Latest Resources

Jeremiah

The book of Jeremiah has a surprisingly relevant message for the church and for believers today. The LORD speaks through Jeremiah to His people with words of warning for discipline He must bring on them. There has been a falling away of the LORD’s people from following His word to them and how they are to be living as a distinctly separate people from those who are around them. The leaders of the LORD’s people have failed to shepherd His people properly and have led them to a place of false worship like the surrounding people instead of a pure worship of the LORD. There has been a falling away from protecting the vulnerable of the community that led to a collapse of the society away from the LORD’s design for His people. The LORD speaks through Jeremiah to call His people to repent and return to Him as their God. Jeremiah is tasked with bringing the difficult message to the leaders and the people that judgment is coming on them from the LORD. This judgment will come from nations empowered by the LORD for this purpose. The city of Jerusalem and the temple are going to be destroyed and many people with die while others will be carried away into exile. In grace and mercy the LORD is disciplining His people for a time but He promises this will not be for a complete destruction of His people. The book of Jeremiah is filled with wisdom for believers to encourage us to know God’s word and live a life filled with compassion for those in need and a pure worship of a holy God and with warnings when we do not heed His word and refuse to repent of these sins in our lives.   Join us Live   Every Thursday night at 7:00 PM (CST) Thousand Oaks Bible Church 15801 Jones Maltsberger Road San Antonio, Texas 78247   This weekly teaching is offered in-person on Thursday evenings in San Antonio, Texas. The recording is released on the VBVMI website on the following Wednesday.   

2 Corinthians

Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth provides a poignant glimpse into the persecution he was enduring for the sake of spreading the Gospel. Throughout the letter, Paul fervently encourages the church to stand firm and unwavering in their faith, especially in the face of adversity. Additionally, he candidly discusses his own struggles, referring to a "thorn in the flesh" that served as a constant reminder of his need for reliance on God.

Esther

God never forsakes His people and this truth is demonstrated throughout the fascinating narrative given in the book of Esther. Although the book does not contain the name of God, it profoundly draws the reader into a deeper understanding of His sovereign control over world events through the entirety of history. Esther and Mordecai are elevated in the royal court during the reign of King Ahasuerus, also identified as King Xerxes I. Their lives reflect a dedication in following God, even at the risk of personal destruction, resulting in the defeat of a terrifying enemy of the Jewish people before being brought into positions of honor within the royal court. Their loyalty to each other and to God displays a beautiful example for God’s people to stand firm for what is right in every situation of life. VBVMI hosts Annette Armstrong's presentation of Esther.

Parables of the Hidden Treasure & Costly Pearl

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure - It is often assumed by many in evangelical circles that the church has somehow replaced Israel (Replacement Theology) because of her rejection of Messiah in the first century. However, a clear reading of scripture shows us otherwise. God still has a plan for His chosen people, Israel and that plan is distinct from the Church. Jesus addresses Israel’s current position within the present Church-Age through the illustration of a hidden treasure having been set aside for a time, yet not forgotten for its future retrieval. Join VBVMI as Pastor Wesley teaches the significance of Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13 and how the Hidden treasure explains God’s redemptive distinctions between the Church Age believers and Israel.The Parable of the Costly Pearl - The Parable of the Costly Pearl is one that has been a part of much interpretative efforts over the years. To best understand the cost of the pearl requires that we examine the flow of the parables in the order in which Christ gave them. As we consider the Parable of the Costly Parable, we will see how a parallelism is drawn between that of what the Lord is doing within the Church-Age in addition to His retrieval of His Hidden treasure, Israel. Join VBVMI as Pastor Wesley teaches on God’s precious possession of both His first born, Israel, and His possession of great cost, the Church.Webinar given as part of VBVMI's Parable Series.

1 Kings

After the death of King David, his son, Solomon, took the throne over a united Israel. Under Solomon’s leadership, Israel saw her rise in size and glory. Within this rise came Solomon’s greatest accomplishment - the building of the Temple. The construction and grandeur of the temple brought about worldwide notoriety and respect towards Solomon and Israel as a whole.However, amidst this great rise emerged a great fall due to the divided heart of the King. This divided heart eventually led to a divided Kingdom (The Northern Kingdom – Israel versus the Southern Kingdom – Judah).Join Pastor Livingston as VBVMI dives into an in-depth study of the history of the divided kingdom.

Parable of the Leaven

Leaven in scripture is often synonymous with sin, so it’s no wonder why Jesus utilizes leaven as an example of the progressive period of growth within the Church Age to emphasize the growing corruption within Christendom. Within this teaching of the Parable of the Leaven, we will understand the necessary measures by which believers must entrust themselves to the study of scripture and to be weary of false teaching within the Church.Join VBVMI as Pastor Wesley addresses corruption within the universal churches today regarding certain biblical doctrines that have caused many in the faith to go astray.Webinar given as part of VBVMI's Parable series.

Philippians

Noted as Paul’s most affectionate letter, the book of Philippians captures Paul’s immense love and care for the Philippian church. In this book, the Apostle Paul centers his writing on the believer’s need to remain resolute amid great suffering. The theme of his message centers on the joy found in Christ in all things. In this verse by verse, expositional study through the book of Philippians, Pastor Livingston will show how the Apostle Paul, through great compassion, hopeful confidence, and loving warning, steers the believers to experience true joy in living, serving, knowing, and resting in Christ. Note: Philippians 1A is an introduction to the book, originally presented by former Pastor Stephen Armstrong.

Latest Questions & Articles

What is the difference between permissive will of God and perfect will of God?

To start, God is sovereign. Nothing can get by Him or change His perfect will. However, we must acknowledge that humans (believers and unbelievers), were created by God to make decisions concerning basic life, needs and desires. Therefore, where doe…

The Gospel Simplified: The Path to Salvation

Verse by Verse Ministry International is regularly asked about the Gospel. What is it, and why does it matter? The gospel is the life-changing message of Jesus Christ—a message of hope, love, and redemption. In this article, we’ll break down th…

I'm struggling, do you have advice?

As the world faces many trials and tribulations, VBVMI would like to offer some encouragement through the eternal word of God. It is our hope that some will use this as a means of guidance through any difficult situation or through any temptation or…