Posts belonging to Category Bible



Understanding God’s Word Series

Understanding God's Word

I’m excited to announce a new series of books that will be appearing over the next months. Understanding God’s Word is a new series of books exploring various books and topics in the Bible. Each book in the series is adapted from actual sermons preached in the local church. These books are part commentary, part exposition, but mostly offer a clear explanation of the text, showing how it relates to other Scripture and to our lives today.

This style of preaching is modeled after Nehemiah 8 where the Levites under Ezra “read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read” (Neh. 8:8). These books are ideal resources for teachers preparing lessons, for pastors preparing messages and for personal Bible study.

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Currently available (click on the book images to view on Amazon):

Habakkuk: The Journey from Doubt to Faith   Fruit of the Spirit: Growing More Like Jesus   Name above All Name (Isaiah 9:6): An Advent Series   Lord, Make My Life Count!

 
Upcoming in 2024:
Biblical Foundations
Famous Mothers in the Bible (Vol. 1)
Lord, Make My Life Count
Life of Samuel
Real Answers about Heaven

 
Note: Click here for all books in the Understanding God’s Word series.
 

Coronavirus Q & A and the Bible

The following is a Coronavirus Q & A session I did for our church this week answering the following five questions about coronavirus and the Bible:

1. Is the coronavirus God’s judgment for sin on the earth?
2. If God is all-good and all-powerful, why doesn’t he stop the suffering?
3. Why do Christians sometimes get sick and die?
4. Does the coronavirus mean that Jesus is coming back soon?
5. How does God want me to respond to the coronavirus?

Click here for a transcript of the video.

Coronavirus Q & A (Video length: 20:30)

 

Recommended Online Bible Studies

Recommended Online Bible Studies

During this time of coronavirus and sheltering in place, we all have a unique opportunity to spend extra time studying God’s word. To help you with this, I have compiled the following list of free resources.

I encourage you to look the list over, ask God for guidance and then pick one that appeals to you. Then, just click and begin! When you finish one resource, start a new one! Let’s use our time wisely and productively during these days that God has given us.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)
 


 
Our Daily Bread: Click here

You can read the daily devotional online at the link above.
 


 
The Bible Project: Click here

The Bible Project provides brief 5-10 minute video overviews for every book in the Bible. They are interesting, informative and visually appealing. There are 66 books in the Bible. We probably have a couple more months of sheltering at home. So, here’s an idea. Do one overview a day and complete all the videos over the next 66 days!

 


 
The Eyewitness Easter Series: Click here

The Eyewitness Bible Easter Series includes eight episodes to be watched on each day of Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday and ending on Easter Sunday. Each 15-minute video contains a first-person account of a Bible story appropriate for Holy Week.
 


 
Anxious for Nothing, by Max Lucado: Click here

Teacher Max Lucado helps you dive deep into Scripture to explore God’s treatment plan for anxiety as found in the most underlined verse in the Bible: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
 


 
Every Believer a Witness: Click here

Learn how to share your faith with others! A five-part course from Evangelism Explosion teaching you the basics of how to share your faith with confidence.
 


 
The God Who Speaks: Click here (free for Amazon Prime)

The God Who Speaks is a 90-minute documentary that traces the evidence of the Bible’s authority through interviews with some of the most respected apologists, scholars, and pastors in the evangelical world. This film answers common objections about the Bible’s reliability and equips believers to confidently base their lives on the power of God’s Word.
 


 
Pilgrim’s Progress for Kids: Click here

Parents, your kids can watch the children’s version of Pilgrim’s Progress for free!
 


 
YouVersion Bible Studies: Click here

The YouVersion Bible app offers a number of Bible studies and devotions. The nice thing about the YouVersion app is that you can sign up with some friends and do the Bible studies together. Here are three recommended studies:

 


 
The Gospel Coalition Bible Studies: Click here

The Gospel Coalition has a wide variety of Bible studies and classes available. Here are two recommended studies:

  • Basics of Systematic Theology: Click here
  • God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible: Click here

 


 
Ligonier Connect Bible Studies: Click here

Ligonier is the teaching ministry of R.C. Sproul. Ligonier has made their entire library of teaching videos available for free through June 30. You can take the classes by yourself or invite others to join you. They have hundreds of videos, so here are some recommended classes and topics.

You can either click “Create Group” to study together, or just click the “Preview” tab to go directly to the class. Each class has a video to watch as well as optional questions for discussion or reflection.

  • Dealing with Difficult Problems, by R.C. Sproul: Click here
  • Understanding the Parables, by R.C. Sproul: Click here
  • Contentment, by Melissa Kruger: Click here
  • The New Testament Canon (How we got our Bible), by Michael Kruger: Click here
  • The Life of Samson, by Robert Godfrey: Click here
  • Learning to Love the Psalms, by Robert Godfrey: Click here
  • Church History, by Robert Godfrey: Click here
  • The Attributes of God, by Steven Lawson: Click here

 


 
Sermons: Click here to listen / Click here to read

You can access the audio and written transcripts of various sermons I’ve preached over the years at the above links. Here are some recommended series:

 


 
Wow, I know that’s a lot! Remember, you can’t do all of these, but you can do some. Go ahead – pick one and get started today!
 

Bible Reading Helps for 2019

Here are some links to help you with your Bible reading in the New Year. The first link points you to a variety of free Bible reading plans. The second link will direct you to some good book resources. And the third link provides recommendations for children’s story Bibles (for families that would like to read the Bible with their children this year). May God bless you richly as you spend time with Him in his Word this year!

Reading the Bible Through in a Year:

      1. Free Bible Reading Plans
      2. Books to Help You Read through the Bible
      3. Recommended Children’s Story Bibles

Related post: Five Reasons to Read God’s Word This Year

The Greatest Chapter in the Bible

Romans 8 is Great!

No one can say for sure what is The Greatest Chapter in the Bible, there are so many to choose from, but if I were going to choose the greatest chapter in the Bible, I would definitely go with Romans 8.

Apparently, a lot of people agree. Earlier this year I ran a poll on Facebook as to what people thought was the greatest chapter in the Bible. I received a variety of answers, but the book of Romans got more votes than any other book, and Romans 8 got more votes than any other chapter. And that was before I shared it was my favorite chapter as well.

I agree with the person who said: “If I were on a desert island and I could only have one book it would be the Bible, and if I could only have one book in the Bible it would be the book of Romans, and if I could only have one chapter in the book of Romans, it would be chapter 8.” I even have my own saying about this chapter that I’ve been saying since I was in high school: “Romans 8 is great!”

Here are seven reasons why I think Romans 8 is the greatest chapter in the Bible:

1) It is trinitarian. It presents all three persons of the trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and also presents their different roles in the trinity.

2) It is gospel-centered, teaching about Jesus’ death and resurrection (34) and that Jesus died for our sins (3).

3) It presents in detail the three major doctrines of the Christian life: justification (1-4), sanctification (5-17), and glorification (18-30)

4) It presents the full order of salvation: “For those God foreknew he also predestined … and those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” (Romans 8:29-30)

5) It presents a number of other key doctrines including: the incarnation of Christ (3); our adoption as sons (14-16); our future inheritance in heaven (17); the resurrection of the body (11, 23); and the intercession of the Holy Spirit and Jesus for the believer (26-27, 34).

6) It presents the full sweep of salvation history including: creation (19); fall (20, 22); redemption (24-25); and consummation (21, 23).

7) It contains some of the best known and most loved verses in the Bible concerning God’s great love for us in Jesus Christ:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)

 
Note: Click here for six messages on Romans 8 from the sermon series: The Greatest Chapter in the Bible
 

Bible Reading Helps for 2017

Here are some links to help you with your Bible reading in the New Year. The first link points you to a variety of free Bible reading plans. The second link will direct you to some good book resources. And the third link provides recommendations for children’s story Bibles (for families that would like to read the Bible with their children this year). May God bless you richly as you spend time with Him in his Word this year!

Reading the Bible Through in a Year Series:

      1. Free Bible Reading Plans for the New Year
      2. Books to Help You Read through the Bible
      3. Recommended Children’s Story Bibles

Related post: 5 Reasons to Read God’s Word This Year

New American Commentary Sale on Kindle

nac_kindle_sale

I don’t know how long this sale will last, but right now most of the New American Commentary volumes for Kindle are on sale for $2.99 each. That’s a great sale as the print versions are usually in the $25-$30 range. I own the whole set, and these are great books for Bible study and teaching preparation. You can check out the various volumes for sale here: New American Commentary Volumes on Kindle.

The Magnificent Word of God Series

We recently completed a six-part series on The Magnificent Word of God, from Psalm 19:7-14. You can click the various links below to read the messages from the series.

The Magnificent Word of God

The Magnificent Word of God Series
(Click here for a PDF of all the sermon outlines for the series.)

The Word of the Lord (Inspired) – Psalm 19:7-14
Trustworthy and True (Infallible) – Psalm 19:7
Radiant and Right (Authoritative) – Psalm 19:8
Sure and Pure (Everlasting) – Psalm 19:9
More Precious than Gold (Priceless) – Psalm 19:10-11
A Prayer to Be Pleasing to God (Sanctifying) – Psalm 19:12-14
 

Philippians Series Available

The complete set of messages from Philippians is now available online. Please feel free to use these messages for personal study or in preparation for your own teaching from the book of Philippians.

Philippians | partners in the Gospel

Philippians – Partners in the Gospel
1) God’s Not Finished Yet (Philippians 1:1-6)
2) A Prayer for Christian Growth (Philippians 1:7-11)
3) Advancing the Gospel (Philippians 1:12-18a)
4) For to Me to Live Is What? (Philippians 1:18b-26)
5) Living Worthy of the Gospel (Philippians 1:27-30)
6) True Christian Fellowship (Philippians 2:1-4)
7) The Humble Obedience of Jesus (Philippians 2:5-11)
8) Shine Like Stars (Philippians 2:12-18)
9) Two Christ-like Servants (Philippians 2:19-30)
10) Knowing Christ (Philippians 3:1-11)
11) Eyes on the Prize (Philippians 3:12-16)
12) Citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:17-21)
13) Instructions for Earth (Philippians 4:1-9)
14) The Secret of Contentment (Philippians 4:10-13)
15) Supporting the Gospel (Philippians 4:14-23)

Read the Bible Through in a Week?

Yes, but only with a lot of help! Every year our church reads the entire Bible out loud in the sanctuary during Holy Week. We start on Palm Sunday by reading Genesis 1 out loud together during the morning service. Then people sign up for half-hour shifts throughout the week. We start at 7:00 a.m. and go to 10:00 p.m. most days. It takes about 150 half-hour shifts to read the whole Bible out loud. We read just up to the last chapter of Revelation on Saturday night. Then on Easter Sunday morning we read Revelation 22 out loud during the service, thus completing the reading of God’s Word out loud in the sanctuary from cover to cover.

We do this as an offering of praise back to God for His Word and to emphasize that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16) It makes for a great church-wide activity, and everyone profits from participating.

So far this week we’ve read Genesis through Isaiah, so we pick up with Jeremiah 1 at 7:00 a.m. Thursday morning. Here we go!

CT Interviews Roma Downey about the New History Channel Bible Series

Christianity Today posted an interesting interview with producer Mark Burnett and his wife Roma Downey (who will portray Mary) about their new mini-series, The Bible, which airs this Sunday, March 3:

There have been many attempts to bring the Bible to the screen. What makes this project distinctive?

Roma Downey: We felt it was very important to tell the story in a way that brought deep emotional connection with people. The characters in the Bible are us, in many ways. The challenges they face; their love, hopes, dreams—we can all relate to them. It is important to make the connection with the heart. It is through the heart that we embrace God. And we found this was the thread through the whole story, through the entire Bible: the cohesive tissue is the amazing love that God has for us, most evident in the birth and life of Jesus Christ and the power of his resurrection.

We also have access to CGI that no one has had before—the special effects are the work of Lola, the UK company that did CGI for the film Gladiator. We go from Abraham to the story of Moses which is quite spectacular visually. A Bible epic has never been done this way before with these new technologies. (Read more at Christianity Today.)

The Bible is a five-week miniseries that will air on the History Channel Sunday nights at 8pm beginning Sunday, March 3, 2013.

Bible Reading helps for 2013

Here are some links to help you with your Bible reading in the New Year. The first link points you to a variety of Bible reading plans. The second link will direct you to some good book resources. And the third link provides recommendations for children’s story Bibles (for families that would like to read the Bible with their children this year). May God bless you richly as you spend time with Him in his Word this year!

Reading the Bible Through in a Year Series:

      1. Free Bible Reading Plans for the New Year
      2. Books to Help You Read through the Bible
      3. Recommended Children’s Story Bibles

Related post: 5 Reasons to Read God’s Word This Year