Olive Tree Blog
Author

LaRosa Johnson

Browsing
Historical

The Five Solas: Scripture Alone

THE HISTORY OF SOLA SCRIPTURA When the Reformation began the doctrine of Scripture was central: sola scriptura. During this time the Bible was not something for the common man. Through the centuries, the Roman Catholic church elevated the authority of tradition. Then they elevated papal office’s interpretation over that of…

Keep Reading
Wiersbe
Bibles

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines

There are lots of ways to learn the Bible, but one of the better ways to start is by getting an overview of the Bible’s big picture. Warren Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines of the Old and New Testament is a fantastic tool for achieving this. HISTORY OF WIERSBE’S EXPOSITORY OUTLINES The…

Keep Reading
Topical

Why Does God Allow Trials?

Have you ever wondered why God allows us to experience trials? Here are eight purposes for trials in the life of the Christian. But first, here is some scripture: JAMES 1:2-3 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing…

Keep Reading
Commentaries

Boice: By a Pastor, For a Pastor

When we listen to a sermon, we hope for two things: an explanation of the passage, and how it relates to us. These are the two goals the Boice Expositional Commentary Series accomplishes. It helps preachers, teachers and students of the Bible understand the Bible’s tough passages. Then, Boice makes his…

Keep Reading
Historical

Church History & Why It Matters

MY OWN STORY A couple months ago I talked about how I learned to love church history. Around that time, I started work on another history project: my family tree. I don’t remember what motivated me, but I spent countless hours stitching together my family’s history on Ancestry.com. While working…

Keep Reading
Commentaries

Look Inside: Tyndale Commentaries

The Tyndale Commentary Series is a highly regarded commentary set spanning the entirety of both the Old and New Testaments. Long known for being a trusted resource for Bible study, this commentary is written by some of the most distinguished evangelical scholars from across the globe. Here’s a brief look at…

Keep Reading
Everyman's Bible Commentary
Commentaries

Look Inside: Everyman’s Bible Commentary

When it comes to commentaries, figuring out which one is right for you can be a difficult task. Commentaries like Anchor Yale and Hermeneia are clearly aimed at an academic crowd; whereas, commentaries like the Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible and NIV Application Commentary are a great aid to pastors…

Keep Reading
Open Your Bible Commentary
Commentaries

Look Inside: Open Your Bible Commentary

The difficulties of maintaining a daily Bible study routine are many. Where do you start? How do you make adequate time for more than a cursory reading of the Text? How do you find the right balance of study and devotion? And the list goes on. The truth is there…

Keep Reading
Pentecost
Seasonal

Pentecost: A Fulfillment of the Jewish Feast

The Orthodox Study Bible contains an article on Pentecost that we thought would be fitting to share on the blog. So, below you will find the excerpt and a link to the study Bible. Also, there is a question to promote conversation in the comments. And I will pray the…

Keep Reading
Jesus the Peace Bringer
New Testament

Jesus, the Peace–Bringer

Jesus is the peace-bringer: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” —John 14:27 Peace, shalom (shah–loam). Shalom comes from the root verb shalam, meaning “to be…

Keep Reading
Load More