Bible Gems are Bible studies that demonstrate how to apply the principles of Deeper Bible while working our way systematically through a Bible book.
Bible Gem 1905 – Comparing the Opening of Philippians with Paul’s Other Letters
This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace …
Bible Gem 1904 – Comparing Philippians with the Standard Greek Letter (Phil 1:1-2)
This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace …
Bible Gem 1903 – Two Good Sources for a Summary of Paul’s Letter to the Philippians (Phil 1:1-4:23)
Before we begin to dissect Paul’s Letter to the Philippians in the next Gem, I would like to show you what is available to you in two great resources. David Pawson’s most excellent Overview book was first published in 1999 / 2000 in two …
Bible Gem 1902 – Investigating Paul’s Contact with the Philippian Believers (Phil 1:5, 7-8; Acts 20:1-6)
For you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. . . So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place …
Bible Gem 1901 – Stopping in Philippi – Background Information (Phil 1:1, Acts 16:11-12)
This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons. Phil 1:1 We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across …
Bible Gem 1900 – Another Kind of Background Reading Task For You (Phil 1:1-4:23; Acts 16:11-40. 17:1)
A number of you told me how good and useful it was to read the whole of Paul’s letter to the Philippians at once. Then others told me how much better it was to read the Philippian letter over and over on consecutive days in …
Bible Gem 1899 – Beginning Our Focus on Philippians (Phil 1:1-4:23)
This is the first Bible Gem in the series on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. The letter to the church in Philippi is one of the smaller books of the New Testament and as such can be read in 3O minutes at the most. There are …
Bible Gem 1898 – My Conclusion as to Luke’s Purpose in Writing Acts (Acts 1:8)
Over the last days I have given you the Gems I wrote when I started the Book of Acts related to Luke’s purpose. In Gem 1895 I drew your attention to David Pawson’s theory that Acts was written as the preparation for Paul’s Defence in …
Bible Gem 1897 – Did Luke Intend Acts to Be a Manual for Something? (Acts 1:8, 2:42-47)
There is one more level I need to remind you of regarding the purpose for the Book of Acts. So I will clip excerpts from Bible Gem 1339 – Acts as a Manual – Church Growth or Missionary Manual? These days, many are treating the …
Bible Gem 1896 – Luke’s Purpose in the Book of Acts Revisited (Acts 1:1-8, 19:21)
This is what I wrote in Bible Gem 1337 on the 19th September 2014. There has been much debate over Luke’s purpose in Acts. Some see it as a book with political motivation. Others see it as a religious work dealing the tension between Jew …