Asking Good Questions - 2

Bring family Bible published 1880 144 years

Last week we considered how important it is to ask questions when we engage with Scripture.

The quality of the questions we ask determines the outcome of our study.

Today we continue this idea as we continue to ask good questions.

Specifically questions that concern application of Scripture to our lives

2 Peter 1:19–21 NASB 2020

19 And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Are you ready for the message Go has for us?

Cool let’s dig in!

What does God want me to think?

When applying the Bible this is probably a good question to start with.

What we think and what we understand from the Bible are important when we consider the age we live in and what is happening in our society.

Romans 12:1–2 NASB 2020

1 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Think about what it means to be conformed to the world.

It means to think, believe, desire, and act like people who do not know Christ.

The world we live in constantly tries to squeeze us into its mold to give into its values and ideals!

To overcome this pressure we need to transform the way we think through a renewal of our minds. God does this renewing by the Spirit who lives inside us!

Paul mentioned this in Titus 3:5-6

Titus 3:5–6 NASB 2020

5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior,

When we go to apply a passage of Scripture, we want to make sure to ask what God wants us to understand.

What does God want me to understand?

This application question might seem like another way of asking our previous question, but there is a difference.

We can understand a truth at an intellectual level without believing it to such a degree that it shapes how we live.

Jesus used a parable that illustrates this difference Luke 8:11-15

Luke 8:11–15 NASB 2020

11 “Now this is the parable: the seed is the word of God. 12 And those beside the road are the ones who have heard, then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky soil are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and yet these do not have a firm root; they believe for a while, and in a time of temptation they fall away. 14 And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked by worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and they bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word with a good and virtuous heart, and hold it firmly, and produce fruit with perseverance.

The seed which fell on the rocky soil represents those who hear the word, understand it, and even receive it with joy.

However, they only “believe for a while” before falling away when tested.

The problem here is not that they fail to understand God’s word.

It is that they do not continue to believe it by basing their lives on it!

Paul wrote it this way Ephesians 2:11-22

Ephesians 2:11–22 NASB 2020

11 Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; 16 and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

The command to the readers is to remember a whole series of truths Paul taught them before. His point in this is to call the Ephesians to believe the truth they already understood in such a way that is shapes the way they live their lives.

So asking what God wants us to believe gives an opportunity to identify the false beliefs that motivate sinful actions.

It puts us then in position to move forward in believing what God says is true!

What does God want me to do?

Some passages of the Bible give direct commands on what we should do as followers of Christ.

Consider Romans 12:9-17

Romans 12:9–17 NASB 2020

9 Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people.

This is a rapid fire passage!

Yet it is not hard to come up with specific actions where we could apply this passage.

Asking what God wants us to do helps us to recognize actions we should be taking but are not!

It exposes actions we should not doing as well!

There are some that are one time kind of actions that God brings to mind but others are far more habitual.

In our asking this question if we find our actions to be sinful then it should lead to repentance and a desire for new actions in our transformed thoughts, beliefs, and desires.

We all want to live a life of holiness, a life God can bless!

Conclusion

The goal of understanding and applying Scripture to our lives is transformation!

We want God’s Spirit to use Gods’ word to make us more like Christ!

These three questions are a good place to start.

So in a nut shell this one way to study the Bible!

To the young person who said I should doo this series, I hope I have completed the task you suggested.