13/10/2025
Bible Study – October 2025
October 12, 2025
Time: 13:30–15:30
Place: Private residence
Led by: The facilitator
Attendees:
Members and guests of the BIBLE STUDY
Announcement:
For those who are interested, please message us here in the GC Messenger. Everyone is welcome to join our next Bible Study gathering.
Opening Prayer:
Led by the facilitator
Scripture Readings and Explanation
Exodus 20:1–6 – The Ten Commandments
God gives Moses the first part of the Ten Commandments, declaring His authority and holiness. The commandment warns against worshiping idols and calls for loyalty and love toward the one true God.
Takeaway: We must worship only God and keep Him at the center of our lives, avoiding all forms of idolatry.
Exodus 26:1 – The Tabernacle
God gives Moses specific instructions for building the Tabernacle, His dwelling place among the Israelites. Every detail reflects God’s order and holiness.
Takeaway: God desires a pure and prepared place for His presence — both in worship and within our hearts.
Joshua 7:6 – Joshua’s Humility Before God
After Israel’s defeat at Ai, Joshua humbles himself before God, seeking to understand why they failed.
Takeaway: When faced with setbacks, we should turn to God in humility and seek His wisdom rather than relying on our own understanding.
Numbers 20:4–9 – Water from the Rock
The people complain about thirst. God tells Moses to speak to the rock, but Moses strikes it instead. Though water flows, his disobedience displeases God.
Takeaway: God values obedience over our own methods. Even when frustrated, we must follow His word faithfully.
2 Kings 18:1–4 – Hezekiah’s Reforms
King Hezekiah destroys idols and even the bronze serpent made by Moses, because people began worshiping it instead of God.
Takeaway: Even good things can become idols when they take God’s place. True faith focuses on God alone.
2 Kings 5:1–3, 4–5, 7–8, 9–10, 15–16 – Naaman’s Healing
Naaman, a Syrian commander, suffers from leprosy. A young servant girl tells him about the prophet Elisha, who instructs him to wash in the Jordan River seven times. When Naaman humbles himself and obeys, he is healed and acknowledges God’s power.
Takeaway: Obedience and humility bring blessings. God’s power works when we surrender our pride and follow His simple directions.
Discussion Topics
1. The Ark of the Covenant
• The Ark contained three sacred items:
• The two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments
• A golden pot of manna
• Aaron’s rod that budded
• It represented God’s covenant, provision, and authority among His people.
The Ark was kept inside the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle, where God’s presence dwelt. Only the High Priest could enter this sacred space, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement. Before entering, he had to purify himself completely — washing, offering sacrifices, and ensuring he was clean from any sin.
1. When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting, he would hear God’s voice from between the cherubim on the Ark (Numbers 7:89). Moses approached with reverence, obedience, and purity.
Lesson: The holiness of the Ark reminds us that God’s presence is sacred and cannot be approached carelessly. Today, through Jesus Christ, we have direct access to God’s presence when we come with sincere hearts and repentance (Hebrews 10:19–22).
2. The Tabernacle (Old Testament)
A portable sanctuary for worship and sacrifice where God’s presence dwelled during Israel’s journey in the wilderness.
It had two main sections: the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.
The Tabernacle symbolizes God’s desire to dwell among His people.
Lesson: God’s holiness requires reverence, preparation, and obedience from those who worship Him.
3. The Bronze Serpent (Moses)
When the Israelites were bitten by snakes, God told Moses to make a bronze serpent and lift it on a pole. Whoever looked at it was healed (Numbers 21:4–9).
The bronze serpent symbolized God’s mercy and deliverance and foreshadowed Jesus being lifted up on the cross for the salvation of all who believe (John 3:14–15).
Lesson: Healing and salvation come from faith and obedience to God’s word.
Why entering the Tabernacle could lead to death
The reason is God’s perfect holiness.
1. God’s presence is absolutely pure and holy.
The Tabernacle was where God’s glory dwelled — His real presence among the Israelites. Because God is completely holy, no sin, impurity, or uncleanness can survive before Him.
Exodus 40:34–35: When the Tabernacle was completed, “the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle, and Moses could not enter because the cloud had settled upon it.”
Even Moses, God’s chosen servant, had to wait until God permitted him to enter.
2. Only the High Priest was chosen to enter — and only once a year.
The Most Holy Place could be entered only by the High Priest, and only on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Before entering, he had to:
Wash his body with water (symbolizing purification).
Wear sacred garments.
Offer sacrifices for his own sins and for the sins of the people.
Burn incense to cover the Ark with smoke, symbolizing God’s mercy and protection.
(See Leviticus 16:2–3, 11–13) – God told Moses:
“Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain… or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.”
3. God wanted to teach reverence and the seriousness of sin.
The warning of death was not cruelty — it was a lesson that sin separates people from God, and only through atonement (sacrifice and repentance) could anyone approach Him.
The Israelites learned that approaching God required fear of the Lord, humility, and purification.
How this connects to Jesus Christ
In the New Testament, Jesus became our High Priest and our atoning sacrifice. When He died,
“The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51).
That curtain separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place — meaning that through Jesus’ sacrifice, the barrier between God and humanity was removed.
Now, we can approach God directly through faith, without fear of death, because Jesus’ blood has made us clean before Him (Hebrews 10:19–22).
Summary
In the Old Testament:
Entering the Tabernacle unworthily meant death because of God’s holiness and man’s sinfulness.
Only the purified High Priest could enter once a year with the blood of sacrifice.
In the New Testament:
Through Jesus, the ultimate High Priest, the way to God’s presence is open to all believers who come with faith and a clean heart.
1. The Purpose of Symbols in Faith
Symbols like the cross, the Bible, the statue of Jesus, or Mary help people focus their hearts and minds during prayer.
They remind us of God’s love, Jesus’ sacrifice, or the holiness of those who followed Him.
For example:
A crucifix reminds us of how Jesus died for our sins.
A statue of Mary reminds us of obedience, humility, and prayer.
A church altar reminds us of God’s presence and holiness.
But these things are not God — they are teaching tools or visual aids that help believers remember and honor Him.
2. What the Bible Teaches
God said in Exodus 20:4–5 not to make and worship idols.
The key word is “worship.”
The commandment forbids treating any object or image as divine or believing it has power apart from God.
Yet, God also instructed Moses to make cherubim (angel statues) for the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:18–20).
That shows that not all images are forbidden what matters is the intention behind them.
If an image is made for worship, it’s sin.
If it’s made for remembrance, teaching, or inspiration, and we don’t give it divine honor, it’s acceptable.
3. What Happens When We Pray Before Symbols
When we kneel or pray before a statue or cross, our mind and heart should say:
“Lord, I am not praying to this statue, but to You whom this statue reminds me of.”
It’s like looking at a photo of a loved one.
You don’t talk to the photo — you remember the person it represents.
That’s how Christian prayer works when symbols are present.
Song:
“If We Hold On Together” – sung by all participants
Closing Prayer:
Takeaways from the Session
God calls His people to faithful obedience and exclusive worship.
His presence is holy and sacred, requiring purity and reverence.
Even symbols of faith can become idols if they replace God in our hearts.
Humility and obedience lead to healing, blessing, and spiritual growth.
Through Jesus Christ, we can now approach God directly with clean hearts and sincere faith.
Next Bible Study:
Date: November 9, 2025
Time: 13:30–15:30
Paalala:
Mga kapatid, tandaan natin na kapag tayo ay nananalangin, ang mga simbolo na nakikita natin gaya ng krus, imahe ni Jesus, o larawan ni Maria ay mga paalala lamang ng ating pananampalataya. Nandiyan sila para tulungan tayong magtuon ng isip at puso sa Diyos, pero hindi sila ang Diyos. Iginagalang natin kung ano ang kanilang ipinapaalala, pero ang pagsamba ay para sa Diyos lamang. Walang kapangyarihan ang mga bagay na ito sa kanilang sarili, sapagkat ang tunay na kapangyarihan ay nagmumula sa Diyos. Tulad ng sinabi ni Jesus, “Ang Diyos ay Espiritu, at ang mga sumasamba sa Kanya ay dapat sumamba sa espiritu at sa katotohanan”
Amen 🙏🏻
