Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

Matthew 28:1  In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.  In our last post, we noted that the two Mary's were watching to see where Nicodemus and Joseph buried Jesus. Their intent was to honor Christ with what they called a second embalming. As soon as it was permissible under the Jews sabbath rules, they arose and went forth to Jesus' tomb. Mark 16:1-3  And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.  2  And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.  3  And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?   Mark's gospel tells us that both women carried more of the sweet spices that were used to honor a king who died. Notice, that they came...

We reached the point where Jesus laid down His life as a perfect sacrifice for the sins of all humanity for all time. We noted how prophecies were literally fulfilled in the particular aspects of Christ's death on the cross. God was at work reconciling a world of lost sinners to Himself through the sacrifice of His Son, our perfect Lamb. Jesus cried out with a loud voice "It is finished" and mankind's sins were atoned for. We saw the mighty miracles of a sun darkened during the time of day it shone the brightest. God shook the earth with a mighty earthquake such that a battle hardened Roman centurion shouted out "Truly, this was the Son of God!" Now we turn our attention to what happened to Jesus' body. Matthew 27:57-58  When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:  58  He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.  This Joseph was a...

Matthew 27:50  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.  We studied the suffering and death of Christ right up to the point when He laid His life down for our sins.  We will focus on the powerful things that happened after Jesus died. Remember, that God turned out the lights of heaven while His Son hung on the cross bearing our sins. John's gospel tells us that Jesus said He had power to lay His life down and power to take it up again. Thus, when He yielded up the ghost, Jesus laid His life down after having declared that "It is finished" with regard to all the sins of all humanity for all time! Matthew 27:51  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;  What was the veil of the temple? This was constructed in accord with the pattern God gave Moses in the book of Exodus.  The veil in the Temple that King Solomon built was about 60 feet high and...

Matthew 27:45  Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.  As the moment of Jesus' death drew near, some startling events occurred. A supernatural darkness covered "all the land" from the 6th to the 9th hour. This corresponds to a timeframe beginning at noon and lasting until three PM. Thus, when the sunlight was at its peak hours, God turned out the lights! Scholars debate about whether the world was plunged into darkness, or was restricted to Judea where Jesus lived and ministered. This seems to have been a darkness that covered Judea only, making it a most notable miracle. Exodus 10:21-23  And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.  22  And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:  23  They saw not one another, neither rose any fro...

  Below is the link to our church YouTube channel where you can view the livestream of the Sunday school lesson I shared on August 2nd. This is a series of lessons about the good kings of Judah under whom revival occurred. Jehoshaphat was in a good place. He recovered from the alliance he made with wicked king Ahab, and when he returned to Jerusalem, God's prophet strongly rebuked the king. Rather than hardening his heart toward God, he heard and heeded the message. 2 Chronicles 20 begins by telling us that a massive army composed or Moabites, Ammonites and natives of Mount Seir, were advancing toward Judah. Their purpose was to drive Judah out of the land that God gave them. We learned that testing's or trials often follow times of revival and faithfulness to God. Satan does not want us to worship God, He does not want us to live for God's glory, nor does he want us to share the gospel with others. We also learned that God uses trials and afflictions for our good. Jehoshap...

Here is where to find indexes to all Bible lessons posted on this blog since its inception in 2019. Click on the drop down menu and look for the archives tab. Then find the date listed below to find the appropriate index. I hope this will help you find lessons on a particular book of topic that we have studied through. An index for all lessons posted from 2019 through 2021 , was published on September 7, 2022. An index for all lessons posted in 2022 , was published J anuary 24, 2023. An index for all lessons posted in 202 3 was published on February 28, 2024.  An index for all lessons posted in 2024 was published on January 21, 2025. An index for all lessons posted in 2025 was published on January 24, 2026. Below are the links to the YouTube channel of Heritage Baptist Church where my family attends. Pastor Alvis is an excellent pastor, a close friend and one who lives in accord with the gospel. His sermons are well grounded in God's truth and he is always careful to preach an...

Matthew 27:32  And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.  Some may wonder why the Jews forced a bystander named Simon, to bear the cross of Christ. We must remember that Jesus was slapped on His face, and pummeled by their fists. They plucked off the hair of Jesus' beard and they mercilessly taunted Him. Then, a crown of thorns was smashed onto His head, causing more pain. Finally, the scourging consisting of 39 lashes with the Roman cat of nine tails whip, inflicted much damage to Jesus' back. Thus, the cumulative effect of all this, coupled with a loss of blood, weakened Jesus such that His enemies compelled Simon to bear His cross. Luke 23:27  And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.  28  But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.  29  For, behold, th...