Online Bible Institute | Don | Activity

Don posted a new activity comment

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 15:43:44 -0400

Your thought is practical wisdom in the specific context of being able to minister well in a prison environment. Having the mind to be sensitive to the schedules of the prison is wise. Having thoughts to balance time so that the gospel can be proclaimed to as many as possible and time allows ensures that you are not taking away an opportunity…

In reply to - Justin posted an update

Group meetings at a prison are great, but certain things must be kept in my mind. Time is the one that stuck out most to me. We must realize that even though we have permission to be […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 15:41:07 -0400

Great post, Kristy! The Ministry of the Holy Spirit: Your post makes a very strong case for how biblical teaching can correct misconceptions such as about spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues. Your experience of growing up believing that the gift was insignificant, from then on feeling as if it wasn’t a sign from the Holy Spirit and that…

In reply to - kristy posted an update

Lesson 4/Chapter 4 The ministry of the Holy Spirit.

I found the scripture and the reading regarding speaking in tongues completly fascinating. As someone who grew up not being taught […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 15:40:08 -0400

Your post raises difficult theological questions about the nature of God’s being and our capacity to know him. You sincerely admit that we cannot know the full mystery of God’s eternal being or the manner of how God’s attributes come together without contradiction. It is admirable that you see the need for humility in accepting that the Trinity…

In reply to - Michelle posted an update

After completing this module, write a 300-word personal reflection on your two biggest takeaways. This assignment is intended to reflect your own learning and growth. Write in the […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 15:39:18 -0400

Your reflection has not only helped you identify this basic difference, as in your post above, between the “milk” and the “meat” of the Word, but has pointed you to the developmental nature of spiritual growth. You correctly discern that no matter how good the teacher, actual understanding of Scripture includes the work of the Holy Spirit,…

In reply to - Roger posted an update

In this chapter we learn of the prerequisites for learning and understanding the Word of GOD. We are taught about the milk of the word which is basic precepts that even a child […]

Don posted an update: My knowledge of the biblical metaphor and its […]

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:19:29 -0400

My knowledge of the biblical metaphor and its importance in revealing spiritual realities has been greatly expanded as a result of my completion of Module 02. One of the most profound things I learned is that in the Bible, words are not static in meaning but are deeply influenced by grammar and culture, and also, as I found out later,…

Don posted an update: This module has changed how I approach reading […]

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:05:41 -0400

This module has changed how I approach reading the Bible entirely. Probably the most crucial thing I realize I’ve learned throughout this time is that we can’t read the Bible properly unless we are aware of the ancient contexts (historical, cultural, literary, theological tangents) from which the biblical authors are thinking. I used to think…

Don posted an update: Jewish and Greco-Roman Backgrounds of the New […]

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:54:12 -0400

Jewish and Greco-Roman Backgrounds of the New Testament Module 01 | Hermeneutics. This first hermeneutics module has had a huge impact on the way I read and interpret scripture. Perhaps the most sobering was the revelation that there is no such thing as a “pure” or “objective” reading of scripture. Reading it carefully and prayerfully is…

Don posted an update: The Justin Martyr and Apologists course of study […]

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:10:43 -0400

The Justin Martyr and Apologists course of study symbolizes a significant time in the history of Christian thought and action in the ancient world. Using the materials provided, not all of Module 15 is explained; the preceding portions of this program explain the overall reason why the information contained in the apologists’ writings was…

Don posted an update: Paul's sermon to the philosophers at the Areopagus […]

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 17:49:02 -0400

Paul’s sermon to the philosophers at the Areopagus in Athens is easily one of the most calculated, highest-stakes evangelistic encounters in the Bible. Module 14 reveals how Paul shapes an apologia to communicate to a different culture, while holding on to the essential truth claims of the Gospel. Lessons for today abound!
What impresses me…

Don posted an update: Unit 4 | Examining Parallels between the Dead Sea […]

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 16:47:55 -0400

Unit 4 | Examining Parallels between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament: Lesson 4 — The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Book of Hebrews

I was intrigued to learn that the book of Hebrews would be closely related to the priestly theology and temple imagery I had been familiar with through my study of the Qumran writings. And this insight has…

Don posted a new activity comment

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 22:15:32 -0400

Your reflection points us to the fundamental pedagogic rule that real learning happens when you make way for voice and engagement in learning rather than the disciplining of voice in a specific academic posture. You are right that the line of distinction you draw between the technical research articles and the reflective, formative writing is… Read more

In reply to - Daniel posted an update

“These papers are not meant to be technical research articles. They are reflective, personal, and formative. We are listening for your voice, your insights, and your growth.” I love […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 22:11:55 -0400

You have demonstrated a high level of insight into the role of the intercession and how it operates as a part of the larger paradigm of seeing God through spiritual submission. Your are spot on in saying you must have perseverance with your petitions and discern when you should act and when God’s will should prevail.
You acknowledging that… Read more

In reply to - Tiffany posted an update

Chapter 5 was really good. It focused on when NOT to pray and certain hindrances that can effect your prayers. The text highlighted sometimes we are called to prayer and sometimes […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 22:10:51 -0400

Your reflection demonstrates a sound theological posture on how to read the difficult parts of Scripture without short-circuiting your mind or your confidence in the character of God. You HathiTrust link and the page scan you provided are for different publications, dated 2005 and 2009, respectively. This is the same Paul to whom Peter… Read more

In reply to - Ajagbe posted an update

Peter admits this about Paul’s letters: “There are some things in them that are hard to understand” (2 Pet. 3:16). If Peter can say that inspired Scripture is hard, so do i

Each time […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 22:10:14 -0400

Your comments reveal a major blind spot in how a lot of Christians tend to live out their faith – the gnostic attitude that prisoners are hopeless others, when biblical mandate calls us to view them as those to whom we bear the witness of the Gospel and pastoral presence. You have nailed it accurately.
That (your quoted line saying,… Read more

In reply to - Justin posted an update

Prison ministry is a ministry I feel like gets neglected. Like the lesson taught, society has the mindset to think of prisoners as people without hope and we should just lock people […]

Don posted an update: Contemporary Post-Modern Apologetics 202 (NT) […]

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 21:47:49 -0400

Contemporary Post-Modern Apologetics 202 (NT) Reflection Module 3 Module 13 | Searching for the New Testament Canon

Gospel historicity is by no means a new debate among N. T. scholars; however, Module 03 convincingly argues that the Gospels clearly testify to the eyewitness accounts, manuscript transmission, and extra-biblical support…

Don posted an update: The Dead Sea Scrolls and the New TestamentUnit 4 | […]

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 21:31:41 -0400

The Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament

Unit 4 | Examining Parallels between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament: Lesson 3 — Pauline Literature and the Dead Sea Scrolls – Christological Titles and Terms, and the “Works of the Law”

Paul’s theological vocabulary – especially his christological titles and his “work of the law” critique – is…

Don posted a new activity comment

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:33:20 -0400

Your post ends with a sentence of theological truth – The doctrine of the divine inspiration of Scripture doesn’t need a highfalutin’ apologia. It only requires a testimony of Scripture that testifies of itself and points to Christ. You have convincingly demonstrated that 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Samuel 23:2 testify to the divine authorship… Read more

In reply to - Jerry BRUCE posted an update

Good morning! Today I went over session seven. Dr. Tim discussed the divine nature of the Scripture as given to man to author BY God the Holy Spirit. They discussed how people are […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:30:05 -0400

What you wrote shows a mature mind because you recognize that insight into biblical studies, in spite of how difficult the material is, does not threaten but rather helps deepen one’s faith. You identified that biblical criticism do not demand one accept everything the scholar has written but to use discernment to read.
I especially… Read more

In reply to - Sharine posted an update

I had an interesting and challenging experience covering, “The History of the Bible.” Although, it was a lot of information concerning Bible Scholars and critics. It helped me […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:29:11 -0400

Ade – Power Principles – Lesson 20
Your reflection in that it offers an insightful and accurate spiritual principle, that confronting the enemy in Satan instead of the circumstances clarifies the spiritual battle and provides the strategic approach for the spiritual battle. You accurately stated that oppression may come from numerous… Read more

In reply to - Ade posted an update

This lesson focuses on challenges to spiritual power all of which origiate from Satan. There are various reasons for challenges including peoples unbelief, conflicting with popular opinion […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:28:43 -0400

Your paragraph identifies an important concern in pastoral ministry, namely, that the present state of society is so dire that it requires urgent, persistent intercession so that God will intervene. You are correct that revival, a true outpouring of the Spirit resulting in changed lives, is a worthy object of intercession.
Your comment that… Read more

In reply to - Justin posted an update

Intercessory prayer for revival is always important. As we look at our society, we see the desperate need for revival. It doesn’t take much observation to realize how far the majority […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:22:38 -0400

Great methodological question about what we are doing to Scripture. Your use of “mere biblicism” to distinguish descriptive and critical usage displays a sophisticated theological methodology. The analogy of mountains and valleys is a helpful way of grasping how there are “plain” biblical and theological points to which we have a set amount… Read more

In reply to - Keith posted an update

This module went over the Doctrine of Creation, but the thing that stood out to me the most was from the discussion at the end of the module. I could go into extensive detail about how […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:19:40 -0400

You’ve made an important distinction between worldly and godly models of leadership. The way you’ve structured the application of Jesus’s teaching Mark 10 and the illustration of Moses at Meribah really bring home the truth that effective leadership is both humble and responsible before God. Your progression from the external qualities… Read more

In reply to - Kemar posted an update

One of the most meaningful lessons from Personal Eschatology – Session 15 is that Christian hope is not only focused on the future but should transform how I live in the present. I was […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:19:07 -0400

Good job on correcting a common misinterpretation of election theology. Your highlighting of God’s election of Abraham as missional and not ethnic is good theological insight. Rebekah is a good case study because it demonstrates God’s plan to include someone outside of the covenant community through God’s providence.
Your application of… Read more

In reply to - Jeff posted an update God’s choosing of one family does not mean that He rejected or demonized all the other families. In Genesis, God chose Abraham and his family to become a blessing to others: “in you all […]

Don posted an update: Contemporary Post-Modern Apologetics 202 (New […]

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:10:42 -0400

Contemporary Post-Modern Apologetics 202 (New Testament) Module 12

Having finished Module 12 | The Orthodox Corruption of the New Testament, I was forced to confront the reality of how powerful theological agendas influence textual transmission. Ehrman’s approach to scribal corruption led me to the stunning realization that what we have in…

Don posted an update: Unit 4 | Examining Parallels between the Dead Sea […]

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 16:57:30 -0400

Unit 4 | Examining Parallels between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament: Lesson 2 — The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Book of Revelation

The realization that Revelation is so heavily grounded in the apocalyptic imagery and theology of the Qumran documents has greatly affected my comprehension of John’s vision and the historical background in…

Don posted an update: Unit 4 | Examining Parallels between the Dead Sea […]

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 19:01:39 -0400

Unit 4 | Examining Parallels between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament: Lesson 1 — Shared Phrases and Motifs between the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Gospels

The realisation that the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament share characteristic sets of terminology and structural layout has played a decisive role in challenging my perceptions…

Don posted an update: The conversion of Jesus's scared disciples into […]

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:44:25 -0400

The conversion of Jesus’s scared disciples into bold proclaimers who would ultimately give their lives makes for one of the most compelling mysteries in all of history. Module 11 reminded me how unviable naturalistic explanations are for the explosive explosion of the early Christian movement and the disciples’ radical transformation from…

Don posted an update: Contemporary Post-Modern Apologetics 202 (New Testament) […]

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 18:43:25 -0400

Contemporary Post-Modern Apologetics 202 (New Testament) Module 10 | The Resurrection, Part 1: The Sources and Bedrock Facts

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the defining doctrine of Christianity. However, it is also one of the most debated aspects of ancient history. After studying the sources and solid facts of the resurrection in Module…

Don posted a new activity comment

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 22:09:14 -0400

Your reflection is an excellent summary of Christ centeredness as it relates to Scripture and the Christian worldview. You have rightly discerned that the exposition of Christ’s atonement-His death, burial and resurrection-is the hermeneutical principle for biblical understanding.
Your focus on the relationship between our sinful nature and… Read more

In reply to - Matoh posted an update chapter 3 seeing the world as God sees

This chapter teaches that the Bible has a central message that helps believers understand all Scripture: Christ had to suffer, die, and rise again, […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 22:08:46 -0400

Your reflection embodies excellent theological reflection on what ritual is more than an act of ceremony-a means of carrying spiritual identity over time. Your well organized reflection embodies thoughtful learning on many levels-literally, in changing linguistic ability and growth; spiritually, in encountering Christ anew; and practically,… Read more

In reply to - Mbali posted an update

Session 10: Passover Ritual

1. What did I learn in this session?

I learned that Passover allowed later generations of Israelites to participate in the memory of Israel’s foundational […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 22:07:53 -0400

That you are able to see Jonah’s theological richness in understanding that Jonah is not just a story about a historical event but about God’s re-formation of his character is impressive. You have discerned the profound realities of God’s compassion for all people, the difference between outward actions and inward hearts, and the way in… Read more

In reply to - Sylvester posted an update

From the story of Jonah, I learned that God’s mercy extends beyond the people we think deserve it. Jonah was reluctant to preach to Nineveh because he did not want the people to […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 22:06:56 -0400

You show a mature understanding of literary and theological studies of how Exodus provides a meta-narrative for Israel’s self-understanding. You have identified how the biblical text is not simply a disparate series of stories but a coherent theological witness to God’s plan and Israel’s election.
I appreciate your sense of architectural design… Read more

In reply to - Roscoe posted an update

What excites me most about Session 1 is seeing the book of Exodus as more than just a collection of famous stories. I was especially interested in how the Exodus event became the […]

Don posted an update: Contemporary Post-Modern Apologetics 202 (New Testament) […]

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 22:00:21 -0400

Contemporary Post-Modern Apologetics 202 (New Testament) Module 10 | The Resurrection, Part 1: The Sources and Bedrock Facts

Don posted an update: Unit 3 | An Overview of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the […]

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 21:45:15 -0400

Unit 3 | An Overview of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament Lesson 3: What Did the Sectarians Write?

Knowing that the Qumran sectarian scrolls reveal numerous original compositions, not just copies, of Qumran’s own theological endeavors has totally changed my perspective on religious groups and their intellectual potential as part of…

Don posted an update: Son of Man is arguably the most theologically loaded […]

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 21:37:10 -0400

Son of Man is arguably the most theologically loaded yet misinterpreted title of the New Testament, and the discussion of it in Module 09 was truly life-changing in terms of how I will come to interpret Jesus’s claims of God-ness to a Jewish audience. Before taking this course, I had intuitedly internalized the reading lens that had, for…

Don posted an update: The Dead Sea Scrolls and the New TestamentUnit 3 | […]

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 21:32:00 -0400

The Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament

Unit 3 | An Overview of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament: Lesson 2 — Bible and Biblical Commentaries in Qumran

The realization that multiple textual traditions of biblical books existed simultaneously in antiquity has radically reshaped my conception of biblical authority and the stability of a…

Don posted a new activity comment

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 21:08:07 -0400

Your reflection shows you are biblically literate concerning Christ’s second coming, and has succinctly linked Old and New Testament to give us a total biblical perspective. You rightly pointed out that Scripture teaches us of Christ’s second coming throughout the Bible so it is the central doctrine.
Your focus on the relational promise of… Read more

In reply to - Darren posted an update

Course The Doctrine of Christ

Chapter 13 The Second Coming of Christ Part 1

The Bible is full of passages that tell us about the second coming of Christ. From the Old Testament prophets […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 21:06:24 -0400

Your reflection rightly reflects a spirit of humility and gratitude: humility in our limitation and gratitude to God for His redemptive work. I think it’s appropriate that you found reading the books “humbling”-a reminder that reading the entire Scripture exposes us to the extent of God’s work and our lack of understanding.
I like your… Read more

In reply to - Depree posted an update

Reviewing the books of the Bible and reading a short synopsis of each book, has first humbled me. There’s so much I didn’t know! It has helped me realize that from Genesis to Revelation […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 21:05:01 -0400

The apparent balance in your principles used illustrates mature thinking by not endorsing a single approach in studying, while at the same time affirming your own pattern with the three-year collection. You strike a good balance. Different approaches work for different readers, but you know what works for you.
What your decision to adopt… Read more

In reply to - Zach posted an update

I’ve been thinking very deeply about the four suggestions for successful bible study. Make no mistake, I do not endorse any particular method over another, and I cannot say for certain […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 20:59:04 -0400

Your writing is courageous in addressing a subject most believers try to ignore, knowing that human behavior and moral accountability require awareness of spiritual warfare. The fact that you are “excited and nervous” to study this area shows appropriate insight that spiritual warfare addresses grave realities.
The way that you see Satan’s… Read more

In reply to - Jacob posted an update

This is the course that I have been most excited and nervous to start. I have always found the tensions of Satan and God fascinating but find that it is an area of study that most […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 19:35:45 -0400

It is appropriate that your reflection highlights the step of mastering the external learning environments and the processes for submitting assignments while studying. You’ve shown sound wisdom here: becoming comfortable with these technical details early on reduces the risk of technical hurdles causing delay to working through the… Read more

In reply to - Samuel G. posted an update I learned about external learning platforms and how to submit coursework. I am getting confident to start my main courses.

Don posted a new activity comment

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 19:34:27 -0400

It is clear from your reflection that biblical stories have served as a mirror to your own personal faith experience. You seem to realize that Ruth’s change from emptiness to fullness reflects your own spiritual journey, and that biblical stories possess their power to transform, and not just report on, history.
Your bold confession about… Read more

In reply to - Jacob posted an update

There are so many themes to take from Ruth in such a short story. The one that hit me most is the idea of emptiness to fulness. It reminds that before I ran to God, I felt empty. There […]

Don posted an update: The very first words to the title of Module 08- "Who do […]

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 19:24:52 -0400

The very first words to the title of Module 08- “Who do you think you are? God?”- express what is perhaps the deepest and most common question asked throughout the pages of human history. In this module we will have a crash course in high Christology, but what we will see requires us to reconsider both how Jesus saw himself, how the…

Don posted an update: Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament Unit 3 | A […]

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 19:12:21 -0400

Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament Unit 3 | A Summation of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the New Testament: Lesson 1 – Why Learn the Dead Sea Scrolls about the New Testament and Other Controversial Writings The discovery that the Dead Sea Scrolls expose the wide variety of religious views present in Second Temple Judaism has radically…

Don posted an update: Contemporary Post-Modern Apologetics 202 (New Testament) […]

Sun, 27 Sep 2026 18:27:41 -0400

Contemporary Post-Modern Apologetics 202 (New Testament) – Module 07 Reflection Jesus the Messiah and the Messianic Pretenders The backstory of the Jewish expectation of the Messiah has completely changed the way I see Jesus’ claims to be the Messiah and the early Christians’ confidence that he was the one. Through Module 07 I have learned of…

Don posted an update: Unit 2 | The Sectarians and the Scrolls: Lesson 4 - […]

Sun, 27 Sep 2026 18:11:28 -0400

Unit 2 | The Sectarians and the Scrolls: Lesson 4 – The Messiah(s) at Qumran and Second Temple Messianism
For me, the most profound insight that growing awareness of the Jewishness of early Christian categories (messianic expectations, divine sonship, apocalypticism) has brought is a new understanding of the ‘dawn of Christianity’ and…

Don posted a new activity comment

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 22:43:23 -0400

Anthony – Power Principles Chapter 7: The Power of the Gospel
You have expressed the essence of a paradox in Christian faith. The Gospel’s ability to change hearts rests in its uncomplicatedness as opposed to in-depth theology. It is correct that the simplicity of the Gospel – as expressed in the scripture Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your… Read more

In reply to - Anthony posted an update

This chapter discusses how the Gospel is an extremely powerful yet very simplistic message. The power the Gospel provides to believers is incredible considering with such we can […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 22:42:33 -0400

You have a good grasp of what is meant by delegated authority in the creation order and have made a good application of a highway patrol officer carrying the authority of the government to show how the believer ‘bears the authority of God’ when carrying out His work.
How God has assigned authority-land and property, family, churches, state,… Read more

In reply to - Ade posted an update

This lesson focuses on the power of authority. Just like a Policeman carries the authority of the Law and the Government, we carry the authority of God in Heaven when we carry out His […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 22:41:48 -0400

Your reflection clearly points out what was on Haggai’s mind: “…the failure of the people of God to realize and focus on the things that truly matter.” I see you’ve highlighted the fact that the returned exiles’ failure to care for the house of God while beautifying their own homes was not simply bad logistics, but spiritual blindness.
Your… Read more

In reply to - Terry posted an update

The book of Haggai addresses a group of returned exiles who stopped rebuilding God’s temple but instead decorated their own homes. The Book of Haggai is relevant to us today as it […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Sat, 26 Sep 2026 22:41:14 -0400

Your post reflects an important aspect of Christian discipleship: that faith in Christ is not intended to be an inward-looking experience which focuses merely on the disciple’s own salvation, but a dimension of life which is by definition outwardly-directed towards the Lord’s global redemptive mission. You have clearly stated that… Read more

In reply to - Melanie posted an update

Strategies for spiritual harvest

Lesson 3

I learned what it means to be a world chriatian in this lesaon. A world chrustian is one who makes each dau of his life count for christs […]