One Hour Bible Studies: 44 Different Topics of Study

By Edwin E. Frost

Would You Want To Be Blessed by God?

God offers us His blessing through His holy scriptures. We can be blessed only if we make an effort, especially in these busy times, to learn and grow in faith by reading and studying His holy words.

One Hour Bible Studies will offer you forty-four different topics of s

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Jun 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685566388

Edwin E. Frost

Edwin E. Frost, MBA. Ed is a past Elder in his church and has participated or led in fifteen or more Bible Studies. He is an advocate for Bible study groups as a way to grow in faith as we wait for the coming of Christ Jesus as King. During their fifty-nine years of marriage, Ed and his wife, Heide, raised their children in the Lord and strived to be a Christian example for their five grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. He is a US Army veteran ('61-'65) having served in West Germany.

Book preview

Prologue

When was the last time you opened a Bible to read God’s word, attended a class at church or participated, with other people, in an on-going Bible study? When was the last time you had an itching to learn about a Bible phrase or topic you heard about from others? These are questions that many folks today have difficulty answering because of this busy and confusing world they live in.

How did this book come to be written?

On November 16, 1976, I had to start kidney dialysis due to renal failure. The treatment was a four-hour dialysis session each of the three days per week. It became obvious, that I needed to find something to do to pass the time. Watching television was not satisfying and napping was difficult, so I started taking my Bible to each kidney dialysis treatment session so I could re-read it starting with Genesis. During these readings, I would get ‘thoughts’ to write papers on various topics, such as the meaning of the ‘Image of God.’ These are not topics I sought out to write but were phrases the literally jumped out to me while reading, listening to my Pastor’s sermons or during my quiet times. People started noticing what I was doing, reading and writing notes to myself. I would then take my notes home and develop a topic paper that included information, Bible verses on the topic and follow up questions. When I offered to share my papers no one said no! A technician later commented, My wife just loves to read your study papers! It was so moving for me to see such an interest and longing for understanding many people desire. I believe I was encouraged, by the Holy Spirit, to continue to study and write on specific topics. It is my belief that I was being led to write a study book that people could read and learn more about what God wants for His creation. These papers are now the book of One Hour Bible Studies.

Why write the book?

This series of one-hour Bible studies are for the sole purpose of making the Bible, the holy word of God, more attractable to people who live in our very busy world of today. My hope is for those who haven’t found the time to read the Bible, will see the value of the One Hour Bible Studies in learning about God, our creator, and his gift of knowledge - truth. If these studies can plant a ‘seed’ in someone, to seek and learn, then I have succeeded. If these studies can broaden the knowledge of believers, then I have succeeded. If these studies increase the faith of Christians, Halleluiah! If these studies bring people to want to read the Bible more often or find a church or join a study group, praise God.

Where do the scriptures and other information in the book come from?

In order to be consistent throughout the studies, the Bible version solely used in these studies is the New International Version (NIV)¹. I use the Holy Scriptures plus knowledge I have absorbed from sermons, some thirty years in Bible study groups and questions I have personally asked of others.

Have faith that the scriptures are the holy word of God. For 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Hebrews 4: 12 states; For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The Heidelberg Catechism: "True faith is not only a certain knowledge whereby I hold truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the Gospel in my heart; that, not only to others but to me also, remission of sins, everlasting righteousness and salvation, are freely given by God, merely by grace, only for the sake of Christ’s saving work.²

Affirmation of Faith

I, the author, proclaim that I believe Jesus Christ is the son of God, sent to bring salvation to mankind. I believe He suffered and was crucified and died on the cross to take away my sins so I can have everlasting life with Him. I believe He was resurrected from death and sits at the right hand of God in the highest heaven. I believe He sits, waiting for God’s command, to go get His sheep, His believers. I have faith and truly believe the Bible scriptures are God-breathed.

The Hope

It is my hope that these studies will lead those, who are seeking truth, to read and trust the scriptures as being God’s holy word. It is my hope that they strive to apply what they learn in their lives. It is my hope that they accept Jesus Christ as their savior and receive God’s grace of forgiveness and life everlasting with the Lord.

One Hour Bible Study – Instructor’s Guidelines

The One Hour Bible Study is different from the traditional Bible study book. The One Hour Bible Study covers specific topics or teachings of Christ. Here are some suggestions for teaching and studying each individual topic:

1. You are encouraged to pre-read all verses in the study you be covering. If you find yourself unclear with the verse, do some personal research to gain clarity and understanding. This will prepare you for the questions you will encounter from the participants. I highly recommend that you read Matthew 18:20 when you open the study class. We should always remember that Jesus is with us, and He hears us!

2. Open each session with prayer, praying for guidance in teaching, for a clear understanding of scripture by all attendees and for personal improvements as needed.

3. As instructor, you can choose to instruct by following study 1, then 2, then 3 and so on. Or you can choose to ask each attendee to pick a study from the table of contents, which they would like to learn and build a schedule of studies. For example, if you have six attendees, you might get six different responses, so set up a schedule to cover all six topics. When you complete you complete all six, set up another schedule by asking again.

4. The Bible verses used in each of the individual studies are from the New International Version (NIV). It is suggested that the instructor use and read from an NIV Bible. However, ask the attendees to bring any Bible to the sessions. As you progress through the lesson, read the verses from the NIV, but also ask the attendees to read the same verse from another Bible version. It is good for the students to hear as many different versions of the specific verse being studied. It also helps students get comfortable with reading aloud and encourages participation in the Bible study.

5. When questions arise, do not feel you have to always answer. Ask the group to answer the question posed. This will generate thinking and bring different ideas for discussion. The questions at the end of the lesson are for the group to respond. Guide them through the questions asking for their opinions. The Hints are there to help the group search for the truth.

6. Encourage group discussion and try to keep it moving along. Be patient when no one responds to a question; remain silent as this sends a signal that someone needs to respond. However, after a while, if the silence persists, try rephrasing the question; resist answering it yourself. Remember, much learning comes from group discussion and the sharing of understanding, ideas, and feelings.

7. Expect times when you do not have an answer to the question. You could make it a ‘homework item’ asking the students to come back next time with their response or tell the group you will study the question and come back with the answer.

8. You may encounter responses that are clearly unbiblical or obviously incorrect. Do not let this response stand by asking for clarity. For example, ask where they got this information or understanding: What piece of scripture led you to believe this to be true? As instructor, you always want to correct misunderstandings. If you are not sure if something said is unbiblical, make a note of it and research it. Then correct it at your next session. Never let unbiblical comments go unchallenged.

9. Strive to keep your session on time. If the group expects to attend for one hour, strive to end the study and prayer times after one hour. Continue the topic study at the next group meeting/session. However, if you are close to completion, it is okay to ask the group if they want to go another fifteen minutes so you can finish this topic; getting permission to continue builds respect for their time.

10. End the study with prayer. Ask the group for Prayer Requests as most people have family, friends or associates that need prayer. Make it very clear that all requests are to remain within the group and are not to be stated outside of the group so that they are confidential. Then pray for all requests presented.

11. At the start of a new topic of study, ask if there are any lingering questions or concerns from the previous study. Do not be surprised if you get a few. Spend time reviewing the previous study, asking for the group to help in responding to the question posed.

12. When starting the ‘Question for thought or discussion" section, encourage the participants to write their responses in the spaces provided at the end of each study.

Study 1

The Image of God

Read: Genesis Chapter 1 and Chapter 2:1-2

Genesis, Chapter 1:1-2 reveals to us God’s creation of the heavens and the water covering earth where the Spirit of God was hovering. Then God’s creation continues with light for day and night, then the sea, dry land, and the sky. God then created vegetation and trees on the dry land. To provide light for the plants to grow in their seasons, God then placed the sun, moon and stars in their places. In the 5th day of creation, He filled the sea with life and the sky with birds. The creation continues into the 6th day with land animals of all different kinds and mankind to have dominion over all animals of the sea, sky, and land. God saw that His creation was good and He rested on the 7th day making this a Holy Day for all generations.

After creating all the animals, God made a statement: "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, . . . (Genesis 1:26 -27). Who is God speaking to when he made this statement? John 1:1-2 clearly gives us the answer. God is speaking to His son, Jesus at His side. Colossians 1:15-16 clearly tells us that Jesus is the image of God and the He created