Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

Good morning to all of our Readers.... Our pastor has uploaded a sermon for today which would normally be our mid-week service. I am putting the link in below for you to hear. Pastor Mike is a fine epository preacher of the Word and I know this will bless you when you hear it.  The sermon title is "Taking Shelter in our God."

Good morning.... I continue to encourage each one of you precious Readers  to share God's truth from these lessons with other people that you know. The world is so full of uncertainty and calamity and many people are genuinely shaken up or overwhelmed by all that is going on. THeir hope is gone or fading. The Word of God tells people where real hope can be found in Jesus Christ. We must share the Word with the lost because they have no hope at all unless they are introduced to the savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. Then they can experience the peace of God that passes understanding even when things are chaotic.  Parable of land owner and workers. Matthew 20:1-16 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the market

Good morning... Here is the video of the second lesson I shared with my church family on studying the Word of God in a congregational setting. I hope that it is a blessing to each of you. Again, please click the link to watch it on YouTube that is right under the message "video currently unavailable" that comes up when you click the play button... Bob

Good morning to all of our readers... I am posting a link to a video of a lesson I recently shared with my church family. I hope it is a blessing to all of you. Please note that for some reason when you click the play button it says the video is unavailable but right below that is a link to click to watch it on YouTube. Bob

Good morning.... "If you look at the world, you'll be distressed.  If you look within, you'll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you'll be at rest."  Corrie ten Boom.  This is a great reminder for all believers.  Let's meditate on this today! The parable of the pearl of great price. Matthew 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. This parable is not interpreted by the Lord and it is clearly linked to the parable about the treasure hidden in the field. It also begins with the phrase "the kingdom of heaven is like..."  The word "merchant man" is a word that refers to a wholesaler or a buyer, rather than one who sells goods out of a retail location. A merchant man travels great distances by sea or land in order to find the best goods at a fair price. He has authority to buy t

Good morning... "Rescue the Perishing" by Fannie Crosby is such a convicting song, one many churches have long forgotten.   Verse 4 reads: "Rescue the perishing, duty  demands it; Strength for thy labor the LORD will provide; back to the narrow way patiently win them, tell the poor wanderer a Savior has died."  Chorus reads:  "Rescue the perishing,care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save."  The parable of the net & fish. Matthew 13:47-50 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. This is the 7th parable of Jesus in Matthew 13. This one i

Good afternoon to all our Readers.... I am posting a YouTube video of our Pastor's sermon for today, Sunday March 22, 2020. The title is "God is our Refuge." The main text is Psalm 4 and I am sure you will find this to be a timely sermon for all people.  Please continue to pray for all those impacted by COVID-19. The impact continues to spread and critical medical supplies are beginning to run short. Please remember to pray for all our doctors, nurses and caregivers along with EMT personnel since they come in direct contact with those who are ill with this disease. Please pray for God's will to be done in all of this and that multitudes of people will turn to the One, True God of heaven for salvation during this time. Please pray for His word to continue going out and being honored. Bob

Good morning... Isaiah tells us that the Word is like the rain falling from heaven and watering the earth.  Just like the rain makes things grow and produces a harvest for our benefit, so is God's word in our hearts.  It brings life and feeds our inner man so that we can be fruit producing Christians. So today let's get our nourishment from God's word!!! Leaven is a picture of the gospel spreading in the world.  Matthew 13:33-35 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. In this brief parable Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to the action of leaven

Good morning to all of our Readers... As we see in this picture of a tiny mustard seed on this person's finger, think about each of us believers on this earth.  Together the body of Christ is like the mature Mustard tree full of beauty and producing fruits as God transforms us all together.  Photo of mustard seed and mustard tree.  Parable of the mustard seed. Matthew 13:31-32  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:   32  Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.   Jesus used several parables to show us what the kingdom of heaven will be like and this is one of them. The photo above is the salvadora persica mustard tree, considered by many to be the tree Christ referenced in this parable. The size of the seed is seen in

Good morning.... I want to circle back around to study more of the parables of Jesus Christ. Last year we looked at the parable of the seed and the sower and the parable of the wheat and the tares. Jesus taught several other parables that I believe are instructive for us in uncertain times. What is a parable and why did Jesus teach using parables?  By the end of Matthew 12, the King of Israel, their Messiah had authenticated His credentials by many powerful miracles that He did. However, He faced growing opposition from the civil and religious leaders of Israel which culminated in the nation formally rejecting their King. It is at this point in Matthew's gospel that Jesus began to teach using parables. Right after Jesus taught the parable of the seed and sower in Matthew 13, His disciples noticed the change in teaching and asked Christ about it. Matthew 13:10-17  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?  11  He answered and sa

Good morning..... Ohio governor Mike DeWine is aggressively moving to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our state and we appreciate the measures that he has taken. We all have to make sacrifices for the greater good of our nation at this point.  We are using this "down time" to read more scripture and to draw closer to our wonderful God and Savior, Jesus Christ. I encourage all of our Readers around the world to do the same if you live in an area impacted by the virus.  The Godly testimony of Christians around the world can be used of God to point others to their singular hope, Jesus Christ. Our response of obedience to the rulers in authority over us can become a calming influence upon those who are currently panicked. Our response of thanksgiving to Jehovah in all circumstances can help people around us to reflect upon their spiritual condition. Jehovah's two edged sword will bring judgment. Psalm 149:6-9  Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and