Online Bible Institute | Don | Activity

Don posted a new activity comment

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 21:27:36 -0400

Your reflection speaks to many crucial elements of the book of Esther. You rightly point to the distinguishing feature of the book not naming God, and yet I find it quite perceptive the way you point out how God’s providential hand lies behind all of the goings on in the book through what appear to be chance meetings and storyline tempests. Your…

In reply to - Terry posted an update

The Book of Esther stands out as the only book of the Bible to never mention the name, God. However, it shows His guidance through a series of wild coincidences, plot twists and a […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 21:25:44 -0400

Your reflection thoughtfully relates your own heart motivation to a larger theological framework of understanding God’s kingdom. You voice the need for reassurance of where you will spend eternity, which is undoubtedly one of the strongest and most well founded motivation for studying the Bible and attending ministry. You do, significantly,…

In reply to - Andrew posted an update

When I am asked why I am completing Bible schooling, attending church, or working in the helps ministry. I’m quick to answer that “I just want to know where I am Going once I’m done […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:43:34 -0400

Your reflection really helps me see the value in looking at multiple versions of the Bible for a fuller understanding of the Scripture. Thank you for the suggestion to read different English Bible translations (KJV, NKJV, NIV plus others) to get the most out of my personal study and to help me become a better teacher. What a thought proving…

In reply to - Thomas Perry posted an update

Creative Bible Study Methods

LESSON 3

The versions of the Bible I knew about the different versions before this course. When I study the Bible I will use the KJV< NKJV< and NIV. I […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:39:32 -0400

Your reflection very nicely identifies power sources that exist in the world: the political, intellectual, energy, religious, financial, and physical powers. However, you omitted to mention the difference in power sources as defined by Jesus in Matthew 20:25-28, where he points out the difference between worldly power and spiritual power,…

In reply to - Melanie posted an update

Power Principles

Lesson 1

Power principles

Lesson 1

I learned that there are many power structures in the world. Some of these are political power, intellectual power, the power of […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:32:49 -0400

Your thoughts are very enlightening, and I can see that you have an excellent understanding of the biblical principles of leadership, particularly when it comes to the contrast between human leadership and divine leadership. Your point about true leadership in the eyes of God being not about choosing people based on their qualification but…

In reply to - Sisay Yohannes Gagabo posted an update

You cannot be elected to leadership in God’s organization. You may be elected or appointed by man to an office, but no leader is ever made by appointment or election. […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:29:03 -0400

Your message is filled with warmth, excitement, and dedication to your studies at the seminary. It is so great to see how enthusiastic you are to start your seminary studies by learning the depth and breadth of God’s word and getting to know the greatness of Jesus Christ. I am delighted by your excitement for the introduction class and how the…

In reply to - Jerry BRUCE posted an update

Good morning/ afternoon/ evening wherever you are. This is my first post of what is intended to be many along this seminary journey to learn the bredth and deprth of the word of […]

Don posted an update: In module 15 of Personal Eschatology, I got the chance […]

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:24:38 -0400

In module 15 of Personal Eschatology, I got the chance to deepen my understanding of angelology and demonology, as well as their relationship to the afterlife. This knowledge helped me to develop a more comprehensive perception of what my personal eschatology should be based on, taking into account the angelic and demonic sides of humanity’s…

Don posted an update: The 14th lesson of the Personal Eschatology course made […]

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:21:38 -0400

The 14th lesson of the Personal Eschatology course made me reconsider the role of the church and understand the meaning of being the redeemed community in God’s plan for humanity. The lesson’s main idea of viewing the church as a temple and an agent of God’s work here and now inspired me to look at my surroundings from a new perspective. I…

Don posted an update: Reflecting on the material covered in lesson 13, I […]

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 18:17:48 -0400

Reflecting on the material covered in lesson 13, I was particularly impressed by the information related to the connection between man’s identity and hope. I had never viewed this issue from this position before, and it was eye-opening for me. This module deepened my understanding of how our hopes are connected to our identity in Christ and how…

Don posted a new activity comment

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:22:59 -0400

Your reflection on scripture is thoughtful and well done. You have done a great job considering the context in which St. Paul was giving these instructions to Timothy. I especially like how you address the difficulty in applying this lesson to our modern context, particularly the fact that none of us are slave owners. Your insight allows…

In reply to - Andrew posted an update

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he is instructing him to travel to the church in Ephesus and deal with the false teachings and corruption in the leadership. There are many topics covered. […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:18:53 -0400

Your response demonstrates a good understanding of the barriers to effective prayer. You noted that barriers to effective spiritual supplication are sins in general, idols in the heart, carnality, and failure to pray in Jesus’ name. I appreciate your identification of the need to seek the Lord’s help against the barriers as a way to overcome…

In reply to - Sifiso Mdluli posted an update

Chapter five taught that there are hindrances to intercessory prayer.

Sin,idols in the heart, things we love or like that lead us to iniquity, the scts of the flesh and not […]

Don posted an update: I was surprised by many things while studying Module 12 […]

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:08:57 -0400

I was surprised by many things while studying Module 12 of Personal Eschatology. The lesson helped me discover and realize the meaning and importance of demonology and angelology in personal eschatology. I have gained much valuable information concerning the understanding of spiritual powers and their influence on humans’ lives.

I was…

Don posted an update: While studying module 11 of Personal Eschatology, I […]

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:06:48 -0400

While studying module 11 of Personal Eschatology, I got interested in Scriptural and theological insights about the connection between “Christology and personal eschatology.” I liked how exactly the lesson demonstrated the centrality of Christ to history and post mortem existence, which brought together my understanding of the end times and…

Don posted an update: I am overwhelmed by the material covered in Module […]

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:03:55 -0400

I am overwhelmed by the material covered in Module 10, Personal Eschatology, and I am astonished by the number of arguments used to support the Biblical view of the intermediate state. The most surprising and, in my opinion, valuable discovery was the strength of the scriptural basis for the concept of the intermediate state, which puts the…

Don posted a new activity comment

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 19:05:37 -0400

In your reflection we can pick out key points from Lessons 12 and 13, emphasizing important theological concepts:

God’s Covenants and Promises: You clearly identify the importance of all the covenants of God and his promises – Abrahamic covenant, Palestinian covenant, Davidic covenant, and the New Covenant – and allude to God’s faithfulness… Read more

In reply to - NEVEOTSO vero posted an update

Lessons 12 and 13 helped me understand God’s covenants, promises, and the experiential books of the Bible. Lesson 12 focused on God’s covenant promises, especially the Abrahamic, […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 18:57:58 -0400

Your thinking about what you learned in Part 1 of Bible Journey, Lesson 7 shows that you have obtained significant insights, such asunderstanding the Shema as a Jewish prayer said every day by Jews, and you were able to relate this to what Jesus said and did in Mark 12:30-31, since you knew that Jesus declared that the Shema was the most… Read more

In reply to - Pieter van der Merwe posted an update

One new insight I gained from the video centers on the “Shema”. I have read the passage at Deuteronomy 6:5 many times before but understanding that the Shema became a […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 18:48:03 -0400

Your reflection is very insightful in terms of understanding the main aspects of comprehending the notion of God’s Will. You managed to identify the key points most of which are related to the idea of the presence of several Wills, namely Self-Will, Satan’s will, and God’s Will. In addition, you well-explained the aspects of God’s triple Will,…

In reply to - Brian Bogashewicz posted an update

Before one dives deep into understand God’s Will, we must understand the different types of wills in the world as well as the different forms of God’s Will. In this world, […]

Don posted an update: While reading and studying the 09 course on […]

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 18:39:28 -0400

While reading and studying the 09 course on personal eschatology, my personal beliefs about the study of the last things have been enriched with new thoughts inspired by the concepts of demonology and angelology. My views on personal eschatology have changed since I perceive my attitude towards spiritual warfare more clearly now than before.…

Don posted an update: I was deeply fascinated by the 8th lesson, which made […]

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 18:36:21 -0400

I was deeply fascinated by the 8th lesson, which made me look at the Bible’s storyline in a whole new perspective. The lesson’s takeaway message helped me understand the importance of the central role of Christ in personal eschatology. The way he perfectly fulfills the old covenant scriptures and portrays the true image of God is a fundamental…

Don posted an update: As I was studying Lesson 07 “Theological Anthropology” […]

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 18:33:44 -0400

As I was studying Lesson 07 “Theological Anthropology” of Personal Eschatology, I was amazed by the depth of discussion on theological anthropology and its connection to personal eschatology. The lesson helped me improve my understanding of what it means to be human from the theological point of view. I liked how the author described the…

Don posted an update: While going through the module, The Temple in Creation […]

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:39:00 -0400

While going through the module, The Temple in Creation and Personal Eschatology, assigned for completion within the context of the Personal Eschatology course, the theme of the bible and theology, dedicated to the concept of the temple, caught my particular interest. The way it relates the idea of the temple to the concepts of Creation,…

Don posted an update: While studying Module 05 on the topics of Defending […]

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 18:36:00 -0400

While studying Module 05 on the topics of Defending Creation and Heaven, I felt that the lesson demonstrated the connection between Creation and Heaven throughout the Bible. I was especially impressed by the way in which the lesson put emphasis on the centrality of Christ as the focal point of biblical history in the context of Creation…

Don posted an update: After studying Module 04 of our Personal Eschatology […]

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:18:01 -0400

After studying Module 04 of our Personal Eschatology course, I realized that the concepts of renewal and elevation are two significant aspects of God’s work of restoration. I was surprised by the explanations and insights on how God renews and elevates creation and humankind through Jesus Christ. I have learned something new in this module that…

Don posted a new activity comment

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:10:34 -0400

I appreciated what you shared about lesson 6 of our Environmental Analysis. I agree with most of your recommendations on engaging people groups. Below are some of my notes regarding your work:

Shift of Attention: I like how you shifted the attention from the environmental analysis to the people group. In your work, you managed to identify… Read more

In reply to - Jeff Shott posted an update

This lesson switched the focus from a self environmental analysis to an analysis of a whole people group. A people group are individuals that share similar social, economical, […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:01:33 -0400

Your post really provides great understanding on what to expect when doing a chapter study of the scripture. Your prompt to develop a working title for the chapter is helpful for keeping the study moving along. I like the way you brought out how important it be to divide the text into the different paragraphs because this is showing that you are…

In reply to - Barbra Odari posted an update CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER STUDY

Chapter study refers to the study of the word of God chapter by chapter.

The steps involved while studying the word of God by chapters include:

1. […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:57:43 -0400

Your reflection is full of meaningful insights about Session 26. Some of your points are very interesting and thought-provoking:

Biblical Unity Through Genealogies: Your point about Genesis 10 being a biblical foundation for the cohesive narrative of God uniting the nations in peace is very meaningful.

Connection to Prophets: Your mention… Read more

In reply to - Roscoe Meeks posted an update

What excites me most about Session 26 is how it takes the genealogies of Genesis 10 and connects them to the much larger biblical theme of God bringing divided people back together […]

Don posted an update: By studying Module 03 – Introduction to Renewal and […]

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 16:52:28 -0400

By studying Module 03 – Introduction to Renewal and Elevation of the Personal Eschatology course, I got surprised by the idea that creation encompasses two distinct but interconnected concepts of renewal and elevation. Personally, my previous understanding of eschatology was limited to simply returning to Eden. The main difference between…

Don posted an update: As I studied Mod 02, Creation in Personal Eschatology, […]

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:11:46 -0400

As I studied Mod 02, Creation in Personal Eschatology, I realized how much the Doctrine of Creation really helps me understand the beginnings, as well as the hope, which everyone of us has been presented with in the Scripture. What struck me was how the creation story was suffused with God’s providential and gracious action bringing about a…

Don posted an update: When I began to review module 01 | Hope, the Afterlife, […]

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:05:26 -0400

When I began to review module 01 | Hope, the Afterlife, and Meaning: of Personal Eschatology course, one thing that leaped out at me was the treatment of how we ought to think about Heaven and the afterlife on the whole. What I didn’t know was that the Bible shows that we will have a glorified body in Heaven. It really caught me off guard…

Don posted a new activity comment

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 18:21:29 -0400

Your reflection draws a parallel between biblical narrative and plot conventions found in literature. You noted how the introduction, conflict, escalation, climax, resolution and ending of the Biblical narrative are similar. I liked your example of Jonah’s story, how that exemplifies the complexity of multiple storylines. Your post was also…

In reply to - Leah posted an update

Switching now to the structure of Biblical narrative, which is similar to what I was taught in school about traditional plot structure. Here we have a narrative comprising the […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 18:20:51 -0400

Your book description is inspiring because you remember that the Bible is a source of endless discoveries. Every page of it contains valuable ideas that can be understood by the reader at different periods of his life. You have properly identified the contents of Genesis 1-11 (Creation, fall, flood, tower of Babel) and outlined the…

In reply to - Pieter van der Merwe posted an update

I am always amazed at how the Bible remains new and fresh, no matter how many times we read and re-read it. This lesson covered the first 11 chapters of Genesis and is […]

Don posted an update: I was impressed by the nice way all Scripture on […]

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 18:11:05 -0400

I was impressed by the nice way all Scripture on a particular topic was organized and presented in chapter 16 Topical Bible Study This one is the real winner; a real treasure! Using this topical approach enables a believer to know all of Scripture on a topic which will benefit the teacher, counselor, and student.

I appreciated the advice…

Don posted an update: Chapter 15, “Word Study” in Creative Bible Study Methods […]

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 18:07:08 -0400

Chapter 15, “Word Study” in Creative Bible Study Methods turned out to be an eye-opening experience for me concerning the importance of knowing the key terms’ meaning for fully understanding the Scripture. I have realized how much significance one word, such as lasciviousness in Jude 1:4, might have in a particular context

Indeed, this…

Don posted an update: Verse study, Chapter 14 of Creative Bible Study Methods, […]

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 18:02:11 -0400

Verse study, Chapter 14 of Creative Bible Study Methods, In Chapter 14 ‘Verse study’ I was struck by the potential depth of study to a single chapter or indeed one sentence. The lesson brought home to me that I should not just look at an isolated verse I was studying, but also at the surrounding context and those related to it. I learned how…

Don posted a new activity comment

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 18:21:45 -0400

Your reflection demonstrates well the interplay of God’s faithfulness and human response with the implication that trust, obedience, justice, and worship are ways in which people respond to God. You do well to differentiate wisdom as more than knowledge—wisdom is the practical fear of God, making righteous decisions, and knowing the…

In reply to - NEVEOTSO vero posted an update God remains faithful, but people are called to respond through trust, obedience, justice, and worship. Wisdom helps explain how to live within that relationship: it is not […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 18:18:07 -0400

Your reflection on the sophisticated narrative strategies of plot embedding in the HB is very insightful, and you show great awareness of how multiple layers of story telling weave together to communicate one dominant message. Correctly you identify the main theme of the need of humanity for the Messiah which the NT realizes in Jesus, thus…

In reply to - R.C. posted an update

Biblical narrative often employs plot embedding, layering multiple storylines to convey the Bible’s overarching message. Individual stories are framed within a larger context, giving them […]

Don posted an update: The course Creative Bible Study Methods, chapter 13, […]

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 18:07:38 -0400

The course Creative Bible Study Methods, chapter 13, soundly substituted what I had been taught about intervention studying in paragraphs and richness of the biblical text. When analyzing paragraphs, you should also be paying close attention to the structure of the text (its text-organization), the signals you are being given (connectives),…

Don posted an update: In studying the Creative Bible Study Methods, I have […]

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 18:00:43 -0400

In studying the Creative Bible Study Methods, I have learned more to appreciate chapter 12 in which explained the method of “breaking down the Bible into manageable and meaningful units. It was fruitful to be reminded of the importance of studying the chapter as a bridge between the panoramic approach to the book and the detailed approach to…

Don posted an update: Chapter 11: STUDY. As I completed chapter 11 in […]

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 17:57:30 -0400

Chapter 11: STUDY.

As I completed chapter 11 in the Creative Bible Study Methods course, I was especially impressed with the need for a broad overview of the entire content of a book before getting into the specifics. This method helped me to read beyond the verses of a chapter, or reading chapters of a book, but look at the book itself as…

Don posted a new activity comment

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:36:49 -0400

Your insight wonderfully captures the realization that to know God informs one’s reading of the Bible. Your story is relatable to many because all people of faith go (or have gone) through such a phase of maturation – when they begin to read the scriptures not shallowly, but with eyes. Thank you for sharing your journey with us – it does your…

In reply to - Amanda Shellenberger posted an update

Chapter 4:

I have always failed when reading the Bible. I never knew I needed to know God before I could fully understand until later in life. Once I became a child of God […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:33:09 -0400

You have remembered well Dr Joel’s teaching on Salvation & the Spirit! The references from scripture above demonstrate the Spirit has a supernatural dimension that cannot be found in the material world and as such it’s actions might not always be observed. You have spoken to the necessity of discerning the Divine call, which is a… Read more

In reply to - Bob posted an update

The Spirit and Salvation-

I like how Dr. Joel systemizes the spirit’s work in our salvation. This is not only helps me understand it a little better, it for sure helps me to teach it to […]

Don posted an update: Reading chapter 10 in the Creative Bible Study […]

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:26:20 -0400

Reading chapter 10 in the Creative Bible Study Methods class on Devotional Bible Study was exciting and motivating to me to do more devotional study of the Word. But more than that, it’s necessary to go on and live it in order to get to know what studying the Bible is really like. I enjoyed reading the comments on how to do a devotional bible…

Don posted an update: My reflections on chapter 9 of our […]

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:22:30 -0400

My reflections on chapter 9 of our course text-based material are on how great a value the Bible is for us readers. I learned a lot about what the Bible says about itself, including many metaphors wherein the Bible is referred to as something sacred. This chapter made me realize how valuable God’s word is to us, His creatures. It is…

Don posted an update: Reviewing Chapter 8 'Outlining, Marking, and […]

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 18:17:51 -0400

Reviewing Chapter 8 ‘Outlining, Marking, and Charting Scripture’ of the Creative Bible Study Methods Course, I found a particular interest in the art of underlining, marking, and charting Scripture. Anyone who follows the principles in this chapter will benefit from using these techniques to gather and store information about the Bible. I used…

Don posted an update: While I was studying chapter 7 in the Creative Bible […]

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 20:28:09 -0400

While I was studying chapter 7 in the Creative Bible Study Methods course, the lesson on Historical and Cultural Background of the Bible was among the most rewarding to me. I have understood how important it is to know the chronological eras and culture of the period when Jesus Christ lived in order to correctly and deeper understand…

Don posted an update: Surprisingly, Chapter 6 stands out for what it says […]

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:57:47 -0400

Surprisingly, Chapter 6 stands out for what it says about the proper interpretation of Scripture. What really hit hard was the concept of one part of the Bible compared with another – scripture with scripture. God’s authority, literary form, context, earliest known use, recurring patterns, and progressive revelation over time – these six…

Don posted an update: Chapter 5 introduces you straight away […]

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:50:06 -0400

Chapter 5 introduces you straight away to new opportunities for studying Scripture, including tools I was pleasantly surprised to find useful – approaches that brought more energy (and depth) to my time in the Bible. Using a Concordance 3 Now that you know what a concordance is and how it can be useful in your Bible study, let us look at…

Don posted an update: Chapter 4 of Creative Bible Study Methods: The What to Do […]

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 11:42:31 -0400

Chapter 4 of Creative Bible Study Methods: The What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do in Bible Study Series (1978, 2nd ed.) was a breath of fresh air because it so effectively conveyed that technique alone is not what is required in order to “master” Scripture. Effort, by itself, fails. Rebirth – the subject of Jesus’…

Don posted a new activity comment

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:07:37 -0400

Your reflection is well reasoned and brings out several important truths from Pastor Steve’s message on the 4th Beatitude: Spiritual Hunger — A Basic Requirement for Well-Being; Righteousness as Transformation of Identity; Warning Against Self-Righteousness; Humble Dependence on the finished Work of Christ; Ambassadorship and Compassion: Cycle…

In reply to - Desmond posted an update

In this sermon, Pastor Steve explores the fourth beatitude- “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 6:6). In this Beatitude, Jesus […]

Don posted an update: To read chapter three is to go into the slow-moving […]

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:33:42 -0400

To read chapter three is to go into the slow-moving stories of scripture as in an old library. While firmly historical, its fundamental concept remains clear: the translation of sacred texts across languages is never straightforward. One thing is obvious – the Bible was written in Hebrew and Aramaic, but also in Greek, and none of these are…