Back Yard Bible Study 2021

Women's summer Bible study.png

At the beginning of the book of Revelation we find this promise: “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it ” (Rev. 1:3). Then, at the end we read again: “Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Rev. 22:7). Here is a blessing held out to us, yet many of us have been intimidated by this book, thinking, perhaps, that it is too difficult to understand, too controversial, and simply not practical. This summer, over six 50-60 minute sessions, we’re going to work our way through the first eleven chapters of Revelation. At each step along the way we’re going to ask and answer the question, “What will it mean for us to hear and keep this part of Revelation?” We want the perspective of heaven that was revealed to John to shape our perspectives about life and death, the present and the future, about what is meaningful and beautiful and worthwhile. The six sessions of the study will include:
Session 1: Blessed by hearing the revelation of Jesus (Rev. 1:1-3)
Session 2: Blessed by seeing the glorified Jesus (Rev. 1:4-20)
Session 3: Blessed by being known by Jesus (Rev. 2:1-3:22)
Session 4: Blessed by worshipping the worthiness of Jesus (Rev. 4-5)
Session 5: Blessed by being cleansed by Jesus (Rev. 6-7)
Session 6: Blessed by being on mission for Jesus (Rev. 8-11)

If you did Back Yard Bible Study in 2020, God Does His Best Work with Empty, you should be aware of some differences between last summer’s study and this study:

  • Each session in last summer’s study focused on a particular Bible story of emptiness and could easily be followed by someone with little biblical knowledge and with little-to-no time spent in the text. This study of Revelation will require more from the participant. A set of Personal Bible Study Questions is available and time spent in the text using those questions before watching each video is rather essential. (If you think the Revelation study may be too intense for your group, you might look at Saints & Scoundrels in the Story of Jesus)

  • Last summer the Personal Bible Study was packaged with the video. This summer each participant will need to purchase a copy of the downloadable questions for themselves. If you are doing this study with a group, can either have each participant purchase the Personal Bible Study on her own from this website or make a single purchase for a license to make the multiple number of copies you’ll need for each person in your group.

  • Last summer there was no Leader’s Guide available. This summer a complete Leader’s Guide is available for download purchase that includes possible answers to the Personal Bible Study Questions, a Group Discussion Guide, and helps for leading the discussion.

  • Last summer’s sessions lasted about 35 minutes. While I have not recorded these sessions yet, my estimate is that they will last about 50 to 60 minutes, some a little shorter, some may be longer. Once again, this requires a bit more of the participant.

  • Last summer the videos were available beyond the summer months. This summer, the videos will only be available from June 8 through August 17. After that date, the password you will be provided for the videos will no longer work.

While this summer study includes only six sessions on only the first half of Revelation, I am currently working on a book that will cover the entire book of Revelation. In the spring of 2022 I’ll be filming a new and complete video series on the whole book of Revelation. That complete series will become available in June of 2022 and will include an introduction session plus twelve sessions on Revelation 1-22. So the content presented in Back Yard Bible Study 2021 will be the same as the content in sessions 2-7 of that series when it becomes available in June 2022. That may mean that you’d rather wait until next year and do the whole study at one time. I wouldn’t typically offer the first half of a study on its own, but I’m doing so during this unique time to provide something for the many people around the world who are still unable to meet due to COVID and want something substantive to study this summer on their own or with a group.

If you would like to download and duplicate note-taking pages that have the outline for the video presentation and lyrics for the songs sung at the end, you can download that by clicking here.

When you purchase access to these videos, you may share the link and password for the videos with up to ten people who are doing the study with you. If you are watching the videos together by sharing your screen via Zoom or a similar technology, you can share it with up to ten people. If you are using these videos with a larger group, please purchase an additional product for every ten people participating in your study.

It is VERY IMPORTANT that you understand that when you make your purchase of the access to the videos, you will receive a purchase confirmation that will have a link to download a pdf page. The e-mail message will tell you that you have only 24 hours to download that pdf. So when you make your purchase, you need to be prepared to immediately download AND SAVE OR PRINT that pdf. That means that it is best to place your order from a laptop or desktop computer rather than place your order from a phone or tablet on which you likely won’t be able to save or print the pdf. I don’t want you to be frustrated that you didn’t successfully download and save that pdf in time and are unable to access the videos when you are ready to do so, so please be sure to work through all of these steps and make sure you have the pdf saved on your desktop or printed immediately after you make your purchase. In the past many people have been confused by this assuming they have only 24 hours to access the videos. That is not correct. You will have from June 8 through August 17 to access the videos. If you are unable to work through the study in that time-frame, you should wait for the complete series to be released in June of 2022.

What you are downloading when you make your purchase and click on the link in the order confirmation is a single page pdf that has the link to the videos on my Vimeo page and the password needed to access the videos. So, once again, be sure to save or print it immediately when you place your order. And if you don’t have the mechanism to save and print it when you’re placing your order, I recommend you wait to place your order until you can do so.