Mission Update 4-4-19

We have moved our special needs children into their new homes:

Last Thursday, we moved all our special needs children into their new homes in His Safe Haven’s village.  

We have finished the construction of 4 group homes.  In the future, we plan to build 8 additional homes.  

Our construction site came alive and is now full of the sounds of children playing and moms talking.  

Thank you for all you have done to love on our special children.  Here are a few pictures of the move. 

There are no children’s car seats where we live.  

We filled our land cruiser several times over while transporting our children. 

We are cooking on our old coal pots while our mud brick stoves dry.

There were a lot of smiles!

Believe it or not, we were able to move all our foster families and all our ministry supplies in four truck loads.  

Words cannot express the joy that we feel as dreams are becoming reality for our children.  I am delighted as I see our village for special needs orphans come alive!

Thank you for buying new mattresses!

The move was not without its challenges.  We are in the dry season.  The day after moving, our well went dry.  We have started digging a new well. 

While our foster moms are getting settled in, construction continues.  This month, we will focus our construction efforts on the ministry center and on completing another group home.  This ministry center will have a therapy center, medical clinic, offices, and a community dinning hall. 

I want to say a special thank you to Fairview Missionary Church’s children’s ministry who took up an offering to help us complete another group home.  Kids, this is a picture of your home.  We will begin working on your home next week.  Currently we have two foster families living in each of our group homes.  We want to complete as many homes as we can, as fast as we can, so each of our foster families can enjoy their own homes.  I want to thank each of you for giving your pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters away!  Your money really added up and is changing lives in Liberia!  Thank you! 

Meet Susan McLay: 

I want to introduce Susan McLay to you.  Susan is from New Zealand.  Susan served special needs children in Hope for Home’s ministry in Guatemala for 18 months prior to coming to Liberia to serve with us.  Susan’s life long dream has been to run an orphanage in Rwanda.  While serving in Guatemala, Susan heard about our mission and decided to join us in Liberia.  Susan’s heart is to serve children and young women.  We praise God for bringing Susan to Liberia.  Please keep Susan in your prayers as she acclimates.  

Constructing Susan’s Home:

One of last month’s construction goals was to complete Susan’s home.  We built a one room, one bath efficiency apartment with a large porch.

Thank you for furnishing Susan’s home!

You gave Susan a beautiful gift!  Thank You!

Mobile Medical Clinic:

Our Mobile Medical Clinic is on the road every Monday.  We travel to remote towns and local orphanages.

Last month, our clinic was in two bush towns and two orphanages.

Our goals are to treat the sick, to share the Gospel, and to strengthen God’s church.

Last month, we treated 847 patients.

Forty-eight people gave their lives to Jesus. 

Thank you for enabling us to treat our patient for free.  Our medical ministry is one of our most fruitful ministries.  The churches we work with have been greatly strengthened, many lives have been saved, and many people have given their lives to Christ through our clinics.    

Bible Institute:

Most pastors in the bush have no Biblical training.  Most bush churches are full of false teaching.  These teachings mix demonic bush society beliefs with Bible stories.  Most bush pastors do not know the Gospel's message.  Our Remote Bible Institutes take Bible training to the pastors by hosting classes in their churches.  

Our curriculum was written specifically for Liberia’s oral culture. 

Oral cultures pass life’s lessons and history from one generation to the next through storytelling and parables.  

Our curriculum makes theology and the Bible easy to understand by using pictures.  

We have a full-time artist who works with us.  His job is to draw pictures for everything we teach.  Here is a sequence of pictures that show the aim of the Bible Institutes.

The missionary’s job is to disciple the pastors of pastors.

The pastors of pastors job is to disciple pastors.

The pastor’s job is to disciple their churches.   

The Bible Institute is located in three towns on Kokoyah Road.   

Thank you for sending us new recording equipment!  Many people in Liberia are illiterate.  Illiteracy should not disqualify someone from serving God.  Our lessons are being recorded in Liberian English and Kpelle.  These recordings can be distributed through micro memory chips which are placed in people’s phones.  This makes it possible for the illiterate to be trained. 

A missionary friend of mine is working with a few men to translate some of our lessons into Bassa.  He is experimenting to see if there is benefit in using Liberian's native dialects or if writing our lessons in simple English is sufficient.  Liberia is a multilingual country.  There are more than 30 languages in Liberia.  English is the official language.  

Liberty Elementary School:

Our school exists to give impoverished children an excellent Christian education.  We pray that God would enable us to equip our students to follow God and succeed in life.      

Many of our students could not afford to go to school.   

We have 216 students in grade levels preschool through third grade.  Our goal is to add a new grade level to our school every year until we have reached the 12th grade.  

Thank you for paying for every student’s uniform, shoes, P.E. clothes, school supplies, text books, medical care, tuition, and teacher’s pay.  

We are creating a Scripture memory Bible:
Liberia is known as one of the most corrupt places in the world.  This corruption was caused by years of extreme poverty, by civil war, and by broken families.  Nearly every child in Liberia is raised by a single mom.  Children are not trained to make wise decisions nor to follow Christ.  The book of Proverbs is a wonderful gift for those who have no father figure in their lives.  Proverbs was written from the perspective of a father as he trains his children to follow God and to be wise in every life circumstance.  

We are creating a Scripture Memory Bible for our students.  We are translating every verse in Proverbs into a picture to help our children memorize the entire book.  Everyday, our students learn a new memory verse while they practice reciting old verses.  A short devotional has been written which goes along with each day’s verse.  Our students are also given a paper like the one in this picture to take home and memorize.  What a joy it has been to hear our students speak God’s Word from memory!  I praise God, this method of memorizing has been extremely effective!  Please pray that the Lord will use this curriculum to help students in other schools learn God's Word as well!  

2018-2019 School year is paid for:

Praise God!  Last week, I was able to pay off the balance we owed for the 2018-2019 school year.  On behalf of many students and parents, thank you!  You are giving our students the tools they need for a better tomorrow!

We are adding onto our school:

God has truly blessed our school.  We have outgrown our buildings.  We are currently using the church's sanctuary, cafeteria, and even the pastor's office as classrooms.  Our pastor has graciously moved his office to a storage closet to make room for our school.  

We have started constructing a three story addition onto our school.  The most beautiful part of this construction project is the hearts of our leaders.  There is a Liberian proverb that says, "you wash my back side and I'll will wash my front side."  This proverbs means that a person should do all they can do to help themselves before they ask others for help.

What I am about to tell you may seem small to you but it is huge in Liberia.  Please keep in mind that a good job in Liberia makes $5 a day.  Our leaders were able to raise $10,000 and have laid our school's foundation and started elevating it's walls using only Liberian dollars.  I praise God for their sacrifice!

Our greatest needs:
I am often asked, "What is the mission's greatest needs?"  Here are our greatest needs: 

1.  I am praying that the Lord would enable our mission to raise $22,000 to help complete the first story of our school's construction project.  If we are going to add the 4th grade to our school next year, we need to complete the first story of our school before September.  Our Liberian church has done all they can do to build this building.  I deeply desire to encourage them, while coming alongside of them, and helping raise the remaining $22,000 that is needed to complete the first story.  The cement floor for the second story will act as a roof for the first story until we need additional classrooms.  

2.  Next year, we project our school's enrollment to reach 270 students.  It costs $75 to send a child to school for one school year.  This money pays for a child's school uniform, shoes, P.E. clothes, school supplies, text books, medical care, and our teachers' salaries.  I am praying that God enables us to raise $20,250 before school starts in September to pay for the 2019-2020 school year.  

3.  A wonderful opportunity to serve orphans has presented itself to us.  

This house and its land are for sale.  

The home is located directly next to our church.  I am praying that we can purchase this property and give it to our church.  If we are able do this, we will partner with our church in opening two group homes for orphans.  These children would literally be raised in the church.   

Believe it or not, it costs only $3,000 to purchase this land and to do minor renovations.  

4. We need to complete 3 additional group homes for our special needs orphans as soon as possible.  We currently have two foster families living in each of our group homes.  Money has already been raised to complete one group home.  A second group home is already under roof.  It will cost around $3,000 to complete the second group home.  The foundation for the third group home has been laid.  The cost of its construction will be around $5,000.  

5.  We need to complete the construction of our village's ministry center.  This building will be a great blessing to our community.  Within this building will be a medical clinic, therapy center, offices, and dinning hall.  We need approximately $5,000 to complete its construction.  

Other than our daily operational expenses, these are our mission's greatest needs.  If you are interested in giving towards any of these needs, please send your donation to Hope For Home Ministries, P.O. Box 393, Troy, Ohio, 45373.  Please write "Liberia" on the memo line and the name of the need you want to help meet.  You can also donate online at liberiacalls.blogspot.com.  

Prayer Request:

1.  Please pray for our family as we are going through the process of getting visas for our three new children to travel with us to the States for a visit.  We are hoping to visit the States this summer.  The process has been very slow.  We are beginning to wonder if we will have to wait until this fall to travel.  

2.  Please pray for our various ministries (Bible Institute, Mobile Medical Ministry, Liberty School, Group Homes, and Sponsorship program).  Please pray that we will see people coming to Christ and discipled in their faith.  

3.  Please pray for Susan as she acclimates to Liberia. 

4.  Please pray for my wife as she home schools all 7 of our children.

Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel and for you faithful prayers! 

Rescued from the Secret Society

The names and places in this update have been changed to protect the idenity of those involved.  

The 15 year old girl who is with our family in this picture is named Patience.  She became a Christian when one of our physician assistants gave a health talk on the health dangers of women joining the demonic secret society.  Most children in our area join this society.  One of the many grotesque things the secret society practices is genital mutalazation while canabalizing the parts of the body that are cut off.  Our physician assistant’s health talk focused on her observations from a medical perspective.  When Patience became a Christian, she decided she would not join the society.  Later, she shared the information she learned from the health talk with another young girl.  This girl went to the secret society and told them what Patience said.  The secret society immediately flared up and charged Patience with exposing their secrets.  As a result they took steps to carry Patience into the bush against her and her father’s will to be initiated into the demonic society.  We have been told that those who expose the society’s secrets are either killed or they do not return from the bush sound.  

With her father’s permission, we put Patience in hiding.  After a couple months, things seemed to calm down so Patience returned home.  Upon returning home, the secret society flared up again.  Multiple meetings were held between the society leaders and Patience’s family.  Things became so intense that Patience’s life became in danger.  Patience’s father and stepmother also feared for their lives.  We immediately put Patience back in hiding.  That night, a strange man walked pass the house where Patience was hiding.  When he saw her, he said something to the effect of, “We have found you... We are coming for you.”  

We immediately moved Patience to a different secure location for the night and then moved her to our house believing it would be the safest place for her.  We went to the police that morning and filled out a report.  We were apprehensive about going to the police because Patience’s father feared the police were part of the society.  We also contacted the women and children’s protection agency.  They promised to come and get Patience’s testimony.  After several days of phone calls, the man I spoke to at the woman and child protection agency told me that their leaders were part of the secret society and that they would not intervene.  I went back to the police and learned that they had done nothing to intervene.  I contacted Patience’s father again.  He told me that Patience’s step-mother had gone into hiding, fearing for her life.  It became clear to us that our home was also unsafe for Patience.  I contacted a pastor friend of mine and asked him to help us find a good Christian home for Patience far from our home.  He agreed to help but suggested that we wait until after the new year.  I agreed.  That night, I had such a vivid dream concerning Patience’s safety that I woke our family in the middle of the night and traveled to a location far from our home.  

After traveling a few hours, our car broke down.  Our car has not run right since we bought fuel with water in it a few months ago.  I praise God that we were able to reach a large town where we thought we could find a mechanic.  We waited for the sun to rise, we found a mechanic who fixed our car, and we reached our destination by Christmas Eve.  Our family sought refuge in a church.  The church put us up in one of their guest rooms while we waited for the LORD to provide a safe home for Patience.  While moving into the guest room we met a young lady who would eventually become Patience’s foster mom.  I praise God that our car broke down because we arrived at the guest house just as this lady was preparing to leave.  God is awesome!  Over the next few days, we regularly crossed paths with this lady until the Lord made His will known to both of us.

Our family will never forget this Christmas.  We were crammed into a small one room apartment.  There was no Christmas tree, no manger scene, no gifts for our children to open, and no busy agenda.  Our only agenda was to wait upon the Lord until He provided a home for Patience.  Christmas morning, we huddled in a circle and read the story of our Savior’s birth.  While evacuating our house, one of our children thought to grabbed Patience’s Christmas gifts and put them in our car.  After reading about Jesus’s birth, we all took turns giving gifts to Patience.  What a sweet Christmas it was!  One of the gifts we gave Patience was a beautiful 1,000 piece puzzle.  We had wonderful family time as we put the puzzle together during the days that followed.  

The next 6 days were full of confident uncertainty.  We were confident because we knew that God was going to provide yet everything about our lives was uncertain.  We did not know what each day would bring nor how long we would have to stay in hiding.  It was honestly a very exciting time for our family.  All 9 of us had one mission and one prayer request.  We prayed that God would bring a godly family to us who would be willing to raise Patience.  We knew very few people in the town where we were staying so we knew that we were about to experience God’s mighty hand moving on our behalf.  We trusted God to bring the perfect family to us and boy did He!  

Let me tell you the rest of Patience’s story.  Much of this story I learned after returning home from hiding and talking to people in our community.  I now know that before we fled, the secret society had posted someone at the house directly across the street from our driveway.  This person was monitoring our coming and going to know the best time to abduct Patience.  I praise God for the crazy dream I had that caused us to leave our home in the middle of the night, at a time no one was watching.  God is good!

Let me tell you more!  Sunday, December 27, while speaking to the pastor at the church we attended, the lady we met while moving into the guest house just happened to be visiting the church and overheard our conversation and learned about Patience situation for the first time.  Instantly, this lady knew in her heart that her family was to take Patience in.  Meanwhile, while we were safely worshiping at church far from home, a group of secret society members arrived at our house in Gbarnga with the community chief to force us to turn Patience over to them.  Praise God they did not know where we were nor the time at which we had left.  While Satan was seeking to destroy, our God was providing for Patience and saving her life.  When the lady from church went home and told her husband about Patience, he immediately knew in his heart that Patience was to be their foster daughter.  That night, we talked by phone and arranged a meeting the following evening.  God is good!  

  

The next day, while waiting to visit Patience’s future home, I contacted every reference I could get concerning this family.  Friends, family members, church members and co-workers all talked about this couple’s strong marriage, faith, character, and work ethic.  An example of the father’s integrity is the promotions he received at his workplace.  With only a high school diploma, he became a CEO at a highly reputable buisness.  Time and time again, he was promoted over highly educated and highly experienced applicants because his employer noticed his integrity and work ethics.  After visiting this family’s home, it became very clear to us that God had answered our prayers.  

While all this was taking place, the secret society was putting huge pressure on Patience’s father.  They threatened to carry him into the bush to do to him all that they had planned to do to Patience.  They told him that unless he revealed Patience’s location, they would put such great pressure on him that he would choose to side with them as they legally charge me with kidnapping as a means of getting Patience back.  I praise God for protecting us from all their wicked plans.  

That night, Melanie and I met with Patience for prayer.  Patience began to weep and tremble.  Not only was she overwhelmed by the trauma she had already experienced, she was also terrified by the thought of living in an area where she literally knew no one.  As she cried she knew that trusting her life to complete strangers was her only hope.  After meeting her foster family, Patience felt small and insignificant.  She called herself a dog and said that the family was too good for her.  She feared she would never fit in.  As we prayed, God began to work on her heart.  Through her many tears she cried out a beautiful prayer of forgiveness towards all who had sinned against her.  She put her life completely in the Lord’s hands and trusted Him with her uncertain future.  

I want to praise God for the end of the story.  A few days after moving Patience into her new home, I got a welcomed phone call from her foster dad.  He said Patience wanted to talk to me.  I could feel the excitement and joy in Patience’s voice as she shared how the family had welcomed her into their home as if she were one of their own children.  She praised God for answering all her prayers.  Her phone call was cute because she wanted me to know that she was going to be ok but she didn’t want to talk too long.  She wanted to get back to playing with her new sisters.  God is good!  

Since returning home, the threats against our family and against Patience father have since subsided and life has gotten back to a somewhat normal routine.  I hope our testimony makes you think about God’s goodness and His faithfulness.  Please put your trust in Him during your times of need.  You can experience confidence in your times of uncertainty by trusting in Him.  He will not fail you.  He is a light unto our feet.  He is perfectly faithful in revealing the next steps we are to take.  These steps lead us farther into His will.    

James1:5-8

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.  For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord - he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Psalm 119:105

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Mission Update 12-13-18

Thank you for giving these girls a Christian Education:

Our school seeks to give impoverished children a high quality Christian education.  Without a good education, there is no hope for a better future.  Poverty is very ugly!  Children suffer the most.  Children are the first in the family to become malnourished and are the last to be treated when they are sick.  I have seen too many children die from preventable and curable sicknesses.  A missionary friend of mine introduced me to these three precious 6 year old girls who have never attended school.  They likely would never be able to afford school.  At the time, they were running around the neighborhood wearing nothing but raggedy underwear.  You are giving these girls hope!  Thank you!  These three girls are now enrolled in our preschool classes.  They received new uniforms, school supplies, school shoes, and medical treatment for one year.  Every child in our school has a terrible story of poverty.  My prayer is that our school will offer these children a level of education that is far above the average Liberian school so they will be at the head of the line in the future.  I pray that our students will not just be educated but that they will develop a passionate relationship with Jesus.  Thank You for giving the wonderful gift of a Christian Education to so many children!

Thank you for buying the medicines that treated 157 people:

Our mobile medical clinic was recently held in a bush town named Denta.  

People from 5 neighboring bush towns came to be treated.  

I praise God for our medical team.  They truly have servant’s hearts!  To the best of their ability, they try to never turn a sick person away.  At times, however, they are so overwhelmed with patients that they have no choice but to treat the sickest first while leaving others untreated.

By the end of the day, our team is both physically and mentally exhausted.  It is at this point that I believe they are the most beautiful.  When they are completely spent, they tell me they want to serve more people saying, “God will give us strength.”    

Many times, they stay late treating the sick and even walk to the homes of those who are too weak to make it to the clinic.  

Regardless of how tired they are, they passionately serve.    

They tell me they want to be like Jesus and treat the sick while sharing the good news.  

Thank you for buying all our medicines and paying all our salaries!  The people we treat have no or little access to medicine.  You have enabled countless of people to be seen by a physician assistant and to receive free treatment.  Each of these people were prayed for at least five times as they work their way through our clinic.  

After being diagnosed and treated, every patient meets with a pastor.  

Praise God!  Last week, 174 patients were treated and 51 people prayed to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Please pray with me that that God will bring healing to the sick through the medicine we gave and that those who gave their lives to Jesus would grow in their faith and come to know God intimately.

You never know what you will run into on the way home from the bush.  Praise God, no one was hurt.     

Thank you for helping us build a village of group homes for special needs orphans:

Group Home #4’s roof is going on.

We just started group home #5’s roof. 

The walls have been elevated on group home #6.

The village’s generator room and kitchen’s bathroom foundations have been laid.

Lids have been poured for two septic tanks. 

Thank you for helping us build this village.  We hope to move our children into these houses early 2019.  

Thank you for helping us bring truth to Liberia’s churches:

Most pastors in Liberia have no Biblical training, most churches have no Bible curriculum and most congregations cannot read well.  How can Liberia’s churches become healthy with these dynamics?  Two Liberian pastors, one Liberian artist, one Swiss missionary and myself are working together to create curriculum specifically designed to meet Liberia’s churches’ needs.  This curriculum is written for the literate, recorded for the illiterate, and it is highly visual for Liberia’s oral culture.  This curriculum is funded 100% though your generosity.  Thank you!  Here is a sample lesson which gives an introduction to the Bible.
  

Lesson Title: The Bible is above all other books. 

Look at the picture: 

In the same way that God is above all false gods, Lord above all lords, and King above all kings, so the Holy Bible is above all other books.  The word “holy” means to be set apart.  The Bible is a holy book.  It’s message is greater than all other messages.  It’s teachings are to be held above all other teachings.  We should approach the Bible with respect and reverence.  

Look at the picture:  

This picture was created to help us know the Bible better.  Look carefully at the picture and tell me what you see.  (Give the church time to tell you everything they see in the picture).

This picture teaches:

• The Bible is like a library with 66 books that were inspired by God.  
• Some books of the Bible are big, big.  Some books are small, small.  The longest book is Psalm.  It has 150 chapters.  The shortest book is 3rd John.  It has 1 chapter and uses only 299 words. 
• The Bible is divided into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament.
• The Old Testament is divided into 4 parts:

Part 1: Law - These books teach us God’s perfect law.

Part 2: History - These books teach us the history of God’s relationship with His chosen people.  In these books we learn what happened to people who chose to obey God’s laws and what happened to people who disobeyed God’s laws.

Part 3: Wisdom - These books were written to give wisdom and instruction for holy living.    

Part 4: Prophets - These books contain messages from Old Testament prophets.  

• The New Testament is divided into 4 parts:

Part 1: Gospels - These books tell the story of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection.  

Part 2: History - This book talks about the history of the Holy Spirit working in the first century Church.

Part 3: Letters - These letters were written by the apostles.  They address problems in the church, qualifications for church leadership and sound doctrine.

Part 4: End Times - This book talks about future events.

Many people are confused about the Bible because they have not been taught the Scriptures in the order that they are presented in the Bible.  Bible teachers often move back and forth from the Old Testament to the New Testament from week to week, leaving the church confused.  

Look at picture 3.  All 66 books of the Bible are in this picture from beginning to end.  Notice the lessons that are being taught are not in order.  When we don’t teach Scripture in order, it can create confusion. 

Today, we are starting a new teaching that will begin in the book of Genesis and give an overview of the Old Testament from beginning to end.  We hope this approach of teaching will help you know the Bible good, good.  

Look at picture 4.  This picture shows how our teaching works.  Our lessons starts in Genesis and teaches through the Old Testament from beginning to end.  This study will start with Adam and Eve and carry you all the way through the Old Testament.  By studying this way, we pray that your confusion about the Bible will be resolved and you will know God better. 

Point 1:  The Holy Bible is above all other books because it was inspired by God.  

What does it mean for the Bible to be inspired by God?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “ All Scripture is breathed out by God.”  Can a person speak without breathing out?  No.  Matthew 12:34 says  “...out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  The words we speak come from our heart.  The same is true of God.  When the Bible was being written, God spoke the things that were on His heart and people wrote it down.  When we read the Bible, we are reading the very words of God and are coming to know the things that are on God’s heart.  

God used 40 people to write the Bible.  These people wrote exactly what God told them to write.   2 Peter 1:21 describes what it was like for these authors while they wrote the Bible.  It says, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 27:13-38 tells a story that helps us understand what it means to be carried along by the Holy Spirit.  In these verses, Paul was on a boat heading to Rome.  While at sea, a strong, storm came.  The wind blew so hard that the men were no longer able to direct the ship.  Acts 27:17 says, “Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along.”

The words “driven along” in Acts 27:17 are the same Greek words as the words “carried along” in 2 Peter 1:21.  The authors of Scripture were carried along by the Holy Spirit in the same way Paul’s ship was carried along by the wind.  

How much of the Bible is inspired by God?

Jesus told His disciples that every word in the Bible was inspired by God.  

Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.  For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, nor a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matthew 5:17-18).  

Some people believe only the words of Jesus were inspired.  Jesus said all the words of the Bible are inspired.  An iota is the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet.  A dot is also a small, small mark.  By saying these words, Jesus confirmed that every word and mark of the pen in the original manuscripts of the Bible were inspired by God. 

In the end, we need to know that everything that is in the Bible is necessary.  Sometimes, we may desire more information about a topic than what is given in the Bible.  We need to know that nothing is missing from the Bible.  The Holy Bible tells us everything God wants us to know (Deut 29:29).

Look at the picture:  In this picture, God is telling the authors of Scripture what to write.  The Holy Bible is truly inspired by God. 

Point 2: The Holy Bible is above all other books because it has no errors or contradictions.  

Consider the following facts:  The Bible was written by 40 authors over 1,500 years time span, it was originally written in 3 languages (Hebrew, Koine Greek, and Aramaic), yet there are no contradictions nor errors.  From beginning to end, the Bible communicates one unified story.

An example of the unity of the Holy Bible is Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in the New Testament.  Here are a few examples.  

Nahum 1:8; 3:19 Nineveh would be destroyed.  Fulfilled: 606 BC 

Isaiah 7:14 Jesus would be born of a virgin. Fulfilled: Luke 1:35

Micah 5:2 Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. Fulfilled: Matthew 2:4-6

Psalm 78:1-2 Jesus would teach in parables. Fulfilled: Matthew 13:34-35

Psalm 55:12-14 Jesus would be betrayed by a friend.  Fulfilled: Matthew 26:49-50
Zechariah 11:12-13 Jesus would be sold for 30 pieces of silver.  Fulfilled: Matthew 26:14-15
Zechariah 13:7 Jesus's disciples forsook Him. Fulfilled: Matthew 26:56
Isaiah 50:6 People spit on Jesus. Fulfilled: Matthew 27:30
Psalm 22:6-8 Jesus would be mocked and insulted. Fulfilled: Mark 15:29-32
Isaiah 53:7 Jesus did not speak when accused. Fulfilled: Matthew 27:12-14
Isaiah 53:5 Jesus was pierced and wounded. Fulfilled: Matthew 27:26; 29
Psalm 22:16 Jesus's hands and feet were pierced. Fulfilled: Luke 23:33
Isaiah 53:12 Jesus was crucified with thieves. Fulfilled: Mark 15:27-28
Isaiah 53:12 Jesus prayed for His persecutors. Fulfilled: Luke 23:34
Psalm 22:18 People divided Jesus's clothes. Fulfilled: John 19:23-24
Psalm 22:1 Jesus's prayer. Fulfilled: Matthew 27:46
Psalm 69:21 Jesus was given gall and vinegar to drink. Fulfilled: John 19:28-29
Psalm 34:20 Jesus's bones were not broken. Fulfilled: John 19:33; 36
Isaiah 53:9 Jesus was buried in a rich man's tomb. Fulfilled: Matthew 27:57-60; Mark 15: 43-46
Psalm 16:10 Jesus would be raised from the dead. Fulfilled: Luke 24:6
Psalm 68:18 Jesus would return to heaven. Fulfilled: Acts 1:9
Matthew 24:2 Jesus prophesied the temple would be destroyed.  Fulfilled A.D. 70

How do we know people did not change the Holy Bible over thousands of years of translations?

Answer:  If God is powerful enough to sustain the universe (Job 38:33-37; Col 1:17) and cares enough about you that He knows the number of hairs that are on your head (Luke 12:7), don’t you think He is also powerful enough to protect the Holy Bible so that you can know Him and His will for your life?

Look at the picture:  This picture teaches that the Bible is above all other books because it has no errors or contradictions.  It is 100% accurate.

Point 3:  The Holy Bible is above all other books because it reveals God and points people towards Jesus. 

Did you know that you are not the focus of the Bible?  The Bible is not a book about you, it is about GOD.  Many people read the Bible with selfish motives.  They read it to receive a blessing or to gain wisdom.  While it is true we are blessed when we read the Bible (Revelations 1:3), receiving a blessing should not be our focus.  We should study the Holy Bible so that we come to know God better.  From beginning to end, the Bible reveals God and points people towards Jesus.

Look at picture 2 again to see how God revealed Himself through the different books of the Bible.   

• Old Testament books of the Law:  In these books, God is revealed in many ways.  The list is too long to teach in this lesson.  One thing the Law reveal’s about God is His holiness.  In the books of the Law, we are commanded to be holy as God is holy (Leviticus 11:44).  These books point towards Jesus because Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law (Matthew 5:17; Romans 10:4). 
• Old Testament History Books:  In these books, God’s behavior toward the righteous and the wicked is revealed.  These books prophesy that Jesus’ Kingdom would reign forever (2 Samuel 7:16; 1 Kings 2:45; Revelation 11:15). 
• Old Testament Wisdom Books:  In these books, God is revealed as the source of all wisdom (Proverbs 1:7).  There are many prophecies about Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection in these books (Ps 22:6-8; 22:18; 55:12-14; 78:1-2). 
• Old Testament Prophecy Books: In these books, we learn about the message of God that was revealed through the Old Testament Prophets.  Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophets (Matthew 5:17). 
• New Testament Gospels:  In these books, God is revealed through His Son, Jesus.  
• New Testament History Book:  In the book of Acts, God is revealed through the work of the Holy Spirit.  Acts also shows how a disciple of Jesus lives.   
• New Testament Letters: In these books Jesus is revealed as the head of His church.
• New Testament Prophecy Book:  In Revelations, Jesus is revealed as our coming King who will rule forever.

If God had not inspired the Bible to be written, we would not know God.  Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”  Our lives change as we come to know God (Proverbs 1:7; John 14:15).  If our lives do not change, we have not truly come to know God. 

Look at the Picture:  The message of this picture is, the Bible is above all other books because it reveals God and points people towards Jesus. 

Point 4: The Holy Bible is above all other books because it blesses us. 

  

Psalm 1:1-4 gives a clear picture of the benefit of studying the Holy Bible.  It says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers.  The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.”

Look at the picture.  Do you see the fruitful tree that was planted beside the stream of water?  When we study and apply the Bible to our lives, we will be like this tree.  Our lives will produce fruit (Galatians 5:22-23).  Now look at the picture of the woman shifting the rice.  Do you see the worthless chaff that is blown away by the wind?  If we do not study and apply the Bible to our lives, we will be like the worthless chaff, blown by the wind.  Which picture do you want to be? 

Hebrews 4:12 says, “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  The Bible is living and active.  It will change your life.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”   We become complete and equipped for every good work by knowing and applying God’s Word to our lives.

If you know how to read, read the Bible every day.  You will come to know God better.  If you do not know how to read, there are many ways you can come to know the Bible.  Listening to the Bible on your phone and going to church are two ways to know the Bible better.  Here are more benefits to studying the Holy Bible. 

Benefits of Studying the Bible:  It produces faith in you (Rom 10:17); it teaches you (2 Tim 3:16-17); it guides you (Prov 6:23); it counsels you (Ps 119:24; 98); it restores you (Ps 19:7; 11); it nourishes you (1 Pet 2:2; 1 Tim 4:6); it sets you free (Jn 8:31-32); it sanctifies you (Jn 17:17); it keeps you from sin (Ps 119:11); it accomplishes God’s purposes in you (Is 55:11); it judges you (Heb 4:12); it strengthens you (Ps119:28); it prospers you (Ps1:3); it gives you hope (Rom15:4); and it gives you wisdom (2 Tim 3:15).

Conclusion of the lesson: The Holy Bible is above all other books because it is inspired by God, it has no errors nor contradictions, it reveals God and points people towards Jesus, and it blesses it’s reader.  Experience the life changing power of the Bible in your heart.  Read His message. 

Prayer Requests:
1.  Please pray for a young girl named Fatu.  She has chosen to follow Christ and she is experiencing intense persecution because of it.  Please pray that her persecutors will come to Christ.  Please pray that Fatu's faith would be strengthened through this trial.
2.  Please pray for our curriculum writing team, that we would be filled with wisdom.
3.  Please pray for my wife as she home schools 9 children.
4.  Please pray that we would see healthy churches started.