If you don't yet have a Bible, you can get started for free: On a smart phone: YouVersion Bible App Online: Bible Gateway There are many different translations of the Bible, and each has its advantages. We generally recommend the New International Version (NIV). But for anyone who has a hard time with long sentences, we recommend the New Living Translation (NLT). When you open a printed Bible, you'll find a Table of Contents at the beginning. There, you'll see that the Bible is separated into two parts called the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is the Jewish Scriptures written before Jesus came to earth, and the New Testament is a compilation of Christian documents written after Jesus came. As you thumb through the pages, you'll find big numbers and small numbers. The big numbers are the chapters, and the small numbers are the verses. When you see a Scripture referenced in this study, the first number you see represents the chapter. Then, after the colon, is the verse number. So, for example, "John 3:16" means John, chapter 3, verse 16. To look it up, find John in the Table of Contents, turn to that book, follow the big numbers until you find the big "3," and then skim down the text until you reach the little number "16." What follows is the verse being referenced. The process is simpler on a smart phone or web browser. Simply type the reference into the search feature, and it will take you straight there. There's much more to learn and discover, but this is enough of the basics to get you started in this study. Let's start reading! Reading the Bible In our last lesson, we covered the reasons why we trust the Bible. Let’s now explore how to actually read it. The Bible is not one book. It’s actually a collection of books written by different authors throughout different time periods. It wasn’t written for a modern audience. Each book of the Bible was written for the people who lived in that time and place, but it shows us what God has done, as well as the way God thinks and feels and how we should act as His people. This is important to note because many people can get confused if they read certain scriptures and assume that God is speaking directly to them in their time. For instance, if you were to read, "The hyrax, though it chews the cud, does not have a divided hoof; it is unclean for you” (Leviticus 11:5), it’s completely irrelevant to you. First, you would have to Google “hyrax” and then figure out why its hoof being undivided even matters! But what if I were to tell you that Leviticus 11:5 wasn’t actually written to you? It was written to a completely different people at a completely different time. Nevertheless, there are truths to be discovered about who God is and what He is like, even in passages like these, when you read them within their context. At the very end of this Leviticus 11, God said, “I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.” Here we see the more important point, which definitely applies to us today: Being "holy" or "different from the world." While the laws about what you can and cannot eat in the Old Testament no longer apply to us as Christians under the New Covenant, the idea that we should separate ourselves from things that are spiritually unclean is still an important truth, even if we have no idea what a hyrax is. ​ Important Questions ​ In order to read the Bible well, it’s important to ask a few questions: Who is writing this book? To whom are they writing? What kind of literature is this? Why are they writing? Read Ephesians 1:1 Who is writing this book? To whom was it written? Are they Christians or non-Christians? How similar is your situation to theirs? When you understand the context surrounding the writing of a particular book in the Bible, you can better understand how it applies to you. We begin the Bible study process by first understanding what is being said. We can best understand that only after we can answer the questions that identify the book's context. After that, we can finally ask the question, “How does this apply to my life?” ​ Types of Literature in the Bible ​ In the New Testament, we have a few different kinds of literature that serve different purposes: Gospels, History, Epistles, and Apocalyptic Literature. ​ The Gospels, (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are four independent, historical accounts from eyewitnesses of Jesus’s life and teachings. After that, we have the book of Acts, which tells the story of the early church after Jesus ascended into Heaven. Next we have a bunch of letters (epistles) that teach the church about the truth of Christianity and how to live as a community together. These are the most practical books in the Bible. And lastly, we have an interesting book called Revelation, which paints a picture of things past, present, and future in a cryptic and poetic way. If you read Revelation like a literal historical book, you will miss its meaning. Likewise, if you read a historical account as though it were a figurative picture, you will misunderstand the author’s intent. It’s important to understand the genre of literature you are reading when you study the Bible in order to properly interpret it. Let’s practice Read Luke 1:1​–4. What kind of literature is this? Why was it written? To whom was the author writing? Now let’s read Luke 7:11–16 All of the context surrounding the writing of this book is the same as we just discussed. What is this passage trying to communicate? What can we learn from that? Now read Luke 11:1–13 Remember, this is the same book. The genre is the same, the audience is the same, and the purpose for writing is the same. What can we learn and apply to our lives from this passage? Let’s change it up. We'll go to the Old Testament and read from the book of Psalms. The Psalms were a prayer and song book for ancient Israel. These passages were meant to be meditations and prayers that God’s people could sing both together and privately. Many Psalms were also prophecies about Jesus. Let’s read Psalm 23 Who is writing this? Why was it written? What is it trying to say? What stood out to you most while reading it? What benefit does this Psalm bring to you? You are well on your way to a lifetime of exploring deep truths hidden within the text of the Scriptures that have fed the souls of God’s people for thousands of years. What a treasure! It’s time to get to know God better and let His Spirit speak to your heart through the Bible. It is vital for every Christian to develop a habit of Bible study. Develop a routine around your Bible reading. Some like to read at night before bed. Others love to wake up early and have a time alone reading the Bible with their morning coffee. Develop a rhythm that is sustainable for you, and then take the Bible one book at a time. The book of Mark is a great place to start. It will help you better understand the life and teachings of the One upon whom our faith is built, Jesus of Nazareth. Additional Material If you're interested and want to learn more, these videos are a great place to start:

Jessica Cline- Greensly shares her story where God has made gold from a story of that seemed like a dead end of destruction.

Dean Schone shares an illustration used by counselor Basal Frasure. If you are struggling with bi-polar, anxiety, focus and desire peace this simple illustration reveals the answer.

Jim Panfil shares how God has taken the story he grew up with and gave him a new one. A marriage on the verge of divorce and issues from the past never dealt with including being sexually abused. You will find there is always hope. Listen below.

Christians believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. But what does that really mean? The Bible says in 2 Peter 1:19-21 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Peter is making the claim that the prophets who wrote the scriptures did not just make things up but were actually guided by God’s Spirit to write what God wanted to be written. But what evidence do we have that the claim Peter is making here is true? We actually have a lot of evidence to back up this claim. Fulfilled Prophecy 700 years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Isaiah predicted that Jesus would be born of a virgin, what family He would come from, that He would be from the region of Galilee, would heal the sick, would suffer and die for the sins of God’s people, and much more. King David who lived about 1,000 years before Jesus wrote in Psalm 22, very specific details about Jesus’ death including that people would gamble for Jesus’ clothing, (Psalm 22:18) that Jesus’ hands and feet would be pierced, (Psalm 22:16) and much more. In fact, the Old Testament contains at least 300 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled through His life and ministry. The sheer accuracy of these prophetic predictions indicate that the Bible is a revelation from God and not merely a human invention. Jesus Accepted the Old Testament as a Message From God Jesus referred to the Old Testament as “the scriptures” and claimed that it “cannot be broken.” (John 10:22-38) When Jesus was tempted by satan during His 40 days of fasting in the wilderness, He met the temptations of satan by quoting the Old Testament. Jesus often appealed to the Old Testament when  teaching and arguing with the religious leaders of His day. Jesus believed that the Old Testament was the word of God. Because we, as Christians, trust that Jesus is the Son of God and that God raised Him from the dead, we ought to accept the testimony of the only One who is truly qualified to make such a judgement. Jesus Authorized the Writing of the New Testament Regarding the New Testament, Jesus authorized the writers of scripture to speak on His behalf. He gave them the Holy Spirit who would “guide them into all truth” and who would take revelation directly from Jesus and make it known to them. (John 16:12-15) Jesus told them, “Whoever receives you receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” (Matthew 10:40) The word “receives” in this context means to accept the message being proclaimed. This means that the message the apostles proclaimed (the New Testament) was inspired by the Holy Spirit, has its origin in Jesus, and when we receive it we receive both Jesus and the One who sent Him. There is much more to be said about the confidence Christians can have regarding the Bible. We haven’t even gotten to the historical attestation to the writings of the New Testament, or the fulfilled prophecies of the New Testament, but if you would like to dive deeper, check out the videos associated with this lesson. Discuss the following questions together. When you see a Scripture reference, look it up and read the verse or verses together. Read Matthew 4:4 Is study of the Bible important? Why? ​ Discuss the following questions with other believers. When you see a Scripture reference, look it up and read the verse or verses together. ​ Read the claims the Bible makes about itself: 2 Timothy 3:14–17 2 Peter 1:16–21 Based on what you know so far, are these claims reasonable? Why? Read these Scriptures: Romans 15:4–6 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Psalm 119:105 Hebrews 4:12 How do you think your life would be impacted if you read the Bible regularly? Or, if you do read the Bible regularly, how has it impacted your life? What are the most important or memorable things you learned in this lesson? What is something from this lesson that you wish more people knew? Is there someone in your life who you feel would benefit from you sharing what you learned?

Jesus is the most important historical figure in history. No one has had a bigger impact on the world than Jesus of Nazareth. But who was He, really? Jesus once asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter responded, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus praised Peter for this answer because it was a revelation from God. (Matthew 16:13-20) But what did Peter actually say? The Christ The word Christ is not Jesus’s last name but is a title taken from a Greek word, “Christos” which means “Messiah.” In English, this literally means, “Anointed One.” It was a term that referenced being chosen by God for a specific purpose. The Messiah was a figure prophesied about throughout the Old Testament. The Messiah was expected to be a king who would come through the family line of King David and would rule Israel and bring peace to the world. There are many prophecies about the Messiah that point straight to Jesus. 700 years before Jesus was ever born, a Jewish prophet named Isaiah wrote, He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. This is exactly what Jesus experienced on the cross, but this was written almost a millennium before Jesus was ever born. The prophets in the Old Testament discussed the Messiah in great detail, predicting where He would be born, that He would be born of a virgin, that He would grow up in Galilee, that He would flee to Egypt for a time, that people would gamble for His clothes during his death, that His hands and feet would be pierced, and much, much more. In fact, there are at least 300 prophecies given in the Old Testament about the Messiah that the life of Jesus of Nazareth fulfills. When Peter said, “You are the Christ,” he was indicating that Jesus is the one all of Israel had been waiting for. He was the one who would fulfill all the prophecies. Jesus is God in the Flesh Many people regard Jesus as merely a good moral teacher because of His teachings to love your enemies, do unto others what you would have them do unto you, or to treat the lowly of society with dignity and respect. Now, certainly these are great moral standards that Jesus did in fact teach, but Jesus also claimed to be God. Jesus, in an argument with the Jewish leaders, said “Before Abraham was, I AM.” The phrase, “I AM” was a term that God used of Himself in the Old Testament. In fact, the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’s day picked up stones and tried to kill him for that very statement. When Jesus was on trial before His crucifixion, the high priest asked Him point blank, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” And Jesus answered, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of Heaven.” If you don’t know the Old Testament well, this sounds like a merely grandiose statement; but it was actually a direct reference to a biblical prophecy written by Daniel: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14) In the Scriptures, we see Jesus receiving worship when one of His disciples called Him “my Lord and my God.” (John 20:28) We see Jesus constantly identifying Himself as the Son of God and the Jewish leaders of His day trying to kill Him for claiming equality with God. (John 5:18) The Bible itself teaches that Jesus is God in John 1:1, which says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This is a pretty lofty claim for a carpenter from Nazareth. Here’s the question: Would a mere moral teacher make claims like these? He would either be deluded, a charlatan, or telling the truth. There’s no option where Jesus is merely a good, moral teacher (and nothing more) because good, moral teachers don’t claim to be God unless they are telling the truth. So what evidence do we have that the claims Jesus made about Himself are true? Jesus Rose From the Dead If someone were to tell me they were the Son of God, I would instantly write them off as a crazy person. But what if they started performing miracles like healing blind eyes, deaf ears, leprosy, making cripples walk, and even raising the dead? I’d pay attention. What if this man predicted His own death and resurrection? Well, that’s exactly what Jesus did. Jesus was crucified by the Romans and the Jewish religious establishment on the weekend of the Jewish festival Passover. This was no accident, as the Passover celebrates the day when the Israelites, who were once in captivity in Egypt, were set free from slavery. At the time of the very first passover, God told each family to slaughter a lamb and put the blood of the lamb over the doorposts of their homes. Wherever the spirit of death saw blood on the doorposts, it would "pass over" that house. But wherever the blood was not present, the firstborn sons in all of Egypt would die. So Jesus—who was prophetically called "the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world"—died at a time when all Israel was keenly aware of the power found in the sacrificial blood God provides. ​ Jews still celebrate the Passover to this day. Jesus became the fulfillment of this prophecy and was killed as our Passover Lamb so that everyone who had the blood of Jesus figuratively sprinkled on their hearts would be saved from the power of death. Three days later, Jesus’s disciples came to His tomb to mourn and discovered the tomb was empty. Later, over 500 of His disciples had encounters with the risen Jesus and eventually witnessed Him taken up into heaven. We have historical evidence, both inside and outside of the Bible, that all but two of Jesus’s disciples died horrific deaths and endured torture for their claims that Jesus was the Son of God and that God raised Him from the dead. We also have the Apostle Paul, who once persecuted Christians but had such a dramatic encounter with the resurrected Jesus that he became the most prominent Christian in history and endured prison and death for the very faith he once persecuted. You don’t endure torture and death for a lie you made up. We also have the Apostle James, who was Jesus’s brother. According to the New Testament, James made fun of Jesus during the time of Jesus’s ministry and thought that He was insane. However, James eventually became a leader in the church and was eventually stoned and beaten to death because he would not renounce his claims about Jesus, his brother whom he once thought was insane. What kind of evidence would you need to face death for the belief that your own brother is the Son of God? These eyewitnesses are the very same people who gave us the New Testament. Discuss the following questions together. When you see a Scripture reference, look it up and read the verse or verses together. Read the following verses: John 1:1-5 John 10:7-18 John 10:22-30 Who did Jesus claim to be? What did Jesus say His mission was? What kind of relationship did Jesus have with His Father? What is the significance of Jesus’ crucifixion at Passover? What evidence do we have that Jesus actually rose from the dead? If Jesus truly rose from the dead, what does that mean for the claims He made about Himself?

Absolutely! In fact, any form of artistic skill, ability, talent or gift can be used to worship our Creator. Not only is it a good thing, but it is also a requirement. You see, according to the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:16 and Ephesians 1:11-12 we were created for him (God) and for the praise of his glory. Our greatest purpose in life is to worship Jesus. As Christians, we are not motivated to worship out of fear or compulsion, rather, we worship as a result of the fact that he first loved us and gave himself for us. Christ went to the cross on our behalf to take the punishment for our sins—let that sink in for a moment. The all-powerful God of the universe and beyond, humbled himself and came to live among mankind in the form of a man—and allowed us to crucify him as a payment for the sins you and I commit. That's not fair! But it is the greatest demonstration of love ever recorded. As we begin to understand his outpouring of love for us, we are moved in our spirit to offer something back to him. There is a beautiful story in Luke 7:36-50 that tells of a sinful woman who entered the house of a pharisee Jesus was dining with. She began washing Jesus's feet with perfume. I encourage you to read the passage and meditate on it for a moment. The message that comes out of this story loud and clear is this; from whom has been forgiven much, comes much love. This is where we come in. When we recognize God's mercy on us, we can't help but echo through the very lives we live what Paul wrote in Romans 1:1; "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." All that we are—our time, our resources, our spiritual gifts, our talents and even how we individually are "wired" should be used in the praise and worship of our Lord Jesus. So, what does this lifestyle of worship look like. Well, again there is a passage of scripture that addresses the type of lives we should be striving for. It's Colossians chapter 3. Again, I would encourage you to read it in its entirety to get the most out of it. But, in a nutshell, Colossians 3:23 sums it up like this; "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." I interpret this passage to mean that in everything we do, including using our gifts and talents whatever they may be—we should give it our all–do it the best we can in light of who we are doing it for. God didn't spare his only son for us; he gave his best. We should strive for excellence in honoring him. It's important for me to qualify this concept of striving for excellence. Do I fall short of my expectations? Of course. Just as I can fall short in my ability to refrain from sin, I will fall short of doing things perfectly. But what motivates us is important. Why we do what we do is more important than how well we do what we do in God's eyes. Your trajectory is meaningful, and sanctification is a life-long process. It is our honest attempts to give God our all that is important. Jesus was once asked what the greatest commandment was. This is how he answered in Mark 12:29-30. "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength". Our best attempt at worship involves obedience and giving God our best—our all. So why photography? Well, it's what I know. It's how I'm individually designed (think created). For anyone else, it can be literally any other thing. What has he gifted you with? Where are your desires–your passions. Insert them in place of "photography". My passion happens to be photography. It's my "happy place", my "cheap therapy", it's the place I can lose all track of time. It's also something I am relatively good at (think humbly gifted with), and therefore an ideal place to strive for excellence while giving it my all. Following are a few examples of the way I use my photography to worship my Lord. 1) The time I spend outdoors photographing nature is a great time for meditation and prayer. It's an opportunity to spend some quiet time with our Creator God. As I immerse myself in viewing his creation I am compelled to fall into a state of worship. Read many of the psalms and you will quickly see that all creation glorifies the Lord; “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens... When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:1,3-4). Whether I am sitting on a beach along Lake Superior photographing the evening calm or waiting patiently for just the right time to photograph a duck, the face of a cliff or an eagle—His creation moves me and causes me to consider him. As the song writer aptly infers; if all creation is made to worship–so will I. 2) I use my photography at times as a Christian artistic expression, to convey a spiritual truth or as an attempt to be spiritually thought provoking. 3) Upon occasion I get an opportunity to use my "photography passion" to capture images of Christian events. Those photos may be used by others free of charge to aid in the promotion of their event or as a historical record. Some of the images used on the pages of this website are moments captured at the first Jesus Festival in Escanaba Michigan. 4) I have a few streams of revenue resulting from my photography. Some images are represented by a micro stock photo agency used by graphic designers across the world. Another stream comes from the sale of a coffee table book, Forest Graffiti. Additionally, I have prints for sale that make it into an art gallery every now and then. The profits from these sales are used to purchase Jesus Wells in impoverished parts of the world. These wells offer safe, clean drinking water to the residents of needy communities—in Jesus's name and for his glory. Jesus wells invite those that come for water to meet the one who offers living water—where they will never thirst again. 5) Lastly, I have created a personal website (MichaelOlsonPhotography.com) to display my nature photography. It primarily consists of nature related images. It's my attempt to show off God's amazing creation; but more than that—it is an attempt to encourage the viewer to fall in love with the Creator Himself. Throughout history God has invited, encouraged and even demanded artisans and craftsmen to avail themselves in using their talents for his glory. Exodus 31 gives us a peek into a conversation God had with Moses regarding this element of service; Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts... God gifted individuals for the express purpose of making the Tabernacle and this process is recorded in Exodus chapters 26-40 which is very much worth reading. King Solomon building the Temple is another great example of the outpouring of talents used for God's glory by his people. The design and craftsmanship used throughout the centuries to make stained-glass windows has always spoke to me when visiting various churches, revealing an attitude of excellence in honoring God artistically. To this very day, I am amazed at some of the skill and creativity shown by those designing the stage area backdrops in some larger churches. Even church lobbies have become showcases in honoring the Lord creatively. There is a woman in my own small church that makes an amazing impact through her decoration of a 3x5 ft. bulletin board that greets visitors as they enter the church. The record of the making of the Tabernacle in Exodus 36:2 reads like this; Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. There are two areas here that need to be highlighted. The first is to notice that it is the Lord who gives skills and abilities. There should be a humility attached to the awareness of our skill, gift or talent. In the use of what God has given each of us—all glory goes back to him. Secondly, Moses was speaking to those who were willing to do the work. Our service-–our worship, should be done from a willing heart. The Apostle Paul reminds us of this in 2 Corinthians 9:7; Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. As we employ what God has gifted us with, let's do it with excellence—let's do it with all our heart—and let's do it cheerfully. In closing-–the Lord has made each one of us uniquely different. We are many members of the same body (the Church); each with a special gift or talent that we can use in our worship of Him. I trust that these examples might encourage you to think creatively about how you might continue in your worship of the only one who is worthy—the Creator himself—our Lord Jesus!

Pastor Arthur Kievit was at the end of his rope. He was miserable, in a place of desperation, and cried out to Jesus and found freedom. Click below to hear more of his life changing story.

Al Ogren believed there was a God and believed in Jesus but liked living his own life. After all he wasn't hurting anybody!! He was basically a good person. Until his sister's near-death experience spoke to his heart. Al met God for himself, and his life has never been the same. Hear what changed Al's life forever.

Carl Panfil was abandoned by his father as a young child. He lived with a feeling of always being alone. He dropped out of school and lived a life drugs and drinking. His lifestyle put him in jail. When he finally decided to make some life changes, he went back to school and eventually got a bachelors degree. However, the feeling of being alone never left. Depressed and suffering from anxiety, Carl finally accepted his brothers offer to attend church. Jesus met him and changed his life. Listen below to hear this beautiful story of redemption. If Jesus did it for him, he can do it for you.

Dean Schone grew up in the church but turned his back on the faith he knew as a youth. A beloved college professor, that always loved the pursuit of knowledge, had a major life change when his wife was diagnosed with cancer. Dean ended up back in church in support of his wife but found exactly what he had been pursing all of those years away. Listen below to hear more of this beautiful story.

Corrine Cramer was in bondage of trying to appear like everything was ok on the outside when she didn't know how to deal with what was going on inside. Memories of her past finally overwhelmed her and led her into a drinking binge and a downward spiral. A severe alcoholic, eating disorder, and plagued by suicidal thoughts, listen below to this story of redemption and hope. She even experienced a healing miracle!