Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

Jesus has been giving us a Master's level class in discipleship. In the last few posts, we have seen His disciples transition from the glory of His transfiguration, by coming down to see the failure of the nine disciples to heal a demon possessed boy.  This was followed by a heated exchange between the disciples about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of God. Jesus used a small child as an object lesson on faith, obedience, humility and dependency. Then, He gave a strong warning against temptation followed by a parable to reinforce the need for humility and dependency. The world is full of offenses but believers should not be guilty of them. Matthew 18:7  Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!  The word "offense" literally refers to the  movable stick or trigger of a trap, used in hunting. Spiritually, this word refers to the sin of  placing any impediment placed in...

  All of us whether Pastors, Parents or church members, are benefitting from sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning about discipleship from Him. Disciples wrongly seek self promotion in the Kingdom of God.  Matthew 18:1  At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?  The disciples asked Jesus an honest but very self centered question, one that we might be guilty of thinking of. The questions is straightforward. The disciples wanted to know "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Jealousy or resentment may have been growing in their hearts for a variety of reasons.  For example, Peter, James and John were selected by Christ to see His transfiguration (Mark 9:2-3).  Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him when He raised Jairus' daughter from the dead (Luke 8:49-56).  Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him in the garden of Gethsemane to pray (Matthew 26:6-38).  Jesus told Pe...

As we continue to address the issue of discipleship that is a pressing concern for our Pastors. we have come to sit and learn from the feet of Jesus about discipleship.  On our last post we saw the glory of Jesus at His transfiguration. We learned that we must be actively looking to see the glory of Jesus as we read about Him on the pages of scripture.  Jesus and His disciples came down from the mount and encountered the darkness of the devil at work.  Glory gives way to despair.  Matthew 17:14-16  And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,  15) Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.  16) And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.  Think about the contrast presented in Matthew's record of the gospel. The disciples just saw the glory of Christ and they both saw and heard Elij...

We are students in the discipleship class taught by Jesus Christ. No one ever outgrows a need for spiritual growth and remembering what it means to be Christ's disciple. What we are learning to apply will encourage all Pastors, Parents and Parishioners as we go through life seeking to live by the Word of God.  Discipleship means seeing the glory of Christ.  Matthew 17:1-2  And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,   2) And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.  The word "transfigured" literally means to change into another form. The Greek word is seen in the word "metamorphosis" which refers to a tadpole changing into a frog or a caterpillar into a butterfly. This gives you the idea that there is a fundamental change in form taking place.  Matthew tells us that the face of Jesus shone brightly like the sun and His ...

Many Pastors voiced concern about a lack of good, fundamental discipleship programs for believers. We have been looking at discipleship in the Old and New Testaments in an effort to see what the Bible teaches about this subject.  Presently, we have been sitting in the school of Jesus to learn how Christ discipled believers.  Disciples warned against hypocrites. Matthew 16:1-4   The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.  2)  He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.  3)  And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?  4)  A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left th...

  We are continuing to sit and learn at the feet of Jesus in His school of discipleship. We are doing this because a lack of discipleship of believers is a major concern for our Pastors. Therefore, perhaps the Lord might use these simple lessons to encourage Pastors, Parents and Parishioners  in their faith.   Christ's disciples were a lot like us. They had a lot to learn and a lot of maturing of their faith needed to take place. Jesus' methods clearly worked because the men He trained were used of God in mighty ways when the Church was birthed (Acts 2).  Each of these men set good examples of faith for us to emulate and they gave us the inspired truth of the New Testament scriptures. Each of them personally sacrificed and gave their all to the cause of Jesus Christ. From them we learn about prayer, perseverance during trials, wisdom from God and sound doctrine.  Jesus spent about 3 1/2 years preparing these men for apostolic duty because they nee...