Online Bible Institute | Don | Activity

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…

Don posted an update: Chapter 2 was notable only in that it offered a very […]

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:24:00 -0400

Chapter 2 was notable only in that it offered a very brief summary of each Bible book. What I found surprisingly helpful was that it categorized OT literature into Law, History, Poetry, and Prophecy and then gave analogous categories for NT literature: Gospels, History, Letters, and Prophecy. Thanks to this design, it’s easier to appreciate…

Don posted an update: Immediately, I was captivated in the first chapter by […]

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:06:39 -0400

Immediately, I was captivated in the first chapter by how the material framed the Bible — not just as scripture but as layered texts influenced by time, place, and purpose. Although it is so often considered one text, here it speaks as many voices over hundreds of years, each with its own separate agenda. As a result of that method,…

Don posted an update: Session 30: What I noticed most was how ritual obligation […]

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:45:33 -0400

Session 30: What I noticed most was how ritual obligation is theologically harnessed to demands of ethics—how that made identity formation more than simply tradition. Holiness, they discovered, wasn’t limited to holy moments, but was experienced even in day-to-day decisions relating to justice and to our connections with other humans.…

Don posted an update: Session 29: Most striking was Session 29, and in […]

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:40:15 -0400

Session 29: Most striking was Session 29, and in particular clarity on the sacrificial system and what those rituals actually accomplished. This went beyond simply enumerating the types – burnt, grain, peace, sin, and trespass offerings, etc.- showing how each functioned as worship, reparation, and reconciliation. More than symbols, they…

Don posted an update: Session 28: One thing that was particularly clear was […]

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:36:20 -0400

Session 28: One thing that was particularly clear was how people were divided among those consigned to sacred duties. It not only reflected structure, but also why and how they served. Emboldening attention was the way rituals marked phases of service, indicating an inner cleansing accompanied by the commitment. These were not mere gestures;…

Don posted a new activity comment

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:38:19 -0400

Reading over your thoughts really emphasizes some of the key differences between “witness,” “laity” and “clergy” – pretty well done. Because Israel is defined as a royal priesthood in Exodus 19:6, you demonstrate how this defines the believer’s calling today. Rather than being passive attendees, lay people are brought to the fore as active…

In reply to - Anthony posted an update

This chapter we define “witness”, “laity” and “clergy” and further growing into the process of multiplication. To see the real call of the “laity” we see it in the Old Testament as […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:34:17 -0400

What is striking about your response is that it so well captures the main themes of John’s Gospel, in particular the importance of “believing” – a word which is very tightly woven into the fabric of its message. It is not merely Jesus revealing God in human form, but it also presents him as full presence, not simply as a partial glimpse.…

In reply to - Mark posted an update

I am sharing what I learned.
John using Term “BELIEVE” than any other book. Actually the purpose of John is that you really believe who He is, for that is critical to the entire argument.

Don posted an update: One of the slightly surprising things in the […]

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:28:27 -0400

One of the slightly surprising things in the BibleProject series on Exodus is session 27 in particular because it dwells on details that many commonly skip over—sidebars and additional layers of meaning behind the design of the tabernacle. Although small, that container bore many layers of meaning, each segment saying something about the…

Don posted an update: Within session 26, thoughts revolved around the […]

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:15:11 -0400

Within session 26, thoughts revolved around the holy covering of the tabernacle and the visible heaviness of the LORD hovering nearby. It wasn’t just a token of endorsement, but rather the filling of the temple with the presence of God signified that He really intended to dwell with them. What seemed to stick out the most was the way holiness…

Don posted an update: Session 25: A close examination of priestly garb—and […]

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:10:16 -0400

Session 25: A close examination of priestly garb—and how priests are ritually set apart—reveals just how stratified ancient worship was. The ephod and the breastpiece, with its stones that represented each tribe, conveyed the idea of unity in the duties that were sacred. It struck me that these things meant – not power, but obligation, not…

Don posted a new activity comment

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:28:01 -0400

What stands out is how deeply you’ve engaged with Lesson Fourteen – especially the challenge posed by the world, the flesh, and the devil. Positioned not through effort but surrender, yielding your will to God reshapes everything. Instead of striving, you become a living offering – a choice that redefines strength. Because Scripture grounds you,…

In reply to - Tammie Human Burgin posted an update

Lesson Fourteen – Spiritual Strategies: A Manual for Spiritual Warfare gave understanding of the battle with the world, flesh, and the devil. How the devil uses strategies […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:22:17 -0400

What is striking is your considered account of the formation of the Hebrew Bible – through spoken stories, through early writings, among evolving versions of those drafts. It helps that you acknowledge the uneasiness in following its development through generations of many hands. Then again, to cling to the notion that the inspiration of God…

In reply to - Noel Card posted an update

This session provided evidence that the Hebrew Bible went through a length process from events, an oral tradition, some early writings, collections of writings, and eventually […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:18:39 -0400

Looking at your thoughts, it is clear how important it is to understand the principal historical stages of the Bible – these serve as anchors for events and people. And the 12 detailed time spams (plus charts on the judges and rulers of Israel and Judah) provide readers who are visual learners ways to navigate the story. When you talk about…

In reply to - Mayra Belmonte posted an update

I found this lesson to be very helpful in identifying major historical periods of the Bible. There were 12 in total that the lesson expanded on. It gave charts on the Judges […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:15:12 -0400

One strength is particularly clear – your reflection lays bare precisely how Satan operates as a tangible spiritual adversary. It follows his origins, fall, and the consequences of his rebellion. You don’t hesitate to offer him as a real entity rather than a symbol - a real thinking entity, with Intelligence, Strategy, Lies, and the Art of the…

In reply to - SYLVIA LEOTAUD posted an update

You learn about “The Enemy -Satan”

Scripture says: Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. (I […]

Don posted an update: Session 24: Small aspects of the tabernacle reveal […]

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:09:33 -0400

Session 24: Small aspects of the tabernacle reveal profound ideas about holiness and nearness to God. Not only are the ark, table, and lampstand significant, but their form and meaning are determined by precise shape and arrangement. Worship here is not perfunctory acts of worship – it displays intention – through shape and function,…

Don posted an update: Session 23: Israel’s story of covenant renewal at Sinai […]

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:54:39 -0400

Session 23: Israel’s story of covenant renewal at Sinai came full circle. One thing to note is that their answer to that defining situation clarifies who they are – set apart, called royal priests under divine care. Not difficult to understand, and yet very personal, the pact combined God’s unmerited grace with obligatory human…

Don posted an update: In Session 22, the how and the Day of Atonement were set […]

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:52:28 -0400

In Session 22, the how and the Day of Atonement were set in Israel’s sacred breath. Although not mentioned all that often, its weight was immediately apparent when I looked at it through themes of guilt, purification, but also hope. More than just ritual, it was divine equilibrium: holiness was maintained, and forgiveness could be extended.…

Don posted an update: There are a few gems in Session 21, and one is: how […]

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:26:41 -0400

There are a few gems in Session 21, and one is: how priestly functions and tabernacle rites shaped Israel’s feeling of intimacy with God. Because the environment was already conducive to sacred space, worship went beyond the ordinary – gravity, meaning, and navigation were applied. Although ancient, these rites were not random; everything…

Don posted an update: Session 20 turned its attention to laws for the good of […]

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:22:43 -0400

Session 20 turned its attention to laws for the good of the people, particularly how they treated the poor. Identifying the forgotten – migrants, widowed women, orphans, the destitute – became central. They were never intended to be stale directives; rather, they are active expressions of justice and compassion. This type of counsel helped…

Don posted an update: Session 19: What I found most striking was how the […]

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:16:06 -0400

Session 19: What I found most striking was how the Sabbath is more like a restraint transformed by an invitation. In this perspective, rest is active trust – rest is a kind of faith that resonates with divine order from the very beginning. It not only symbolizes reliance on provision, but daily life is shaped around trust. Instead of being…

Don posted an update: What stood out in Session 23 was the way it framed […]

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 17:15:32 -0400

What stood out in Session 23 was the way it framed blessing and inheritance through Jacob’s final words to his sons. Instead of treating them as mere farewells, the discussion showed how each utterance carried weight beyond emotion – shaping tribal destinies. Judah’s rise into prominence unfolded gradually across the narrative, signaled less by…

Don posted a new activity comment

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:44:19 -0400

After all, a close look at key words definitely bolsters our view of Scripture. Perusing “pernicious” (and even “depravity”) when reading II Peter 2:2 demonstrates a close attention to the wording that reveals the concealed injury of false teachings. Since that kind of rhetoric comes out in II Peter 2 as well as Jude, catching the…

In reply to - Andrew posted an update

In this lesson we took a single word and studied it from a verse. This word had to be a keyword. Since I have been studying II Peter 2 in the previous lessons. I used this to find my […]

Don posted a new activity comment

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:38:17 -0400

Your summary offers a great template for how to approach any biblical book, cover to cover. Emphasizing repeated reading makes it easier for us to discover multiple layers of meaning. Start not with the details, but with the question of who wrote it – and for whom. Then, you break it into chunks and understand one chunk at a time. On a second…

In reply to - Timothy Greenlee posted an update

Chapter 11 goes over how to study the whole book. The first reading is to find what it is about the author and who it was written to. Reading a second time is when you break […]

Don posted an update: Session 18: revitalized the issue of pronouncing God's […]

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:32:19 -0400

Session 18: revitalized the issue of pronouncing God’s name and keeping His sacred commitments. The most striking feature, however, was the way in which Israel perceived itself – not simply as chosen, but as entrusted – as God’s special (segulah) people and with responsibility toward other nations. Rather than remaining an abstract…

Don posted an update: One surprise that really came through in session […]

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:29:07 -0400

One surprise that really came through in session 17.The First and the Second Law, when looking at the way that the first commandment sets out the framework of the Ten Commandments. Rather than treat prohibitions of foreign gods and images as distinct commandments, their union emphasized the exclusive devotion to Yahweh as the center of the…

Don posted an update: One thing became clear amid Session 16 - The Ten […]

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:21:36 -0400

One thing became clear amid Session 16 – The Ten Commandments, and that was how they transformed my view of the laws found in the Old Testament. They are not rules carved in stone; rather, they are indicators of who Israel is called to be. What surprised me? God saved them first, and then the teaching. Which turned that on its head in my mind -…

Don posted a new activity comment

Sun, 31 May 2026 17:19:19 -0400

What is particularly striking about you is how you relate plant growth to human development. As roots rely on soil, moisture, sunlight, but also unseen forces - so too does inner growth depend on more than just exertion. The notion of Scripture as the point of departure for renewal stands comfortably with Christ as its origin. Instead of…

In reply to - Frank Bertinchamps posted an update

Chapter 7 of the Strategies of Spiritual Harvest discussed an interesting concept that spiritual parallels have commonalities with natural principles of plant development. […]