Can We Understand the Bible Alike?

INTRO

Good morning, friends, we’re so glad you have tuned in to hear God’s Precepts and Promises this morning brought to you by the Rome Church of Christ.

We’re examining Christianity systematically--taking all the Bible has to say on a subject and putting it together as best as possible. Letting the Bible speak

Last week: Authority of Scripture; this week we want to consider whether we can understand the Bible alike?

DISCUSSION

God expects us to understand the Bible (Eph 5:17; 1 Cor 1:10)

If all cannot see alike, God requires an impossibility—H. Leo Boles

Reasons for misunderstanding the Bible

Ignorance (Hos 4:6)

Prejudice (Acts 7:57)

Blindness (Mt 13:15)

Read the Book

•Jesus expects us to read (Mt 19:4)

•When we do not read, we open ourselves up to be deceived (Matt 22:29)

•It will take effort to understand the Bible (2 Tim 2:15)

•Understanding comes through reading (Eph 3:4-5)

•If all will read the Book, we can all understand alike

•Problem: we don’t know how to read

Tips for better reading

•How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler

•Active reader

•Discuss with the author by asking questions and responding to statements in margins

•Use your fingers to follow along

•Write summaries of chapters, keywords

1 Tim 4:13-16

•Pay attention to reading, public reading

•Give ourselves to the study of the Bible

•“It’ll take more than than!”

•Would you get up 30-60 minutes earlier to hear from God?

ID and Q & A

You’re listening to Precept and Promise presented by the Rome Church of Christ. For more info about the Rome church of Christ email us at [e-mail]. Text your question or request for Bible study to 615-549-5838. Check out our website at churchofchristatrome.com

Q: I hear many preachers saying the Holy Spirit tells them what to preach, but they teach differently. How or why does that happen?

A: Surely the Holy Spirit is not confused. Surely the Holy Spirit would not say something He hasn’t already said (1 Tim 4:1). We have been given all things (2 Pet 1:3)

Rightly Divide the Word of God (2 Tim 2:15)

•To “rightly divide” is to handle correctly, interpret correctly

•How do we do that?

•Observe the context

•Recognize the Bible’s divisions

•OT/NT divisions (Col 2:14)

•OT Divisions—Law, History, Poetry, Major and Minor Prophets

•NT Divisions—Gospel, History, Paul’s Epistles, General Epistles, Prophecy

•3 Dispensations—Patriarchal, Mosaical, and Christian

CONCLUSION

We can understand the Bible alike

Rid ourselves of ignorance and dishonesty

Read the Book for ourselves

Rightly Divide the Book

Next week: our study will focus on how to study the Bible

Until then, we encourage you to hear His precepts and trust Him promises.