“If you think reading is boring, you’re doing it wrong.”

Posted on January 19, 2023 by Jerry

 

I read an interesting meme on Facebook that said “If you think reading is boring, you’re doing it wrong.”

I wrote a cure for that problem that has helped many people. My cure is titled “The Language Enrichment Program.” If you want to solve this problem, buy the book on Amazon! In the category of “books,” search for “Jerome Smith The Language Enrichment Program” and you will find it.

 

From 9-19-21:

My Language Enrichment Program still works as an effective tool to improve anyone’s reading comprehension and inference skills. Search for it on Amazon under Jerome Smith The Language Enrichment Program and you will find it easily.

In light of today’s events and concerns, here is a seemingly forgotten solution that still works!

My book, The Language Enrichment Program, helps anyone read better with greater understanding.

This book works with students of any age (above age 8 through adult, though with parent or teacher help it can be used with students as young as the second grade).

On average, students who use this resource advance two grade levels in reading comprehension. Of course, this being the average, half advance more than two years, some as many as four or five years in their level of reading comprehension.

This reading improvement helps students who need to pass required tests to demonstrate they read on grade level before they can pass to the next grade level.

Students who are English language learners are better prepared to pass college entrance or placement tests to avoid placement in remedial English courses.

The Language Enrichment Program is unique because it is self-instructional. Users can get the benefit of this resource with little or no help from a parent, tutor, or teacher.

This book has turned many “”reluctant learners”” into motivated readers. Get the reading and academic help your child, student or you need with this book. Improve your reading ability. Increase your reading speed. Strengthen your academic performance in all subjects. Experience improved academic motivation.

The Language Enrichment Program is ideal for home education, for homeschool, for language enrichment for gifted students.

Students who learn the content of this book may know more about English and some aspects of English grammar and linguistics than many educated adults do, sometimes including their teachers! It is the process of effectively learning the content that contributes to improved reading comprehension and improved inference skills, skills often lacking even in college and adult readers.

Available on Amazon: search by my title, The Language Enrichment Program and with my name: Jerome Smith The Language Enrichment Program.

SELECT COMMENTS FROM THIS FB POST:

Jerome Smith remains the most brilliant educator of my lifetime. From the time I first met him tutoring in his classroom in Detroit Denby High School with his file cabinet filled with more and better instructional materials than my district committee had just created, I became his number one fan. Anything he does from Biblical scholarship to instructional guides is so sound that when he says it works—it works! He is one of the reasons I know the Father loves us. (Dr. Ronald Kar)

Jerome Smith replied:

Thank you, Ronald Kar, for such a kind and for me encouraging comment!

Coming from the (former) Assistant Director of the Detroit Public Schools Office of Communication Arts, your comment ought to carry some weight and authority behind it!

I deeply appreciate our long friendship and your obvious care for the students and teachers in the Detroit Public Schools. Most of all, I count it a joy to know that you are a solid, Bible believing Christian.

Ronald Kar replied:

I retired first time as Curriculum Director having spent 25 years in teacher evaluation and second retirement as dept chair of curriculum and instruction for Argosy University and then volunteering. I have observed hundreds of teachers (w/o hyperbole) you remain the best. Your New Testament friend.

 

Posted in Education Issues | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power.”

Posted on January 16, 2023 by Jerry

“The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

My Comment:

Those of us who were alive at the time of Dr. King’s tragic death will likely never forget the day it happened and where we were at the time.

I was an English teacher and Programmed Learning Laboratory staff member at Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan, back then.

It was decided that staff members would encourage students to write anonymous essays about how the students and teachers could promote greater harmony at the school. I was selected by the faculty to read all the essays submitted by the students and present a summary of the ideas the students suggested.

Warning to students: if your English teacher requires you to do a lot of writing like I did, leaving your name off a handwritten paper will not hide your identity from your English teacher!

One student’s paper was written in red ink. She wrote about me, and complained that I was very prejudiced against my students and always thought I had the best or most valid interpretation of a poem or short story. I knew instantly who this student was. Apparently she was still upset about how I taught and interpreted the short story by Anton Checkov titled “The Bet.” You can read about how I interpret this story by looking in the Archives here under “Education Issues.”

At the next semi-annual meeting of the Michigan Teachers’ Christian Fellowship, I read the paper (not naming the student) and asked for prayer on her behalf.

The last day of attendance of her senior year this student came to my room and gave me her graduation picture. She asked that I read what she wrote on the back of the picture while she waited:

“You were my first teacher at Cass. I remember I came into your class late because I had to get my schedule. I had a grudge against you that whole semester and made it  plain in your eyes. I would now like to pass that off as immaturity and inconsideration. I graduate in a few days and I ask your forgiveness. I have heard many good things about you. God stay with you!”

When I got home that evening in 1970 my brother and I prayed earnestly for her.

Some years later my aide in the Programmed Learning Laboratory asked me if I remembered this student. Unknown to me, they were apparently best friends. My aide told me that my student went up to the University of Michigan where she would begin her college career the day after she had given me her graduation picture. The sorority house where she was to stay was a Christian house and she was led to saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ that very day.

My Aide had come to personal faith in our Lord Jesus Christ when I was, at his request, teaching a member of the Bible Discussion Club how to lead his student friends to Christ using James Kennedy’s “Coral Ridge Program.” He had brought her up to the Programmed Learning Laboratory before school started. I assumed she was a Christian, but I went through the Bible passages with her. The next day, early in the morning, the Bible Club member literally ran up the seven flights of stairs to the Programmed Learning Laboratory and asked me if I had heard what happened. Of course, I had not heard anything yet.

The student he had brought with him the day before discovered that her mother was leaving her home. Suitcases were packed. That meant the student friend would have to care for the family of eight children herself in place of her mother. The student friend prayed that very night and accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior based upon the Scripture I had shared with her earlier that day. I am no longer in touch with her, though I was in touch with her for many years after that. I keep her and her family regularly in my prayers. One of her sons became a missionary to Mexico.

Like Dr. King emphasized, we need to concentrate more on developing and using spiritual power. We each can do that by sharing God’s Word in the Bible as God opens opportunities in our lives to do so.

Posted in Christian Living, Education Issues, Principles of Christian Living | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Daily Bible Nugget #720, Romans 12:21

Posted on January 10, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Rom 12:21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (KJV)

Rom 12:21 Do not let evil overcome you, but overcome evil by good. (Basic English Bible)

Rom 12:21  Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good. (GNB, Good News Bible)

Rom 12:21  Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil with good. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Rom 12:21 Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

Rom 12:21 Stop being conquered by evil, but keep on conquering evil with good. (Williams NT)

My Comment:

Romans 12:21 ought to be our “marching orders” in terms of telling us what to do to solve the problems we encounter in this world.

There is no room for a defeatist attitude here!

There is something each of us can do from right where we are.

We can pray for individuals and situations we are aware of that God’s will be done in the lives and circumstances others find themselves in.

We can be an example to others by doing the best we can do with whatever task is before us.

Our lives should be a light to others in the otherwise surrounding darkness. If we live lives of holiness (Hebrews 12:14) as we ought, others will often notice that in some way we seem to be different. They may ask what makes us different, and that may create an open door of opportunity to share a bit of our testimony regarding our faith in Christ.

It was always my stance as a teacher in public school not to endeavor to convert my students to faith in Christ. Even when I was asked to sponsor the Bible Discussion Club I never had an “altar call” at the conclusion of a meeting. One of my own English 6 students who attended the Bible Discussion Club for a time stopped coming, and told me she was disappointed that I did not invite the students who attended to pray then and there to accept Christ. I told her that many students were making decisions for Christ and trusting Him for salvation in response to the discussions all on their own with no special urging from me.

I did not direct those discussions. I simply let the students ask Bible questions. They answered the questions among themselves, or turned to me for answers when none of them had an answer. Sometimes I had to admit I did not know the answer either, but would do some research to try to figure it out. That led to my purchase of a number of scholarly works about the Bible–an expensive habit, but a blessed one because it helped students have solid answers to their questions.

Students asked me to teach them about witnessing to others and to share with them how to lead others to faith in Christ. I did just that, and the students pooled their allowances or other money they could spare to purchase New Testaments to share with those who they now were winning to Christ. They had more students receiving Christ than they could afford to furnish New Testaments to.

The first days of a new semester, two students separately and unknown to each other in the same class asked me why I was so different from the other teachers they had. I told one of them that I belonged to Christ and have faith in Him and care for every student as though they were the most valuable person in the world, for that is what Jesus said they were–more valuable than the whole world (Matthew 16:26. Mark 8:36. Luke 9:25). The other student wrote in her first composition, “I need help fast.” I let her know that she could write and tell me more if she wished, and she did. Both students came to a profound faith in Christ. At parent teacher conference time, the mother of one of the students told me I was a greater help to her daughter than the professional counseling they had been providing for her.

During that following summer the mother asked me to share with her the Bible verses I had shared with her daughter. They had a large family Bible, and I wrote out the references on slips of paper from a small tablet the mother had handy and placed them as bookmarks in the Bible so she could find the verses again. The daughter called me a few days later and said, “Mr. Smith, I don’t know what you did for my mother, but she can’t stop reading the Bible now!” She also called me again to tell me that after she had been reading the Bible I gave her she had come to personal faith in Christ, and had just knelt in prayer in the home where she was babysitting to ask Christ into her life. The other student asked in a composition what she should do in her very difficult situation. I recommended that she read the New Testament. She began reading her mother’s Bible but the mother took it away. I obtained a New Testament that she could keep in her purse. She wrote that by reading the New Testament she came to personal faith in Christ, and thanked me for helping make that possible.

I mention these examples to illustrate that each of us, no matter who or where we are, can have a vital impact in the lives of others the Lord brings across our path.

The key is to care.

How do we demonstrate we care?

Be a good listener.

Posted in Christian Living, Daily Bible Nuggets, Education Issues, Principles of Christian Living | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Did Jesus fail to complete His teaching while on earth?

Posted on January 6, 2023 by Jerry

The Muslim Challenge (12-30-22):

According to the Bible, Jesus said:

“12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16)

What are the reasons for “god” coming to earth in the flesh and not completing his teachings?

My Response (12-31-22):

The answer to your question, in part, is stated in the verses you cite: “but you cannot bear them now.”

TK replied:

hmm… but the holy ghost came soon after he left.. so what the difference did that few days or few weeks make?

My Response:

The major difference pertains to their heart preparation. Before the cross event and the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ the disciples were very fearful, afraid for their very lives. Afterwards, the disciples were very bold and proclaimed the fact of their resurrected Lord with great transformative effect upon those who heard and saw their testimony.

Act 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Act 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

You can read for yourself in John 2:19 and John 2:22 an example of the change in understanding that took place in the disciples:

John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

John 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

TK asks:

If Trinity is one God, but He breaks his plan into pieces, so that each person in the trinity takes a different task.. like I do first, then you do, then you continue.. ??

So the question remains.. the 2nd person of God did not complete his teachings and then a few days or few weeks later the 3rd person came to continue where the 2nd person left off? What exactly did this 3rd person teach which the 2nd person said they were unable to bear? I dont see what this 3rd person teach, except Paul who overturned everything the 2nd person taught. Is Paul the holy ghost? He’s not.. then it doesnt make any sense that the 2nd person didnt complete his teachings before he died and left the world.

My Reply:

As to whether Jesus, the Second Person of the Godhead, finished his work and teaching, the Scripture states:

Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

The disciples were promised the guidance of the Holy Spirit once Jesus in bodily presence was no longer with them:

Joh 16:4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

It is clear from your comment above that you do not understand Paul. He did not overturn everything Jesus had taught. You know very well that Paul was commissioned by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself to carry out the task that our Lord appointed him to do. I have cited Acts 9:15 and context before to you:

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

I have also referred you to the scholarly investigation of this subject by David Wenham, titled Paul: Follower of Jesus or Founder of Christianity? as well as the shorter and much easier to read titles by David Wenham, Did St. Paul Get Jesus Right? and the title Paul and Jesus: the True Story.

TK Responded:

//Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.//

yeah like i said, 2nd person did not complete the work so a 3rd one needs to come to complete it. 2nd person did part 1 and 3rd person did part 2. Yeah you can argue 2nd person completed his work, but that’s only part 1. Remember there’s also part 3.

and you have still not answered this question:

What exactly did this 3rd person teach which the 2nd person said they were unable to bear?

Forget about paul, he’s not the holy ghost that Jesus said would come to complete the teachings. Now just answer the question above.

My Reply:

On what basis do you make the claim that the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Godhead, did not complete His work?

Who is the Holy Spirit? I suspect that your faith may not have the proper understanding of Who He is, what He did, or when in answer to the promise Jesus gave, when He came.

Most certainly the Bible teaches that the books of Scripture in the New Testament were given by the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit Himself during the First Century after Christ, and not afterward.

2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

TK responded to me (1-2-23):

you write all that in vain when you don’t try to understand the question.

My point is the 2nd person did not complete his work so he promised that the 3rd person would do it. My question is, what are these “teach all things” that this 3rd person has done? If it’s only to inspire 1st century writers to write the gospels, that’s not “all things” that they were unable to bear at that time cos the gospels are just recollection of Jesus’ teachings. There’s no new teachings.

My response (1-3-23):

TK, Jesus was an expert teacher. He knows that we can only learn just so much at a time. At a stressful time we are distracted by circumstances and may not be open to much further instruction. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit “not many days hence” (Acts 1:5), an expression which means “very soon,” to complete the necessary and intended instruction (His new teachings) He desired us to have.

Jesus had told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until He sent the Holy Spirit to them who would endow them with power from heaven:

Luk 24:49 I will send you the one my Father has promised, but you must stay in the city until you are given power from heaven.

Jesus gave the promise of the Holy Spirit Who would give them power to be His witnesses:

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The disciples obediently remained in Jerusalem where they continued in prayer until the Holy Spirit would be sent to them:

Act 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

They did not have long to wait for the arrival of the promised Holy Spirit. Jesus had continued with them, teaching many things concerning the Kingdom of God, for a period of forty days:

Acts 1:3  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

The Holy Spirit came on what is called the day of Pentecost. Pentecost means the fiftieth day, so the disciples were in waiting for this promise to be fulfilled for just ten days:

Act 2:1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Holy Spirit [1 Cor 2:13] guided and directed the writers of the New Testament as they wrote the 27 primary source documents during the remainder of the First Century, including the book of Revelation.

2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The full revelation of God’s truth intended for us was complete during the First Century and absolutely no further written divinely inspired revelation is to be given until after our Lord Jesus Christ returns in power and great glory:

Jud 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Notice that Jude (one of the brothers of Jesus who came to faith in Him after the Resurrection) expressly states this faith was complete for all time, having been once for all delivered unto the saints. The faith was complete and entire in Jude’s day; it is now contained in the written Scriptures of the NT, with no need for additional revelation or doctrinal development. Note that “the faith” is a complete, not developing, body of truth delivered in complete form “once for all,” “unto the saints,” not a church hierarchy, but very ordinary believers.

The book of Revelation aptly and fittingly concludes with a stern warning that is applicable to the whole volume of divine revelation given us in the Bible not to add to or subtract from God’s Word:

Rev 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

The Holy Spirit has completed His work of inspiring the writing of Scripture. Therefore, any further claimed or supposed divine revelation must be false.

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Doctrinal Discussions | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Daily Bible Nugget #719, Hebrews 6:10

Posted on January 3, 2023 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Heb 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

My Comment:

Once again I am obligated to Ken Sagely and delighted to share his Bible message posted on Facebook two hours ago today!

“He abideth Faithful”
2 Timothy 2.13 If we believe not, yet He abideth Faithful He cannot deny Himself.
Cross References:
Isaiah 25.1 O Lord Thou art my God, I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name, for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are Faithfulness and Truth.
Matthew 24.35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my Words shall not pass away.
Romans 3.3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God
without effect?
Romans 9.6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.
1 Thessalonians 5.24 Faithful is He who calleth you, who also will do it.
2 Thessalonians 3.3 But the Lord is Faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.
Numbers 23.19 God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent, hath He said and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken and, and shall He not make it good?
Titus 1.2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.
Hebrews 6.18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.
Great is thy  faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided–Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Posted in Bible Promises, Daily Bible Nuggets, Ken Sagely contributions | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Daily Bible Nugget #718, Psalm 103:1

Posted on January 1, 2023 by Jerry

Thanks to Ken Sagely for this compilation shared in his Facebook post:

Bless
Psalm 103.1 Bless the Lord, o my soul: and all that is within me; bless His holy name.

Psalm 104.1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

Psalm 146.1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul.

Luke 1.46-47 and Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Psalm 57.5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above All the earth.

Psalm 86.12 I will Praise thee, O Lord my God, with ALL my heart: and I will glorify name forevermore.

Psalm 138.1 I will Praise thee with my whole heart; before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

John 4.23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Holy Name.
Psalm 99.3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name for it is holy.

Isaiah 6.3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.

Revelation 4.8 And the four beasts had each of them 6 wings about him; and they were full of eyes within and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

“Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee; How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee. How great thou art, how great thou art.”
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Daily Bible Nugget #717, Proverbs 16:9

Posted on December 26, 2022 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Proverbs 16:9  A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. (KJV)

Pro 16:9 A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps. (Basic English Bible)

Pro 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, but Jehovah fixes his step. (LITV, Literal Translation of the Holy Bible)

Pro 16:9  You may make your plans, but God directs your actions. (GNB)

Pro 16:9  A person may plan his own journey, but the LORD directs his steps. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Pro 16:9 We make our own plans, but the LORD decides where we will go. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Besides reading a verse from several Bible translations, yet more insight comes from reading the cross references for the verse. Here are the cross references as I compiled them for The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Proverbs 16:9
heart deviseth. *Pro 16:1, *Pro 19:21; *Pro 20:24; *Pro 21:30, Est 1:11; Est 5:8, Job 17:11, +*Psa 37:23, *Isa 46:10.

directeth. +*Pro 3:6; Pro 21:1, Gen 37:18-28; *Gen 45:5, Exo 2:5, Num 23:5, 1Sa 2:9; 1Sa 9:3; 1Sa 9:15, 16; 1Sa 16:8, 10, 11; 1Sa 17:23; 1Sa 17:53; 1Sa 19:23; 1Sa 23:26, 27, 28, 2Ki 5:2; 2Ki 8:5, Psa 33:11; *Psa 37:23; Psa 107:7; Psa 127:1, *Isa 42:16, *Jer 10:23, *Lam 3:37, Luk 19:4, 5; Luk 19:9, Joh 4:7, Act 9:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Posted in Bible Promises, Daily Bible Nuggets | Tagged | 1 Comment

Daily Bible Nugget #716, Luke 1:36

Posted on December 24, 2022 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Luke 1:36  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. (KJV)

My Comment:

I have read a number of comments on line that argue Christians should not celebrate Christmas.

I can agree with one of the supporting arguments, namely, that Jesus was not born on December 25th.

But Luke includes a significant clue in Luke 1:36 that, taken carefully with other clues in the Bible text, enables the careful, even diligent student to quite closely determine when Jesus was born.

It is possible that John the Baptist, the son of Elizabeth, was conceived six months before Jesus was. It is therefore likely that Jesus would have been born six months later than John the Baptist was born.

We are told in Luke 1:5 that Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, was “of the course of Abia.”

The cross references for Luke 1:5 for “of the course of Abia” are:

of the course. Luk 1:8, **1Ch 24:10; *1Ch 24:19, *2Ch 8:14; 2Ch 31:2, Ezr 6:18, Neh 12:4; Neh 12:17  (Abijah).

The order of service in the Temple of the Levites “by course” remained basically unchanged. Since the order has been relatively consistent over centuries of time, the precise time of year which Zechariah served in the Temple is known, for Luke specifies that he served in “the course of Abiah” or “Abijah” (Luke 1:5. 1 Ch 24:10).

I listened last night (Friday, December 23, 2022) to a very informative program on WLQV, AM1500, Detroit, from 9:30 to 9:45 pm. I cannot recall every detail presented, but I recall the general gist of the program.

The Bible evidence seems to indicate that December 25th or thereabouts is not the date or day of the birth of Jesus, but the date and day of His conception. About nine months or 280 days thereafter Mary gave birth to her son on what would have been the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:34). Eight days later, on what would be the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus was circumcised, Luke 2:21. This took place in the month of Tisri, part of September (see Young on Leviticus 23:34 as cited in the NTSK or UCRT). Much more evidence was provided in the radio program, but I have provided enough direct Biblical evidence in this post to confirm the accuracy of the information I heard.

We may in good conscience, therefore, joyfully celebrate Christmas at this time of year, even though it is more probable that the actual date of birth of our Lord Jesus Christ was in September, a time also which better accords with the shepherds still being in their fields (Luke 2:8).

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Daily Bible Nugget #715, 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Posted on December 23, 2022 by Jerry

The Nugget:

1Th 2:13  For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (KJV)

1Th 2:13 And for this cause we still give praise to God, that, when the word came to your ears through us, you took it, not as the word of man, but, as it truly is, the word of God, which has living power in you who have faith. (Bible in Basic English)

1Th 2:13  And because of this we also give thanks to God constantly, that when you received God’s word that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe. (LEB, Lexham English Bible)

1Th 2:13 And, for this cause, we, are also giving thanks unto God unceasingly, that, when ye received a spoken word from us – which was God’s, ye welcomed it – not as a human word, but, even as it truly is, a divine word, – which is also inwardly working itself in you who believe. (EB, Emphasized Bible, Rotherham)

1Th 2:13  Here is another reason why we never stop thanking God: When you received God’s word from us, you realized it wasn’t the word of humans. Instead, you accepted it for what it really is-the word of God. This word is at work in you believers.  (GW, God’s Word translation)

1Th 2:13 And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received the word of God which ye heard from us, ye received it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also is powerfully working in you that believe. (Noyes NT)

1Th 2:13 Therefore also we give thanks unceasingly to God, that the word of God which ye received from us, ye did not receive as the word of men, but as being truly the word of God, which worketh efficiently in you and in them that believe. (Murdock NT)

1Th 2:13 We always thank God that you believed the message we preached. It came from him, and it isn’t something made up by humans. You accepted it as God’s message, and now he is working in you. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

I remember hearing Dr. Lehman Straus, then pastor of the Highland Park Baptist Church, teaching from this verse (1 Thessalonians 2:13). He emphatically stressed that “It is the Word of God that works in you.” Dr. Straus was a very effective Bible teacher if he impressed me that thoroughly such that I still remember that message today, six decades or so later! Dr. Straus frequently emphasized that though he was teaching in a Baptist church, he was not teaching Baptist doctrine but Bible doctrine.

I believe this principle is the key to continuing spiritual growth–continually receiving the Bible as the very Word of God. If you are not studying the Bible seriously on a regular, even daily basis (Acts 17:11), you are missing out on the spiritual growth you could and should be experiencing (2 Peter 3:18).

One of the most effective ways to study the Bible is to focus on a verse of special interest or concern to you and read the cross references furnished for that verse in such resources as the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, my expanded and corrected edition of that resource titled The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, and for yet deeper and sometimes controversial study, my vastly expanded resource, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury.

Here are the cross references for 1 Thessalonians 2:13 from each of these resources:

From the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

1 Thessalonians 2:13
thank: 1Th 1:2-3; Rom 1:8-9

because: Jer 44:16; Mat 10:13-14, Mat 10:40; Act 2:41, Act 10:33, Act 13:45, Act 13:48, Act 16:14, Act 16:30, 31, 32, 33, 34; Act 17:11, Act 17:18, 19, 20, Act 17:32; Gal 4:14; 2Pe 3:2

the word of God: Jer 23:28-29; Luk 5:1, Luk 8:11, Luk 8:21, Luk 11:28; Act 8:14, Act 13:44, Act 13:46; Rom 10:17; Heb 4:12; 1Pe 1:25; 2Pe 1:16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

effectually: 1Th 1:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10; Joh 15:3, Joh 17:17, Joh 17:19; Rom 6:17-18; 2Co 3:18; Col 1:6; Heb 4:12; Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23, 1Pe 2:2; 1Jn 3:3, 1Jn 5:4, 5

From The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

1 Thessalonians 2:13

thank. See on +*1Th 1:2; 1Th 1:3; *Rom 1:8; Rom 1:9

because. *Jer 44:16; Mat 10:13; Mat 10:14; Mat 10:40; *Act 2:41; Act 10:33; Act 11:1; Act 13:45; Act 13:48; Act 16:14; Act 16:30-34; +*Act 17:11; Act 17:18-20; Act 17:32; *Gal 4:14; *2Pe 3:2

ye received. *1Th 4:8; *Mat 10:40; Mat 13:23; Luk 10:39; +*Act 17:11; Act 17:12

which ye heard. lit. the word of hearing. ƒ144 (B), +Deut 33:19; ✓Rom 10:17; Gal 3:2; Gal 3:5

received it not as. T1066. +Mat 10:20; +*Luk 8:18; Gal 4:14

word of men. Gal 1:11

the word of God. ✓Jer 23:28 n, Jer 23:29; *Luk 5:1; *Luk 8:11; Luk 8:21; +*Luk 11:28; Act 8:14; Act 13:44; *Act 13:46; +Rom 9:6; ✓Rom 10:17; *Eph 6:17; +✓2Ti 3:15; 2Ti 3:16; Heb 4:12; *1Pe 1:25; *2Pe 1:16-21

effectually worketh. T1053. *1Th 1:5-10; ✓Isa 55:11; Jer 5:14; Jer 23:29; ✓Joh 15:3; *Joh 17:17; Joh 17:19; Act 19:20; +*Act 20:32; +*Rom 1:16; *Rom 6:17; Rom 6:18; ✓2Co 3:18; ◐*Php 2:13; *Col 1:6; +✓2Ti 3:15; 2Ti 3:16; Heb 4:12; +*Jas 1:18; +*Jas 5:16; +*1Pe 1:23; *1Pe 2:2; *2Pe 3:18; *1Jn 3:3; *1Jn 5:4; 1Jn 5:5

From the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

1 Thessalonians 2:13
For this cause. Joh 12:18.

thank. See on *+1Th 1:2; *+1Th 1:3, 1Ch 29:13, *Rom 1:8; *Rom 1:9, Phm 1:7.

without ceasing. +1Th 1:3.

because. *Jer 44:16, Mat 10:13, 14; Mat 10:40, *Act 2:41; Act 10:33; Act 11:1; Act 13:45; Act 13:48; Act 16:14; Act 16:30, 31, 32, 33, 34; +**Act 17:11; Act 17:18, 19, 20; Act 17:32, *Gal 4:14, *2Pe 3:2.

ye received. 1Th 1:6; *1Th 4:1; *1Th 4:8, Psa 119:102, *Pro 4:10, Eze 3:10, *Mat 10:40; Mat 13:23, Luk 10:39, **Joh 8:47; *Joh 17:8, +**Act 17:11; Act 17:12, *1Co 15:1, 2Th 1:10, Heb 4:2.

word of God. 1Ki 17:24, Jer 10:1, Joh 6:63, 2Th 3:1, *Heb 13:7, +*Jas 1:21.

which ye heard. lit. the word of hearing. FS144B, +Deut 33:19. Neh 8:3, Hag 1:12, **Rom 10:17, Gal 3:2; Gal 3:5, Eph 1:13, Col 1:5, Heb 4:2, Jas 1:19.

of us. Gal 1:6, +*2Ti 3:14.

received it not as. T1066, +Mat 10:20, +*Luk 8:18, Gal 4:14.

word of men. 1Co 2:13; 1Co 9:8, *Gal 1:11; *Gal 1:12, **1Jn 2:27.

is in truth. Gr. alēthōs (S# G230, Mat 14:33). 1Th 1:9, Psa 45:4, Gal 2:5.

the word of God. Rather than contending so much for what is clearly not essential to faith in Christ, true Bible believing Christians encourage others to get into the written Word of God in the Bible for themselves so that others can come to know Jesus Christ in a personal way and have a life-giving relationship with Him that results in genuine belief that brings eternal life. Only the Bible provides the spiritual food necessary for spiritual growth and “works effectually” in those who believe. 1Th 1:5; 1Th 1:8, 1Ki 17:24, **Jer 23:28 note, Jer 23:29, Mat 7:28, 29, Luk 1:37; Luk 4:32; Luk 4:36; *Luk 5:1; *Luk 8:11; *Luk 8:21; +*Luk 11:28; Luk 20:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Act 8:14; Act 13:44; *Act 13:46, +Rom 9:6; **Rom 10:17, *Eph 6:17, +**2Ti 3:15; +**2Ti 3:16; 2Ti 4:2, **Heb 4:12, *1Pe 1:25, *2Pe 1:16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.

effectually worketh. Middle Voice verb, so reference to the Word, not God, thus “which effectually worketh,” not “who effectually worketh,” which would require Active Voice. It is the Word of God now contained in the Bible, not tradition, “which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” T1053, 1Th 2:1. *1Th 1:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Psa 110:2; +*Psa 119:105, **Isa 55:11, Jer 5:14; Jer 23:29, **Joh 15:3; *Joh 17:17; *Joh 17:19, Act 19:20; +*Act 20:32, +*Rom 1:16; *Rom 6:17; *Rom 6:18, **2Co 3:18, Eph 3:7; Eph 4:16, %*Php 2:13 note. *Col 1:6, 2Th 1:11; 2Th 3:1, +**2Ti 3:15; +**2Ti 3:16, **+Heb 4:12, +*Jas 1:18; *+Jas 5:16, +*1Pe 1:23; *1Pe 2:2, *2Pe 3:18, **1Jn 2:27; *1Jn 3:3; *1Jn 5:4; *1Jn 5:5, 3Jn 1:2.

also. Marking those who upon hearing believed, in contrast to those who merely heard. Act 16:14.

in you that believe. 1Th 1:7, Heb 4:12, Jas 1:21, 1Pe 1:23.

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More Ideas About Using The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Posted on December 21, 2022 by Jerry

I just noticed that this site now reached 500 followers. Thank you to everyone who comes here to read what I have shared about God’s Word, the Bible.

I have used The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and its predecessor, the original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge to encourage others to dig deeper into the Bible and grow in their Christian life by:

  1. giving this Bible study tool as a graduation gift.
  2. giving the New Treasury as a wedding gift.
  3. using the Treasury in neighborhood Bible studies
  4. using the New Treasury here on this site to answer Bible questions
  5. using the New Treasury to answer supposed Bible contradictions

I learned  some years ago that the head of a Bible College in Africa observed that anyone who owned a copy of The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge would be well-equipped to lead a prayer meeting, conduct a Bible study, teach Sunday school, preach the Gospel message, or even plant a new church. He desired that all the students at his college would find it possible to own and use their own copy of The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Here is what I do to share what the Bible itself teaches using cross reference Bible study in a group setting. I give each person present with a Bible who is willing to read a verse aloud to the group one of the cross referenced Bible verses to read. That way a set of references may be read out loud in sequence but no one person has to turn to them all.

May God add His blessing to your study and sharing of God’s Word.

1Th 2:13  For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (KJV)

1Th 2:13 And for this cause we still give praise to God, that, when the word came to your ears through us, you took it, not as the word of man, but, as it truly is, the word of God, which has living power in you who have faith. (Basic English Bible)

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