Video Bible Study by David E. Pratte

Sound Teaching for Older Men ================== Instructions for various groups of people beginning with older men. They should learn to have sober judgment, reverent #respect for God and His word, and temperance (self-control) to practice what is good. They also need sound or wholesome #faith, #love, and #patience. Class discussion of when a person becomes a "older" man or woman. Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; www.gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

How to Handle Divisive People in a Congregation ============================== What should a local church do about a member who causes strife, teaches false doctrine, or leads others into error? What does it mean to be factious or divisive? What is the significance of a first and second admonition and rejecting such a man? How does this compare to other church discipline passages? Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; https://gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture #division #faction #error #discipline

Introduction to the Grace of God ==================== What is God's #grace and to whom does it offer #salvation? How do we learn what grace does and how we can receive its benefits? Must we meet #conditions to receive the benefits of salvation by grace or is it #unconditional? Do we have a choice in accepting grace? Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; https://gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

I Will Pass Them by No More - Because Israel rebelled and would not #repent despite repeated warnings from the #prophets, #God determined the #nation would go into captivity. They emphasized #material #wealth and #pleasure more than #worship, so God would not forget their #sins. Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; www.gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

Has the Bible Been Accurately Preserved over the Centuries? ======================================= Have parts of the Bible been lost or changed over the years? Have uninspired parts been mistakenly added? Has the meaning been lost in translation? Are there "thousands of errors" in the Bible? What about the variations in manuscripts? Did God promise to preserve His word? Must we trust some church or council to determine what to accept as Scripture? Can we be sure we have the true word of God today? This material is also available as an article at https://gospelway.com/bible/bible_preservation.php Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; https://gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

Remind Them to Do Good ================ Teachers of God's word should remind God's people of proper conduct. What authority do preachers have? What is our responsibility toward civil rulers? How important are good works? What principles should guide our speech about other people? Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; https://gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture #rulers #speech #works #obedience #preachers

I Will Wait for the God of My Salvation: The people must be punished with captivity because of their sins. But a remnant will return and God will be their Shepherd. God will have compassion and will pardon iniquities. Lesson presented by David E. Pratte #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #Scripture www.gospelway.com

"I Took for Myself Two Staffs ... Beauty and ... Bonds" ================================= Zechariah predicted the destruction of the nation because it will Reject the Messiah. God will reject the shepherds of Israel for misleading and mistreating the people. Two staffs, Beauty and Bonds, symbolized the blessings and unity of Israel and Judah, but both would be broken. The price paid for the shepherd symbolizes the people’s rejection of the Messiah and the destruction of the nation. Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; https://gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

Qualifications of Elders: Faithful Children ========================= The required characteristics of elders/bishops include "faithful children not accused of riot or unruly." The class discusses the meaning and Bible passages using the terms #faithful, #riot, and #unruly. Must the children be Christians? What if they are immoral or rebellious? How many must be faithful? Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; www.gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

God knows all about people and will #judge fairly. Amos speaks a #lamentation against Israel because they turned #justice to bitterness and hated those who #rebuke sin and spoke uprightly. We cannot please our #Creator when we oppose His true #teaching. Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; www.gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

Perilous Times in the Last Days (continued) - When people love themselves they often lack #self-control and are #haughty, despise what is good, love #pleasure more than they do #God, and have a form of #godliness but by their conduct they deny it. Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; www.gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

Why Do You Look on Those Who Deal Treacherously? ========================== Habakkuk had asked why God allowed #evil to continue without administering #justice. God responded that He would send the Chaldeans to bring #punishment. Habakkuk then asked the same question we sometimes ask: Why would God use evil people to accomplish His purposes? Does God make people become evil? Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; www.gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

The Importance of Appointing Qualified Elders ============================ Churches should work to develop and #appoint elders because the work these men do is so essential to working effectively as a congregation. Until a church has #elders, something important is lacking. Scripture reveals the #qualifications or characteristics men must have in order to be appointed. These qualities are necessary for each man to possess in order to serve. Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; www.gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

I Will Save You, and You Shall Be a Blessing =========================== God promised to restore His relationship with the people and dwell in their midst. He would be their God and they would be His people. His promises looked forward to the Messianic kingdom under the gospel in fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham. The remnant of God's people would receive these blessings. Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; https://gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

Their Heart Shall Rejoice in the Lord ======================= God would have mercy on people of both Judah and Israel, so they would return from captivity. He would redeem them so they would be like they had been before He cast them off. He would strengthen them and they would walk in His name, but those enemies who had abused them would be brought down. Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; https://gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

They Feared the Lord Yet Served Their Own Gods =============================== Persecution of the Jews by Antiochus Epiphanes resulted in the Maccabean Revolt led by Mattathias Hasmoneas and his sons, especially Judas. They won military victories against great odds, purified the temple, and established a dynasty. The Samaritans were a mixed race that resulted from intermarriage of Israelites with foreigners moved in by Assyria. They had a mixed religion that acknowledged God but compromised with false religion. Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; https://gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

The Lord Is Righteous ... He Never Fails ======================== Just like today, people claimed to serve God but did not #obey Him. The #rulers, #preachers, and #priests pursued their own gain and perverted God's #teaching and #worship. But God could be trusted to do #justice and #righteousness without fail. He would bring destruction on those who do evil and would bless those who are faithful. Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; www.gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

Does God Know and Care about Our Lives? ========================== Zechariah prophesied to God's people who returned from Babylonian captivity. His visions and prophecies urged people to obey God and predicted the coming reign of the Messiah. Is God aware of our problems? Can we hide our sins? Does He care about His people and will He punish the evils that surround us in society? Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; https://gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

How Did Jesus View the Accuracy, Inspiration, and Authority of Scripture? =============================================== Many people doubt or deny the accuracy or authority of the Bible. Did Jesus believe in the accuracy of Creation, Noah's flood, and Jonah? Did He believe the Old and New Testaments were inspired by God as authority and a standard to guide people to know and obey the word of God? May we take a middle-ground position that we are followers of Jesus but we doubt some Bible teachings? This material is also available as a free article here: https://gospelway.com/bible/scripture-and-jesus.php Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; https://gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

You have caused many to stumble at the law ============================= God’s covenant required priests to fear God, teach the law, and practice justice. But He accused the priests that they had departed from the way, caused others to stumble, shown partiality, and corrupted the covenant. He warned them that disobeying His command would cause them to be cursed. How well are we fulfilling our covenant responsibilities? Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; https://gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

The One Foundation of the Church ====================== What is the true foundation of Jesus' church? Does Peter or any man serve as foundation or is Christ the only foundation? In what sense may a teacher's work be burned up yet he is saved? Is this "once saved always saved"? What is the temple that is built by gospel preaching? Does the Holy Spirit still dwell in us today, and if so does this refer to miracles and Holy Spirit baptism today? Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; https://gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

A Fountain Shall Be Opened for Sin and for Uncleanness ===================================== Zechariah continues to prophesy God's accomplishments in the Messianic age. When they look on him whom they pierced, they will mourn for him as for an only son and a fountain will be opened for sin and for uncleanness. Idols will be cut off and prophets and unclean spirits will depart from the land. Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; https://gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

Wholesome Teaching for Older Women ======================== Older #women should be taught to be reverent toward #God in their conduct, to avoid #slander and hurtful #speech, to avoid the dangers of #alcoholic beverages, and to #teach good things especially to young women. Emphasis on passages describing the value of women teachers. Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; www.gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

The Same Teaching in Every Church ======================= Paul taught the Corinthians to imitate him as he imitated Christ. What authority exists in the example set by apostles? Should we call church leaders "father"? Paul taught the same things in every church. What applications does this have to us today? Should we overlook the fact different denominations teach different doctrines? Is religious division acceptable? Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; https://gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture

The House of the Lord Established: Micah prophesied that, in the latter days, God would establish His house, and people of many nations would enter. The #law would go forth from #Jerusalem and people would learn God's ways. When and how was this fulfilled? Lesson presented by David E. Pratte; www.gospelway.com #Bible #BibleStudy #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #Christianity #truth #gospel #Scripture