New Testament Bible Study by John Stanko

Ephesians Study 3: 3:7-4:6

Dear Student of the Word,

It's been two weeks since I sent you the last update from Ephesians, so it's time for the next one.  This week we continue to look at Paul's comments to his readers that pertained to who Christ is and what he would expect from their behavior.  As he began chapter four and his practical teaching in this letter, here are my comments on his remarks, with the entire week's study ready to download below:

4:1 – As mentioned earlier, you don’t have to be in prison to be a prisoner for the Lord.  You can be a prisoner to God’s purpose and grace in your life, doing what it is that He created you to do.  Here Paul shifted away from his theological teaching and emphasized more of the actions and attitudes that his theology should produce in the lives of the believers.  We should live a life worthy of and consistent with the high calling he described in the first three chapters.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does (James 1:22-25).

You can know it is right to be generous yet not give.  You may know it is right to serve, yet sit and watch television, not involved in the lives of those around you.  You can know a lot of things that you should do, but unless you do them, they are no benefit to you or others.

“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:17).

4:2 – Paul urged his readers to be gentle and humble.  It is always a decision to be humble and meek, but it requires the grace of God to actually be those things.  You decide that’s what you want to be, admit to God that you cannot achieve them on your own, and then invite God’s presence to develop those attitudes and behaviors in your heart and life. 

So then, it is safe to say that humility is part work and part grace. I can decide to humble myself, but true humility is God-given.  Why would Paul urge you to be patient and to bear with one another unless he knew you were going to need that exhortation and that you could do something about it?  People will always “step on your toes,” sometimes without realizing they have done so.  Your response must always to be gracious and forgiving.  Humility and meekness are greatly honored by the Lord, as seen in this story from the life of Moses:

"Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?" they asked. "Hasn't he also spoken through us?" And the Lord heard this. (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)

At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, "Come out to the Tent of Meeting, all three of you." So the three of them came out. Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the Tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them stepped forward, he said, "Listen to my words: "When a prophet of the Lord is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams.

“But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them. When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam—leprous, like snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy (Numbers 12:2-10).

4:3 – Unity with your fellow believers requires effort on your part.  You must work at it; it is not a gift of God.  And given the reality of verse two, the opportunities for disunity and offense are all too prevalent!  The Church is the only entity in the world that encounters the level of spiritual warfare that it does.  Why?  Because the “gates of hell” are attacking it!  Most people interpret Jesus’ promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church to mean that the gates of hell will not try to prevail.  That is not correct.  Hell will certainly attempt to prevail and that may lead to some very intense times where it is be hard to maintain unity.

How unified are you with other believers? What can you do to improve?  Are there any attitudes that you need to change to enhance your unity with others?  It is not a mark of spirituality that you are an independent thinker. It is a mark of carnality!

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse New Testament studies, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download Ephesians Study 3

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OPERATION CHICKEN COOP:  Two weeks ago I announced my latest effort to help orphans in Kenya and it is Operation Chicken Coop. The goal is to help orphanages raise chickens for food and revenue.  I outlined how we can do this in a blog post and have received about $300 of the $6000 needed toward the project. I just know that God is going to provide and He may use you to do so! You can give using the widget from Chipin on my Monday Memo or blog site. If I have the money by August 11, I can take it over with me and we can get started

THE SOPHIA FUND:  While you are at it. don't forget that I need your ongoing help for The Sophia Fund, which I use to feed orphans and widows. I cannot set up chicken farms for every orphanage, and there are still plenty of children in Kenya who eat one meal a day, if that. I have a separate widget for that cause as well on the Monday Memo site.  $10 came in for the Fund last week. Thank you again for your help.

RETURN TO KENYA:  I will be back in Kenya from August 16-18 to conduct another Investment in Excellence seminar in conjunction with The Pacific Institute.  This is a three-day seminar that changed my life when I attended it in 2004. Now I am a trained facilitator and want to share what I have with my friends in Kenya. The one I did in Nairobi last May was a tremendous success and this one promises to be bigger and better. It is not inexpensive, but the returns in your life and work are priceless. You can download the attached flier to find out more information and to read some of the testimonies of those who were present last May. Once you read, I urge you to register today so we can continue the work of changing Kenya one life at a time.

Ephesians Study 2: 2:6-3:6

Dear Student of God's Word,

It's been two weeks, so it is time once again for a lesson from God's Word. We started looking into Ephesians in our last study, and will have six Ephesians lessons in all. Each study has seven parts to it and this week I wrote in part two the following commentary:

2:10 – How do you know what works were created for you to do?  First, it requires that you know your purpose, which will give you an indication of the general area you works will be in.  Then you need to be aware and not self-absorbed.  In other words, pay attention to the needs of others as expressed through what they are saying. That means you have to deal with your selfishness and put your focus on other people, even at times when you don’t feel like your own needs are being met.

It is an awesome thing to think that God prepared the works for you to do and then helps you do them.  This is how much God wants you to succeed and please Him.  He is involved at every level of your spiritual walk and development. God prepared my good works beforehand for me to do.  What a great planner God is!  And that means that you have an important role to play in the economy of God.  He has set up things for you to do and He is counting on you to do them!  God can’t do these good works alone.  He sets them up and we do them.

Are you cooperating with His plan?  Are your good works being done with excellence and enthusiasm? 

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him (Philippians 2:12-13 NLT).

2:11&12 – Paul urged the Ephesians to remember that once they weren’t part of God’s family.  Once they were apart from the plan of God, but then they were adopted as sons and daughters. This was the focus of Paul’s ministry:  to bring the Gentiles into the same covenant relationship that was once only available to Jews.  Now you and I have that same privilege. Do you realize what God has done for you?  Do you realize that what was true for the Ephesians is also true for you?  Are you grateful for what God has done, or do you take it for granted? 

What has God done for you in the past that you need to remember today?  Why not write those things done as part of your journal for this study.  How can you establish more effective memorials to the work of God in your life?

One of them [ten lepers who were healed], when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.  Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:15-18).

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse New Testament studies, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download Ephesians Study 2

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OPERATION CHICKEN COOP:  I announced last week my latest effort to help orphans in Kenya and it is Operation Chicken Coop. The goal is to help orphanages raise chickens for food and revenue.  I outlined how we can do this in a blog post last week.  You can give using the widget from Chipin on my Monday Memo or blog site. If I have the money by August 11, I can take it over with me and we can get started

THE SOPHIA FUND:  While you are at it. don't forget that I need your ongoing help for The Sophia Fund, which I use to feed orphans and widows.  I cannot set up chicken farms for every orphanage, and there are still plenty of children in Kenya who eat one meal a day, if that.  I have a separate widget for that cause as well on the Monday Memo site.  Thank you in advance for your help.

Ephesians Study 1: 1:1-2:5

Dear Student of the Word,

I took a month off, but now I am ready to resume my biweekly New Testament Bible studies.  I am going back over some past studies to edit and revise their format, and I have chosen to start with Ephesians.  I will then move on to Philippians and Galatians.  When I finish those two, I plan to publish them, along with Colossians in a book entitled Prison Wisdom (since Paul probably wrote them while imprisoned). Along with this first of six Ephesian studies, I am including an outline and brief overview of the book and its historical context for you to enjoy.

This week, I wrote on part four of this seven-part study:

  1:13 – Did you realize that when God looks at you, He sees Jesus?  We are included in Christ!  That is why He forgives my sins and blesses me with every spiritual blessing.  When I put my faith in Christ, He also marked me with the God-housekeeping seal of approval—The Holy Spirit!  And this Holy Spirit was promised in the Old Testament. 

Just as those who receive a mark of the beast as described in Revelation, the believers also receive a “mark,” and that mark is the work of the Lord in each believer’s life that is carried out by God’s Spirit.  You are a marked man or woman!  You stand out because you have put your faith in Christ and you are sealed in His Spirit, which simply means that God is at work in you to conform you in the image of Christ as you enjoy eternal life in Him.

Most people are concerned for the mark of the beast as described in Revelation, but many don’t stop to think that they believers are also “marked.”  Do you bear the mark of faith?  Would someone looking at your life see your faith as active, vibrant and effective? 

1:14 – This Spirit is a down payment on the promises that will come to pass in the future.  Imagine that.  The Spirit in you is the deposit paid that guarantees God will do all that He said He will do.  You can take that to the bank!  That is one of the reasons why you need the Holy Spirit.  It is your pledge from God of the good things to come. 

Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (2 Corinthians 5:5).

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ (Romans 8:5-9).

1:15 – Paul had heard about the Ephesians’ faith and love.  Have people heard about your faith in God and your love for His people?  Do you have a reputation for faith and love?  If not, what changes can you make that will bring about this reputation?  We are sometimes too concerned that what we do will draw attention.  Forget about that for a season and try to outdo one another in faith and love.  What great churches we would have and what an easier time witnessing if we tried to have a public reputation for faith and love.

1:16 – When you build a reputation for faith and love, you create a prayer covering for yourself.  People give thanks for you and they pray for you.  When I give things away on my website, people write me to thank and bless me, and to let me know they are praying for me.  In part, that is because when I give away what I have received, I am building a reputation for love and faith.  Why don’t you join me and do the same in your own world with what you have to give?

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse New Testament studies, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download Ephesians Study 1

Download Ephesians Background

Download Ephesians Outline

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THE REVELATION PROJECT:  Today was to be the last day for my free shipping offer for my latest book, The Revelation Project:  A Fresh Look at the Last Book.  I am going to extend the offer one more week to Friday, July 9. 

You can check out the book price and a really cool video promo for the book on my website.

The Last Chapter! The Jude Study

Dear Student of the Word,

Well, here it is, the culmination of almost nine years of work.  This study from Jude's epistle is my last study since I have now finished every book in the New Testament.  I started in August, 2001, putting out a weekly study focusing on 3-4 verses every day and I just kept writing.  Now I have done a study for all 27 books.  I am so grateful to the Lord and to you, the reader, for your encouragement and support.  I feel quite a sense of accomplishment today.

This does not mean that this will end what I send you.  I will now begin to edit and recycle my past studies, starting with Ephesians.  I will continue to send you a study, but I am going to take the month of June off, so you won't hear from me again until July 1.

Jude's epistle is short, but powerful, focusing on evil men who had infiltrated the churches, actually ascending to leadership positions.  This week I wrote on day five of this seven-day study:

v. 16 – The leaders Jude was addressing had all kinds of problems, didn’t they?  Not only were they heretics, but they had bad character and expressed that character openly.  Jesus promised that we would know His followers by their fruit and these men had bad fruit.  This does not mean that a leader will ever be perfect; only Jesus was that.  Yet these men knew how to manipulate people to keep them under their influence and use words to promote themselves and flatter others.  I have watched that scene in modern times repeated over and over again, especially from those who make a living by traveling to churches and speaking.  They know how to “market’ themselves and flatter local leadership so they hopefully get a return invitation.

For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears (Acts 20:29-31).

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:15-16).

v. 17 – Jude’s remedy for this problem was to hold on to the apostolic tradition that was handed down to the people by the Lord’s apostles.  The same remedy holds for today.  You and I must also hold fast to that apostolic tradition, which was handed down to us through the Word of God.  What’s more, the Holy Spirit will help you know the truth as you read and study the Word.  I have talked to many people who talk themselves out of what they are sensing and what the Spirit was trying to show them. They sensed a situation was bad, but they ignored it or said, “No, that can’t be right” and proceeded down the wrong path.  Are you talking yourself out of anything that the Spirit and the Word are showing you?  Are you in a bad church situation where the leadership is manifesting bad fruit and you are afraid to do something about it? 

vs. 18&19 – The apostolic founders of the churches Jude was writing had been warned: They were told that Satan’s ploy would be the same over and over again.  He would attack the so-called leaders, trying to pervert them and their message.  Their goal would be to divide the flock around their own personality and insights and they would seek to divert attention from the Lord Jesus Christ onto themselves.  Their personalities would be the focus instead of the Lord.  If I am not mistaken, this is exactly what Satan himself tried to do, by making himself the focus and minimizing God.  So you can see, his tricks are not new, but they are certainly effective.  Jesus had promised:

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it (Matthew 16:18).

Just because hell won’t prevail does not mean it won’t try to prevail.  And the book of Revelation clearly outlines that the kingdom of darkness will try over and over again to overthrow God’s rule and destroy His people.  We know that God is always victorious, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be battles to endure.  Are you mindful of the continuous warfare in which you are engaged?  Do you know you cannot win this battle without total dependence on Him?  Do you also know that you may need to exercise courage and faith to confront evil, even if it is among those you love and respect? 

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional New Testament Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Philemon Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews, 1-3 John and Revelation, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download Jude’s Study

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KENYA:  I just returned from Kenya and had a great visit.  The training I did for The Pacific Institute was well received and we are planning another seminar in August.  I will give you some updates in the future on my visit and share more information about how you can be part of the next TPI seminar in August.

I also distributed 2500 sets of undies, 350 brassieres and $5000 from the Sophia Fund to feed orphans and widows.  All in all, it as a fabulous trip. Thanks for helping to make it happen.

Philemon Study

Dear Student of the Word,

I am off to Kenya later today, and wanted to get this study posted before I go. I know I have been inundating you with studies lately, and I promise this will stop soon. I am anxious to finish, for the next study will mean that I have competed the New Testament in this verse-by-verse format! In two weeks, you will receive the study for Jude and then I promise not to send anything in June to give you a chance to catch up.  In July, I will begin to recycle my older studies, starting with Ephesians.

This short letter to a man named Philemon has a fascinating subject, for Paul was urging Philemon to receive back his former slave Onesimus, who was now a believer!  This gives us great insight into Paul's view on slavery, for he did not urge Onesimus to return to his former life, but rather asked Philemon to receive the former slave back as a brother in the Lord.  This week I wrote on day three of this seven-day study:

vs. 8&9 – This verse introduces a most interesting concept.  Paul indicated that he could order Philemon to do what Paul was suggesting.  It was the right action where the former slave was concerned, and Paul was obviously within his appointed sphere to order Philemon to comply.  Yet Paul did not want to order Philemon; he wanted him to comply because he was motivated by love to do the right thing.  So Paul presented his case, but he stopped short of ordering Philemon to obey. 

This is such an important principle for both leaders and followers.  Leader should not be so quick to coerce, bully, order or direct followers to do the right things.  Even if the leader has right on his or her side, the goal should be willing and not forced compliance, and that not to the leader but to the will of God.  There is an old saying that goes something like this:

"A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still” – Sir Walter Raleigh.

Paul was older than when he first met Philemon and in prison for the gospel’s sake, so all he could really do was write and appeal to his disciple to do the right thing for love’s sake. 

This principle is important for followers to understand because God is not simply after compliance, but after a changed heart. God can force you to do His will, for He has that kind of persuasive power. Yet He wants you to be conformed to the image of Christ and do things from the heart because the love of God is in you, motivating you toward good deeds and right actions. 

If you are a leader, are you coercing people to do right things while ignoring their heart condition?  If you are a follower, are you allowing yourself to be coerced, allowing others to make your decisions because your heart isn’t right or because you are not seeking the Lord for yourself?

v. 10 – In this verse we see that the slave’s name who had fled from Philemon was Onesimus.  Paul identified him as a son, which probably means that Onesimus came to the Lord through Paul’s ministry while he was in prison.  Or perhaps Onesimus had erved Paul so faithfully that they had a close relationship, like father and son in the Lord. In this short letter, Paul was making a statement about a runaway slave who had escaped from a Christian master and who had become a believer.  The slave was returning to the scene of his escape and Paul was addressing how this redeemed slave – not redeemed in human terms but by the blood of Christ – was to be received and treated.  This is important because Paul has been criticized by modern commentators for not addressing the issue of slavery in his life and writing.

v. 11 – This slave was useless to Philemon, perhaps because he had been a poor worker or maybe because he had escaped.  Yet Paul indicated that Onesimus had value at that point both to Philemon and Paul.  Paul had a use for him in the ministry and that ministry obviously did not include Onesimus returning to his role as a slave, unless Philemon insisted on it.  By law, Onesimus was still the property of Philemon, unless Philemon would set him free.  This is an interesting scenario, don’t you think? 

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional New Testament Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews, 1-3 John and Revelation, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download Philemon Study

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OPERATION PETTICOAT: I leave later today with $5,000 for the Sophia Fund and $3,000 for Operation Petticoat, after we purchased 1,000 more sets of undies (You can read about my underwear project at Operation: Petticoat.)  I am toting 2,500 sets of undies and 550 bras to Kenya (I must pay excess luggage fees to transport them over to Nairobi; whatever I don't use to ship I will distribute in Kenya for feminine products). Thank you so much for your wonderful and generous response. 

It's not too late to give to help feed the poor in Kenya.  If you can send even $5 toward feeding an orphan, it will go a long way and be greatly appreciated. 

You can give through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Just let me know if your contribution is to be used for food or underwear and I promise to apply it where you direct.

Titus Study Three: 3:1-15

Dear Student of the Word,

I realize I sent you a study last week even though recently I have sent one every other week.  But I am anxious to finish this verse-by-verse project of the New Testament, and now I only have Philemon and Jude to complete and I'm done!  After that, I will begin to recycle past studies on a biweekly basis, starting with Ephesians.

In this last of three studies from Paul's letter to Titus, we look at the topic of sowing division after Paul told Titus to warn a divisive person and then have nothing to do with them if they don't repent:

  3:10 – Proverbs warns us of how God feels toward a divisive person:

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes,  a lying tongue,  hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers (Proverbs 6:16-19).

God is interested in those who promote harmony and peace and not those who stir up trouble in His body.  Are you a source of unity or division?  How do you know?  What kinds of things do you think could take place that would cause this dreaded division?  One of them is arguing about doctrinal issues that don’t contribute to holy and righteous living.

Paul instructed Titus to confront anyone who was contributing to division.  Titus was not to just leave it alone or ignore it.  It had to be dealt with “head-on.”  How are you when it comes to confronting someone with a bad attitude or wrong behavior?  Do you have the courage to speak your mind, without judging or assuming you are correct?   The latter is so you can still listen to the other person to insure you have the correct assessment of the situation?

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).

If the person ignores the rebuke, then that person is to be avoided and shunned.   This “shunning” can certainly be abused and applied for any manner of perceived or real sinful behavior.  The “shunning,” however, should only happen for those causing division, since contact with that person is spreading a virus that must be “quarantined.”

v. 11 – I am not sure what it means to be “self-condemned.”  Does it meant the divisive person knows they are doing wrong but continues to do it anyway?  Paul was blunt, however, that this person is warped, steeped in sin.  It is part of man’s fallen nature to create havoc in organizations and relationships by being selfish and argumentative.  We can believe we are expressing our individuality, but we simply contributing to a dysfunctional church or organization.

Are there any biblical examples of a man who sowed discord among brothers?

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches (Acts 15:36-41).

While John Mark was a great man and minister, he contributed to tension in the ministry team by departing, probably over an offense taken from the way his cousin Barnabas was treated. My goal is not to be a source of disunity in any organization in which I serve.  Is that your goal, too?

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional New Testament Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews, 1-3 John and Revelation, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download Titus Study 3

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OPERATION PETTICOAT: I went to the mailbox last Saturday and found almost $1,000 had come in for Operation Petticoat, which makes a total of $1,700 contributed toward the cause of underwear for my birthday. (You can read about my underwear project at Operation: Petticoat.)  I think we have all we need that will enable me to take 2,000 sets of undies and 550 bras to Kenya. Thank you so much for your wonderful and generous response.

I depart on May 13 and could still use some contributions toward the Sophia Fund, which we use to feed HIV/AIDS orphans and widows in Kenya.  If you can send even $5 toward feeding an orphan, it will go a long way and be greatly appreciated. 

You can give through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Just let me know if your contribution is to be used for food or underwear and I promise to apply it where you direct.

KENYA TRAINING:  I am delighted that peole are registering for The Pacific Institute (TPI) seminar I will conduct in Nairobi from May 17-19.  Attached below is the brochure for the event. Frankly speaking, TPI is the best training I have ever experienced and I love to share it with my friends. I invite you to join me in Nairobi for what I know will be a life-changing experience.

Titus Study Two: 2:1-15

Dear Student of the Word,

It's been a few weeks since you have received a Bible study, so it's time to catch up.  We have one more chapter to cover in Titus and then one study from Philemon and one from Jude and we are finished with our New Testament studies.  After we finish, I will begin to re-circulate some of my past studies until they are all on the blog site where this is posted.

This week we continue to look at Paul's instructions for Titus who had remained behind in Crete to set things in order in the church there.  This week I wrote on day five of this seven-day study:

v. 9 – Some read into this advice that Paul advocated slavery.  He did not.  He was powerless, however, to change it as one could be today with access to political action strategies.  What’s more, Paul was concerned for the Way and how it would be perceived by the dominant culture as we stated earlier, so he wanted believing slaves to model exemplary behavior toward their masters.

Whenever I encounter Paul’s instructions toward slaves, I tend to substitute the word “employee” for “slave.”  So the advice for moderns would be, “You employees, respect your supervisors and don’t talk back to them.”  Peter also gave advice to slaves/employees in his epistle:

Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:18-21).

v. 10 – Paul further explained that he wanted the church’s doctrine to be attractive to all, including masters. So he was not just interested in good public relations, but also in evangelism.  He wanted slaves to lead their masters to Christ!  Paul kept his eye on the prize at all times and the prize for him was seeing the Gentiles come to know the Lord.  So slaves were to be respectful and disciplined in speech. What’s more, they were not to steal and pilfer. 

I remember a time when I felt impressed to write my employer a $25 check to replace all the paper, paper clips, postage and other office supplies that I had carelessly used.  I had pilfered and stolen supplies that belonged to my company.  There is another way to steal from your company and that is through wasted time.  If you are being paid for work and are not working, then you are stealing.

Paul wanted slaves/employees to prove that they can be trusted without supervision.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving (Colossians 3:22-24).

So, what kind of employee are you?  How is your relationship with your supervisor(s)?  Do you give your best at work?  Do you act your best at work?  Would people there know that you are a Christian, not by what you say, but by what you do?  Do you want to be promoted based on what you know and your expertise rather than on your character and integrity?

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional New Testament Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews, 1-3 John and Revelation, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download Titus Study 2

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OPERATION PETTICOAT: You can read about my underwear project at Operation: Petticoat.  Speaking of creativity, I recently heard from a fascinating recycling organization called Bra Recyclers!  They are making a large donation to the cause and are promoting it aggressively. I am going back to Kenya on May 13, so I have set April 30 as my deadline to raise money to purchase underwear here and take it over there (which will cost me money for excess luggage).

You can give through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Just let me know if your contribution is to be used for food or underwear and I promise to apply it where you direct. As stated above, $700 came in last week for Operation: Petticoat and just a little for The Sophia Fund! Thank you for your help. 

KENYA TRAINING:  Last week I provided the specifics for The Pacific Institute (TPI) seminar I will conduct in Nairobi from May 17-19.  Attached below is the brochure for the event. Frankly speaking, TPI is the best training I have ever experienced and I love to share it with my friends. I invite you to join me in Nairobi for what I know will be a life-changing experience. 

Download Kenya TPI

Titus Study One

Dear Student of the Word,

This week we begin our short study of Paul's letter to his colleague, Titus.  Paul had left Titus behind when he left Crete and wanted Titus to set things in order and appoint elders.  We don't know much about Titus - who he was, where he came from and how he established a relationship with Paul.  We do know, however, that Titus was a tremendous blessing to Paul and the work of the gospel.  Paul was disturbed that some false teachers had emerged in Crete, as there had been in all the cities in which Paul labored.  This week I wrote in day five of this seven-day study:

v. 11 – Paul was not tolerant of anyone who did not adhere to the teaching that emanating from his ministry, for he knew that what he had he had received from the Lord Himself.  Today Paul would be portrayed as intolerant, perhaps the worst label that tolerant moderns can put on anyone!  Paul wrote that those of the “circumcision party” should shut up or be shut up. 

Those false teachers were ruining entire families.  That shows you the power of good or bad teaching. This is why teachers incur a stricter judgment as James wrote in his letter:

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check (James 4:1-2).

What’s more, these false teachers had a hidden agenda – they were after dishonest gain.  There is another saying that says, “Follow the money.”  When you followed the money in Paul’s day, it led to those false teachers.  This is not the only time Paul encountered those who were profiteering from perverting the gospel:

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God (2 Corinthians 2:17)

v. 12 – Paul was referring to those who were in Crete where he had left Titus to set things in order.  One of the Cretan prophets had given testimony about his own people.  His testimony indicated that his people were not a noble group, but had their cultural tendencies that only furthered the problem that Paul saw.  These Cretan false prophets had found a financial way to benefit from their erroneous interpretation of the gospel. 

Usually I resist any type of cultural stereotype, for there is no way that such a belief can be accurate for all – or so I thought.  But Paul here indicted Cretans in general and showed how s cultural flaw could impact the work of the gospel.  When you think of it, every culture would have a flaw or flaws, because every culture has emerged from sinful men working together to build cultural norms, habits and behaviors. The gospel came not only to change individuals, but also to change sinful cultural behaviors. 

This is why each believer must look to be transformed, for there are powerful internal and external forces that work to keep a believer from being conformed to the image of Christ.  Ask the Lord to show you where your culture may have shaped or be shaping your attitudes, thinking or behavior in a way that is contrary to the culture of the Gospel. 

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional New Testament Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews, 1-3 John and Revelation, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download Titus Study 1

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OPERATION PETTICOAT:  I announced plans two weeks ago to continue raising money for The Sophia Fund, the Deborah Foundation and a new program, Operation: Petticoat.  The latter is an effort to raise money for underwear for the young ladies in Kenya, who don't have any and consequently miss school because of it.  I know it may sound simple, but this is an important issue as evidenced by two emails I received this past week:

Just read about Operation: Petticoat.  It is so true about the underwear issue.  Most of the girls here don't wear bras and the panties are tattered.  It may seem strange to you but it is a big issue and the silly things are not cheap!  So little material but the price can be restrictive to kids who have little - J.M.

John, I think Operation: Petticoat is brilliant. Lack of underwear is a huge problem for girls and women in Africa and they are very grateful for any that can be sent. It doesn't matter if it is second hand as long as it is clean. Bras are particularly appreciated because they are harder to find and much more expensive. They are also necessary for older girls to be able to play sport. Women in developed countries don't know what to do with their older bras other than throw them away, and they could make such a difference. Children's clothes are also needed. Zimbabwe winter temperatures regularly go below zero at night.  Another vital necessity, which is out of reach for all but the best paid, is sanitary towels and tampons - S.F.

I am going back to Kenya in May, so we set April 30 as our deadline to raise money to purchase underwear here and take it over there.  You may not be passionate about underwear, but the two emails above speak to the urgency of the matter. 

You can give through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Just let me know if your contribution is to be used for food or underwear and I promise to apply it where you direct. $70 came in last week for Operation: Petticoat and $500 yesterday for The Sophia Fund, and I am trusting the Risen Christ for a lot more!  Thank you for your help.

2 and 3 John Study

Dear Student of the Word,

This week's focus is on two short letters written by John.  These two letters are only twelve verses each, but they both have some important things to say. They also give us some picture of what it was like as the early church developed and matured.  The early church was not without problems and that was what John tried to address in all three of his letters, which would have been written in his latter years.  This week I wrote on day six of this seven-day study (which you can download below):

3 John 5&6 – Gaius had been contributing to the Lord’s work by providing hospitality for God’s traveling teachers and apostles.  John commended Gaius for his support and urged him to send the messenger workers on in a way that was “worthy of God.”  How would you send God off if He was staying with you?  I would think in fine fashion with all His needs met and some provisions for His trip.  So you should do the same for those who represent God!  What’s more, the report of Gaius’ hospitality and support of the Lord’s work had spread to other churches.  Paul reported the same phenomenon and encouraged the saints to continue in good works because of how it stimulated others to their own good works.  I guess good behavior is contagious through the work and influence of the Holy Spirit!

v. 7 – Whoever went out to preach, teach and strengthen the churches, they did it with no help from the world, and they did it for God.  Notice John’s wording:  They did it for the sake of the Name.  God will test your motives when you do things that are related to His work.  Are you doing them for your own purposes or for the sake of His name and Word?  And what’s more, He will be the One to provide for you, whether through the saints, the pagans or through some unexpected source.   And He may never use the same source twice, just so your trust is always in Him.

v. 8 – What a novel idea: to work together for the truth!  That should be the goal in all our churches, missions committees, youth departments, and denominations. We should not only seek to debate the truth, study the truth, and learn the truth, but we should also work for the truth! What’s more, we should work together.  Where and how are you working with others for the truth of the gospel of Jesus?  What more can you do?

v. 9 – It is nothing short of amazing that a man named Diotrephes would have nothing to do with the apostle John who wrote this epistle.  John was with Jesus and had insight into the Word and work of God like few others, yet this man felt he knew better and shunned John!  Yet there were those who had no use for the apostle Paul either.  My point here is that you may or may not be celebrated by those with whom you work, but stay true to who God made you to be and what He sent you to do.  It is only after your work is done that people will celebrate your leadership. While you lead, they will usually criticize and complain!

v. 10 – This man shunned John, gossiped about him and refused to support and help those who were teaching the true faith.  He had his own agenda and thought he had insight that was contrary and superior to John’s!  If John had opponents, then be sure that you will have some as well if you seek to serve the Lord and stay true to His teaching and Word.

John promised that, if he came to that area, he would expose that pastor for who he was – someone who wanted to be first among all.  He was eager to be the leader and he was putting people out of the church who were trying to do the right thing to help those who were assisting God’s workers.  John, Paul, Peter and all of the men of God had to contend with false teachers and impostors as they worked in God’s vineyard.  You will have to do the same; just make sure you aren’t part of the problem!  Read what Paul told the Ephesian elders when he bid them farewell and you will understand the spiritual warfare that is part of all church work:

"Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears” (Acts 20:25-31).

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For further Bible study, my website archive contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews and Revelation, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download 2&3 John Study

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OPERATION: PETTICOAT: I had a great meeting with the folks who went with me to Kenya a few weeks ago.  They all shared what the Lord has been doing and saying to them since we came home.  Then we talked about what we can do to keep the momentum going to provide help to our friends and family over there.

We decided to keep raising money for the Sophia Fund and we also launched Operation: Petticoat, which is a project to purchase underwear for young girls who have none, consequently missing school and living in embarrassment as they enter their teen years. I am going back to Kenya in May, so we set April 30 as our deadline to raise money to purchase underwear here and take it over there.  You may not be passionate about underwear, but two separate ministries asked for help with this. And I received this email from a woman in Zimbabwe today:

Just read about operation petticoat.  It is so true about the underwear issue.  Most of the girls here don't wear bras and the panties are tattered.  It may seem strange to you but it is a big issue and the silly things are not cheap!  So little material but the price can be restrictive to kids who have little.

You can give through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Just let me know if your contribution is to be used for food or underwear and I promise to apply it where you direct.

1 John Study 5: 5:1-21

Dear Student of the Word,

This week we are one step closer to concluding our New Testament studies as I send along the final installment from John's first epistle. Your next study will focus on John's other two epistles and then we will move on to Paul's letter to Titus.  I am excited that these are coming to an end, the fruit of nine year's work!  Thank You, Lord!

This week I wrote on day five of this seven-day study, which you can download at the bottom of this entry:

5:13 – John wrote so that the readers would have confidence and assurance that they had eternal life.  There was to be no question, for anyone who puts his or her trust in the Lord Jesus has gained access to the blessings and grace of the Father.  They have eternal life!  Obviously someone was casting doubt on that truth and John wrote with the purpose of clearing up any and all confusion.  Those who have faith in Christ will live with Him forever!  That means anyone who does not have faith in Jesus will not enjoy the blessing of eternal union with the Lord.

Our role is not to debate whether or not this is true.  Our objective is to declare this truth to include as many people in the family of God as possible!  We are to invest anything we have to see the truth declared among the nations and ethnic groups of the earth.  This work is called missions work.

Missions work can take place at home or abroad, but it must take place. You must play some role in that work, whether you give, pray or go.  What are you doing to see the message of the gospel reach others who don’t know or have not heard?  What more can you do?  Do you see the urgency of this work, for if Jesus is the only way to the Father, then that is the good news that must be preached and broadcast?  This is why the early church was so passionate about declaring that Jesus was the Way!

In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off (Acts 13:1-3).

5:14 – God hears you when you pray, not because you are praying properly or by the correct formula, but because Jesus has paved the way for you to be heard.  God hears you because of the work Jesus did.  When you pray in Jesus’ name, it isn’t a formula, but rather a reality. You come to the Father and He hears you because of Jesus.  He answers your prayer so that Jesus may be glorified and the work of the Son verified as heaven’s choice and favor.

Do you realize what John wrote here?  When you pray, the Father hears you!  Whether or not you get the answer you like, whether or not it feels like He hears you, the truth is that He hears you.  You accept that in faith and you pray and keep on praying.  The less you feel like He hears, the more fervently you should pray.  Jesus told this parable and asked a question at the end.  How would you answer that question for your own life and family? If Jesus returned today, would He find faith in your “world”?

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' " And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:1-8).

5:15 – If God hears, then God grants.  That is why you can pray and thank God for your prayer being answered before you see it answered:

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).

Are you regularly asking God for the same thing, or at some point do you begin to thank Him for what you asked?  This isn’t forcing or manipulating God into answering your request.  It is a relationship with Him that enables you to know you were heard and then to thank Him for the answer.  Does that make sense? 

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For further Bible study, my website archive contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews and Revelation, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download 1 John Study 5