MM – My Ministry – Lift Up Your Eyes!

Assignment – Be Prepared to Explain the Gospel

¹⁸“Hear then the parable of the sower: ¹⁹When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.”
Matthew 13:18-19 ESV

¹³Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? ¹⁴But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. ¹⁵Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
1 Peter 3:13-15 NLT

In 1989 a large project for the Army was successfully completed. As I was leaving one of the buildings involved in the project for the last time, one of the people I had worked with basically chased me down in the parking lot, insisting on getting saved. I was pretty flabbergasted – I don’t recall ever witnessing to him – and I didn’t do a very good job explaining the gospel. But he got saved anyway, sincerely praying the “Sinner’s Prayer” with me. 😊 I expect to see him in heaven.

Jesus said if we follow Him he would make us fishers of men. This is my “A fish jumped into the boat” story. 😊

I resolved to be prepared better in the future. These are Scriptures I can find in any Bible, and with Holy Spirit’s help, I believe I can explain them.

¹⁶“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3:16-17 ESV

³I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. ⁴He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NLT

^3:23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

^6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

^10:9that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

^10:13For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Romans 3:23, 6:23, 10:9-10, 13 NKJV

Assignment: Be prepared to share and explain the good news of eternal life in Jesus. Someone may walk up to you someday wanting to get saved. It happened to me many years ago, and I was not well prepared.

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

⁴But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV

³²“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! ³⁴Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. ³⁵Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV

³⁴“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36 NKJV

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Assignment – Describe a Day in Your Life a Million Years From Now

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:2 ESV

Some people say there is no time in heaven, but the Bible says there are months. 😉

Assignment: Write a note describing what a typical day might be like for you a million years from now in the new heaven and the new earth. A mind-blowing idea is that God has already written about it!

¹³For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
¹⁵My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
¹⁶Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
Psalms 139:13-16 NKJV

An infinite book of all the days God has planned for me? Yes, I think so. Hebrews teaches that God sees the next life as a continuation for His children.

¹³These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ¹⁴For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. ¹⁵And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:13-16 NKJV

³⁹And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, ⁴⁰God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
Hebrews 11:39-40 NKJV

Feel free to ask Holy Spirit for His revelation.

¹³“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
John 16:13-15 ESV

⁹But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

¹⁰But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. ¹¹For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. ¹²Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
1 Corinthians 2:9-12 NKJV

God is looking forward to showing us more and more, through all eternity.

⁴But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:4-7 NKJV

No matter what, it is going to be a great day!

You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalms 16:11 ESV

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ²And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. ⁴He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

⁵And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 21:1-5 ESV

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ²through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. ⁴They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22:1-5 ESV

Mind above!

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ²Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Assignment – Write How the Book of Revelation Has Blessed You

那宣讀這預言之話的，那些聽見這預言之話並遵守其中所記載的，都是蒙福的，因為時候快到了。
啟示錄 1:3 中文標準譯本 (CSB Traditional)

Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation 1:3 NASB

The first chapter of Revelation has a blessing for obedience.

Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Revelation 1:3 NASB

So does the last chapter of Revelation.

“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:7 ESV

Assignment: Write a note, short or long, on how you have been blessed by the book of Revelation. The blessing can be recent, or quite some time ago, or even both. If you can’t think of a blessing from Revelation, perhaps you should spend some time reading the letters to the churches in Revelation 2 – 3. They are for everyone with ears to hear!

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Assignment – Explain the Significance of “Works” in the Life of a Believer in Jesus

¹²“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. ¹³I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
Revelation 22:12-13 NKJV

Works are very important in the book of Revelation. Besides the passage above from the last chapter of the Bible, works are a theme in the letters to the churches. Translations based on the Textus Receptus (TR) such as the KJV and the NKJV mention works in the introduction of each of the seven letters. Translations based on the Critical Text (CT) such as the ESV, NIV and NASB mention works in the introduction of five of the seven letters. (There is a short article on the TR / CT at GotQuestions, and a very long article at the Berean Patriot.)

KJV	ESV
2²I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:	2²“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.’”
⁹I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.	⁹“‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.’”
¹³I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.	¹³“‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.’”
¹⁹I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.	¹⁹“‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.’”
3 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.	3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.’”
⁸I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.	⁸“‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.’”
¹⁵I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.	¹⁵“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!’”
Revelation 2:2, 9, 13, 19, 3:1, 8, 15 KJV	Revelation 2:2, 9, 13, 19, 3:1, 8, 15 ESV

Though works are important, it is clear we are not saved by our works.

⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV

⁴But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, ⁶whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7 ESV

²¹“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Matthew 7:21-23 ESV

Assignment: Write a short note on the role of works for a believer in Jesus, something that can be read out loud in 30 seconds to 1 minute. Put your response on paper and/or electronic media, such as social media or in an email to yourself.

The point of writing something short is to clarify your thinking so you’ll have something accurate yet brief to say if the opportunity presents itself. After that is done, feel free to write an article or even a book. 😊

You may find these Scriptures helpful.

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

MM – Assignment – Give Reason for Your Belief in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture

¹³Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ¹⁴But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, ¹⁵but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
1 Peter 3:13-17 ESV

Perhaps the best way of meditating on God’s Word I have found is to try to write something beneficial for others. Since I started blogging in 2017 I have spent no doubt hundreds of hours thinking about what I was going to write next. And it has made me more attentive to sermons and my Bible reading, as I’m always looking for something on which to write. By giving assignments to write, I’m encouraging students to also experience this wonderful method of meditation. 😊

Suppose someone says to you,

Why do you believe in a pre-tribulation rapture? John Nelson Darby invented the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine around 1830 AD.

Assignment: Write a short response defending the pre-tribulation rapture. Aim for something that can be read out loud in 30 seconds to 1 minute. Put your response on paper and/or electronic media, such as social media or in an email to yourself.

If you don’t need any help, great! Start writing! If you’re unsure about the pre-trib rapture or want links refuting the claim about Darby scroll though these pretty pictures. 😊

Is there a pre-tribulation rapture?

Yes. Jesus said I should pray to be counted worthy to escape all that will come to pass. Also, Jesus promises the Philadelphia church that it will be kept from the hour of trial coming on the whole world. That settles it for me. Jesus already took God’s wrath for me. I will not come under God’s wrath during the tribulation. I will either have died or been raptured before the tribulation.

³⁴“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36 NKJV

¹⁰“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. ¹¹I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.”
Revelation 3:10-11 ESV

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. ²For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. ⁷For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. ⁸But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. ⁹For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. ¹¹Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 ESV

Was the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine invented in the 1830’s?

No, the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine dates to the early days of the church. Please see these posts.

12 – 22	Video: “Was the Rapture taught before 1800’s & Darby? YES!”	The doctrine of the rapture dates from the early days of the church
11 – 19	4th Century Mention of the Rapture in a Sermon	Not a doctrine invented in the 1800’s

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

MM – Possible Bible Study Topics

A shorter link to this post:

tinyurl.com/Jerde-Topics

These are some Bible study topics I feel qualified to teach.

August 12, 2023 (Update)

What Does Romans 13:1-5 Really Mean?

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ²Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. ³For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, ⁴for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. ⁵Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
Romans 13:1-5 ESV

A surface reading of Romans 13:1-5 suggests that Christians should always obey government officials. But is this all the Bible teaches on the subject? In my opinion, no, it isn’t.
When Lying is Ok – Updated

But don’t take my word for it. Come to your own conclusions!

Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
Acts 17:11 BSB

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 NASB

August 2, 2023 (Original)

Daily Communion

I list this first because I haven’t found a better way of being intimate with God than to thank Jesus every day for dying in my place, so I could live. But it didn’t start out that way. See, I grew up in the Lutheran church, and it seemed to me that communion was a bunch of rituals, and even somewhat “dangerous.” Only the ordained guy who wore his shirt backwards and his specifically authorized deputies could hand out the elements to us “sinners,” and we always were kneeling at the front of the church to receive them. I had to take communion by myself quite a while before I really, really knew that I was a priest to God, a member of a royal priesthood, and was therefore authorized to take communion all by myself. Now my daily communion is a highly blessed, intimate time. Oh, yes it is good to take communion at church, but my personal communion earlier that day is always better.

9-22	Increasing Joy – Daily Communion	Meditating on what Jesus did for me is increasing my joy!
1-20	Have Communion All By Yourself	You are qualified if you believe in Jesus, because He has made you a priest

	Tag: Communion

Read and Pray Psalms 91 Daily

This is another easy-to-do topic with huge benefits. Much of Psalms 91 has become rhema to me.

4-23	“When you, Mark, call to me, I will answer you”	Praying Psalms 91 very personally
3-22	The Peace of God’s Secret Place	A blessing of reading and praying Psalms 91

	Tag: Psalms 91

Why These Are The Last Days and The Rapture Is Any Moment Now

I graduated from high school in 1977 and got saved in 1979. But earlier, perhaps as early as 1972, a school friend got me interested in Bible prophecy. The fact that the Bible prophesied things that were unfolding was one of the key things leading to my becoming a follower of Jesus! Therefore it might be more than 50 years I have been expecting that an “alien abduction” will be the deception used to explain away the rapture!

4-22	Why I Believe in (At Least) the Pre-Tribulation Rapture	Bible prophecy I think I understand
11-19	Hypocrisy – Not Discerning The Time	Know where we are prophetically

	Tag: TheRapture

How To Learn To Love The Rapture If You Don’t

Some Christians are not eager for the rapture, and I get it. They want to live their lives, have children and grandchildren, travel the world, etc. etc. This can be overcome by two main things.

Understanding God’s plan for man, eternity past to eternity future. This life isn’t even a drop in the ocean.
Setting the mind on things above. I’m convinced that everything good in this life, and I mean everything good, will be “gooder” in the life to come. I believe we lose nothing of value when we meet Jesus, and gain much, much more.

8-22	Mind Above – No More Death	For believers in Jesus, death is going away forever!
8-22	Mind Above – Unlimited Accomplishment	“Whatever he does shall prosper.”

	Tag: Mind Above

Jesus’ Love Letters to the Church

Jesus’ letters to the seven churches are full of information for us today. You definitely want to be part of the Philadelphia church, counted worth to escape the tribulation!

10-21	You’ve Got Mail (From Jesus!)	Have you read Jesus’ love letters to the churches recently?

Faithful = Full of Faith

When I was working full time and had a family with young children it was really tough to carve out the time to read the Bible as I felt I should. I developed some habits that helped me do what I knew I should do. These good habits still help me today because, guess what, though I’ve followed Jesus more than 40 years my flesh still doesn’t want to obey God.

9-17	New Bible — New, Lush Pasture	Sometimes change is very good
2-20	Develop Good Habits	Make straight paths for your feet!
11-20	If I Didn’t Have a Bible Study Habit, I Probably Would Not Habitually Read My Bible	Develop good habits!

The Universe is About 6,000 Years Old

I have a public education so I was indoctrinated to believe the universe is billions and billions of years old, and mankind is just another animal that evolved over millions and millions and millions of years. I now fully believe the Genesis account is true: God created everything from nothing in six 24-hour days about 6,000 years ago, and mankind is very, very special, being created in God’s own image.

11-20	Two Creation Videos Worth Watching	IMO the first video is one of the best testimonies on the internet


	Tag: Creationism

“Which Bible Should I Use?”

As a young Christian I was deceived into believing the KJV was the only English language Bible that God approved. I gained knowledge and was freed from KJV-Only a few years later. But texts and translations have remained a great interest of mine. Greatly simplified, IMO there are two answers to the question, “Which Bible should I use?” I highly, highly recommend #2.

“The Read One.” That is, use a Bible you will actually read.
For most of your Bible reading, use a distraction-free, modern, mainstream evangelical committee-based Formal translation (NKJV, ESV, NASB etc.). Occasionally use the notes of your “Study Bibles” and modern, mainstream evangelical committee-based Functional translations such as the NIV and NLT. For the most part avoid one-person or small-committee translations such as Passion and AMP, though I do sometimes use the AMP. Abhor evil translations used by cults.

5-21	Study the Bible Without Using a ‘Study Bible’	I greatly prefer distraction-free Bible text
5-23	Part 4 of 4 – Knowing Jesus’ Voice – Be a Berean!	Example of a “Study Bible” being wrong

	Tags: Multiple Translation Benefits, KJV-Only

HUGE DECEPTION – “Once Saved, Always Saved” / “Eternal Security”

Sadly, there are people who call themselves “Christians” who believe their salvation can never be lost. Consequently many of them “live like the devil.” I hope and pray they read and believe their whole Bibles before it is too late.

5-20	Eternal Security?	“SOME SHALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH.” Hopefully not you or me!
4-22	Faith, Grace, and Overcoming	“This is the victory that has overcome the world — my dead faith.” ???

	Tag: Once Saved Always Saved?

Context, Context, Context

Some people say that “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 ESV) applies only to physical needs because of the context.

¹⁰I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. ¹¹Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ¹²I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. ¹³I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:10-13 ESV

But is this really true? How does the Bible quote itself?

7-20	Acts 1:20 – Context, Context, Context?	An example of understanding the Bible


	Tag: Context Context Context

Lot and David

I’m so glad these two men are written about in the Bible. God’s mercy is incredible!

6-22	I Am Glad For ‘Righteous Lot’	If God can save Lot, He can save me
7-23	David Did Not Keep the Passover?!?	Forgiveness, and walking in forgiveness

	Tag: David

How to Safely Pray / Confess / Affirm While Driving etc.

In the 1990’s I had a long drive to and from work. I wanted to pray Scripture on the drive, but note cards etc. were not safe. In 1995 I made a “prompted” recording on cassette and could safely pray while on my commute. I copied it to MP3 and still use it today. I’ve prayed probably hundreds of hours since 1995 that otherwise would have been unproductive.

7-18	Info – Praying While Driving, etc.	Hear yourself speak the Word

How to Meditate

It’s true – if you can worry, you can meditate on God’s Word. But the best way to meditate I have found is to decide to regularly write something Biblical, and useful for others.

1-18	If You Can Worry, You Can Meditate	“To mutter”
11-19	Meditation – The Write-Right Rite	The discipline of writing has blessed me

	Tag: Meditation

Should you follow your heart?

I think the answer is, “Yes, follow your heart, provided these things are true in your life: …” I would welcome the opportunity to “finish” this topic. 😊

5-23	“Follow Your Heart” — True or False?	Scriptures to help you decide

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

MM – Mac Laptop Setup

Ross at the newnews YouTube channel focuses on current events and how they relate to Israel prophetically. He uses two cameras making his videos. The first is looking at him.

The second is looking down at his physical desk as he teaches from his notes.

I would like to teach Bible study with my Mac laptop set up for similar functionality. That is, I would like to be able to project on a big screen both my Mac’s screen and what the 2nd camera sees. I have lots of notes to share. 😊

I spent an hour trying to get an old camera working as the 2nd camera but it just won’t connect. I think I’ll just get a new, cheap webcam.

Back when I wrote software for a living I gave plenty of presentations using Windows laptops. I used presentation software that let me zoom into any part of the screen, then make annotations. The built-in Mac zoom doesn’t allow annotations that I’ve found, but it may be “good enough.” It is certainly easy to use.

Getting my Mac working with the church equipment is better done “sooner” rather than “later” methinks.

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

MM – “My Ministry” – To Teach, or Not to Teach, That is the Question

James gives a firm warning against becoming a Bible teacher.

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
James 3:1 ESV

But the writer of Hebrews has a different perspective.

Hebrews 5:12

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
NKJV

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
ESV

You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.
NLT

Seeming contradictions like this of James 3:1 v. Hebrews 5:12 are opportunities to press in for better understanding. One qualification is given where Paul writes Timothy about the selection of church overseers, 1 Timothy 3:1-7. Length of time knowing Jesus matters.

1 Timothy 3:6

not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
NKJV

He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
ESV

A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.
NLT

Should I teach a Bible study at church? I attend a demographically very young church. There are many babies and children. I got saved in 1979, over 40 years ago. (I ran out of fingers and toes to figure out the exact number of years… 😉) I think it safe to say I’ve been saved longer than most of the people in my church have been alive. So yes, I think I meet the time-in-the-faith qualification. 😉

More Scripture to clarify James 3:1 v. Hebrews 5:12 is found in James 3 itself and Matthew 12.

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.²For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

⁸but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
James 3:1-2, 8 ESV

³³“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. ³⁶I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, ³⁷for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:33-37 ESV

I have grown to where I almost never have to apologize to God or anyone else for anything I say. I give God the glory for filling my heart with good things so that (almost always) my words comply with His Words. I think I pass the control-of-the-tongue condition.

Another qualification is my motivation, with two applicable Scriptures. The first is from Paul’s talk to the Ephesian elders, Acts 20:17-38, and the second is from his letter to the Philippians.

²⁸“Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. ²⁹I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; ³⁰and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.”
Acts 20:28-31 ESV

¹⁵Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. ¹⁶The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
Philippians 1:15-17 ESV

Am I trying to make disciples of me? Do I have selfish ambition? No and no, I believe. These Scriptures are far too real to me!

¹²For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:12-13 ESV

¹⁰According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. ¹¹For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹²Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— ¹³each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. ¹⁴If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 ESV

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

I plan to also encourage people to not believe a word I say, but to come to their own conclusions.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 NASB

Should I teach a Bible study at church? Yes I think I should. If God can use a talking donkey surely I’m qualified. 😉 Besides, 2 Co 1:4 seems a command to pass along comfort I have received. 😊

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

4 – 22	Why I Believe in (At Least) the Pre-Tribulation Rapture	Bible prophecy I think I understand
4 – 22	The Rapture in Isaiah 57	“The righteous vanishes”