RSEA.D.
- Reading of the Torah, Prophets, Apostolic aloud together (Leviticus 23:1-3; Nehemiah 8:1-4; Luke 4:16-17)
- Summary for context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)
- Exhortation for counsel, comfort, and encouragement (Acts 13:14-15; 2 Timothy 3:16)
- Application for living the Word and following Yeshua (Acts 2:37; Romans 2:13; James 1:22)
- Discussion for questions, input, and sharpening (Proverbs 27:17; Luke 2:46)
- Apostolic: Acts 15:1-41
- Torah: Genesis 17:10-14; Leviticus 12:3; Exodus 20:3; Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 7:24; Leviticus 17:14-15; Leviticus 22:8
- Prophets & Writings: 1 Chronicles 28:9; 1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalms 7:9; Jeremiah 11:20; Jeremiah 12:15; Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 20:12; Amos 9:11-12
Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)
- 15:1 Some men came down from Judea and taught the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised after the custom of Moses, you can’t be saved.” 2 Therefore when Paul and Barnabas had no small discord and discussion with them, they appointed Paul, Barnabas, and some others of them to go up to Jerusalem to the emissaries and elders about this question. 3 They, being sent on their way by the assembly, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles. They caused great joy to all the brothers.
- Circumcision for salvation? Was this the original intention of circumcision as given to Abraham?
- Elohim said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall guard my covenant, you and your seed after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall guard, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 He who is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your seed. 13 He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin [on the eighth day],(LXX) that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”
- Adult Gentiles do not break His covenant by not being circumcised in their flesh on the 8th day because they were ignorant of this command and the covenants and promises found in the Torah.
- 2:1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. 3 We also all once lived among them in the coveting of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But Elohim, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Messiah—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua, 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Messiah Yeshua; 8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of Elohim, 9 not of works, that no one would boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua for good works, which Elohim prepared before that we would walk in them. 11 Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision,” in the flesh, made by hands, 12 that you were at that time separate from Messiah, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and foreigners of the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without Elohim in the world. 13 But now in Messiah Yeshua you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Messiah. 14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in his flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in decrees, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to Elohim through the cross, having killed the hostility through it. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer foreigners and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and of the household of Elohim, 20 being built on the foundation of the emissaries and prophets, Messiah Yeshua himself being the chief cornerstone; 21 in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together for a habitation of Elohim in the Spirit.
- Decrees = Dogma: In Greek, δόγμα dogma (G1378) are usually man-made decrees of rulers such as kings (Daniel 2:13), Caesar (Acts 17:7), or Jewish leaders (cf. Ezra 6:8; Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14). δόγμα dogma is equivalent to the Hebrew word אֱסָר esar (H633) which means “to bind” as in a decree that binds others to the will of the ruler (cf. Daniel 6:8) and דָּת dat (H1881) which is only used in the books of usually translated as “law” or “commandment” (cf. Ezra 8:36; Esther 3:14).
- 2:1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. 3 We also all once lived among them in the coveting of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But Elohim, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Messiah—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua, 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Messiah Yeshua; 8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of Elohim, 9 not of works, that no one would boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua for good works, which Elohim prepared before that we would walk in them. 11 Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision,” in the flesh, made by hands, 12 that you were at that time separate from Messiah, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and foreigners of the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without Elohim in the world. 13 But now in Messiah Yeshua you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Messiah. 14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in his flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in decrees, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to Elohim through the cross, having killed the hostility through it. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer foreigners and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and of the household of Elohim, 20 being built on the foundation of the emissaries and prophets, Messiah Yeshua himself being the chief cornerstone; 21 in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together for a habitation of Elohim in the Spirit.
- The Conversion of the Gentiles in Acts 15:3 – These Gentiles already went through conversion the way YHWH intended. שׁוּב shuv (H7725) literally means “to turn” and is the root of the word תְּשׁוּבָה teshuvah (H8666) which means to return back to someone or something. שׁוּב shuv is equivalent to the Greek word ἐπιστροφή epistrophē (G1995) which means to change in form, character, or function; to convert. In the case for Gentiles conversion, it’s turning from idolatry to serving YHWH which is to keep and guard the commandments of God: “One who says, “I know him,” and doesn’t keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn’t in him.” (1 John 2:3)
- “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping God’s commandments.” (1 Corinthians 7:17)
- Circumcision for salvation? Was this the original intention of circumcision as given to Abraham?
- 15:4 When they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the assembly and the emissaries and the elders, and they reported everything that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Torah of Moses.” (cf. Acts 15:1; Genesis 17:10-14, John 7:22-23)
- Matthew 16:6-12; Yeshua said to them, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” … 11 How is it that you don’t perceive that I didn’t speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he didn’t tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
- Matthew 5:17-20; “Don’t think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the Torah, until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Acts 10:45 They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.
- Acts 11:1-3; Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”
- 15:6 The emissaries and the elders were gathered together to see about this matter. 7 When there had been much discussion, Peter rose up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you that by my mouth the nations should hear the word of the Good News and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, witnessed about them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just like he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why do you tempt God, that you should put a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Yeshua, just as they are.” 12 All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.
- Matthew 23:1-5; Then Yeshua spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, 2 saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. 3 All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and don’t do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them. 5 But they do all their works to be seen by men…
- Matthew 11:28-30; “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
- 1 John 5:2-3; By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. 3 For this is loving God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not burdensome.
- Romans 4:12 He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.
- Romans 15:8 Now I say that Messiah has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers,
- Galatians 2:12 For before some people came from Jacob, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
- 15:13 After they were silent, Jacob answered, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Shimon has reported how God first visited the nations to take out of them a people for his name. 15 This agrees with the words of the prophets. As it is written, 16 ‘After this I will return (cf. Jeremiah 12:15). I will again build the tabernacle of David, which has fallen. I will again build its ruins. I will set it up 17 that the rest of men may seek after the Lord: all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who does all these.’ (cf. Amos 9:11-12) 18 “
All of God’s works are(mss) Known to him from the ages. - 15:19 Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who proclaim him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” 22 Then it seemed good to the emissaries and the elders, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judah called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brothers.
- Acts 13:42-44; So when they went out they begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44 The next Sabbath, almost the whole city (Antioch) was gathered together to hear the word of God.
- προσήλυτος prosēlytos (G4339) is literally a newcomer from a foreign region and used to denote one who has come over from a Gentile religion to Judaism.
- Acts 18:1-4; After these things Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth. 2 He found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. He came to them, 3 and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers. 4 He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
- Acts 13:42-44; So when they went out they begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. 43 Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. 44 The next Sabbath, almost the whole city (Antioch) was gathered together to hear the word of God.
- 15:23 They wrote these by their hand: “The emissaries, the elders, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: greetings. 24 Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls,
saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the Torah,’(mss) to whom we gave no commandment; 25 it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 27 We have sent therefore Judah and Silas, who themselves will also tell you the same by word of mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessities: 29 that you abstain from what is sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.” 30 So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. 31 When they had read it, they rejoiced over the encouragement. 32 Judah and Silas, also being prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them. - 15:33 After they had spent some time there, they were dismissed in peace from the brothers to the emissaries.
34 But it seemed good to Silas to stay there.(mss) 35 But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord, with many others also. 36 After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas planned to take Yochanan, who was called Mark, with them also. 38 But Paul didn’t think that it was a good idea to take with them someone who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia, and didn’t go with them to do the work. 39 Then the contention grew so sharp that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and went out, being commended by the brothers to the grace of [the Lord].(mss) 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the assemblies.
Exhortation
Counsel, comfort, and encouragement (Acts 13:14-15)
- The Good News (Gospel), as proclaimed by Yeshua and the apostles, is as easy as 1-2-3:
- The Messiah suffered and died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
- That he was buried and raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and
- That repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in Yeshua’s name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
(cf. Luke 24:45-47; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Psalms 22:1-31; John 19:22-37; Jonah 1:17 – 2:10; Matthew 12:39-40; John 4:21-24; Acts 4:8-12; Romans 1:16; Acts 2:22-42)
Have you ever heard someone who was never taught the Torah or raised in the instructions of Torah say, “We don’t have to keep the Torah anymore” or that Christians are “free from the law” or that “the law was just a tutor until Christ came”? Maybe you’ve said some of these yourself. Statements like these are very, very dangerous and former Gentiles must be diligent to not repeat these tropes without first understanding Yeshua’s teachings and those of the apostles who walked with Him.
- Who was your tutor?
- Galatians 3:23-26; But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Torah, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 So that the Torah has become our tutor to bring us to Messiah, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all children of God, through faith in Messiah Yeshua.
- παιδαγωγός paidagōgos (G3807) is a tutor and literally means “guardian and guide of boys”. Among the Greeks and the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the age of manhood.
- παιδαγωγός paidagōgos is where we get the English word pedagogy. Pedagogy is the art, science, or profession of teaching. When taken as an academic discipline, Pedagogy is the study of how knowledge and skills are imparted in an educational context, and it considers the interactions that take place during learning.
- The renewed covenant (new testament) is not the Christian Bible from Matthew through Revelation
- The Brit Chadashah (or renewed covenant in English) is the reveals how sinners and Gentiles would be taught the Torah without ever having the pedagogy from a physical guardian or guide in order to enter the maturity of manhood (perfection).
- 1 Corinthians 2:6; We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown, yet a wisdom not of this world nor of the rulers of this world who are coming to nothing.
- 1 Corinthians 13:11; When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish ways.
- Ephesians 4:13-15; until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Messiah, 14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; 15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Messiah
- Jeremiah 31:31-34; “Behold, the days come,” says YHWH, “that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah, 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, which covenant of mine they broke, although I was a husband to them,” says YHWH. 33 “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says YHWH: “I will put my Torah in their inward parts, and I will write it in their heart. I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 They will no longer each teach his neighbor, and every man teach his brother, saying, ‘Know YHWH;’ for they will all know me, from their least to their greatest,” says YHWH, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
- 2 Corinthians 12:14-15; For when Gentiles who don’t have the Torah do by nature the things of the Torah, these, not having the Torah, are a Torah to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Torah written in their hearts (cf. Jeremiah 31:33), their conscience testifying with them, and their thoughts among themselves accusing or else excusing them 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men, according to my Good News, by Yeshua the Messiah.
- The Brit Chadashah (or renewed covenant in English) is the reveals how sinners and Gentiles would be taught the Torah without ever having the pedagogy from a physical guardian or guide in order to enter the maturity of manhood (perfection).
- Galatians 3:23-26; But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Torah, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 So that the Torah has become our tutor to bring us to Messiah, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all children of God, through faith in Messiah Yeshua.
- As a former Gentile, are you abstaining from these necessities of Acts 15:19-21, 28-29?
- Abstain = רָחַק rachaq (H7368) means to become far or distant from someone or something. רָחַק rachaq is equivalent to the Greek word ἀπέχομαι apechomai (G567) which means to hold one’s self back, keep off, or prevent.
- Abstain from the pollution of idols and things sacrificed to idols (cf. Exodus 20:3)
- Abstain from what is strangled (cf. Leviticus 7:24; Leviticus 17:15; Leviticus 22:8)
- Abstain from blood (cf. Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:14)
- Abstain from sexual immorality
- זָנָה zanah (H2181) literally means to be spread abroad. זָנָה zanah comes from the root זָנ zan (H2177, H2178) which means “different kinds” when referring to a storehouse (cf. Psalms 144:13), ointments (cf. 2 Chronicles 16:14), and music (cf. Daniel 3:7). זָנָה zanah is also connected with the word זִין ziyn (H2109, H2110) which means to feed on grain (cf. Jeremiah 5:8), fruit from trees (cf. Daniel 4:12), or food harvested from the crops or flock. Thus, fornication in a Hebraic sense can mean a person who spreads themselves abroad with various sexual activities in order to be fed. Some Bible dictionaries define זָנָה zanah to mean a person who is highly-fed and therefore wanton (sexually unrestrained or having many casual sexual relationships). In Greek, πορνείας porneías (G4202) means to prostitute one’s body to the lust of another; to give one’s self to unlawful sexual intercourse (unlawful sexual intercourse is defined in many places in Torah e.g. Leviticus 15:24 (sex with your wife on her period); Leviticus 18:22 (sex between men), Leviticus 18:11 and Leviticus 20:17 (sex between brother and sister); Leviticus 20:11 (sex with your mother or father’s wife); Leviticus 20:15-16 (sex with animals); Leviticus 20:18 (sex with your wife on her period); Numbers 5:12-13 and Deuteronomy 22:22; (adulterous sex between a man and married woman); Deuteronomy 22:23-24 (man raping a woman in a city); Deuteronomy 22:25-27 (man raping a woman in a field)).
- According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word pornography is from porne (G4204) “prostitute or harlot” who was originally bought or purchased + graphein (G1125) meaning “to write.” So, by definition, pornography is activity (writing or pictures or films etc.) of no literary or artistic value other than to stimulate sexual desire. During ancient times, pornography was obscene paintings, especially in temples of Bacchus, the pagan Greek god of the grape-harvest, winemaking and wine, of fertility, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, festivity and theatre. The Greek word porneías is most often translated as “fornication” and modernly defined as sexual intercourse between people not married to each other. πόρνη porne (G4204) metaphorically means to be given to idolatry, to worship idols; to permit one’s self to be drawn away by another into idolatry.
- Abstain = רָחַק rachaq (H7368) means to become far or distant from someone or something. רָחַק rachaq is equivalent to the Greek word ἀπέχομαι apechomai (G567) which means to hold one’s self back, keep off, or prevent.
- Are you ready to put away childish ways and press on to perfection?
- τέλειος teleios (G5046) means to be complete or finished (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.) (cf. John 19:30); of men it means to be full grown, adult, of full age, or mature. Equivalent to תָּמִים tamiym (H8549) in Hebrew which means to be whole and free of wound or injury; free of defect or impairment; having all its proper parts or components.
- Hebrews 5:13 – 6:3; 5:13 For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby. 14 But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil. 6:1 Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Messiah, let’s press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, 2 of the teaching of immersions, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 This will we do, if God permits.
Does anyone have specific questions or need any clarification from what was said during the Summary or Exhortation?
Application & Discussion
Living the Word and following Yeshua (Acts 2:37; Romans 2:13)
Questions, input, and sharpening (Proverbs 27:17; Luke 2:46)
Romans 2:13 For it isn’t the hearers of the Torah who are righteous before Elohim, but the doers of the Torah will be justified.
James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.
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- What questions or comments came up during your family’s discussion of this week’s study?
- What other related Scriptures did you find during your study of this week’s portion?
- Have you ever experienced something from this study or something related to it?
- What changes do you need to make in your life to align with what you learned during this week’s study?