The Verse After Verse

By Doc Shear

Finding deeper meaning to some of your favorite scriptures.

St. Louis, MO — September 2019 — Since the Word of God is a “living” text it is important to look at scripture in context. Often examining the verse immediately after a selected verse will enhance the meaning. That is the premise which Doc Shear uses to write his book, The Verse After the Verse (BookVenture Publishing LLC 2018) by Rev., Dr. John (Doc) Shear.

John (Doc) Shear examines throughout the book, twelve familiar scriptures. He also looks at the verse immediately after to see how it might create a new dynamic in understanding the more familiar verse.
Doc Shear begins the book by looking at probably the most familiar single verse of the Bible, John 3:16. It reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him, shall not perish but have eternal life” (NIV). But then, Doc Shear takes a look at the verse after the verse, John 3:17. It reads, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (NIV). He titles the chapter, “Practice What You Preach” and as he unpacks this reading, he draws on a dynamic with these two verses that concludes you cannot preach the Good News of God’s love and forgiveness while condemning everyone.
As a preacher and also a published writer, Doc Shear is called a “storyteller”. He uses examples of experiences which have happened in his life, observations from his years in ministry and stories he has accumulated from preaching well over a thousand sermons. Doc Shear wrote this book in a style that is easy to read for the Christian in the pew. The book also comes with a study guide and can be used for small group discussions and even as a sermon series. One of the endorsers to the book put it this way, “Doc Shear demonstrates both his ability as a faithful biblical interpreter and his talent as a story telling preacher.”

About the Author:
Pastor John or PJ as he is called in the ministry, is a gifted speaker and teacher. His sermons are always deeply based on scripture but as he unfolds his message, he loves to tell stories that provide understandable and sometimes humorous anecdotes to help better live out the Word of God.
He and his wife Jackie, who is an Elder in the United Methodist Church, live in the historic Soulard Area of St. Louis. They enjoy a blended family of six children and six grandchildren. They are also parents to two dogs who get very bored when they talk about theology around the meal table. Doc Shear strives every day, empowered by the Holy Spirit to share God’s love and God’s grace.

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