Category Archives: Bible Study

Topics and Themes from the Bible

The Bible is God’s Story

The Bible is God’s story written from His side.  So when there is an argument between two people, each person has a side. Well the Bible is God’s side of the story. We may have our worldview and opinions, but God has His worldview and thoughts. After all,  He created the world and our ability to even have a view. His thought, that is God’s thoughts are recorded in a story book called the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God has a lot to say. Look at this verse in second Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,  for correction,  for instruction in righteousness:

The Beautiful Spokane River

The Beautiful Spokane River

What is the Bible?

Wow, what a great question – What is the Bible?  The Bible is God’s Word to us. The Bible tells us what God thinks, how God feels and why He created the earth and mankind.      The thoughts of God about the earth, man, sin, Jesus Christ, righteousness, heaven and hell are all addressed in the Bible.  The Bible answers some big questions like,  Why did God create me? and How do I become a Christian?

Four Main Points about the Bible:

1.  The words of the Bible are God’s words.  The words in the Bible are not opinion or human concepts. – 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching…

2.  The Bible makes clear how one can become a Christian, live as a Christian and grow as a Christian.  Many others items and things in the universe are just not found in the Bible  because they are not necessary for our Christian living. – Psalms 119:130 The unfolding of your words gives light;  it imparts understanding to the simple.

3. The Bible is a very necessary book since it tells us about God, man, sin, Jesus Christ, heaven and hell. – 2 Timothy 3:15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

4, The Bible stands alone as the only book that tells us everything we need to know to become a Christian, live as a Christian and grow as a Christian.  In this area the Bible is sufficient. – 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

Hopefully this short answer to “What is the Bible” has helped you and me understand more about the Bible.  Later we will talk more about what is in the Bible such as poetry, history, teaching, theology, stories and prophecy.  In the Bible is also encouragement and warnings for our Christian life.

God Uses People Like Gideon with Little Faith

God even uses people with little faith. Do we ever wonder why God put us in some situations? Well Gideon also wondered.  Look at this Bible passage. Gideon almost gave up, until the Lord spoke to him. And after the Lord spoke, Gideon had trouble believing God.

Judges 6:13-14
And Gideon said to him, “Please, sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? ’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”

Judges 6:16
And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.”

Multnomah Falls Oregon

Multnomah Falls Oregon

Gideon still did not believe what God said, and so asked for a “sign”. The Jews also asked for a sign at the time of Jesus. Both situations were considered evil in the Lord’s eyes since they did not just take God at His word. But it’s hard to do that, and Gideon being a man of faith, well sort of a man of faith, really did not fully believe God’s word. So Gideon asked several times for a sign. Notice that God did not rebuke Gideon, but sort of went along with his crazy requests. So Gideon really did not have that much belief and faith in God, but God still used him just as he was.

In the New Testament The Lord Jesus put up with a lot of failures and unbelief from His disciples. He put up with Peter, Thomas and more. Well the point is, God puts up with us just the way we are, and still let’s us work with Him for His Kingdom.

Martin Luther on the Bible

Martin Luther was fighting for the Bible in a day where the predominant religious mindset was that money influences God.  He wanted to focus God’s people on what the Bible says rather than on what the religious institutions taught. There is a great article on Luther at DesiringGod.org.   Luther elevated the Biblical text itself far above all other commentators, including the venerated Church Fathers.  This is great lesson for us!  We should exalt the Bible because the Bible exalts God.

Jesus has Feelings of Love

Jesus has feelings and emotions towards His people. He has a loving care for His children. In John 3 …God so loved…, but in John 1: his own received him not.

Mommy and Babies, I think these are Ducks in San Diego

Mommy and Babies, I think these are Ducks in San Diego

Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!  It is sad that most of the nation of Israel at the time of Christ did not respond to Him as the Son of God. He loved them, yet He was unloved by many.

Dolphins at SeaWorld

Dolphins at SeaWorld

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Bumps in Life

A few of us humans encounter bumps and troubles in life.  I think only about 99.9999 percent of humans experience bumps. Consider the Apostle Paul who encountered a few bumps in his life and ministry; look at Second Corinthians chapter one and chapter four.

Dead Sea Israel from the top of Masada

The Dead Sea from the top of Masada, Israel

2 Cor 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

2 Cor 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Masada Israel

Masada Israel

Notice the two phrases in blue above. Paul trusted in God, not himself. Paul trusted in God’s power, not his strength.

God is Eternal

God is eternal, and powerful, He cannot be kept or contained in a box.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Psalms 106:48 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord.

Psalms 103:17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
Only man is dumb enough to try to put God in a box.