Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

Good morning to each one of you. Thank you for your desire to learn more about God's Word by reading the studies each day. I have one simple goal for this blog: to carefully and accurately teach what God says and to better understand what God is saying and how it may apply in our lives as believers. I am not here for any other reason except to share truth that builds up the faith of God's people.  In our last Post, we reached the end of John 12. It will take quite a bit more time to study all the way through John's gospel, so I am pausing for a while like we did previously. This will help us digest what we have learned and allow me to introduce some new studies for a while.  We will return to John's gospel at a later date.  Today, I want to go through the last book of the Old Testament with you, which is the book of Malachi. After his prophecy from God, Israel entered a period of 400 silent years where there was no revelation from God and no more prophets.  I s...

  Good morning.. We were blessed with a wonderful Lord's Day service with our church family. Pastor preached a powerful message on John 8 that you will certainly want to hear if you are able to. The link to his sermon is in a separate post.  In this lesson we move closer to the end of John 12. We will see the sadness of stubborn unbelief and a defiant attitude of the religious leaders even though Jesus did many powerful miracles.  Jewish unbelief was clearly   foretold.  John 12:37-41  But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:  38) That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?  39) Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,  40) He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be con...

  Good morning to each of our Readers... Below is the YouTube link to Pastor Alvis' Sunday sermon. I know it will bless and encourage those who listen and see it. May our Lord's Day see each believer follow hard after God. Bob

  Good morning to all. We are happy that you joined us today to continue studying God's Word.      I believe it is appropriate for us to rejoice in this fact: that God has sent this blog into a minimum of 36 nations around the world. This is all of God and we ought to praise Him that so many people in so many different places have access to His truth. Ignorance concerning Christ.   John 12:34-36  The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?  35) Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.  36) While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.   The Jews asked Jesus a question. They...

  Good Day to all of our Readers. As we continue looking into John 12 it helps to remember that these events happen about 6 days prior to the Passover observance.  Jesus was troubled in spirit as His hour came closer.   John 12:27-29  Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.  28)  Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.  29) The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.   After Jesus answered the Greek men and spoke of His glory and the necessity of the cross, He had more to say as His time on this earth drew to a close. John 13-17 is an extended teaching where Jesus prepares His disciples for carrying on Kingdom ministry after His death, burial and resurrection. Although there is much material to cover in those chapters, ...

Good morning and we welcome each one of you back to our study of the wonderful Word of God together.  Jesus seeks the "other sheep " John 12:20-22  And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:  21) The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.  22)  Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.  It is very significant that John mentions certain Greeks who came to Jerusalem to worship at the Passover. Greeks were known as wanderers in the ancient world and as seekers of truth. These particular Greeks probably were "God-fearers" who attended a local synagogue and Jewish feasts. They are mentioned because of what Jesus previously said about gathering sheep who were not from the Jewish fold (See for examples John 10:16; Acts 10; Acts 13:50; 17:4; 17:17). Why is this so noteworthy? Because scripture was being fulfilled where pro...

Good morning to all of our Readers. Here is the link to Pastor Alvis' mid-week sermon titled "Elijah: A Life Well Lived." We met outside at our church's pavilion last night as Pastor preached the sermon. It was very good and the life of this prophet is both stirring and encouraging to us. May the Lord bless and encourage all who read/hear this sermon. Bob  

Good morning and welcome back to our studies of John's gospel.  The photo below is a 2,500 year old alabaster jar with a lid similar to the one we will be reading about today.  A supper, an anointing, a beautiful gesture.  John 12:1-3  Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.  2) There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.  3)  Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.  John 11 ended with Jesus avoiding the religious leaders in Jerusalem and ministering to people in a more remote area while the time for the Passover approached. Six days before the Passover Jesus returned to Bethany where a meal had been prepared. Lazarus and his sisters were in attendance....

Good morning and thank you all for visiting with us as we study God's Word together.  This Ohio morning seemed more like an early fall morning, much cooler, sounds of Blue Jays  squawking  and a crisp Fall scent in the air. As I get older I see the reality of Bible truth that life is like a vapor that dissipates when the morning sun rises. I am reminded that I truly only have this day to serve the Lord of glory. In our last post we saw the resurrection of Lazarus and a family made whole again through the power of Christ. Many believed on Jesus but there was another group that did not and we will learn about them today. Unbelief existed even after seeing a mighty miracle. John 11:46-48  But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.  47)  Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.  48) If we let him thus alone, all men will believ...