Adventures in Biblical Thinking Study Series Volume One

By Elden Daniel

collection of studies of Biblical concepts and principles. These studies first appeared as postings on my website and/or as studies in my audiobooks. Volume One contains twenty-two short- length studies. Volume Two contains thirteen medium-length studies. Volume Three contains eight longer-length studies. Most of the studies include discussion q

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elden Daniel
• Release date: Jun 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781087963914

Elden Daniel

...the unsearchable riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8 KJV). ...the endless treasures available to them in Christ (Ephesians 3:8 NLT). ...the boundless riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8 NIV).

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Adventures in Biblical Thinking Study Series Volume One

Adventures in Biblical Thinking Study Series Volume One

Adventures in Biblical Thinking Study Series Volume One

Dr. Elden Daniel

Elden Daniel

Copyright © 2021 by Elden Daniel

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

First Printing, 2021

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Contents

Introduction

Preface

1 Life

2 The Attributes of God

3 Love

4 The Five R’s

5 The Fall of Mankind

6 The Truth

7 Creation

8 Grace

9 Sanctification

10 The Trinity

11 Sin

12 Prayer

13 The Invisible

14 The Will

15 The Lord’s Return

16 Let Go

17 Lifted Up

18 John 3:16

19 The Unnecessary Burden of Guilt

20 What If?

21 There Is a Difference

22 Why Did Jesus Come?

References

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Notes

Introduction

Writing journey.

At the time of this writing, I am eighty years old. I have been retired from the eight to five job scene since 2010, although I still do some online teaching at the university level. For the last few years, I have been doing some writing about topics that the Lord laid on my heart. Mostly, what I wrote just remained saved on my computer.

Then I decided that maybe the writing could be organized into a book. I began the adventure of seeking to have a book printed. The book was The Mystery of Godliness. Although I eventually have arrived at a printed book, the journey was long, challenging, and frustrating. During the waiting time, I continued to write but was perplexed about how to make my writing available for others.

Discouraged about the challenge of trying to get my writing into print. I came up with the idea of creating a webpage where I could post my writing. With the help of a techy friend, I developed a website where I periodically post some of my writing.

This brings my story up to the audiobook stage. I was aware that some of my friends and relatives regularly listen to audiobooks, particularly when driving. The wonder of smartphones made audiobooks very accessible. So, I began researching producing audiobooks. I learned about the recording process and I found a company that would publish audiobooks and distributes them. I bought a microphone and downloaded the Audacity program and I was ready to begin producing. As of September 2001, I have published twenty-one audiobooks.

My adventure in producing print books has taken a dramatic turn for the better. I am working with a company that provides a book-building program where I can build my own book. After building my book the company then publishes and distributes the book. I have since built and published several books. You will find a list of my books on the back cover.

In the Adventure in Biblical Thinking Study Series, I have collected many audiobook submissions and my webpage posting and organized them into four volumes. They appear as lessons and since my professional career has been in education, I couldn’t resist creating discussion questions for most of them. I believe the discussion question will enhance the learning experience for the reader.

My goal has been to provide study books that can be useful for a personal or a small group Bible study. The studies could be used as curriculum in a Sunday School class, in a small group fellowship, in a Bible course in a Christian School, or a home school setting.

Presentation style.

Some authors very effectively insert phrases from Scripture to support their text. Other authors will list references to support their text assuming the diligent listener will pause and look up the references. I have chosen to quote the entire Scripture passage. My reasoning has been based upon the truth that the Holy Spirit indwelling the reader will apply the Word of God in the personal life of the reader in an appropriate manner that only the Holy Spirit knows. Every believer is on a personal individual journey in which the Holy Spirit is renewing their mind and transforming them into the image of Christ. 

You may wonder why so many Scriptural references are quoted including at times rather lengthy passages. Although I cite the reference of the passage, if there are multiple verses, I include them continuously without dividing them into individual verses. I believe this supports the continuity of the passage.

The truth that impacts and changes lives is found in the Word of God. It is important to remember when we read Scripture it is the Lord speaking to you and me. The words we read from Scripture are meant to be taken personally.

 My comments may or may not be helpful but the Scriptures will be helpful. Many times, I have grouped several Scriptural passages around a specific topic, this way, the message from the whole of Scripture somehow seems clearer.

My personal experience has been and this may true for you as well, is sometimes, usually during a time of solitude and quiet, the Scriptural concepts, principles or benefits move from my head to my heart. It is not unusual for the move from head to heart to also generate a few tears of thankfulness as it moves.

Each separate topic is part of a whole. My goal is to separate some content from Scripture, focus on it, and indicate or imply its importance to the whole of Scripture. I also want to provide insight into the application of the Word in the life of the Jesus follower.

When presenting passages, I deliberately left out the numbering of verses. When you read a passage that involves several verses, it will be one continuous passage. That is the way it originally appeared. Noting chapter and verse is a wonderful tool for referencing. We often see numbering in legal documents. However, it is my view that often breaking up a passage with the numbering of verses can be a distraction that hinders grasping the full meaning. Think about it. If you write a letter to a friend, you don't number the sentences or the lines. You want your thoughts to flow together.

You may wonder why the emphasis on thinking. Thinking involves pondering, reflecting, analyzing, exploring, examining, meditating, and maybe more. Thinking about what the Lord is saying in the Word is an essential part of internalizing and making the message our own and personal. Remember the Lord is speaking to each one of us.

In the Word of God, we are told what to do, who to be, and what to think about. Think about this verse:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8).

Preface

I firmly believe that every born-again believer has their own personal and mostly private journey toward becoming more Christ-like. We are each created uniquely different and travel our own private path through life. The Lord knows this and knows us. Since He is a personal Savior, each believer has a personal relationship with Him. It is a beautiful thing.

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (I Timothy 4: 8-9).

Born-again believers want to become Jesus followers. They want to live a life that is pleasing to Jesus. They instinctively know that an important part of that journey involves knowing more about Jesus and what He wants them to do. The search for that knowledge will lead them to study the Word of God. They know that in the Bible they will learn about who Jesus is, what He has done for them, and what His future plans are for them. They will also learn what the Lord is currently doing in them and through them.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6).

These volumes are about the journey and adventure for the believer to explore the adventure of Biblical thinking in route to pleasing the Lord more and becoming more Christ-like. It may seem presumptuous to think that an ordinary person could become Christ-like but from Scripture, we see that this is God's plan for each of His children.

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church (Ephesian 4:15 NLT).

The intended audience for these books is the Jesus follower who has a committed desire to please the Lord and a hunger to know and love Him better. They will discover many Biblical concepts and principles in these volumes that will be a help along an individual’s journey. I believe that every person, believer, and unbeliever, is involved in a lifelong search for answers to these two questions: Who am I? and how does the world work?

I believe that everyone’s journey in life involves learning and that learning changes that person. I believe in the accuracy and universal application of the principle: Beliefs drive practice. What a person believes matters.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT).

You will find that these volumes include the quoting of many scriptures. Since the word of God is truth, how could I not include many scriptures? Now if these studies seem mysterious and capture your interest and curiosity, you are ready to read these books.

1

Life

Welcome to the Biblical adventure of thinking about life. Join in thinking about the meaning and value of life. You will discover that there are many Biblical references to life. Ponder them.

There is something mysterious about life. What exactly is life? Life is the opposite of death and death is the absence of life. In all of God's creation, plants and animals, every living thing has life and is subject to death. Life is linked with power. Power to move and power to respond and power to initiate. Death has no power to move, respond, or initiate. In some ways, the reality of death makes life more important. Since death is seen as something to be avoided, hanging on to life becomes strategic.

We begin our fight against death with our first breath. A baby must start to breathe. Death is feared. "and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death" (Hebrews 2:15). The context of this verse is a proclamation that Jesus has delivered believers from the fear of death but my point in using this verse is to illustrate that the natural tendency is to be in bondage