Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

This chapter is full of parables preached by Jesus because He illustrated heavenly truths by comparing them with earthly things. The Parable of the Sower and the Seed explains why so many people hear the gospel but often, so few respond with repentant faith in Christ. Jesus used four types of soil to teach us why this is so because only one of the four types of soil produce a  bountiful harvest. Next is the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. This parable teaches us why the church and Christ's kingdom has a mixture of born again souls (the wheat) and tares (children of the Devil). This is why there is not a perfect church on earth throughout its history.  Sinners are mixed in with saints and this is why God gave us litmus tests to show who is truly born again versus those who profess faith in Christ, but live like the corrupt culture. The Parable of the Mustard Seed teaches us something that began in the book of Acts: the birth of the Church. The church started with only 11 ap...

  Jesus' parables are designed to teach us spiritual truths about the kingdom of God and the Church by using natural objects that people are familiar with. So far, He taught us about how people respond to gospel preaching in the Parable of the Seed and the Sower. Of the four types of soil mentioned, only one is called good ground where the seed of the gospel can take root and bear fruit. The second parable in this chapter is the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares which teaches us about the enemy of God who sowed tares in with the good wheat. This pictures the church of Jesus Christ and his kingdom that is composed of good seed (those who are born again). Satan is the enemy who came under cover of darkness and sowed tares, which means they are false or counterfeit Christians. The tares cause much division, discord and disunity in the church but at judgment day, they shall be gathered up and burned. Jesus gave a third parable called the Parable of the Mustard Seed in order to teach u...

Below is a link to YouTube where you can see the video of an excellent choir singing a Thanksgiving hymn titles "Come Ye Thankful People Come." A brief history of this stirring thanksgiving hymn is noted below. Hymn Guide: Come, Ye Thankful People, Come By Peter Johnston A beloved hymn for Thanksgiving, “Come, ye thankful people, come” is also a fitting hymn for Advent. It presents a rare combination of thanks and judgment, drawing singers into reverent awe before the Almighty. Anglican priest Henry Alford wrote the hymn in 1844 and published it under the heading, “After Harvest.”  This hymn was for the time when people would celebrate “Harvest Home,” a harvest festival in late September.  In America, the hymn is more typically sung in late November, around Thanksgiving. This providential timing locates the hymn close to Advent, so as to bring out its deeper themes. Verse 1 The first verse sets the tone of the hymn, of giving thanks for the annual harvest, and attributing the...

Here is where to find indexes containing all Bible lessons posted on this blog since its inception in 2019. 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 2023 was posted on  February 28, 2024.  The index for all lessons posted in 2024 was published on January 21,2025.   Also, Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching. Last year on November 11th, I posted eight Thanksgiving lessons. Much of this material is no longer taught in public schools. Therefore, I encourage all of our parents, grandparents, pastors and church leaders, to read these Thanksgiving lessons and share them when you gather with your family. You may find these by clicking on the "Archive" tab and navigating to November 11 2024. Jesus is givi...