Jesus Christ

Growing in Christ - Understanding the Scriptures

"He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." Luke 24:45

"The Bible is the greatest of all books; to study it is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals." - Charles Caldwell Ryrie

The Bible is an amazing book written by dozens of human authors in several languages over a period spanning more than 1000 years. Yet it's message is single: God's love and rescue mission to the world.

The Bible is written by authors who were deeply engrained in their culture and history. For this reason some knowledge of this historical context is helpful.

The Bible however can be well understood today with the aid of a modern translation, particularly a study bible with footnotes offering historical background and linguistic insights.

  1. For those new to the Scriptures, I've prepared very brief introductions to the 66 books making up the Bible. Please click: Old Testament or New Testament.

  2. More recently I've begun to add pastoral and practical observations on individual chapters. This will be the work of a lifetime.

  3. For many years Carol and I taught a series of classes overviewing the Old and New Testament in a way which attempts to give insight in greater depth into the historical and cultural context of Scripture for the purpose of helping those who follow Christ in mission to do so more fully.

These lessons are expansions and adaptations of the Bethel Bible Series, a course we highly recommend as an biblical literacy resource for church-based adult education, www.bethelseries.com. On-line teacher certification is at the time of posting this page available here (external link).

Old Testament

 

 

New Testament

 

Learning to 'Think Hebrew"

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The Gospels

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Lesson 1: Creation

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Lesson 1: Fullness Of Time

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Lesson 2: Divine Intentions

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Lesson 2: The Word Became Flesh

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Lesson 3: Disharmony

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Lesson 3: Jesus The Man

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Lesson 4: Pronouncement Of A Destiny

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Lesson 4: Jesus-Overcoming Distortion

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Lesson 5: Ardent Dreams Of A Destiny

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Lesson 5: Jesus The Teacher

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Lesson 6: United for a Destiny

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Lesson 6: Jesus The Savior

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Lesson 7: A Nation on Way to its Homeland

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Lesson 7: A Light In The Darkness

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Lesson 8: A Destiny Insured

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Lesson 8: The Empty Tomb

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Lesson 9: Empowered For A Destiny

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Lesson 9: Christ The Lord - Acts

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Lesson 10: The Conquest

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Lesson 10: Reversion

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Lesson 11: Judges Forestall Threats

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Lesson 11: Justification

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Lesson 12: The Philistine Menace

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Lesson 12: Faith

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Lesson 13: The United Kingdom

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Lesson 13: 1 & 2 Thessalonians

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Lesson 14: Recalling A Destiny

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Lesson 14: 1 & 2 Corinthians

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Lesson 15: The Crumbling North (Israel)

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Lesson 15: The Church

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Lesson 16: Southern Kingdom

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Lesson 16: 1 & 2 Timothy

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Lesson 17: Pointing Ahead

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Lesson 17: 1 Peter

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Lesson 18: The Exile

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Lesson 18: False Teaching

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Lesson 19: History as the Judgment Of God

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Lesson 19: Sanctification

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Lesson 20: The Restoration

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Lesson 20: Revelation

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                   Inter-Testamental Period

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Charles Spurgeon was once asked if he felt he needed to defend the Scriptures. His reply: "Defend the Scriptures? I would rather defend a lion." More here.