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INTERPRETING THE BIBLE - A Practical Guide for Followers of Jesus (Study Package Combo)

Zip file with:

General Edition (A4) pdf: all the study content, inluding self-tests and final course test with answer keys.
Tutor Workbook: all the study content, self-tests and its answer keys, final course test with answer key, as well as printable tests for classroom/group use. Formatted for A4 printing, with wide margins and lots of open space for notes.
Student Workbook: all the study content, self-tests, and final course test without answer keys. Formatted for A4 printing, with wide margins and lots of open space for notes.

Unzip file to your chosen directory with WinRar, 7zip, or Winzip.

Version: 260225

PRICE: R45.00

THE PENTATEUCH - Creation to Promised Land (A Companion Guide for Bible Reading)

X SAMPLE TEXT FROM "CHAPTER 4: THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS"

Leviticus provides comprehensive instructions for Israel's worship through sacrifices, priestly service, and purity laws, all designed to enable a holy God to dwell among His people and to teach them to reflect His holiness in every aspect of life, with the repeated command "Be holy, for I am holy" as the book's central message.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Time Period: The events of Leviticus span approximately one month (from the erection of the Tabernacle in Exodus 40 to the departure from Sinai in Numbers 10), occurring in the second year after the Exodus, around 1445 BC.

Author: Traditionally attributed to Moses (1445 BC). The phrase "The Lord spoke to Moses" or similar expressions appears over 50 times in Leviticus, emphasizing divine origin through Mosaic mediation.

Setting: Mount Sinai. Unlike Exodus and Numbers which describe journeys, Leviticus is entirely stationary. Israel remains encamped at the base of Sinai while God provides detailed instructions for worship and holy living.

Historical Background: Following the construction and dedication of the Tabernacle (Exodus 40), God establishes the sacrificial system and priestly procedures. The newly redeemed nation needs instruction on how to approach a holy God and maintain covenant relationship. The book bridges the narrative between the giving of the Law (Exodus) and preparation for wilderness travel (Numbers).

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SYNOPSIS

The Sacrificial System (Chapters 1-7)
The Burnt Offering (Chapter 1)
The Grain Offering (Chapter 2)
The Peace Offering (Chapter 3)
The Sin Offering (Chapter 4)
The Guilt Offering (Chapter 5:14-6:7)
Instructions for Priests (Chapters 6:8-7:38)

The Consecration of Priests (Chapters 8-10)
Ordination of Aaron and His Sons (Chapter 8)
First Priestly Offerings (Chapter 9)
Nadab and Abihu's Sin (Chapter 10:1-11)
Instructions After the Tragedy (Chapter 10:12-20)

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OVERVIEW

The Sacrificial System (Chapters 1-7)

The Burnt Offering
A voluntary offering of a male animal (bull, sheep, goat, or bird) completely consumed by fire, symbolizing total dedication and atonement. The worshiper lays hands on the animal, identifying with it, before it is slaughtered and burned on the altar.
Leviticus 1:1-17

The Grain Offering
An offering of fine flour, oil, and frankincense (without yeast or honey), partially burned with the remainder given to the priests. Represents dedication of one's labor and produce to God, often accompanying burnt or peace offerings.
Leviticus 2:1-16

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MAJOR THEMES

The Holiness of God: The central theme permeating every chapter. God is utterly separate from sin, transcendent, and morally perfect. The repeated command "Be holy, for I am holy" establishes the foundation for all regulations. God's holiness demands proper approach, reverence, and purity from His people.

Atonement and Sacrifice: Sin creates a barrier between God and humanity that requires blood atonement. The five offerings provide different means of approaching God, covering various sins and expressions of worship. The principle "life is in the blood" and "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" points forward to Christ's ultimate sacrifice.

The Priesthood and Mediation: Sinful people cannot approach a holy God directly. The Aaronic priesthood mediates between God and Israel through sacrifices, intercession, and teaching. The high priest especially represents the people before God, foreshadowing Christ as the ultimate High Priest who intercedes for believers.

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Version: 260120

PRICE: R45.00

THE OLD TESTAMENT HISTORICAL BOOKS - Conquest To Return (A Companion Guide for Bible Reading)

X SAMPLE TEXT FROM "CHAPTER 8. THE BOOKS OF 1 AND 2 CHRONICLES"

A retelling of Israel's history from God's perspective, emphasizing His faithfulness and the importance of proper worship: Chronicles retells Israel's history from Adam through the Babylonian exile with emphasis on David's dynasty, temple worship, and God's covenant faithfulness, calling the post-exilic community to renewed commitment to worship and obedience.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Author: Traditionally attributed to Ezra the scribe, though the actual author is unknown; written from a priestly/Levitical perspective.

Date Written: Approximately 450-400 BC, shortly after the return from Babylonian exile.

Historical Setting: Written for the post-exilic Jewish community that had returned to Jerusalem and was rebuilding the temple and their national identity.

Reason for Writing: To encourage the returned exiles by showing God's faithfulness throughout Israel's history, to emphasize the importance of proper temple worship and the Davidic covenant, to provide hope for restoration through remembering God's promises, and to call the community to renewed spiritual commitment by learning from their ancestors' successes and failures.

One Book: It is thought that 1 and 2 Kings was originally one book, which was later divided into two, probably for practical reasons

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SYNOPSIS

Genealogies: From Adam to the Restoration (1 Chronicles 1-9)
The Patriarchs and Nations (1 Chronicles 1:1-54)
The Twelve Tribes of Israel (1 Chronicles 2:1-8:40)
The Returning Exiles (1 Chronicles 9:1-34)

The First King: Saul
The Genealogy of Saul (1 Chronicles 9:35-44)
Saul's Final Battle and Death 1 Chronicles 10:1-14)

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HEZEHIAH: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Early Life and Accession (c. 741-715 BC)
Born to King Ahaz and Abijah (also called Abi), daughter of Zechariah, during one of Judah's darkest spiritual periods. Grew up witnessing his father's notorious idolatry, including sacrificing children in the fire to Molek and closing the doors of the temple. His name, meaning "Yahweh strengthens" or "Yahweh is my strength," proved prophetic of his character and reign.
Became king at age twenty-five following his father's death in 715 BC. Ascended to a throne weakened by Ahaz's tribute payments to Assyria and corrupted by rampant idolatry. Despite his father's terrible example, Hezehiah "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done" (2 Kings 18:3).

Radical Religious Reforms (715-714 BC)
In the very first month of his reign, reopened the doors of the temple that his father had shut and repaired them, demonstrating immediate spiritual priorities. Assembled the priests and Levites in the square on the east side and commanded them to consecrate themselves and remove all defilement from the temple (2 Chronicles 29:5). Removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles throughout Judah. Broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, because up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it, calling it Nehushtan ("piece of bronze").

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OVERVIEW

David's Rise and Reign (1 Chronicles 11-20)

David Made King Over All Israel
All Israel anoints David as king at Hebron, and he conquers Jerusalem to make it his capital. (1 Chronicles 11:1-9)

David's Mighty Warriors
Lists of David's most valiant fighting men and their heroic exploits in service of the king. (1 Chronicles 11:10-12:40)

First Attempt to Bring the Ark
David's unsuccessful attempt to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, interrupted when Uzzah touched the ark and died. (1 Chronicles 13:1-14)

David's Prosperity and Victories
God blesses David with palace, family, and military victories over the Philistines. (1 Chronicles 14:1-17)

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
David successfully brings the ark to Jerusalem with proper reverence, accompanied by great celebration and worship. (1 Chronicles 15:1-16:43)

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MAJOR THEMES

God's Covenant Faithfulness
Despite Israel's repeated failures, God remains faithful to His promises to David and His people, demonstrating His unwavering commitment throughout generations.

The Centrality of Worship
Proper worship of God through the temple, sacrifices, festivals, and Levitical service is essential for the nation's spiritual health and God's blessing.

Immediate Retribution
Chronicles emphasizes that obedience brings blessing and disobedience brings judgment, often within a king's own lifetime, teaching that choices have consequences.

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Version: 260120

Price: R45.00

THE VOICES OF CHRISTMAS

X SAMPLE TEXT FROM THE VOICES OF CHRISTMAS"

Me and my big mouth!

Elizabeth has warned me many times. "Think before you speak, Zechariah. One day you're going to talk yourself into really big trouble."

I just laughed. Words are only words, right? Wish I had listened to her, and put a guard before my mouth. But who would have thought that the greatest day of my career would end in disaster.

I am Zechariah, a priest, a descendant of Aaron, the brother of Moses. Not that that means a lot these days - there are so many of us, most of us will never do more than slaughter and burn sacrifices. And clean the temple. Lots of cleaning, trust me!

We only get a week every six months to do duty at the temple, and every priest would like to do more, but changes are basically zero. They even have to cast the lot every day to decide who will burn incense! I had given up hope, being old, ready to retire to the hills, when the lot chose me. Me, Zechariah, the old childless priest! I was chosen to burn incense, to offer the prayers of His people to the Most High!

I spent weeks sanctifying myself in accordance with the Law. I purified myself. I prayed and confessed and executed the purification rituals meticulously. Going into the Holy Place was not something to be taken lightly. The God of Israel is the Holy One, the Lord of Hosts, who demanded holiness from His servants. All my life I have observed his commandments and regulations with my whole heart, and being chosen for this holy task raised the stakes even higher.

At last the great day came. I was as ready as I could be, yet I was shaking as I entered the Holy Place. I could hear the worshippers outside, raising their voices in prayer and song, but it sounded far off. There was a silence, a presence, intimidating but also inviting. In the dim light I raised my censer and laid the coals on the altar. I started dropping the incense slowly onto the coals, and then everything fell from my hands!

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Angels in Nazareth!

Forgive me if I find it hard to believe: Ending up in Nazareth was the end of a long road that stripped me of everything I once held dear, even my faith. Not that I'm not blaming God - my own stupidity and wrong choices brought me here; but with everything you lose you also lose a part of yourself, until you end up believing that even God was no longer interested in you. Until you end up in a backwater town where you live hand to mouth and hope, just this once, to sleep through a whole night ...

I am Heli, descendant of our great king David, but there is no greatness where I live. Only poverty, and regret, and a deadly tiredness. Anger had left a long time ago, together with hope and faith. All I know is the constant fear, like the sharp teeth of a rat, telling me every night that tomorrow can only be worse. And the heaviness eating away my soul, the emptiness reminding me day and night that things could have been different. If only ...

The one point of light, of irrepressible joy and peace, was my daughter Mary. After my wife's death she took care of me, enduring my dark moods, never complaining about her worn clothes, always ready to lift me up. She kept the faith, telling me that God will provide, even though she had to glean in the fields and work miracles in a bare kitchen! Then came Joseph, a good man if ever I've seen one, and I had hope again for my daughter's future.

And then everything fell apart, just as I secretly feared it would.

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You want to hear it again? OK. Gather 'round children. Let me tell you about that night.

It happened thirty years ago, on this very night, but I remember it like yesterday.

We were a little way outside Bethlehem, sheep put up for the night, we were sitting around the fire, eating and talking. Actually, most of us were eating, and Joseph was talking. He was always talking. About the sheep, and the dust, and the girls and their giggling, and the rabbi ... But that night he was talking about the census, getting all worked up about that idiot in Rome who can't leave us in peace, about being counted to pay more taxes, about the fact that he's had enough. He was going to join the Zealots and fight. Tomorrow. Always tomorrow. Or after payday.

Judas was on his back, looking at the stars. He had this thing about stars, and since that new star appeared it was all he cared about. It's moving," he would tell everybody. "It's moving. And that. makes it special."

All stars moved, alright, around the earth. Everybody knew that. But they move together, mostly, except for those strange shooting stars, but they only live for a moment before the dragon consumes them. But a star moving on its own? Come on! God put them there and they will stay there for ever. In any case, only superstitious people are worried about the stars. There's enough trouble on earth already, no need to find more in the stars!

Eventually even Joseph stopped talking. We were just sitting there, staring at the flames, not wanting to be the first to fall asleep. It was absolutely quiet, not even the slightest breeze, the smoke from the fire rising straight into the dark sky; only us, and the stars.

And then, suddenly, as if somebody just pulled a curtain aside, he was standing there, not even three paces from us, shining like lightning, towering over us. A giant. Bigger than even Goliath!

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Weeks of heat and dust. Following a star to find a King. Ending up in Jerusalem, only to find them blissfully unaware of events in their own backyard. Their songs ascribe the stars in the heavens to their God, and they ignore the one star shining with such ferocity that you can see it even in the daytime. We could just shake our heads.

I am Melchior of Persia. A scholar and interpreter of the stars, as were my companions Balthazar and Gaspar. Just days after the appearance of the new star we were together, huddled over our starmaps and sacred texts. Reading the significance of this star was absolutely obvious: A king will appear in the land of Judah, and from the brightness of the star it was clear that this was no ordinary king. This was a great king, possibly the greatest ever. There was no mention of anything like this in the annals of our forefathers. This was unique.

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My name is Boy.

I know that's not a real name, but that's the only name I have. That's what everyone here calls me. "Boy, feed the camels. Boy, sweep the tent. Boy, play the drum."

I'm not complaining. My mother threw me away - she couldn't be bothered about a name! At least Master Melchior found me and somehow kept me alive. He feeds me, he gives me a place to sleep, he even allows me into the observatory at night when they study the stars. I keep his rooms clean, I wash his clothes, I serve his food. And he's never hit me, unlike the other masters around here. When I talk to their servants, I know I am lucky to have Master Melchior.

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I was destined to be just another mother in just another small town - until that night. From the moment Gabriel touched my hair, nothing was ever the same. My life, my whole world, was reborn that night.

What do you say when an angel sit next to you and calmly tell you that "God is pleased with you...you will have a son ... Jesus ... he will be called the Son of the Most High ... his kingdom will never end..." Right there and then, somehow I knew that God will move heaven and earth to make his word come true, but I had to ask the obvious question: "How can this be, since I have never been with a man?"

He smiled at me, a smile that seemed to start in his eyes before his lips moved, and gently he said, "The power of the most high will overshadow you. Therefore the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." And then, without me asking, he gave me the proof I was looking for. Elizabeth was going to have a son! Dear childless Elizabeth, who became a mother to me when my mother died, she was going to have a child! If that was true, everything was possible.

And before I had time to think, my heart spoke: "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." Gabriel looked at me, winked, and then he was gone.

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Version: 260120

Price: R45.00