It is Christ who builds the church through the Holy Spirit. If the pastor and congregation are obedient, the Church is protected. This doesn’t mean horrific things won’t happen. Our role in God’s plan is crucial and our focus may not always be clear, though His is. Our walk is one of faith. Our God will take care to preserve and protect us in spite of men’s accomplishments, personalities, methods and false success. As opposition to the Church in Jerusalem moves into the arena of government, look into the genealogy of the Herods, and how, in spite of their despicable rule and degenerate character, God grows His Church. The Church didn’t escape suffering, but in that suffering God performed miracles that gave no doubt who was in charge and who would persevere in Truth.

Evil, paranoid King Herod comes face-to-face with his worst fears when Persian king makers, called the Magi, inquire about a newborn king. Listen to this lesson to learn how these wise men may have known about the King of the Jews. Find out about the supernatural star which guided them to the very house where Jesus lived. See how the ghosts of Herod's past sent him into an insane rage and how he ordered the ruthless slaughter of young boys. Gain a thoughtful perspective on the religious leaders' indifference to the birth of the Messiah. Discover how God provided for Jesus' escape to Egypt and how God is still supplying all our needs today.

Lopping off someone’s head is not a new way to dispose of an enemy. Listen to this lesson to hear about the grisly beheading of John the Baptist for pointing out truths from the Word of God. Hear about the convoluted and sordid history of the Herod family during the time when Christ was upon this earth. Gain an understanding of why those who scoff at God want to rid the world of Christians and see what our attitude toward being persecuted for standing up for what we believe should be.

During the class, Dr. Dean mentioned Dr. Andy Woods' blog. You can read it at www.thewordonpolitics.com