The Bible Appreciation Club

Attention to All Christians:

• Do you ever wish to have a Bible Group discussion.
• Do you want to hear what other people think of certain passages.
• Do you want to study the word.

Well if the answer is yes, come one, come all to a club which is focused on the study of the Bible.  If you a passage that you want to talk about or have questions about, submit them here and we'll have a pow wow about them.  All are welcome.

To anyone who want's to start discussion on a particular verse may they do so. 

Until then God Bless.

Verse of Discussion: 1 Peter 3:9

"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." (NIV)

For the past few weeks I have been studying verses that told us how to respond as Christians to persecution in regards to our faith.  This verse caught me because the apostle Peter tells us simply that our calling in Christ is not to repay evil for evil( or we are not called for revenge); but instead we are called to bless all, those who love us as well as those who hate us.  This also reflects God's attitude toward us all, He loved us, even though we were sinners, but He sent Christ to die on the cross.  That same kind of love we should apply in our lives, since as Christians were are representatives for Christ.

If you have any comments, feel free to reply and we'll discuss it or if you have a verse you want to discuss we can do that too. 

Until then God Bless.

 

Thanks, for the comment Didymus. I agree that it's odd that God uses some of the most unexpected people to do his work. For example David was a shepherd boy and he was made King of Israel and there was the apostles who all had their quirks and problems, yet God had the Holy Spirit dwell in them and they preached the Gospel to the Roman World. Only comes to show you that God does not look at the outside appearance but at the heart does God look at.
Until then God Bless.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:43-45- "You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.  He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

It is human nature to hate our enemies.  However thanks to Christ's sacrafice on the cross we have overcome this nature.

As it is written in Proverbs 25:21-22 and Romans 12:20 - "If your enemy is hungry, feed him: if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

By showing love and caring for your enemy, you may show the love of God.  And with this love it will plant a seed that might make your enemy into a brother in Christ.

In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul tells us- " But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, paitience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law."

Also in Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul adds,"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Because of our faith in Christ we are made into new creatures, putting to death all the evils that come with being human.  In regards to the pending war, we should pray for the people that we have war with and pray that God's mercy will be placed on them.

God bless.

 

Verse of Discussion: Proverbs 3:3-4

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." (NIV)

Love and faithfulness are key themes in the Bible.  God wants us to be faithfull and show and have love.  To love not just God but all mankind(friend and foe) and nature as well for everything that God created is good; we must love as God loved us even though we were imperfect and sinfull.  God also calls us to be faithfull, to follow God's commands and statutes and to obey His will faithfully and with total commitment; just as God was faithfull to keeping His promise of salvation to all mankind through His Son Jesus Christ.  Before men, these two qualities are precious, but it is better to seek God's praise then man's in this matter.

Feel free to comment or talk about this verse.

Until then God Bless

Verse of Discussion: Matthew 5:9

" Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God"(NIV)

One of the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us that those who make peace are blessed and that they would be called sons of God.  There is a difference between making peace and being a pacifist.  A pacifist is someone who would avoid a conflict and use a method of appeasement, for example that's what Europe did to Hitler just before they started WWII.  A peacemaker on the other hand would face the conflict at hand and try to resolve whether through negotiation or war if neccesary.  I write this considering the war that's happening in Iraq, in order to bring peace and to prevent the harm of millions, war is neccesary to make peace.  Feel free to comment on either the verse or my interpretation of the verse.

Until then

God Bless

Verse of Discussion: Ezekiel 18:4

"For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son- both alike belong to me.  The soul who sins is the one who will die."(NIV)

This verse gave me some clear perspective about how I should run my life.  In truth we don't belong to ourselves, but we belong to God, for He is our creator.  However, it is up to us whether or not we acknowledge Him or not, we acknowledge Him when we walk in His commands and obey His will and to trust(in faith) God with total dedication.

By not doing this and claiming that we are the ones in control, we sin against God and our soul will die, meaning total separation from God, just imagine that: Total Separation From GOD.  But thanks be to God, that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross, so He offered a way to reach Him and not be separated from Him.

Special Note:

Most of these verses that I post come from my daily study of the Word of God.  I usually read a verse/verses/chapter/chapters and write down summaries in a study journal.  Right now, I want to challenge you, here are some verses that I intend to read, please if you could, read them also and post them on the thread so we could talk about it.

Verses:

• 2 Corinthians 8:21
• Psalm 112:5,9
• Psalm 14:7
• Romans 13:1-2,4
• Romans 12:18

I don't want this club to be one sided with one point of view, I want multiple views so that we can all expand our understanding of the Word.

Until then God Bless

 

 

Verse of Discussion: Hebrews 6:11-12

"We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.  We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." (NIV)

We must follow the example given to us in the Word of God.  For the stories of certain people serve as a model for us to follow.  The Bible instructs us live our lives in faith and patience.  Patience in regard to persecution, hardship, discouragement, and all the temptations that Satan throws at us.  We must be diligent and persevere in our faith and patience to show our hope in Christ is true.  A good example of one who lived in faith and patience is Abraham.  God promised him that he would have a son through Sarah and make him a great nation.  Abraham waited patiently and in faith knowing that God never breaks His promises; and in the end God gave him a son in Abraham and Sarah's old age.  Abraham had patience and faith in God, likewise we should live our lives in faith and endure persecution with patience, with hope of the promise of Christ's return to redeem His people.

Feel free to have a comment on this verse, and if have a verse that can go well with it, don't be shy to share.

Until Then God Bless

Well, Alabare, to answer your questions, this is what I found out during the reading of my study Bible. In regards to 2 Kings 4:35, the number seven is considered a blessed number, it usually is used to signify completeness, like when God made the earth in six days and rested on the seventh having completed everything. Apparently the boy sneezed seven times to indicate that everything was complete, the number seven is used alot in the Bible as a symbol of completeness, that's best I could make of it.
Now in regards to the sitting in fifties in Luke 9:14, Jesus was setting them up in formation as the Israelites were in formation during the time of Moses. As it is written in Exodus 18:21, the judges that Moses selected were meant to minister over the thousands, hundreds, FIFTIES, and tens. Jesus probably did this so that the people may recall those times. That's the best answer I got. Does anyone have a better one.
Until Then God Bless

To Didymus, I admit, Sarah and Abraham weren't that paitient because Sarah gave he hand maiden Haggar to Abraham to have children through her. I guess the right word I should have used was trust in God's promise, I don't know about Sarah, but Abraham have faith that God would fullfill His promise and as it is written in Hebrews 11:11 "By faith Abraham even though he was past age- and Sarah herself was barren- was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise." It took many years for God's promise to Abraham to be fullfilled, but Abraham had faith, and that faith brought forth paitience. We must always remember to persevere in our faith.
Until then God Bless

Verse of Discussion: Galatians 6:7

"Do not be decieved: God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows." (NIV)

A simple verse, the apostle Paul warns us that God can't be treated lightly and that we should not fool ourselves into believing that we are unaccountable for our actions.  For everything that we do has a consequence to it either good or bad.  If we sow sin we will reap death and if we reap righteousness through faith we sow salvation and grace.  This verse reminds me that whatever deed I do, whether selfish or selfless or righteous or out of pride and arrogance, there will be consequences to those actions.

If you have any comments feel free and we'll have discussion.

Until then God Bless

To All Christians:

I'm putting a challenge to all of you.  I set up this club so that there would be some discussion on the Bible.  So far I have appreciated the input.

However, I would someone else to bring some Bible verses on the floor beside myself.  In my view, a one way Bible discussion is unproductive.  I would like everyone to please feel free to put either your favorite verse or a verse you have a question about or a verse that really touches your heart.

I'm going to put down some Bible verses I intend to study, feel free to study them also and if you find something that you like to discuss do so:

• Romans 8:9
• Luke 6:38
• 1 John 4:9-11
• 2 Thessalonians 1:11

I looked forward to hearing from you all

Until then God Bless

Verse of Discussion: Romans 8:9

"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is not his."  (KJV)

Because of our faith in Christ we have become new creations, our bodies have been renewed by the purifying of the Holy Spirit.  With this we are no longer motivated by the ways of the flesh(selfishness, greed, imorality, etc.) but are motivated by the ways of the Spirit of Christ(goodness, obedience to God's Will, love for all and so on).  Now we can tell which of those people who are not Christ's by the deeds that they do, for their deeds reflect what their spirit is like (that of flesh or of Christ).  If the Spirit of Christ dwells in us we belong to Him, and it can be shown through our deeds that we do through faith.  If the Spirit of Christ is not in us  then we are not His and we can tell based on the deeds motivated by the flesh.

If you have any comments or questions feel free to discuss.  By the way, if you noticed I used a KJV translation instead of NIV, I'll be using a couple of different translations, so if you want to show a different translation of this verse or other, feel free to do so. 

Until Then God Bless