Have you ever asked yourself what difference it would have made if Jesus had not risen from the dead? I hope this 10-lesson Bible Study will answer that question for you...or that you will be better prepared to answer that question for someone else. Over twenty years ago my husband, Ken, had a business acquaintance ask him: What difference would it have made if Jesus had not risen from the dead Ken was only too glad to sit down with Jack that day, answer his question, and also tell him what it meant to put his faith in Jesus. When Jack realized all that Jesus had done for him, that Jesus was without a doubt God Himself, that He had been murdered, but then raised from the dead, and was alive today, Jack gave his heart and life to Jesus Christ.? Two years later Jack died...but didn't.? His body is in the grave, but Jack went to be with His Lord. He's living with Jesus today, and will for eternity.

This 8-lesson Bible Study focuses on the question: Is Jesus really God? After four thousand years, Jesus came to earth as a baby, grew to manhood, and then began His three-year ministry on earth. During those three years, on every street corner and grass-covered hill He told people He was: The Healer (John 5:8) The Son of God. (John 5:17&18) The Life-Giver (John 5:21) The Judge (John 5:26&27) The Bread of life. (John 6:35) The Living Water. (John 7:37&38) The Forgiver and Freedom-Giver. (John 8:11) The I AM. (John 8:58) The Light of the World. (John 9:5) The Good Shepherd. (John 10:11) The Resurrection and the Life. (John 11:25) Could there have been any doubt in anyone's mind that Jesus was saying, ?I AM GOD!?

A few weeks ago I was sitting outside a nursing home with a friend of mine. It was a beautiful day, and she was loving getting out into the fresh air after many days not even seeing the outside. I read the first five verses of John's Gospel to her: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.? John 1:1-5 She started singing, ?Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds Thy hands have made I joined in, and together, traffic noise and all, we sat out in front of her nursing home and sang all the verses we knew of ?How Great Thou Art?. This 9-lesson Bible Study of the first four chapters of John is all about the One we were singing to.

Paul knows some of the challenges Timothy is going to face as he pastors the church in Ephesus, and he is writing to encourage Timothy, but not to feel sorry for him. Timothy has the unparalleled privilege of shepherding a group of believers in Jesus Christ. He's a Pastor - he has the best job in the world! But he is probably going to suffer, as Paul himself suffered. In fact, before Paul left Timothy at Ephesus there had been a city-wide riot because Paul was teaching the truth and growing the Ephesian church. (Acts 19:21-41). That is the situation Paul left with Timothy. As we talk through 1st Timothy together, don't forget: this is not a letter to shore up someone who is about ready to give up and throw in the towel. Not at all. This is just a little helping hand from an experienced Pastor to one who is beginning.

Our memory verse for this 5-Lesson Bible study is Psalm 18:29. ."."..By my God I have leaped over a wall."" When Paul wrote this second letter to Timothy, Paul's time on earth was nearly over and he knew it. He had ""fought the good fight,"" ""finished the race,"" and ""kept the faith."" He had been given a job to do by His Savior, Jesus, and somehow, by the miraculous strength of God, he had done it! He had ""leaped"" over that wall! He is passing this incredible job of spreading the Gospel by planting and nourishing churches, to Timothy. He wants Timothy to know that someday he, too, will look back and be very sure that .".".by my God I have leaped over a wall!""

Philippians is simply a sweet love letter from Pastor Paul to his beloved Philippians. He displays his genuine love for them with no apologies, and then tenderly shows his genuine gratitude for their love for him. He very much wants them to learn to genuinely love each other. We live in a world where love is not often genuine. And especially we live in a world when love between Christians is sometimes shamefully non-existent. But, in this letter, Paul lets us looks at love and long for it.

This 10-lesson Bible Study in Galatians shows us that, as Christians, our own sinful nature plays a little trick on us. Our pride starts us to thinking, "Well, yes, I need a Savior...yes, I'm a sinner...but I'd rather not feel like such a loser. I'd rather feel like my Savior loved me because I'm so lovable. I will do better in this area, or in that area...or I will do this extra good deed, or that one....and that will make me better in His eyes...I'll be more worthy to be saved." And in so thinking we slide away from the side of the One Who died so that we could be worthy. We begin to listen to another Gospel - the Gospel of works. We begin to love another savior - the one we've made up in our minds. Paul writes to them from a heart of love - reminding them that they are not slaves to works - they are.....Free!!!

What questions do you have about Heaven? And does the Bible have answers for them? a 4-week study.

As you read through the whole book of James, certain common themes begin to emerge: 1. He calls them my brothers very, very often. 2.He s not too impressed with rich people . 3.He talks about a new kind of law: the law of liberty . 4.He expects people of faith to be doing something. 5.He thinks talking is serious business. 6.He accuses them of thinking they are something great when they are not. 7. He advises prayer when any need arises. As you read, you realize that James had a few things to say and I think he could barely get them on paper because of all the other things he kept thinking of, like sending the kid off to college, or off to camp and don t forget this and don t forget this .and don t forget this .

This three-lesson Bible study is perfect for a group study, or for a personal time of learning the New Testament book of 2nd Peter. In his second letter, Peter, the aging apostle, is fighting hard against false teachers who have sprung up in the church. He knows the best defense is Christian growth! It's only three chapters long, but if 2nd Peter were all the Bible we had today, we would be challenged to grow, to fight back against false teaching, and to look to the skies for Jesus' soon return. Peter was a Pastor...and the heart of Pastor Peter shines through.

If you are a Christian, you are different. You are not the same as the unbelieving people who live around you. You may look the same. You may dress the same. You may eat the same. You may work in the same places and live in the same neighborhoods. But you are totally, radically, different. In this five-lesson Bible Study you will see that you are: Chosen, United, Submitted, Alerted, and Shepherded. And you'll find that it's perfectly normal for you to be different. If you are daily walking with the One Who gave His life for you, you should feel like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon....finally free to be who you were always meant to be.

These final chapters in the book of Genesis describe for us the character and personalities of the twelve sons of Jacob. I don't think I'm being overly dramatic when I say: these twelve sons were the future of the world. From these twelve sons and their sons and daughters, and their sons and daughters, and their sons and daughters... would come the leaders and sustainers of the Jewish nation. That nation would fight to survive in a harsh world, fall on their faces often, love their God, and more often than not disobey that same God, claim victories, limp away from failures, and still survive to deliver to all of us the Savior of the world. And, as if that was not enough, they also will outlive all the enemies thrown at them in our future...and they will be gazing up into the heavenlies, eyes full of tears, fully forgiven and righteous, hearts overflowing with faith and joy when He returns - that He may be glorified.

This second part of Genesis is the story of God's choosing of the Jews. As you read and study your way through this second part of Genesis, I think you'll be struck, as I was, at what a total mess this chosen family was. And perhaps you'll come to the same conclusion I have: All families are dysfunctional in more ways than we know! Genesis Part 2 is full of hope and a little humor for all of us dysfunctionals.

My goal for this chapter-by-chapter Bible study in Revelation is that we will be overtaken with that sitting-in-the-back-seat-are-we-there-yet? -longing that will only go away once we see the arrival of Jesus Christ into our world for the second time in history. The first time He came as a baby. The second time oh my Let s think of world history as a stage, and imagine there are a series of curtains on that stage, curtains that are fairly see-through , so that as each curtain is removed the one person standing on the stage gets easier and easier to see. That may help us realize what has been happening since the creation of the world, and what will be happening as the events of Revelation unfold. Every event points to Jesus. Every mercy, every disaster, every judgment, every moment of grace - all of them reveal Jesus to us more and more and more, until finally we see Him clearly in Revelation Chapter 19, mounted on a white horse, returning to be King over the world that was made for Him.

You could say the whole world was created with you in mind, except that almost sounds like creation was made to revolve around you, and of course, it wasn't. It was made to revolve around God. This 9-lesson study of the first eleven chapters of Genesis will start you on an investigation of the mysteries of God, Who can create a world and mankind out of nothing, and give life to the dead.

A 10-Lesson Verse-by-Verse Bible Study on the Christmas Story, from the books of Luke and Matthew. This study has been prepared for your individual, devotional use, or for your Small Group Bible Study.

A Verse-by-Verse Bible study of the Old Testament book of Hosea. Designed for your personal devotional use, or to help you lead a discussion-style Small Group Bible Study.

Chapter by Chapter Bible Study of the New Testament Book of Colossians. For useeither in your own personal Bible Study time, or to help you lead a Bible Study discussion group. It is divided into several lessons, usually covering one Bible chapter. Each lesson has two (2) parts: 1. Questions for you to use as you read and think through the scripture. 2. Answers to those questions with my comments and thoughts. If you are leading a discussion group, I suggest making sure each member of your group has a copy of the next week's questions in advance so that they can prepare if they want to. Preparation for a Bible Study is one way to establish the habit of getting into the Word every day.

A chapter-by-chapter Bible Study of the Old Testament book of Esther. The true story of how the courage and faith of one Jewish woman saved her people from mass genocide. This study has been especially formatted for your own devotional use, or for a resource as you lead a small group Bible Study.

A Chapter-by-Chapter Bible Study of the first of the three letters from John, in the New Testament. 1st John is an excellent Bible study for those who are wanting to know the basics of how to walk with the Lord. This study has been specially prepared for use in your personal devotional time, or for a resource as you lead a small group Bible Study.

A chapter-by-chapter Bible Study of the Old Testament book of Ruth. Designed for personal devotional use and group Bible studies.

A chapter-by-chapter Bible Study of the New Testament book of Ephesians. Specially designed for personal devotional use or for your Small Group discussion-style Bible Study.

A 7-Lesson Bible Study of the Old Testament prophets, Jonah and Nahum. For use either in your own personal Bible Study time, or to help you lead a Bible Study discussion group. It is divided into several lessons, usually covering one Bible chapter. Each lesson has two (2) parts: 1. Questions for you to use as you read and think through the scripture. 2. Answers to those questions with my comments and thoughts. If you are leading a discussion group, I suggest making sure each member of your group has a copy of the next week's questions in advance so that they can prepare if they want to. Preparation for a Bible Study is one way to establish the habit of getting into the Word every day.

Sagamore Hill was the home of Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States, from 1885 until his death in 1919. During Roosevelt's time in office, his "Summer White House" was the focus of international attention. Sagamore Hill is a unit of the National Park System. This historic resource study focuses on Roosevelt's life at Sagamore Hill.