The Sovereignty of God Maintains the Holy Bible

While there may be some discrepancies between copies and versions of the Holy Bible today, we have no business claiming it has errors, or that any parts are not inspired by God. We do have very old copies in original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts, but God is the only One who has true knowledge of the contents of the originals. That does not make our copies erroneous, or not part of inspired Scripture, for God's sovereignty maintains the accuracy of the Holy Bible.

Almighty GOD is not living within our time. Time was created for us.

He sees the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9-10). God is talking to Adam in the Garden of Eden, even as He is accepting our worship on the new earth. He is Eternal. Time does not exist in God's realm of eternal being. GOD is the I AM.

God is instructing Moses to write the 1st five books of the Bible. He is overseeing Jeremiah write his books. Matthew, Mark, Luke & John are writing the gospels per God's guiding inspiration even as you sit and read the Holy Bible at your table in this instant. Pick a writer of one of the 66 books of the Bible and God by His infinite wisdom is having it penned even as you think on it.

Hold your fingers together as tight as possible, until they hurt. The space between your fingers is still longer than your lifespan.

God indwells His people yesterday, today and forever. (John 14, Ephesians 1:13,14, Galatians 3). He indwells believers before us and He will indwell believers after us. (even if we are raptured today)
In every Bible study, or Biblical teaching/preaching, the eternal existing God is actually watching over the person writing the book we are reading at the same instance.

I am not talking multiple dimensions, I am talking about God's BEING. God IS the I AM.

WOW! WE SERVE AN AWSOME GOD!!!

The Bible that the world has today, no matter what version, or language is being preserved by God Himself, outside of time. This is the Holy Bible of the Christian, not the religious books of other world beliefs.

If any parts of the Bible could be in error, in any language or translation, then don't you think Almighty God is able to correct His word, which He is overseeing the writings of even now?

We don't have the originals, but God does.

If today's Bible study guides are exalted over the Holy Bible, that's saying to God the writers of the study guides know more about the Bible than He does.

Consider the danger of your own error attempting to correct God.

Considering that the Author of the Bible is Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent God, if you decide that you can identify parts of the Holy Bible that are in error, consider these two scenarios:

#1

For some spectacular reason, you can move through the dimensions of Time and Space.

Today, a Christian brother has just watched a group of ISIS militants rape and murder his wife. In the next hour he will be beheaded for his faith in Christ. But he is steadfastly remembering the verses he has memorized from his Bible as he faces this horrible death. (it doesn't matter what language or translation the Bible is written in, it's a Holy Bible, maintained by Sovereign God)

Suddenly, you pop into his presence and announce, "My Bible study guide says that certain parts of certain translations and versions of the Bible are wrong and are not inspired by God because we have discovered they are not in the 'Best Manuscripts". We have decided that they are in error and we no longer teach them as being the inspired words of God."

And you disappear as suddenly as you arrive, leaving this brother alone wondering if the verses he has memorized are the parts that are not Inspired by God.

#2

Still jumping through Time and Space, you travel back to a cold, dark cell in the German Concentration Camp Ravensbruek, where two young women are huddled together with a Bible open between them. One is reading scripture to her dying sister. (it doesn't matter what language or translation the Bible is written in, it's a Holy Bible, maintained by Sovereign God)

Suddenly, you pop into their cell, point to their Bible and say, "In the future, we learn that certain parts of certain translations and versions of the Bible are wrong and are not inspired by God because we have discovered they are not in the 'Best Manuscripts". So we have decided that they are in error and we no longer teach them as being the inspired words of God."

And just as suddenly, you disappear from their sight, leaving Corrie Ten Boom and her sister, Betsie, holding worthless scraps of paper.

What has your knowledge just done to these people who have no access to whatever Bible study guide you may have read. Where is your proof that your Bible study guide is true and their Bible's are wrong? Your so-called knowledge gained form your study guides is of no advantage.

Only God has the knowledge to maintain His word as without error and all Scripture is inspired by God. (2 Timothy 3:16)

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of
Scripture is of any private interpretation,

for prophecy never came by the will of man,
but holy men of God spoke as they

were moved by the Holy Spirit"
2 Peter 1:20,21.

But of Bible Studies and study guides, the bookshelves are breaking from the strain. Be very careful of what you read outside of the Bible itself, for God has not breathed the words of Bible Study Guides, only the words of the Holy Bible. (John 17:17, 2 Timothy 3:16. 2 Peter 1:20, 21, Rev. 22:18,19, Is. 55:10,11, Eccl. 12:11.12,13,14.)

If something you read has an argument pointing to an error, stop and hold up any version of the Bible and say to the One who sits on the throne in Heaven, "Holy Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient GOD, because of this or that I've read about Your word, I know for certain that this text of this Bible is in error and is not inspired by You. You, Almighty God must have made a mistake putting this into this version of Your Bible, because this man, or this woman said so. So, now You, God are corrected by my knowledge."

Aren't you putting a lot of confidence in the idea the authors of study guides know more than God knows about His word?

Then you are telling God He is not Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent God.

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Salvation Through The Word Of God

The awesomeness of God's Holy Bible is that if anyone wants to know God and finds a Bible, they can read it and come to know God and His free salvation. They don't need to study any other books along side the Bible to lead them to God.

Sometimes too many study helps can get us off track from the simplicity of the Bible. And that can be very, very dangerous. We can get into the most ridiculous arguments over which version is right, but it is the Word of God, not our interpreta...tions of it that save people.

Paul warns, through Timothy, "Remind them of these things charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers" 2 Tim 2:14
and to Titus Paul wrote,"But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless" 3:9.

I've read and heard testimonies of people who have found only a page, or a scrap of the Bible, even a Bible tract, that have been saved through the power and love of God.

If you are a born-again Christian, saved by the grace of God, don't ever, ever, ever say anything about the Holy Bible other than what it says in 2 Timothy 3:16, 

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work"

"For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piecing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" Hebrews 4:12.

"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgement" James 3:1.(Jesus prayed to God the Father) "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" John 17:17.

Don't ever say any part of whatever version of the Holy Bible you prefer is not able to save, for it is the power of God to save. Your thoughts for or against which Scripture is used by God don't have the smallest iota one way or the other. If the words are between the cover of the Holy Bible, God can use it for His glory! And God preserves His word for that very purpose.

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Hard Questions

These are personal study questions at the back of my EBook

Squished! Why God Seemingly Destroys Our Fruit

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*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

How strong is your faith in Christ Jesus, the Lord? Maybe you will never have to face anything as severe as Joseph, Job, Ruth, or Esther but when everything appears to deteriorate, focus on the joy of the Lord; the joy that we have because we are “they who are looking for a country of their own” (cf Hebrews 11:13,14,15). These scenarios intend to challenge you to think about how close your personal walk is with Jesus and how much is earthly baggage.

*  *  *

1. How would you respond if your house burned down today? Everything in it is now ashes, not one thing survives. Mentally walk through your house right now and look at the things you have. Right now, it is gone! It no longer exists!

What are you feeling the loss of most?

What will replace that loss?

Whom are you going to trust to relieve the loss?

What is it you are afraid of facing the most at the loss of your house?

*  *  *

2. How would you respond if your spouse died today? Are you walking close enough to the Lord to accept it? How do you answer these questions if the person you love never comes back to you alive today?

Do they know you love them?

Have they trusted the Lord as their Savior?

Have you prayed for them lately, really prayed for their safety, well being, love, strength, spiritual growth? That they are walking close to the Lord daily.

Are they ready to meet the Lord Jesus today?

If the scenario was your children died today, ask the previous questions for this also.

*  *  *

3. What if your home church burned, there is not a shred of anything left; to what do you associate the building?

What constitutes as loss when the building is no longer available?

How does this affect your worship?

How strong is your feeling toward the activities that you attended?

How much are you accustomed to what was available inside the building?

If how you served depended on the material inside the building, how will you serve now?

*  *  *

4. What does the pastor mean to you in terms of your church attendance and service?

Do you come to church to hear him or God?

Do you feel uncomfortable when someone unfamiliar speaks?

Are you reluctant to listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart through a different speaker?

Do you think all sermons are supposed to speak personally to you?

*  *  *

5. What happens if you died today?

Are you ready today to meet Jesus?

Is your daily desire to meet Jesus face to face?

Is your family’s faith strong enough to walk with Jesus after your death?

Is there someone you need to tell about Jesus?

*  *  *

How much of your life since your salvation would be considered building with straw, hay, and stubble?

How much of your life since salvation would be considered building with gold, silver, and precious stones?

These questions are not to depress you but to help you examine your daily spiritual life. Where are your values? Is it your stuff, your people, your activities? Today, can you walk through your house and say to Jesus, ‘I throw it all away.’ The challenge is to do just that.

Where have your thoughts been lately?

Where are they right now?

Do these scenarios hurt? Why or why not?

With the Psalmist say, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23,24). Ask Jesus to clean your house, physically and metaphorically. Ask Jesus to show you where your stuff is hindering your service to Him. Be real.

*  *  *

Are you ready today for the rapture?

Do you really want to go home?

Is your desire to stand before the Lord and see exactly what He is and whom He is?

Do you love Him enough to let Him have everything?

Do you fear Him that much?

*  *  *

In the next month do this daily. Think about these scenarios and pray about your thoughts daily.

Revival begins when we want to live. Revival begins when we want others to live.

LIVE!

Revival begins with Jesus!

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A Good Commentary or The Bible?

Do you need to read commentaries when you read the Bible? Do you spend your devotional and study time reading other people's writings more than the Bible?

While there are many great books written by godly men and women, those writings are not God inspired nor are they alive with Godly power the way the Bible is. (2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12)

If you enjoy books about the Bible more than enjoying reading the Bible for yourself, you're missing out on the voice of God speaking to you. You're missing out on God directly teaching you.

God has placed His power in His word. Knowledge and understanding are found in the Bible. Knowledge and understanding of war and peace, of life and death, of honesty and deceitfulness, of working and laziness, of money and spending, of having and giving, of marriage and parenting, of learning and practical wisdom, of God's miracles and false testimonies, of truth and heresy, of love and blasphemy.

And the Bible instructs us of Jesus' grace, love, compassion and mercy. Of Jesus' justice and wrath.

It teaches to see where Satan works his evil and where he is delivering murder and destruction to the world he hates.

All this wisdom is found between Genesis 1:1 and Revelation 22:21.

Brothers and sisters, read the Bible more today than ever before.

"But Jesus answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God' Matthew 4:4.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men" John 1:1-4.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" John 1:14.

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The Bible, A Book Like No Other!

This is an excerpt from chapter 2 of my EBook Squished! Why God Seemingly Destroys Our Fruit.  The book was written from the experience of when my home church split in a disagreement among the elders and pastor. This was one of the bits of knowledge I learned as I felt and watched how my brother and sister Christians responded to the upheaval.

The Bible, A Book Like No Other:

If there is a book today that tries to describe God in any way other than the original text, then God did not have anything to do with its production. I believe that God has one Book He wants mankind to read above all else—the Bible.

Ecclesiastes 12:12, 13, “And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: ‘Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.’”

Have you ever looked at the marvels of the book of Judges? Who witnessed Samson asking the servant boy to place his hands on the pillars inside the pagan temple? Who told the story of what happened? Everybody died!

Consider the story of Esther. That is a great example of holy living in a pagan world but who told the writer what was going on in Haman's house? GOD was the witness! God imparted that information to the writer; maybe it was a servant in Haman’s house, maybe one of his henchmen babbled it after the hanging. No matter how the news got out, ultimately God made it known.

Because God wanted us to have it, we have the amazing testimony of Job. Just the first chapter should raise goose bumps. God gave the writer the information about what happened before His throne in Heaven. Who else was there?

In the New Testament, who told the writers the truth about what went on between Jesus and Pilot? Could that information have come from the Roman guards that came to know Jesus as Lord after the crucifixion and resurrection? Wow! What incredible grace if that is how it came to be included in the Bible? God knew!

What about Jesus' prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, that was only between Jesus and the Father. The only other people there were asleep!

The Bible is truly God's book! It's all true. It truly is a living book, a miraculous book!

We must confess we don’t understand it all and at times it can blow our thought processes, however if you are truly born again you know the Bible is true. We accept the things we cannot understand because we know God is that amazing!

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The One & Only Jesus Christ

It is so sad to find as you're talking to someone about Jesus and they begin to speak about the Jesus they worship and you soon learn he isn't the same as the Jesus, the Son of God, written of throughout the Bible.

How awful that they are being lied to by someone who is teaching them another Jesus and is taking them in the wrong direction from the Biblical truth of an afterlife in heaven & hell and eternal salvation & damnation.

And these people are so deceived because the n...ame of Jesus is spoken from the pulpit and so they believe it is the right name.

There are soooo many Scriptures that speak against these false teachers, it is astonishing how these people can be so blind and lost!

here is a list of verses warning to watch out for and how to identify false teachers. Also in this this list are verses that explain what is going to happen to false teachers when they meet the God they refuse to accept, and that they continue to slander.

Matt 7:21-23, Acts 20:28-30, Romans 1:18- 25, 2 Cor 11:3-4, Gal 1:8,9, 3:1-5, 5:7-12, Col 2:4-10, & 16-19, 1 Tim 1:5-7, & 4:1-3, & 6:20,21, 2 Tim 2:14-17, & 3:5, & 4: 1-4, Titus 3: 9-11, Heb 10:23-31, James 1:21-24, & 3:1, 2 Peter 1:16-2:3, & 2:12-22, 1 John 4: 1-3, 2 John 7-11, 3 John 9-10, Jude 4 & 12, Rev 22:18,19.

The Bible teaches a Holy Triune God, One in Three Persons, Co-Equal, Yet One. (Only a Born Again believer can understand this fact without total confusion. It is supernaturally known.

"Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" John 3:3.

"For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which men's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" 1 Corinthians 2:11-14.

The Bible teaches the truly is Eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and no other.

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" 4:12.

The Bible is a complete book of 66 books. Born again Christians are to be taught from the entire book to be like Jesus was in the world. The Holy Spirit living in each believer empowers us to be such people for Jesus.

"But you shall receive power when they Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth" Acts 1:8.

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The Bible, a book like no other

This is an excerpt from chapter 2 of my EBook Squished! Why God Seemingly Destroys Our Fruit

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II. The Bible, a book like no other

“Then I said, “Behold, I come: In the scroll of the book it is written of me” (Psalm 40:7).

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Ever think about why you enter a building on Sunday or any other day of the week and, with a crowd of listening people, stay attentive to a man standing on a platform at the front of a large room and speaking from the Bible? Sounds crazy doesn’t it. What in us desires such dedication? Could we even describe it? As crazy as it sounds, Christians the world over do gather for mutual worship and to listen to godly men teach from the Bible.

Isn’t it amazing how simplistic worship of God is for His people? We know God loves us to frequently gather and listen to teaching of His word.

Wow! And that’s worship!

Have you ever thought about what we are listening to each week in a Bible-based sermon? What exactly do we hear? Are we merely listening with our ears, or our whole being, our soul and spirit?

We have something the earliest Christians didn’t have. Before God spoke through men to write down His words as the Bible we have today, God-fearing people had few copies of the written word, and contained the history of God mainly by memorization and recitation. Oral stories are great but do many of us actually study and retain the word of God when we hear it? Apart from the written word, how accurate is your knowledge about God? How much of the Bible can you tell to someone?

**

Bible study:

“…it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed” (Luke 1:3,4).

Luke and his friend corresponded about Jewish history. Theophilus must have had bits and pieces of information and Luke wanted to set it straight for him to grasp the significance of it all. Luke and Theophilus had a detailed Bible study. Studying the Bible with a friend—what a wonderful privilege between Christian brothers and sisters.

**

What if God didn’t give us any information about Himself and we had to find it on our own? Ever think about not having the Bible to tell us about God in today’s world? What if God had never given us the Bible, from where then would truth come?

What would happen to you if the Bible somehow disappeared, as if it never existed? Do you know enough about God to sustain your relationship with Him? How much Scripture have you memorized. How complete a picture do you have of God?

Is the only time you open your Bible is when you attend church service? What would you rely on if disaster struck? What comfort would you have if you had no access to Scriptures? Would you have to run to another Christian or your pastor for a word from God? What do you do if you lost the availability to that person to help you understand the will of God?

Scary thought isn’t it.

The Bible is a gift we should praise God for every day.

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I Challenge Your Faith!

These are some question that I ask in the workbook section of my EBook Squished! Why God Seemingly Destroys Our Fruit. I had to answer these questions for myself when my home church went through a difficult time. I had to ask myself who or what was my I basing my faith in or on? Was my faith real?

How strong is your faith in Christ Jesus, the Lord? I want to challenge you right now to think about the consequences of sudden disasters like those that hit Job. These may sound gloomy but I want you to focus on the joy of the Lord; the joy that we are to have because we are pilgrims looking for the country where we are going. With these scenarios I challenge you to think about how close your personal walk is with Jesus and how much is just earthly baggage.

 What if your house burned down today? Everything in it is now ashes, not one thing survives. Mentally walk through your house right now and look at the things you have. Right now it is gone! It no longer exists!
1. What are you feeling the loss of most?
2. What is going to substitute for that loss?
3. Who are you going to trust to relieve the loss?
4. What is it you are afraid of facing the most at the loss of your house?


What if your spouse died today? Are you walking close enough to the Lord to accept it? If the person you love never comes back to you alive today, what do you think about?
1. Do they know I love them?
2. Have they trusted the Lord as their savior?
3. Have I prayed for them lately? Really prayed for their safety, well being, love, strength, spiritual growth? That they are walking close to the Lord daily?
4. Are they ready to meet the Lord Jesus today?


       If the scenario was your children died today, ask the previous questions for this also.

What if your home church burned, there is not a shred of anything left; to what do you associate the building?
1. What constitutes as loss when the building is no longer available?
2. How does this affect your worship?
3. How strong is your feeling toward the activities that you attended?
4. How much were you accustomed to what was available inside the building?
5. If how you served depended on the material inside the building; how will you serve now?


 What does the pastor mean to you in terms of your church attendance and service?
1. Do you come to church to hear him or God?
2. Do you feel uncomfortable when someone unfamiliar speaks?
3. Do you think this is the proper way you are to listen to sermons?
4. Are you reluctant to listen to the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart through a different speaker?

What if you died today?

1. Are you ready today to meet Jesus?
2. Is your daily desire to meet Jesus face to face?
3. Is your family strong enough to walk with Jesus after your death?
4. Is there someone you need to tell about Jesus? 

     Examine your daily spiritual life.
1. How much of your life since your salvation has been building with straw, hay and stubble?
2.. How much of your life was building with gold, silver and precious stones?

Where are your values? Is it your stuff, your people, your

activities? Today, can you walk through your house and say to Jesus, I throw it all away. I challenge you to do just that.
1. Where have your thoughts been lately?
2. Where are they right now?
3. Do these scenarios hurt?
4. Why? Or why not?

Be Real!

Ask Jesus to clean your house, to show you where your stuff is hindering your service to Him. 

Do you love Him enough to let Him have everything?

Do you fear Him that much?

Think about these scenarios and pray about your thoughts daily.

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Our Designed Purpose

If you want to take a walk through the human side of life, and get a picture of the range of humanity, read Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon one after another.

These three books are a great passage through the wants and needs of all people seen through God’s perspective.

When God moved men to set the order of the books of the Bible, He had Ecclesiastes placed between Proverbs and the Song of Solomon. These three books could be said to be Solomon’s daily diary.

Proverbs is Solomon’s public journal, the one he’d share with everyone. The Song of Solomon is his Dear Diary, the book he’d hide under his pillow and only read by flashlight under his blanket.

And Ecclesiastes is his notebook about succeeding in life, labor or leisure for all the wrong reasons. This is the manual he’d use in his boardroom as his employee's directives for discipline and motivation.

Ecclesiastes is the greatest book describing the futility

of the things people think is important.

We want order—that’s Proverbs. In Proverbs, we learn God’s design for proper conduct from childhood, through teen years, our marriage, our years of employment, our retirement, and old age.

We are starving for love—that’s learned in the Song of Solomon. In the Song of Solomon, we learn the heights and depths of a loving relationship between a man and woman and between Jesus and His bride, the church.

The book of Ecclesiastes is an instruction 

manual on how to misuse our life!

King Solomon was the first psychoanalyst. Wanting to know what life was like on earth without God, what purpose does anyone have apart from worshiping God, he gave it a thorough study. That must have been quite a challenge for a man who personally had a conversation with God twice. But laying aside his knowledge, Solomon looked into basic human desire and uncovered the gritty dirt inside of everyone. When concluding his study, in light of eternity, he realized life is way too short and frivolous to ignore God.

And he discovered that we accomplish nothing of lasting purpose apart from a relationship with Almighty God, who loved us enough to send His One and Only Son Jesus to die for us.

Solomon concludes this book telling us what is truly important.

"And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all.

For God will bring every work into judgement,

including every secret thing. whether good or evil."

Ecclesiastes 12:12, 13, 14.

Because God created time, time-wise everything is important even down to every fraction of every second of our lives. God purposed our time for certain use, even our leisure. 

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the LORD and not to men" Colossians 3:23.

If you're in a right relationship with God, then enjoy His presence no matter what you are doing. God enjoys our time spent with Him, wherever we work, or when we play.

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The Wordless Bible--Effective Simple Gospel Message

The Wordless Bible, or The Color Bible--a very simple explanation of the regeneration from unsaved sinner to rewarded saint. This is one of the ways the salvation message is told to young children. Many a youth group have learned this evangelistic method of the gospel. Simple but effective!

BLACK=SIN

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

RED=THE BLOOD OF JESUS

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life.

John 3:16

WHITE=FORGIVNESS

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

GREEN=GROWING

I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Philippians 3:19

 

GOLD=ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD

FOR ALL ETERNITY

He who overcomes shall inherit all things and I will be his God and he shall be my son. Revelation 21:7

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5 Bible Study Books for Groups or Individuals

(The Bereans), were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" Acts 17:11

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Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" 2 Timothy 2:15

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When I became a Christian, I certainly didn't know what God had in store for me. Looking back over the way God has used me and the things He has taught me, I amazed where I am today. I am amazed that God has done things with me that I never dreamed possible before my salvation.

Bible study is an essential for any growth in a Christian's life. You cannot get out from your babyhood without at least reading the Bible. Taking me from my intense fear of people, in His sovereign knowledge, God has given me the privilege of disciplining others, a ministry I would never have picked for myself. Where God has put me, I now know how diligent teaching is a major ministry for the church. 

"The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, 

... teachers of good things, that they admonish the young women 

to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word 

of God may not be blasphemed" Titus 2: 3,4.

Here are five study books I recommend for teachers and students of the Bible. As a Home Bible study teacher, I have received approval for these guide books from my pastor and elders of my home church.

This list is in no particular order or preference.

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1. Design for Discipleship (Navpress).

Through a Discipleship class at our church, my Husband and I were introduced to this study first for our own benefit. When we opened our house for God's use, we used this series with a neighbor couple who would come once a week. Then the opportunity for me to lead a Ladies Home Bible study, I chose to begin the group with this series. There are seven books in this series, and includes a teacher's guide.
If you are new to leading a Bible study group, this is a great starter for teachers as well as new Christians. The layout is well presented and the Guide has many helps for the structure of the group and offers Leadership organization and tips.

Can be found at Navpress.com
or Amazon

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2. Ruth, Esther: (Shepherd's Notes published by Holman Reference)

This book was chosen by the girl's Sunday School class. They wanted to know more about Ruth and agreed on this study for the class. I enjoyed it, and the discussion among the girls was interesting as to Ruth's manners, way of life, and the extreme changes she went through to her maturity in worshiping God. Being teenagers, the changes were something the girls had a hard time accepting but the questions brought up during this study made the book of Ruth come alive for them. 

Found at Amazon & 

Bible Books stores

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3. Becoming a Woman of Influence: (Navpress) 

My former pastor's wife taught the Ladies Bible study group through this book. In this study, I discovered the joy of Scripture memorization. I learned the important fact that to disciple, or witness to anyone, Scripture memorization is major. Using the Bible as center in our conversations will help others in all aspects of life. I had to know Scripture to have the correct tools to teach/help/mentor others.

Found at Navpress & Amazon
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4. The Mind of Christ: (Discovery Series Bible Study) 

This little book brought out much conversation among our Home Study group. There were some in attendance who had never known so much about Jesus' character, and the depth of His sacrifice. I recommend this study for a group or individual who wants to learn about Jesus' example to His church. It is a good basis for explaining proper Christ-like conduct and discovering how to better serve one another in the church. Further, this is a good study if you desire to search out your own ministry.

Found at DiscoverySeries.org 


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5. Giving Christ First Place: First Place Bible Study  (Guiding Light)

This Study series was brought to my attention in our church as helpful in learning self control and moderation. It is a good guide for prioritizing holiness and prayer over the desires of self. It emphasizes accountability, kindness, and bearing one another's burdens.

I found it helpful in teaching me about the food I was eating and the manner I consumed it. I believe there are seven books in this series but I have only gone through the first two.

I still use two of the aspects of these books. Because I collect cookbooks, I like the recipe sections. Another thing I like is at the back of each book is a Commitment Record where the participant takes stock of certain aspects of food, exercise, prayer, Bible reading and memorization.

If possible, I recommend getting original copies that contain a CD of the memorization Scripture set to music.

Found at Amazon

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Bonus title:

6. A Life Changing Encounter with God's Word from the Book of PROVERBS  (Navpress)

There are multiple studies in the Life Changing Series that take lessons from specific books of the Bible, all of which are great for group study and discussion. I was introduced to this series as a participant in a Ladies Home group, and our teacher had us go through this particular study book of Proverbs. 

The questions presented ask for the participant to really dig deep for the knowledge of God in the word. As suggested in the title, it is designed for teaching a person to identify their needs to change and gives Biblical reasoning for the good of the change.

Found at Navpress.com

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There is no excuse for a Christian not to study the word if they have the freedom to do so. God desires all of His children to 'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ'. (2 Peter 3:18)

We Need The Bible

We need the Bible. How else will we know about God? Where would we get any information about God today without the Bible?

I ask this question in my * EBook Squished! Why God Seemingly Destroys Our Fruit,  I talk about the truth of the Bible and the desperate necessity of it for God's people.

This is an excerpt from the book:

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What if God didn’t give us any information about Himself and we had to find it on our own? Ever think about not having the Bible to tell us about God in today’s world? What if God had never given us the Bible, from where then would truth come?

What would happen to you if the Bible somehow disappeared, as if it never existed? Do you know enough about God to sustain your relationship with Him? How much Scripture have you memorized. How complete a picture do you have of God?

Is the only time you open your Bible is when you attend church service? What would you rely on if disaster struck? What comfort would you have if you had no access to Scriptures? Would you have to run to another Christian or your pastor for a word from God? What do you do if you lost the availability to that person to help you understand the will of God?

Scary thought isn’t it.

The Bible is a gift we should praise God for every day."

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God's word is alive always. It is just as valuable to us today as when God had it written.
Psalm 119 is so beautiful. We should read it often. If you have children or grandchildren, read it to them. If you have a Sunday School class, read it to them. A bed-ridden friend or someone you care for, read it to them.

The Bible is one of our communications with our Loving God. read His word for the pure joy of it!

*(Published by Westbow Press a Division of Thomas Nelson Publishers, available at Amazon.com  by S. L. Estes)