For the month of November 2009, we are continuing in our study of the Book of Luke. (Luke 12:1-34). Verses 1-15, Jesus warns of the leaven of the Pharisees; verses 16-21, the Parable of the rich fool; verses 22-34, Exhortations not to worry.

We discussed how to apply the passage of study to our lives, the concerns of hypocrisy in the body of Christ and our individual responsibilities, the struggles against worry during times like these.

We will strive not to lay up treasures for ourselves, and to trust in the Lord at all times, so as to eliminate worry in our lives.

We shared Bible verses that expressed our thankfulness unto the Lord, in recognition of Thanksgiving Day season. Our Bible study closed with prayer and thanks unto the Lord.

The January 2010 Bible study was well attended and we were blessed with a new member - praises to God. (The December Bible study covered Luke 12:35-41 - we enjoyed advent fellowship.)

We studied the concluding verses of Luke 12th chapter - verses 42-59 which dealt with the parable of the steward and his servants (verses 42-48); Christ a divider of men (verses 49-59). We are all stewards and the Lord expects us to continuously strive to do His will and not to be weary in well doing. The truth we embraced was we do not know when the Lord is coming back but when He returns we want to be following the Lord's will. The 47th verse warns us that persons who knew His will and did not obey will be beaten with many stripes, and the 48th verse - those who did not know His will be beaten with few stripes. Then we talked about people who will plead ignorance in order to be beaten with few stripes but the Lord knows our heart. We who are blessed with much then we are required to give much.

Verses 49-59 made us aware as we accept the Lord Jesus as our Savior and share the gospel, we will encounter opposition. Much of the time it will cause division in a family and among our associates. (The group shared true-life experiences.) We are also warned in these verses again of the second advent of Jesus Christ - the signs are all around us and we must not be like the hypocrites to ignore the times. In that direction, we are encouraged to be diligent to repent of our flaws and to be reconciled to each other.

The Bible study group closed out with prayer with anticipation of the beginning of Lent the following month. It was a blessed session as always - glory to God.