HTSTB - Part 2

Connection/Tension

Open with prayer guide...

This is part 2 of a short series about how to know God better in 2024. Christians tend to want to take steps to grow in their faith around this time. We resolve to pray more, or maybe give more, or get involved. Bottom line, many of us have a desire to get to know God better. There is NO GREATER WAY to get to know God - his character and goodness and nature - than reading his word, the Bible. In fact, it’s essential.

In many parts of the world Christians are persecuted. It is illegal to have a Bible. Many times if a group of Christian get their hands on one, they will tear it into parts to share. After one person finishes the part they got they trade with someone else. Many Christians have to hide away because they can’t read them in the open. For them, even have one page of scripture is precious to them.

For most Western Christian we have access to more Bibles than we know what to do with. Most of us have numerous Bibles. We have free access to dozens through Bible apps. Once upon a time you could find a Bible in any hotel room you visited. Many of us grew up with grandma’s big black Bible prominently displayed on a coffee table - with our family history written inside.

Yet statists show that most Christians don’t read their Bible. Maybe they don’t care or aren’t interested, maybe they don’t think it applies. The majority, I think, try to read it, but get confused - or bored - and give up. I think for most of us, the biggest problem we face is that we want to read the Bible, but we don’t know how.

So we are spending a couple of weeks talking about How to Study the Bible, looking at the short book of Philemon. Some foundational thoughts before we begin.

The Bible is meant to transform us, not just inform us. Came from a church that prized Bible knowledge. When the pastor gave the reference for that morning you would hear pages rustling all over the sanctuary. That’s not a bad thing as long as it doesn’t stop there. But so often we confuse Bible knowledge for transformation. We think knowing is all that’s needed.

I have played this trick before, so some of you may remember. I’ll quote the Great Commission. Matthew 28:19–20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them everything that I have commanded you.”

Notice anything missing? Jesus actually said “and teaching them TO OBSERVE everything that I have commanded you.” Big difference. But this gets to the point: just knowing what the Bible says is of limited value. It is putting it into practice that matters.

1 Corinthians 8:1 “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” Rick Warren wrote, “The Bible should give us a bigger heart, not a bigger head”.

Today we are going to pick up where we left off last week looking at how to study the Bible and go a little deeper. I’m very excited to teach this series because God’s word is alive! This is how God most often speaks to me. It is active. It is powerful. God will use it to speak to you, guide you, protect you, and empower you. It can guard you from temptation. Renew your mind. Build you faith. It is the truth that will set you free. Do you want more of the Holy Spirit in your life? Study your Bible.

Text and Context

So let’s begin by reviewing last week:

The following on one slide, each line coming in one at a time

How to Study the Bible

Choose a translation you understand.

Choose a time, place, and plan to study.

Understand the context.

Read slowly and ask questions.

Pray, listen for God to speak to you, and apply what He shows you

Get a good translation. NOT KJV! Maybe invest in a good study Bible

Get a time and place. Figure out when you will have the least distractions and be consistent. But not just a place - you need a plan. What’s the best plan? The only bad plan is no plan! Bottom line: if what you are doing isn’t working for you, find another plan!

So, we have a good translation, a time/place/plan, now we need to understand the context. Let’s pick up our study of Philemon from last week.

Who wrote it? Paul

To whom did he write it? Not a trick question - Philemon, or filet mignon

We remember that Philemon was likely a wealthy person. He hosted a church in his home. One of his slaves named Onesimus stole something and ran away to Rome, met Paul there and became a Christian.

What is the purpose of Philemon? Paul wants Philemon to forgive Onesimus and welcome him home, not as a slave, but as a brother.

After we understand the context we want to read slowly and ask questions. We want to do this prayerfully and ask God to speak to us. Let’s practice this together, picking up in Philemon verse 12:

Philemon 12–17

Nothing standing out to me yet, but look then at the next verse…

Philemon 18-19

What’s Paul saying here? “I’ll pay a debt I don’t owe” Does that remind you of anything? That sounds a little bit like the Gospel, doesn’t it? To help demonstrate the gospel, remember Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan who came to the aid of the injured man, and paid for him to have lodging as he recovered - offering that when he passed back by he would pay anything else that was owed. Ding, ding, ding!

If you have a study bible, and you look at the cross references, it might take you back to the OT and to a famous passage in Isaiah 53. Isaiah, by way of context, was written 7 centuries before Christ. What do we find in Isaiah 53?

Isaiah 53:4–5 “Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases… But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.”

Isaiah prophesied 7 centuries before Jesus what Jesus would do for us - pay a debt he didn’t owe.

One thing we always need to remember when we read the Bible. It isn’t about you. It’s about God’s love for the world and how he is making everything right through Jesus. The Bible isn’t about you, but it is to you. And so it’s a good practice when you are reading the Bible to find yourself in the story.

All on one slide, all at one time

Which person do you relate to most?

Paul - Who is taking a risk on someone.

Onesimus - Who needs forgiveness.

Philemon - Who’s being called to forgive.

The cool thing about the Bible is that you could read Philemon every year for three years and maybe relate to a different person each time.

Maybe right now you are more like Paul - God is asking you to take a risk on someone. Maybe someone God is calling you to disciple. Or someone who has messed up and God wants to use you to lead them back into relationship with God. Maybe God wants you to invite someone to Alpha.

Another time you may identify with Onesimus. You did something dumb. You fell back into an old habit, addiction, or sin. So maybe you turn to the back of your study Bible to the concordance and you look up the word “forgiveness” and it takes you to 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” And you are brought to your knees in confession, and God gives his reassurance to you that someone - Jesus - has already paid your debt. And you stand up whole and restored.

Sometime you might relate to Philemon - someone hurt you or betrayed you or lied about you. A friend talked behind your back. Someone you trusted lied to your face. Someone you admired took advantage of you.

and you know you are supposed to forgive, but you don’t want to. And so you remember the context of Philemon. That Onesimus stole and ran away. And Philemon could have branded an “F” on his forehead. He could have beaten him or even executed him. But Paul says don’t receive him as a slave, but as a brother.

And so maybe you go to your concordance again and look up “forgiving other” and it takes you to Ephesians 4:32 “and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.” And this causes you to think of all the things God has forgiven you for, and I can forgive others by the grace of God and the power of the HS.

What is God showing you? Apply it.

The Bible isn’t meant to inform you but transform you.

And we can always dig a little deeper and find other nuggets. If we fast-forward 50 years we have a letter written by a guy named Ignatius. He was the Bishop of Antioch. He was very likely discipled by the apostle John. He wrote several letters on his way to being martyred. One of those letters was to the church in Ephesus.

In the letter, Ignatius brags to the church about their Bishop. He calls him a man of “inexpressible love.” He goes on to say, “Blessed by God who granted unto you such an excellent bishop.” Hey, you guys are lucky to have such a good, godly bishop.

Does anyone want to guess at what that Bishop’s name was? Onesimus! Now, we can’t be 100% sure this is the same person. But scholars believe that the time and place are right, and it’s definitely the right name of a runaway slave that was transformed by Jesus!

Gospel/Response

What will God’s Word do in your life? Depends on what you need.

Are you hurting - it will give you hope.

Are you lost - it will give you direction.

Are you doubting - it will build your faith, for faith comes by hearing the word of God.

Are you anxious - God reminds you in his word to cast ALL you anxieties on him and he will give you peace.

Are you trapped in a life you never wanted and don’t know how to get out of - God’s word is the truth that will set you free. (Next steps slide)

I have the blessing of growing up in a Christian home. My father rededicated his life when I was a young boy. I have no memories of not going to church. He made sure I was somewhere I could hear and learn God’s word. I love God’s word. It is my anchor in the storm. It is my shield when I am attacked. I was saved through the preaching of God’s word.

So many Christians crave to have a single page. Many in the West leave it sitting unused on a shelf. I want you to know and love his word. I want you to make studying God’s word a priority in your life. Make a commitment for one month to read the word of God daily. Would you do that?

I also want to invite you to come to our Building 412 class on Wednesday at 6:30. We are putting these principles into practice as we study the book of Colossians. You are not too far behind to jump in.

Two things live forever - the souls of people, and the word of God.