Game night...

So last night we had a game night at The Stuart Initiative. It was a great time. We had cupcakes and brownies...lemonade and coffee. We think these nights are a good break from study time because it gives us an opportunity to connect as friends and not just as Bible study friends. At the same time we really value the discussions we have and the growth that we have a result of discovering more of who God is through reading the Bible.

In the coming weeks we will continue looking through the parables. We hope that will want to be a part of this study with us.

Matthew 13:1-9 ...in Greek.

Tonight we talked about Matthew Ch 13:1-9. We have been going through the 8 parables that are told by Jesus in Ch 13. This evening we took the literal Greek words from the original writing and got the English definitions from them and looked at what was really said in this passage. It is interesting to see what these Greek words really conotate. Many times the English words don't do the authors thought justice because the Greek word totally encapsulates the idea or concept the author is communicating.

For instance, Jesus talks about the farmer scattering seed that happened to fall on the road. It says that the birds ate it up. The original words used in the Greek seem to imply a violent devouring; a consuming like a dragon... a consuming that is forcible inflicted. We always think of a pretty little bird just pecking away as they do in a bird feeder. The Greek words paint a much different picture.