we have placed the studies in the order they appear in the scripture.  we "quote" based on the following format.  book or letter, section (large number), line (as appears in a traditional bible); page you will find the scripture in the message - we like the idea of the page - it forces us to read what comes before and after, and not just a single line.  all our studies are offered in biblical context.  this means we try hard not to take a line and make it a rule - it's an all or nothing thing for us.

section 2:

lines 1-5; page 121 in the message:  a teenage girl, pregnant and wondering what to do.  what choices doe she have?  she could abort, or she could bring to term - what should she do?  while we see this as a 21st century problem, we all or a sudden realize, it was a first century problem.  picture this, mary tells joseph she is pregnant and the community finds out - what names would they call her?  how would they talk about her?  how would they treat her?  we look at the rash of teen pregnancies and say, "how ungodly" - yet we forget that our lord was born to an unwed teenage mother.  it may not be popular theology to think of it in these terms, but popularity is not what jesus is all about.  when we strive to see how scripture is relevant to our current times, we see this story of jesus being born to an unwed teen mother.  how timely!  how life changing!  how challenging for those who hold to the traditional point of view; but how meaningful to a teen in pain.