In Cotext Bible Studies

The Bible is so much more than a book of rules.

To operate any vehicles or machines like cars, trucks, motorcycles or even an airplane you must study the operations manuals and pass rigorous tests before you get a license to operate, and that is just for the luxury of operating it! If you want it properly maintained, then the manufacturers maintenance instructions must be followed for best results.

The Bible can be compared to these manuals, but it is so much more than that. It not only gives instructions on how to live well, it invites you to know your maker. The Bible gives many examples of how people did life in the past, with and without God, the good and the bad, and how it is supposed to work today. The Bible is full of

Read more: Why study the Bible?

Know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

I’m sharing my Bible study journey to invite you to learn along side of me, to encourage you to read it for yourself, to have a place where important topics are discussed, and to have resource for Biblical text interconnections. Sometimes it will be easy, sometime it will be challenging to read the Bible, but I am convinced it will be life building. There is nothing like making or reading a hyper-connected Bible study to help your own mind make those connections. Take a look at this hyperlinked Bible page to get a glimpse into what I mean by hyper connected. My effort is to at least start scratching the surface of the Biblical hyperlinks and their meanings. The grand project like the Bible was written by many authors from many different cultures and different generations, yet it is woven together in amazing unity to tell one grand story of humanity and how God relates. I believe only God has the power to create such a book, and it is wise to choose to read it, learn from it and live by it.

I am not a Bible scholar and if you’re interested in complete Biblical commentaries, then you’ll need to find those elsewhere. I will do my best to do my research in what I am learning and writing. I am open to correction. I do not claim to know it all, but I do believe that I have the truth. Yes, absolute truth. If you have the truth then any accusations or criticism will not prevail. Why do you think Christ as well as Christians in the past and present allowed themselves to be ridiculed and even killed for what they knew and know to be true? If you’re telling the truth, then you do not have to be scared to be found out a liar. Would you trust the one who shuts you down if you have a doubt or question, or the one who allows open discussion? Be careful of those who do not let themselves be questioned. Mostly I think it is their fear of being discovered and them saving their pride who silence opposition.

Many false prophets and teachers are popping up these days. The best way to NOT be deceived into believing lies, is by getting to know the truth. So if someone comes along telling you lies, you can easily refute them if you know the truth, but if you don’t know much about the truth then you can easily be tricked into believing anything. Jesus said “... If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31b-32

To find out more about me, check out my About page. If you're no convinced the Bible is worth reading, then see what Psychologist Jordan Peterson has to say about the psychological, historical and literary value the Bible brings to humanity.

James - Key Verses

James 1:2-3

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

James 1:17-18

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

 James 1:19-20

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

 James 1:22

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

 James 1:27

27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

 James 2:5

5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

 James 2:17

17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

James 2:19

19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

James 2:26

26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

James 3:9-10 

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

James 3:14-16

14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

James 3:17-18
 

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

James 4:1-3
 

4 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

James 4:7
 

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

James 4:10
 

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James 4:15
 

15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

James 4:17
 

17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

James 5:12

12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

James 5:16
 

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Guided Bible Studies

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Getting Started

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