A little more about us...
We escaped the mustard tree.
We study the Bible and show others how to study it for themselves.
We don't tell you what to think... we show you what the Bible says.
We are sojourners in this world, looking to share the journey with others who are on the same narrow pathway.
We are those described in Hebrews 10:24-25:
"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."
We are as the captains in David's army, taking shelter with him in a cave in the midst of Saul's wicked kingdom, waiting until the Day when Jesus, the rightful Son of David, returns, ascends His throne and rules His kingdom in true righteousness, justice, and peace.
Our study resources
Proper Bible study should employ different Bible versions and Bible tools. While using outside commentaries is helpful at times, it is extremely important to stay within the confines of Scripture as much as possible, using Scripture to interpret Itself.
We use Bible versions that use the "formal equivalence" translations (also known as "word for word" translations), which are KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESB, and CLV. We find that NKJV is great for daily Bible readings because the English rendering flows very well, and the NASB works well for comparisons when studying, especially utilizing its use of capital letters when an OT passage is quoted in the NT. (We primarily use NKJV on this site and occasionally NASB.)
Strong’s concordance (based on KJV) and CLV (Concordance Literal Version – a concordance and hyper-formal translation in one) are extremely useful for even deeper studies. They help you find the original language of the English word you're searching, it's definition (though many times these definitions are faulty), and every other place in the Bible it is used. Seeing where and how God's Word uses specific words is an excellent way to determine scriptural definitions - thereby more accurate definitions - of a word.
Having access to the original languages using an interlinear is important, as well as tools that explain Greek and Hebrew grammar and parsing, which can help with getting more accurate translations. The Complete Word Study New Testament (and its counterpart for the Old Testament) by Spiros Zodhiates is an excellent resource for this, as well as The Englishman’s Greek Concordance of the New Testament by George V. Wigram, and the website scripture4all.org. PowerBible software is also invaluable.
Are You Teachable?
Like many Christians we have gone through years of studying the Scriptures and asking questions and doing word studies and reading commentary after commentary… and, praise God, He opened our eyes to begin to understand the mysteries contained within His Word. This was no special revelation to us because we are oh-so-wonderful-and-special, but rather this was simply the answer of a faithful God to committed bondservants who diligently and faithfully sought—and still seek— His face. Wisdom and understanding is and always has been open to everyone.