Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

This chapter began with Jesus' disciples quarrelling among themselves about which one would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Our Lord rebuked their pride and taught them that  child like faith and humility is required to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus used a little child to illustrate this truth to His disciples. We are born sinners, and we live in a world corrupted by sin.  Therefore, sin or "offenses" will come but God will judge those who seek to stop or hinder gospel preaching. There are many temptations around us and by teaching us that we should pluck out our eye, Jesus showed that we must guard what goes into our heart and minds. He followed this up by teaching the Parable of the Lost Sheep because this parable teaches us about the love of God and His heart to seek and save all lost sinners. The next section deals with what to do when a brother sins against us and leads us into the topic of church discipline. Jesus teaches us what to do when a brother...

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.  An index for all lessons was posted in 2025 was posted on January 24, 2026. Below you will find links to the YouTube channel of the church we attend, Heritage Baptist Church, in Smithville Ohio. Pastor Michael Alvis is my Pastor, a dear brother in Christ and a close, personal Christian friend. The links will include Pastor's sermons and lessons preached during January 2026. Some sermons are audio only and others are livestreams from our church.  I highly recommend Pastor Alvis' sermons and lessons to you. He ha...

In Matthew eighteen, we read about the disciple disputing among themselves about who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. This was an issue of pride and Jesus strongly corrected their wrong thinking. He used a little child to remind them that they needed trust and faith like a child has in his or her parents. Then, Jesus looked forward, anticipating their future apostolic ministry and used the children to teach a great truth. Unbelievers and sinners would reject the message of the gospel about salvation through repentant faith in Christ. Some would subject the apostles to aggressive verbal abuse while others would physically assault them. In both instances, any person rejecting or hindering gospel preaching, or who physically harm Christ's apostles, will be subject to severe judgment. These truths about ministers of the gospel and the hardships they face are compared with those who harm a little child. God will hold them to account. This next paragraph is known as the Pa...

Our pride must give way to a child like faith and dependency upon God. Matthew 18:4-6  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  5  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.  6  But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Jesus had a little child stand in their midst to teach His disciples about meekness, dependency on the Father, true humility and simple faith required for entrance into His kingdom. While using a little child to illustrate His point, Jesus turned from dealing with the disciple's pride and argumentative spirit, to their future ministry. Jesus was preparing them for their future ministry as His apostles, through whom the gospel would go forth beginning at Jerusalem. They would encounter people who reject their...

This chapter begins with Jesus' disciples arguing among themselves about who would be the greatest of them in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus brought their sinful pride into the light so that He could address it.  He was very blunt, saying unless your heart is humble like a child, before God and man, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Thus, Jesus used a little child to illustrate this truth and to show His disciples that they must be converted or turned away from pride to Christ. Jesus compared His disciples to little children who will go forth preaching the gospel of the kingdom to the world. Those who receive them and heed the message will be blessed. Those who reject Christ, ignore the gospel and live for self will suffer judgment. Those who actively hinder preachers of the gospel or who intend to harm them, will suffer severe judgment. Jesus speaks about sin in the next paragraph and in context, it seems that He is speaking about those who  seek to entice Christians into...