned!
E-mail us: blockoncolumbia@gmail.com