Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

The Thanksgiving holyday is rapidly approaching. I remind you that you can find eight additional lessons on Thanksgiving as the Pilgrims and Puritans observed it.  These were posted in November 18 to 24, 2021 and are in the "Archive" section of the blog, below the "translate" button. I hope that you will find them a blessing and share them with your families.  A Psalm of Thanksgiving. Psalm 100:1-5   Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  2)  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  3)  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  4)  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  5)  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.   As you read this text, did you notice the 8 action wor...

Give thanks because Jehovah reigns! Psalm 97:1  The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.  Here is truth that requires no proof. Jehovah is infinite and eternal and He wields unlimited power and unerring wisdom.  Jehovah is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. His authority is absolute, and his government is universal. In all places, on all occasions, and in all times, Jehovah reigns. Because this is true, a command is issued that all the earth should rejoice. This is like spinning around with overwhelming joy and gladness of heart because, Jehovah reigns.  His dominion includes the most vast continent to the very smallest island. It includes all the heavens and all the seas, lakes, rivers and fountains of the earth. Give thanks for Jehovah's perfect wisdom.   Psalm 97:2-4  Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.  3)  A fire goeth before h...

We are learning how to pray by studying what Jesus taught about prayer. We have arrived at John 17, the longest recorded prayer of Jesus in the Bible. John 17 contains Jesus' prayer as our Great high priest and our Lord is teaching us much about the circumstances and content of praying to our Father in heaven.  In the first five verses, Jesus prayed for His own needs and for the Father to be glorified. In the verses that follow, Jesus begins praying for His disciples, and the believers in Christ would be included in His prayer.  Pray that our lives will manifest the fullness of God in Christ to the world.   John 17:6,7  I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.  7)  Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.   First, Jesus declared that He fully manifested the Father's name to all those whom the Father had...

We are studying about true thanksgiving from God's perspective. Last year, I posted eight very detailed lessons on Thanksgiving from the Pilgrims perspective.  I believe that these can be used for good family devotions and to teach our children and grandchildren why this national holyday is important.  You may find these in the Archive section under November 16 to November 24, 2021. Giving thanks is a good thing for believers.   Psalm 92:1  A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:  This Psalm was one that was sung on the sabbath day. It's theme is that God should be praised for His righteous judgments on the wicked and that believers give thanks for His care and defense. Giving thanks to Jehovah is a good thing, an excellent activity for each believer to partake in.  Giving thanks to Jehovah is good for our happiness, good for our spiritual well being and good ...

God's will? Seek Him first in prayer.  Psalm 5:1-3  To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.  2)  Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.  3)  My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.  David wrote this Psalm and it is considered a morning Psalm of worship, a fresh meditation upon the previous evening Psalm.  At the conclusion of Psalm 4, David was happy, and lay down to sleep in the peace and love of his God.  He awoke on the following morning, and with his first recollections he meditated on the goodness and mercy of God. His happy reflections led David to call on God to give ear to his words and God’s promises which he had been pleading. He readily acknowledged that Jehovah was his God and King. He proclaimed his desire to pray to God with full assurance tha...

Here are the YouTube links to Pastor Alvis' recent Sunday sermons and his Wednesday evening message on contentment. Bob  

Here are the YouTube links to Pastor Alvis' Sunday School lessons on November 6 and October 30, 2022. He has been teaching us about how God speaks to us through His word. Bob  

Give thanks for Jehovah's deliverance. Psalm 30:1  A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David. I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.  This is another Psalm of King David and it was written when his royal residence in Jerusalem was finished. David had political enemies as well as military foes.  Though Samuel the prophet, anointed David as king to replace Saul, King Saul constantly tried to kill David, even though David loyally served Saul. This Psalm is an expression of David giving thanks to Jehovah, for the many instances when he was saved from Saul's hateful acts. King David gave thanks by extolling Jehovah. The word "extol" means to raise up Jehovah high for all to see, because He is praiseworthy.  David was ready to give thanks because Jehovah lifted him up out of his troubles. This is like letting down a bucket into a deep well to draw up much needed water.  Therefore, Davi...

Psalm 119:41,42  VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.  42)  So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.  This section of Psalm 119 begins with a prayer for the mercies of God to come into the Psalmist's heart. He was wearied and downcast, and in need of fresh mercy from God.  In other words, he was just like us and he relied on what he knew to be true of God. He will send new mercies every morning to those who put their trust in Him. Some mocked the Psalmist and said "There is no hope in God" while others scorned his love for God and urged him to live for self. The Psalmist's reply was that he trusted in Jehovah's eternal word.  A prayer to retain God's word in our minds and to speak it. Psalm 119:43  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.  We learned that we need an active faith, that pursues knowing ...