“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22
Overall Bible knowledge is extremely important and yet obedience to the simple truths of our LORD is even more important (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15, 21; 15:14; 17:3; James 1:22; 1 John 2:4-6; 3:18, etc.). Most of us have seen many people who were very knowledgeable in the Word who later fall away because they left their “first love”, (Revelation 2:4-5) They ceased from doing the basic things consistent with staying in close fellowship with Jesus that are required of us to remain in an biting relationship with our LORD Jesus (John 15).
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
Becoming “Mighty in the Scriptures” Acts 18:24
– For Individual and/or Group Use –
(Copy and paste and print as needed. Some people are printing these out and using them to direct some of their individual and group Bible studies.)
“Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.” Psalms 119:111
Jesus willing, this Bible Literacy Series is going to help facilitate what Acts 2 cites as the first and foundational component of authentic, Christ-elevating, New Testament fellowship – the continuing “steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine.” (Acts 2:42-47). Jesus is coming soon. In this day of great apostasy, the LORD is speaking to the hearts of His true remnant to get back to true, New Testament fellowship and Christianity. All who truly know Him are hearing His voice and searching out genuine New Testament fellowship and, in many cases, forsaking that which is not (Prov. 19:27; Acts 19:9; Heb. 4:7). They seek to please God fully, the way He gave us in His Holy Word, and “escape all these things that shall come to pass.” (Lk. 21:34-36)
The term “apostle’s doctrine” appears here in Acts 2, just after the day of Pentecost (birth of the NT Church) when the early Church was still pure (before deceivers began to ravage). This term speaks of the doctrines of Jesus Christ given to His twelve original and holy apostles in His earthly life, and to that great apostle Paul, the “one born out of due time.” (1 Cor. 15:8)
Let us view Bible learning as a life long adventure you engage in, daily.
The Word of God is the only foundation and Textbook for the life of true believers and the true Church for which Jesus will return. All other ground truly is sinking sand (Matt. 7:21-29; Lk. 6:46-49). Only His pure Word, which we are to desire, can wash and prepare those who drink it in for His soon return (Eph. 5:25-27; 1 Pet. 2:2). God’s Word is just that – GOD’s WORD, and not the vain words and philosophies of mere men. We are warned to “Beware” of such men and instructed to let His Word dwell richly in our midst (Col. 2:8; 3:16).
Whenever a local church institutes the use of a mere man’s book for a Sunday school or small cell group type meeting, red flags should immediately fly in our minds, and we should speak up in wisdom. Did the LORD not give us 66 glorious, perfect, and divinely-breathed books in the Bible? May God bless us to be Word and Holy Spirit driven and not driven for and according to a mere man’s purpose. When true Christians assemble (2 or more), it is to gather around the holy throne of the glorious LORD of all lords and glorify our victorious nail-scarred risen Savior. Such is accomplished by honoring HIS Word/message and no one else’s.
God conveyed to us the very “thoughts of his heart” in His Word and how dare we look to mere men when we have the divine oracles of the One who made all that is, the only true God! (Ps. 33:11; Rom. 3:2; 1 Pet. 4:11) These brief and yet potentially prolific outlines should make for a spiritual feast in individual and small group settings. With great joy and expectation to become more fully conformed to the image of Jesus, let us embark upon the diligent searching of His Holy Scriptures to know Him more intimately! (Jn. 5:39; Rom. 8:29) Truly He has graciously transmitted to us the very “thoughts of his heart.”
“The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” Psalms 33:11
Saints, this “Bible Literacy” series is exciting and another way to intrigue one’s heart and tantalize the curiosity, learning the Word from different perspective/angles via thought-provoking questions. One at a time, allow the question to delight your curiosity and inspire your heart to uncover the answer to that question by going into God’s Word for yourself to find the answer. This is the earnest and practical exercising of ourselves in the Word (which is the mark of Christian maturity – Heb. 5:11-14) and will result in a more thorough and working knowledge and understanding of the heart and precepts of our LORD. Let’s escape what the Bible says is immaturity and “go on to perfection (maturity)” in Jesus and the knowledge of His will/Word. See Hebrews 5:11-6:3.
Let’s let our love for God, the fear of the LORD, and desire to escape the dilemma of ignorance, drive us to learn His Word for ourselves and no longer depend upon some other man’s supposed knowledge of Him who is “holy, holy, holy.” (Prov. 9:10; Isa. 6:3; Hos. 4:6; Matt. 22:29; Heb. 5:11-6:3; Rev. 4:4)
“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and MIGHTY IN THE SCRIPTURES, came to Ephesus.”Acts 18:24
Let’s not be destroyed or embarrassed by a lack of knowledge of the Word of the very One we call “LORD.” No, instead, let us joyfully discover His truth, filling our own hearts with His Word and filling the hearts of other searching souls! God’s Word never returns to Him void, but always accomplishes that for which He sends it (Isa. 55:11).
Discover the Bible’s answers to numerous miscellaneous topics and become abundantly learned in the riches of Holy Scriptures! Like David, the man after God’s own heart, take the Scriptures as “an heritage for ever.” He said that the words of truth were“the rejoicing of my heart.” (Psalms 119:111)
Need direction in your personal Bible study or small group study? You may wish to print out these individual quizzes and open your Bible to find the answers (alone or in a group).
Break out your King James Bible and go through each question, referencing each Scripture given to answer the question. Your understanding of His precious precepts will increase and your knowledge of God will be enriched with the divine truth discovered within the contents of each Scripture. There are 10 miscellaneous questions presented per quiz:
(Duplication encouraged. An open Bible should accompany your study of this topic. Study each verse given in order to answer each question correctly. Print this document out and pencil in the answers in the blanks provided. It may be best to cut and paste it to your word processing software and then print it out. Your life in Christ will be enriched forever as you embrace and put into practice His Word.)
BIBLE LITERACY QUIZ A:
1. What withholds “good things” from our lives? Jeremiah 5:25
6. In the eyes of the One who is “holy, holy, holy”, does wrongdoing actually require the literal act or just the consummated lust in the heart? Matthew 5:28
“And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.” Colossians 4:17
MINISTRY which pleases God is simply helping people know and grow in Christ for themselves – by the cross life and getting into HIS Word for themselves so they can follow HIM, not you! True ministry fosters in the hearers faith in God, not the preacher or local church organization! Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 1:9; 3:5; 4:5.
Your communications and ministry are fed and fueled by your personal daily study and knowledge of God’s Word (Proverbs 22:17-21; 2 Timothy 2:15).
Ephesians 4:1-14
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting (equipping, maturing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” Ephesians 4:1-14
“Reformed Theology“, is just a fancy way of saying ‘We know better than Paul, the old testament prophets, even David! And the very apostles who walked with Jesus must be unlearned men or liars.’ Nay, I will not say such a thing of my LORD and Saviour, Christ Jesus. Let God be true, and >every< man a liar.” Jonathan Crane It’s “ungodly men” who mislead the gullible with the eternal security heresy, and the heretical doctrines and system of calvinism. Jude warned us of just that, as did the prophets (Jude 3-4; Jeremiah 23:17, etc.). Then Jude reminds us of […]
Out of the Mouth of Babes - "What is Love?" Hilarious. Revealing. [podcast]
What these precious children say will have you laughing and perhaps crying. Our LORD Jesus, the greatest Servant says: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 This “greater love” of our Creator, Jesus Christ, was busy blessing each of us in our mother’s womb. Reading 1 Corinthians 13 today will refresh your heart and mind on the divine importance placed upon LOVE. Share. Recently it occurred to me…. That the younger the child, the less corrupted they are by this world and the closer they are to […]
The LORD’s Vision to His Servant Isaiah and how it Relates to each of Us When the LORD revealed Himself more fully to the man Isaiah, the response of Isaiah is something we should behold and be taught by, learn from. “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which […]
God Himself personally sends a “strong delusion” to all who do not love His truth so that they WILL believe lies. He greases their pole to hell. That’s how personally He takes it when people call Him a liar by not believing His Word.
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8
Notice “of God” and “NOT of God”
“He that is OF GOD heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are NOT OF GOD.” John 8:47
How do We Know Who is "of God" and Who is "Not of God"? [podcast]
Scripture vs Subjectivity/Human Reasoning “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8 There are many people pretending to be representing Christ. Many pretend to speak for God but how do we know who is truly “of God” and who is “not of God”? Jesus gave us the answer to this important question because He desires His people to be protected by proper discernment. He has warned us repeatedly to “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but […]
Return and Discern [podcast]
THE LORD IS DOING A WORK TODAY IN THE HEARTS OF HIS PEOPLE – BLESSING US TO BE POOR IN SPIRIT, HUNGERING FOR MORE OF HIM, AND PURE IN HEART (Matthew 5:3, 6, 8 ). It’s all in spite of our own failings and sin and because of His great mercies which are renewed every morning – GREAT is His faithfulness (Lamentation 3:22-23). Discernment is only granted by God when we truly repent which means we lay down our lives in this fleeting world and follow Jesus for real (2 Corinthians 3:16-18). WHEN we earnestly seek the face of the […]
The Essential Doctrine of Repentance
The Biblical Statement on the Essential Doctrine and Necessity of Repentance – in Life and in the Dispensing of the Original Gospel Message. Though nearly never heard in today’s apostate modern church world, according to Christ’s unchanging original Gospel, repentance is an absolute necessity. Karen Cochran observes: “It doesn’t seem the word repent is part of the Christian’s vocabulary! In the modern church, it’s all about God accepting you the way you are without any requirements to repent and die to self.” Note that in modern churches, “Christian” radio, media, books, the word “repent” is rarely if ever heard. Yet […]
THIS MORNING: Brother Mark brought brother Juan to meet our new brother Jose Patron!
Jose was given a stack of JESUS tracts after he said he wanted to evangelize.
Brother Juan passes by where Jose works for work daily and so that connection and fellowship is being put in place.
“WE are labourers TOGETHER with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9) – and what God has us doing is supporting His beloved “labourers” who are “few”! (Matthew 9:35-38)
A FEW DAYS AGO: Sister Maria called for more JESUS tracts. She ran out as she is distributing hundreds per day. So our dear sister, thanks to you who are praying and supply…. was given a new jacket to keep her warm (pictured), food and drink to bring home for her living quarters, a fresh supply of JESUS tracts, some cash (Mexican pesos), and some Scripture that she as usual read out loud and devoured as I brought them up on my cell phone from the Spanish Bible (Reina Valera). God is good saints. May He be glorified in all you are doing to see the beloved people of Mexico reached with His bless-ed Gospel! You are refreshing His beloved saints.
LORD willing, I will be meeting again with our dear brother Juan this week to refresh him in fellowship etc.
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27
Mexico: The Land where the Gospel of Jesus is Freely Received
“Freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8
As we truly follow Jesus He makes us fishers of men.
“And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17
This was the sweetest couple ever as you can tell by the picture. They were overjoyed to receive the preaching of our LORD’s Gospel and were told how to be saved – repentance and faith in Christ, and showed the prayer on the back, etc. They were directed to the prayer on the back and exhorted to pray in repentance and faith and receive eternal life. When asked they said they’d welcome your prayers for them.
On the streets today in Mexico ministering our LORD Jesus’ Gospel to many. As usual the name of Jesus was preached in Christ’s love and it was readily, eagerly received by most who thanked us for giving them the Gospel. SMH. It’s no even fair!
A man name Jose was ministered to, received the Word, and prayed in repentance and faith to be saved! Would you like to lift our new brother in Christ in prayer? Jose Patron is his name and we are connected and he’s already been given more Scripture and added to the Spanish WA group.
Jose just sent me a voice recording saying Thank you to Mark and I for ministering Jesus’ Gospel to him and that he wants to do the same thing we are doing, minister to others our LORD’s Gospel.
“So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” Acts 19:20
“The food looks healthy. Just this morning I was thinking that it is unfathomable, in my mind, to comprehend what the Lord is doing in Mexico. I watched the video of Mark passing out Jesus tracts and everyone was so receptive. That stuck in my mind, because I recently watched a video of a man preaching the gospel on a train. Zero response! Everyone kept looking at their phones and never once looked up. This is the true state of America. We have need of nothing and especially not Jesus. Rev 3:17. As opposed to the precious people of Mexico who know they are poor in spirit and are in need of the Lord to save them. They know something is missing in their lives. When Mark was passing out those Jesus tracts people were very happy and joyful to receive them, here they are rejecting the Savior.” Karen Cochran
We went to a colonia, to a street where no one was outside at the moment, Brother Mark said “God sent us this way for a reason, for someone.” 30 seconds later we came upon Jose! Boom.
Then came the Gospel explosion!
Upon ministering Christ’s Gospel to him, Jose Patron excitedly shared with brother Mark and I about how God had saved him from dying. He simply needed the opportunity to repent and be saved – and that’s exactly what JESUS did. Thank you for lifting our beloved brother Jose in prayer.
Jose just sent me a voice recording saying Thank you to Mark and I for ministering Jesus’ Gospel to him and that he wants to do the same thing we are doing, minister to others our LORD’s Gospel.
“So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” Acts 19:20
Gospel blessings abounded on the streets in Mexico ministering our LORD Jesus’ Gospel to many. As always the name of Jesus was preached in Christ’s love and it was readily, eagerly received by most who thanked us for giving them the Gospel.
It’s no even fair to have the privilege to minister to the beloved Mexicans! SMH.
A man name Jose was ministered to. He received the Word, and prayed in repentance and faith to be saved! Would you like to lift our new brother in Christ in prayer? Jose Patron is his name and we are connected and he’s already been given more Scripture and added to the Spanish WA group.
Jose just sent me a voice recording saying Thank you to Mark and I for ministering Jesus’ Gospel to him and that he wants to do the same thing we are doing, minister to others our LORD’s Gospel.
Thank you for lifting the salvation of the people of Mexico in your prayers. | Mexico Mission
“I love this brother! May God continue to provide and increase his fruit in the lives of the disciples in Mexico, in the Philippines, in Pakistan, in Kenya, in all his earth for his glory! Amen.
I was reading Psalm 8 and John 10. Beautiful beyond understanding is God’s love poured out in Christ Jesus toward us who hear his voice!
Much love to the body of Christ in Mexico and throughout the whole world. Jesus is coming!
“EVERY person you meet, or stand next to in line, is an opportunity to share the Good News. Do not miss the opportunity to bring another into the Kingdom.
I thank God everyday that this happened to me 5 years ago.” Targeted Christian Girl, RN
Let us be blessed to preach Christ’s Gospel this day.
Upon having the Gospel of Jesus preached to her, beloved Laura informed me that she is a born again saint!!! After fellowshipping she took a stash of JESUS tracts. Would you like to pray for sister Laura?
After receiving the ministry of God’s Word, Antonio was asked if he wanted you to lift him in prayer. He eagerly accepted and is glad you will pause to lift his life to the LORD in prayer. | Mexico Mission
ON THE TOPIC OF MEXICO
The Mexican people never handed their country over to the government so that the government can take it away the government cannot take it away because
Historically and presently the Mexican people find a way to circumvent the government. They never let the government have control and therefore the government can’t take their freedom away – because the people recognize their freedom coming from God.
The tax money of the people is a large way that the government controls the people they are empowered by the riches of the people through taxes in order to control and exploit them endlessly. Your tax money fuels your slavery….
Mexican people have a very healthy dis-trust for government. This is unlike many Americans. Many Americans it seems, haven’t learned that the promises candidates make before an election, will nearly never carry them out when elected. It seems the “We’re going to release the epstein files” was a mere ruse to cover those secret files. “It’s all a big club, and you’re not in it.” George Carlin
Thank you for praying for this man, Juan. He received ministry today and is in need of being saved.