You Asked for It…

Question?

“Not so much a passage, but more a general question around how I can make sense of the Bible and hear God speaking to me when I read it without it being complicated or difficult?”

Making Sense

Some Bible facts:

The Rich History Behind the Bible

The Bible’s history spans thousands of years and is woven into the cultural fabric of multiple civilizations.

Originally written in three languages-Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek-it serves not only as a theological text but also as a historical document.

Each book within the bible was composed in distinct contexts, reflecting the social and political realities of the times.

Such as, the Old Testament, primarily written between the 12th and 2nd centuries BCE, chronicles the ancient history of the Israelites, while the New Testament, completed in the 1st century CE, focuses on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Together, they form a compelling narrative that has shaped ethical and moral frameworks across cultures.

Throughout history, the Bible has been translated into over 3,000 languages, making it the most translated book in the world.

Innovations such as the Gutenberg Press in the 15th century revolutionized access to the scriptures, allowing for mass printing and the spread of Christian teachings far and wide.

Diverse Literary Genres Found Within the Scriptures

The Bible is a rich tapestry of literary forms that span centuries and cultures, offering a unique reading experience. Among its pages, you will find an array of genres, including:

Narrative History: books like Genesis and Exodus tell the story of creation, the patriarchs, and the journey of the Israelites.

Poetry: The poetic expressions in Psalms celebrate worship, reflection, and human emotion.

Wisdom Literature: Books such as Proverbs and Ecclesiastes provide practical advice on living a good life.

Prophecy: The prophetic books, like Isaiah and Jeremiah, deliver messages of divine judgment and hope.

Parables: Jesus often used simple stories to convey profound truths, like those found in the Gospels.

This variety not only reflects the diverse authors and contexts within which the Bible was written but also enhances its spiritual wisdom and appeal. Here’s a glimpse of other literary styles present in the scriptures:

Literary Styles within the Bible

Apocalyptic Literature Books like Revelation and Daniel unveil visions of the end times and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

Letters/Epistles The New Testament contains many letters, such as those by Paul, addressing early Christian communities with teachings and guidance.

Legal Codes/Laws Books like Leviticus include laws and regulations governing the lives of the Israelites.

The Authority of the Bible

“The authority of Scripture means every word and stroke of the Bible possesses the authority of God and the right to rule the hearts, minds, and bodies of every inhabitant of the earth. Scripture’s authority doesn’t depend on whether mankind cooperates with it or understands it. Its authority depends on the power and supremacy of its Author—God.”

Jean Wilund

The Bible says of itself:

2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

The Inerrancy of the Scriptures

“Inerrancy means that the Scriptures, as originally given by God, are completely truthful and reliable in all that they intend to teach. Put another way, the Bible does not affirm anything contrary to fact.

Every claim, doctrine, historical detail, and spiritual truth in the Bible is trustworthy because its ultimate author is God, who cannot lie or be mistaken. When we say “Scripture is inerrant,” we are saying that when all the facts are rightly understood and when the Bible is properly interpreted in its context, it will never contradict the truth.”

Rick Brennan, Ph.D.

John 10:35 NIV

35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside—

Having a Biblical Foundation with these in place is good but it can become quite rigid and what we need to remember that the Bible is God’s message, His love letter for us.

It’s like I love Krsytal my wife of 27 years now. I also love her words that she has said to me over the years. *read a small snippet of her card to me* The relationship I have us with my wife Krystal first and foremost and not with her words. Her words are one the most important conduits of how she shares her heart with me. These words always take me back to the SOURCE: Krystal

As like this analogy, we are called to have a living, vibrant relationship with God the Father, the Son and Spirit. We have these relationship with the Tri-une God via the conduit of his communication - the Holy Bible!

In Scot McNight’s book Blue Parakeet, he unpacks how we need to foster and develop this relationship with the God of the Bible.

One of the connective questions he asks us and I want us to write this one down:

What is my relationship with the Bible? How am I engaging with the God who speaks in and thru Scripture?

Here he states:

“God gave the Bible not so we can know it but so we can know and love God through it.”

Scot McNight

How do I Hear the Voice of the LORD when reading the Bible?

This is the second part to this question that You guys asked of us pastors to unpack…

First of all this not as simple as one way, done and dusted…

Let’s break it down in two parts: Listening and Reading

Listening

Scot McNight continues on in his book Blue Parakeet to talk about the importance of Listening/hearing when reading the Bible.

The Bible records “listen” and “hear” close to 1500 times!

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 NIV

4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

Mark 9:7 NIV

7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Revelation 3:20 NIV

20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Even words to the effect to cause us to slow down and absorb such as “Trustworthy saying…” helps us listen to the voice of God speaking.

2 Timothy 2:10–12 NIV

10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;

Listening on 3 Levels

1. Attention

These are the words such as the scriptures I just shared. They should grab our attention, we should slow down and listen to what the LORD is saying.

2. Absorption

Our ears let God’s voice in so that it fills our being. These are the scriptures that need to marinade with our mind and spirit. They are highlighted, they are personally paraphrased, they are recounted.

3. Action

These words, energise us in some way to commit to an active and not passive movement. This could be a new thinking process by the the Spirit’s work renewing our mind which leads us to a new action!

Romans 12:1–2 NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Colossians 3:1–5 NIV

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Biblical Example

Deuteronomy 17:17 NIV

17 He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

David must have heard this statement from the writing about Moses (Listening for Attention)

BUT, it stayed at that level as there was no Absorption OR Action!!

because, he took on wives and concubines with:

Michal, Abigail, Ahiroam, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, Egdah, Some others in 2 Sam 3 and then some concubines in 2 Sam 15:16 then of course Bathsheba and then Abishay!

Needless to say that his son didn't’ learn from his dad’s story as history repeats again!

Good examples would be Abraham, Joseph, Josiah

Lastly, let’s look at how we Read the Bible

There are many, and I mean many!! ways to read, study, reflect on the Scriptures!

Versions of the Bible (not all of them)

ESV

NASB

NRSV

NKJV

KJV

All these are more a literal word for a word translation some more modern where the KJV is written in an older english style.

NIV & NIVr

LIVING

TNIV

GOOD NEWS

These are more thought by thought translations that are good for new Christians or for missions/ESL contexts

Lastly,

THE MESSAGE

THE VOICE

These are paraphrased versions that are only good for devotional reading but not for study and memory retention!

Lectio Divina

The Christian form of Lectio Divina was first introduced by St. Gregory of Nyssa (c 330- 395), and also encouraged by St. Benedict of Nursia (c 480-547), the founder of the Benedictine order.

It’s a way of developing a closer relationship with God by reflecting prayerfully on His words. In Lectio Divina, the chosen spiritual text is read four times in total, giving an opportunity to think deeply about it and respond thoughtfully.

Let’s DO IT TOGETHER!

Mark 4:35–41 NIV

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

1st Reading

Lectio - Read

This is where we implement our 1st layer of Listening for Attention>> what stands out? repeating words or images?

PAUSE - Selah

2nd Reading

** What I like to do is look at artwork/videos that help visualise it better**

Rembrandt: 1633 Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee

Jesus calms the Storm by Laura James

Meditatio - Reflection

2nd layer of Listening for Absorption>> Pull out your journal and without any other distractions, meditate and ponder on these words, jot down questions and or statments about what you have read again!

PAUSE - Selah

3rd Reading

Oratio - Response

3rd layer of Listening for Action! What is Ringing, Singing or Stinging you with what you have heard and why? Write it down!

PAUSE - Selah

4th and Final Reading

Contemplatio - Rest

See now How the LORD has spoken to you about this piece of Scripture you have read. Come back to the original question: How have I engaged with God’s story here in his Word? What’s my response/action?

Like I said there are so many ways to approach the Text and listen for the LORD’s voice…

Inductive Bible Method

Mark 4:35–41 NIV

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

The NAVIGATOR’s 7 Steps is a great launch point for us:

Background (1st Audience) CONTEXT+CONTENT=MEANING

Look at online commentary ( I love William Barclay)

Logos Bible software

Blueletterbible.org

Biblegateway

Personal Paraphrase

In your own word’s what does the scripture says…

Q/A’s

What are some questions about the Scripture?

How did Jesus calm the storm?

What is a cushion?

What is a Squall?

Cross References

What are other scriptures or the other Gospel writers saying about this event?

Insights

What are your observations?

If this is a Biblical Narrative, can you see yourself in the story? Using a sensory filter, what are you observing, how are you feeling?

Ask other Christians, what did they observe? **great Bible Study material**

HAVE A FEW PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE COME UP AND SHARE THEIR OBSERVATIONS

Personal Application

What’s your own “takeaway”?

Like the Lectio Divina, reflect and pray for discernment and clarity on the passage you have studied

Title, Summarise and Highlight

In you journal and Bible, highlight, note and make devotional commentary and prayer as a response to the Scripture you have read/encountered with!

CONCLUSIONS

This is not the end to this answer that You guys asked for…

This all about Discipleship! Having new disciplines and practices which lead to new discoveries with God thru His word is what it is ALL about!

If you are intrigued and want more information or you want me to lead you thru a guided session, please feel free to contact me. I know this is what the Guys group does quite a bit in their sessions on Wednesday nights, and I love it!

Pray and Close