Finding ways to establish a system of study and seeking to refine that along the way will help boost our exegetical efficiency and result in improvement in our expository preaching. 

The best Bible study, note-taking system I have come across ultimately comes from Jonathan Edwards, but I was exposed to it through a Presbyterian pastor and preacher, Dr. Matthew Everhard, on his YouTube channel.  There he instructs us on this updated system which he learned from his scholarly study of the Puritan preacher, Jonathan Edwards and it is known as the Miscellanies.

I am personally personally engaged on my own Miscellanies Project as I use it to focus on key verses from Bibliology, Christology, Soteriology, etc.  In addition to this, I am using it to focus on key passages in Hebrews, and all of Jude, 1 & 2 Thessalonians and Titus.  It's time consuming but well worth doing it several days every week. I have also required my students to adopt their own Miscellanies  so as to expose them to this method and enrich their study of God's Word. 

Following Dr. Everhard's example, this can be done very miscellanies-like (meaning: mixed; various with your own choice of passages). Or, one can be more methodical like focusing on a theme like all verses related to the importance of the cross & the  atonement or justification by faith or sanctification.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=fqq-4-LiFVs&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR24enVujhJUBKklMcXkzMXeL73a9CEVTSrDwb-kjIGTdZ9EOzbxJ_o-Ruo

Anyway this is the most awesome system I’ve come across!  Have fun and make a plan!

Blessings! Pastor Robert

Hey there! I am overjoyed at the response to the launching of this new group!  We are now at 105 members! So, welcome!

Did you see this...It's from March of 2021, but you might have missed it. I think it is important to keep ourselves aware of what God is doing in the realm of archeology and I have always had an interest in information about the discoveries related to the Dead Sea Scrolls.  It's just fascinating that the Lord continues to provide us with evidence and proof of the Bible.  The significance of it all goes a long way for our confidence and assurance in our walk of faith.

I believe it is a fulfillment of His promise made to us through Isaiah 30:8 that He would leave us a WRITTEN WITNESS FOREVER. What better way to give veracity and validity to His Word than to provide us with archeological support and evidence?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xyQiqoieTM&t=337s

Here I have posted a link to this 11-minute clip from "The Watchman Newscast" with Erick Stakelbeck entitled "New Dead Sea Scrolls Discovered in Israel's Qumran Caves"! This cave is quite hard to get to and you'll see someone dangling from a rope to get to it from the mesa above. This is the first discovery in Qumran among the Dead Sea Scrolls in 60+ years!!

I believe you too will be encouraged by this discovery and please take note of the first verses they have been able to determine already. We are encouraged to be watchful in the last days for His return, but also for those things that He will do to show His glory.

Blessings! Pastor Robert

I am very thankful to see that after just a few months we have reached 105 members! Welcome to all!! My prayer is that these posts will be help you in your walk of faith and service for God as you discern truth in these dark days we are experiencing.
One for Israel is one of my most favorite ministries to learn from about the connection between Old Testament symbolism, typology, events and pictures with New Testament truth and fulfillment.

This is a ministry of those who are considered "completed Jews" as they have come to faith in Christ having recognized their sinfulness can only be forgiven by Jesus, the true Messiah who they have been waiting for.

Some prominent pastors these days are calling for the "unhitching" of the OT from modern 21st century Christians. Don't believe them!  What really needs to happen is a concerted effort to go deeper into understanding what God gave to us through all of His Scriptures and then we will see a more full and even saturated impact on the lives of 21st century believers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5R4wOymh5Q&t=137s
Here is a short video from Dr. Erez Soref, the president of One for Israel, which was released in December 2020. In it he broadens our view of something extremely important as to how the Lord Jesus Incarnation was prepared for.

Notice that King David took the sacrificial lamb aspect of worship extremely seriously, even creating a field especially to care for them. Of course, the picture of it all was in anticipation of the Messiah's eventual arrival and then giving His life on behalf of sinners.

I pray this will give you greater encouragement as you seek to discern the Lord's truth in His Word. We should never "unhitch" ourselves from His Word ever. It would be a dishonor since He has meant it all to be a "written witness forever"!! See Isaiah 30:8 for more about that!
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Blessings! Pastor Rob

This is the first of what I hope will be many posts related to "Knowing the Times". The title is borrowed from 1 Chronicles 12:32, "Men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do."  It is borrowed too from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' book of the same name. Dr. Lloyd-Jones had a "God-given ability to put his finger on the essential issues and to apply the burden of God's Word."

We too need to develop not only in our ability to know and understand the times, but in the discipline of watchfulness as well. Watchfulness is only enriched and enhanced in our walk of faith according to our real knowledge and obedience to God's Word.

Now, the church in my opinion is not Israel, but we are certainly the church because of what God has done in and through Israel and His Old Testament. No one can deny that the Lord Jesus came to us because of God's work and prophetic preparation and initiation of sending His Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. He came to this world through Israel to do His great work on the cross and to raise from the dead.  And we are grafted in and adopted into His kingdom.

We should be developing in these last days a discernment and watchfulness as we serve and extend the gospel and His church.
http://www.brianghedges.com/.../watchfulness-requires...

In his book "Watchfulness: Recovering a Lost Spiritual Discipline", Pastor Brian G. Hedges says, "...watchfulness is as necessary to a healthy spiritual life as meditation and prayer. Jesus tells His disciples to "watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation (Matt. 26:41)...and Hebrews commands mutual watchfulness and exhortation while also reminding us to obey those leaders who keep watch over our souls (Heb. 3:12; 13:17)...All believers, regardless of their station and season in life, need to be watchful."
Here is a blog post by Pastor Hedges which speaks to how our watchfulness is closely related to our wakefulness.  Click on the image below or the link above to read the blog article by Brian Hedges.
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Blessings! Pastor Robert