Image Scripture: Psalm 16:5

                               A Devotional Reflection of Scripture

Background Picture is Sancoale Beach, Goa

Top 3 Websites for in-depth Bible Study

If you have been reading the previous blog posts, you must be aware that I have been blogging about Bible Study resources. In Previous Posts, I have recommended Bible Software for Computer and Bible App for Phone for us to have an in-depth study of God’s word (offline). Today, let us go to online resources. I am considering those websites that help us study the Bible in our own for Sermon Preparation, Biblical Exegesis, and others. To do that requires resources like Original Languages, Lexicons, Exegetical Commentaries, Dictionaries, Theological Books, Journals, Sermon links, etc. Personally, I have been to many sites on my own and from the recommendation of others, not for writing this blog, but for my own Bible studies.

There are the top 3 websites I love to glean apart from my offline studies:

1.     Bible.org This has many resources from reputed contributors like Daniel Wallace and John Walvoord. It also has great sermon links like those of Dever and  Macarthur. It also has a Bible study too called “Lumina” which will be very helpful for those who do not have a standard Bible software installed in the Computer or phone.

2.   Precept Austin Exhaustive information is available here. It also has almost all the sermon links of great preacher of past and present. It also has Greek and Hebrew studies.

3.   StudyLight.org This is an online Bible study website, which one can do similarly on Bible software offline (of course, Softwares are much more easy, effective, and efficient). It has Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Commentaries, and Historical Writings too.

There are other websites like BibleGateway, Blue Letter Bible, Bible Study Tools, Bible Hub, and many more. However, I find more convenient to refer to the mentioned three above. I am sure you have your own preference and do share which one and why you find yourself using it. (I do not include a site like Grace to You, Ligonier, Monergism, Biblical Training, because I intend to categorize them in a different heading).

It is the time to take our Bible study to a different level.

R. Solomon

Is your heart healthy?

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9 [NKJV]

Summarize in a Word: Heart Diagnosis

Principle: God knows us through and through

Application: Surrender yourself to God

Main point of the Passage: We desperately need a new heart to live an obedient life

Exhortation: Always find sufficiency and satisfaction in God.

I bumped into a group of youngsters smoking secretly. One of them reacted, “I know what is good and what is bad for me. Don’t even try to teach me.” The world likes to be free from any authority and live any lifestyle.

Image Scripture: Psalm 55: 16, 17, 22

A Devotional Reflection of Scripture

Background Picture is a Wilderness of Kanaphun (Mukti Khullen, Manipur, India)

Best Bible App for Mobile Phone

Last time we read about the importance of God’s word and its availableness through technology even in hostile places. I trust you thank God for allowing us to access His word easily. One can have an in-depth Bible study through Bible Software and Bible App available for Computer and Mobile phone. Today I would like to recommend Bible App for Smart Phone.
 (Next time will be about TopBible Study websites.)

For Mobile/Smart Phone: (ForComputer click here)

Either in Computer or in Phone, I like to have Bible Software/App that will help me do an in-depth study. I am also looking for the easy user interface, which happens to be available and free to install too. There are lots of Bible App in the Play Store. If you are curious, you can try installing one after another and uninstall it, if it happens to be not of your taste. (Now, after the entrance of Jio in India, the internet data is almost available for everyone.)

Again there are lots, that one cannot install/uninstall one after another. I would like to recommend two Bible App for the phone. Like I said for the Computer, this is purely based on my experience. I do not claim to be an expert in any Software or App available, or even on which I am recommending.

Logos Bible App for the phone would be nice, but you do need to have an account (not free for good feature). I would have you consider installing MySword Bible on your phone.

Top 4 Reasons why I recommend MySword Bible App.

1.     It is a free, offline Bible App without ads, but with good updates.

2.   It has Multiple Bible versions, Good Commentaries, great Dictionaries and standard Lexicons.

3.   For those who are interested in Original Languages, it has multiple versions of Greek and Hebrew with exegetical information (such as parsing, Strong’s number, dictionary link, notes). It also has Exegetical Commentary for both Greek and Hebrew.

4.   Resources like ToD, BI, K&D, RWP, ABP, GRVx, BHSE, RMAC, BDB, AMGL are too good to get in just a fingertip.

One of the demerits of MySword Bible App is that it does not have the three greatest Bible Versions – NASB, ESV, and NKJV. I still prefer over any other App because I am more interested in the study materials than the version itself. There are Apps without Dictionary or Commentary, this one has even exegetical materials.

To complement this App, I would like to recommend “The Study Bible” created by Grace to You. This has NASB, ESV, and NKJV and cross-references offline.  There are also reliable expository verse by verse Sermon links and study material links too (those links require you to be online.) Also, you can have a reliable solid study notes on the purchase. In fact, if you are not that much interested in original languages and preparing sermons, The Study Bible App would be more helpful, perhaps, the best!

If you do know any other App, which looks superior, you are welcome to share your opinion. (Ignorance is not bliss!)

I trust that your Bible study will be much more effective from now onwards.

R. Solomon

Apostasy [With the Word Friday Issue]

 “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”

1 John 2:19 (ESV)

Summarize in a Word: Apostasy

Key Principle: Apostasy is around us

Key Application: We must persevere in the faith

Main point of the Reflection: Apostates were never saved since the beginning, and will be manifested by the truth.

Illustration: The Deviation of Charles Templeton and Barth Ehrman

Exhortation: Do not be too quick to label anybody non-Christian out of your emotion. Examine his faith.

Many Christians find disturbing to see people like Charles Templeton and Barth Ehrman deviating from the faith they once were so devoted. Some say it is the failure of the Church since they were the products of the church. Really?

Image Scripture: Philippians 3:8

A Devotional Reflection of Scripture

Thanks for the time of Reflection,

R. Solomon

Best Free Bible Software for Computer

It has been reported recently in Christianity today that Chinese are finding more difficult to get a print Bible. Bible is not welcome by many people and organizations, not just in China, but even in some part of India too. Years ago, one young boy from our fellowship narrated me how his parent thrashed him for possessing a Bible. Why are some people so hostile and antagonistic to the Bible? We know it is because they misunderstood the Faith of Christianity and the Nature of Bible.

Many hate Christian activities because they thought we are trying to convert them as if we can convert anyone anytime. On the contrary, we, Christian know that we cannot convert anyone, nor do we try. Conversion is a gracious act of God. Yes, we long for everybody’s conversion, not because we want to be the majority in world religions, but because we want them to be Saved from the coming judgment of God. What we do and all that we can do is to present the gospel to them, and give answers to their doubts. The gospel we have received, and believed, and that we present to others does not come from any culture or philosophy. Neither an invention nor development of anyone. The Gospel that saves, comes from God and is revealed perfectly in the Bible. That’s the reason why we value Bible so much.

However, Bible is not just about the Gospel that saves. It is the daily bread and living water for Christian. To be a Christian and not read the Bible is an oxymoron. Psalmist says in Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” We need Bible all the times at all places. It is imperative that we (who are in the free country) possess a print Bible, but it looks difficult for our brothers and sister in hostile places. So, in the providence of God, technology can come to our aid through the internet, computer, and phone. According to InternetWorld Stats, China and India are the top internet user countries, higher than even USA. Cheer up! Brothers and Sisters!

Thanks be to God! Bible is available online. It is available even offline through Bible Software for Computer and Bible App for Smartphone. Anybody with a computer or phone can access Bible easily now. We no longer have any excuses for not reading the bible. In fact, there are lots that one wonders what will benefit us more. Today I would like to recommend Bible Software for Computer. (Next time BibleApp for Smartphone.)

For Computer:

I have 4 Bible Softwares on my laptop: Logos 7 (Bronze), BibleWorks 7, theWord 5, and e-sword. The first two are expensive and the latter two are free of cost. Many Bible students and teachers usually recommend expensive Bible Softwares.

However, I am glad to recommend free software theWord to all. I am not an expert in any of these Bible Softwares I have been using. So, my recommendation is purely based on my experience.

Top 4 Reasons why I recommend theWord Bible Software.

1.     It is a free Bible Software (Logos and BibleWorks are expensive). Also, you may want to click here

2.   One can install other modules freely (also modules from the third party), which in other Softwares programs could cost thousands of dollar (eg. ICCNT). For all the available modules Click here

3.   It has a wonderful yet easy layout. (I know this is an issue of preference, but I challenge you to explore the layout).

4.   It has clipboard-monitoring feature. This feature allows you to read any files (word, pdf, etc.) that have scriptural reference without going back to software. You just have to run the software in the background, and copy the scripture reference whenever you encounter it.

In fact, I always open theWord Bible Softwares mainly because of the 4^th Reason (clipboard-monitoring feature). I have not seen such feature in the other 3 (if you happen to know, please tell me too). In addition, I open my Logos and BibleWorks in my studies because I have purchased-Resources in them, which I have not bought in theWord Softwares. I have uninstalled e-sword from my laptop just because my laptop cannot bear too many Softwares.  Btw, if you are rich, you are encouraged to try other Bible Software in addition to theWord.

I trust that your Bible study will be more effective from now onwards.

R. Solomon

Cajoling God [With the Word Friday Issue]

Can you cajole God?

“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” – Numbers 23:19 [ESV]

Summarize in a Word: Cajoling God

Principle: God’s word is unchanging

Application: Do not try to tamper God’s word

Main point of the Passage: God will do exactly what He says whether we like it or not.

Illustration: One Hindu tricked his god. Christian marrying non-Christian

Exhortation: Would you please submit to God’s word and not tamper it?

Book Application: The Story of the Puritans

The Story of the Puritans

-         Errol Husle

This booklet (article) was published by Reformation and Revival Journal, Volume 5, Number 2 ●Spring 1996. I read it in November 2016 as a part of the required reading for the class of Church History. Here are the Two Applications I deduced after reading it:

1.      The Importance of Reading Books (especially the Foxe Book of Martyrs)

Rev. Errol Husle, the author observed four formative influences in the making of the golden era of Christian Church History – the Puritans. He includes John Foxe’s Books, The Book of Martyrs in 2^nd position (page 18.) After that, he demonstrated how the successive puritans were encouraged and followed the Martyrs such as John Bunyan (page 43.)

            The Puritans were not just preachers, they were writers. Their writings were not just theoretical for they had lived out and demonstrated their writings to their congregations. Those books were as the results of their studies and applications from their studies of the Bible. It did not come from the ivory tower. Here is a lesson for pastors and church leaders, to read their (Puritans) writings and also to reproduce the same for their own congregation (like Puritans) based on their reflection of the teaching of the Bible.

            There are scores of people who have gone ahead and have left their footprints on the page of history that will have eternal fruitfulness. Their lives were not an easy life. Their legacy lives and causes others to reproduce the same committed people like them through their death as a martyr. We do need to read this book, the Book of Martyr, both pastors and congregations to be faithful to the Caller of the church, Lord Jesus Christ.

2.      The Importance of Christian Family and Community.

On page 48-49, the author wrote about the creation of the Christian family in the English-speaking world and its influences on the whole part of the world. It is also about their Unity in the Community to live as Christians. They have “constancy in prayers” (John Bradford of page 23). They sanctified even a horse to God (p.48). They enjoyed Lord’s Day. What a blessed family and community theirs are!

            In this modern world, people demand that religion must be privatized. One is not supposed to discuss religion in the market and Public Square. One is allowed to talk about football stars, movie stars, politicians, intellectuals, but not about Christ. Religion is not even discussed in the family. It is personal and private things. Puritans were not. Christianity (the Gospel) penetrated the family, community, and all their lives. Christ of the Bible and His teachings became the foundation, sustainer, problem-solving, comforter, joy, and delight of their lives. We need to reflect on the lives of these people. Our society and families are torn. We need to follow them. If we want our children to be successful, we need to follow their example. If we don’t want our children to bring grief to our souls, we need to follow their lives. We are not to privatize religion (the Gospel). We are to live out. We are to proclaim it. We are to persuade others to believe the Gospel too. We are to swim against the current of the culture of “tolerance” and “political correctness.”