Women have always been interested in beauty. Today's women are subjected to unattainable standards of beauty through the various forms of media including advertising, television and the internet. Because these standards are not based in God's truth, many women have poor self-images. This twelve-week study is designed to help women explore what the Bible has to say about true beauty.

The work includes the writer's translation of the Sermon on the Mount from NT Greek into English, plus study notes, footnotes, and appendices focusing on the text. The study notes consist of basic information. The footnotes contain more advanced information. The appendices contain detailed exegesis of the New Testament Greek text. Discussion questions provide incentive to explore personal thoughts about the meaning of Jesus' words.

God's word, filled with spiritual treasures, will prove invaluable to those who will take time to search its depths. David understood this when he wrote "More to be desired are they (God's words) than gold" in Psalm 19:10. Clues to the greatest treasure of all, Jesus and his salvation, can be found throughout the Bible, including the book of Genesis, the book of beginnings. Using many reference materials, Genesis discloses nuggets about Jesus, the Messiah. As a result, the Messiah is "seen" over sixty times through prophecies, types and shadows, the blood covenant, and even a few actual appearances. These treasures in the word reveal the underlying theme in the Bible of the Savior through whom mankind would be saved.

The depth of Christ's work, power and love at Calvary and during the three days and nights in "the heart of the earth" provide a marvelous understanding of our Lord's redemptive work and victory from the region where Christ crushed the powers of Satan. This look beneath the surface of it all gives a comprehension of the height, the depth, the width and the breadth of the love of Christ and fulfillment of God's sin offering and sin bearer. What Jesus, the sinless lamb, accomplished from the time he shouted "It is finished!" until the time it was proclaimed, "He is risen!" is wonderfully revealed through Moses, the Psalms, the prophets, and New Testament writers.

The book is intended for small group Bible studies and also for personal study. Each lesson provides concepts from a stated passage followed by questions to encourage discussion and in-depth reflection about God and his rule over us. Three sections cover the Old Testament, the teachings of Jesus, and the writings of the Apostles. A short introduction will describe the inductive method of Bible study to better equip the readers to engage in interactive study of God's Word and the subject of the Kingdom of God.

The husband's authority is the spiritual covering provided by God for the benefit of the wife, for the protection of the children, and for the preservation of the family. Yet, many women within the Body of Christ have unresolved issues from their childhood that are preventing them from embracing their husband's position. Through Scripture, we recognize that rebellion against authority is the key to dysfunction in our families. In Weatherproof Your Home . . . Against the Storms of Life, the author seeks to empower women to abandon their self-defeating behavior in order to reframe their lives and families according to God's work. Using intimate examples of God's Word in her own life, she offers women a fresh perspective on bitterness, self-deception and rebellion.

The book contains fifty-two stories and studies of Christendom's beloved hymns. Each study contains three segments: the introduction has information pertaining to the hymn's writer and why he or she wrote the hymn. Next comes the leader's guide, containing the written portions of scripture which may have influenced the author to write the phrases, together with suggested questions or comments. Finally comes a participant's one page hand-out with scriptural references supporting the phrases in each stanza. When the study of a stanza is completed, it is sung. The purpose of the study is to further an appreciation of how God's Word serves as the foundation for the hymns of the church which have stood the test of time. The singing of these hymns will become even more meaningful for those who work through the study or read the book. Those who lean toward contemporary Christian music in worship will gain an appreciation of the meaning and depth of these classic hymns.

The manuscript has 102 fascinating Bible topics from a-men to worship. Each topic has an introduction to grab the reader's attention followed by scripture references on every topic relate to that topic. Two or three thought-provoking questions about each scripture invite participation in discussions that relate to daily life.

This book takes a dual approach in helping those affected with infertility and/or pregnancy loss by lending hope and promise that a faithful God will provide for their current desire to have a child, but also focuses on the greater purpose of promoting a life-altering spiritual growth for every aspect of their life. The chapters of the book cover each component of what it takes to grow naturally and spiritually including fertile soil, the presence of a holy seed, Living Water, abundant light, and the absence of weeds. The format of the book is designed to provide ongoing spiritual nurturing through an active study of relevant Bible passages for each topic, as well as devotionals for the participants to read in between chapters. This book can be used as a self-study or part of a formal Bible study class.

The author's thesis is that two dispensations are omitted or described erroneously in most Christian discussion that account for lack of a good biblical response to these questions. First is the problem of God's silence during this contemporary grace period compared to the signs, wonders, and miracles teeming during the Acts period. Second is defining specifically the kingdom of God. The manuscript examines the strongest concepts from the literature on these topics with the results offering a biblically consistent viewpoint that has appeal to both liberal and conservative Christians. These missing dispensations add new scriptural and philosophical strength to showing God as a God of love and grace.

This highlights the life of Old Testament characters such as Daniel, Elijah, Elisha, Jonah and others. The writer's goal is to examine each miracle from the perspective of a Christian physician, using both his medical background and his education in other sciences. Better insight is given into the miracles when descriptions of scenes, the characters' personalities, and the writer's attempts at recreating conversations that might have taken place.

Breaking Free is an engaging six week study of the magnificent healing of Legion (Luke 8:26-39). Its theme is the transforming and restorative power of Christ's love. Discussion questions and other leader aides are included with each chapter. The writer positions it in the niche of a Beth Moore study in its comprehensiveness and a Max Lucado study in its conversational writing style.

The writer states: "Once, after having endured a deep trial, I memorized the book of I Peter and meditated on it for a year. Since that time I have re-memorized it three times and made it a constant part of my meditation. . . . Since I Peter also teaches about holiness of living, God's sovereignty in salvation and daily life, the work of the Holy Spirit, and family relationships, an examination of it in depth provides that vital connection between God's plan and the believer's daily life. Suffering is the key that unlocks God's grace and blessings."

Spiritual Treasure Hunt , an interactive adventure that explores spiritual topics, .uses signposts and clues to take the reader on a literal treasure hunt that reveals God's promises of rewards for the believer: crowns, rubies of wisdom, streets of gold, etc. The signposts are easy to understand explanations of spiritual matters with each one building on the previous. The clues seek to create excitement and whet the appetite to investigate the different sources of information: Bible, Internet, library, video store. The work is intended for personal devotion time or as a group Bible study.

This 10-week women's Bible study explores the interactions between women and Jesus during his earthly ministry. The focus of this study is squarely on Jesus and what his conversations with women reveal about God Each gospel narrative is touching in itself, as it describes the gentleness of Jesus toward the women he encountered, including an adulteress, a woman married multiple times, and a prostitute. The study guide ends with the "Top Ten Things Jesus Never Said to a Woman." The narratives, taken both individually and together, present a clear message for women today, both in terms of how they perceive God and how they should behave toward other women to imitate Jesus. The format invites lots of Bible riding and reflection on scripture, as well as meaningful self-reflection. Each week's study is divided into guides for five daily study sessions. Some chapters include supplemental material on principles for biblical interpretation.

The book opens with the prophetic meaning of the frequently neglected Feast of Unleavened Bread and its prefigured complete break between the Old and New Covenants, something frequently not grasped by Christians. It continues with a systematic, yet easy to grasp biblical exposition of "God's Rescue Plan" for the human race through covenant, from Abraham to the Exodus. Then follow the purpose of the Old Covenant and the often-ignored curses for breaking it. We see how Jesus carried those curses on himself and included us in a New Covenant cut on the cross with the father, the terms of which are radically different from the Ten Commandments. The book of Hebrews and the Sabbath reinforce the truth of grace. The book continues with an examination of scriptures which might appear to contradict the message of grace, in particular those in James and in the Gospels. It concludes with an examination of why we might be tempted to revert to law, the dire consequences of the reversion, the full meaning of the feast of unleavened bread and what we will look like as servants of a New Covenant.

In today's world the prophets are perhaps among the most misunderstood characters in the Bible. They are seen more as predictors of the future rather than critics of the present. This tends to blind us to the true meaning of these great men, especially in a time when we are desperately in need of modern prophets. This manuscript studies the prophets and their message chronologically. In this way an evolution of thought is uncovered showing a natural progression in Israel's belief in Yahweh as a great God among many gods to the only God over all nations. It also depicts the evolution of covenant, individual accountability and the concept of a Day of the Lord.

Some Christians believe that the rapture of the church, the removal of all believers from the planet, will occur prior to the final seven years of tribulation. However, the writer suggests that Jesus said he will return and rapture the church at the end of the tribulation. Escaping Armageddon surveys the entire Bible to answer the contradiction. The book is set up with the initial hypothesis, as stated by Jesus, that the rapture of the church will occur at the end of the tribulation (Mt 24:29-31). The Old Testament and the New Testament are then surveyed to determine if anything contradicts Jesus' hypothesis. Focus is given to Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, Matthew chapters 24-25, Thessalonians I and II, and the book of Revelation.

Precisely what was Jesus Christ doing during the Old Testament? Are we to believe that the most important individual in the entirety of the creation was just sitting in the wings waiting for his Bethlehem curtain call? This manuscript asserts that Jesus was a fully embodied, physical participant in every event of the Old Testament. In fact, as the warrior commander of the mighty warriors of the army of the Lord, Jesus played the lead role in this epic story. The case for these bold statements is built upon a foundation of compelling Old Testament scripture that describes the repeated appearance of an angelic warrior known variably as God's "terror," "the hornet," "the commander of the army of the Lord," "the prince of the host," "the prince of the princes," and most notably as "the angel of the Lord." These appearances detail the warrior intervention of the Son of God in the fulfillment of his primary Old Testament strategic mission to protect and ultimately to rescue the righteous remnant of Israel.

This manuscript is a topical commentary on the events and issues covered in the first eleven chapters of Genesis. It includes discussion of the creation of the universe and man. The global nature of the Genesis flood is addressed as well as its divine purpose. The separation of humanity into various nations, languages, and religions is discussed. The last chapters trace the origin of all false religion back to Genesis 10-11. Various questions are answered, such as, where did Cain get his wife, when did dinosaurs exist, and where do cave men fit into the biblical model of world history? The central theme of the book is uncompromising trust in the historical and scientific reliability of these foundational chapters of the Bible. The purpose of this book is to convince Bible-believing Christians that it is not necessary to make extra biblical concessions to science, philosophy, or culture in order to believe what the Bible says.

Subtitled Using the Every-Verse Method to Separate What the Bible Says from What Some Churches Say, the manuscript seeks to expose traditional Protestant beliefs and practices that add to human misery and conflict with the messages that resonate throughout the Bible. The writer encourages us to be more like Jesus, who opposed man-made religious rules, and to be less like Jesus' opponents, the Pharisees, who created and enforced them. The writer notes, "My book is unique in that it employs the Every-Verse Method - a revolutionary, yet simple, technique which will serve as the ultimate model for anyone looking to establish their beliefs by way of the Bible rather than by way of the pulpit. This method will guide the reader through every verse in the Bible that addresses a given issue. For example, in the book's Alcohol chapter, I include all 35 Bible verses that indicate how God feels about alcohol consumption. I then reveal each verse's context and perform a brief analysis. By the end of the chapter, the reader has a feel for the message of the entire Bible as it relates to alcohol."

This family devotional guide, targeted for families with children ages 9-18, is centered around inductive studies of selected Bible passages. This study is designed to create a context where a family can dynamically interact with scripture together and invite scripture to interact with their hearts. Each gathering is designed to penetrate quite quickly and back off, so that participants do not become satiated. Almost no preparation is normally required, in order that the studies would be doable amidst a busy schedule and rushed days. There is variety in the daily plans so that the format itself doesn't become monotonous. Though the curriculum is targeted for children ages 9-18, younger children can join the journey as the older ones steer the discussions. This is part of a developing series, Gardening Our Hearts.

The aim of the study: to cause women to anchor deep in God's character in order to produce spiritually mature thinking and behavior. The method includes eight inductive, in-depth, and practical Bible studies on God's attributes. Each chapter focuses on one attribute and consists of five lessons in which a biblical portrait of God progressively emerges. Each day's lesson includes a principle that anchors the main truth in the reader's mind, and concludes with a personalized prayer from scripture. The study is systematic and teaches in layers; every lesson progressively presents four aspects of truth about each attribute for a more penetrating view of God. Sidebars containing the Hebrew or Greek definitions of key words in the opening passages add visual interest and increase the readers' understanding without distracting them from their study.

This combination individual/group study helps individual readers rediscover (or open for the first time) the Bible in fresh ways, and then brings people together to look deeper into the bigger picture of what God is seeking to communicate. The strengths of this approach and study are lively writing, thoughtful reflection, strong guidelines for study groups, and tools for reinforcing good reading habits.

The work seeks to tell the whole story of Old Testament concisely, but in a readable way which should be accessible to the average church-goer, who wants to know what the Old Testament is about. Links between different parts of the Old Testament are indicated, as are sections which I have found students frequently misunderstand. Thus, for example, the significance of the deliverance from Egypt, the Sinai Covenant, the Division of the Kingdom of Israel and the nature of Baal worship are made clear, as failure to grasp these skews one's understanding of the whole Old Testament. Further, several views of the Old Testament show how it has value in itself and not simply as a mine for Messianic prophecies. The book concludes with a chapter on some of the ways in which the Old Testament looks forward to the New Testament. The writer hopes the book will whet the reader's appetite for the Old Testament itself.

America's Next Top Model. The Bachelor. My Super Sweet Sixteen. Young girls today are literally bombarded with messages from our culture that they need to have model-like figures, wear designer clothes, and date a popular guy in order to feel good about themselves. How can the church help parents counter these messages? Growing in Beauty is an eight-week small group Bible Study that addresses the pressures and fears that junior high girls face today. It covers practical topics such as: how to dress modestly, why gossip is harmful, and the importance of a positive attitude in a non-judgmental, engaging style. The goal of this study is to use scripture to help adolescent girls see their worth in Christ and teach them how to appreciate the worth of others. Based on I Peter 3:3-5, this study will reinforce what Christian moms have been teaching for generations, that true beauty is not skin deep -- it's what's inside the heart that counts!

God's Royalty is a Bible study targeting girls in 5th and 6th grade. Through this six week study, girls will learn about the invitation to become a child of God, how to prepare themselves to meet with God, and the joy of meeting with God. They will also learn about fellowshipping with God, learning to follow God's plan for their lives and using their talents to please God's heart, all while covering topics such as daily Bible reading, fasting, their value to God and learning to trust in God.

Many Christian women struggle to know God the Father intimately. They are often certain of Jesus' love for them but have their doubts about God. Some believe he is a harsh, mean father, angry at sinners and eager to punish. Others see him as unapproachable and detached. Regardless of their reasons for viewing God in these ways, a profound yearning to known the real God remains. By examining Jesus' encounters with the crowds he taught and the individuals he touched, Images of the Father shows that Jesus came to Earth to save sinners, but he also came to reveal the true God and his desires for those he calls his own. The study examines seven "I am" statements that Jesus used to explain who he is-- from the Good Shepherd to the Great Physician. As "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15), Christ reveals the heart and the desires of God the Father toward his people.

The writer notes, "Most Christians have wondered about God's will from time to time. As a minister I have helped young couples seek God's will for marriage, career, and a host of things. It is not always easy to know what God would have us do. In Ephesians 1:9 Paul writes, 'And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which her purposed in Christ.' Paul then spends the rest of Ephesians giving us guidance in finding the mystery of God's will. This book will lead the reader through a verse-by-verse study of the entire book of Ephesians. Each chapter will help us find God's will in some area of our lives. Some verses of Ephesians when taken in isolation can be difficult to understand, but the book as a whole will lead the readers to a renewed sense of purpose for their lives."

Getting God's Perspective is a topical Bible study, covering such topics as accountability, afflictions and trials, anger, anxiety and worry, bitterness, contentment, envy and jealousy, faith, faithfulness of God, fear, forgiveness, friends, fruitfulness, God's Word, holiness, Holy Spirit, hope, joy, love, lust, marriage, obedience, peace, perseverance, praise, prayer, pride, reverence for God, salvation, Satan, serving, sin, sorrow, thankfulness, trust, wisdom, your flesh, your speech, your thoughts. The writer defines the main goals of the study as: 1) to know the Lord in a more personal way and learn to recognize his voice; 2) to know God's word; and 3) to learn how to apply (obey) his word in the Christian walk. Walk Check Time, at the end of each topic, is meant to encourage readers' honest talk with the Lord regarding what he might have spoken to their heart.

The purpose of this book is to provide ministers, marriage counselors, and prospective couples with a covenant-based approach to pre-marital counseling. This workbook is not approached from a relational standpoint, but is rather rooted in the significance of covenant. It covers a variety of topics including: understanding the meaning of covenant, the biblical role of a husband, and the role of the wife. We also take a look at those issues that affect couples most after the honeymoon, including communication, child rearing, finances, sex, and how to approach parents or inlaws. All of these topics are supported biblically.

This bird's eye view of the life themes essential to a relationship with the Lord concentrates on the first five books of the Old Testament. The study also considers major sections of the Bible instead of relatively short passages. The purpose of the overview is to get the "big picture," to see how major patterns clarify direction, so the reader moves beyond repeated ideas, but sees an over-arching story line of what God is up to as he deals with man.

Getting God's Perspective is a topical Bible study, covering such topics as accountability, afflictions and trials, anger, anxiety and worry, bitterness, contentment, envy and jealousy, faith, faithfulness of God, fear, forgiveness, friends, fruitfulness, God's Word, holiness, Holy Spirit, hope, joy, love, lust, marriage, obedience, peace, perseverance, praise, prayer, pride, reverence for God, salvation, Satan, serving, sin, sorrow, thankfulness, trust, wisdom, your flesh, your speech, your thoughts. The writer defines the main goals of the study as: 1) to know the Lord in a more personal way and learn to recognize his voice; 2) to know God's word; and 3) to learn how to apply (obey) his word in the Christian walk. Walk Check Time, at the end of each topic, is meant to encourage readers' honest talk with the Lord regarding what he might have spoken to their heart.

This anthology brings together all 35 major parables from the Gospels, using comparisons between the King James, New English Bible, and The Living Bible to bring greater clarity of meaning to students of the Bible. Selective comments from more than one hundred parable book writers over the centuries are added to bring further enlightenment. Included are 360 specific Bible lessons on the parables, as prescribed by the International Lesson Series from the years 1880 through 2005.

All of us desire an easy, trouble-free life. Unfortunately, on this side of heaven, trials are inevitable. When faced with seemingly insurmountable trials, we are often tempted to give in to despair, discontentment, and disillusionment. While these are natural human reactions to hardship, God's plan for us during these times of difficulty is so much greater. He desires to grant us his gifts of perspective, peace, strength, comfort, patience, obedience, faith, glory, contentment, and himself. While trials can be a means of receiving these gifts, it does not happen naturally. Whether or not we receive these gifts largely depends upon whether we chose to draw closer to God or whether we allow ourselves to become bitter towards God or to simply drift away. Drawing closer to God and receiving his gifts will not shorten our trials, nor will it make them easy. However, such God-honoring choices will allow us to experience God more fully and to value him more deeply. We can then become conduits of God's blessings to others.

The work was first published as an online, downloadable Bible study course by ChristianBibleStudies.com, a division of Christianity Today International, in conjunction with Disney's blockbuster movie, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Disney will soon be releasing a sequel to the first Narnia movie entitled Prince Caspian. This study presents the Word of God in a creative, inspiring way that will attract the attention of anyone interested in C.S. Lewis, his books, or the Disney movies. The finished product contains seven chapters; one for each of the books in the Narnia series. Each chapter includes a summary of the book, three or four teaching points examining the scriptures that the book illustrates, discussion-stimulating questions that are open-ended with an emphasis on personal application, and a closing section that includes take-away questions and an optional activity. It is an intriguing, culturally relevant study of the eternal truths C.S. Lewis wove into his stories.

This work administers first aid to the broken heart of widows. Guided scriptural study of supportive passages helps hope to arise in their hearts, as they see anew God’s plans for their lives enveloped in his relentless love. Each chapter develops a life-sustaining principle from God’s Word with supporting examples from the author’s own experience losing her husband. Incorporated within each reading are questions that encourage the reader to see God’s care and provision in the midst of her pain. Each chapter also includes opportunities for journaling on the content of the study, as well as a reflection time with considerations for thought, a prayer focus, and suggested parallel reading. Hope is available for widows. Their lives did not end with the deaths of their spouses. God still has good plans for them, even though life is not always easy. New life full of God’s sustaining grace is available in their immediate future. All they need to do is accept the support He has placed around them and relax in his sustaining arms - hope is here!

The purpose of the book is to provide a non-technical introductory guidebook for believing, understanding, studying, and responding to the Bible as God's Word. The interesting story of how we got the Bible provides a basic foundation for developing confidence in the Bible as the Word of God. Knowing who wrote the books, why they were written, and how they came to be collected together into Scripture is valuable in establishing confidence in the nature and authority of the Bible. Learning about the preservation of the biblical text and the translations available prepares one to be a better Bible student. 

This book provides some answers to these questions: Why do people not believe the Bible? Why can we believe the Bible to be the Word of God? Why do people misunderstand the Bible? What principles and procedures help us understand the Bible? Specific steps guide Bible students in the study of Bible books, passages, and words. 

The goal of Bible study is not accumulating Bible knowledge. The goal is knowing God personally and establishing a relationship with him. Believers respond to God's Word by obeying it, being directed in worship by it, and treasuring it in their hearts.

Why Christians Reject Hellfire

A Careful Examination of Holy Scriptures

from Genesis to Revelation

This message is for Bible-loving Christians who—deep in their hearts—ask these questions and insist on rock–solid answers from the Bible alone.

·       Is it possible that any of my loved ones could burn in hellfire when they die?

·       Why do some Christians not believe in it?  John Stott, the great leader and author of millions of evangelical Christian books, said he had not believed in hellfire for fifty years.

·       Adam’s “Original Sin” is said to be the basis for the doctrine of hellfire.  Where does the Bible prove that to be impossible?

·       Why is there not one reference to eternal torment in the entire Old Testament?  Why didn’t God warn of it?

·       Why didn’t the Apostle Paul make even one reference to eternal torment or hellfire?  (He wrote 14 of 27 books of New Testament)

·       What did Jesus mean “where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched?”  Where does the Bible prove that it is not possible that he referred to eternal torment?

·       How does the Bible show that the rich man and Lazarus, Revelations’ lake of fire and “weeping and gnashing of teeth” cannot possibly support the hellfire doctrine?

·       What does the Bible teach of God’s personality which makes hellfire impossible?

The Bible’s message in this little book is unforgettable.  Its’ beautiful message is life changing for both those now just considering Christianity as well as Christians asking thoughtful questions about hellfire.

There are two type of Christians.  Those who consume God’s blessings and those who share God’s blessings.  Most of us are the first type.  We have sought out God so that God can bless us with good things.  We are obsessed with knowing the right theology, following the right set of rules, and doing the right set of good works in hopes that we will please God and be rewarded.  We are forever on the lookout for what God can do for us.  Our faith is dead.  Then there is another type of Christian.  This type of Christian craves being put to work as the servant of God.  Their faith spurs them into action.  This book tells the true story of six men and women whose lives became intertwined around the teachings of the Epistle of James from which none of them escaped unchanged.   

James in the Suburbs: The True Story of How the Epistle of James Transformed a Church is an 87,000-word narrative-commentary that crafts a practical look at the Epistle of James addressing issues that affect all Christians including living faith, consumerism, poverty, discrimination, unemployment, and the environment. Readers will walk away with a thorough section by section understanding of the epistle, as well as, an unforgettable true story linking James’ teachings to their own lives. The appendix contains a study guide appropriate for group or individual use.

“How did that yarmulke get on my Savior? Jesus wasn’t really Jewish, was He?”

Many Christians know very little about the Jewish roots of their faith. Feasts of Faith introduces readers to Jewish traditions and customs, both past and present, as they relate to the historical feasts of Israel. 

Feasts of Faith is an exploration of the traditional Jewish feast days from a Christian point of view. Deepen your faith and appreciate the validity of Scripture as the authors take a look at the Jewish roots of Christianity-- revealing the extraordinary customs and traditions behind many common Scriptures, and bringing new interest and insight to otherwise stale or mysterious verses.

Hidden shadows of Jesus abound in the Old Testament. As you study God’s Word in a question and answer format, you will value the intimacy and intricacies of Scripture; be inspired to a deeper, more committed spiritual life; and be encouraged as you discover how Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of prophecies given through the Feasts of Israel.

The Thrill of Hope is an entry-level look at Revelation that breaks the book down into terms the reader can understand. There are devotional pieces that explain and develop its major themes as well as FAQ sections that deal with specific questions and issues of each chapter. There is also an emphasis on how Revelation applies to disciples' lives today.

What relevance should the Old Testament’s various sacrifices, new moon festivals, and holy days have for Christians today? How would any Bible student go about deciding what pleases God and what doesn’t, through a proper study, interpretation, and application of all of Scripture?

Bible study plans that provide solid principles for discerning how and why God’s dealings with man are different today than in Old Testament times are hard to find. Actual and would-be Bible students find themselves asking what principles help us determine how we are to live before God in light of what God has spoken through all the ages.

These are the kinds of questions I tackle head-on in this new book. It’s intended to serve as a hands-on guide to learning Bible study principles, beginning with the more commonly discussed matters of observation, interpretation, correlation, and application. However, what makes this book special is its attention to the various administrations and administrators God established in past ages--and all of this toward providing discernment for difficult questions involved in living out the eternal truths of God’s Word.

By Divine Appointment: Ambassadors for Christ is a set of 31 studies on Paul’s description of Christians as ambassadors for Christ.

Each three-part study examines a theme related to the role and tasks of a “real life” ambassador and applies that theme to daily Christian living. The book’s in-depth exploration of the ambassador concept offers readers fresh and imaginative insights that will deepen their understanding of their faith.

Targeted at more mature Christians, the book lends itself to personal study, small group discussion, or a Sunday School class or similar setting for Christians who wish to dig deeper into this surprisingly rich biblical metaphor.

Jesus Proclaimed is a devotional for Christmas.  The goal of the book is to help the reader think more about who Jesus is and what one celebrates for the holiday.  The eleven chapters can be read by an individual or used by a group for discussion. The book shows how passages from the New and Old Testaments about Jesus are related and has questions for application of Scripture to the month of December. 

Mike became a Christian in around 1990. He was anxious to get an understanding of the whole Bible but found that attempting to read the Bible in a year didn’t suit his needs. He looked for an abridged version to get him there more quickly, but nothing could be found that was simply a precis of the Bible--a straightforward read with no frills.

After a few years of leading Bible study in his local church and putting aside time for personal study, Mike felt he was ready to take the task on of producing a chapter-by-chapter precis himself. He started in January of 2009, building a web site--easybible.net--as work progressed. Now the task has been completed.

The Bible In a Day is nothing more or less than a condensed version of the Bible. Read this book once and you will have a reasonable understanding of the Bible's content; read it two or more times and the Bible will quickly become familiar to you.

This book is not a substitute for prayerful reading and study, but it will provide a good foundation for understanding God's Word.

Who hasn't wanted to ask God one of the why questions or when or how? Since questioning God is not a present possibility, why not turn the tables and let God ask the questions that come from the Bible? This study explores probing questions that get down where we live. It challenges but does not condemn. It encourages taking baby steps to reach a goal rather than trying to take a giant leap toward spiritual maturity.

As excruciating as the physical suffering was, it was miniscule in comparison to the spiritual judgment that Jesus experienced while on the cross. As our sin-bearer, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” But was he truly forsaken by God the Father? And if so, does that mean the Trinity was broken, or that Jesus was no longer divine?

After six agonizing hours on the cross, Jesus exclaimed, “It is finished!” But what was finished? Does it have any bearing on us today? If so, how can we benefit from what Jesus accomplished? And how does his accomplishment relate to church doctrines, such as “Purgatory,” “penance,” and the Eucharist as an “unbloody sacrifice” to be “re-presented”?

In this book, Dr. Kenneth Lenz explores the meaning and message of Calvary’s cross, based on two of the most profound statements in all of Scripture. Though brief, these two statements of Christ testify to the greatest fact in all of history, and the greatest truth ever revealed in holy writ. Indeed, they give witness to the fact that Christ accomplished the primary objective for His having come into this sin-cursed world as the unique God-man.

You know the routine:

Good intentions: “I want to ______________!”

But you don't follow thru! = Sabotage!

New resolve! “I don't want to ______________!”

But do “it” anyway! = Sabotage!

Sound familiar? You start your day with great intentions of living a life with vibrant faith and self-discipline, yet fizzle out by noon or sooner. You allow the dark whispers of your flesh or the world to taunt you - insecurity, fear, significance, jealousy, etc. –which in turn sabotage the life you long to live.

King Saul knew all about great intentions. He started out his reign strong – looks, position, Godly mentor – but sputtered out early on and never regained his traction due to his own baggage. He allowed his baggage to sabotage his reign, his dynasty, and ultimately his life.

But history doesn’t have to repeat itself. In this 31-Day Jumpstart to a Vibrant Faith, we’ll look at the fascinating yet harrowing way King Saul chose to sabotage himself. We’ll then turn the lens upon ourselves, identify our own baggage, and learn how to put it aside so we can live the vibrant faith the Lord envisioned when He created us.

In scores of Old and New Testament parables, God used plants to illustrate His nature, spiritual truths about His kingdom, and how He wants us to live. Interpreting Bible parables and the plants in them isn’t easy; twenty-first century society is far removed from the Bible’s original audience. To interpret parables that use plants to make their point, individuals need insights into the plant's characteristics and life cycle. For example, how do the plant's characteristics make it the optimal illustration to depict God’s character and will? This book centers on 24 parables illustrated by plants. I researched to learn why God chose each plant to illuminate the parable’s spiritual truth. Because Old and New Testament parables have different characteristics, the book is divided into a section on Old Testament and a section on New Testament parables. It is written for the average church member, for individuals who want a different type of Bible study, and for those who love plants. At the end of each chapter are questions that center on the parable’s theme. Readers can use the book in either a personal or a group Bible study; questions can be pondered alone or discussed with friends.

It is a fallen world to be sure. We are wronged often. Some of us are more sensitive and hurt by being wronged than others. Some respond in anger, some in tears and others shut down. How can we respond to injustice and being wronged? Jesus was wronged often. He was no coward. He spoke the truth boldly, was angry on occasion, and at times allowed himself to be wronged. What guided him? What gave him discernment to handle each wrong? This workbook is an exploratory look at Jesus’ example and at what the Scriptures say about handling offenses.

If knowing God changes everything, why isn’t it changing me?

Does your relationship with God feel flat? Do you find yourself going through the motions of faith yet still feel empty? You’re not alone.

A multitude of Christian women are losing their bearings in the swift current of an unstable society that seeks to sweep a biblical view of God downstream and out of sight. The sad result can leave us confused and increasingly disconnected from God as we seek solutions to the complex issues we face. We lack joy in our chaotic homes, peace in our relationships, and power to impact our world. So we pick up the latest best-sellers on joy, peace, and spiritual power, but despite our best efforts, we don’t experience lasting results.

Something is missing. Could it be God Himself?

Have we been swept up in following a repackaged, postmodern “God” instead of following the living God of Scripture?

God’s Heart: My Harbor is a Bible study on God’s attributes designed for women hungering for real faith with a real God in whom they can anchor their heart. It is for all who long for a deep, vibrant connection with God that transforms not only the way we view our lives, but the way we live them: with clarity, confidence, and kingdom impact.

 

This is book 1 of a two-part series of the study of Proverbs with an emphasis on Life Management skills. This first book will cover Proverbs 1 – 9 systematically. As the students works through each lesson they will also fill out a chart comparing the characteristics and results of foolishness and wisdom. After each five lesson week, there are questions for the teacher to go over in class. Included are extra Biblical references to help the teacher come to a sound understanding of the topics. The course will survey verses from the whole counsel of God’s word, not just Proverbs. The students will be memorizing several verses from Proverbs as well as Proverbs 3:1-12.

Part 2 of Practical Proverbs is almost finished. It is a topical study of Proverbs 10-31

The intended audience of this book is women from high school to 100! We never outgrow the need for wisdom and godly principles. It could also be published to reach men as Practical Proverbs for Adults as the principles are the same.

The Old Testament is vital Holy Scripture, but it can be difficult for a reader without academic training to get his or her arms around.

Old Testament Overview serves as a concise introduction to the Old Tetament.  Topics addressed, in non-technical language, include setting (geography, people, and social structrues), major theological themes, and the interplay of promise and fulfillment.  Old Tetament Overview includes, in addition, a brief historical narrative. 

Old Testament Overview is also a tool for quick reference.  It includes guides to finding Old Testament accounts, familiar verses, and messianic prophecies; a list of key Old Testament individuals; and the Old Testament locations of their stories, maps, and tables.

Although written as an aid to Christian Bilble study, Old Testament Overview will also be of interest to the general reader.

Mind the Gap is an introduction to interpreting the Bible written for volunteers serving in congregations across the country as Sunday school teachers, youth coaches, and small group leaders--the folks who are the backbone of Christian education, but who never had the opportunity to pursue college-level training in biblical studies. It is both a guide to best practices and a handbook for ready reference. 

The book of Hebrews contains a number of inspiring passages, like the "heroes of faith," in chapter 11. Yet the message of Hebrews begins in a rather dark place. It is written to pious, devout Jews who are facing a terrible social conundrum: if they stick with their testimonies about Jesus as Messiah and Lord, they will be cut off from their friends, ejected from their neighborhoods, lose their businesses, find their children and spouses ridiculed and abused, and will soon be tortured to death; on the other hand, if they simply renew their strong commitments to their religious community, with its meaningful rites and ceremonies, and stop mentioning Jesus, they will get to survive and thrive!

What a choice to have to make! This is far deeper and more significant than simply being a "nice Christian" or a "good religious person." Hebrews is actually a manual for martyrdom. It assumes that its readers will remain faithful to Jesus (because Jesus is truly God, and the only source of salvation), and will likely be tortured and die painfully, in a very short while.

The writer of Hebrews, unknown to us and beyond our ability to clearly identify, was a brilliant teacher and scholar. He knew scripture extremely well, flitting back and forth among quotations and allusions which, at first glance, might seem almost random, but when researched for context, are an incredible deep exploration of the meaning of God's work through the nation of Israel and in the person of Jesus. He also communicated marvelously, defining and cajoling and inspiring and shaming and encouraging and reminding and visioning. There is a consistent logic and direction to the whole of the work, yet it rises and descends emotionally, moves in and out of both history and the present seamlessly, and punches and holds hands with equal dexterity. At times the tempo almost meanders along, pointing out small things, filtering theological concepts, sorting biblical passages, and carrying on reflexive conversations. At other times the pace quickens, walking, then striding, then jogging, then running, then sprinting, always moving toward Jesus.

But the big thing that we need to pay attention to, when reading Hebrews, is that it keeps us focused on Jesus while assuming that such commitments of faith will lead us to persecution and death. This is the point of my book.

The method I use for conveying this meaning is to move through the text of Hebrews in meaningful sections which are thematically unique, and exploring each by way of four sections to each chapter. First is an actual copy of the text of that section of Hebrews as translated into the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Next, honoring the author of Hebrews own interweaving of exposition and exhortation, is a section I call "The Backstory." It probes some of the technical and theological and cultural dynamics that are assumed by the author in this particular section. Third, I provide an ever-lengthening "Where We Have Come So Far" summary of the key literary and rhetorical movments of the text of Hebrews. This helps readers keep in touch with the ever-unfolding message, rather than presuming that bits and pieces can be studied or consumed on their own, apart from the progression of the whole. Fourth, I give a currant explanation and application of what I call "The Message" of this section of the text, fulfilling the second part of the author's exposition/exhortation method of communication in the original document.

I also provide a brief Introduction, in which I trace quickly my own engagement with Hebrews--inspiring, boring, mesmerizing--and conclude with an Epilogue in which I seek to summarize quickly, pointedly and powerfully the whole of the message and the implications for those who read it.

The rate of divorce and remarriage in the church rivals that of the world, yet this issue, which has soiled the bride of Christ, is rarely addressed from the pulpit; therefore, I have written this bible study to help believers navigate the treacherous waters of divorce and remarriage.  I challenge them to study to show themselves approved, so that they can rightly divide the word of truth --- for themselves.   

Each chapter undertakes various scriptures that address the subject of divorce and remarriage from both the Old and New Testament books, asking several open ended questions that require prayerful reflection on the scripture and introspection instead pat answers that really don’t stick in the long run. Readers are encouraged to seek God on this issue in prayer --- and perhaps even fasting --- listening for His voice, and trusting Him to speak to their situation.

This Bible study is not only pertinent for those facing this issue, but can serve as premarital counseling that can save marriages before they even begin.

“Teach us to pray,” the disciples asked Jesus, and he did—he taught them the Lord’s Prayer. Though now a universally-known and essential Christian prayer, his prayer wasn’t an entirely new model for communing with God the Father. Jesus mined many of its themes and phrases directly from the prayers of the Psalms. The Old Testament “prayer book” reveals how God’s people approached him in a spirit of worship and trust, petitioned him for life’s necessities, confessed sin, and asked for help and wisdom. Good teacher that he was, Jesus drew together these important patterns in order to give a succinct but profound lesson in what delights God when his people pray. Still in need of much instruction in praying, in this fresh study of the Lord’s Prayer we will hear its deep echoes of the Psalms. From this resonance we will learn how to hallow God’s name in prayer and life, and we’ll be encouraged with the unchanging promise that the Father hears our voice and cares for his children.

This 6 session Bible study focuses on strategies to deepen our discussions with each other in order to stregthen our identities in Christ and live out our purposes; each session includes practical strategies to apply in discussion and conversation templates, and concludes with Scripture passages and questions for discussion. 

Have you ever wanted to dig deeper into Scripture on your own but weren’t sure how? Does studying the Greek seem, well, like Greek? Are you unsure how to apply what you read in the Bible? Or does in-depth study seem too time-consuming?

A Journey through Philippians is a 30-day, in-depth devotional study of the book of Philippians. Utilizing an expository style of teaching, it lays out the major themes of Philippians in bite-size morsels, allowing the concepts to be built upon as the reader progresses through the study.  You’ll learn background, the meaning of different words, and how it all applies to your life. You will discover Jesus’ humble example of servanthood and ultimate sacrifice. You will find out who you are in Christ, and why God’s grace is so amazing. You’ll uncover the goodness of unity in the body of Christ and will probe countless reasons for thankfulness. Each day ends with a "For Reflection" section, so the Word can spark life as you study and learn what God has revealed to you that day.

This book is designed to be an introductory guide to reading the books of the Bible as books. It is intended to help the reader understand that authors write books for a reason and that this reason is discovered only when people read the books from beginning to end. When people begin to read the books of the Bible in their entirety, they begin to understand that these books are designed to communicate unique messages that are developed through what the author chooses to include and where an author chooses to include it. The literary progression in a book reveals the author’s argument. It is through this argument that the Biblical authors under divine inspiration make their cases that the messages they communicate are true and should transform the reader’s life in particular ways. It is only when we people read the books from beginning to end that they gain God’s perspective on what is written.

(Working Title: A Promised Land for a Promised People)

“Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you.”  From Abraham’s original call, the land of Canaan has played a significant and essential role in the birth, development, narrative, and redemption of the people of Israel.   Though the Bible is rich in passages that speak of the land’s important role, yet these passages have too often been overlooked.  To ignore God’s revelation concerning the land of Canaan is to limit one’s understanding of the Jewish people and their role in the redemption of the human race.  As we examine God’s revelation concerning the land we will uncover

• The reasons God selected Canaan as the perfect home for Israel.
• What happed to bountiful Canaan that transformed it into an arid wasteland.
• The rightful owner of the land of Canaan.
• God’s sovereign role in recent history to open Canaan for a modern Israel.
• Modern Israel’s place in prophecy.
• The future restoration of Israel in the land of Canaan.
• The Temple of the Millennium.
• The everlasting existence of the land of Canaan.

As a scientifically minded Christian, what do you do with early Genesis? Literal readings of the Genesis 1 Creation narrative and of Noah's Flood don't seem to mesh with what we know about the world. And yet these accounts are the Word of God. Following the path of my own journey, this book takes the reader deep into Scripture and into the cultural and historical context of the ancient Hebrews. Emerging from the journey, the reader will have an enhanced appreciation for the richness and sophistication of the Bible, with well-grounded interpretations of the Creation and Flood stories in hand, confident that Scripture and science are not in conflict.

With 200 Bible quotations and over 225 citations, this is a work of notable scholarship. Family vignettes, an openness about my faith journey and parenting challenges, and a conversational style invite the reader into the book. My prayer is that the hearts of believers who struggle with science issues will be comforted, and a hurdle to faith for prospective believers will be removed.

This book took unused and underappreciated Scripture texts and applied them to provide a comprehensive connection from Abraham in Genesis to Solomon by setting more than 130 individuals in time by their birth, death or event year, as applicable. It presented, with great supporting evidence: the time placement of Job, his connection to Moses and the pharaoh who enslaved Israel; the year that pharaoh arose; that Salmon could not marry Rahab of Jericho; when Joshua died and how long the elders out lived Joshua; the expanded ancestral details for David; when Jephthah began as judge; when Samson lived and died; the connections between Eli to Samuel, Saul, Samson and David; and the interconnections of Eli’s descendants with Saul, David and Solomon to properly place the time period of each of the judges.

After the main body of text it includes these features: Name List with birth, death and/or event year for 131 individuals; Name Index for all individuals; Brief Event Timeline with 129 entries; and Scripture Index with more than 920 entries. At the end of each chapter or section it has a minor review of what we learned. Plus after applicable parts it shows how to build a timeline that corresponds to the book material.

Ever wonder how a loving and good God could exist with so much suffering? Suffering is a universal and unavoidable experience in life. The collective cry from humanity in those moments is the question “Why?” Why does suffering happen? Does the existence of suffering mean that God does not exist? If He does exist, what kind of God allows this suffering to go on? As someone who has suffered through the recent death of my mom, I know these questions plague not only unbelievers but lifelong believers as well. The answer to suffering is a complicated one, making it even more important that we study where God is and who God is when we suffer.

Teaching Others God’s Presence in Suffering is a small group study to tackle this difficult topic of suffering so that we aren’t tossed about by false ideas about God. It addresses God’s existence, love, will, and purpose in our suffering. It is broken into eight one-hour lessons, complete with discussion questions so small groups, classes, and families can understand better the true nature of God in light of the existence of suffering.

Title: Shine: “Arise, Shine! For Your Light Has Come!” Isaiah 60:1 (ESV) A Woman’s Bible Study on the Mission to be Lights of the World Out of the seven “I am” statements of Jesus, all of them are unique to our Savior, except for one. After proclaiming, “I am the Light of the world,” (John 8:12) Jesus then gave us the tasks of being the lights. “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14) Yet, it is a dark world we live in and the darkness seems to be growing. Is that because we’ve hidden our light? Are we keeping our lights to ourselves? Or are our lights growing dim? That is what this study is about: identifying the one true Light and becoming lights ourselves. Join me in this eight-week study where we will look to God’s Word in order to more fully understand what prevents us from shining and what it means to be lights. Arise and shine, dear sister!

Here’s some great news: God has planned a unique pathway for your Christian life!  This exact realization gave the Apostle Paul boldness to declare, “if only I may finish my course” (Acts 20:24). Now, here’s the bad news: it’s really hard to find the particular course God has given to you. Some things about your course are obvious, like, it won’t involve operating a crime syndicate. That’s easy. However, when pressed for details about what your course actually is, you might draw a blank. It is at this point where genuine examples of true servants of God become real help. This book offers that help by highlighting the pathways God gave to the twelve so-called “Minor Prophets.” You might be surprised to learn that with God’s pathway, the destination is not always what matters most. God really likes these prophets’ interaction with Him along their way. While the prophets walked the path God gave them, He shaped them and tuned them like fine musical instruments. At the end of their course they could all play their part in the grand symphony God is orchestrating. As the music resounds, God gets His wish—He is glorified in His people.

The story of Jonah is much more than a tale about a reluctant prophet who gets swallowed by a fish when he disobeys God. This book is a lens into God’s character as he extends it to his servants, the Gentiles, and to nature. We get to see God’s mercy, his sovereignty, and his missional impetus nearly 900 years before Christ came into the world. The book is much more than a satire of this silly prophet. It is a satire about God’s people not being eager to show mercy to others, but willing to receive it freely. Jonah shows us that God is eager to show mercy to anyone who will repent. Jonah is an action-packed narrative that deserves another look through different historical, literary, and theological lens. Ultimately, when we compare Jonah to Jesus, we see how superior our Savior is in every way. He is merciful, kind, and generous – the opposite of this complicated prophet.

Most books on homiletics devote little or no attention to the work of the Holy Spirit in the task of gospel proclamation. This book seeks to address that deficiency by focusing on those activities of the Spirit which are directly related to the preaching of the gospel, actions taken to woo the lost to faith in Christ and stimulate believers to embrace life in Christ in its fulness. Emulating the Spirit puts forth the thesis that Spirit-filled preachers should emulate the Holy Spirit, particularly in those same activities making for a more effective sermon. The book devotes fifteen chapters, each focusing on a particular action of the Holy Spirit as revealed in Scripture, developing its meaning in context, illustrating it from both Old and New Testaments, and offering insightful recommendations to the preacher. Emulating the Spirit proposes that preachers are never left to their own devices to map out a strategy for the substance and tone of their sermon delivery. The Holy Spirit seeks Spirit-filled preachers in tuned with him, who will deliver a message faithful to the text, but also empowered by those same poignant emphases that signal the redemptive intent of the Spirit in the preaching event.

If you think justice is important but wouldn’t know quite what to do if someone asked you for help getting justice, this study is for you. If you believe in all the causes you’re learning about but aren’t sure how to make sense of all the confusing back and forth, this study is for you. If you care about justice but don’t know if the Bible has much to say about it, this study is for you.

This Bible study is a training manual for Christians who want to learn to do this work of justice. It’s a basic biblical overview of justice and then a guide to the nitty-gritty mechanics of justice work. You’ll learn how to help move justice forward for a real person or a real situation. You’ll learn different tools available and different approaches for different scenarios. You’ll learn what type of blowback to prepare for as you do this work. This curriculum gives pastors, lay leaders, and church members a resource to equip their people or themselves for the work of justice. I hope that when you finish this study, you’ll feel much more ready for the good work that God has prepared for you.

Jesus chastised the Scripture readers (religious leaders) in his day because they misread the Bible.  "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life.  These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." (Jn. 5:39-40). How do we come to and meet with Jesus through our Bible reading? After his resurrection Jesus met with his followers to open their minds to understand the Scriptures.  He made clear that "everything written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms was fulfilled in him" (Lk. 24:44-45). Understanding the plotline of Jesus' life gives us the instrument whereby we can meet with Jesus through our Bible reading.  It unifies and illuminates the beautiful diversity of Scripture writings. But not only will this book lead you to meet with Jesus through your Bible reading, more importantly, it will lead you to life "in Christ."  For the plotline of Jesus' life is also the story of a Christian's life in this age and into the next!

I think most Christians struggle with prayer on some level.  I know I do. On the one hand, it seems simple. Prayer is just talking to God. On the other hand, it seems deeply mysterious and puzzling because, well, prayer is actually talking to God! If it makes us feel any better, Jesus’ disciples struggled with prayer as well. It’s the only thing they ever asked him to teach them—not how to heal or how to preach or how to change water into wine. No, they wanted to know how to pray. Even the Apostle Paul found prayer difficult at times: “We don’t know what to pray for as we ought ...” (Romans 8:26). We struggle with prayer, yet we keep praying because God has put within each of us a deep desire to connect with him just as he desires to connect with us. “Draw near to me,” he says, “and I will draw near to you” (James 4:8). This Bible study explores theological truths about prayer while offering practical ways and opportunities to experience relational intimacy with God as we pray.

In America many churchgoers are greeted with excitement, loud music, and clapping hands, but unfortunately, when the preaching starts, they will not hear the gospel. Friendly messages bring crowds, but they do not save souls. Unlike generations before, Americans today live in a world with lots of spirituality but little understanding of the truth. Most Bible studies are written with the assumption that people believe in God and trust the Bible, but this Bible study is different: This study starts by assuming the reader needs to be convinced of everything. In Questions Answered: Gospel Clarified, all titles are in the form of a thought-provoking question that most of us have wondered about. Each lesson starts by drawing the reader in through a true and interesting narrative that connects to the subject matter of the lesson. The lessons are sequential, so the first lesson justifies the reliability of the Bible itself by giving the reader interesting, well-researched, and little-known information in an easy-to-read format. By the end of these twelve lessons, the goal is for readers to have a solid Christian faith that they are willing to die for.

This guide aims to aid Christians, individually or in small groups, to take a closer look at seven of the meals Jesus attended, focusing on what Jesus was trying to communicate through them; either in the food eaten or in the social interactions he had while dining. Each session examines set Bible passage(s), frequently considering them through the lens of the stories and teachings that bookend the meal. When appropriate, the sessions also explore the meals in light of parallels found in the Old Testament and bring out Jesus’ role in fulfilling God’s rescue plan for humanity. The sessions also pose questions that support Christians in reflecting upon their own lives and how they can further incorporate Jesus’ teachings into them. This guide brings into one user-friendly volume a range of ideas that these meals explore, including God’s grace, what real purity means, how Jesus equips us to further his Kingdom, the purpose of Jesus’ miracles and the nature of Jesus’ Messiahship, as well as current interpretations of these occasions of commensality and the relevance of their historical and social context. The language is easy to understand, and readers do not need extensive prior knowledge of the subject to engage with the material.

It is time we rediscover Moses. Who else: Divided the Red Sea? Struck a rock to provide water for thousands? Brought the most powerful nation on earth to its knees? Guided a multitude of ex-slaves through a brutal wilderness and prepared them to be a nation? Probably performed more miracles than anyone but Jesus? Obviously, God was the miracle worker. But it took a very special man to do all that – and still be called the most humble man on earth. He is the most significant figure in Judaism and near the top for both Christians and Muslims. Moses would have to be included among the ten greatest men of all time, so I went to several web sites to find out what others thought. Thankfully, most of them place Jesus at the top of the list, but nowhere did I find Moses. This is not a commentary on the Pentateuch, nor is it a biography of Moses reconstructed from what we know about him. It is an exegetical study of his “autobiography,” designed to help you apply the Scriptures to your life and make Moses come alive. It offers particular riches to leaders, both inside and outside the church.

Faithful God/Unfaithful Husbands: Discovering God’s Heart for Restoring Your Marriage After Adultery, an Interactive Bible Study will enable women whose husbands are involved in adulterous relationships to discover for themselves God’s breathtaking commitment to His Word and to their marriages. Readers will be reminded that it was God Himself who joined them in marriage and is committed to seeing their union survive. As the reader grasps God’s stunning perspective on this timeless institution, faith and hope for restoration will be renewed and determination galvanized to weather this storm. Faithful God/Unfaithful Husbands encourages women to feast not on the words of the author, but on the very Word of God. Participants will begin the 7-week interactive Bible study by examining the importance of taking God at His Word. They'll learn about marital covenants, vows, prayer, God’s view of divorce, submission in the home, hard-heartedness, forgiveness, and the hope of restoration. In the process, they’ll engage in Biblical word studies, delight in the solid exegesis of such Bible teachers as David Guzik, John MacArthur, and Kay Arthur, and have the opportunity for personal reflection and prayer.

Jonah was one of God's prophets to Israel. His purpose was to testify of God's truth and grace to the world, but Jonah struggled to live according to God’s purpose for him. He held fast to a hope and purpose much less secure: his Israelite heritage, his ministry, his pride, and his own self-righteousness. But as Jonah wrestled with his conflicting ambitions, acting childishly and selfishly, God bent down to meet him with humble and gracious compassion. Through Christ, God pursues us with the same humble compassion that He demonstrated to Jonah.  In this study, we will learn how we might behold God’s compassion in Jonah’s life and ours, so that our lives may proclaim the grace, compassion, and mercy of God in Christ. This Bible study takes the student verse by verse through the book of Jonah using the "Observation, Interpretation, and Application" method of Bible study. Readers are given guiding questions to help them discover what the text says, what the text means and how they might apply it to their lives. It also has a commentary section, so that readers have a built-in verse-by-verse commentary to aid them in their study.

The great apostle Paul talked openly about his struggles in this intimate letter to the Corinthian church. Often misunderstood and overlooked for the better-known First Corinthians, Second Corinthians offers an unparalleled glimpse of Paul's life. With the emergence of modern apostles, it offers crucial biblical insights on apostleship. Verses from Second Corinthians (We are Christ's ambassadors, Do not be unequally yoked, If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, God loves a cheerful giver) are often quoted with no idea of their context. This intensely practical book will help you understand Second Corinthians and apply it to your life. The picture it presents of a mature Christian life may surprise many modern believers.

Many otherwise sound evangelicals rightly avoid any moves to "allegorize" the straightforward history in Genesis, and unthinkingly apply the same approach to prophetic scriptures. This is one reason why premillennialist, dispensationalist types of views abound in conservative church circles, and are even seen as the norm. But the author’s call for a return to sound biblical thinking and teaching is not restricted to prophecy. It ties together the four elements of the title that represent the Bible’s "big picture"—its grand sweep of history. A committed six-day creationist on biblical grounds, the author frequently expounds the scientific accuracy of Genesis creation as well as using it to show the inconsistency of the most-commonly held views on prophecy today. And in so doing he further reinforces the essential unity of both Old and New Testaments, something he shows is lost within much of what is taken as standard teaching on end times. Though this book leans towards what is known as amillennialism, it does not hesitate to call out biblical weaknesses in some of the arguments heard from that camp, and it becomes clear that the author is not slavishly committed to any "tradition of man" in eschatology. Yet the reality is that many of his fellow conservative, creationist brethren would see any questioning of the dispensationalist "grid" through which the Bible is often viewed as verging on heresy—in particular any other view on the role of Israel. That is, at least until they have seen these carefully and lovingly reasoned arguments. Creation, Curse, Kingdom, and Restoration cuts straight through the mists of argument that shroud the issues, getting to the heart of how something relates to the big picture of the entire gospel message. It also encourages the believer by reinforcing how this big picture has remained unchanged from the earliest times of God’s dealing with humanity. Along the way, it provides some helpful guidelines for practical Christian living.

Romance.  Passion. The Song of Songs. A lukewarm marriage is put to the test when fire destroys Max and Emily’s home.  A hidden safe, uncovered in the rubble, contains an unexpected treasure that sends the couple on a journey into romance, passion, and the transforming power of God’s love. Fire and Song brings the scriptures to life in compelling story form, then equips readers to study Song of Songs for their own benefit through visually rich study notes. Rediscover the beauty and power of God’s love, embodied in love between husband and wife.  Let God fill you with awe at the depth and power of romance as He designed.  Fall in love, not just with your spouse, but with your Creator. Find your voice in the ultimate song, the Song of Songs.

This book contains essays with a common theme: exploring the unity of the Old Testament and the Gospel. However, it is a drop in the ocean of what has been explored and is yet to be explored on this topic. Chapter One. How the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer have the same author and the same message. Chapter Two. How the Altar is a Golgotha, the "Place of the Skull," with four horns as the four points of the cross. Chapter Three. How the brook Kidron represents the cost of Jesus leaving heaven for mortal, earthly life. Chapter Four. How the two pillars in front of the temple tell us of the suffering of Jesus and the cross. Chapter Five. How Queen Vashti represents Jesus as an innocent and rejected person in a fallen world. Chapter Six. How Noah's dove represents the Holy Spirit's presence in Eden, in Jesus, and now in us. Chapter Seven. How Job and the believer come to share the same enlightenment and joy. Chapter Eight. How Paul's Old Testament knowledge informed his New Testament conversion. The Rock. How Jesus' once-for-all sacrifice is pictured in Moses and the water from the rock.

What if you had proof that the resurrection happened? Real, tangible evidence? Skeptics and even many Christians today see it as an impossibility. They think the story of the resurrection is, at best, a metaphor meant to reveal a deeper truth, or, at worst, completely fabricated folklore. Most discard it as a wild tale, hastily made up by Jesus's followers to try and give some meaning to his death. However, careful study of Old Testament stories written hundreds or even thousands of years ago will show that God planned the resurrection long before Jesus walked the Earth. A close look at the content and historical context of these accounts will show that they reveal many specific details about Jesus' life, death and ultimate resurrection ages before they came to pass. Specifically, the five biographies examined here will show that God laid out His plan for Jesus thousands of years ago and left the blueprints in the history of the Israelite nation as proof for anyone who takes the time to seek it out.

Will Generative Artificial Intelligence usher in the global government forecast in scripture? Could be! Will its seeming omniscience allow man to build a god in his own image? Will GAI liberate us from disease and conflict; or will it enslave us? How will it all end? God gives us the ending and much more in the Bible’s last book, but it is written in code. However, the keys are in other prophecies. Revelation is a series of panoramas on subjects dear to God—the Church, human governance, Israel, the Messiah’s ultimate victory over evil. It is meant to reveal—but not until its insights are at hand. Like other Biblical prophecies that became clear as they were fulfilled, Revelation seems less outlandish than it once did. The fog clears as its events approach and we find things previously hidden suddenly in plain sight. If we are the last generation, we should be the one to finally understand it.

Most Christians can, maybe with a few helpful hints, list off the fruit of the Spirit. We’ve all had at least one Sunday School lesson or sermon give us the run down of the nine attributes and what they mean, but how often have we considered what it means to call it the fruit of the Spirit? Fruit-bearing trees, bushes, and vines only produce according to their nature: an apple tree will not produce oranges; a blackberry bush will not produce blueberries; a tomato vine will not produce pumpkins. Therefore, if the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, then by default this means that the essential nature of the Spirit is also love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This study will survey the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit across the Old and New Testament in the lives of God’s people and in God’s essential nature displayed in his Word. Where God is, so is his fruit.

Learn to (re)tell the Bible’s stories as prophecy Jesus fulfilled. The biblical writers were more into showing than telling. When it comes to messianic prophecy, the human authors (and even divine Author) of the Bible spent less time making new, direct, and random predictions about the future as they did on slowly weaving old and familiar themes and types, patterns and profiles through storytelling. Their frequent flashbacks to past stories, parallels, and persons foreshadowed the future. And as the biblical narrative progresses from the Old to the New Testament, the ripple effect of these developing patterns and recycled stories eventually expand into a silhouette ready for the Messiah to step into as the perfect match. The power of story in the Bible is the key to giving us all a fuller and more biblical view of prophecy.

(Working title: Hearing Our Brother’s Voice: How to Meet Jesus in the Psalms) Believers love the psalms, but often find it difficult to make Christian sense of them.  Hearing Our Brother’s Voice shows them how.  In twenty-two brief and self-contained chapters (the book is about 200 pages long), the author invites readers to receive the psalms not just as their “songbook” but as Jesus’, giving expression to the hopes and griefs of his own life.  After explaining the rationale for this approach, the book walks chapter by chapter through a wide range of experiences documented in the psalms (delight, hope, determination and desolation among them), showing readers how these psalms provide windows into the life Jesus chose freely to share with us in order to help us manage it and in the end to rescue us from what has gone wrong with it.   Three chapters near the end offer exercises aimed at increasing readers’ skill in the task promoted by the book. Prayers at the end of each chapter add an element of worship throughout.  As readers meet Jesus in the psalms under discussion, his incarnation and the love that drove it, together with the benefits of being united to him, become more vivid and life-changing.