Bible Study

December 24, 2025

John 1:1 – 5 (CSB)

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.”

“When the Light Shines the Darkness Disappears”

Light and darkness cannot exist at the same time. One little match can light the path of a traveler, it can light up a room, it will dispel darkness.

John is telling us the when Jesus came into the world He brought light. Life was the light of men. As celebrate Christmas in 2025 we must remember the reason Jesus came. He came to bring light. Darkness prevailed until his arrival.

The old kingdoms and empires  of the world were corrupt and the Roman empire that existed when Jesus was born may have been one of the most corrupt causing Herod to kill all the baby boys under two years of age. Each of the previous empires were wicked.

Light of the world is exactly who Jesus is and that is the reason we celebrate His birth. But it is so much more that he did for us. Darkness is gone and light has come – celebrate the birth of the newborn King on a daily basis.

God Bless and Merry Christmas.  

Bible Study

Luke 1:26 – 35 (NKJV)

26 “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”

These are familiar words to the church at Christmas time. Maybe we should read them other times of the year.

The importance of the virgin birth cannot be overstated.

 Both Matthew and Luke expressly say that Mary was a virgin. Mary through supernatural means conceived by the Holy Spirit. The testifies to both His deity and His sinfulness. “Rejoice favored one” is a term we find in Ephesians 1:6 where it is translated “bestowed” portraying Mary as a recipient of divine grace.

The angel said to Mary “Do not be afraid” the same thing Gabriel said to Zacharias. Gabriel says to Zacharias “you’re son will be great” but to Mary “Son of the Most High.” Since a son bears his father’s qualities, calling aa person someone else’s “son” was a way of signifying equality. Here the angel is telling Mary her son would be equal to the “Most High.”

The angel knew the heart of Mary because as you remember when Zacharias questioned Gabriel he was struck silent because he questioned. Mary did not question what she said was not borne out of doubt but out of wonder.

The amazing immaculate conception. God Bless.

Bible Study

December 22, 2025

Isaiah 9:6 – 7a) NKJV

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end,”

“Prince of Peace”

Isaiah was an Old Testament prophet who teaches so much about the coming of the Messiah. His clarity is remarkable and is quoted more often than any prophet. The events that he prophesized about occurred between the dates of 742 and 681 BC.

He said a child was to born. I mentioned yesterday in my morning message that Jesus was only born to Mary but He was born to everyone who has lived. He was given to “us” as Isaiah said in the scripture above. Just give some thought to the impact of that statement on all mankind.

When Isaiah speaks of the government being “upon His shoulder” he is referring to His second coming associated with His millennial Kingdom. Once the church is raptured and the living and those who died as Christ Followers will be taken up to heaven to spend eternity with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit along with all the saints who have gone before us. Satan will be cast into the fiery pit (as described in Revelation) and Jesus will rule along  all the believers during a thousand year rule upon the earth.

We are told He will be “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Here we see the “near” and the “far” as it appears often in the Old Testament prophecy because Jesus was born over two thousand years ago as a child but the government of the universe will be placed “on His shoulders.” This will happen when the coronation of the King of Kings and Lord of lords in the millennium.

God Bless.

Bible Study

December 19, 2025

1 Thessalonians 4:14 – 15 (CSB)

14 “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.”

“Taken Away”

Many people believe Jeus was a real person and we who believe have faith in His Word. Paul is saying “if we believed”. The crux of Christianity was born of a virgin, lived on this earth for thirty-three years, healed people, forgave sin, died on a cross, shed His blood and in three days he rose again (in bodily form) ate with His followers and rose to be with God our and His Father.

It takes for faith for an atheist, the agnostic to not believe in God. Faith after all is trust in the unseen. A basic element is believing in what isn’t fully visible or proven, like God’s promises or a future outcome.

Paul says if we believe then we believe He is returning as He promised, the dead will be raised up, the living at the time will join Him and those dead  (asleep) in Christ and the church will be raised up into heaven. This is the rapture of the church. See some references in John 14:1-3 and 1 Corinthians 15:51 – 58.

If we want to experience this new life in Him then we must believe and accept His offer of forgiveness while we are still alive. There is no such thing as “praying” people into heaven. The sole way to join is to be forgiven of the sin in our lives by making a personal decision.

Many people do not understand the ‘rapture” of the church since the word “rapture” does not appear in the scriptures. But there is strong evidence of the Jesus return and those who sleep will be raised and along with those who are alive will be taken up into heaven where our fate is sealed for eternity.

God Bless.

Bible Study

December 18, 2025

1 Thessalonians 4:13 (CSB)

“We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.”

“Grieve What?”

“Those who are asleep” is a common term for those who have died in scripture. It is a euphemism for death which describes the appearance of the deceased.

It describes the physical body not the soul of man. Sleep is used of the daughter of Jarius (Matt. 9:24) whom Jesus raised from the dead. It also describes Stephen who was stoned to death (Acts 7:60, 7:39, 2 Pet. 3:4).

Those who sleep are identified as asleep in Christ. The people of the day thought that if a person had died they would miss the Lord’s return and they were grieved over their absence at His glorious return. Revelation explains this to us in wonderful detail.

There is no reason to grieve the death of a believer. We miss them but they are eternally secure in God’s presence. Zig Ziglar who lost his daughter to death was asked if he would like her to come back? His response was “Oh No.” He goes on to say she is far better off where she is.

There is no doubt we miss those who have passed away and sometimes we try to ease the pain by some of the terms we use. But rest assured as we sleep at night they who slept before us and died as a believer would not trade places with any of us. Sleep in Jesus is simply falling asleep on earth and waking up in paradise. People may try to tell you something different but I am telling you what scripture teaches.

God Bless.

Bible Study

December 17, 2025

1 Thessalonians 4:8 – 12 (CSB)

“Spirit Led?”

8 “Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 9 About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. 10 In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers and sisters in the entire region of Macedonia. But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more, 11 to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.”

God gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us. We can be led by His Spirit or we can choose our way. He does give the Spirit to us to help us on our daily walk. If you were to ask anyone who has served the Lord for any number of years they will tell you to follow the Spirit.

The Spirit is the One who will lead us into love. He can help us love anyone, which is something we cannot do on our own. To be honest there are just some people who are hard to love that is why we need His help.

Paul refers to one who dose not present social problems or generate conflict among others. When we live that kind of life then our soul rests even in the time of difficulty. When we live in peace with all men then we can mind our own business. One way to mind our own business is to work. Paul mentions work with your own hands which is a great lesson for us today in a society that awaits their next hand out without “working with their hands.”

The term “outsiders” here refers to non-Christians who watch our every move. We should watch our every move to be a witness for Jesus.

God Bless.  

Bible Study

December 16, 2025

1 Thessalonians 4:4 – 7 (CSB)

“Our Calling From Sin”

4 “That each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don’t know God. 6 This means one must not transgress against and take advantage of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you. 7 For God has not called us to impurity but to live in holiness.”

Some versions of this scripture uses the term “vessel” to describe one’s own body. Even in Ruth 4;10 and 1 Peter 3:7 it could mean “wife.” It is used here as “body” which one possesses. Paul is speaking to all people here.

Paul is speaking here to both men and women to stay pure. Do not allow yourself to be drawn away into sin. One must be vigilant to maintain their purity since there are so many forces drawing us away.

We are called to care for one another not to take advantage of others. We are not to be avengers in this world. To often human beings want to get back at another for something that occurred in their life. Paul is calling us to do just the opposite. People when caught in sexual immorality will see their partner do the same to “get even.” We are not the ones to bring justice God is the one who will ultimately work out all things including justice. Thank God for mercy.

In scripture when we see the term ‘called us’ it a reference to being called into a saving relationship with Jesus, it is linked to justification, nothing else.

God Bless.

Bible Study

December 15, 2025

1 Thessalonians 4:1 – 4 (CSB)

“His Will is Sanctification”

“Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God—as you are doing—do this even more. 2 For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality, 4 that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor,”

Paul wrote with the authority of Jesus Christ. Here he is appealing to the fact of his authority. How do we please God? We please Him by keeping His commands. What are His commands? We find them throughout scripture. We can begin with the Ten Commandments and go from there but all trough scripture we find His guidelines.

There are many people today who do not believe we should follow the law as it was given to Moses. But honestly, that is the beginning. We know the commands He has given us but there are some we do not like and do not follow. But to be frank, honest, blunt, and candid we have no choice if we want to live a life set apart from the leading of our desires. God’s Word contains His will.

His will includes salvation, self-sacrifice, submission, Spirit filling, suffering, satisfaction, settledness, and sanctification. It is here Paul speaks of sanctification. It literally means being set apart from sin to holiness, In the present context Paul is referring to sexual impurity which can come in many forms. It can be fornication, adultery, pornography and there could be many others.

The point Paul is making is one being aware of the temptations that cause us to fall His perfect will. Be vigilant in our daily walk, in where we go, what we watch. We must be willing to stand against the desires of our flesh which draws us away from God.

God Bess.

Bible Study

December 10, 2025

1 Thessalonians 3:12 – 13 (CSB)

“He’s Coming”

12 “And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you. 13 May he make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Amen.”

A quick search of New Testament phrases shows us “one another’s” is used thirty times. Most frequently we find it associated with the word ‘love.’ Love is the key to all in the scriptures from God first loving us to us loving those who persecute us. It all started with God and He handed it down to man.

We are to love the unlovely, those caught in sin, those who support issues and ideas we do not. Love is all encompassing without compromise. Easy, not in all cases but God loves us unconditionally no matter who we are.

Along with love we are to pursue peace with all men, do good towards all, pray for others, and show consideration and aid when it is needed. Seems like a big task but it all  begins with the decision to love one another.

Paul prayed that our hearts would be without blame as we serve God. We will stand before God in a holy state and we can start by living a holy life while we serve Him on this earth.

The coming of the lord in this reference refers to the rapture of the church when Jesus returns for His bride (the church). At that moment the church will rise with Jesus to its eternal home in heaven. That event, although long awaited is closer than it was yesterday.

God Bless.