Panel Discussion - Bible Study
Notes
Transcript
1. Introduce the Topic
1. Introduce the Topic
What your about to learn could be the launching pad to a life of new vision and renewed hope!
Kenneth Berding in his book by the same title says we need a Bible Revival!
David, under inspiration of he Holy Ghost, wrote this about the value of the Bible:
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
“converting” = Converting, Reviving, Restoring,
Written:
1500 years
40 men
Living on 3 continents
Though people wrote it, the Bible itself says that God is it’s ultimate source
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Even as the Apostle Paul was living and writing epistles (letters) there is evidence that the churches received them as, and understood them to be the “word of God”:
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
Jesus said:
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
Thousands will testify of the great spiritual blessings that comes from reading and studying God’s Word.
2. Preparation for Bible Study
2. Preparation for Bible Study
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
One of the questions that we recieved, was “Where do I begin?”
The answer might be surprising. We actually begin with ourselves. We prepare our hearts to study the Bible.
Many activities in life require preparation
We’ve all experienced what happens when we fail to prepare…(problems, dissapointments)
Prepare our hearts....
We shouldn’t look at it like studying math, science, history, or anything else. We can study those things without engaging the heart. God intends the power of His Word to affect our hearts and change our lives!
Our time spent in God’s Word can be enjoyable, exciting and productive!
8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.
10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
A. Depend on the HG
A. Depend on the HG
14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Even the apostles needed help understanding....
45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
David prayed
18 Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.
B. Purposefully
B. Purposefully
To settle the issue of our own salvation (2 Tim 3:15)
To Grow Spiritually
To Receive Personal Blessing and Encouragement
To Receive Personal Guidance
To Defend against the devil
To Effectively teach God’s truth to the next generation!
To be able to counsel others
To be ready to speak to unbelievers about the Lord
To verify that the teaching of others is the truth of God
To present ourselves approved unto God
3. Interpretation (Discovering what the Bible means)
3. Interpretation (Discovering what the Bible means)
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
People may twist the Word to fit their own wishes....
Some beleive you can make the Word of God say what you want it to say....
“Oh, that’s just your interpretation”
Is there a way to know what it means? YES!
We all interpret whether we realize it or not. That’s why it’s so important to learn to interpret it correctly!
A. One Interpretation, Many Applications.
A. One Interpretation, Many Applications.
B. Worth the Investment
B. Worth the Investment
“The Bible wasn’t written for scholars, it was written for sinners”
The time you spend will be greatly rewarded by your discoveries of precious truth!
Grab the cookies from the shelf you can reach...
C. Watch Out for False Teachers
C. Watch Out for False Teachers
Jesus critizised the Sadducees of His day, who denied physical resurrection:
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.
These men explained away certain OT texts and spiritualized others, resulting in serious error.
D. Inductive Bible Study
D. Inductive Bible Study
Seeks to discover the facts and details in a text and to draw conclusions about the meaning of the text from those observations.
Observation (What does it say?)
Who, What, When, Where, and Why?
Interpretation (What does it mean?)
What did God mean by what He said?
The Main Things and the Plain Things
“If the plain sense makes good sense, seek no other sense or it will result in nonsense”
The literal principle
The historical principle
The contextual principle
The compatibility principle
The Grammatical principle
The Christological principle
Application (What does it mean for me? How does it apply to my life?)
So what?
We’re not trying to get through the Bible
We’re trying to let the Bible get through to us!
If there’s a good example, follow it.
If there’s a warning, heed it
if there’s a command, obey it.
If there’s a promise, believe it.
4. Methods of Bible Study (Topical, Biographical, Word Study, Devotional, etc.)
4. Methods of Bible Study (Topical, Biographical, Word Study, Devotional, etc.)
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
Many methods - but study.
Pursue a habit of daily reading and study of God’s Word.
Expositional
Survey
Topical
Biographical
Word Study
Devotional
5. Using Bible Study Helps
5. Using Bible Study Helps
13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.
Toolbox
Study resources produced by Bible Scholars ....
They aren’t the final word!
4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
Exhaustive Concordances
Topical Bibles
Bible Dictionaries
Bible Atlases
Commentaries
Recorded sermons.
6. Putting all of this into Action
6. Putting all of this into Action
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
A Bible that is falling apart is usually owned by someone who isn’t
Hindrances to Bible Study:
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.