WORD: Examine & Execute

Ezra 7:10 CSB

Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

INTRO—

BIBLE TRIVIA…

When Saul conquered the Amalekites, what person did he keep as a prisoner instead of killing like God said to?

King Agag (1 Samuel 15.8)

What is the 1st of the Ten Commandments?

Have no other gods besides God (Exodus 20.3)

When the disciples saw Jesus walking on water, what did they think he was?

A Ghost (Matthew 14.26)

In the Psalms it states that one day in the courts of the Lord is better than how many days somewhere else?

A Thousand (Psalm 84.10)

Comparative analogy— Think of biblical intake like a boat on the lake...

Bible Reading is like cruising across the lake in a motorboat.

Bible Study is like a slow crossing in a glass-bottomed boat.

EXAMINE & EXECUTE

Ezra 7.10 “Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.”

Examine = Determined to Study [seek, investigate]

Execute = Obey it (…& teach) [do, act, behave]

James 1.22-25 “But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like someone looking at his own face in a mirror. For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of person he was. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.”

Examine = Looks intently into the perfect law of freedom; and perseveres in it [examine, search, stoop to look at]

Execute = Be doers of the word; a doer who works [performer. one who does/acts]

HOW TO…

Follow this example…The Bereans.

Acts 17.10-12 “As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men.”

One Way (to do this)… S.O.A.P.

S cripture

Write down the Bible reference.

Write out the verse(s)…or a key verse or two which stand out.

O bservation

What word(s) stand out as you read/wrote the verses?

To whom was this passage written?

For what reason was this passage written?

A pplication

Ask questions like (Whitney, p. 60):

Does this text reveal something I should believe about God?

Does this text reveal something I should praise or thank or trust God for?

Does this text reveal something I should pray about for myself or others?

Does this text reveal something I should have a new attitude about?

Does this text reveal something I should make a decision about?

Does this text reveal something I should do for the sake of Christ, others, or myself?

P rayer

Pray the verse (yes, like from the Meditation study we did).

Allow time for repentance, renewal, and worship in prayer as response to the verse(s).

CONCL—

It’s not about Bible Trivia; it’s about Bible Living.

James 1:25 CSB

But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who works—this person will be blessed in what he does.