Insights in Biblical Narratives and Culture, LLC, makes the following acknowledgements concerning the development of the seminar topics presented. Each of these seminars was developed at the request of the First Baptist Church of Zebulon, GA beginning August 2016. The pastor who invited Vern is Dr. Ed Hoard.
Vern served as the Lead Docent for the Biblical History Center from October 16, 2015 through October 17, 2020. The leadership of the Biblical History Center in LaGrange, GA, was gracious in allowing Vern to make the trips to Zebulon for presentations on Wednesday evenings. At the request of the leadership of BHC, a donation from the church to the BHC was made each year from 2016 to 2020. The church also covered the cost of travel and gave a love offering to Vern.
In addition to the conferences led by Dr. James Fleming, Vern sometimes consulted with Dr. Derrick Lewis, Chief Operations Officer, BHC, and with Christy Barker, Curator and Program Director, BHC, concerning various topics of study. Vern also relied on forty plus years of ministry and study. He completed a BA degree in Bible and Religion at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX in 1982. He completed a Master of Divinity at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX in 1986. He served as pastor of four churches (1981 – 1990), chaplain in the U.S. Army (1990 – 2003) and chaplain for The Gardens at Calvary (2004 – 2013). He owes a debt of gratitude to his professors and friends throughout the years.
The Land God Promised:
This seminar has as its primary source a book written by Dr. James Fleming of Biblical Resources. Vern attended the conference Dr. Fleming held in March 2014 entitled “The Land of the Bible and the Lessons We Learn about God,” an eight-hour presentation. Based on the book by the same title, plus notes Vern took during the conference, plus Vern’s personal study, this seminar was developed and was presented to the First Baptist Church of Zebulon. It was presented in four, one-hour sessions on four Wednesday evenings in August of 2016 (3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th). It has also been presented to the Beallwood Baptist Church of Columbus, GA and the Bradford Library of Valley, AL.
Portions of this seminar were condensed into another, one-hour presentation entitled Geography of the Bible and was presented one time at the Biblical History Center in LaGrange, GA.
Jesus Observing the Feasts:
This seminar has as its initial source the teaching of Dr. James Fleming who taught “The Gospels and the Feasts of Israel,” an eight-hour conference taught at The Biblical History Center in LaGrange, GA, in 2015. The book by the same title was used, plus notes taken during the conference, plus personal study to develop this seminar. It was presented at the First Baptist Church of Zebulon, GA on four Wednesday evenings in August of 2017 (2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd). The website Chabad.org was also referenced as a source for Jewish observance of the feasts today. Portions of this have been used in other teaching sessions brought by Vern Jordin.
This seminar was condensed into a one-hour presentation of the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread and was presented one time at the Biblical History Center in LaGrange, GA.
The Temple:
This seminar was developed for presentation at the First Baptist Church of Zebulon, GA in August of 2018, as The Temple, Its History and Development. While Vern used Dr. Fleming’s book on the Temple, it was only a starting point and Vern did not attend any conference by Dr. Fleming on this topic. Vern also consulted other sources to develop this seminar to include, but not limited to, The Rose Guide to the Tabernacle, The Rose Guide to the Temple, articles from BAR magazine (Biblical Archaeological Review), internet searches and others. This work is primarily a compilation of the research done by Vern put in a Power Point presentation.
The Messiah:
This seminar was developed for presentation at the First Baptist Church of Zebulon, GA in August of 2019. While Dr. Fleming has a book by this title, it was not the primary source for this seminar and not consulted. The book Ha-Mashiach, The Messiah of the Hebrew Scriptures, written by Arnold Fructenbaum, was a major source along with A New Translation The Dead Sea Scrolls by Michael Wise, Martin Abegg, Jr., and Edward Cook. Of course, the Scriptures were the primary source. Also, a look at some of Josephus. Some is based on undergraduate studies at Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX completed in 1982.
The Cities and the Letters of Paul:
This seminar was developed for presentation at the First Baptist Church of Zebulon, GA in August of 2020. Several sources were used to capture the history and development of six cities: Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica and Colossae. Since the Roman Empire influenced all of these, each city’s history was set against a backdrop of the history of the Roman Empire. Study was largely internet searches for topics and history of these cities. There was a look at The Twelve Caesars by Michael Grant. Also, there are references to works by the historians Herodotus, Josephus, Pliny, Strabo, Tacitus and Xenophon. Of course, the scriptures are referenced in the study. Due to the coronavirus, the seminar was delayed and the last three sessions were completed in October 2020.
Jesus on the Road:
This seminar is currently a work in progress and is being developed for First Baptist Church of Zebulon, GA for presentation in August of 2021. It is a study of the travels of Jesus starting with the timeline of the Apostle John with a look at Luke’s “orderly account.” This begins with a study of the Gospels and then references found in archaeological publications (BAR et. al.) as can be found in an internet search. Maps of Jesus’ travel have been designed for Power Point presentation by the author. Books referenced include: A Harmony of the Gospels by Orville Daniel, The Roads and Highways of Ancient Israel by David Dorsey, Along the Road How Jesus Used Geography to Tell God’s Story by John Beck, Where Jesus Walked by R. Wayne Stacy, and Sea of Galilee and Northern Israel by Todd Fink.