OC Bereans

The men present last night savored a tremendous time of fellowship, accountability and prayer!  The Holy Spirit definitely took us where He wanted us!

Next Monday, January 12th, we will continue our overview of the Old Testament.  The study starts at 7 pm, and lasts until 9 pm.  We meet at Biola University’s Orange County Education Center:  24422 Avenida de la Carlota, Ste. 390, in Laguna Hills.

The dessert schedule is in alphabetical order:  Bob, Mark, Roc, Scott, Steve, Tim.  If you know you cannot make the study when it’s your turn to bring the dessert, then please contact the next man on the list.  As new men are added to the study, we will expand the dessert list.  Bob is scheduled to bring next week’s dessert.

We will start using this blog as our primary means of communication.  Occasional emails may also occur, but this blog should serve as a more powerful tool.

Care to distribute copies of the Gospel of John to people you meet?  Then check out many creative options with the Pocket Testament League.  A link to their website is in the right-side toolbar.  The devotional shared last night about Mary and Martha came from Ken Gire‘s book, Intimate Moments With the Savior.

Stay in the Word!

~ tr

One of the best habits you can resolve to cultivate this new year is to read through the Bible.  Check out two links in the right toolbar for multiple options, all of which can be read online.

Bible Reading Plans suggests four options:

• a Comprehensive Plan covering all 365 days,
• a Biographical Plan comprising 121 days,
• a Survey Plan lasting 61 days, and
• a Chronological Theme Plan also lasting 61 days.

Chronological Bible Reading Plan will take you through the entire Bible, chronologically, with an Old Testament and New Testament portion each day.

You can even choose what translation you want to read!  Enjoy!

~ tr

We’ve all done this … at least once in our lives … made a “New Year’s Resolution.” But what does it mean … really?

Of the dozen definitions for the word, “resolution,” four stand out:

1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination.

2. In physics & chemistry, the act or process of separating or reducing something into its constituent parts.

3. The fineness of detail that can be distinguished in an image.

4. In medicine, the subsiding or termination of an abnormal condition.

What do all these words have to do with us … “OC Bereans”?  We are a small band of men (hopefully soon to grow larger), residing in south Orange County, California, who desire to grow in our spiritual life in Christ.  Our primary means for this is the weekly, in-depth study of God’s Word.  This blog is merely a tool to enhance this study and growth.

Incorporating the earlier definitions, we determine to grow in Christ this new year by carefully and closely exploring the various books of the Holy Bible, all the while focusing sharply on the Person and work of Jesus Christ, in order to become more like Him and less affected by our sinful condition.

We resume our weekly study this coming Monday, January 5th, from 7-9 pm, at Biola University’s south OC education center.  We will continue our “thumbnail sketch” overview of the entire Old Testament by picking up with the book of Nehemiah.  I will provide the dessert!

Links for other blogs or sites worth visiting are placed in the right column.  I encourage you to check them out!

~ tr

Within the context of the apostle Paul’s exhortation to Philippian believers to live in unity, he draws on the fact of the Incarnation (Christmas!) to make his point.

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” ~ Phil. 2:5-8

The whole Gospel story is in these verses, plus the ones that immediately follow.

As the crush of the American “holiday season” threatens to suffocate all of us, and take our eyes off Jesus, remember the why/what/where/how of the Incarnation.

May God truly bless you and your families as you focus sharply on the person and work of Jesus the Messiah/Son of God!

~ tr

P.S.  When we return to our Bible study on Monday, January 5th, we will continue with our brief overview of the Old Testament.  This should only last a few more weeks.  Then we will embark on another in-depth study of a New Testament book, although most likely, one of the shorter books.

Think and pray about someone (friend, business associate, etc.) who would benefit from a weekly in-depth study of God’s Word, within the context of a caring fellowship of men, where dramatic answers to prayer have become the norm.  Since we will be meeting in classroom OC-1 (across the hall from the student lounge), there is ample room for growth.  Invite someone!

Why blog (verb)?

Because this technology will enable the members of our Monday night men’s Bible study to communicate more fully and freely.  Initially, it will only be used by our members.  Later on, we can talk about opening it up to the rest of the world!

Why another blog (noun)?

After I emailed all of you today about “Christmas Reflections,” I realized that your comments and feedback would be beneficial for all to read, not just me.  This blog will quickly update all of us about mundane things, too, like “Who’s bringing the dessert?”!

Why OC Bereans?

Because the apostle Paul wrote about the people of Berea, that they were more “noble-minded …, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”

Let’s try it out and see how it works!

~ tr