The Way-An in-depth study of God's Word with Paul Orr

Send us Fan Mail As we come to the last three chapters of Zechariah, the prophies now center on the return of Jesus. It begins with God affirming His power, sovereignty and the fact that He alone is the infinite, almighty creator of everything seen and unseen. This is critical as these prophesies unfold.  One thing that stands out concerning Israel in the last days is that the whole world will be...

Send us Fan Mail In a previous study we took the time to review what good hermeneutics are. Hermeneutics is a big word that simply means how we study and interpret the scriptures. From this we were able to take a biblical look at the distinction between Israel and the church. All of this is critical if we are to have a correct biblical view of prophesy. This week, we came back to topical technical...

Send us Fan Mail This passage along with I Corinthians 15:50-58 are the foundation for the doctrine of the rapture. This is a doctrine that falls under eschatology, the biblical study surrounding the return of Jesus. While the rapture sadly is surrounded by some controversy, in truth, it should not be. A solid study of the scriptures reveals with great clarity this wonderful doctrine.  As Paul del...

Send us Fan Mail Sadly, the incredible blessings that God has in store for Israel have been delayed. Delayed due to their rejection of Jesus as His first coming. They rejected the true, good shepherd. As a result, they will receive the foolish and worthless shepherd. They, for a time will receive the Antichrist. It will be a terrible and dark time for the nation. Our choices have consequences. Tha...

Send us Fan Mail We now begin a new section of Zechariah. These last six chapters will focus on prophesies concerning the first and second coming of Jesus. As we look at the prophesies fulfilled in the first coming of Jesus, we can be encouraged to know that the prophesies concerning His second coming will be fulfilled exactly.  Biblical prophecy is history written before it happens. Only God can...

Send us Fan Mail We are currently entering a section of scripture that covers much prophesy in depth. Our present passage deals with the doctrine of the rapture. Both prophesy and the rapture are subjects familiar with controversy. What we would like to do in this study is to revisit a key basic, how we study and interpret the bible. It is critical that as a believer, you know what you believer an...

Send us Fan Mail In this study, we begun by continuing to look at our Christian walk. A solid walk in Christ is critical to our witness for Christ. Nothing is more powerful in our Christian witness then our walk in Christ.  We looked at the need to increase in our brotherly love for one another. The way we increase in our brotherly love is by aspiring to lead a quiet life, minding our own business...

Send us Fan Mail In this study, the people present a question to God concerning traditional fast that they began while in captivity. These fast were supposedly for God. The question they pose is should they continue this tradition. God sends four messages through Zechariah before he gives the answer. God has to prepare their hearts before giving them the answer. The answer is simple, you are to no...

Send us Fan Mail Paul now transitions from the Thessalonians being led to Christ, being established in Christ to now walking in Christ. What good is it to be led to Christ, established in Christ if we are not going to live every day for Christ.  Paul first tells them that God's will for their life is that they would be holy. That they are to be separated from the world and separated to God. T...

Send us Fan Mail Zechariah receives the last of his visions. All took place in one night. Sometime after the series of visions, Zechariah is given instructions to make a crown of gold and silver. The person that ultimately wears this crown will be both king and priest over Israel. Never in all of Israels history has there been a person who was both king and priest. This crown is symbolic and looks...

Send us Fan Mail We spent much time in this study looking at love and what it means biblically. True biblical, Christian love has no trace of self. It is selfless in every way. True biblical love focuses on the welfare of others to the glory of God.  Paul prays that the believers in the Thessalonian church would both increase and abound in true Christian love. This prayer applies to us as well. To...

Send us Fan Mail In this study, we are faced with some big challenges. We have been wonderfully saved. We are a new creation in Christ. Are we walking in God's ways? Are we living our lives according to God's word? We have been saved so greatly by God's amazing grace. With grace comes great responsibility.  Are we building our lives on Jesus? Are we battling with discouragement? Are...

Send us Fan Mail Paul now begins to transition from the birth and nurturing of this young church to the establishing and encouraging of this young church. Here we will see much of the pastoral heart of Paul. It is great to see people get saved. But it does not end there. Once a person is justified the process of sanctification immediately begins. It is then that we are to obediently make disciples...

Send us Fan Mail The time of exile had come to an end. The Jews were now free to return to Israel. However, many had become accustomed to the comforts of Babylon. They chose to remain in the comfort of Babylon rather than returning to the hard, challenging work of rebuilding the temple. Rather than respond in humble obedience to God's call, they chose to remain in the comfort and security of...

Send us Fan Mail Paul continues to write to the Thessalonians about how they received the gospel. They first received the word of with both the hearing of the ear and with their hearts.  Paul also speaks to them about persecution. All true believers will indeed face persecution. As persecution comes our way, we must remember that God is sovereign. Any persecution that He allows into our lives is n...

Send us Fan Mail Zechariah is the 2nd post exile prophet sent to the nation of Israel. Both Haggia and Zechariah ministered at approximately the same time. Haggai challenged the people to re-start the building of the temple. Zechariah encouraged them to complete the rebuilding of the temple. Completing the work that God has called us to is critical in being all that God has called us to be. Before...

Send us Fan Mail We now conclude the short book of Haggai. While small, there are many great lessons found here. First, we do not just start a work for God, we must be diligent to finish the work that God calls us to. We need to be strong. We need to work hard. And we must fear God in every endeavor He calls us to. Remember that God's work begins with His word. The work continues with His wor...

Send us Fan Mail In this verse we see the importance of the word of God in the work of God. Every work of God begins with the word of God. Paul and company did not come to the Thessalonians with gimmicks, sleight of hand or bait and switch. They came to them with Jesus and His word. As a result, God did a great work among the Thessalonians.  For us, is Jesus and His word enough. There is so much i...

Send us Fan Mail We now come to the book of Haggai. This is the first of the post exile prophets. We are presented with great lessons that must be applied to our Christian walk.  A great lesson of this book is to complete the work we begin. God calls us to a work that we begin with zeal. Yet very quickly we are tested. Our faith is challenged. At that point we must decide if we will continue by fa...

Send us Fan Mail Paul continuing to defend himself now goes from the things they did not do to the things they did do amongst the Thessalonian church.  Paul, Silas and Timothy were gentle and affectionate like a nursing mother. They also exhorted, comforted and charged the young church like a father training his children. Paul, in this passage that we have looked at over the past few studies, lays...

Send us Fan Mail Zephaniah began with the word of God, and it concludes with God giving us His word. This book presents to us the day of the Lord, the fact that all nations will be judged before a holy God. Yet we also see that after God's judgment, the kingdom of God will be ushered in.  We are living in the last of the last days. We have some brutal days that lie before us. But according to...

Send us Fan Mail Paul now changes gears. He goes from writing about this young growing church to defending his brief yet powerful ministry among them. Paul's defense is based on his actions of which they are all aware. Our actions will always be our greatest defense. They will also be our greatest witness and testimony. As Paul defends himself, he lays out both things that he did not do and t...

Send us Fan Mail In this study we see the future judgment of God that will come upon the whole world. It is a judgment that is on the near horizon.  As this judgment quickly approaches, we know according to God's word, that this judgment is righteous, holy and just. It is a judgment coming on a Christ rejecting world. As this judgment comes, the world will be without excuse.  How are we to na...

Send us Fan Mail What an amazing example this church is to all churches right up to our present day. They are a young church, yet they are growing and maturing at a rapid pace. Knowing God's word and living in obedience to the word of God is central to all that they do. Doctrine from the bible is taught to all regardless of maturity level. There is no room for compromise in the slightest from...

Send us Fan Mail We now begin a study of the letters that Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church. This was a young church, primarily made up of Gentiles. Paul planted this church on his second missionary journey. While this is a young church with little if any biblical foundation, Paul addresses deep doctrinal subjects in his letter. This is a good lesson for us. One is never too young in Jesus to...