Warren W. WiersbeAnmeldelser

Be Skillful is a study of the book of Proverbs. This is part of the Wisdom Literature of the Bible. Solomon asked for wisdom - heart that is understanding and the ability to discern between good and bad in order to be able to govern God’s people. Wisdom, however, is not only knowledge, as Ken Baugh points out in his introduction to this study: “Knowledge is knowing the right thing to do; wisdom is actually doing it…it’s choosing to apply that knowledge in ways that honor and please the Lord. True wisdom is seen through an obedient life.” This book instructs a child of God in the way of wisdom.

Warren Wiersbe says: “The book of Proverbs is about godly wisdom, how to get it and how to use it. It’s about priorities and principles, not get-rich-quick schemes or success formulas. It tells you not how to make a living but how to be skillful in the lost art of making a life.”

Prayer 101: Experiencing the Heart of God is a wonderful guide to enriching your prayer life. Prayer is not something we should take lightly. As Wiersbe reminds us: “For believers to enter the Holy of Holies to speak to the Lord cost Jesus His life on the cross. It wasn’t His teaching or His miracles that tore the temple veil from top to bottom and opened the “new and living way” (Heb. 10:20). The veil was opened because Jesus shed His blood for our sins.” Prayer is a beautiful privilege we should never neglect in building our relationship with God!

Be Strong is the next in the “Be Series.” This book is about Joshua after he takes over the leadership of Israel and leads them into the promised land once Moses dies. Wiersbe notes that the overarching theme is “Claiming our victory and our inheritance in Christ Key” and that the key verse is Joshua 1:8: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
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We can be strong in the Lord when, like Joshua, we believe that God is all-powerful, He always keeps His promises, and He is always with us!

Be Worshipful is a Bible study of the first 89 Psalms. Most of these were written by David. David praised God all the time, but he also lived a life of worship. His worship was not just in words, but in actions - in his lifestyle. Ken Baugh, who wrote the introduction to Be Worshipful notes that David had confidence in God, a submissive spirit, courageous faith, a passion for God, and a contrite heart.

David was not perfect, but as Acts 13:22 tells us that God said of David: “…I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.”

Warren Wiersbe writes, “The book of Psalms has been and still is the irreplaceable devotional guide, prayer book, and hymnal of the people of God.” In studying the Psalms, we see that Gos is “both transcendent and immanent, far above us and yet personally with us in our pilgrim journey.” He is Immanuel, which means “God with us!”

Be Heroic is a study of minor prophets Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah… sometimes forgotten among the heroes of the faith. These men were willing to put it all on the line and carry God’s message during difficult times. The Jewish exiles who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple were also heroic. Their story is told in these books. Warren Wiersbe writes: “God is challenging us to be heroic in a world that desperately needs everyday anonymous heroes who will sacrifice and serve only to hear their Master say, “Well done!” Will you be among them?” We can learn a lot from the examples of the heroes of the faith recorded in these three books!

Are you looking for a good Bible study series? I have been enjoying the Warren Wiersbe “Be Series” along with a Bible side-by-side Commentary that my mother gave me. Be Basic details the first eleven chapters of Genesis. Wiersbe explains how what starts in Genesis is ultimately fulfilled in Revelation - for example: the first Heaven and Earth with the garden of Eden where the Tree of Life is guarded is fulfilled in the prophetic details of Revelation with the new Heaven and new Earth, and the "garden city" where the Tree of Life is available (Rev. 22). The first marriage between Adam and Eve leads to the last marriage: the marriage of the Lamb. After the temptation and the fall in Genesis, death enters our world - then in Revelations, we see that there will be "no more death." The Redeemer is promised and in Revelation, we see the Redeemer Reign. Wiersbe discusses creation, the garden, the fall & the consequences of the fall, Cain and Abel, Noah and the flood, and the Tower of Babel in this, the first of three "Be Series" books on Genesis.

Be Decisive: Taking a Stand for the Truth, by Warren Wiersbe

Jeremiah’s primary message was a warning to repent and turn back to God. In chapter seven, Jeremiah says he told the people that God promised: “…Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you” (Jeremiah 7:23). Unfortunately, the very next verse informs us: “But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward” (24). Through Jeremiah, God warned the people what would happen if they continued in their idolatry and sin, and it all happened just as God said it would because they did not repent and turn back to God. The book of Jeremiah also records the promise that God would bring captive Israel back home - after they served Babylon for 70
years. This also happened, just as Hr said. God is a God of love, but He is also a Holy God and cannot abide sin. Sin cannot go unpunished. For this reason, and because He loves us, God sent Jesus to bear the burden, the punishment, for all our sins, so we can be forgiven, if we accept the free gift of salvation, and we can spend eternity with Him!

In the introduction to this Bible Study, Ken Baugh writes: “I pray that as you read Jeremiah, you will see the numerous times God warned His people to repent. I pray that you will see how they refused and God reluctantly sent His judgment. I urge you, if you are a child of God and if there is sin in your life, to be decisive and repent.”

Be Restored is not only a Bible study of 2 Samuel, but it also gets into all the parallel passages in 1 Chronicles. Second Samuel begins with Saul’s death and ends with David’s. One of the overarching themes is restoration - of the nation (the unifying of the 12 tribes), of the individual (David after his sin with Bathsheba), and of the throne (after Absalom rebels). It also illustrates how God enabled David and the people of Israel to carry out His will. Wiersbe suggests that one big lesson we can learn from David’s life is that God can use imperfect people in accomplishing His purposes. If we confess and repent of our sins, God will forgive us. Although that won’t remove the consequences of that sin in this life, He will restore is to a right relationship with Himself. Nothing is beyond God’s ability to put right.

Wiersbe writes: “We live in a shattered and fragmented world, but God’s eternal goal is to bring all things together in Christ (Eph. 1:10). God is looking for men and women who will yield to His power and help restore broken lives, homes, churches, cities, and nations. Are you available?”

Be Responsible is a Bible study of 1 Kings, which are paralleled in some of 1 Chronicles. First and Second Kings records the history of Israel and Judah and First and Second Chronicles gives the “priestly” point of view of the same period. There is an outline at the very beginning of the book showing which passages of each book can be read together. First Kings shows how different Solomon was from his father David. Ultimately, Solomon’s pride and disobedience had tragic effects and the nation divided after his death.

Wiersbe writes: “Integrity is one of the vital foundations of society, but integrity involves taking responsibility and facing accountability. This includes leadership in the home and church as well as in the halls of academe and the political chambers…As we study 1 Kings, we will see over and over again the importance of moral character in leaders and the tragedy of leaving God out of national affairs.”

Be Exultant is a study of Psalms 90-150. Psalm 90 is the oldest, written by Moses. Wiersbe says Psalms 90-150, which are considered Books IV and V of the Psalms, were likely collected during the time of Ezra and include the “Songs of Degrees” (Psalms 120-134) and the “hallelujah psalms (Psalms 113-118, and 146-159). The New Testament refers to the Psalms over 400 times and Jesus quoted from the Psalms during His ministry. In times of trial, I’ve always been able to find comfort in the Psalms, in the promises of God, in who He is and has always been, and in what He has done and continues to do (like prepare a place for us - where He will gather His children and we will be with Him forever… “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Rev. 21:4).

As Ken Baugh says in his introduction: “The psalms teach us to seek God with a whole heart, to tell Him the truth and tell Him everything, and to worship Him because of who He is, not just because of what He gives. They show us how to accept trials and turn them into triumphs, and when we’ve failed, they show us how to repent and receive God’s gracious forgiveness.” No matter what we’re facing, we do not have to face it alone - Immanuel - God is with us!

Be Determined is a study of the book of Nehemiah, the king’s cup bearer who went back to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around the city. His determination came from his zeal for God and the time he spent with God in prayer about it. He faced taunting and threats, but he did not give up - he relied on God to help him. Ken Baugh says, “If you want to develop determination, the kind of resolve that does not give up in the face of opposition, then follow the example of Nehemiah and take every situation to the Lord in prayer, asking Him how things should be done.” And Warren Wiersbe writes that “the same great God who enabled Nehemiah to finish building the walls of Jerusalem will enable us to finish our course with joy and accomplish the work He has called us to do.” Through studying the book of Nehemiah, we are also reminded that when God wants to accomplish something through us, he puts us in the right place at the right time and prepares us for the work. We just have to pay attention, be willing, and care.

Be Distinct is a study of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. These two books describe the consequences Israel faced as she conformed to the world and it’s immorality and idol worship instead of being distinct from it and following God. These consequences last only for a season because God promises: “if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭7‬:‭14‬).

Wiersbe writes: “When society around us is in moral and spiritual darkness, God’s people need to be lights; and when society is decaying because of sin, we need to be salt. We must be distinctive!” As Paul says, we are to be
“blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬).

Be Successful is a Bible study of 1 Samuel. First Samuel shows what it really means to be successful - and it is about character, conduct, and service… not just about having a reputation. Eli and Eli’s sons failed. The nation of Israel had at times turned to idolatry. They asked for a king, like other nations had, forgetting that they were supposed to be different and that God was their King. Ultimately, King Saul, who started successfully, also became a failure. However, David was a “man after God’s own heart.” David’s character was developed out of the spotlight long before he was anointed as the next king. It was his character and obedience to God that brought success.

Be Available is a study of the book of Judges. This Bible study shows how God works through ordinary people who make themselves available to Him. Wiersbe writes: “No matter how dark the day, God can still work through people who will trust His Word, yield to His Spirit, and do His bidding. Will you be among them?

This is the third of the three Wiersbe Bible study books on Genesis. I posted about the first and second ones on the two previous Sundays. The “big idea” in Be Authentic, which is about Genesis chapters 26-50, is God’s sovereignty. Wiersbe discusses the lives of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. They were not perfect, but they were authentic in their relationship to God.

Be Delivered is part of the “Be Series” Bible study books by Warren Wiersbe. This one focuses on Exodus and analyzes the early life of Moses, his calling by God, God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt, the events at Mount Sinai, the building of the Tabernacle, and God filling the Tabernacle. Ken Baugh, who wrote the introduction to Wiersbe’s book, says the “big idea” in Exodus is that God is faithful to deliver His people, so we can replace our fears of “What if?” with confidence in Him. Wiersbe notes that after Israel was freed from Egypt, they did not manage that freedom well. He says that “the book of Exodus explains what true freedom is, what freedom costs, and how it must be used.“

Be Equipped is another part of the “Be Series.” In the introduction, Ken Baugh writes that “the Big Idea of Deuteronomy [is] obedience. If loving God is the greatest commandment, then obedience to God’s commands is the greatest expression of love for God.” Warren Wiersbe writes that the book of Deuteronomy is the “repetition of the law” - Moses reminds the people of the law God gave at Sinai and tells them how it applies to them going forward into the promised land. I highly recommend the Be series!

Be Counted is another part of the “Be Series.” Warren Wiersbe writes that the book of Numbers begins with counting all the men of fighting age in the camp, but points out that these men can’t be counted on. Due to their faithlessness, all but two of that generation die in the wilderness before the next generation goes into the promised land. Wiersbe says, “To Be Counted means to be the kind of Christian God can depend on to get the job done right.”

Be Holy is another part of the “Be Series.” Warren Wiersbe points out that while Leviticus was written for ancient Israel’s priests and Levites, its spiritual principles still apply to Christians today. Wiersbe writes: “The book of Leviticus explains five basic themes that relate to the life of holiness: a holy God, a holy priesthood, a holy people, a holy land, and a holy Savior.”

This is the second of the three Wiersbe Bible study books on Genesis. I posted about the first one last Sunday. Be Obedient looks into Genesis chapters 12-25 which tell the stories of Abraham and Isaac. The underlying focus is walking by faith and being obedient to God’s word.

Be Comforted is Warren Wiersbe’s study of Isaiah. Isaiah was God’s prophet when Israel was divided (Israel and Judah). Isaiah warned them of the coming judgment at the hands of Assyria and Babylon. But he also spoke of God’s deliverance and their return from captivity, interspersing hope and comfort with the message of their chastisement.

An excellent reason for reading Isaiah at this time of year (although, any time is a good time!), as we celebrate the incarnation of Jesus, are all the Messianic prophecies in a Isaiah. Isaiah delivered the message that a Savior was coming through the line of Jesse (David’s father), born of a virgin, that He would perform miracles, be rejected by His own people, stand silently before those who accused him, be bruised for our sins, be smitten, take our burden and penalty upon Himself, pray for those who persecuted Him, be crucified with two thieves, and be buried in a rich man’s tomb - all of these prophecies have been fulfilled. Jesus then conquered death, rising again, and has ascended to Heaven where He makes intercession for us.

Isaiah further prophesied that at a future time, the Savior will return to Earth and set up His kingdom - this prophecy will be fulfilled just like all the others - in this case, in the millennial kingdom. In Isaiah’s time, Isaiah delivered the message: “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.” (Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭1‬) We can take comfort today, too. No matter what happens in this life, it is only temporary. Jesus is preparing a place for those of us who have accepted His gift of salvation. God has saved us and given us the assurance of a glorious future with Him, which will have no end. We can definitely take comfort in that!

Be Satisfied is a study of Ecclesiastes. Written by King Solomon, Ecclesiastes shows that nothing in life will bring true satisfaction like a real relationship with God. Our God is a generous God and has given us all things to enjoy, but we should share what we have been given with others, especially those who need it most. Ken Baugh says, “That’s why God gave us the book of Ecclesiastes, to remind us that satisfaction in life is not an external issue that can be appeased by amassing more stuff, but an internal condition of the heart.”

Warren Wiersbe points out that Ecclesiastes is read “at the annual Feast of Tabernacles, a joyful autumn festival of harvest,” a time for thanksgiving. So… instead of feeling sorry about the things we don’t have, be thankful for what God has given us, be generous, and be satisfied.

C is for Christmas: An A to Z Guide delves into the history, personalities, and meaning behind Christ’s birth. Warren Wiersbe and his son, David, composed this one together and, as they write in the preface, it is “an attempt to add some depth of meaning and some spiritual insight to your Christmas celebration.” Beginning with A for Advent, the book explores topics relevant to the advent of Christ, including: Angels, Bethlehem, Caesar, David, Egypt, Elizabeth, Genealogy, Herod, Hope, Mary, Messiah, Peace, Prophecy, Redemption, Shepherds, Zechariah... you get the idea. It goes through the whole alphabet. The book is just a little over 200 pages and is a great December read! I read it this time last year (or maybe the December before) and I highly recommend it!

Be Resolute is a study of the book of Daniel. Daniel lived in a world adverse to his faith, but he stood firm. The world still strives to compel people to live by worldly standards instead of Biblical ones. Romans 12:2 tells us: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.“
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭KJV‬.

Warren Wiersbe writes: “As we study the book Daniel wrote for us, we’ll meet Daniel’s God, the Sovereign Lord who rules in the kingdom of men (4:32) and who confidently announces things to come. In Daniel’s life and ministry we will see how true believers live in the light of biblical prophecy—how they relate to the Sovereign Lord and accomplish His good, acceptable, and perfect will. In a world in which people find it easy to do what is right in their own eyes, the Lord is searching for men and women who will do what’s right in His eyes and dare to be resolute. Will you be among them?”

Be Committed is a study of the books of Ruth and Esther. As Ken Baugh points out in the introduction, “one of the great temptations that we all face during these difficult situations is whether to take the path of least resistance or the path of faith.” Both Ruth and Esther experienced difficult circumstances, but they remained committed and enjoyed God’s grace and riches because of their commitment to faith, despite the circumstances. Ruth had lost her husband, but instead of staying with her people, remarrying, and starting over in security, she went with her mother-in-law (Naomi), living in poverty away from her people, and embraced Naomi’s God. God honored her faith by giving her a new husband and placing her in the lineage of Jesus!

Esther, an orphan who became Queen of Persia, faced a difficult decision. Haman had put a plan into place to kill all the Jewish people spread out over Persia. Approaching the king unbidden was punishable by death - even for the queen. Esther could appeal for the lives of her people and, as her cousin Mordecai told her, maybe she was placed in her position for “such a time as this.” Esther remained committed and chose to go before the king unbidden and, “if I perish, I perish.” Through this commitment, the Jewish people were saved from Haman’s wicked plot and Esther’s life was spared. Neither of these women took the easy way out.
Warren Wiersbe says that Ruth and Esther “encourage me to be faithful in my service to the glory of the Lord. At an hour in history when it’s easy to compromise and even to quit, these two heroines of the faith tell me to be committed to the Lord and to do the will of God, come what may.”