God's Gift of Scripture with Belton Joyner

About God's Gift of Scripture with Belton Joyner

Belton Joyner has enriched and enlivened our study of scripture with his insightful writing over the years. Now, we're offering a new way for you to engage with the Bible Study: an audio version of his weekly commentary, narrated by Belton himself. "God's Gift of Scripture with Belton Joyner" is a new way for you or your group to utilize this Bible Study.

Publisher

NC Conference of The UMC

Category

religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Feb 2022

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

245 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Oct 2026

   Their Witness Speaks to Us, Part 2 (10/11/26)

   Good ol’ Jephthah. Unless you have been strolling through the Book of Judges lately, you probably don’t remember much about Jephthah. As one of the Israelite judges, he helped fend off the Ammonites. He’s the one who said that if he won the battle, he would sacrifice the first thing to come out of his house. Alas, it turned out to be his daughter and, keeping his promise, he sacrificed her. This is a biblical hero? At best, he is a mixed bag. The writer of Hebrews lists some who were seen as giants of the Israelite faith community (Hebrews 11:32). But, when all is said and done, God provided something even better. There is a lesson here: God provides in ways different from what we expect, but it is a better provision for us. Jesus Christ is the ultimate provision given by God (Hebrews 11:39). Sneak a look at next week’s study text—Hebrews 12:1-17—and get a glimpse of that better gift. Hebrews 11:33-38 spells out many of the ways in which the giants of the Israelite community served and witnessed. We have to admire those sufferings and sacrifices, but the writer reminds us that even though these brave ones are commended for their faith (Hebrews 11:39), their reward is not instant. It takes strong faith to trust even when reward is not immediate. Remember that this letter (Hebrews) is directed to the Jewish community. They would know of and value these who are celebrated in these verses. The writer of the letter joins them in that memory and that respect. But, there is more to come. Jesus Christ has come to fulfill the promises. Does my faith invite me to have the same assurance that the writer of Hebrews makes? What Someone Else Has Said: In her commentary on Hebrews (Hebrews and James, Westminster John Knox Press), Frances Taylor Gench wrote: “Clearly, the lives of the saints in this world are not always easy. Indeed, the world is ‘not worthy’ of them. Still, Hebrews maintains that the saints of every generation are empowered by faith to endure suffering and even death if need be, because they know their ultimate destiny is in the hands of the unseen God whose promises are sure and because they know that God’s purposes will not fail to be achieved despite all appearances to the contrary. Indeed, with the faithful of preceding generations, we continue to wait for and move steadily toward the world’s redemption in Christ.” Prayer: As you prepare this lesson, let your prayer begin: “Come, Lord Jesus. Bring the grace of Your presence into our waiting hearts...”

2. 

   4 Oct 2026

   Their Witness Speaks to Us, Part 1 (10/4/26)

   ne of my favorite programs on Game Show Network is “America Says.” Contestants are given an incomplete sentence and have to guess how that sentence has been completed in a survey of Americans. Okay. I am going to try that with you! How would you complete this sentence? Among my faith ancestors in the Old Testament, I’d want to include: A______, I______, J______, S______, E______, J______. Now, read the focal text for today: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-22. Does that help you complete the answers? (There will be more in next week’s lesson.) For most of us, there have been persons who helped shape our faith journey. If I named a few from my experience, most would be people of whom you have never heard. My parents, F. B. and Mary Joyner. Mrs. Rowland, third grade Sunday School teacher. Mr. Smith, high school Sunday School teacher. Art Brandenburg. Blaine Taylor. Sally AsKew, Carl Michalson. Who is on your list? Whose list might you be on? In reading this week’s text, it is interesting that none of the persons mentioned are stand-alone characters. It is in relationship that we remember them. These Old Testament personnel prepare the way and point the way to our Savior, Christ Jesus. I ask myself: “Does my life prepare persons to meet Jesus? Does my life show the way to Christ?” When has that happened? Faith is not a matter of filling out the order blank and immediately getting results. God’s calendar is not always the same as our calendar. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Esau, and Joseph (In case you didn’t find it, that’s the answer to the quiz up above) lived with faith that sometimes saw quick fulfillment, but also lived with faith that was “the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). What Someone Else Has Said: Richard Heitzenrater (Mirror and Memory: Reflections on Early Methodism, Kingswood Books) has written: “Thus true faith is always accompanied by assurance and evidenced by freedom from sin, fear, and doubt, three fruits which inseparably attend assurance and attest to a proper faith.” Prayer: As you prepare this lesson, let your prayer begin: “Holy and faithful God, I come before You in confidence, knowing that You know what is best. In Your Son, You have shown me what love looks like; help me to live that love...”

3. 

   27 Sept 2026

   You Can Do This! (9/27/26)

   After reading this week’s focal text, go back over it and count the number of times a plural pronoun is used. I counted ten. Us. We. Our. Plural you. This call to a covenant with Jesus Christ is clearly a call to community. Provoking one another to love and good deeds (v. 24). Meeting together (v. 25). Encouraging one another (v. 25). This is not a solo sport! The writer of Hebrews is addressing the Jewish community, many of whom have come to believe in Jesus Christ. Those who are believers in Christ now are in a community that includes Gentiles, those who have not traveled the Jewish road. In other words, this Christian community contains some folks unlike the ones the writer is addressing. I am left to wonder who in the community of Jesus Christ is different from the folks I am used to being around. Race? Language? Sexual orientation? Social status? Income? When I am invited to be in the community of Jesus Christ, I am invited to be with all kinds of people! Hebrews 10:20 describes what could be translated as “a new and different way.” If it is business as usual, I have to wonder if it is of Jesus Christ. Last week included my 91st birthday. If I have counted correctly, this is the 1,290th in this series of Adult Bible Study commentaries. I have been at this for a long time, but if there is not the freshness of new relationships, new understandings, new possibilities, I have failed to accept what Hebrews 10:20 calls “a new and living way.” If I try to go it alone, I have missed the community described in Hebrews 10:24-25. If I have wavered in my assurance, I have missed the faithfulness of the promises of Jesus (Hebrews 10:23). If I figure that I have done this faith on my own, I have not heard Hebrews 10:19 tell me that I am here because of what Jesus has done. I’m not going to call Terry by name because it would embarrass him -oops! I just did! -but I am inspired by his commitments to community expressions of the faith: a weekly accountability group, service teams, corporate worship, Zoom meetings on anti-racism, ongoing dialogue with persons of other faiths, hospitality, Sunday School class discussion, support of family variety, openness to others. Thanks be to God for those who live out the faith in community! What Someone Else Has Said: Thomas Moore (Soul Mates, Harper Collins) has written: “... Community is a paradox... It doesn’t operate on the level of personalities and ideas, but from a deeper location in the soul.” Prayer: As you prepare this lesson let your prayer begin: “Lord, You have given me community; grant me the fullness of that community...”

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