Philemon 1:1-11
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 6 viewsNotes
Transcript
“Beginners Guide to Studying the Bible”
“Beginners Guide to Studying the Bible”
welcome
recap last series
talk about this one…
No greater way to get to know God—Character/Nature/Goodness Life he has for you—Than reading his Word to you → The Bible.
Yet most people don’t—Some don’t care—Doesn’t apply/Waste time.
Others tried to read—Got confused—Bored gave up.
Biggest prob—Want to—Don’t know how—Start?
Where do you start if you're gonna study the Bible and how do you study the Bible?
So what a lot of people do, I've found just in my experience, is they typically do one of two different things.
They'll do what I did as a kid and I thought, "Okay, I need to read the Bible." And so they start at the very beginning.
They start in Genesis and it's relatively interesting and exciting, and they read Exodus and it's pretty interesting and kind of exciting.
Then they get to the book of Leviticus and they die in the book of Leviticus. They put it down in the book of Leviticus.
And if you're not laughing right now, it's because you've never read the book of Leviticus.
Or there's kind of a second thing that a lot of people do. I call it the Lucky Dip Method.
The Lucky Dip Method—Open—Put finger in Bible—Do says.
and sure that could work maybe…even a broken clock is right twice a day…
until you get to
And you shall eat it as a barley cake, baking it in their sight on human dung.”
Not the best method—Goal—Help you learn → How to Study Bible
Study—Short book in NT—Philemon. (Filet Mignon) (Possibly joke about Job)
Good word, remember that scripture? the word of God is a good word…in fact it is
Word of God is living! Active! Powerful! Speak to you! Guides you! Protect you! Empowers you!
Guard you from temptation! Renew mind! Build your faith. Show heavenly riches! Truth Set free—Don’t miss out—on what God has for you because you dont know or want to study his might good word…
today we will talk about 5 thoughts here on how to study the bible
How to Study the Bible
1. Choose a translation you understand.
2. Choose a time, a place, and a plan to study.
3. Understand the context.
4. Read slowly and ask questions.
5. Pray for God to speak to you and apply what he shows you.
so the first one - Choose a translation that you understand…
lets look at Philemon 1.7-8
For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
heres another translation here…
7 Brudda, cuz you stay get love an aloha fo da peopo dat stay spesho fo God, I feel good inside. Weneva I no feel good inside, tinking bout you make me feel good again, cuz da peopo dat stay tight wit God, you make dea hearts come good inside again. 8 You know, I stay tight wit Christ, so I no shame fo tell you dis: you know how fo ack, so jus do um.
what?? ok so this one can be tricky because there are a lot of opinions on this topic…so much so there is a whole class just talking about bible language and translation so real quick here is my quick take…
the first translation we read was the KJV does anyone know when it was written?? 1611…
I would bet that the english language has changed since 1611, would anyone agree?
speak on this…
my opinion, my belief simply on my study and years and schooling that i have formed is this there are about 6 major translations that we have KJV, NKJV, ESV, NIV, NLT, and the CSB these bible translations were written to keep to the accuracy of the bible, but they differ slightly
For example, the KJV and NAS, ESV attempted to take the underlying Hebrew and Greek words and translate them into the closest corresponding English words as possible (word for word), while the NIV and NLT attempted to take the original thought that was being presented in Greek and Hebrew and then express that thought in English (thought for thought). Many of the other translations attempt to "meet in the middle" between those two methods. Paraphrases such as The Message or The Living Bible can be used to gain a different perspective on the meaning of a verse, but they should not be used as a primary Bible translation.
Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.
That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do.
preach on this
2. Choose a time, a place, and a plan to study.
2. Choose a time, a place, and a plan to study.
preach on this one...
need to have a place and time set aside…try and have a physical bible on hand…
3. Understand the context.
3. Understand the context.
this one is connected to number one in that if you are one who believes that KJV is the only translation well that means nothing if your reading scripture out of context…
tell story of brother Russel
Context matters more than you can imagine—Understand …The Bible is a library—Not a book.
The Bible Is ...
• A collection of 66 different books.
• Written in three languages.
• Across three continents.
• Over a 1,500-year time-period.
• By 40 different authors (Shep/farm/Tent builder/docters/fish/priest/philosophers/king etc)
It’s a collection of poems, prophecies, letters, laws, histories, and biographies, written by people and inspired by God, telling one unified story that shows us our need for Jesus and teaches us to become like him.
So when we understand what the Bible is, then we wanna understand the context of what we're reading,
talk about textbooks and how jesus taught to pray…
we will ask three simple questions every time…
Who wrote it?
To whom was it written?
What is its purpose?
Start w/ Philemon—see if we can understand the Context?
Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:
can use commentaries
break this down = who wrote it paul wrote Philemon = his shortest letter…
• Philemon was written by Paul (from a Roman prison) to a
wealthy man named Philemon, who led a church in his home.
• It was written about Onesimus, a runaway slave who had
stolen from Philemon.
• Onesimus met Paul in Rome and Paul led Onesimus to Christ.
• Paul’s purpose was to encourage Philemon to forgive
Onesimus and accept him as a brother in Christ.
understanding context a little more now then we can see this was actually a big deal
Big deal—Research—60M slaves Rome—Slave runs away. Owner—Very least—Brand (F)—Fugitive—Beat/Kill.
Paul’s going to say → Guy who stole from you—Escaped. Forgive—Receive and treat Onesimus—Slave—Equal.
Understand Context—Paul’s buttering up Philemon.
Sandwich affect
read on
I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,
For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
Philemon—So loving, know do right … Now we know context …
preach
now we are in point 4.
4. Read slowly and ask questions.
4. Read slowly and ask questions.
so we have context we can begin to get even deeper with our questions
two questions i highly encourage you to ask every time…
What does this say about God? What does this say to me?
"What does this say about the character, the nature, the goodness of God? and what does it say to me…
if you want to get deeper you can ask SPECK
• Is there a SIN to be avoided?
• Is there a PROMISE to be claimed?
• Is there an EXAMPLE to follow?
• Is there a COMMAND to obey?
• Is there something to KNOW about God?
im thinking that we will dive deeper and make this a two part series just with time so then on the 18th come and show up and we will dive deeper into SPECK it’ll blow your mind how cool it is to apply…
preach on it
recap here
1. Choose a transl you under 2. Choose time/place/plan.
3. Understand context. 4. Read slowly & ask questions.
5. Pray for God to speak to you, and apply what He shows you.
(Pray) → What do you want me see—Say to me—Show me?
ok lets continue
Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.
That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.
I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison.
Onesimus stole from Philemon! Runs to Rome—Meets Paul. Paul led Onesimus (slave) to Christ—Now Onesimus Not slave—Son.
Go Deeper—Original Language—Google Greek—(Nerds) Buried treasure—Easter egg—
(Onesimus’ name—Useful/Profitable)
preach
(Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)
two other greeks words here
Formerly → Pote (pot-eh')
But now → De Nuni (deh, noo-nee')
Poteh de nuni—Can’t have the → De Nuni W/o—The Poteh! Can’t have the → But Now—W/o—The Formerly!
(Formerly—Onesimus/Slave—Useless) (But now—He’s useful) Your life—Formerly—Painful—But Now—Profitable!
conclude
application time…
reading this and I'm asking, "What is the nature of God and what is God saying to me?" I'm probably saying, well, your life was formerly one thing, but now God took that thing that you didn't want and made it profitable or useful.
actually had this written down in my bible…
Instead of asking God “Why?” ask God “What?”
What is God showing you? maybe the season of life your in…
stop asking the why God and ask him the What…
What does God want to show you? Can’t have a De Nuni—W/o—the Poteh.
Can’t have a But Now—W/o—the Formerly!
God is writing your story as you speak!
Formerly—Sick → But now—Been healed!
Formerly—Addicted → But now—Becoming sober/clean!
Formerly—Depressed/Anxious—But Now—Peace!
Formerly marriage hanging—But now—Seeking God!
Formerly lost → But now—Found!
When will he rewrite your story?—As you read his Word.
because
Word of God is living! Active! Powerful!
Speak to you! Guides you! Protect you! Empowers you!
Guard you from temptation! Renew mind! Build your faith.
Show heavenly riches! God’s Word is Truth
preach
HOLY SPIRIT TAKE OVER… YES