Joseph: Fatherhood Isn’t Only About Biology

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
August 11, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Joseph Fatherhood Isn’t Only About BiologyEpisode #26- Joseph: Fatherhood Isn’t Only About Biology

On this episode of History for Christian Teens, we take a look at a humble, God-fearing adoptive father who made an eternal impact.

Joseph was engaged to be married to a young Jewish maiden named Mary. However, Mary becomes pregnant, and it’s not Joseph’s child. Rather than disgrace her, Joseph planned to divorce her quietly. But, that night, an angel of the Lord visited Joseph and explained to him that the child Mary was carrying was from the Holy Spirit, instructing him to take Mary as his wife and give the child the name Jesus. The decision to obey the Lord wouldn’t be without consequences for Joseph. His reputation, as well as his wife’s, would always be tarnished by the suspicion that they had sinned before marriage. Regardless, Joseph trusted the Lord and obeyed Him without question.

Throughout the account of Joseph’s brief story in the Bible, we see that he was a man of godly character who provided for and protected Jesus and his mother. When Jesus was an adult, people often referred to Him as the “son of Joseph,” although the Gospel writers were careful to maintain that Jesus’ true Father was God, with Joseph being more of a step-father or adoptive father. Joseph isn’t mentioned in any of the accounts of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The absence of Joseph in the stories of Jesus’ earthly ministry has led many to believe that Joseph died sometime between the last Biblical account of Joseph, when Jesus was 12, and when Jesus launched His earthly ministry as an adult. The fact that Jesus, as He was dying on the cross, committed the care of His mother to John gives us an indication that Joseph had indeed passed away by that time.

Listen in to learn how Jewish betrothal was different from engagements in today’s culture and, most importantly, what we can learn from the man who stepped up and stepped into the role of earthly father to Jesus Christ.

On the next episode- Be sure to join us next time on the History for Christian Teens podcast when we’ll explore the life of the man who prepared the way for Christ’s earthly ministry.

 

Resources referenced or recommended for further study:

 

Scripture references:

  • Mathew 1-2
  • Luke 1:31-38
  • Luke 2: 22-40
  • Luke 3
  • 1 Timothy 5:8
  • Genesis 18:19
  • Deuteronomy 6:6-9

 

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Mary the Mother of Jesus: A Life Fully Surrendered to God

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.
July 28, 2022 by Leave a Comment

A Life Fully Surrendered to GodEpisode #25- Mary the Mother of Jesus: A Life Fully Surrendered to God

We begin our study of historical figures in the New Testament with one of the most famous women in world history, whose child grew up to change the course of history! Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, is an extraordinary example of a life fully surrendered to God.

It’s unknown when Mary was born. Though we know that it was close to the period in history when the calendar changed from B.C., meaning “Before Christ,” to A.D., Latin for Anno Domini, meaning “in the year of our Lord.” In fact, it was Mary’s first-born son, Jesus Christ, that ushered in this time change!

Mary was a Jewish girl who lived in the obscure northern town of Nazareth. From the tribe of Judah and the royal line of David. That’s all that seems to be known about this young lady until she enters the Bible’s pages. However, there must be a reason why Mary, of all the virtuous Jewish girls, was chosen for this wondrous yet difficult task she was about to be asked to undertake. The Bible tells us that God judges not on the outward appearance but that He looks upon the heart. Therefore, one can assume that Mary must have had a pure and faithful heart for the Lord to be called to be the mother of the long-awaited Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Just as Mary was at the beginning of Jesus’ life on earth, she was also present at his first miracle that marked the start of His earthly ministry. Later, she would witness his crucifixion, Christ’s ascension to Heaven, and she was among the 120 baptized in the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

Listen in to discover more about this remarkable woman, chosen by God to care for and nurture our Lord and Savior, and what important lessons we can draw from her incredible example.

On the next episode- Be sure to join us next time on the History for Christian Teens podcast when we take a look at an extraordinary adoptive father who made an eternal impact.

Resources referenced or recommended for further study:

 

Scripture references:

  • Luke 1
  • Matthew 1:18-25
  • 1 Timothy 1:3
  • Romans 3:23
  • Ephesians 2:8–9
  • Acts 4:12
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:9–10
  • 2 Timothy 2:11

 

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We are now on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, and more! You can also find us on your favorite podcast listening app. Please be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode.

If you have questions, comments, or are in need of prayer, you can reach us by email at HistoryForChristianTeens@gmail.com.

 

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Esther: For Such a Time As This

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July 14, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Esther: For Such a Time As ThisEpisode #24- Esther: For Such a Time As This

This week we learn about Esther, a woman who overcame her fear in order to save her people from certain destruction.

Our heroine lived between 538 BC and 473 BC and was raised by her cousin, Mordecai, who treated her as his very own daughter. Hebrew by birth, Jewish by faith, she and her cousin resided in a Jewish community in Susa, the capital of Persia. It is now 100 years after the Babylonian exile, which we discussed in our previous episode about Daniel. Although some Jews ended up returning to Jerusalem, many did not.

After King Xerxes banished Queen Vashti for failing to obey him, a nationwide search for the next queen began. It’s thought that as many as 400 young ladies were brought into the king’s harem for a beauty pageant of sorts; Esther the Jew was among them. Soon, Esther won the favor of those around her, and eventually, she won the heart of the king.

Adding to the drama, there was an ongoing feud between the king’s right-hand man, Haman, who was an evil man, and Mordecai, the cousin who raised Esther. When Mordecai continued to refuse to bow to Haman, Haman plotted to annihilate not only Mordecai but all the Jewish people and manipulated the king to issue an edict to carry it out.

Now crowned Queen Esther, she still had not revealed her nationality and faced a dilemma upon learning of Haman’s plans to kill her people. If she goes before the king to plead for their lives, she risks her own life. However, if she remains silent, she also risks losing her life. Bravely, Esther hatched a plan, and through her courage and faith in God, her people were spared.

Listen to this week’s podcast to learn the inside scoop on how this amazing feat was accomplished and what lessons we can learn from Esther’s example.

On the next episode- On the next episode of History for Christian Teens, we begin our study of historical figures in the New Testament with a very special young mother whose child grew up to change the course of history!

 

Resources referenced or recommended for further study:

Scripture references:

  • The Book of Esther
  • Romans 8:28

Follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

We are now on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, and more! You can also find us on your favorite podcast listening app. Please be sure to like and subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode.

If you have questions, comments, or are in need of prayer, you can reach us by email at HistoryForChristianTeens@gmail.com.

 

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