Weekly Bible Study Library
Intro
Welcome to our Weekly Bible Study family project that was inspired in March 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The project began with a goal to understand and learn what God would tell us in the Bible using the Jesus Calling 365 Devotions for Kids book and the #1 Selling third edition Life Application Study Bible.
Since then, two close friends, Adele Lorusso from Bari, Italy and Myriam Leah, a professor of Philosophy at the Sorbonne University in Paris France, joined the effort to assist us with the project.
Each week, a new writing is completed and added here – we hope you enjoy this special addition to the Deacon Jack Website. Currently the documents are translated into French, Italian, Portuguese and are available free of charge by email.
To receive any of these three versions, please reach out to the following translators:
French: Myriam Leah
Italian: Adele Lorusso
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Prayerful Reading
Thank You for leading me to this private time of prayer in my quiet, out-of-the way place, selecting a brief passage from Scripture becoming silent, and listening to my breath. With a prayer I acknowledge your holy presence.
Reading the scripture passage slowly and quietly more than once, listening for the word or phrase to touch my heart or watching for an image to catch my imagination.
Reflecting on Your word, phrase, or image speaking to me, letting it interact with my thoughts, emotions, memories, and hopes You are leading me to, as I read the passage slowly again.
Responding to what You have shared with me in my own words of praise and thanks, concern and petition, trust and hope.
Resting for a moment with You, my Lord in silence, letting go of words and ideas, not becoming disturbed with distractions but listening to Your Breath instead, allowing You to love me and to receive Your love.
Deacon Fernando Botelho
Ending Reflections
Verbal Footnotes –What an amazing thing to hear this message with my heart for the first time, from the mouth of Jesus like the first listeners. Place yourself in His presence. Bible followers of past 2,000 years…& beyond into Old Testament, now more than 5,700 years since Abraham has revealed these footnotes (Source Life Application Study Bible, 3rd edition / #1 selling study bible and other multi-denominational versions) about these few passages saying…
Discernments – What words, phrase, or image touched your heart in this prayerful reading? Underline it, write it, etc. to discuss it at your Sunday Bible study.
Today’s Prayers to Jesus – After reading these reflections pray for those that you plan on being with today or who is now in your heart, thanking God for their time with
Bible Study Library – 2023
November 26 – Your Greatest Protection
I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and call on the name of the LORD.Psalm 116-17 Jesus Tells Us; If you want to have a thankful heart, you must work to protect it. Remember that you live in a fallen world, full of sin. Both...
November 19 – No Matter Where I Lead
You keep your loving promise. You lead the people you have saved. With your strength you will guide them to your holy land. Exodus 15:13 Jesus Tells Us; Follow Me. No matter where I lead you, just follow Me. Don’t worry about how...
November 12 – You Can’t Earn My Blessings
My cup overflows with blessings. Psalm 23:5 Jesus Tells Us; This is a time of plenty in your life. Your cup overflows with blessings. Enjoy this time, it is My gift for you. Don’t feel guilty when everything is going well. Don’t turn...
November 5 – My Precious Promises
I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens.Philippians 4:12 Jesus Tells Us; Most people feel happy when things are going right for them. And they feel sad or frustrated when things are not going so...
October 29 – Stay With Me
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 hidden treasure.Proverbs 2:4 Jesus Tells Us; Spend some more time with Me. I know today is a busy day...
October 22 – Joy in Your Hardest Day
Look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure.Proverbs 2:4 Jesus Tells Us; Adventurers in movies, real-life archaeologists, even kids love to spend time looking for the lost or hidden treasure. They hope to find gold, silver,...
October 15 – Powerful Protection
Let us look only to Jesus. He is the one who began our faith, and he makes our faith perfect. Hebrews 12:2 Jesus Tells Us; As you go step by step through this day, remind yourself often that I am with you. This promise of My Presence is a...
October 8 – Unchanging
I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself. Jeremiah 31:3 Jesus Tells Us; I love you with an everlasting love. It has no beginning and no end. And it never changes. It is impossible...
October 1 – Come to Me
The glorious God is the only Ruler, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. God will be honored, and his power will last forever. 1 Timothy 6:15-16 Jesus Tells Us; I am the all-powerful King of kings and Lord of lords, which means I have the...
September 24 – Compared to Forever
I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.Psalm 16:8 (Life Application Study Bible) Jesus Tells Us; I am much more “Real” than this world. This world, and all the things in it, will someday be gone. But I...
Bible Study Library – 2022
December 25 – I Became Poor
You know that Christ was rich, but for you he became poor. Christ did this so that by his being poor, you might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9(Life Application Study Bible) Jesus Tells Us…Try to imagine what that first, long ago Christmas...
December 18 – Eternal Glory
We have small troubles for a while now, but they are helping us gain an eternal glory. That glory is much greater than the troubles. 2 Corinthians 4:17(Life Application Study Bible) Jesus Tells Us…When you have a problem that goes on and on,...
December 11 – Faith is Knowing
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not seeHebrews 11:1 (life Application Study Bible) Jesus Tells Us…Every moment of every day, I am working for your good. So, bring Me all your worries and fear. ...
December 4 – A Small Sacrifice
Devote yourself to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.Colossians 4:2 (Life Application Study Bible) Jesus Tells us…My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth,...
November 27 – The Language of Heaven
Come into his city with songs of thanksgiving. Come into his courtyards with songs of praise. Psalm 100:4 (Life Application Study Bible) Jesus Tells us…when you live your life praising and thanking Me for the blessings I give you each day, your...
November 20 – Making the Grade
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 Jesus Tells Us…There are so many things you get graded on. There are report cards...
November 13 – Enjoy the Mysteries
I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy spirit fill you with hope. Romans 15:13 (Life Application Study Bible) Jesus Tells Us… With me, some things are a...
November 6 – Choices, Choices
The One who sent me is with me. I always do what is pleasing to him. So, he has not left me alone. John 8:29 (Life Application Study Bible) Jesus Tells Us…Try to please me first, before yourself, before others. As you go through your day,...
October 30 – The Bells of Heaven
I am the good shepherd…My sheep know my voice, and I know them.John 10:14 (Life Application Study Bible) Jesus Tells Us… I am with you, I am with you, I am with you. The bells of heaven continually ring out this promise. Some people never...
October 23 – Do You Feel It?
You have shown me the path to life, and you make me glad by being near to me. Sitting at your right side, I will always be joyful. – Psalm 16:11 (Life Application Study Bible) Jesus Tells us: As you decide to come close to Me, the Light of...
Bible Study Library – 2021
December 26th – It Really Is Unconditional
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. —1 John 4:16 Jesus tells us…Every second of every day, I give you the gift of My unconditional Love. It is truly a gift, with no strings attached. Many of My children have trouble understanding...
December 19th – Clearing the Clutter
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. – Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Jesus tells us… Do not be overwhelmed by the clutter in your life. By “clutter,” I’m not just talking about all that stuff under your...
December 12th – The Tip of the Iceberg
I know that you can do all things. No plan of yours can be ruined. – Job 42:2 Jesus tells us… I am taking care of you. Every detail of your life is under My control. When you give your heart to Me, I make sure that everything in your life works together for the...
December 5th – A Prayer I love to Answer
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it” - Genesis 28:16 Jesus tells us… When Jacob ran away from his angry brother, Esau, he went to sleep on a stone pillow in a land that seemed empty and...
November 28th – Always and Perfectly
Let them thank Yahweh for his faithful love, for his wonders for the children of Adam! Psalm 107:21 Jesus tells us: There is nothing - and no one – in this world that is perfect. Jesus describes: Things break, friends let you down, and even your parents lose...
November 21st – The Best Gift Ever
Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” – Luke 24:36 Jesus tells us… Think about the best gift you’ve ever gotten: that new computer, the cool video game, the bike you kept seeing in the store. They’re all nice gifts. Jesus...
November 14th – The Way I See You
Christ had no sin. But God made him become sin. God did this for us so that in Christ we could become right with God. – 2 Corinthians 5:21 Jesus tells us… I understand you completely and love you unconditionally. Jesus encourages: Let these facts soak into your...
November 7th – Reflecting Me
I ask only one thing from the Lord. This is what I want: Let me live in the Lord’s house all my life. Let me see the Lord’s beauty. Let me look around in his Temple. - Psalm 27:4 Jesus inspires us… See My beauty all around you: in nature, in true friendship, in...
October 31st – While You Listen
“If a person believes in me, rivers of living water will flow out from his heart. This is what the Scripture says.” Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit. - John 7:38-39 Jesus tells us… Learn to listen to Me even while you are listening to others. When a...
October 24th – Wired
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing / so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. - Genesis 2:2 Jesus tells us… This electronic age keeps you “wired” much of the time. When you’re an electrical appliance, being wired is a good...
October 17th – You Are Valuable
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! - Luke 12:24 Jesus tells us… Worry is the result of imagining a future without Me in it. Your best defense against...
October 10, 2021 – Don’t Divide Up Your Time
Trust in the LORD and do good. - Psalm 37:3 Jesus tells us… I want you to learn to trust Me in all things. Not just the big things, and not just the things you know you need help with. All things. Don’t divide up your life into what you can do by yourself and...
October 3, 2021 – Supernatural
I trust in your love. My heart is happy because you saved me. Psalm 13:5 Jesus tells us… When it seems like absolutely everything is going wrong—trust Me. When your life feels more and more out of control—thank Me. That’s not what usually pops into your mind...