Bible Study Tools - This is an excellent collection of Bible Study tools online put together by Crosswalk.com.  If you are just looking for a Concordance, or one with several translations, then try one of the links.  Also, check out The Net Bible with excellent Q&A's and other helps.

What the Bible Says About... - This resource provides a quick way of finding Biblical references to different topics.  It is based on the Nave's Topical Bible.  I much prefer a printed reference entitled, "Topical Guide to the Bible" edited by Walter Elwell.  It is highly organized and includes the scripture text. It can be purchased easily through CBD (see below).

Bible Study Fellowship - This is the best organized Bible study I have found.  In Austin, there are about 400 men in the evening men's class, and it is excellent.  If you live in Austin and would like to find out more, call or email me and I'll fill you in.  If you live somewhere else, then press the BSF title to this paragraph to link to their web site where classes are listed by state.

Hermeneutics - the art and science of interpreting scripture.  An excellent, very readable (and short!) book on this topic is Knowing Scripture by R. C. Sproul (Intervarsity Press). (See CBD below.)

Cults and Christian Apologetics- Cults can result from an intentional or unintentional misinterpretation of scripture (as well as other reasons such as personality cults).  An excellent resource in both hermeneutics as well as dealing with teachings of cults is Christian Research Institute, established by Dr. Walter Martin, and currently led by Hank Hanegraaff.  Dr. Hanegraaff is the host of the "Bible Answer Man" radio program.

Christian Book Distributors - A well-stocked source of Christian reference material. Decent prices, online ordering, superior customer service, and even RealAudio samples of music albums.

Stephen Ministry - A Christian caregiving ministry that is near to my heart.  If you are experiencing problems and need someone to "walk with you", call your church to see if they have Stephen Ministers who may be able to help.  This is not a counseling service, nor are Stephen Ministers ordained in the clergy.  Rather, quoting from the web site, 

"In Stephen Ministry congregations, lay caregivers (called Stephen Ministers) provide one-to-one Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, and others facing a crisis or life challenge. Stephen Ministry helps pastors and congregations provide quality caring ministry for as long as people need it."

Grace Covenant Church ~ Austin, Texas   If you live in the Austin, Texas vicinity and you are searching for a strong, balanced, Bible-centered church, why not stop in for a visit with us one Sunday?  GCC is at Loop 360 Capital of Texas Highway and US 183 (Research Hwy).  Click on the name link and see who we are.  This is a warm, caring community dedicated to the belief that "Every believer is a minister..."  

 "The Search for Jesus"

Perhaps you watched this Peter Jennings special and wonder about how what you thought you knew could be so distant from what the scholars on this program were describing as they redefined the Jesus who is portrayed in the Bible.  Maybe you're not as far off as you thought, or maybe you accepted what was presented as "gospel" because of Mr. Jennings' usual objectivity.  The group of 'scholars' behind this, and several other series in the same vein (one presented on PBS a couple of years back) is, indeed, hardly objective.  In fact, they are an excellent example of reading one's own thoughts back into history.  This group starts with the concept that Jesus is not who he said he is, could not be the Christ, and then, using this as basis for all their thinking, sets about to attempt to promote "studies" showing Jesus in just that light.  An earlier book describes how they have weighted the words of Jesus based on their opinion of whether they think he actually spoke certain sayings recorded in scripture.  Unlike most scholars, they aggressively set about to promote their concepts through the popular media - this is their stated goal.  Here is an excellent critique of their work and here is another, and yet another.   There is also a critique of the information presented in the Jennings program available from the Christian Research Institute.  To date, they have been very successful in capturing the time of the television media, and with the Peter Jennings special, they scored a major coup.  It's up to you and me to determine whether what they tell us is true, and by understanding their background and approach, (use the last 2 links), you will be able to discern the shortcomings in their work.  Remember, as Paul instructs us in his letter to the believers in Ephesus to continue to grow together "into the fullness of Christ" . . .

"... Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there blown by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.      Ephesians 4:14

This is an important matter - people are hurt by the wrong understanding of who Jesus is.  Paul instructed both Timothy and Titus specifically on this - here is his description of one quality of an elder:

"He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.   Titus 1:9

And he was even more to the point in describing those who teach false doctrine in his letter to his protege, Timothy:

"If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree with the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to Godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing.  He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain."  1 Timothy 6:3-5

Forewarned is forearmed!