Part 1 walked through the first five books of the Bible, called the Law or the Torah. This opening section of Scripture provides a foundational understanding for who God is and how we can know Him. Part 2 took us through the historical books from the time of the Judges, the conquest of the promised land and the time of the kings all the way through the return from exile. Part 3 concluded the Old Testament with highlights from the prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Malachi. Part 4 summarizes key passages and teachings from the New Testament. See the 3 minute recap below for a summary of the Open Series through Parts 1-3 (the entire Old Testament).
29. Proof Positive – Matthew 17: 1-9 – July 28, 2019 – Guest Preacher: Pastor Mike Gibbons of Candlewood Community Church
Join the disciples on the mount of Transfiguration to see the truth of who Jesus is in all of His glory. The evidence is all there in the Bible!
For more resources on the birth and nature of Christ, click here.
30. Tempted – Luke 4: 1-13 – August 4, 2019
Though God was a Father to Israel, they failed to love and honor Him. Jesus was the true Son of God, the true Israelite, fulfilling every detail of the Law and honoring His Father in every way. When tempted to complain, compromise and question the Father, Jesus responded with contentment, commitment, and unwavering confidence.
Read the message here.
Download Discussion Questions here.
For more resources on Temptation, click here.
31. Sovereign – Mark 4:35-41 – August 11, 2019
“Jesus Christ is Lord,” is the essence of the Gospel we believe and proclaim. The Lordship – or sovereignty – of Jesus is central to our faith. When we give in to fear (as the disciples did in a severe storm) it shows that we don’t have faith in the Lord of every storm and every story. When we understand who Jesus is all fear gives way to His word: “Peace! Be still!” In this passage we see four reasons to trust in Jesus, the Lord: 1) He knows everything; 2) He cares for everyone; 3) He directs everything and 4) He died for everyone.
Read the message here: Sovereign Mark 4
Download Discussion Questions here.
For more resources on Sovereign, click here.
32. Crucified – Luke 23 – August 18, 2019
The cross of Jesus Christ is the turning point of history and the center of the Christian faith. Whatever problem you are facing, come to the cross to gain perspective. Let the light of Jesus’ grace remind you of what you deserve and what God has given you in Christ. Jesus offers to take your place: 1) trade your guilt for His goodness; 2) trade you conflict with God for His connection with the Father and; 3) trade your punishment for His eternal peace.
Read the message here: Crucified Luke 23
Download Discussion Questions here: Crucified Luke 23 Questions
For more resources on Crucified click here. “Jesus carried your sins into His death so you wouldn’t carry them into yours.” Pastor Colin Smith, www.OpentheBible.org
33. Risen – Luke 24 – August 25, 2019
The truth of Christianity and our hope of eternal life rest squarely on the proposition that Jesus rose from the dead. Luke 24 shows us three compelling reasons to believe Jesus did, in fact, rise from death: 1) reliable history, 2) Biblical authority and 3) spiritual clarity. In this passage we will also see three applications. Because Jesus rose from the dead we have 1) confidence in everything else he said; 2) power to overcome sin and live for Him and; 3) hope for our own resurrection and eternal life.
Read the message here: Risen Luke 24
Download discussion questions here: Risen Luke 24 Questions
For more resources on our Risen Savior click here. “Death separates your soul from your body, and that is why it is such a terrible enemy. It is the tearing apart of what God has joined together, and it will only be defeated when your body and soul are reunited in the power of a new life.” Pastor Colin Smith, www.openthebible.org
34. Ascended – Acts 1 – September 1, 2019
Luke concludes his gospel and starts his second volume (Acts) with the ascension of Jesus – which means it must be important! The resurrection was Jesus’ public coronation – God the Father’s way of acknowledging Jesus as the Glorious Son of God. The ascension was Jesus’ installation to his position as the Lord of all things. Since the Lord is unbeatable His plan is unstoppable and His grace is irresistible. So trust in the Lord and work His plan by sharing the Gospel!
Read the message here: Ascended Acts 1
Download Discussion Questions here: Ascended Acts 1 Questions
For more resource on the Ascension of Jesus, click here. “As a believer, you can have great joy today, knowing that your ascended Lord is at the right hand of the Father, and that His hands are raised in blessing over you. Through the Holy Spirit, His presence is always with you, empowering you to do all that He calls you to do. And when He comes again, He will take you up into His presence forever.” Pastor Colin Smith
35. Coming – John 14 – September 15, 2019
The return of Christ is the blessed hope of all believers. Our Savior, Lord and Bridegroom is coming back for us so we can be with Him forever! In John 14 Jesus makes three comforting promises to His disciples: 1) He is going to prepare a place for them (by preparing them for His place); 2) He will come back soon and 3) He will take us to be with Him forever!
Read the message here: Coming John 14
Download Discussion Questions here: Coming John 14 Questions
For more resources on the Return of Christ, click here. “When Jesus said he was going ‘to prepare a place,” he was referring to the cross. It is through Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension into heaven that the place for all His followers is prepared.” Colin Smith
36. Father – John 17 – September 22, 2019
In this message we begin a three part series on the Trinity. The LORD is One God in three Persons, eternally exchanging glory, love and life. This is a mystery we cannot fully comprehend but it is the clear teaching of Jesus and the whole Bible. The wonder of the gospel is that our Triune God invites us into the unending dance of His overflowing peace, joy, love, power, life and glory!
Read the message here: Father – John 17
Download Discussion Questions here: Father – John 17 Questions
For more resources on God the Father, click here. “You will spend all eternity marveling at the glory of God, so let your worship begin in response to the wonder of what He has already revealed.” Colin Smith
37. Son – John 1:1-18 – September 29, 2019
John opens his gospel with one of the clearest teachings in the Bible about the full divinity of Christ. Jesus, the Son of God, is not less than God but is the complete revelation of the nature of God. In this message we will see three perfections of Jesus – the light of His truth, the glory of His holiness and the power of His life. In contrast we will see how we fall short – darkened in our understanding, dead in our sin and powerless to change. But this is why Jesus came, lived and died – to bring light into our darkness, life to replace our death and power so we can live for Him.
Read the message here: Son John 1
Download Discussion Questions here: Son John 1 Questions
For more resources on the Son of God, click here. “When the Bible describes Jesus as the ‘Son of God,’ the word Son does not mean that He is a ‘dependent relative’ of the Father, but that he exactly reflects the Father’s nature (Hebrews 1:3). The Son of God is all that God is, in the flesh.” Colin Smith
38. Spirit – John 14:12-31 – October 6, 2019
Before He went to the cross, Jesus explained the role of The Helper, the Holy Spirit through whom the disciples would do “even greater things” (John 14:12). As we finish this three part series on the Trinity we learn that the Holy Spirit is 1) fully God; 2) fully personal and 3) all about Jesus. Then we see the three gifts the Holy Spirit gives us: 1) peace – the comfort of God’s presence an the fullness of God’s joy; 2) perception – understanding God’s Word and knowing God’s will and; 3) power – to obey, to bear fruit and to persevere.
Read the message here: Spirit John 14
Download Discussion Questions here: Spirit John 14 Questions
For more resources on the Spirit, click here. “The Holy Spirit has a beautiful ministry. He shows us our need of a Savior, and He shows us that Christ is the Savior we need… He brings us to Christ and joins Christ to us, so that everything Jesus accomplished on the cross becomes ours.” Colin Smith
39. Christ – John 20:24-31 – October 13, 2019
After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to many of his disciples on different occasions – but not to Thomas. This passage shows the moment that changed Thomas from doubt-filled defiance to faith-filled devotion – he had an encounter with the Risen Christ. Here we see the pathway of faith (your unique timeline, temperament and testimony), the process of faith (turn from unbelief, profess the truth, trust in Jesus) and the product of faith (peace with God now, life with God forever).
Read the message here: Christ John 20
Download Discussion Questions here: Christ John 20 Questions
For more resources on Christ, click here. “Jesus Christ is prophet, priest and king. So believing in Him means that we trust what He says as prophet and take His Word as the truth by which all else is measured. It means that we trust Him as priest to bring us into the presence of God. It means that we submit ourselves to Him as king, to live under His authority and rule.” Colin Smith