What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 15 - 07/10/22

This week we investigate further bible verses that teach about Israel.

Formation of Israel: The study examines Israel's origins, tracing back to the patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, emphasizing the concept of divine election, where Israel was chosen not for its righteousness or power but because of God's promise to the patriarchs.

Covenant and Obedience: Israel's calling as a "kingdom of priests" involved living under God's covenant to demonstrate His character. The study highlights Deuteronomy's blessings for covenant obedience and curses for disobedience, which includes conquest and exile from the land.

Historical Context: The discussion touches on Israel's history of exile and dispersion, with references to prophecies in Ezekiel and Deuteronomy. These prophecies are seen as being fulfilled through events like the Babylonian captivity and later scattering, with a promise of eventual restoration.

Restoration and Prophecy: The study explores the idea of Israel's future restoration, both physically to the land and spiritually, as prophesied in Ezekiel and Zechariah. The restoration is seen as a fulfilment of God's concern for His holy name and the promises made to the patriarchs.

Contemporary Relevance: The Bible study connects ancient prophecies to modern events, particularly the re-establishment of Israel as a nation in 1947-48. It also discusses ongoing issues such as anti-Semitism, the controversial nature of Israel's existence, and differing Christian perspectives on Israel's role in God's plan.

STUDY NOTES: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1csQPmzUDacrPetkr6HGhzE9wEmxFLeqh/view?usp=drive_link

STUDY NOTES 2: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u-HWFv1DxbCZbb1qApg4XfTeu28RsaFv/view?usp=drive_link

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 14 - 30/09/22

This week we investigate bible verses that teach about Israel.

Centrality of Israel in the Bible: The study emphasizes that Israel is central to the biblical narrative, from its formation to its future, and highlights God's ongoing purposes with His people.

God’s Promises to Abraham: The group discusses Genesis 12:1-3, focusing on God's covenant with Abraham, promising to make him a great nation, bless those who bless him, and curse those who curse him. This establishes a foundational pattern of God’s relationship with Israel.

Election and the Lineage of Israel: The study delves into how God chose specific individuals, like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to carry the lineage of Israel, despite their human flaws and unlikely circumstances. This includes the renaming of Jacob to Israel after he wrestled with God.

Spiritual Significance of Names and Places: The significance of names (e.g., Israel meaning "he struggles with God") and places (e.g., Bethel, meaning "House of God") is explored, showing their deeper theological implications within the Bible.

Israel’s Prophetic and Future Role: The discussion also touches on Israel's future as revealed through prophecy, including the time of "Jacob's Trouble," which refers to a period of tribulation and refinement for the nation of Israel, ultimately leading to God's blessing.

STUDY NOTES: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1csQPmzUDacrPetkr6HGhzE9wEmxFLeqh/view?usp=drive_link

STUDY NOTES 2: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u-HWFv1DxbCZbb1qApg4XfTeu28RsaFv/view?usp=drive_link

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 13 - 16/09/22

This week we explore further the topic of how the bible explains death.

Opening Prayer: The session begins with a prayer thanking God for His unchanging mercy and for the salvation found in Jesus Christ. The prayer acknowledges that death for Christians is merely a change in state, with the hope of eternal life and glorified bodies that will worship God forever.

Recap of Last Session: A brief summary of the previous session highlights key points, including the origin of death in Genesis, where separation from God due to sin brought spiritual and physical death. The Christian hope is not found in avoiding death, but in the assurance of eternal life through Christ.

The Nature of Death: A discussion revisits the definition of death, clarifying that for Christians, death is not an end but a transition. Death is seen as a separation from physical life, but not a separation from God. The concept of death as "sleep" for believers is also emphasized.

Cultural Beliefs vs. Biblical Truth: The discussion touches on cultural beliefs such as reincarnation and contrasts them with biblical teaching. The Bible clearly states that humans die once and then face judgment (Hebrews 9:27-28), debunking myths of reincarnation and other non-biblical views on life after death.

Resurrection and Hope in Christ: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 is explored to emphasize that the Christian hope hinges on Christ’s resurrection. Without Christ’s resurrection, faith would be in vain, and believers would still be in their sins. This affirms the centrality of the resurrection for Christian hope in life after death.

Purpose Beyond This Life: The session highlights that if all our hope is only for this life, then Christians would be the most pitiable of people. However, because of Christ’s resurrection, there is a purpose beyond this life. Death for a Christian is not the end but a passage into eternal life with God.

Response to Death: The final takeaway is a call to live steadfastly, always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:54-58). Christians are encouraged to live with a focus on eternity, knowing that their labor is not in vain, and to prepare for their death by maintaining a strong relationship with God.

DOWLOAD STUDY NOTES

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rglUjoafQ8VUJIm9_13EPs13a1lXNyjr/view?usp=drive_link

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 12 - 08/07/22

This week we begin looking at the subject of "death" from a biblical perspective.

Opening Prayer: The session begins with a prayer thanking God for gathering everyone to study His word, emphasizing the importance of seeking truth through scripture and living according to it.

Sensitivity of the Topic: The speaker introduces the sensitive topic of death, urging the need for prayer and seeking God’s perspective, reminding that death, for Christians, is not an end but a transition to life with God.

Understanding Death: Death is presented not as finality but as a passage. The speaker challenges the common perceptions of death and urges believers to live with eternity in view, reinforcing that death for the Christian leads to eternal life.

Biblical Insights on Death: Scriptures from Genesis and Thessalonians are explored, providing foundational understanding of the spiritual and physical dimensions of death, starting from humanity’s separation from God and eventual physical death due to sin.

Theological Reflections on Death: Discussions highlight the need for a Christian to prepare for death, looking to scriptures that describe it as a precious transition in the eyes of God, and dispelling false narratives about death in popular culture.

Life Beyond Death: A detailed conversation on the certainty of the afterlife is based on scripture. The comparison between Jesus' assurance of life after death and the uncertainty in non-Christian perspectives is discussed, reinforcing the Christian hope in resurrection.

Encouragement for the Christian Walk: The session encourages Christians to live fruitful lives, with a focus on eternity, reflecting that physical death is merely the beginning of eternal life with God. Living with this assurance helps eliminate fear and fosters purposeful living.

DOWNLOAD STUDY NOTES

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-RYurdkR7pt85F8EH_nPHzty5OGAqM2B/view?usp=drive_link

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 11 - 24/06/22

This week we investigate bible verses that teach about the gifts of The Holy Spirit.

The discussion focuses on understanding the spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible, emphasizing that these gifts are given by the Holy Spirit for the benefit of the entire church, not just the individual.

The group reflects on how spiritual gifts may complement natural abilities, suggesting that God prepares individuals over time to use both their natural and spiritual gifts for His purposes.

The importance of context and communal benefit is highlighted, with the gifts meant to serve the common good of the church body, not for personal gain or independent ministry.

There is an exploration of the biblical examples of God equipping individuals with specific skills, like those in Exodus 31 who were given wisdom and craftsmanship by the Spirit to build the Tabernacle.

The conversation also touches on the idea that the distribution of these gifts is determined by God's will, underscoring the belief that spiritual gifts are given as needed to fulfil the church's mission and not based on personal desire.

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 10 - 10/06/22

This week we look at the Church, what is it? and why does it matter?

Definition of the Church: The concept of the church is rooted in both the Old and New Testaments, starting with the assembly of God’s people. In the New Testament, the Greek word Ecclesia refers to the "called-out ones," those called out of the world and into God’s Kingdom.

Purpose and Nature of the Church: The church consists of people, not buildings, united by their faith in Jesus Christ. This church, both local and universal, is bound by the shared calling to follow Christ and proclaim His name.

Foundation of the Church: The church is built on the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. While Peter played a significant role, the true foundation is the truth of Jesus’ identity and His work.

Christ as the Head of the Church: Christ is the head of the church, and believers form His body, with each member having different roles and gifts. All members work together under the authority of Christ, supporting and encouraging each other in unity.

Fellowship and Unity in the Church: The early church shared not only their possessions but their lives, growing together in fellowship, worship, and teaching. This communal life exemplified unity and mutual care.

Role of the Church: The church is called to worship God, evangelize the world, disciple believers, and live as witnesses for Christ. The gifts of the Spirit empower the church to fulfill these roles in service to others.

Future of the Church: The ultimate destiny of the church is portrayed in Revelation, where believers from every nation, tribe, and tongue will worship God in His eternal Kingdom. This vision of the church’s future is one of unity, peace, and eternal communion with God.

DOWNLOAD STUDY NOTES: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u58XcCXViHLTLEgf5bLzpndehSJaIsnM/view?usp=drive_link

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 9 - 27/05/22

In this week's study we continue to look at what the bible says about The Holy Spirit.

Role of the Holy Spirit in Creation: The Holy Spirit was present at creation and is integral to all life. In the Old Testament, the Spirit empowered specific individuals, such as kings, prophets, and even a donkey, for particular tasks.

Promise of the Spirit in the New Covenant: The Spirit was promised by God through the prophets as part of the New Covenant. This would involve the Spirit being placed in people, teaching them God’s ways and transforming their hearts.

Jesus’ Teachings on the Holy Spirit (John 14-16): Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth, dwelling in believers and guiding them. The Holy Spirit would come after Jesus’ departure to continue His ministry, teaching and reminding believers of Jesus' words.

The Spirit’s Role in Conviction and Empowerment: The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and empowers believers to testify about Jesus, continuing the work of spreading the gospel.

Sanctification through the Spirit: The Holy Spirit transforms believers, guiding them into a deeper likeness of Christ, as seen in 2 Corinthians 3:18. The fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.) are the visible evidence of this sanctification process.

Advocacy and Assurance of Salvation: The Spirit intercedes for believers, even when they do not know what to pray, and testifies with their spirit that they are children of God (Romans 8). This provides assurance of their relationship with God.

Birth of the Church at Pentecost: The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost marked the birth of the church, with the Spirit empowering the disciples to preach and lead thousands to Christ, fulfilling the prophecies of Joel and others.

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly Bible Study.

13/05/22

Led by Graeme McPherson

This week we begin looking at the topic of The Holy Spirit.

1) The Holy Spirit is God — eternal, personal, and present from creation

From the opening verses of Scripture, the Spirit is shown as co-creator and sustainer of all life: “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Gen 1:2). He is not an impersonal force but the living breath of God — ruach in Hebrew, pneuma in Greek — giving order to chaos and life to the world. The Father speaks, the Son is the Word, and the Spirit breathes life into all creation (John 1:1-3; Ps 104:30).

2) The Spirit is active throughout the Old Testament

Before Pentecost, the Spirit came upon individuals for specific purposes — empowering judges, kings, and prophets for God’s work (Judg 6:34; 1 Sam 10:10). He gave Samson strength, Gideon courage, and David wisdom. Yet His presence was not permanent in them; it came and went according to God’s purpose. This revealed both the Spirit’s divine power and humanity’s need for a fuller, enduring indwelling yet to come (Ps 51:11).

3) The Spirit is everywhere and sustains all life

Psalm 139:7 declares there is nowhere one can flee from His presence. The Spirit is the divine breath that sustains both man and beast; when God takes away His ruach, all creatures return to dust (Ps 104:29-30). He is not detached from creation but intimately involved in maintaining life. Every heartbeat and every breath are gifts of the Spirit’s continual work (Job 33:4).

4) The Spirit promised — the coming new covenant

The prophets foretold a day when God would pour out His Spirit on all His people, not just a chosen few (Ezek 36:26-27; Joel 2:28-29; Isa 44:3; Jer 31:31-34). This promise included new hearts, forgiveness of sin, and inward transformation — the law written on hearts rather than stone. The Spirit would bring renewal, holiness, and obedience, marking the dawn of a new covenant fulfilled through Christ (Heb 8:10).

5) The Spirit gives new birth and entrance into God’s kingdom

Jesus taught Nicodemus that entrance into God’s kingdom requires being “born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5-8). Just as wind is unseen yet powerful, so the Spirit works invisibly but unmistakably to bring spiritual life. This rebirth is not human effort but divine regeneration — a work of grace that makes us new creations in Christ (Titus 3:5; 2 Cor 5:17).

6) The Spirit reveals and glorifies Christ

Jesus promised “another Helper,” the Spirit of truth, who would live with and in believers forever (John 14:16-17). The Spirit teaches, comforts, and reminds us of Christ’s words (John 14:26). He never contradicts Scripture, for He is its author (2 Pet 1:21). His work always glorifies Jesus, never Himself (John 16:13-14). When confusion or disorder arise in His name, it is not the Spirit of truth, for “God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Cor 14:33).

7) The Spirit indwells, guides, and sanctifies believers

Every true believer has the Holy Spirit dwelling within — our Comforter, Counselor, and Advocate (Rom 8:9-11). He convicts of sin, produces holiness, and bears fruit in us: love, joy, peace, and all righteousness (Gal 5:22-23). He empowers us to live for Christ, leads us through trials, and assures us of God’s presence even in spiritual dryness. The Spirit’s abiding presence is both God’s seal and our strength to walk daily in obedience and communion with Him (Eph 1:13-14; Rom 8:14-16).

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly Bible Study.

15/04/22

Led by Akin George

This week, we look at the centrality of the cross in our faith.

1. The cross is central—and God-timed

Understanding the cross is essential to Christian faith; without it, we have no gospel (1 Cor 2:2; 1 Cor 15:3–4). Even its “Good Friday” timing reminds us that God orders salvation history (Acts 2:23). Jesus calls every disciple to take up the cross daily—self-denial shaped by His sacrifice (Luke 9:23; Gal 6:14).

2. Scripture fulfilled at Calvary

John 19 shows Jesus carrying His cross, the inscription over Him, the casting of lots, the hyssop, and the cry “It is finished,” all fulfilling Scripture (John 19:17–30; Ps 22:16–18; Exod 12:22). The torn veil declares open access to God through Christ’s death (Matt 27:51; Heb 10:19–22).

3. “It is finished”: the once-for-all atonement

Jesus’ finished work ends the sacrificial system by offering one perfect sacrifice for sins forever (John 19:30; Heb 10:11–14). God vindicated Him by the resurrection, making Him both Lord and Christ and calling all to repent and be forgiven (Acts 2:24, 36–38).

4. Substitution and holy wrath borne by the Son

At the cross Jesus, the sinless One, became sin for us, bearing God’s righteous wrath in our place—fulfilling Isaiah’s Servant song and crying out in dereliction (2 Cor 5:21; Isa 53:4–6; Matt 27:46; Rom 3:25). Gethsemane reveals the real cup He faced, not merely physical pain but judgment for sin (Luke 22:42–44).

5. Salvation received by faith, not works

The repentant thief shows salvation is by grace through faith alone: he recognizes Jesus’ kingship and receives Paradise that very day (Luke 23:39–43; Eph 2:8–9). As Israel looked to the bronze serpent and lived, so we look to the crucified Son and have life (Num 21:8–9; John 3:14–15).

6. Crucified to the world; raised to a new life

Believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection—our guilt cancelled, hostile decrees nailed to the cross, powers disarmed (Rom 6:3–11; Col 2:13–15). Therefore we boast only in the cross: the world is crucified to us and we to the world, and what counts is a new creation (Gal 6:14–15; Phil 3:7–9).

7. Compelled to live for Christ and witness to Him

Christ’s love compels us: He died so we no longer live for ourselves but for Him who died and rose (2 Cor 5:14–15). The word of the cross is power to the saved and a stumbling block to many, so we pray, live holy lives, and speak the gospel with gentleness and reverence (1 Cor 1:18, 23; 1 Pet 3:15; Rom 10:14–15; Matt 28:18–20).

DOWNLOAD STUDY NOTES

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YaMyZaemmDcAQh-vuN7sbcHBseME2qNO/view?usp=drive_link

What The Bible Says.

Fortnightly bible study.

Episode 6 - 01/04/22

This week we look at what the bible says about Jesus.

Progressive Knowledge of Jesus: The study opens by emphasizing that knowing Jesus is an ever-growing, progressive journey, not something that can be fully understood in a single moment.

Scripture Reflection (John 14:5-10 and Colossians 1:15-20): Jesus identifies Himself as "the way, the truth, and the life," affirming His unity with the Father, while Colossians emphasizes Jesus as the image of the invisible God and the creator and sustainer of all things.

Challenges in Introducing Jesus to Non-believers: The group discusses the difficulty of introducing Jesus to people unfamiliar with Him, stressing the need to address humanity's need for salvation before presenting Jesus as the answer.

John 5:8-15 – Encountering Jesus: The story of Jesus healing a man who initially doesn’t know Him is discussed, demonstrating how an initial encounter with Jesus can lead to a deeper understanding of who He is.

Jesus as the Bread of Life (John 6:35-58): Jesus is presented as the living bread, greater than the manna in the wilderness, symbolizing spiritual nourishment and eternal life for those who believe in Him.

The Importance of Scripture and Revelation: The Bible is discussed as the living word that points to Jesus. The group emphasizes the need for divine revelation to truly know Jesus, not just intellectual understanding.

Personal Knowledge of Jesus: The discussion concludes by stressing the importance of personal knowledge of Jesus, as demonstrated in John 17:3, where eternal life is defined as knowing God and Jesus Christ, encouraging the group to continuously seek deeper knowledge of Him.

DOWNLOAD STUDY NOTES

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uXAaoqdhDl5q-pQXVPGu_XDWDmSj80od/view?usp=drive_link