A Study of Angels — Lesson 1
March 18, 2009
A Study of Angels: Understanding Their Person and Purpose
“Angels – Who Are They?” Lesson 1
Adult Sunday and Wednesday Bible Class
West Broad Church of Christ
March 18 and 29, 2009
Dr. J.L. Nesmith, Jr., Facilitator
(Adapted from materials by E. Myers, Ph.D. and J. Hampton Keathley, III, Th.M.)
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Introduction:
Few subjects have been as interesting to human beings as the study of angels.
* middle age perceptions
* perceptions in the 1990’s to today
It is good for our culture to have an interest in angels. Unfortunately, that interest is not informed by what the Bible teaches. During this three-lesson series, we will go on a biblical journey of discovery in our quest to understand angels. Are you ready? Let’s get started!
I. Emptiness and Emphasis
You are aware of what might be called “angelmania.” But why is our culture so fascinated with angels?
* the reality of spiritual need
* the process of the pendulum
What can we conclude? Only that man’s emptiness pulls him toward an interest in something beyond himself. In this case, that “something” is angels. But what does the Bible say about these fascinating beings?
* on the mention of angels
* on clarity regarding angels
People have many misconceptions about angels. The objective of our study at West Broad is to make the Bible and not human speculation our authority on this topic.
II. Description and Discussion
Question: When you envision an angel, what do you see? Why do you see those images? Again, we are trying to understand angels from a biblical perspective. When we do, what do we see?
* angels by definition and description
* origin of angels
* nature of angels
* hierarchy of angels
Conclusion:
What have we learned in this initial study? Simply that millions of people are interested in angels, but their understanding is not biblically based. On the other hand, a careful reading of Scripture leads us to the conclusion that angels . . .
1. are spiritual beings created by God to serve him in a special way
2. have will, intellect, and emotion
3. are powerful and immortal
4. seem to have hierarchical structure; an “ordering” in heaven
We have dealt with our first question, Angels – Who Are They? Our next lesson will find us asking a second question: Angels – What Did They Do? We will survey the ministry of angels during biblical times. Please join us as our journey of learning continues!
