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This is another question I've wanted answered for a long time. My thoughts involve a deeper look at various beautiful portions of Scripture. I was thinking about taking small portions of Scripture and making mini-studies out of them by doing keyword studies, listing references, doing contrasts and comparisons, and unlock the power and beauty of the Scripture. I'm not talking about massive work, rather of small and powerful work on selected portions of Scripture.

I'm positive there are many people on the forum who could do this if there is sufficient interest.

Please do take a moment and let us know if you are interested. Also feel free to make any comments you may have on this subject. Thanks in advance for your participation.

Love In Christ,
Tom

YES!!! I am very interested :)

How about the book of Galatians?

chapter by chapter :)
verse by verse :)

Brother Love :)

Oklahoma Howdy to Brother Love,

I love Galatians and think it would be a beautiful study. If we get sufficient interest, we'll work out the details. If not, maybe we'll do it anyway.   :D

Love In Christ,
Tom

      BEP;
    The my answer is yes yes yes, I'm very interested. Put me on the list.

Oklahoma Howdy to Brother Forrest,

Thanks! Do you also agree that Galatians would be a good place to start?

In Christ,
Tom

DITTO ;D

Brother "BEP" I am also interested, and I love Galatians also.

I would love to - although I'm not be able to do much.  :( Would we be doing a specific book or chapter, or may we choose?

Oklahoma Howdy to Ambassador4Christ & Willowbirch,

Thanks, it looks like we're on a roll and Galations is a good start.

Willowbirch, you asked a good question. I think a good start would be to think about how we might want to do it, pray about it, and talk about it. I know that some folks have pretty long work hours and others don't. We certainly wouldn't be asking anyone to go without sleep to participate.   :D

Why don't we all take a look and get some ideas while others are still deciding?

I'm just thinking out loud. Maybe various people could do keywords, settings, briefs about people involved, historical/cultural/geographical settings, briefs about the purpose of the message, how and to who the message applies today, etc.  These are just thought off the top of my head. What does everyone think about some of these ideas. Please do list some other ideas and I'll make a list. We can use multiple threads and work on organizing it.

We're off to a start in thinking about it at least.

In Christ,
Tom

I also am interested. Would it be done in a topic section already existing or would a "Bible Study" section be set up on the forum menu?

Oklahoma Howdy to Brother Ollie,

That's another good question. Thanks for asking it. I can ask ADMIN how difficult it is to add an area. We could either do that or use categorized threads, maybe under prophesy (current events). Everyone can think about this and I'll ask ADMIN what is possible and how much trouble additions would be. If there is enough interest, maybe we could ask for a new and permanent area for Bible Study and Christians only.

Let's see how the interest and the ideas mount up and go from there. Thanks Brother - good question.

In Christ,
Tom

Oklahoma Howdy to All,

I am thinking out loud again to see what you think.

First, I see the posting participants of the Bible study as Christians only. I don't think it would be right to allow trolls to ruin our first and hopefully continued effort to do in-depth Bible studies.

Second, I'm hoping we can have agreement before we start that differing opinions will not be an acceptable excuse for failure. Hopefully, we could discuss any differences in a very gentle manner.

What would everyone think about one or several of us doing a brief overview of Galatians? Maybe several of us doing it would be a good idea so we could get more than a single perspective. If this sounds good, I volunteer to do one. I've already asked ADMIN what might be possible for a Bible study area and how the area might be used.

In the meantime, everyone jump in and say what's on your mind before we try to get this started. I would really love to make this work so it can be a permanent activity on Christians Unite. It would obviously be a group effort, and I'm confident the folks who have expressed interest so far can make it work.

Love In Christ,
Tom  

Brother Tom,

Its Looking good :)

Brother Love :)

P.S. Still "LOOKING UP"

I like!  I'm in!

Thats Kool Bro

Brother Love :)

Oklahoma Howdy to Allinall,

Thanks for the interest and joining in. With any luck, we'll get something started pretty quickly. I've already started on an overview. I'm already positive that it will be a very interesting study.

In Christ,
Tom

  I would agree with this, I belive we all have seen the damage that trolls can do.


      Good idea I accept this agreement.

     You said earlyer that some of us may have long hours .
                 I work 10-12 hr a day for 4 days then off for 4 days, or rather nights 6 pm till 4 or 6 am.

Yep, I'd be very very interested - count me in.

Oklahoma Howdy to All,

Things are looking good. We should be off and rolling in a couple of days. I must apologize for a delay on my part. My elderly mother has been ill, and we had to check her into the hospital today. The initial tests indicates the flu and dehydration, so she should be better soon. However, things like this can lead to pneumonia fairly easy for someone up in their 80s. I would really appreciate it if you would add her to your prayers for the next several days.

For those wishing to participate, it would be good to read Galatians before we start. It is a relatively small Epistle, but it is packed with fascinating truths about the pure Gospel of the Grace of God. It is also quite Biblical to call this the Gospel of Uncircumcision, making a clear distinction between The Law and Grace.

If there are any late ideas or comments, please post them here. We will probably have an area specifically for Bible Study only soon.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Praying for her Tom!  God is good isn't He?  We had a lady at our church who is pregnant.  About a month ago she went to the doctor and found out that her placenta (not sure if I've got this part right) had a leak in it.  The fluid necessary for the babies development was gone.  They sent her home to miscarry.  We have a prayer chain at our church, so the deacons got on the phone and started everybody praying.  Now, a month later, the doc says that a normal amount of fluid is about 10 centimeters.  She has 12.  Is God good or what?  He's in control and that's what's most comforting.  What's more, He wants to hear our concerns.  So I'm putting those concerns up there brother!

Oklahoma Howdy to Allinall,

THANKS BROTHER!, I really appreciate your prayers. YES!, God is good to us. My mother is widowed, but God has granted her the health and determination to volunteer in surgicare at a local hospital over 50 hours a week. Nobody can tell she was a minister's wife for 60 years. She absolutely loves it and carries her Bible with her every day. She sings and reads to people going into and coming out of surgery. I don't know what would happen if her health was not sufficient to continue. The hospital simply told her to do whatever God convicted her to do with people of all ages. It makes her so happy that I have to make an appointment just about to see her. She makes me understand the real joy and satisfaction a mature Christian can have. I'm praying that God lets her continue past 100, and many in her family did just that.

Thanks for your kindness and prayers.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Brief Overview of Galatians

Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul, probably between 54 and 56 a.d., to the numerous churches in Galatia that he founded. Prior to Paul's ministry, the people of Galatia were primarily descendants of Gauls and considered to be Gentiles, heathen worshipers of false gods. It is important to note there were also Jewish converts to Christianity mixed in among the congregations. The churches were spread throughout a District of the Roman Empire called Galatia in the interior of the great peninsula known as Asia Minor. Most of the people in Galatia spoke Greek and Gaulish.

It is apparent that the Apostle Paul founded these churches firmly in the Gospel of Uncircumcision. Today, we would refer to his teaching as the pure Gospel of God's Grace, a doctrine where men are justified by faith alone and not by the deeds of Mosaic Law. The history of this time clearly indicates that many taught other doctrines, some completely Jewish and others with Jewish doctrine mixed in. This was also a time of persecution of Christians, an effort to maintain many of the Jewish ceremonial customs, and a reluctance to deviate from Mosaic Law.

The churches of Galatia were corrupted by Jewish emissaries from other churches. Some claimed that Paul was not an Apostle and had no direct knowledge of Christ. Some claimed that Paul was simply a student of other men and questions of faith should be directed to the Mother Church in Jerusalem, specifically the pillars of the church, James, Peter, and John, Apostles of the Circumcision. The Bible makes it very clear that many portions of the Gospel of God's Grace were revealed only to the Apostle Paul. As a result, there was disagreement between Paul and some of the other Apostles, including James, John, and Peter. Paul was placed in the difficult position of instructing the other Apostles and even correcting some of them, specifically Peter. It is important to note that ONLY Paul was the Apostle of the Uncircumcision, and the other Apostles were of the Circumcision. Clinging to Judaism and corrupting the pure Gospel of the Grace of God eventually made necessary the Council at Jerusalem to address false teaching (See Acts 15:5-30).

The primary purpose of Galatians was to address the falling away from Grace to the former bondage of The Law. This was a corruption of the Gospel of God's Grace Paul worked so long and hard to establish in the churches of Galatia. Part of Galatians can be easily viewed as a raging conflict between Paul and Judaising Christians and Jews in drawing many people from the Churches of Galatia back to The Mosaic Law, Jewish customs, Jewish ceremonies, and away from the pure Gospel of God's Grace. The reaction of the Apostle Paul was much more than simple disappointment. It is clear that the Apostle Paul was indignant and bitter about the corruption of the Churches in Galatia.

Chapters One and Two of Galatians primarily address the Apostle Paul's independence and authority as an Apostle and the Divine origin of the Gospel he taught.

Chapters Three and Four of Galatians primarily address the truth of the Gospel taught by the Apostle Paul. Paul clearly defends and justifies the pure Gospel of the Grace of God

Chapters Five and Six primarily address moral consequences between living under the doctrine of Law as opposed to Grace.

One dominant theme throughout Galatians regards the liberty and duties of Christians under the pure Gospel of the Grace of God, the right use of Christian freedoms, and the folly of the Galatians in subjecting themselves again to the Law. Paul also gave instructions and exhortations for Christian conduct in the short six chapters of Galatians.

It is important to note that Galatians addresses many ancient conflicts between The Law and Grace that continue to this day. As an obvious result, Galatians remains a key to defining the pure Gospel of the Grace of God as it applies to God's children after the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross. Galatians is viewed to be one of the most important portions of the Bible because it does so clearly and appropriately address what is the pure Gospel of the Grace of God and what is not. Galatians will always remain one of the key portions of the Bible for people who wish to fully understand what changed at the cross of Jesus.

-------------------------

I realize this is very brief, but it should be enough to get everyone thinking about our study. Again, I apologize for being delayed some, but my mother is doing much better.

List any comments you many have, and we'll get this started.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Brief Overview of Galatians

AMEN! Great Overview Brother

Galatians will always remain one of the key portions of the Bible for people who wish to fully understand what changed at the cross of Jesus.

And AMEN!

Brother Love :)

Oklahoma Howdy to All,

We now have a special area for Bible Study only. I'm going to repost the Galatians Overview there and see if we can get our Bible Study going.

I think it is important for all of us to try to make this work. I would appreciate any assistance you can give to help make it work. I think the key will be gentle kindness in any disagreement. If we are able to do this, there is no reason why the Bible Study area can't be a popular and permanent portion of Christians Unite.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Yes, bep, time in the Word is critical.

I was thinking maybe those who aren't "kindly" or "gently", could go to like a "jail", as a special area.  ( ;D)

Maybe we could call it the "Mayberry Jail", or the "Barney Fife Jail", or something like that.  (I started a thread on it under the Suggestions area...).

Oklahoma Howdy to Symphony,

 :D  Kind of like a virtual jail. I must have missed this thread, and I'll certainly go read it. We have our Galatians Study going pretty well, and I've been busy studying and preparing some materials that I hope will honor and please Almighty God.

 :D  Do we have a volunteer to run the virtual Mayberry Jail?

THANKS!, I needed that grin. That show always brings back many happy memories since it was one of my dad's favorite shows. It always made him laugh, even after he got really sick.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Your Study on Galatians is good Bro, I read it Daily, I will be joining in next week, I hope

Brother Love :)

Oklahoma Howdy to Brother Love,

Great, I'll be looking forward to it. I find that I'm a little bit slower these days on Bible study, and it takes longer to put things together. I think that may be because I'm finally over 25 now. I'm sure that Tibby would tell you that anyone over the age of 25 is over the hill. However, Tibby knows that I'm working on the 3rd hill.   ;D

In Christ,
Tom