What the Bible Is and How To Study It

The Bible is a Tricky Thing

[Announce Text] Matthew 13:10-17

Because God’s word is and revelatory, we must

[Announce Text] Matthew 13:10-17

[Scriptural Introduction] People are following Jesus because they had an agenda. They were not desiring the teachings of Jesus but what they could get out of Jesus. They sought the gifts and not the giver. [Illustration] In Romania “hainele sau mancare?” [Contextualization] Today we can be following our own agenda. In our Bible Studies we the Church is susceptible to validate their previous beliefs rather than learn God’s will. [Purpose statement] Today I want to explain a great way to study the Bible that preserves the authority of the Bible. First, we need to understand what the Bible is and how it should be studied. [Creation of longing] Brothers and sisters, the Bible is a tricky thing yet, as Jesus shows us, we ought not to be worried because those who have ears to hear, will hear.

[Renounce text and Read] Matthew 13:10-17

[Pray] Let us Pray

[Introduction] [FCF]

[Proposition] Because the word of God conceals truth from hard hearts, we must study the word of God with humble hearts.

[Main point #1] The Word of God does conceal truth from hard hearts. This principle is profoundly explained by Jesus’s teaching in parables.

[Sub point 1] Parables’ definition

Not merely an earthly story with heavenly meaning

Not memorable stories to help retention.

Parables defined: “παραβολή”

BDAG: “1. someth. that serves as a model or example pointing beyond itself for later realization… 2. a narrative or saying of varying length, designed to illustrate a truth especially through comparison or simile, comparison, illustration, parable, proverb, maxim.”

“I love you Mae, I love you my daughter...”

“ save me o Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.” Or “My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke.”

“Te iubesc and I adore you.”

“Son of man, propound a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Isreal.”

“I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old.”

[Sub point 2] Parables’ function

Parables split people into two groups: those who think they see and those who know they don’t.

Actually there are four kinds.

[Illustration] Mom and Dad “golden arches”

[Sub point 3] Parable’s audiences

Hears, but not understand - the pharisees

Hears, understand, but not do - large crowds

Hears, understands, does for a little while - Judas

Hears, understands, and does: disciples

“hears the word and understands it.”

[Sub point 3]

[Illustration] Plato’s Analogy of the Cave. You will get what you look for.

[Main point #2] Hear, Understand, and Do.

[Sub point 1] “the man who hears the word” Hear the word of God.

This is different than hearing about the Word of God.

Would you rather see the sun? or see a painting of the sun? The pharisees wanted to hear, not Jesus, but their interpretation of God’s law.

In the historical movement called the restoration movement, Alexander Campbell and others focused on the text itself. Not others creeds, which obscure clear passages and overclarify obscure passages. But as the moment continued, the brother started publishing magazines, commentaries, and workbooks, which have been used as a substitute of the Bible itself.

[Illustration] Plato’s Analogy of the Cave. You will get what you look for.

[Sub point 2] Understand the word of God

“When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them... When they sought to seize Him...

46 When they sought to seize Him...”

[Sub point 3] Do the word of God.

[Illustration]

[Illustration] Bean Illustration

[Application]

[Main point #3] Inductive Bible Study

[Sub point 1] Observation

[Sub point 2] Interpretation

[Sub point 3] Application

[Illustration]

[Illustration] This worked so well in Romania. Sadly, we had “church of christ-ers” go to Romania with booklets of sermons for them to repeat.

[Application]

Conclusion: The Bible is a tricky thing. Therefore we must, with humble hearts, seek the Bible itself and obey its message.

Jesus himself taught the will of God, explained it, and, becoming flesh lived it out.

My prayer is to see more Bible Study in bible study, just as Jesus

May we be a humble group who studies the bible and become Christ in the world.