Online Bible Studies

Do you know of any churches that have online discussions with missionaries, or online Bible Studies?

Let me explain.
Sunday, we had to cancel our evening service because of the snow we got.
I was here at the parsonage Sunday afternoon, and had a thought that it would be nice if the church could still meet online even when we couldn’t meet physically…. We are still the church, even in cyberspace…

Anyway, I called some leaders in the church, and then I set up a discussion room on our church’s website that will host 60 people at a time.

Since then I have been brainstorming how I can use this function to edify our church, and reach out to others.

One way I came up with is a monthly online Bible Study, where we can set up a date and time to meet online, and I will moderate a discussion over a Bible passage, or topic.

Another way, I thought of was inviting missionaries to join with us in a discussion on missions,

But I am not sure how to do this. I think it would be great to have a missionary join us at a specific time to do a Bible study, or just to chat, and fellowship.

Does any of your churches have this type of thing? And if so, do you have any advice for me?

Please play nice.

 

I have it set up already. And have ran a test chat session with some in our church.

It seems to work just fine.
I think the hardest part will be the scheduling.

But that can be overcome..
I am going to announce an online discussion this Sunday, set for a couple weeks away.

I also developed a forum. Not as advanced as BB, but it will do the job.
I have it password protected, so that only the members can be on it.
I am using it now to answer this question:


I am going to give you 2 different scriptures, Matthew 27:62-66 and Matthew 28:11-15.

After you read them, tell me what they have in common.

There are 2 specific things I am after.
But you will have to study to find them. They are not obvious. And once you find the first thing, it will lead you to the second thing. You may have to use commentaries, dictionaries, books that give you information on the culture of that time, etc.

We can have a discussion as we go along, and I will help guide you, but I want you to discover the answer by yourself.

Here is a hint: Learn more about the author of Matthew, specifically who he was, and why he wrote the book of Matthew.


Here are the scriptures:
Matthew 27:62-66
(62) Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
(63) Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
(64) Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
(65) Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make [it] as sure as ye can.
(66) So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.



Matthew 28:11-15
(11) Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
(12) And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
(13) Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him [away] while we slept.
(14) And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
(15) So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

When I got to church this evening, this was all they were talking about.
Some had brought their commentaries, and was telling me all they have been learning by trying to answer this question.

If you want the answer to the above question, I will PM it to you...
I have some members reading on here, and I don't want to give the answers away.

 

Thanks, Mexdeaf, I will keep you in mind.
I want to do a Bible study first in a few weeks, and then go on to the next level.

 

It is one of the free services that are offered with Bravenet. That is who we have our website through, it is free. We just have to put up with some banner ads. But so far, no one has complained.

All I had to do was to activate the service.
Then just followed the instructions they gave.

 

You could always go to Bravenet.com and get a free website, register your chat room, then link to it from your main site.