What's Next?

As I was praying about what to study next in my class, God clearly pointed me towards Haggai and then to Esther.  Haggai because he was a contemporary of Zechariah and so that we would be able to see the contrast in prophetic styles, giving the message to the same people in the same circumstances for the same purpose.

Since we had already studied Ezra and Nehemiah, and after finishing Zechariah and Haggai; we would've covered most of the books written during the reign of the Persian empire.   So, that naturally leads to Esther; and I was actually just reminded today that Malachi should also be included.   I'm actually excited about the study in Esther - one of only two books bearing the names of women.   Those of us who have grown up in Sunday School would naturally be familiar with the story; and there have been movies made, since it makes a great story.  Yet, I've never really done a verse-by-verse study of it; so, it should be interesting.

And Malachi would be a good book to transition back to the NT, since it is the last book of the OT before the inter-testament period of silence before the time of Christ.   So, it would be a good lead-in into the study of John.  One person in my class loves the Gospel of John and has been wanting us to study it in class.  I was hesitant, firstly because it is such a familiar book, but also because it is so theologically packed.   But, after all the blessings gleaned from studying Luke, I'm sure that we would benefit so much from the study of John.  And, after having led a study of Romans, I should be able to "handle" the theology in John; through the Holy Spirit's guidance of course.

5-May:  Having been able to outline the next to series, I'm really excited about them.   While the series in Zechariah was called "Motivation & Encouragement", the series in Haggai will be called "Motivation & Correction".   Using alliteration, the lessons will cover 3 "P"s - Priorities, Perspectives, and Promises.

For the series in Esther, I was able to apply a lesson I've been learning through finding the "joy in living"; which is to recognize the presence of God's Hand at work in my life, thus resulting in a more grateful spirit.  So, even though the name of God is never mentioned in Esther, we know that He is at work; so, each lesson will be "Looking for God's Hand at Work" in that particular circumstance, whether it be in the background, in making Esther queen, in "such a time as this", etc.  Through the study, I hope that my class will be able to daily intentionally recognize God's Hand at Work in their lives.