Bullets and Bibles Bible Study

A Bible helped a Soldier dodge a bullet, and this study addresses an even more important way Bibles save lives.

Please read the 1-minute devotion Bullets and Bibles as an introduction to this Bible study.

It's remarkable to hear that a Bible literally saved a soldier's life, but even more remarkable is the way the Bible can save our souls and sustain and enrich our lives.

1. List the uses and purposes of God's Word found in the following passages:

2 Timothy 3:16-17: 
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Psalm 19:7-8: The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

2. What sets the Word of God apart from every other book.

2 Timothy 3:16:
"All Scripture is God-breathed..." 

Hebrews 4:12:
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Matthew 4:4:
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Let's rejoice daily in the saving power of God's Word!!


To supplement this study, check out these 1-minute devotions:
Dwelling
Sticks & Stones  

© copyright, Gail Burton Purath, 2013, BiteSizeBibleStudy@blogspot.com, edited and updated 2020

A Bible helped a Soldier dodge a bullet, and this study addresses an even more important way Bibles save lives.

The Atheist's Insult: "Sheeple"

This short Bible study explains why Christians need not be offended when they are mocked by atheists. #atheist #Jesus

Before doing this study, please read the one-minute introduction He Thought He'd Insulted Me by Calling Christians "Sheeple".

It discusses a situation when an atheist left a rude quote on the Bible Love Notes Facebook page  and Gail's response surprised him because she said she was not ashamed of being a "sheeple" if her shepherd is Jesus.

1. These passages should help us see atheist insults in their proper light and rejoice instead of taking offense:

Matthew 5:11: “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

1 Peter 4:14: If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  

2. Does Jesus ask us to blindly follow Him?

Luke 14:25-33Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

3. Who blinds his followers?

2 Corinthians 4:4: The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

John 10:7-13: Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

4. How do these passages offer further clarity to our relationship with Christ?

Matthew 11:28-30:  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

John 10:1-18: “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, edited and updated 2025 

This short Bible study explains why Christians need not be offended when they are mocked by atheists. #atheist #Jesus

This short Bible study explains why Christians need not be offended when they are mocked by atheists. #atheist #Jesus



Glowing with Christ's Light

This short Bible study encourages us to grow in Christ, learning to shine our light. #Bible #Biblestudy #Jesus

Before doing this study, please read the one-minute introduction 7 Ways to Shine for Christ

When we belong to Christ, we reflect His light, and we are meant to share that light with the world.

1. In the passage below:

A. How do salt and light have similar and different purposes? 
B. Why do you think God stressed not hiding our light?
C. What are ways we might hide our light and what are ways we can "put it on a stand"?  
D. Who is glorified by our good deeds?

Matthew 5:13-16: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

See The Light Makes Everyone Happy, Right? Wrong!

2. What responsibilities come with being a light in our secular world?

Ephesians 5:8-16: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 


3. What about these verses encourages and comforts you?

1 John 1:4-5: We write this to make our joy complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:7: we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

John 1:3-5: Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

See Shining in the Darkness and 8 Truths About the Light of the World.

copyright 2015, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com, updated and edited 2025 


This short Bible study encourages us to grow in Christ, learning to shine our light. #Bible #Biblestudy #Jesus

This short Bible study encourages us to grow in Christ, learning to shine our light. #Bible #Biblestudy #Jesus