You Are Invited!

 Would you join me for a Facebook Bible Study on Heaven and Hell?

On Sunday, February 2 I am beginning a 6 week Bible study on the topic of Heaven and Hell. The goal of the study is to dig deeper into what the Bible says about each topic.

Are you interested? If so, you can join me by signing up here.

Below are some common questions people have had about the study:

How do I complete the readings?Once in the private Facebook group, you'll get notifications when new readings are posted (usually Sundays and Thursdays). You can log in on your own schedule, complete the reading and answer the posted question. I would also encourage you to sign up for email reminders whenever a new reading is posted. You can sign up for that email list here. 

What do I need for the group?

Nothing. Everything is provided in the private facebook group.

How much does it cost?

Nothing. It's free. 

What is the study based on?

The study is based on my new book Heaven & Hell: Are They Real?, which comes out this next month. I'm drawing the readings and background information from that book, but you don't need it to participate.

What are the rules?

1. Participate

2. Be respectful

3. Honor one another above yourselves.

4. Be open.

Other than that, let's learn together. The philosophy of this group is to encourage Christian growth by reading the Bible together. As long as you fit that goal, you are welcome in the group.

Where do I sign up?

Sign up by requesting to join the group here.

What do you believe?

That short question has a long answer. Here you go.

Who is Jesus?

While reading  Colossians in our ongoing Facebook Bible study, I was struck with how many descriptions of Jesus Christ are found in chapter 1. Here's a partial list which I made a week or so ago:

• Jesus is our  deliverer (1:13)
• Jesus is the one who transfers us into God's kingdom (1:13)
• Jesus is our redeemer (1:14)
• Jesus is the visible image of God (1:15)
• Jesus is the firstborn of all creation (1:15)
• Jesus is the creator (1:16)
• Jesus is the great sustainer (1:17)
• Jesus is the head of the Church (1:18)
• Jesus is the fulness of God (1:19)
• Jesus is the source of peace (1:20)
• Jesus is the great reconciler (1:21-22)
• Jesus is the one who makes Christians holy (1:22)
• Jesus is our source of hope (1:27)
• Jesus is the source of all lasting treasure (2:2-3)

Read Colossians 1 for yourself here. 

The Facebook Bible study currently has over 16,000 members. We're having a great time reading through books of the Bible (currently Romans)! Learn more about it here.

Romans: An Introduction

January 23 Update: Broadcast is complete. You can watch the archived version by scrolling below.
---Original Post---
Are you apart of our Facebook Bible study on Romans? (If not, you should check it out!)

Whether or not you are formally part of this study, I think you will enjoy our 30 minute overview of the Bible's book of Romans.

On Thursday, January 23 @ 2pm (Chicago time), I will host a live video overview of this Bible book. Please RSVP if you are able to make the live event. 

(You can RSVP by clicking this link and pushing the blue RSVP button on the right hand side of the screen)

If you have trouble with the RSVP or can't make the live event, simply click the link and join whenever you can. The link will also bring you directly to the archived version so you can still get the benefits of the video study on your own timetable.

I'm looking forward to studying the Word with you!
ARCHIVES--PREVIOUS BROADCASTS
BIBLE BOOK STUDIES

Genesis, part 1

Genesis, part 2

Exodus 

Mark

John, part 1
John, part 2
Galatians
Romans 

TOPICAL STUDIES

The Bible: 100 Ways It Can Change Your Life

The 8 Topics Jesus Taught on Most Often

The Bible Overview: Understanding the Bible in 20 Minutes!

Make Reading a Priority

"Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. The Scriptures train God’s servants to do all kinds of good deeds." 2 Timothy 3:16–17 (CEV)

The Bible is as outdated as God is. If we believe God is an ancient superstition—the creation of primitive, unenlightened people—we can write off the Bible as a collection of myths and religious nonsense.

If, on the other hand, we believe God is a living being—and one to be reckoned with—we cannot dismiss the Bible as a relic from another time. The apostle Paul explained why: “Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live” (2 Timothy 3:16).

The Bible is God’s instruction to us. It contains everything he wants us to know about him, his work, and his plans for us. It is as active and viable today as he is. If we claim to follow him, we need to know his Word. But getting to know it takes time and effort. For best results, remember these four Ps.

Priority

Studying God’s Word is the key to growing as a Christian. As followers of Christ, we’re all connected. We rely on one another. We work together as one unit to follow God’s instruction. The Bible calls this unit of Christians the “body” of Christ. If one of us doesn’t grow, we handicap the entire body.

Purpose

We can’t simply open the Bible to a random page and expect to understand its meaning. A better strategy is to approach Scripture with a specific aim in mind. For example, we may choose to read the book of Genesis to get a sense of how things got started. Or we may choose to read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to familiarize ourselves with Jesus’ life. 

Prayer

Before we open the Bible, we should ask God for three things: a clear head, so we can block out distractions; an open heart, so we can be receptive to his words; insight, so we can understand truths far beyond the limits of our IQs.

Permanence

With so many things constantly vying for our attention, there’s a good chance that whatever we learn from the Bible today will be a distant memory by the time tomorrow rolls around. That’s why it’s vital to keep a written record—a journal—of our Bible investigations.

This article is reprinted from The Bible: 50 New Ways it can Change Your Life and used by permission. This special edition magazine is on sale during the winter and spring of 2014 at grocery stores, gas stations, check out aisles within the United States.

Bible Study (Open Enrollment!)

Would you like to join me in a Facebook Bible Study?  

Our approach is to read 5-minute readings (three times a week) and reflect on what God might be teaching us through each reading. Study will last about 3 weeks.

Yes! How do I sign up?

These studies happen in a private Facebook group so that we get to know each other and can share more freely. By filling out the form below, I'll  invite you to one of the groups with a private link. You'll follow that link and join the group. Sign up below. 

How do I complete the readings?

Once in the private facebook group, you'll get notifications when new readings are posted (usually Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays). You can log in on your own schedule, complete the reading and answer the posted question. I would also encourage you to sign up for email reminders whenever a new reading is posted. You can do that here.

What do I need for the group?

Nothing. Everything is provided in the private facebook group.

How much does it cost?

Nothing. It's free. 

What is the study based on?

The study is based on my new book Navigating the Bible. I'm drawing the readings and background information from that book, but you don't need a copy to participate.

What are the rules?

1. Participate

2. Be respectful

3. Honor one another above yourselves.

4. Be open.

Other than that, let's learn together. The philosophy of this group is to encourage Christian growth by reading the Bible together. As long as you fit that goal, you are welcome in the group.

Where do I sign up?

Sign up by requesting to join the group here.

What do you believe?

That short question has a long answer. Here you go.

You Can’t Halfheartedly Serve God

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9)

Devotion is the word we use to describe a short Bible study and discussion, like the one we’re having now. But the word devotion also refers to the attitude that drives us to seek God.

To be devoted means to be dedicated. And in this verse, David is telling his son Solomon to wholeheartedly dedicate himself to God. King David knew that you can’t halfheartedly serve God.

And when we do serve God with wholehearted devotion, God will reward us. When we make him the focus of our lives, he will bless us. That’s his promise. The more devoted we become, the more he blesses us.

To devote your life to God means that you live completely for him. It means that you live your life to please and honor him. You seek him, worship him and love him—with your whole heart.

Dear God, you are the only one who deserves our wholehearted devotion. Help us clear the obstacles in our lives that keep us from being wholeheartedly devoted to you. Amen.

This devotion was written for Once a Day: At the Table Family Devotional. This is a family-oriented devotional book written by my writing team & me. Reprinted with permission.

Video Collections

Here are a collection of Spreecast Videos on a single page.

TOPICAL STUDIES WHO IS GOD? WHO IS JESUS? HEAVEN & HELL: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? BIBLE OVERVIEW: 8 Topics Jesus Taught on Most Often 100 Ways the Bible Can Change Your Life, Part I GOOD FRIDAY REFLECTIONS BOOK BY BOOK BIBLE STUDIES GENESIS, part 1 GENESIS, part 2 EXODUS MARK JOHN, PART 1 JOHN, PART 2 ROMANS GALATIANS