Top Ten Reasons to Join a Bible Study Group

10. It has become very fashionable. Research organizations are showing an 8% increase in small group Bible studies.

9. This is how Christianity flourished for the first 300 years. It wasn't until Emperor Constantine proclaimed religious tolerance that many of the churches were built.

8. The Bible is the #1 best seller of all time; ideal for those interested in cultural literacy. Look for it in the self-improvement section.

7. God blesses those who read and hear the words of His prophecy, which provides us with a firm foundation in His truth rather than the errors of the world. (Revelations 1:3)  

6. It's a great place to meet new friends, or become closer to those you
already treasure.

5. Whether or not food is served, you will not leave hungry. (1 Peter 2:2) 

4. Bible Study is like Faith Miracle Grow.

3. God's (s)word offers even more protection than your .38 Special.
(Ephesians 6:10-17) 

2. Studying the Bible will keep your 'lamps lit' for His return. (Matthew 25 & Psalm 119:105)

    And the #1 reason…

1. Jesus told us to!!! (Matthew 4:4)

Limiting the reasons to join a Bible study group to ten was not easy. I do however, wish to express how important I feel it is to be a part of a Church community as well. Sharing prayer and extolling our Savior with song alongside fellow believers heals and feeds the soul like nothing else. I wouldn't want one without the other, or in other words, to be 'lukewarm'. (Revelation 3:15-16)

If your parish doesn't have a Bible study program, start one yourself. Grab two friends to start, and when others see your new radiance, they'll be sure to want to join in. You don't need to be a Bible scholar to lead a Bible study group; you simply need a willing heart. God will help you! There are many online sites to boost your confidence and set you on your way, most with free downloadable study guides. Have fun and remember to take great delight in what Jesus affirmed, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)

Please remember, BIBLE BAIT is written by a novice Bible study student, not a Bible scholar. If something doesn't look quite right to you, dig into God's word. The one thing I promise you is that you won't get bored!

What Does the Bible Say About Parenting?

Did I ever mention that I was mean and annoying? I stink, am unreasonable, and crazy, too! These are some of the best compliments I could ask for…from my teens. They tell me that I'm doing my job as a parent right. I'll be their friend later. Being detested by the very souls I would give my life for is not an easy pill to swallow though, even when taken with the knowledge that it is temporary. Over the last seventeen years I have fumbled through at least a dozen parenting books looking for help. Of course I never thought to open the book my Heavenly Father gave me. I suddenly felt like a child myself, so I thought I would take a look at what the Father of all of us has to say about parenting.

God gives special blessings to parents who raise their children in His ways. (Proverbs 23:24&25) He also blesses children who obey their parents. (Exodus 20:12) However, if all we talked about were the blessings, we would be missing the just as consequential other half..the cursing. (Proverbs 17:21) We must assimilate the example set by our own Father in Heaven in how he punishes our wrongdoings, as well as rewards us for our good. The Bible makes it very clear how important correcting your child is. (Proverbs 23:13&14) 

Love isn't always a hug. It's also a boundary, and at times a disciplinary action. In fact gifting your children with a consistent set of rules and punishments for breaking them is the maximum expression of love you can give to your children. Even at their tender young ages, they instinctively know this. Children and teens become very frightened when so many important decisions are left up to them to make. It is actually quite cruel to not help them through the temptations that even our mature selves struggle to fight off. Therefor it is best to let our children explore new territories within a controlled environment before setting them completely free. 

The very first action we should take when our children disobey us, is what we ourselves yearn most for and graciously receive from God our Father…forgiveness! Letting your kids know that your love for them is unconditional is crucial to their well-being. Only once your forgiveness is established should a punishment be given. This act of love and mercy is the very Grace that God gave us when He sent His Son to forgive our sins. 

They say it takes a village to raise a child. While it is wonderful to have the positive influence of others, such as school teachers, counselors and pastors, God has placed all the responsibility on the parents. Together, the father and the mother are the one and only authority over their kids, no questions asked. It is best that we then keep in mind the words of Jesus from Luke's Gospel, "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required."

Without God, we wouldn't even have our children. He has gifted and entrusted them to us, and it is our responsibility to teach our children exactly who our Creator is. Being Godly parents means that we must love God with all our hearts, and teach our children His word. My ultimate goal is to instill in my children the unfeigned faith that Paul commended Timothy for in 2 Timothy 1:5. His faith was instilled in him by his mother, who's faith was instilled in her by her mother. My five siblings and I are so very fortunate that our parents did the same. There is no question that I can speak on their behalf and proclaim… Mom and Dad - Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!

"What the Bible Says About Child Training" by J. Richard Fugate

Please remember, BIBLE BAIT is written by a novice Bible study student, not a Bible scholar. If something doesn't look quite right to you, do some digging. One thing you won't get is bored!

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

Don't you just love a good epiphany? It is especially engaging when a Bible message that you have heard over and over finally registers. I should be too embarrassed to admit this, but Jesus' parable of the workers in the vineyard suddenly became crystal clear to me during a child's puppet show. 

To quickly review, the parable told in Matthew 20 tells of a vineyard owner who hires laborers at an agreed price. At the end of the day, the employer paid all of his workers the same wages, even though some of them worked all day, some only half, and others only an hour. When the workers that labored all day complained, the employer made it very clear that they were paid what they had agreed on, and that he will give unto the last even as unto them.     

I believe the real reason that I didn't get this parable is because I always associated with the laborers that put in an entire day, so I didn't want to talk about it anymore. Now I love to talk about it! This is one of the best examples of scripture for those who think it is too late for them to be saved, and that the mess they've made is too big to clean up. God graciously forgives and gives everlasting life to people who repent even in their last breath. 

Betwixt the stirrup and the ground, Mercy I ask'd; mercy I found, written by William Camden  illustrates quite well how last minute this can be. A soldier, even in the time it takes to fall from his horse to his death on the ground can 'change his mind' and thus change his eternity.

Jesus Himself demonstrated last breath salvation when He told the thief on the cross next to Him that he would be with Him that day in Paradise. All we know about this criminal is that he committed some vile sin…and that moments before his death he asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His Kingdom. 

God wants all of us to be with him in paradise; that's why He makes it so easy. He gives us our whole life to make the right decision, to come to Him. Because this is so loving, I no longer feel resentment towards those who didn't work the entire day.  Additionally, I have yet to meet one person who regrets accepting their salvation early in life, and the deep rooted relationship they have with Christ because of it. 

There is one caveat…what if we die in our sleep? What if a metro bus hits us on our way to work? Too bad we don't know the hour of our death; we could have loads of fun up to it. Jesus taught us to number our days. In Revelation 3:3 He warns nonbelievers that He will come like a thief in the night. Personally, I'm not the gambling type, not even with a couple of bucks. The thought of gambling with my eternity gives me the chills. Since today could be our last, shouldn't we take Him up on His last call?

Puppets 'n' Parables Children's Video

Please remember, BIBLE BAIT is written by a novice Bible study student, not a Bible scholar. If something doesn't look quite right to you, do some digging. One thing you won't get is bored!