How to Study the Bible #8: Start a Journal

By john

A few posts back I suggested that you simply read the Bible without worrying about fully understanding everything about the passages you are going through.  The idea is to go for quantity.  Keep doing that!  For those of you who are new to Bible Study that should remain your major method for quite a while.  A few things will happen.  First, you will find yourself becoming familiar with how the Lord thinks and talks.  Then, as you find yourself moving through several books of the Bible, you will begin to see how the different books each have a different emphasis

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How to Study the Bible #7 – The Bible Wins!

By john

When it comes to Bible study it helps to look at the Bible from God’s perspective.  Put yourself in His shoes and think about how you would help your children get to know you.  Probably the best way to go about it would be to write down your thoughts explaining to them, maybe in a series of letters, why you do things the way you do.  You might even want to share some of the deeper things of your heart.  If your kids are to get to know you, they need to know both your hurts and your joys.  You may even need to address some of the ways they are the ones who hurt you.&

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How to Study the Bible #3 -- The Bible is True

By john

Image removed.Principle #1: God’s word is true regardless of our perceptions or feelings. 2 Peter 3:8-9       But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.    There are sixty-six books in the Bible and God used around 40 different men to write them. Those men were “moved by the Holy Spirit” as they wrote the words we now call scripture. When we study the scripture.......

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How to Study the Bible #2 ......... Just Read It!

By john

Narrow view of scripture text 1I am, with this series of posts, likely speaking to several different groups of people. First, are those mature Christians who have studied the Bible for many years. Maybe, like me, they received the Lord into their life at an early age and have been walking with Him ever since. This group, I hope, will keep me on my toes and make sure I stay accurate in what I say. (So log in and comment if you have a concern or question about what I’m saying.) :>) A second group consists of those people who are either......

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How to Study the Bible #1: A Foundation

By john

Bible Pen Notepad and Mug #1There are two things that are all important when seeking truth in the Bible. First, the Bible is true in every word and was inspired by the Holy Spirit making it His words spoken directly to us. If you can’t start from that position, then the Bible is useless. Second, we do not interpret the word of God according to our experience.  Here are four principles to help guide you in your study of the Bible.

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Vagrants

By john

This morning I was sorting through some old files, deleting what I could and organizing the rest when I ran across this file.  We were living in Butte, Montana at the time and I think I may have originally written it as a letter to the editor of our local paper, The Montana Standard.  It is worth posting here and I hope it stirs us to take a good look at our hearts and consider our motivations.


My new book is out! Finally!

By john

Well, it's finally out there!  I finished my new book last Fall, but it's taken this long to get the publishing finished.  It's published with two distributors:  Ingram Spark (IS) (to take advantage of their massive, worldwide distribution system) and now, finally, Amazon.com.  Getting it listed with IS was relatively easy, although, since it was my first time trying out this indie publishing thing, it did take me a while to work through.  They have a good system, though.  It went well and both the e-book and print versions hav

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