Why We Do What We Do & Note About Archive Indexes

I will continue to post an occasional reminder as to where you can find the index to the archived lessons from the inception of this Bible study blog.

The index for years 2019, 2020, and 2021 was posted September 7, 2022. 

The index for 2022 was posted on January 24, 2023.

The index will show you what topic or series of lessons we studied, along with the dates they were posted.

You simply click on the Archive tab, find the month and year, and then search for the lesson.

God has been so good to us, blessing our efforts to share His truth with other people. The Father said His word would not return void. We must sow the good seed of God's Word, and trust Him for the results.

God has propelled this Bible study blog into more than 140 nations and we just passed 150,000 total views. This is all of God and He receives all honor and glory for these milestones. 

I hope that each of you are richly blessed as you read God's Word in each post. Please remember to share these posts with other people. Getting God's Word out to other people is our most important task. 

God drops down His Word to us like soft rain showers.

Deuteronomy 32:1-3  Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. 2  My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: 3  Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

God commands us to hear and heed His Word. He sent forth His word in power and in truth. When the Word is preached, taught, or shared, we are always confident that God will do something good with it. 

It is so amazing that God uses ordinary people like you and me, to do His kingdom work. 

It is a blessing to talk about the things of God with other people. 

It is a blessing to teach God's Word to others, as the Lord gives us opportunities. 

It is a blessing to share His word in this format 

His Word is compared to life giving rains that refresh the earth, supplies our needs and sustains us. 

Publishing or sharing God's Word with other people is a great privilege that I enjoy. 

Jehovah's thoughts and ways are not like ours. 

Isaiah 55:8-11  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

God does not think or speak like man does. There is no duplicity or deceit in anything God says in His Word. He is the God of truth. 

He sends forth His wonderful Word like the rain that causes crops to grow and supplies water for our personal needs. 

His rain falls upon the earth like the snow on mountains that thaws and melts, and runs down to fill lakes, valleys and rivers. 

In like manner God’s word flows into our hearts to sustain spiritual life and to make us more like Jesus Christ 

God promises that His Word will never return void. It will accomplish whatever His will has determined for it to do. 

This is why when each post is published, I know that God is going to do work in people's hearts, no matter where they live, or what their status is. 

Jesus gave us the Great Commission to share His Word. 

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

Jesus gave His disciples (and us) the Great Commission. We are to go forth, teach all nations, baptize new converts to Christ. 

We are to teach all people to observe or obey all things that Jesus commanded. 

This is my mission with each post that is published on this Bible study blog: Helping people understand what God is saying to us, so that they might be led to repentant faith in Christ, and born into the family of God. 

A corollary to this mission is helping Christians understand what God says to us, so that we might live according to God's will, as revealed in scripture. 

The Parable of the Seed and the Sower. 

Matthew 13:1-9  The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2  And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3  And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4  And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5  Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6  And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8  But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

Here is the Parable of the Seed and the Sower, as taught by Jesus. In the parable, Jesus is the Sower, and the seed is the Word of God. 

In this day, Christ Jesus is in heaven and we are the blessed ones entrusted with sowing the good seed of scripture. 

The seed is good and the Sower does his job  correctly

However, there are 4 kinds of soil that the seed falls on, and only one soil produces fruit.

Now, let us allow Jesus to teach us the meaning of His parable.

Christ is the Sower and the Seed is God's Word. 

Matthew 13:18  Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19  When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20  But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22  He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23  But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 

The seed that fell by the wayside, and was eaten by fowls of the air, represent a person who hears the Word of God preached or taught. 

This person was casual, careless or indifferent to hearing the Word. The Devil swooped in to snatch the good seed of God's word away, before the person could respond. This person bears no fruit for Christ. 

The seed that fell upon stony places, refers to a soil that is very shallow and has rock under it. The seed will spring up, but it cannot put roots down because the soil has rock too close to the surface. 

This soil represents a person who hears the word, and initially responds with joy. However, when the reality of being a follower of Jesus Christ is experienced , this person leaves. 

When it comes to taking up the cross, and following Jesus, or when he is hated by the world for faith in Christ, this person has no spiritual roots and they quit. This person bears no fruit for Christ. 

The seed that falls into the thorns represents a person who hears the word, but who is held captive by the cares of this life, the pursuit of pleasure and wealth. This person bears no fruit for Christ. 

The good ground represents a person who hears the word of God, understands it, and heeds it. This is a person whose heart is ready to obey his new Master. This person brings forth much fruit for Christ. 

In all four cases, the Sower does his job and the seed that was sown was good, but the soil types it fell on were mostly unproductive.

The soils represent how human hearts respond to hearing the Word of God. 

Jesus shows us that gospel ministry will be hard at times, and may seem unproductive. He has called us to be faithful sowers of the gospel and to trust God for the results.

I have no control over how the Word is received when a post is read. I can make sure that scripture is contained in each post that is published. I know that God will accomplish something with it and pray to the Lord for fruit that remains. 

I willingly trust the Father to do the saving, transforming work in people's hearts as they read His wonderful Word. 

I praise God for all that He does and I pray that He will continue to do a mighty work in people's lives, through this Bible study blog.

I pray for all who read this, that we will have ears to hear the Word and hearts willing to respond to it.

Bob