Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

Examining the life of Abraham is teaching us much about how to walk in newness of life with God. He took many steps of faith and Genesis 15 is the great exposition of the Abrahamic covenant that all born again believers are part of today.  However, we have also seen that Abraham made some serious missteps in his walk with God and  he was very much a man of like passions like each one of us. Therefore, these studies are very relevant to our own lives in this day. After these things, looking back. Genesis 15:1  After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.  Genesis 15 begins with a powerful proclamation of Jehovah to Abraham. The phrase  "after these things " refers to the events in Genesis 14 that we looked at in our last post.  "These things" included war, rebellion, an attack to put down the rebellion and Abraham's nephew being captured. "These things" i...

  Good morning to each of you on this Lord's Day. It is a beautiful morning where we live in northeast Ohio and we are daily praising our Father for another lovely spring season.  Below is the link to Pastor Alvis's Sunday sermon titled "Christ Honoring Christianity: Hope and Fruitfulness". We are getting around to attend church and will hear pastor preach this sermon soon. I pray that you are able to see and hear his sermon on the YouTube link.  Praying for the Spirit of God's mighty work as the Words of God is preached and taught by faithful pastor, teachers and evangelists all around the world this day. May we see backsliders called back to a right relationship with God. May we see many new souls added to the kingdom of God. May we see the faith of all saints encouraged and strengthened by the preaching of God's Word. Bob

We are studying what it means to walk in newness of life and we are looking at the steps of faith that Abraham took.  In the archives from May 25-28, 2019, you will find a series of lessons on the divine name "El Elyon." These lessons teach about this special name of God in more detail and also teach about Melchisedec who is a type of Christ. I suggest reading those lessons since will will not delve into Melchisedec in this lesson.  Chaos and Conflict leads to war.   Genesis 14:1-4  And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;  2) That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.  3) All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.  4) Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year th...

  Pastor Alvis preached from Romans 8 for his midweek sermon titled "Does the Gospel of Grace Obligate Me?" It is a thorough exploration of how grace impacts us spiritually and the dramatic changes that take place in our lives after salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. I hope you have time to view it.  Bob

Abraham's faith led to a God honoring choice. Genesis 13:7  And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.  8) And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.  9) Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself , I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.  Moses was the  Holy Spirit inspired author of Genesis through Deuteronomy. He gave us a glimpse into Abraham's character being  shaped by God in this text. Remember, that Abraham assumed responsibility  for his nephew Lot, and up to this point, they had remained together throughout their earthly pilgrimage. Like Abraham, Lot also had many livestock and his workers got into conflict with Abrah...

Changing circumstances resulted in self trust. Genesis 12:10  And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.  We can be thankful that God tells us the truth about the men, women and children described in the Bible. He does not cover up their sins or failures and this was so in Abraham's life as well. Why does it matter to us? Because the saints that we study were not perfect people. They were men of like passions that we have and though they often walked close with God, there were times when they stumbled and failed God. Moses failed to obey God and struck the rock twice to bring water to the people, and his disobedience is why he could not enter the promised land (Numbers 20:11).  King David was called a man after God's own heart, yet he committed adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11). King Solomon was granted great wisdom from God and yet he went astray toward the end of his life  ...

Faith's first steps. Genesis 12:1-4  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:  2) And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:  3)  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.  4) So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.  This text tells us about Abraham beginning to walk in the steps of faith. As we noted in our last post, he delayed his obedience by 15 years. After the death of his father, Abraham then obeyed God and departed "as the LORD had spoken unto him."  Genesis 12:6-9  And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was...