Bible Verses

The Bible

The Bible is a book inspired by God, with many stories, prophecies, and messages. Although the Bible is thousands of years old, it is still the most popular book sold each year. Many people are convinced the Bible is outdated or has not progressed with the changing times; however, the Bible has proven over and over again that it has stood the test of time.

Every day millions of people look to the scriptures for hope, assurance, promises, and a guide for how to live their lives. The Bible has never come up empty, and it has been a driving force for many, to keep them grounded and focused.

The Bible is a kind of blueprint on how life should be lived, but, as seen in the scriptures, everyone fails, and we are all notorious for falling short of God’s desire and plan. But of course, God knew that we would.

The Bible is divided into two parts, the Old Testament, and the New Testament and each are very distinctive. The Old Testament gives an account of the beginning of time, God’s creation, and how much he loved mankind.

However, the Old Testament also reveals God’s anger as a result of sin and our separation from God. God did not want to be separated from his people, he wanted to bridge the gap, and that is why he sent us a Savior. Although the Savior was prophesized throughout the Old Testament, it wasn’t until the New Testament that he was born.

The Old Testament is the Law, and the New Testament is the New Covenant, Jesus Christ. Throughout the Old Testament, we see the continual struggles that the Israelites and the Gentiles had with obeying God and his commands.

The people wander off and do their own thing, they disobey God, and they worship idols. The struggle to obey God’s Law is a continual theme throughout the Old Testament. The Law was given by God, knowing that it could not be maintained by the people.

Sin and disobeying God separated us from our Creator, and, God wanted that gap bridged. In the New Testament, we see God’s perfect plan unfold, and hope is restored. Christ comes, the Savior of the earth, who will save the people from their sins. As prophesized, he is born in Bethlehem, is crucified on the cross, and is resurrected so that salvation has been restored.

The Bible is a manual of how Christians should live their lives, but it is also a tool to help us recognize that we cannot do this on our own strength – we need help, hope, and a Savior, and that Savior is Jesus Christ.

As you read through this book, you will see how each Book of the Bible is unique, but also how they all connect together. From the creation to the imminent end times, the story unfolds through historical books, poetic books, prophetic books, and letters to the churches.

The Bible is filled with many exciting and scandalous stories, examples of failure and success, falling and rising again, and hope and glory.

Through the Bible, we clearly see that God is pursuing all of us, both Jews and Gentiles. He loves us unconditionally and has paved the way to be with us; however, the choice is up to us.

In the end, we will all stand before God and give an account for our lives. However, on that day, many of us will enter the gates of heaven, while others will not. The Bible is a roadmap to everlasting life with Jesus Christ.

The Bible is comprised of 66 books: 39 in the Old Testament, and 27 in the New Testament. The books are categorized as follows.

Bible Basics

The Bible was written over a period of nearly 1,500 years by 40 people. The earliest books were written by Moses over a period of about 40 years, spanning from (approx.) 1450 BC to 1410 BC.

BC means before the birth of Christ (Jesus). The last book of the Bible, which is Revelation, was written around 100 AD.

AD means after the death and resurrection of Christ.

This is interesting in the fact that not one single word in the Bible contradicts another. In other words, the prophecies and historical accounts in the earliest books of the Bible are spoken of and fulfilled hundreds of years later in the later books of the Bible in detail.

Another piece of proof that points to the Bible’s relevancy is the fact that it doesn’t try to stand alone; meaning it isn’t ‘afraid’ to be scrutinized or examined. For example, in 1st Kings 14:19, we read: The other events of Jeroboam’s reign, his wars, and how he ruled, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.

This is just one of many examples of what I’m talking about.

The Bible is as true as it gets. It is our guidebook for life. It is the proof of how and why we exist. It is a book of promises that cannot and will not be broken. In short and in the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 32:47, the words of the Bible are not idle words – they are your life.

Bible Basics 101

Before we actually get into what the Bible has to say let’s get familiar with some of the basics of the Bible.

The Bible consists of 66 books and is divided into two main sections:

• Old Testament
• New Testament

The word ’testament’ means contract. And what is a contract? It is an agreement between two or more people. This is fitting due to the fact that the Bible contains God’s promises to us in return for our faith and obedience to him. God agrees to bless, comfort, protect, provide for us, and save us from an eternity in hell in return for our following him faithfully.

But why bother? When you buy a house you enter into the contract because you want to make a particular place your home. When you accept employment, you agree to give your best effort to your job because you want to use your skills and earn a paycheck.

From the employer’s perspective, he or she enters into the contract because they want someone they can depend on to represent their place of business in an accurate and positive manner.

So what about the Bible? What is the underlying cause or reason God instituted this contract between us and him? Love. Unconditional, unmerited love.

Yes, it really is that simple. God created us out of love, so it is only natural that he would take whatever measures or actions were necessary to protect that love. Think about it—as a parent aren’t you committed to doing and saying whatever is necessary for your children to know you love them?

The Old Testament consists of 39 books and contains the history of the world up to the period in which the Persian Empire was the most powerful in the world. It was during this time that Malachi wrote the last book of the Old Testament.

The books of the Bible are not presented in chronological order of when they were written, but rather they are given to us in a historically chronological order. For example, most theologians believe Job was written before some of the books that come before it in the Bible. But how could that be? How could Job be before Adam, Noah, and Abraham?

I’m so glad you asked and I’ll be happy to answer your questions…

1: He wasn’t before Adam. No one other than God came before Adam. Just because Job may have been written before God directed Moses to write the book of Genesis and those that come immediately after it doesn’t mean Job’s story took place prior to the events in the first books of the Bible. It’s like telling a story and then going back with a “Meanwhile, back at the ranch….”

For example, we read that man and woman were created on the sixth day, that God blessed them, gave them specific jobs, and told them what they were to do and what they were to eat.

Then God looked at them and proclaimed this final piece of his ‘creation puzzle’ very good (in comparison to ‘just’ good after he created everything else).

Beginning in verse of Genesis we read a more detailed account of that day’s events. It even comes after we read that God rested on the seventh day.

The fact that this more detailed account comes after we know God rested on the seventh day and after the initial and somewhat abridged version of the event doesn’t automatically mean it was a separate event. It just means God chose to go back and give us more details before going on with the rest of the story.

2: We know Job was post-Noah because he, well, because he was. The Bible leaves no room for doubt that Noah and his family (8 people in all) were the ONLY people to survive the flood that covered the entire earth.

And since Job was not one of Noah’s sons, then we know Job had to come after Noah. In fact, we know it had to be at least three generations after Noah because Job is not listed as one of Noah’s grandsons.

Noah’s son, Shem, however, is listed as the father of Uz; meaning his sons, grandsons, etc. are where the people group in this country or tribe came from. And since we know Job was from the land of Uz (Job 1), it only makes sense to assume that Job was a descendent of Shem.

3: As for being before or after Abram (later Abraham), it is quite possible or even probable that he lived either prior to Abram/Abraham, or a generation or two after Abraham lived. The reasons for placing a job in either one of these periods of time include:

• Uz, where Job was from) is mentioned only in listing the descendants of Shem, in introducing Job to us, in the book of Lamentations where it is referencing Shem’s descendants again, and finally in the book of Jeremiah where a historical reference is made to all the kings of Uz. The area or land of Uz had ceased to exist (at least by that name) by the time Moses and the Israelites came onto the scene.
• Job is said to be a very Godly and faithful man. In fact, God tells Satan that there is no other man like him. So had he lived during the time of Abraham, it would have been reasonable for God to have chosen Job as the father of the Israelites. As for coming after Abraham, it doesn’t make much sense to think that God felt Job was like none other—specifically Jacob. That leaves us with putting Job’s lifetime prior to Abraham’s. This timeline is most feasible because it would ‘allow’ God to give Job the honor of being the most faithful of men, but a man who simply didn’t fit into God’s timeline for bringing about the nation of Israel.
• There are several other evidences throughout the Book of Job that place him in this period of time. These evidences include:
• The names of his so-called friends and comforters are known rulers and dignitaries of prominent people groups during this period of time.
• The raiders who come to ravage Job’s farm and livestock come from areas near the assumed location of Uz.

Other books of the Old Testament including Esther, Psalm, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes were written during different periods of history in the nation of Israel. But rather than inserting them between the chronological history of Israel and later Israel and Judah, they are simply given to us after we read the historical documentation God provides us with.

The same can be said for the books of the prophets. Take Jeremiah, for example. God first called Jeremiah to be a prophet during the reign of King Josiah in Judah. Daniel began prophesying shortly after Israel was taken captive by the Babylonians under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar and continued into the reign of King Darius.

But again, rather than insert these books into the middle of the historical timeline accounts of the kingdoms, God simply led those putting the manuscripts together to put them as a group.

It isn’t all that difficult to see the method of organization.

• Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are the books of the Mosaic Law (and history)
• Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1st and 2nd Samuel, 1st and 2nd Kings, 1st and 2nd Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther are books of history
• Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon are the books of wisdom and poetry
• Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel are the major prophets
• Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi are the minor prophets

The book of Malachi was written a little more than 400 years before the birth of Jesus. And then nothing. There is a period of silence lasting 400 years from Malachi to the New Testament book of Matthew.

This period of silence is one in which God does not talk to his people or communicate with them in any way. We do, however, know what was happening in the world because of other historical documents, archeology, and research.

It was during this 400 year period that the following major world events took place:

Note: This list is not in any order of significance or chronology.

• Alexander the Great defeated the Persian Empire
• Aristotle was born and made significant impacts on the world of science, literature, and education in general
• The city of London was founded
• Numerous dynasty wars and conflicts took place in China and other parts of Asia
• The Greek Empire enjoyed decades of prominence and power before falling to the Romans
• The first Roman road system was built
• Julius Caesar was murdered
• The temple was reconstructed in Jerusalem
• Socrates lived and died; making indelible marks on mankind during his lifetime
• Paper was invented

It was after this 400-year period that God sent his son, Jesus, to be born to earthly parents This begins the New Testament.

Like the Old Testament, the New Testament contains the history and accounts of Jesus’ life on earth; including his ministry, his miracles, his death, burial, and resurrection, and his return to heaven.

This is followed by a history of the early church, books of doctrine (the why and how to be one with Christ), which are essentially letters written by Paul and a few others to the early Christians.

The book of Acts and some of Paul’s letters also contain accounts of Paul’s missionary journeys. The New Testament ends with the book of Revelation, which is a book of prophecy and imagery of the second coming of Christ—the final judgment of mankind.

The New Testament Is Divided As Follows:

• Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the Gospels

Acts is the book of the history of the Church and most of Paul’s missionary journeys.

• Romans, 1st and 2nd Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, 1st and 2nd Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1st and 2nd Peter, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John, and Jude are letters (epistles) that outline the doctrine of the Church and God’s requirements, expectations, and forbiddances to Christians
• Revelation, as stated, is the book of prophecy of things still to come

At this point, it is worth mentioning that there are Bibles available that have been arranged in chronological order. NOTHING is changed in the wording of the scriptures. They have only been rearranged and grouped together to be in harmony with what is going on when, where, and with who.

For example, the four books of the Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) don’t all contain the very same accounts of Jesus’ ministry or his parables, but many of them are repeated in two, three, or all four.

In cases like this, all four accounts are given together (one following another) rather than each book in its entirety. Another example of how it is put together can be seen in the books of Kings and Chronicles. The account of each king in both books is shown side by side.

For many, a chronological Bible makes understanding the history of the world much easier. They like to see all of the events happening at one time neatly gathered in one place. Whether you read it chronologically or otherwise, however, the fact remains that the Bible is the inspired word of God and that its truth will remain until his return.

Books 56 and 57

The Book Of Titus

Who wrote the book of Titus: Paul

When was it written: Approximately 64 A.D.

As stated earlier, Paul wrote this letter to Titus shortly before his last imprisonment in Rome. Prior to this time Paul and Titus had spent about three years together in Ephesus.

After leaving Ephesus, Paul sent Titus to work with the church in Corinth for a while before taking him to Crete.

Paul’s Purpose In Writing Titus Was To:

Give Titus guidance and instruction for meeting opposition from unbelievers

Give Titus authorization to address these issues

Define the guidelines for Christian conduct

Warn Titus about false teachers

Commission (encourage) Titus to continue his evangelistic work

What We Learn From The Book Of Titus

God does not lie. (1:2)

Instructions for the qualifications of an elder in the church. (1:6-9)

The church cannot permit false and divisive teachers. (1:10-11)

We must only teach and live according to the doctrine taught by Jesus. (2:1)

Christian conduct. (2:2-9)

We are to say ‘no’ to worldly passions; living godly, upright lives. (2:12)

Those who live in faithful obedience have the hope of heaven. (2:13-14)

We are to be respectful and subject to the authorities and rulers of our government. (3:1)

We are to live humbly, and peacefully, and show respect to everyone. (3:2)

We are saved because of God’s love and grace through baptism—not because of anything we’ve done or our own righteousness. (3:5-7)

Instructions for how to deal with divisive people in the congregation. (3:10-11)

We are to live productive lives in order to provide for our own necessities. (3:14)

The Book Of Philemon

Who wrote Philemon: Paul When was it written: 60 A.D.

The book of Philemon consists of one chapter that contains only twenty-five verses. Don’t let the fact that it is so short, however, trick you into believing it has nothing to offer. The book of Philemon contains a powerful and important message we all need to hear.

The Message Is This:

God can change anyone’s heart that allows him to do so. None of us are above needing salvation and none of us are below or too far gone to receive it.

Paul wrote this letter to Philemon during the time he spent on the island of Melita, Sicily, as a prisoner of the Roman government on his way to Rome.

The purpose of this letter was to persuade Philemon to accept his former slave, Onesimus as a brother in Christ rather than to see him only as a slave.

The request/instruction from Paul to Philemon was more than just a request to accept someone as an equal, though. Much more.

Onesimus, who had been Philemon’s slave, had run away after stealing from Philemon. While on the run, however, Onesimus met Paul and was introduced to the truth of the Gospel.

We don’t know under what conditions Paul and Onesimus met, because as stated above, Paul was being escorted to Rome as a prisoner when he wrote this letter to Philemon.

What we do know is that he spent the fall and winter of 60 A. D. in Sicily due to the fact that they had been shipwrecked on the island. This could mean that Onesiumus had been on the same ship as Paul working as part of the crew, or as a stowaway or prisoner also on his way to Rome (for a crime he had been apprehended for).

It might also mean that Onesimus had made his way to Melita and was living as a free man.

How they met is purely speculation and doesn’t really matter. The fact that they met and that Onesiumus accepted Christ as his Savior…that’s what matters.

It is, however, interesting to think about Paul’s living conditions at the time, though, because in spite of the fact that he was a prisoner in transport, Paul was a bit of a hero in the eyes and minds of the residents of Melita as well as those who had been onboard the ship with him.

Paul’s hero status stemmed from the fact that he had survived being bitten by a highly poisonous snake.

This incident, along with the fact that Paul’s arrest wasn’t for crimes committed against the government, but rather they were trumped up by the Jewish leaders, made it possible for Paul to enjoy a few more liberties—liberties such as preaching the message of the Gospel.

FYI: The account of Paul’s miraculous recovery is found in Acts 28.

Wherever they met or whatever the circumstances, Onesimus became a Christian and was changed from the inside out. Proof that the changes in Onesimus were genuine can be seen in the fact that he was willing to return to Philemon and face the consequences of his actions.

This is quite admirable considering the fact that technically his crime was punishable by death.

Another unknown variable in the story is whether or not Paul knew Philemon prior to befriending Onesimus. What we do know, however, is that Philemon was a Christian and part of the church in Colossae.

So Paul’s letter to Philemon was an appeal from the standpoint of extending the same grace to Onesimus as Christ had extended to Philemon (and the rest of us, too).

The last important piece of information you need to know before looking at the letter itself, is that Onesimus hand-delivered the letter to Philemon. This speaks highly of the genuine nature of Onesimus’ conversion.

It also tells us that by the time they were able to leave the island, Onesimus was a free man.

What We Learn From The Book Of Philemon

We need to be aware of and in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ beyond our local congregation. (1:4-5)

We are to actively share our faith. (1:6)

We are to accept anyone and everyone into our church family who is sincere in their faith and acceptance of Jesus as Savior. (1:10)

People can and do change. (1:11)

God often uses negative or even bad situations and circumstances for his glory. (1:15-16)

As Christians we are to uphold the civil laws of our land, pay our debts and taxes, etc.. (1:18)

We are to show compassion toward others and help those in need of assistance. (1:18)

Books 54 and 55

The Book Of 1st Timothy

Who wrote the book of 1st Timothy: Paul

When was it written: Approximately 64 A.D.

Paul wrote this letter to Timothy while on his third missionary journey. Timothy was ministering to the church in Ephesus at the time and Paul is writing the letter in order to instruct Timothy in matters of church leadership and discipleship.

Paul had spent approximately three years in Ephesus preaching the message of the Gospel, baptizing people into Christ, and teaching the new converts so that they could grow and mature in their relationship with the LORD. Paul had invested a lot in these people and it is evident he cares deeply for them.

As noted in the previous chapter of the book of Ephesus, the city of Ephesus was ridden with sin and evil. It was a mecca for people from all over the known world, which meant there were a variety of religions being practiced.

Some of these false and idolatrous sects of people were trying to infiltrate the church in Ephesus. Naturally, this was of great concern to both Paul and Timothy.

Before we look at what we can learn from the book of Ephesus, I want to take a minute to look at and explain the different religious sects that were trying to impose their beliefs on the Ephesian Christians.

The reason I want to do this is to help you become more aware and conscious of the fact that these things are still happening in the Church today. Possibly in your local church.

No, they probably aren’t the same specific groups the Ephesians encountered, but they are false teachers just the same and something we must be constantly on guard against. Remember…Satan is the master of deception and what better way to deceive someone away from Christ than to pretend to be for him?

The Gnostics

Believe Jesus was nothing more than a good man whose life is worthy to be emulated.

Believe we live more than one mortal life so there is no resurrection of the physical body.

God came from humans and is a glorified human. To say that God has always been is to say he is not real because everything has to have a beginning.

We have the capacity to be equal with God.

The body and all things made of matter are evil, but the spirit is entirely good.

Faith is a choice, but there is no condemnation in walking away from God.

The Judaizers

Believe the prophets of the Old Testament

Follow the Law of Moses

Recognize Jesus as the Messiah

Believe that the ceremonial practices of the Law of Moses still applied to the New Testament Church

Refused to accept that Gentiles could attain salvation through Jesus unless they adhered to the Jewish ceremonies and customs of the Law of Moses

The Ascetics

Lived a simplistic, frugal lifestyle; denying themselves any sort of worldly pleasure or convenience

Fasted to the point of malnutrition and dehydration in the name of spirituality

Treated their bodies harshly

Abstained from all physical pleasures in an attempt to attain holiness

As I said, we probably won’t find people who call themselves Gnostics, Judaizers, or Ascetics in our churches today, as we read through these partial lists of their belief system, we can see similarities between them and some of the religious sects of today. So just like Paul warns Timothy and the Ephesian Christians to be on guard, we should do the same.

What We Learn From The Book Of 1st Timothy

We must not allow people to teach false doctrines in the church. (1:3-4)

We are warned against being murderers, adulterers, perverts, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and liars. (1:9-10)

We should consider it an honor and privilege to be able to minister to others. (1:12-14)

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. (1:15)

All honor, praise, and glory is to go to God. (1:17)

Some people will fall away from the faith and there is nothing we can do about it because faith and obedience have to come from within a person’s heart, soul, and mind. (1:19-20)

We are to pray for others and on behalf of others. (2:1)

God wants all men/women to be saved by coming to the knowledge of the truth of who he is, who Jesus is, and how salvation comes through Jesus. (2:4-6)

Women are to dress modestly, with decency and propriety. (2:9)

A woman’s true beauty is found in her good deeds and worshipful heart. (2:10)

Paul defines the role of women in the church. (2:11-12)

The requirements and qualifications for elders (overseers) and deacons. (3:1-13)

Indicators of false teachers (4:1-7)

Our physical bodies are important and we should treat them with respect and proper care, but godliness is far more important. (4:8)

Age has nothing to do with spiritual maturity or our ability to minister effectively to and for God’s kingdom here on earth. (4:12)

We are to use the abilities and talents God gave us to minister to others and to promote the spreading of the Gospel. (4:14-15)

We are to persevere in living according to the Christian doctrine taught to the disciples by Jesus and shared with everyone. (4:15)

Instructions for how we are to treat and care for the elderly, the orphans in our family and in the church, and other members of our family. (Chapter 5)

Paul gives another warning against false teachers—those who thrive on controversy and quarrels, who spread gossip, are envious, slanderous, and who are often involved in or stir up conflicts between others. (61-5)

We are to be content with what God gives us and rest in the promise that we will always have what we need. (6:6-9)

We are reminded that the love of money is the root of all evil (6:11)

We are to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, gentleness, and endurance in the faith. (6:11)

We should not lose sight of the promise of heaven. We should use this promise to keep us grounded in our faith. (6:12-16)

Those who are blessed with monetary wealth are to share it with others, use it for the furtherance of God’s kingdom here on earth, and not try to put their identity in their wealth. (6:17-19)

The Book Of 2nd Timothy

Who wrote the book of 2nd Timothy: Paul When was it written: 66 A.D.

When Paul wrote 1st Timothy and Titus (the book that follows 2nd Timothy), Paul was a free man; traveling throughout Asia Minor spreading the message of salvation to any and all who would listen.

At that time he had only been a free man for approximately two years (having been imprisoned in Rome. But by the time he wrote this letter, Paul had once again been arrested—this time by Nero, Rome’s most notoriously insane (psychotic) emperor.

The first time Paul had been imprisoned in Rome he had been treated humanely. This was largely due to the fact that he was a Roman citizen.

During that time he was allowed visitors, was fed properly, given proper medical attention when he needed it, was allowed to receive gifts from his brothers and sisters in Christ, and was permitted to continue spreading the message of the Gospel through the writing of his letters to several of the churches that were the result of his evangelistic work and the evangelist work of others.

This time, however, because Nero was the kind of man he was, Paul was chained in a cold, dark, dungeon. He was mistreated, malnourished, and sick. In short, he was dying. Paul knew these were his last days and that his work here on earth was coming to an end. He could not, however, be at peace until he had written Timothy one last letter. This second letter to

Timothy Had Two Main Purposes:

Paul was lonely and wanted to see Timothy one last time before he died. Paul’s loneliness stemmed from the fact that the persecution of Christians was so severe under Nero’s reign that many Christians went into hiding.

To have associated themselves with Paul by coming to see him would have resulted in an instantaneous death sentence. It is doubtful that Paul resented the lack of visitors, but his understanding didn’t make him any less lonely.

Paul wanted to give Timothy some final words of encouragement to remain steadfast and not be afraid. The persecution of the Church wasn’t limited just to the city of Rome. It was going on throughout the entire Roman Empire.

This meant that the churches Paul, Timothy, Titus, Barnabas, Peter, Silas, Mark, and all the others had worked so hard to establish throughout the known world were under attack.

Paul knew what it was to suffer for the cause of Christ. He also knew what it was to be abundantly blessed for sharing the truth of the Gospel. But either way, Paul was content in his circumstances and truly glad to do whatever God called him to do.

What about you? Can you say you are content and truly glad in all things knowing God is in control?

What We Learn From The Book Of 2nd Timothy

We need close personal relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. (1:3-4)

God didn’t give us a spirit of timidity. In other words, God expects us to be bold for him. (1:7)

We should never be ashamed or embarrassed to live our faith, share our faith, or even suffer for our faith. (1:6)

The gift of salvation is not because of anything we’ve done, but it is God’s gift to us because of his unconditional love and amazing grace. (1:9)

Upon acceptance of Jesus as Savior, we receive the Holy Spirit to guide us. (1:14)

We have to ‘play by the rules’, i.e., if we want to receive God’s blessings we have to be obedient to him. (2:4-7)

Paul gives us a ” . .trustworthy saying. If we die with him we will also live with him; if we endure we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself (2:11-13)

The LORD knows those who are his. (2:19)

We are to keep ourselves away from all kinds of evil. (2:23-26)

Paul warns against false teachers and those who will try to persuade us to turn away from God. (3:1-9)

We are to always be prepared to defend God’s Word and the reason for our faith. (4:2-5)

Books 52 and 53

The Book Of 1st Thessalonians

Who wrote the book of 1st Thessalonians: Paul

When was it written: Approximately 51 A.D.

Paul wrote his first letter to the Christians of Thessalonica following his short stay there during his second missionary journey. The congregation in Thessalonica was young. They had turned their backs on paganism to follow Christ. But their new¬found faith came at a price—the persecution and ridicule of their families and friends.

What’s more, the conversion from paganism, which worships many gods, to Christianity, which recognizes only the one true God, meant that these people changed their entire way of thinking and their entire way of life. They were upending generations of indoctrination for something many would not accept. They went from believing…

The gods and goddesses had to be appeased and sacrificed in order to gain their favor

Reincarnation and/or varying forms of spirit worlds upon physical death

Human sacrifices were often necessary (in many cases, but not all)

Sexual acts with temple prostitutes or even animals were acceptable as a form of worship to believing…

That there was only one God and that his son, Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for our sins

Our acceptance of those beliefs should be reflected by our willing obedience to God as an expression of gratitude for that sacrifice

We know from Paul’s accounts of his missionary journeys that he was not able to spend nearly as much time with the Christians in Thessalonica as he wanted to. His inability to devote more time to one-on-one discipleship made him somewhat anxious.

He did not want to see their faith choked out by the pressures of their family and friends who didn’t accept their coming to the truth. So in order to help the church in Thessalonica hold on to and grow in their faith, Paul wrote this letter and the letter of 2nd Thessalonians.

The main focus of this first letter to the Thessalonians is the second coming of Jesus Christ. I believe Paul takes this approach because of the importance placed on the spirit world in paganism.

He wants to reassure them that the reward they will receive for their faithfulness is far greater than anything they could have believed possible in their former way of thinking.

What we learn from 1st Thessalonians

We are to continually pray for, encourage, teach, and mentor one another—especially those who are new to the faith. (1:3 and 2:11-12)

We are to be a living example to others—Christians and non- Christians/ (1:7-8)

We aren’t meant to be people-pleasers. We are meant to be God-pleasers. (2:4-6)

God has provided the Holy Spirit to enable us to live faithful, obedient lives. ((3:12-13)

We are to honor God with our bodies. (4:3-8)

We are to be humble, and self-sufficient vs. depending on others to support us, and be people of integrity so that our lives will be an example of who Christ is. (4:11)

We learn that those who have died a physical death will be raised back to life and be judged before those who are alive at the second coming of Christ. (4:13-18)

No one but God knows when the day of judgment will be, but that’s okay—it’s nothing we need to worry about as long as we are in Christ. (5:2-11)

We are to have a strong work ethic, treat people with respect, live peacefully, be an encourager, and help those in need. (5:13-15)

We are to be joyful, pray continually, and give thanks in ALL circumstances because we know God will make everything good in his time. (5:16-18)

We are to test all teachings against the Word of God and run away from anything evil. (5:21-22)

The Book Of 2nd Thessalonians

Who wrote the book of 2nd Thessalonians: Paul

When was it written: Approximately 52 A.D.

The book of 2nd Thessalonians is one of the shortest books in the Bible—only forty-seven verses total. The book is Paul’s second letter to the Christians at Thessalonica and is a follow-up to the first.

If you remember, other than reminding the people to be prayerful and obedient, Paul’s main focus in the first letter was to relate to them what we know about the second coming of Jesus. He basically repeated Jesus’ message (as written in the gospels) about the ‘procedures’ of the final judgment.

He Told Them That:

No one but God knows the day or time it will take place

That the dead will be raised back to life and be judged first, followed by those who are alive at the time of his return

That those who are declared saved before God will spend eternity in heaven and that those who are not saved will spend eternity in hell

In reading this letter, however, the people in Thessalonica misunderstood Paul. Or rather they assumed that the second coming of Jesus was imminent. In fact, we know from what Paul writes in this second letter that many of them had stopped working and going about their daily lives just to wait for Jesus.

And so the purpose of this second letter is to clear up that misunderstanding.

What We Learn From 2nd Thessalonians

God is a just God. He will reward those who are faithful and righteous in him and will pay back trouble to those who are not. (1:6-10)

We aren’t to be deceived or become unsettled or worried by those who say they know when the day of judgment will be. (2:1-4)

We are to be on guard against Satan and constantly depend on God to protect us from Satan’s schemes. (3:3)

We are to work hard and honor God by serving him and others. (3:10-13)

We are to hold one another accountable for obeying God. (3:14-15)

Book 50 The Book Of Philippians

Who wrote the book of Philippians: Paul When was it written: 61 A.D.

The focus of Philippians is joy. Over and over again Paul tells readers to find joy in the LORD rather than to search for it in worldly places and pleasures. Paul also cautions us against being prideful, independent, and self-seeking.

Philippians is also known as one of Paul’s prison letters; meaning he wrote it to the church in Philippi while he was in prison in Rome. He wrote the letter as a way of saying thank you for the encouragement and gifts he had received from them.

In the first chapter of the book of Philippians Paul praises his Christian brothers and sisters in Philippi for their faithfulness to God, and their expressions of brotherly love toward him.

Additionally, he shares his joy in the fact that “…most of the brothers in the LORD have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly….” because he (Paul) is in prison. The implication is that his fellow evangelists aren’t going to let Paul’s imprisonment be for nothing.

Intertwined with and following these comments, Paul gets down to the business of encouraging these faithful followers of Christ.

What We Learn From The Book Of Philippians

We are to continually grow in wisdom and knowledge of God’s Word. (1:9)

Our knowledge of God’s Word should be used to discern what God’s will for our life is, the difference between truth and lies, and right from wrong. (1:10)

We should never be ashamed of our faith. (1:20)

We are to conduct ourselves as representatives of Jesus Christ at all times and in all situations because that is exactly what we are. (1:27)

We are to be united with our brothers and sisters in Christ because of our mutual love for him. (2:1-2)

We are to consider others better than ourselves; meaning we should possess the qualities of humility and selflessness. We should also resist the temptation to be self-serving by looking for ways to serve and help others who are in need. (2:3-4)

We learn that equality with God is not possible. (2:6)

We are reminded that Jesus humbled himself to humans out of obedience to God in order to save us from our sins through his death on the cross. (2:7-8)

We are told that because of Jesus’ obedience to the Father, God exalted him (Jesus) to the highest place—that someday every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD. (2:9-11)

The verse that tells us we are to “…work out our salvation with fear and trembling….” does not mean our salvation is based on works, but rather that our faith spurs us into action to do God’s will for our life. (2:12-13)

We are to do everything without complaining or arguing. (2:14)

We need close brothers and sisters in Christ that we can depend on to encourage us, hold us accountable, and serve side by side with. (2:19-30)

Rejoice in the LORD! (3:1)

We are to watch out for evil men and false teachers. (3:2)

Nothing we can accomplish or attain here on earth is nothing compared to the reward of heaven. (3:7-8)

We are to persevere and not give up on God and in serving him. (3:12)

Those who live contrary to God’s commands will suffer a destiny of destruction and suffering in hell. (3:18-19)

Rejoice in the LORD always! (4:4)

Be gentle. (4:5)

We don’t have to be anxious or worry about anything as long as we give it over to God in prayer. Why? Because when we do that we have the promise that God will guard our hearts and minds with unspeakable peace. (4:6-7)

We are to fix our thoughts on anything that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and/or praiseworthy. (4:5)

The secret to contentment is knowing that no matter what God is on our side and that we can do any and all things through him. (4:11-13)

God will meet and exceed all our needs with his glorious riches. (4:19)

Book 49 The Book Of Ephesians

Who wrote the book of Ephesians: Paul

When was it written: 60 A.D.—most likely during Paul’s imprisonment in Rome.

The book of Ephesians is different than most of Paul’s other letters, as it does not address specific issues or problems. Instead, the book of Ephesians focuses on the unity of Christians. It is a book that looks at the different ‘elements’ of the family.

Paul explains the responsibilities of each, how they relate to the Church, and the joys that come from being in a Christ-centered marriage, parent/child relationship, and a member of a church family.

What We Learn From The Book Of Ephesians

We were created in the image of God and chosen even before the creation of the earth to be his children (1:4)

Predestination is explained: Predestination is NOT that only certain people have been pre-selected to be saved, but rather the human race was preselected from the very beginning to be God’s children and five with him…(l:5 and 1:11)

Sin messed up God’s plan, requiring him to put into place a plan for salvation (1:7)

Our hope for eternity is found only in Jesus (1:15-23)

• We are saved by the grace of God because of the blood of Jesus through our obedience that comes from faith (2:8-9)
• We were created for specific purposes (2:10)
• We can approach God through Jesus with confidence (3:12)
• We are to be humble, gentle, patient, and treat each other with love so that the body of Christ (the church) can be unified (4:2)
• There is one LORD, one faith, one baptism, one God, and one Father who is over all, through all, and in all (4:5-6)
• Becoming a Christian is not something we do, but rather someone we become (4:22-23)
• It is not necessarily a sin to be angry, but we cannot allow our anger to lead us into sin (4:26)
• We are to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving (4:32)
• We are to be imitators of God (5:1)

We are to live in such a way that honors and respects the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross (5:2)

The character traits and moral virtues of a Christian do not include sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscene, foolish, or crude language, greed, idolatry, or any other form of sin (5:3-5) We must be careful to not be misled by empty words; testing what we hear and are taught by comparing it to the Word of God, which is the Bible (5:6-7)

We are to live wisely and seek God’s will for our life (5:15-17)

Give thanks in any and all situations and circumstances (5:20)

God’s Instructions And Intentions For The Family

Beginning in verse twenty-two of chapter five, Paul begins writing about the core relationships in our lives—the relationship between a husband and wife, between parents and children, and slaves and their masters, which today translates into employers and employees.

Because he has so much to say on the subject that is pertinent to the actual relationships themselves AND to our relationship with Christ, we need to examine these passages closely.

Husbands And Wives

Paul begins by issuing the command that wives are to be submissive to their husbands IN THE SAME WAY they are submissive to the LORD.

First of all you need to understand that these are not Paul’s commands, but God’s. Remember, nothing is written in the Bible that God did not determine to be there. The writers’ words are inspired by God.

Secondly, you need to understand what it means to submit to a husband in the same way one submits to the LORD. A wife who submits to her husband in the same way she submits to the LORD is to willingly commit to her husband as a faithful wife and a wife who trusts her husband to know and do what is best for their marriage and their family.

And yes, the husband is to be the ultimate ‘buck stops here’ authority in the home. Someone has to be and God has declared that someone to be the husband. But this is not a bad thing.

For a wife it means not having to shoulder the burden of responsibility of negative consequences, of financial worries, and for standing against those who try to tear down your home, cheat you, lie to you, or disarm you in any other way.

Submission is not meant to make a woman feel inferior. It is actually a form of protection and nurturing. And whether you like it or not, men and women are different. They have different strengths and weaknesses. And because God, as our creator, knows what these things are, he knows how we need to live in order to function at optimal levels.

Besides, the responsibility that falls on the husband so that he can be worthy of his wife’s submission is tremendous. A husband’s love for his wife is to be the same as that of Christ’s for the Church!

That’s not something a husband can or should take lightly. In loving their wife as Christ loves the Church, a husband must:

Love her as he loves himself.

Present himself as spotless and pure like Jesus is. No, husbands won’t be perfect, but they are to be perfectly committed to the marriage and sexually pure (virgins when married and faithful throughout).

• Respect his wife’s body, her intellect, her emotions, and her talents/abilities.
• Be willing to lead the marriage and the family according to God’s commands.
• Be a spiritual leader by setting an example at home, at work, in the community, and in the local church.
• Be a spiritual leader by treating their marriage as a holy union—just like the holy union between himself and the LORD.
• Be a spiritual leader by raising any children they have to know and love the LORD.
• Be willing to die for his wife if necessary, just as Christ died for us; making the Church possible.

So you see, the act of submission is nothing a wife should fear or find off-putting. It is a blessing that only serves to enhance a marriage and the individuals in the relationship. It brings out the best of each other’s God-given character traits.

But, you are asking, what about marriages between people who aren’t Christians—or marriages in which the wife is a Christian but the husband is not? Does she need to submit in these situations?

First of all, these instructions are for Christian marriages and families. You cannot expect non-Christians to have Christ-like behavior or to pattern their lives after Christ’s life. But as for a marriage in which the wife is a Christian and the husband is not? Or vice versa; a Christian husband married to a non-Christian wife?

As you saw in looking at the book of 2nd Corinthians, we are warned against being unequally yoked; meaning marrying someone who is not a Christian. And this (meaning these verses in Ephesians) is the reason why.

When a Christian is married to a non-Christian, it is like trying to start a car that has no gas. You’ve got everything you need to travel in safety and comfort, except the thing you need the most.

You should not, however, end the marriage because of this. Simply love your spouse as you are called to love them in Ephesians 5 and pray for God’s blessing on your marriage and for the unbelieving spouse to come to know Christ as their Savior, too.

Children And Parents

Simply stated, children are to obey their parents. It is one of the Ten Commandments—the only one that comes with a promise.

The promise is this: children who obey their parents will enjoy a good and long life.

Before we delve into the actual meaning of this promise, let’s take a minute to understand the importance of obedience and the impact it has on the home, on the individual, and on society in general.

Obedience is essential in order for children to grow and mature properly. Children are not born knowing the finer points of right from wrong. Children have to be taught how to respond rather than react.

They have to be taught to make choices and decisions based on facts and by weighing the outcome of their choices and decisions versus making them based on feelings and emotions. And the only way parents can teach these things to their children is to expect and insist on obedience.

Obedience in the home allows the home to run smoothly and for relationships between the people in the home to grow in a positive direction. Obedience in the home trains children to be obedient outside the home, as well.

And we all know the value of obedience outside the home—school, rules of the road, societal law, in the workplace, etc. Without obedience in the home, we have schools in which teachers can’t actually teach because they are too busy trying to maintain order and respect in a classroom filled with disrespectful, disobedient, selfish students.

Without obedience in the home, we have people in the workplace who believe that respect, salary, and benefits are owed to them just because they bother to show up.

Without obedience in the home, we have people who think nothing of taking things that don’t belong to them, driving recklessly because they have to get someone and shouldn’t be bothered by others on the road, bullying others who are smaller, weaker, or just different than they are, and who think nothing of taking another person’s life.

Without obedience, society fails. And that’s what God’s promise is all about. God’s promise says that when we are obedient, we can expect good things because good things result from obedience. We are respected. We are lawful.

We are healthy in the fact that we don’t purposefully abuse our bodies. We are people of integrity and sound morals. What God’s promise doesn’t mean is that when a little child dies his/her death is because they weren’t obedient. Disease, the careless acts of others, and tragic accidents happen that result in death because we live in a fallen and sinful world.

But the parent/child relationship isn’t solely dependent upon the child’s obedience or even the parent’s attention to teaching and insisting on it. The parent/child relationship as intended by God is also dependent upon how the parent teaches and insists upon the obedience God commands.

The best way to explain what God means when he tells Paul to write, “Fathers, do not exasperate you children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the LORD.” (Ephesians 6:4) is to say this:

Parents are to love their children with the same unconditional love God showers upon us. It’s the unconditional love that says “I love you just because you are mine—not because of what you look like, how smart you are, how athletic you are, how musically talented you are, or because you want to follow in my footsteps, but just because you are mine.”

Parents are to let their children know up-front what is expected of them. God laid it all out there for us. He didn’t change the rules in the middle of the game, so to speak. We should do the same.

Parents are to be firm and unyielding in their expectations, yet slow to anger and willing to extend mercy. God is direct and unyielding in his commands. Follow his commands and receive the reward of eternal life in heaven with him. Don’t follow his commands and spend eternity in hell.

It’s that simple. But, God doesn’t expect us to be perfect. He created us so he knows that isn’t possible. So as long as we are trying he is patient and merciful. He guides and directs, administers discipline instead of punishment, and loves us along the path to getting it right. We should do the same.

Workplace Relationships

The best way to sum up God’s intentions for us in these types of relationships is to quote Ephesians 6:7-8, which says, “Serve whole-heartedly, as if you were serving the LORD, not men because you know that the LORD will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.”

In other words, approach every job, volunteer task, ministry within the church… everything as if you are doing it for the LORD. When you do, you will be able to rest assured that no matter what anyone says or does, you will be okay. God will make sure you are blessed.

The Armor Of God

The book of Ephesians concludes by talking about the armor of God—the spiritual tools and weapons we have available to us that enables us to be the people we’ve just been called to be in the preceding verses (and elsewhere throughout the Bible, for that matter).

The armor of God is something we cannot live without if we truly want to grow and mature into the person God created us to be. It is what makes our Christian faith who we are instead of just something we do.

Paul introduces us to the armor of God by reminding us that we are at war against Satan and that the trophy or spoils of the war we are fighting is our soul.

So if you think the obstacles standing between you and God are your boss, your financial disasters, the unfaithful spouse who trampled your heart, the cancer that took your twelve-year-old, or the abusive father you couldn’t get away from, think again. These people and situations are nothing more than Satan’s puppets.

Satan is the real enemy and it is only when you understand this truth (Ephesians 6:10-12) and put on the armor necessary to fight him off and defend yourself against him, that you can truly be free in Christ.

The Armor Of God Consists Of:

Belt Of Truth: you cannot have a relationship with God or experience his love and the blessings he has to offer without first acknowledging the truth that he is the one true God and that Jesus is his Son and the source of our salvation.

You also need to live with the truth of the scriptures firmly around you to uphold the decisions and choices you make in your life—just like a physical belt holds your clothing in place.

Breastplate Of Righteousness: A breastplate’s purpose was to protect a soldier from being hit in the heart, lungs, and other vital organs by the arrows and spears of the enemy. The breastplate of righteousness protects our hearts from being attacked by the lies Satan tells—lies that have become the world’s accepted philosophies and ways of life.

In wearing the breastplate of righteousness we are able to refute these lies and not let them invade our hearts and minds and become our way of thinking and living.

Shoes of the gospel of peace: The shoes we wear on our feet help us stand steady, straight, and tall. They keep us upright. Likewise, the gospel keeps us upright. Its truth provides peace and assurance that God is in control and that he truly will work all things for our good.

Shield Of Faith: A soldier’s shield deflects the arrows and spears thrown by the enemy; hopefully knocking them out of the way so that the breastplate doesn’t have to stop them.
(But isn’t it great to know that that breastplate is there just in case and to stop the ones that come from behind?)

Satan is relentless in throwing arrows at us—doubt, sickness, grief, fear, job loss, broken trusts, and all sorts of other things. But when we keep our shield of faith in front of us and hold to the faith that God is real, that he loves us unfailingly, that he will never leave us, and that he will always bless and reward us for our faithfulness, Satan doesn’t stand a chance.

Helmet Of Salvation: God gave us a heart with which to love, extend compassion and mercy, and experience the emotions he created within our being. But God also gave us a mind. And it is from that mind that our conviction of who Jesus is and what his sacrifice on the cross means for us needs to come.

Living a life for Christ isn’t an emotion. It is a purposeful decision made in our minds. The helmet of salvation, then, should be worn to protect that decision of truth from being attacked and slaughtered. Our hope for eternity in heaven depends on it.

Sword Of The Spirit: The Bible is the sword of the Spirit. It is the weapon we use to defend our beliefs, our actions, our moral integrity, our choices, and our message. But without first-hand knowledge of what it says, we cannot truly defend ourselves. So read. Study. Know. Defend.

While I would never insinuate that one book of the Bible is more valuable than another, you can see that the book of Ephesians is an extremely important book for the Christian who is seeking to gain insight and wisdom into God’s expectations for our conduct, attitude, and spiritual maturity.

Book 10 The Book of 2nd Samuel

The books of 1st and 2nd Samuel were originally one manuscript. Therefore, the author and date of writing of 2nd Samuel are the same as it is for 1st Samuel.

Why was it written: Records the events of the reign of King David

The book of 2nd Samuel is a historical account of the reign of King David following King Saul’s death. It is a book filled with action, adventure, family drama, victories, and defeats.

The book also gives us an uncensored look into the life of the man who was described by God himself as being “A man after God’s own heart”—even when the heart of David was marred with sins most of us never deal with in our own lives. So beyond the historical value of the book of 2nd Samuel, the book overflows with the truth of God’s redemptive love.

The fact that God is ready, willing, and able to forgive and redeem us back into his loving arms cannot be missed in the 2nd Samuel. Time and time again we see

David falls victim to temptation followed by remorse, regret, repentance, and thanksgiving for God’s forgiving nature.

One of the most valuable lessons we should take from the life of David in regards to sin is this: David sinned on more than one occasion and his sins were not ‘trivial’ (no sin is).

But David did not live a sinful lifestyle. He learned from his mistakes and did not allow himself to fall into a pattern of repeating the same sins over again. He was by no means perfect, but he truly desired to be God’s servant and do God’s will in his life.

To try to cover all the details of David’s reign over Israel in one chapter of a book is unrealistic. I simply could not do it justice. Instead, I will simply provide you with a list of the highlights and a few major details and let you read the rest for yourself.

David’s Reign Over Israel

• David grieved the deaths of Saul and Saul’s son, Jonathan (his best friend)
• David didn’t automatically assume the role of king but rather waited for God to tell him when to go, where to go, and who to appoint as his advisors

David’s humility and obedience are clearly seen in these events.

• David encounters animosity and conflict with Saul’s loyal advisors, but God’s will wins out and David takes the throne

Battles are fought and won; giving Israel justifiable reasons to honor and respect their new king

• David establishes his home in Jerusalem, “The City of David” and brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem
• David very much wanted to build a Temple for God in Jerusalem, but God said no. Through the prophet, Nathan, God told David that because he was a man of war (who had taken human lives) he could not build the temple. God did promise, however, that David’s son who would come after him, would build a Temple worthy of being a dwelling place for the LORD
• God promises David his family will sit on the throne of Israel as long as Israel is a kingdom (NOTE: this is somewhat prophetic in nature since God knew Israel would not ‘live’ to be the kingdom he desired it to be)
• David commits the sins of adultery, fornication, conspiracy, and even murder

David committed adultery and fornication with Bathsheba; resulting in a pregnancy

To try to cover up or hide his sins, David brings Bathsheba’s husband, a trusted army officer, home to spend time with his wife so that she can simply say the child is his. Things don’t go according to plan (because of Uriah’s loyalty to David and the men he is leading) so David has him killed, but makes it look as if it was an act of war.

Nathan is once again called upon by God to guide and reprimand David. David doesn’t try to deny anything, shift the blame, or justify his actions. He admitted his sins, asked forgiveness, and repented by never doing those things again, and most poignantly portrayed in the book of 2nd Samuel is David’s acceptance of his discipline by God for his actions.

The disciplinary action taken by God for David and Bathsheba’s sins was to take the life of the child they conceived during their act of adultery. David prayed that God would spare the child’s life, but when God did not do so, David did not become angry at or resentful toward God. He accepted God’s will and moved on.

As a result of David and Bathsheba’s repentance and faith, God granted them other children born because of their love in marriage. One of them was Solomon—the successor to the throne of Israel.

• David struggles against his son, Absalom. It is a struggle that eventually leads to Absalom’s death, which causes deep agony and grief in David’s heart.
• David once again disobeys God by counting the members of his army.
  • God had expressly told David not to count the members of his army. God wanted David to know and believe that their
    success was not the result of numbers but of God’s divine intervention.
  • David’s sin of disobedience had far-reaching effects—-just like ours often does. Because of his sin, God brought a plague on Israel for a period of three days, killing seventy thousand people.
  • God’s heart was heavy with grief (2nd Samuel 24:16). In fact, he was so grief-stricken that he ordered the angel of death to stop before the people in the city of Jerusalem were stricken by the death plague.
  • After God stopped the plague, he instructed David to build an altar at the place where the death angel had been when God ordered the plague to end.

The final event to take place in the book of 2nd Samuel is David’s altar-building and sacrifice as an act of repentance for his disobedience. It isn’t the act itself that shows the true heart of the man whose lineage is that of our Savior.

It is the heart with which he makes the sacrifice that reveals to us why David was ‘labeled’ by God to be a man after his (God’s) own heart.

David’s words to the owner of the wine press where God has instructed David to make his sacrifice are an excellent summation of what our constant mindset and attitude toward God should be: “But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it, I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”…. 2nd Samuel 24:24a

Book 51 The Book Of Colossians

Who wrote the book of Colossians: Paul When was it written: 60 A.D.

The book of Colossians is Paul’s letter to the Christians in Colossae. Colossae was a city in the ancient land of Phrygia, which was part of the Roman Empire’s territory in Asia Minor. The city no longer exists, but was located near the current-day town of Honaz, Turkey.

Paul wrote the book to encourage the new Christians there who were struggling to combat a group of people who were trying to steer them away from the truth.

While we don’t know exactly what false teaching was being touted as truth, we know from Paul’s writing that it revolved around the supposed need for something other than and/or in addition to Jesus in order to obtain salvation.

Pauli also reiterates to readers that without Christ as the center of our life, we are nothing.

What We Learn From The Book Of Colossians

The only real hope is found in Jesus. (1:5)

The message of the Gospel is meant to be shared with the world. (1:6)

We are to seek knowledge, spiritual wisdom, and understanding in order to do God’s will for our lives. (1:9)

Our life’s goal should be to live a life that honors and pleases God. (1:10)

When we depend on God and seek to do his will for our lives, we are assured of receiving strength, power, endurance, patience, and joy, and an abundance of other blessings he has to offer. (1:11)

Our inheritance for living a life of faithful obedience is heaven—an inheritance made possible through the blood of Jesus. (1:12-13 and 1:22-23)

Jesus is God’s son and is the creator and master of all. Nothing was made that he did not make and everything was made for his pleasure. (1:16)

Christ is the head of the Church. (1:18)

We are to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world and to encourage them to remain in the truth in whatever ways we can. (2:1-5)

We are to guard our hearts and minds against false and deceptive teachers. (2:8)

We are to be buried with Christ in baptism and raised with him (immersion) to symbolize our death from sin and resurrection from sin. (2:12)

Sin is spiritual death. (2:13)

We are to set our hearts and minds on the things of Christ rather than on earthly things and worldly wealth and possessions. (3:1-2)

We are to get rid of the things God has deemed sinful so that we can appear before him in judgment with the calm assurance of spending eternity with him. These things are sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, idolatry, anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and lying. (3:1-9)

We are to ‘clothe ourselves’ with the character of Christ; meaning we are to be compassionate, kind, humble, patient, gentle, forgiving, helpful, and supportive of our brothers and sisters in Christ (and others), and treating one another with Christ-like love. (3:12-14)

We are to be thankful. (3:15)

We are to soak up the wisdom of the Word of God, and praise and worship him through songs, and prayers. (3:16-19-17)

We are to follow God’s instructions for our personal relationships: wives are to be submissive to their husbands, husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church and as they love themselves, children are to obey their parents, parents are to raise their children in a loving, Christ-like manner, employees are to do their job as if they are doing it for the LORD, and employers are to treat their employees fairly and justly. (3:18-4:1)

We are to devote ourselves to prayer (4:2)

We are to be tactful but truthful when talking to non-Christians by making the most of every opportunity to ‘season our conversations with salt’. In other words what we say (or don’t say) and how we say it should reflect our faith and relationship with Jesus. (4:5-6)

Books 47 and 48

The Book Of 2nd Corinthians

Who wrote the book of 2nd Corinthians: Paul When was it written: Late 55 A.D.

The focus of the 2nd Corinthians is to encourage and remind the Christians in Corinth to be disciplined in Christian character and to remain faithful.

As stated in the previous chapter, Corinth was not an easy place to be a Christian—especially a new Christian.

Paul knew the struggles the people faced were real. Paul was also writing to address the issue of false teachers in the church at Corinth— people who were trying to convince the congregation that Paul was not genuine and sincere in his love for the people or his work for the LORD.

In writing this second letter, Paul offers assurance that he is the man of God he says he is and that when he is able to come to them, they will be able to see for themselves and they will enjoy a time of growing together in the LORD.

What We Learn From The Book Of 2nd Corinthians

• God comforts us in times of trouble (1:4 and 2:14)
• Our confidence should be because of Christ and what he did for us (3:4)
• Our purpose is to fearlessly and boldly share the message of the Gospel by being the unique person God created us to be (4:7-9)
• We will all stand before God to be judged (5:10)
• We should not be joined (date/marry) unbelievers (6:14-15)
• We are to keep ourselves pure (7:1)
• We are to be generous with our money, time, and talents
• God doesn’t expect us to be perfect, but rather to let him be perfect in us and through us (12:7-9)

The Book Of Galatians

Who wrote Galatians the book of Galatians: Paul When was it written: 50 A.D.

The book of Galatians is a letter to the church in Galatia. The converts in Galatia were Judaizers. Judaizers were Jews who accepted Jesus as the Messiah, but who also firmly believed that the ceremonial practices of the Mosaic Law were still necessary acts of worship.

It was also necessary for Paul to counter the Galatians’ belief that the salvation of the Gentiles was not real because they did not observe circumcision and other old Law rituals and ceremonies.

Making these clarifications was essential to the health of the Church and for the unity of the people.

What We Learn From The Book Of Galatians

• There is no other gospel than the one taught by Jesus and shared through the teachings of Paul, the apostles, and early leaders of the Church (1:6-9)
• Paul shares his past life for the purpose of explaining that he knows the difference between lies and truth because he had been on both ‘sides of the fence’ (1:13-24)
• Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law; making the ultimate sacrifice for us (3:10-14)
• Anyone baptized into Christ is a son or daughter of God (3:26)
• Your faith and acts of praise, worship, service, and giving need come from a genuine and sincere heart (4:18)
• Let the Holy Spirit guide you in all things so that you live by faith and do not fall into a sinful lifestyle (5:16-18)
• The acts of sinful nature are: sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, drunkenness, witchcraft, hatred, jealousy, rage, discord, selfish ambition, dissension, envy debauchery, and orgies (5:19-21)
• Rather than let our sinful nature rule, we are to live fruitful lives—lives that produce the fruit of the Spirit, which is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (5:22-23)
• Instructions on restoring a brother or sister in Christ caught in sin (6:1-2)
• We reap what we sow (6:7-9)

Book 46 The Book Of 1st Corinthians

Who wrote the book of 1st Corinthians: Paul When was it written: 5 5 A.D.

The focus of 1st Corinthians is Christian living. In this first letter to the church of Corinth, Paul addresses several issues that can distance us from Christ and keep us from developing our character to be more like him.

Paul’s warnings and encouragements come from a heart that truly cares for the people he is writing to. Paul wasn’t trying to sound superior or holier than the people he was writing to (or to us, for that matter).

Paul also knew the obstacles they were facing. He knew what a sinful, corrupt, and evil place Corinth was. But Paul also knew that God was bigger and mightier than all of it and if the people would stay focused on God, they would be victorious over sin.

The other primary message in the book of 1st Corinthians is love. Paul reminds us that at the root of everything—including God’s gift of salvation through Jesus—is love. God’s love for us, Jesus’ love for us, and the fact that we are to share that love back both with them and with others—it all comes down to love.

But love as the world knows it is often very different than God’s definition (which is the only one that should matter to us) of love. As we look at God’s definition of love toward the end of this chapter, I encourage you to prayerfully consider how well your definition and exhibition of love line up with God’s.

What We Learn From The Book Of 1st Corinthians

God has called us into fellowship with Jesus (1:9)

We are to be united with our brothers and sisters in Christ (1:10)

Our faith is to be in Jesus—not men (1:121-17)

The wisdom that comes from God is far greater than earthly or worldly wisdom (2:6-8)

We cannot even begin to comprehend the amazing things God has prepared for us when we love him faithfully and obediently (2:9)

We aren’t to give up or consider our witness useless if we don’t see immediate results (3:6-9)

Those who call themselves Christians cannot be allowed to live sinful lifestyles and remain a part of the church (if they refuse to repent) (5:1-5)

We can’t expect non-Christians to have Christ-like behavior, but we are to set an example for them (5:12-13)

God says those who do the following cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven: sexually immoral, idolaters, those who commit adultery, homosexuals, prostitutes, thieves, drunkards, slanderers, those who are greedy, and those who cheat and swindle (6:9-10)

Our bodies are not our own if we have accepted Christ as Savior—they are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should treat them as such (6:15-20)

Marriage is between one man and one woman and should last as long as both are alive

We should live in such a way that we do not dishonor God nor cause others to stumble in their faith or be able to call us hypocrites (8:9-11)

We will never be tempted to do anything God does not supply a way out from—even if that ‘way out’ is turning around and running as fast as you can (10:13)

Instructions regarding worship and the LORD’S Supper

We are all members of one body—the Church and body of Christ, and we have all been given gifts, talents, and abilities for the purpose of serving, praising and worshipping him, and to use for serving others and sharing the Good News of the Gospel

The second coming of Christ and the victory we have over death and eternity in hell because of Jesus