Religious Journey

Catalogue of Available Materials

Books and Bible Studies

By Edwin Ray Frazier

Each of the eleven books listed above is previewed on its own web page, with purchasing information provided.

The other Bible studies listed below are all previewed on this web page. They are designed to be copied on 8.5X11 paper. Often, upon request one copy of any of the Bible studies may be available free, along with permission to make a specified number of copies. For your copy, email edrafr9@gmail.com

Acts, 134 pages

Agents of Reconciliation, 144 pages

Be Ye Perfect, 74 pages

Christmas Devotions (unfinished)

Do You Have any ID? Volume 1, 81 pages

Do You Have any ID? Volume 2, 91 pages

Faith for Changing Times, 56 pages

Galatians Verse by Verse, 71 pages

Growing Up into Him, 43 pages

Heroes and Villains, Volume 1, 117 pages

Heroes and Villains, Volume 2, 89 pages

Heroes and Villains, Volume 3, 91 pages

Heroes and Villains, Volume 4, 84 pages

Introduction to the New Testament, 137 pages

Introduction to the Old Testament, 88 pages

James Verse by Verse, 28 pages

Let's Talk About the Things We Don't Talk About, 81 pages

Parables of Jesus, 117

The Prophets, 90

Sermon on the Mount, 117 pages

Women in Ministry, 23 pages

Introductory Overview of

Acts

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

This following study guide contains Bible study material for 13 small group sessions. In some cases the guide may be available free upon request. For more details, contact Ray Frazier at edrafr9@gmail.com.

The Bible book of Acts is often referred to as:

The Acts of the Apostles
Or
The Acts of the Holy Spirit

Introduction

When we look on line to map out our vacation route, we have to choose a helpful level of focus on the map. If our focus is too narrow, then the details become far too numerous to be practical. If focus is too broad, then we do not see some important directions.

We may compare the book of Acts to a detailed map of the entire state. This Bible study guide is designed with thirteen sessions of one hour each in mind. Some may prefer a more narrow focus with more detail, others a broader focus with less detail. Hopefully the design will prove helpful to all who participate in the study, either individually or in a group.

The abbreviated Table of Contents below can provide an outline overview.

This guide contains enough material that it can be treated effectively in 26 sessions rather than 13. Each session has four sections. So, if in each session we study two sections rather than four, the total number of sessions can be doubled from 13 to 26. The up side of that is that the study can be deeper and more thorough. The down side is that not many groups of Bible students have the interest and discipline to remain focused on one subject that long.

Acts is the story of the fantastic growth of the gospel and the church in only two or three decades. It is an exciting and powerfully encouraging account of the power of our God, his gospel, and his church.

May our God bless our Bible study.

(Abbreviated) Table of Contents
Contents

Session 1     Acts 1       Page 11

Session 2     Acts 2       Page 21

Session 3    Acts 3-4:32a   Page 29

Session 4    Acts 5:1-6:7    Page 38

Session 5     Acts 6:8-8:40   Page 47

Session 6    Acts 9-10:16   Page 57

Session 7    Acts 11-12    Page 65

Session 8    Acts 13-14    Page 74

Session 9    Acts 15-16    Page 83

Session 10   Acts 17-18    Page 92

Session 11   Acts 19-20    Page 101

Session 12   Acts 21-26    Page 108

Session 13   Acts 27-28    Page 118

What is Worth Learning           Page 124

List of Available Small Group Studies    Page 128

Participating in Small Group Discussion   Page 131

You Can Facilitate a Group          Page 132

Holy Spirit Icons Used in These Pages   Page 134

Introductory Overview of

Agents of Reconciliation

Sixty-five Devotions By

Edwin Ray Frazier

This study guide contains Bible study devotional material for 13 small group sessions. In some cases the guide may be available free upon request. For more details, contact Ray Frazier at edrafr9@gmail.com.

Foreword

It was Mama's flower bed. Home from college, I stood on the back porch and reminisced, pondered, and counted my blessings. Mama caught me musing, and asked about the flower bed, Can you tell any difference where Iv'e been along? In my mind, I applied her question to her eight children and replied, Yes, Mama. I can tell a big difference where you've been along.

Agents of Reconciliation make a huge difference. That's what this devotional study is about. The world looks a lot better where they have been along.

Lucy tells Charlie Brown that she is about to begin some new hobbies. That's a good idea, Lucy, replies Charlie. The people who get the most out of life are those who really try to accomplish something! Lucy snorts, Accomplish something?! I thought we were just supposed to keep busy! It's okay to chuckle, but you do see the truth there, don't you?

It's a tragedy that we can spend our lives just keeping busy, when we could be, should be, making a difference.

Welsh poet David Whyte made the intriguing observation, I don't want to have written on my tombstone, when finally people struggle through the weeds, pull back the moss, and read the inscription there, 'He made his car payments.'

Whyte, like most of us, wanted his life to matter. Even in some small way, most people want to make a difference for good, and, at least to some degree, we want to be happy. But it doesn't just happen.

The 65 devotions herein are prepared in the prayer that through them some who read them will hear the Lord's voice calling us to be Agents of Reconciliation in a world with rampaging ill will. The devotions are arranged so that a weekly group study session can share together about the previous five devotions, and thereby take advantage of each other's insights.

What recent news events demonstrate our need for Agents of Reconciliation?

Abbreviated Table of Contents

Page

1     Contents

2     Foreword

3     Contents

7     Introduction

I. Becoming an Agent of Reconciliation

8     First Week: Devotions 1-5

18     Second Week: Devotions 6-10

II. Reconciling With Others

28     Third Week: Devotions 11-15

38     Fourth Week: Devotions 16-20

III. Trigger Reconciliation Among Others

48     Fifth Week: Devotions 21-25

58     Sixth Week: Devotions 26-30

IV. Hurdles that Agents of Reconciliation Encounter

68     Seventh Week: Devotions 31-35

78     Eighth Week: Devotions 36-40

V. Bible Characters' Reconciliation Abilities

88     Ninth Week: Devotions 41-45

98     Tenth Week: Devotions 46-50

108     Eleventh Week: Devotions 51-55

VI. World Peace

118     Twelfth Week: Devotions 56-60

128     Thirteenth Week: Devotions 61-65

138     Afterword

139     What is Worth Learning

141     Participating in Small Group Discussion

142     Honesty and Respect in Discussion

143     You Can Facilitate a Group

Introductory Overview of

Be Ye Perfect

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

This following study guide contains Bible study material for 13 small group sessions. In some cases the guide may be available free upon request. For more details, contact Ray Frazier at edrafr9@gmail.com.

Abbreviated Table of Contents

Page

1       Title Page

2       Contents

3       Introduction

4    1    Be Perfect

9    2    To Be Like God

14    3    Suffering

19    4    Treasure in Heaven

24    5    Don't just have faith; Do Something!

29    6    Perfect Speech

34    7    Got Bible?

39    8    Harmony

44    9    The Fullness of Christ

49    10    What's in Your Toolbox?

54    11    Obey, Plain and Simple

59    12    Know Christ

64    13    Making Holiness Perfect

69       Aims of These Bible Study Materials

71        You Can Facilitate a Group

Introduction to Be Ye Perfect

The 13 Bible studies in this booklet launch from one of Jesus' most intriguing commands: be perfect (Mat 5:48 NIV). Like much of scripture, the word perfect doesn't mean today what it meant then. It has a wealth of spiritual meaning that is lost altogether if we think only of the modern usage of the word.

For us, perfect means 100%, A+, total victory, absolutely right, a positive verdict with no doubt or hesitation, a bull's eye, a blue ribbon, first place, etc.

There's nothing wrong with our understanding the Lord to command us to be 100% dedicated to Him, or to earn an A+ in Christian living, or to achieve total victory over evil in our lives. But there's more, much more, in the word perfect as He used it in Matthew 5:48. That's what the following thirteen Bible studies are about.

In the first study we'll consider a basic biblical definition of perfection: a skeleton of the meaning behind the word in Bible times. In the other twelve studies we'll flesh out that skeleton from other Bible passages.

At times it will seem like we are doing no more than arranging familiar teachings in another pattern. That may be true for some. However, there is indeed a significant difference in the modern meaning and the biblical meaning of perfection. If we invest the thought energy to comprehend and appreciate that difference, then we can find valuable new spiritual challenges. Grappling with these challenges will both bless us, and also equip us to be a greater blessing to others in the name of our Lord.

Introductory Overview of

Do You Have Any ID? Volume I

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

This is the first of two study guides, each containing Bible study material suitable for 13 small group sessions. To cash a check or make a purchase, we may be asked to prove our identity. Each of the two volumes discusses 13 Christian identity traits that mark us as Christian.

In some cases a guide may be available free upon request. For more details, contact Ray Frazier at edrafr9@gmail.com.

The thirteen sessions in Do You Have Any ID? Volume 1 are:

1  The love mark: The God Trait   (Gal 5:22)

2  The joy mark: The Jailbird Trait   (Gal 5:22)

3  The peace mark: The Irene Trait   (Gal 5:22)

4  The patience mark: The Job Trait   (Gal 5:22)

5  The kindness mark: The David Trait   (Gal 5:22)

6  The goodness mark: The Lincoln Trait   (Gal 5:22)

7  The faithfulness mark: The Canary Trait   (Gal 5:22)

8  The gentleness mark: The Strong Man Trait   (Gal 5:23)

9  The self control mark: The Daniel Trait   (Gal 5:23)

10  The confidence mark: The Peter Trait   (Isa 30:15)

11  The forgiving heart mark: The Father's Trait   (Mat 18:21-22)

12  The compassion mark: The Good Samaritan Trait   (Luk 10:33)

13  The servant spirit mark: The Slave Trait   (1Pe 5:5)

Introductory Overview of

Do You Have Any ID? Volume II

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

This is the second of two study guides, each containing Bible study material suitable for 13 small group sessions. To cash a check or make a purchase, we may be asked to prove our identity. Each of these two volumes discusses 13 Christian identity traits that mark us as Christian.

In some cases a guide may be available free upon request. For more details, contact Ray Frazier at edrafr9@gmail.com.

The thirteen sessions in Do You Have Any ID? Volume 2 are:

1  The Encouragement Mark: The Barnabas Trait   Acts 4:36

2  The Submissiveness Mark: The Fear of God Trait   Eph. 5:21

3  The Reverence Mark: The Isaiah Trait   Psa. 34:9

4  The Strong in the Lord Mark: The Paul Trait   Jos. 1:9

5  The Justice Mark: The Twenty-first Century Trait   Psa. 82:3-4

6  The Assurance Mark: The Esther Trait   2Ti. 1:12

7  The Patriotism Mark: The Debtor Trait   Rom. 13:5-7

8  The Discretion Mark: The Good Judgment Trait   Pro. 16:22

9  The Honesty Mark: The Nathanael Trait   Eph. 4:24-25

10  The Hope Mark: The Anathoth Trait   Rom. 15:13

11  The Witness Mentality Mark: The Blind Man Trait   Acts 1:8

12  The Quietness Mark: The Elijah Trait   1Th. 4:11

13  The Spirit Filled Mark: The Baptism Trait   Acts 1:5

We aim for leaders who facilitate interaction rather than leaders who consider themselves teachers, experts, or authorities.

May the Lord of the Bible bless our Bible study together with a good balance of head knowledge and heart knowledge.

Introductory Overview of

Faith for Changing Times

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

The following study guide contains Bible study material for 13 small group sessions. In some cases the guide may be available free upon request. For more details, contact Ray Frazier at edrafr9@gmail.com.

Each of 13 sessions highlights biblical truth about ways we can be faithful to unchanging principles in changing times. We want to remain anchored in Christian faith.

The 13 session titles are:

Don't Get Tangled Up

God Calls us Forward

Lift Up Your Eyes; It's Time to Move On

Do Not Be Afraid of Tomorrow; God is Already There

Faith for the Future

Stronger and Stronger

Be Like the Ant: Work Hard

Discretion

I'm Doing Something New

Someone to Fill the Gap

The Land of Beginning Again

Turning to Tomorrow

Stay Alert; Watch Out for the Devil

Introductory Overview of

Galatians Verse by Verse

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

As the title indicates, this is a verse by verse treatment of Paul's letter to the churches in Galatia, beginning with 1:1 and discussing each verse through 6:18 in turn. It is suitable for individual or group study. Bible students may devote a short time or a long time to the six chapters and 149 verses, as they prefer. Thirteen sessions will be reasonable. In some cases the guide may be available free upon request. For more details, contact Ray Frazier at edrafr9@gmail.com.

(Abbreviated) Table of Contents

Contents

Greetings: Grace and Peace   1:1-5

The Gospel Which is No Gospel   1:6-10

Steps to Authenticate our Faith   1:11-24

Finding Our Place of Service   2:1-10

Relate Equally to All God's Children  2:11-21

The Law and Faith   3:1-14

God's Promises to Abraham   3:15-22

We are Abraham's Children   3:23-29, 4:1-7

Care for the Churches   4:8-20

Children by Divine Authority or by Human Authority? 4:21-31

Freedom in Christ   5:1-15

Living by the Spirit's Power   5:16-26

Harvesting What We Plant   6:1-10

A Christlike Close   6:11-18

Introductory Overview of

Growing Up Into Him

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

This study guide contains Bible study material for 13 small group sessions. Each of 13 sessions resources Bible study about some aspect of growing up spiritually.

In some cases the guide may be available free upon request. For more details, contact Ray Frazier at edrafr9@gmail.com.

The thirteen sessions are:

Growing Up . . .

1 . . . From Graduate to Student

2 . . . From Proof Texting to Considering All Relevant Texts

3 . . . From Saul to Paul

4 . . . From Praying to Be Blessed, to Praying to Serve

5 . . . From Me-Centered to Others-Centered

6 . . . From Getting My Way to Supporting the Group

7 . . . From a Know-it-All to Trusting God

8 . . . From Judge to Witness

9 . . . From Church Comfort to Church Service

10 . . . From Evaluating to Supporting

11 . . . From Peace Lover to Peacemaker

12 . . . From Complaining to Salting and Lighting

13 . . . From Law to Spirit

Introductory Overview Of

Heroes and Villains, Volume 1

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

The following study guide is the first of four in the series: Heroes and Villains. Each guide has thirteen sessions, each session about one Bible character.

A well-facilitated discussion of interaction between Abraham and Sarah about Hagar is somehow a lot more meaningful than listening to a lecture about faith in family relationships. In these sessions we're led to discuss the real life experiences of real live people.

In some cases the guide may be available free upon request. For more details, contact Ray Frazier at edrafr9@gmail.com.

(Abbreviated) Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction

1    Abraham

2    Jacob

3    Pharaoh

4    Moses

5    Joshua

6    Esther

7    King Saul

8    Samuel

9    Job

10    David

11    Isaiah

12    Jeremiah

13    Daniel

Aims of These Bible Study Guides

You Can Facilitate a Group

Terms

Approximate Bible Time Chart

Introduction

There are several legitimate ways for Bible study groups to function. Our approach in the sessions before us now is set forth as one of several valid approaches rather than as the best or only appropriate approach.

There is a specific concept of group learning that gives shape and form to these Bible study guides. That concept is reflected in the use of the term Life Truths, Reflection/Discussion questions, and in the Participation in Group Discussion article near the end of this study guide. That concept also is reflected in the following aims.

We aim ultimately not for learning facts or creeds, but for learning right spirits in terms of Psalm 51:10 and Galatians 5:22-23. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me (Psa 51:10 KJV). Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Gal 5:22-23 NLT).

We aim for leaders who facilitate interaction rather than leaders who consider themselves teachers, experts, or authorities.

We aim for each individual to hold firm convictions thoroughly examined, and to listen appreciatively to others' convictions.

We aim for the Christian humility which shares convictions as a witness.

We aim to avoid the religious arrogance in which convictions are shared in the spirit of a judge, jury, or prosecuting attorney. Nor do we see ourselves as defendants or defense attorneys.

We aim for several individuals to share in a safe environment, by inviting those who talk least to speak up, and by encouraging those who talk most frequently to talk a lot less.

We aim not only for mutual tolerance, but for mutual respect and appreciation of others' views and convictions.

May the Lord of the Bible bless our Bible study together.

Introductory Overview Of

Heroes and Villains, Volume II

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

The following study guide is the second of four in the series: Heroes and Villains. Each guide has thirteen sessions, each session about one Bible character.

A well-facilitated discussion of Joseph's struggle to understand Mary is somehow a lot more meaningful than listening to a lecture about faith in confusing times. In these sessions we're led to discuss the real life experiences of real live people.

In some cases the guide may be available free upon request. For more details, contact Ray Frazier at edrafr9@gmail.com.

(Abbreviated) Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction

1    Matthew

2    Mark

3    Luke

4    John

5    John the Baptist

6    Joseph

7    Mary

8    Andrew

9    Peter

10    Pilate

11    Gamaliel

12    Paul

13    Barnabas

Aims of These Bible Study Guides

You Can Facilitate a Group

Terms

Approximate Bible Time Chart

Introductory Overview Of

Heroes and Villains, Volume III

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

The following study guide is the third of four in the series: Heroes and Villains. Each guide has thirteen sessions, each session about one Bible character.

A well-facilitated discussion of homely Leah's plight of living in the shadow of Barbie Doll Rachel is somehow a lot more meaningful than listening to a lecture about having faith when we get overlooked and unappreciated. In these sessions we're led to discuss the real life experiences of real live people.

In some cases the guide may be available free upon request. For more details, contact Ray Frazier at edrafr9@gmail.com.

(Abbreviated) Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction

1    Lot

2    Hagar

3    Isaac

4    Rebekah

5    Esau

6    Leah

7    Joseph

8    Caleb

9    Samson

10    Ruth

11    Joab

12    Solomon

13    Elijah

Aims of These Bible Study Guides

You Can Facilitate a Group

Terms

Approximate Bible Time Chart

Introductory Overview Of

Heroes and Villains, Volume IV

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

This study guide is the fourth of four in the series: Heroes and Villains. Each guide has thirteen sessions, each session about one Bible character.

A well-facilitated discussion of the Prodigal son's return home is somehow a lot more meaningful than being lectured about handling our past mistakes. In these sessions we're led to discuss the real life experiences of real live people.

In some cases the guide may be available free upon request. For more details, contact Ray Frazier at edrafr9@gmail.com.

(Abbreviated) Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction

1    The Wise Men

2    The Herods

3    The Rich Young Ruler

4    The Prodigal Son

5    Zacchaeus

6    The Gerasene Demoniac

7    Thomas

8    Judas

9    The Good Samaritan

10    The Sower

11    The Antichrist

12    Stephen

13    Cornelius

Aims of These Bible Study Guides

You Can Facilitate a Group

Terms

Approximate Bible Time Chart

Introductory Overview Of

Introduction to the New Testament

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

Each of 13 sessions draws several biblical truths from one or more New Testament books. All the New Testament books are treated.

We understand that an overview of the New Testament's 27 books is very different from a verse-by-verse treatment of four or five verses.

Generally speaking, however, we approach any Bible study with the same plan. A first question is, what does our text say? A second question is, what do other biblical texts say about this matter? Third, what did the Bible's early readers understand this text to say to them? Fourth, what does this text say to us today?

(Abbreviated) Table of Contents

Contents

Bible Study Guidelines

The Four Gospels

1    Matthew

2    Mark

3    Luke

4    John

5    Acts

6    Romans

7    1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians

8    Ephesians, Philippians

9    Colossians, Thessalonians

10    Timothy, Titus, Philemon

11    Hebrews

12    James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John

13    Jude, Revelation

Appendices

A.    Asceticism

B.    Bible Time Charts

C.    Challenges to Paul's Influence

D.    Gnosticism

E.    Jewish Legalism

F.    Judaizers

G.    Morality

H.    Paul's Roman Citizenship

I.     Paul's Roman Imprisonment

J.    Place of Women

K.    Revelation's Meanings

L.    Roman Peace

M.    Rome's View of Christianity

N.    Slavery

O.    Terms

P.    Universalism and The Promise

Introductory Overview Of

Introduction to the Old Testament

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

Each of 13 sessions draws several biblical truths from one or more Old Testament books. All the Old Testament books are treated.

(Abbreviated) Table of Contents

    Contents

    Bible Study Guidelines

1    Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

2    Joshua, Judges, Ruth

3    1 &2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles

4    Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther

5    Job, Psalms

6    Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon

7    Isaiah

8    Jeremiah, Lamentations

9    Ezekiel, Daniel

10    Hosea, Joel, Amos

11    Obadiah, Jonah, Micah

12    Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah

13    Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

    Old Testament Time Chart

    New Testament Time Chart

We understand that an overview of the Old Testament's 39 books is very different from a verse-by-verse treatment of five verses.

Generally speaking, however, we approach any Bible study with the same plan. A first question is, what does our text say? A second question is, what do other biblical texts say about this matter? Third, what did the Bible's early readers understand this text to say to them? Fourth, what does this text say to us today?

Introductory Overview Of

James Verse by Verse

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

As the title indicates, this is a verse by verse treatment of James' letter, beginning with 1:1 and discussing each verse in turn. It is suitable for individual or group study. Bible students may devote a short time or a longer time to the five chapters and 108 verses, as they prefer.

James is occupied with giving us concrete ethical instructions, and there is very little theology in the letter. Like Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, it's all about what to do, and much less about what to believe, as the following outline bears out.

Greeting   1:1

Trials a Cause for Joy   1:2-4

God's Answer to Prayer   1:5-8

The Curse of Riches   1:9-11

Reward of the Righteous   1:12

Temptation, as Distingushd from Trial, is Wholly Evil   1:13-15

All That is Good Comes From God   1:16-18

Self Control   1:19-21

Hearing and Doing   1:22-25

Control of the Tongue   1:26

True Religion   1:27

The Sin of Deference Toward the Rich   2:1-13

Faith and Works   2:14-26

Sins of the Tongue   3:1-12

True Wisdom   3:13-18

Wrongful Desires   4:1-10

Speak No Evil   4:11-12

Sinful Self-Confidence   4:13-16

Sins of Omission   4:17

Judgement on the Rich   5:1-6

Patience of the Righteous   5:7-11

Swearing Forbidden   5:12

Total Consecration   5:13

Sickness   5:14-18

Recall of the Erring   5:19-20

It helps us to keep in mind a few dynamics that are at work in James' letter. James was a common name, and there are at least five men named James in the Bible: (1) James the father of Judas, not Iscariot (Luk 6:16); (2) James the son of Alphaeus, who was one of the twelve (Mat 10:3); (3) James the Younger (Mar 15:40); (4) James, John s brother (Mat 10:2); and (5) James, brother of Jesus (Mar 6:3). It may be interesting to look into the possibilities of each of them authoring this letter. However, we will consider that Jesus' brother James wrote the letter, and that he also was the leader in the Jerusalem church.

There is no reliable evidence placing James' letter as having been written at any particular point in time, or from any particular location.

Introductory Overview Of

Let's Talk About the Things We Don't Talk About

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

Introduction

These topics get overlooked often in Bible study, perhaps because they're difficult, controversial, or we've just never had them called to our attention. Our approach will be to see what the Bible says about each topic, discuss it, and arrive at consensus where that's possible.

If consensus is not possible, we'll try to clarify various individuals' viewpoints and be accepting of one another as sisters and brothers.

Let us discuss. Two heads are better than one, and a dozen are better still. So let's create a safe place to talk:an atmosphere in which each person feels free to share a thought that no one else may agree with.

That type of discussion requires some discipline and conversational maturity. Figure out how to draw out others' comments. Be respectful; flippant answers to painful issues are disrespectful of those in pain.

These topics require conversational maturity of another kind. We were discussing suicide and assisted dying when a wonderful Christian lady abruptly walked out. We should have known why: her husband had passed away after a long and painful battle with cancer. Talking about when to pull the plug brought back horrendous memories to her. The topics before us may bring out painful memories, major hurts, and touchy issues. Let us speak with loving sensitivity.

It's okay to have an opinion and be firmly committed to it. Let's be grown up enough to recognize that it's okay for someone else to have a different opinion and be firmly committed to it too.

We'll have to be patient with certain kinds of personalities: the one who is all but angry about a topic, the one who never says anything, the one who talks the most, the one who misses the point and throws the discussion off track by rambling about unrelated stuff, and others. These topics are important, but the people in our group are more important. Care. Be care-ful: full of care.

These thirteen studies are like space exploration: the more we learn, the more we see that we need to learn of things that are still beyond our horizon. Expect that result. Most often, learning expands the horizons of what we want to learn.

Be aware that the pages that follow are intended to reflect courteous attitude described above. Most often a position is taken on each topic, but not in the attitude that this is the only legitimate position. Iv'e tried to be transparent and self-differentiated in a healthy way.

The 13 sessions are:

1  Interpreting Apocalyptic Passages

2   Holy Spirit Baptism

3  How We Interpret the Bible

4  Divorce

5  Separation of Church and State

6  Suicide and Assisted Dying

7  Science and Religion

8  Other Religions

9  Foreigners Among Us

10  Cremation

11  Speaking in Tongues

12  Women Leaders

13  Evolution

Introductory Overview Of

The Parables of Jesus

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

What Does the Bible Say?

That's our question for every Bible study. Our starting point is the Bible. Our aim is to understand more clearly what it teaches, rather than to string together several happy thoughts that the text may arouse in our minds.

We intend to bring to Bible study minds that are open to new truth. Those who live in the attitude of lifelong students see every day to be a new class. They never graduate to rest on their laurels. We study the Bible with that same outlook.

Our Bible study is expository: we aim to expose, to explain, to dig up and discover what the Bible says to us for today. (Some use the term expository to mean a word by word, line by line, verse by verse treatment.)

We cannot understand, much less explain, what the Bible says unless we apply it to modern life. For example, the Bible says go the second mile (Mat 5:41), but we believe that responsible Bible study draws mental pictures of the second mile in the workplace, in school, at the grocery store, and at the ball game. We must intertwine exposition and application. The Reparabling section in several of these studies is an attempt to express Jesus' first century parable in some twenty-first century situation.

We'll not use the preachers' frequent practice of arranging the material into a few points that all begin with the same word or letter, all rhyme, or all have some other logical and memorable commonality. That's useful for remembering, but it seldom truly grows out of the scripture; most often it is placed on the scripture. That's okay in certain uses; our approach however will focus on comprehending and verbalizing what the Bible text says.

What Does the Rest of the Bible Say About the Text Before Us?

Honest Bible study must ask this question. It must. If we do not ask that question then we could claim the Bible as our inspiration to murder whole cities of men, women and children; we could execute adulterers, homosexuals, and others; we could still be burning witches alive. Selecting certain passages and ignoring others is certain to mislead us.

These are extreme examples. But they prompt us to put into place those patterns of Bible study that take into account all the passages about a particular subject, such as the place of women, taking oaths, hating our parents, and others.

The Bible is a searchlight, not so much to be look at, as to illumine our path. As we seek its light on our path, we must consider all its texts about any subject, and not only those texts that we prefer or are familiar with.

The 13 sessions are:

1  The Trouble With a New Idea

2  A Bountiful Harvest

3  Finishing What We Start

4  Growing Through Prayer

5  Neighborliness Overcoming Prejudice

6  Enemies of Jesus' Religion

7  Joy Over Finding the Lost

8  Jesus' Seating Etiquette

9  Compassion in Action

10  Forgiveness

11  The Kingdom of Heaven, Part I

12  The Kingdom of Heaven, Part II

13  Alert and Ready for the End of All Things

Introductory Overview Of

The Prophets

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

Introduction

These thirteen studies are arranged with two guidelines that hopefully will make them more meaningful. First, the prophets appear herein in chronological order rather than in the order we find them in the Bible. This arrangement should help us get oriented more quickly and more accurately to the current happenings of each prophet as we study them in turn.

Second, since several themes are treated by several prophets, each theme may receive significant attention in our study of only one prophet, and then that theme may receive passing mention in other studies. These themes are listed on pages 84-86 with an indication of which prophet's study contains each theme.

Any honest study of a prophet must take sufficient notice of the spiritual, political, and other dynamics of the time of that prophet. By failing to do so, we can misunderstand a great deal of truth that is readily available to us. Still and yet, it's not our aim to have sessions that are essentially history lessons. We want to discover God's directions for us today. Therefore we always are asking so what? as we study the Bible: so, what does this mean for us? That's the point.

It would be possible to force the study of each prophet into some outline such as the man, the message, the times, and truths for living. In some cases that would indeed be forced. So the studies do not all have the same layout.

We want to learn some facts, such as dates, names, and geography. More importantly, we want to gain some spiritual understanding, such as how the prophets revealed God's word to timeless issues.

May the Lord of the Bible bless our study together.

Abbeviated Table of Contents

  Contents

  What's Worth Knowing?

  Introduction to the Prophets

  What is a Prophet?

  An Approximate Chronology of the Bible's Writing Prophets

  Dates to Remember:

1000-922 Israel's glory days;

922: Israel splits into Israel and Judah

1  Amos   755 BC

2  Jonah and Nahum   755 and 713 BC

3  Isaiah   750-720 BC

4  Hosea   746-730 BC

Date to Remember: 722 Israel falls

5  Micah   738-698 BC

6  Zephaniah   610 BC

7  Habakkuk   600 BC

8  Jeremiah and Lamentations   625-580, 586 BC

9  Daniel   510 (300) BC

10  Ezekiel   592-570 BC

Date to Remember: 586 Judah Falls

11  Obadiah   587 BC

Date to Remember: 535-522 Returns to Jerusalem

12  Haggai and Zechariah   500 BC (both)

13  Joel and Malachi   400 BC (both)

  Prophetic Themes by Prophet

  Prophetic Themes Alphabetized

Introductory Overview Of

The Sermon on the Mount

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

Introduction

The Core of Jesus' Faith

If we had to live with a Bible of only three chapters, which three would we choose? All the Bible points to Jesus, and all his words come to a point in Matthew 5-7: The Sermon on the Mount. This is the mind of Jesus, the heart and soul of his faith, the very core of his own religion. These are the things that he chose to stress to his disciples then and now. This is the essence of Christian spirituality, the most excellent biblical cornerstone for our faith.

When we read the Sermon on the Mount, we are always staring something new in the face. If it is at all possible for mere words to contain the essence of God himself, these are the words. We go through seasons of the soul, but in every season the eternal teachings in these 111 verses are above and beyond us, calling us to an ever higher plain of living.

The prevailing religious climate of the day was intense, harsh, cold. These truths appeared as a spiritual spring morning after an icy, dead winter. They cut through volumes of childish, man-made rules, and lay out before us God's thoughts about us.

Jesus' sermon has the limitless power of brevity and simplicity: lofty, eternal truth in plain language, easy to understand. One of America's greatest speeches was less than 300 words in less than two minutes: it was Lincoln's Gettysburg address. Few if any however, know the name of the orator who rambled for two hours before Lincoln stood to speak.

Brief and simple however, does not mean shallow and insignificant. No other piece of literature in all of history has had as much written about it as Jesus' sermon. Still we are not able to plumb its depths. It remains always higher and deeper than our most profound insights.

So let us understand: this is much more than just another Bible study. The Sermon on the Mount is basic to the Bible; it is fundamental to religion. It can free us from the chains of past and present legalisms. If the Lord himself were to lead our Bible study, he likely would choose to teach these same things unchanged to us. This is the core of his faith. It is appropriate for us to focus our faith on Jesus' focus, to make this core of his religion the core of our religion too.

(Abbreviated) Table of Contents

Introduction

The First Four Beatitudes   5:1-6

The Last Four Beatitudes   5:7-12

Salt and Light   5:13-16

Fulfillment   5:17-20

Fulfillment: Murder   5:21-26 and Adultery   5:27-30

Fulfillment: Divorce   5:31-33 and Oaths   5:33-37

Fulfillment: The Second Mile   5:38-42

Loving Enemies   5:43-48

Pray in Secret   6:1-8

The Lord's (Disciples')   Prayer 6:9-18

Where's Your Treasure?   6:19-24

Don't Worry   6:25-34

Judging; Asking   7:1-12

Lasting Foundations   7:13-29

What is Worth Knowing?

Aims of These Bible Study Materials

Introductory Overview Of

Women in Ministry

By

Edwin Ray Frazier

These 22 pages call attention to the fact that the Bible teaches gender equality. It names nine women in the Bible who gave leadership. It places a strong emphasis on being honest with scripture texts, and refusing the proof texting approach to biblical interpretation. It is suitable for two to four small group study sessions.

(The complete 22 pages of Women in Ministry can be viewed at www.rayfrazier.com/Women.html. What is before you here and now is only an introductory overview.)

Foreword

When my mother was born, her mother could not vote in the land of the free and the home of the brave. While that voting obstacle has been toppled, women still face numerous other unfair hurdles. An honest approach to the Bible affords courageous women and men a strong foundation on which to continue building gender equality.

It's difficult to conceptualize a Baptist church with women in roles traditionally held for men. I confess that I struggle to grow beyond demeaning outlooks toward women. I'm a child of the mid and late nineteen hundreds in America. When I see or envision a woman in some religious leadership roles, something within me winces. That something I have come to understand is, at best, spiritually childish and unChristlike. God calls me to face that fact, and to grow. A similar kind of need to grow occurred when the Bible was first translated into English, when Christian hymns were first set to Europe's popular tunes, and when contemporary music came on the scene in the late twentieth century.

The pages before you now are intended to call attention to the biblical bases for gender equality. We can swim out of our seemingly hopeless immersion in assumptions about women's demeaning place. My prayer is that you will find herein sincere encouragement and understandable explanation about what the Bible actually teaches about women.

(Abbreviated) Table of Contents

Foreword

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 Honest Interpretation

Beyond Proof Texting

The Bible's Progression Toward Christlikeness

Why Did Christ Stop Short?

Chapter 2 Bible Texts

Passages about Gender Equality

Male and Female Created He Them   Genesis 1:26-27

In Christ there is Neither Male nor Female   Galatians 3:28

Submit to One Another   Ephesians 5:21

Passages That Subordinate Women

Your Husband Shall Rule Over You   Genesis 3:16

Women Cannot Teach Men   1 Timothy 2:11-15

Disgraceful for Women to Speak in Church   1 Corinthians 14:34-35

Chapter 3 Women Leaders in the Bible

Biblical Leadership Terms

1   Anna: Prophet   Luke 2:36-37

2   Deborah: Prophetess, Judge, Military Leader   Judges 4:4-5

3   Esther: National deliverer   Esther 4:15-16

4   Huldah: Prophetess   2 Kings 22:14 and 2 Chronicles 34:22

5   Miriam: Prophet   Exodus 15:20

6   Noadiah: Prophet   Nehemiah 6:14

7   Phoebe: Deacon   Romans 16:1

8   Priscilla: Co-worker   Six New Testament texts

9   Prophetess Without a Name:   Isaiah 8:3

10   Junia:   Romans 16:7

Chapter 4 Jesus' Interaction with Women

Jesus and the Woman at the Well   John 4

Jesus and the Adulterous Woman   John 8

Conclusion

Several books previewed on this website are available on line;
Or you may send the purchase price plus $4.00 shipping and handling to:
Edwin Ray Frazier, 4202 Appleton Way, Wilmington, NC 28412
Questions? email: edrafr9@gmail.com phone: 910-232-1258
Thank you.