This book illustrates the author’s passion for the Bible from a young age, having experienced a conversion from Fundamentalism to the Fundamentals of the Bible. The notes for 100 bible studies have resulted from a long journey of reading and rereading the biblical texts with commitment and openness, sharing in conversations and leading bible studies for church groups. They are meant to help the users to move away from ritualist and literalist readings on the one hand and rigorous analysis with scientific tools on the other, and to be reflective with some basic critical questions. The questions for group discussions assist in relating biblical insights to contemporary realities. Readers of the Bible with genuine passion and sustained engagement will be surely equipped to be clearer in understanding the core message of the Bible and effective in communicating the good news. Contents Foreword Preface 1. Honey, Lamp, and Sword: Handle with Care! 2. Jesus’ Approach to the Scriptures 3. Human Participation in God’s Creation 4. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil 5. Sibling Rivalry: Cain and Abel 6. Flood and Rainbow 7. Seeking Self-Glory: Signal of the Tower of Babel 8. Called to be a Blessing – Abraham 9. Distortion and Restoration of Blessing – Jacob 10. Experience of a Liberation Movement 11. Was Moses a Model Leader? 12. The Covenant Code of Law and Commandments 13. The Song of a Woman Warrior 14. Characters of Conscience in a Tale of Terror 15. Was Kingship in Israel God’s Will? 16. King Saul, a Victim of Subversion and Sabotage 17. Was David an Ideal King? 18. The Wisdom and Wickedness of Solomon 19. Prophetic Confrontation of Tyranny – A Hebrew Example 20. God’s Dwelling Place: Changing Perceptions 21. Suffering of the Righteous! – Job 22. Inter-religious Marriage in the Hebrew Scripture 23. Two Women’s Thought-Provoking Songs with Striking Similarity 24. The Significance of the Story of Naomi-Ruth 25. Prophetic Visions for Peace and Reconciliation 26. The Tension between Mercy and Sacrifice 27. True Fasting 28. Voices of Real Wisdom in the Proverbs 29. Early Images and Expectations of Messiah 30. Repenting God and His Unrepentant Servant 31. Gospel from the Margins 32. The Significance of the Genealogies of Jesus 33. The Political Challenge of Jesus’ Birth Narratives 34. Jesus, Continuing with Tradition and Growing with Questions 35. Is there only one Baptism in the New Testament? 36. Handling Scriptures – the Devil and Jesus in the Wilderness 37. Beatitudes in Balance 38. Fulfilling the Law by Revising It 39. The ‘Nazareth Manifesto’ – How to Read it? 40. ‘Lord, teach us to Pray’ – Jesus’ Teaching 41. The Miracles of Jesus 42. Truth-Speaking Demons! Jesus’ Encounter 43. Teaching by Healing: Jesus and a Man born Blind 44. Healing of an Invalid of 38 Years 45. Reconstruction of a Double Miracle 46. Healing Across the Religious Borders 47. Miracles of Raising from the Dead 48. Jesus Calms the Storm 49. The Nature and Significance of Jesus’ Parables 50. The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard 51. The Parable of the Bags of Gold 52. The Parable of the Good Samaritan Plus 53. The Parable of the Shrewd Manager 54. The Parable of the Persistent Widow 55. The Parable of the Tenants 56. The Parable of the Wedding Banquet 57. Jesus’ Position on Paying Tax 58. False Prophets, True Prophets and Disciples 59. Snakes and Doves 60. ‘Not Peace but a Sword’! 61. Signs of the Kingdom 62. The Transfiguration 63. Why Did Jesus Say He Was Not Good? 64. New Status as Children of Abraham 65. Children, the Greatest in the Kingdom of God! 66. Warnings on Religious Hypocrisy 67. Can We Say that Jesus Christ Was the Son of David? 68. Jesus, the Son of Man 69. Jesus, the Son of God 70. Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life 71. Jesus, the Bread of Life 72. Extraordinary Faith – Jesus 73. Sensible Evil Spirits! 74. Jesus’ Approach to People of Other Religions 75. Temptation of Power and Washing Disciples’ Feet 76. Different Versions of the Great Commission 77. Ransom or Atonement! 78. The Path Towards the Cross 79. Differing Visions of the Risen Lord 80. Precious Pieces of the Pentecostal Explosion! 81. The Identity and Work of the Spirit 82. No Other Name for Salvation? 83. Was Paul’s Conversion to a New Religion? 84. Paul’s Approach to the Religious Other in Athens 85. Back to the Jewish Roots 86. Missionary Voyage, Troublesome yet Witnessing 87. Christian Leadership Models 88. Law and Laws: A Clarification 89. Solemn and Joyful Feast 90. The Power and Powerlessness of the Cross 91. Select Voices of the Poor 92. Repentance and Forgiveness: The Key for Change 93 ‘Do not Misuse the Lord’s Name!’ 94. Changing Facets of Jesus Christ 95. Pointers towards the Trinitarian Vision 96. A Template for Evaluation of the Churches 97. Fear God! The Eternal Gospel 98. Bow Down before the Crucified Power! 99. Visions of Hope: A New Heaven and a New Earth 100. When and How Will the End Come? About the Author: The Revd Dr Israel Selvanayagam hails from the southern tip of India. After initial pastoral work in churches, he joined the Tamilnadu Theological Seminary in Madurai for theological education and ministerial training. On completion, based in the same seminary, he was engaged in interreligious dialogue, teaching, lay theological education, and writing and editing theological books, mainly in Tamil. His higher studies were in the area of the Hindu Religious Traditions, and from an interreligious perspective he has approached Christian scripture, theology and mission in a unique way as is evident in his extensive publications. After teaching in several theological colleges both in India and the UK, he is currently a Methodist Minister in the multi-religious city of Leicester.