How to Study 2
The Bible is a library of 66 books with amazing unity.
If you had to pick only three chapters in the Bible to show this perfect unity to share with others, what would you pick?
Here are my three.
Acts 7 – Stephen summons up the Old Testament in his speech before he is stoned to death.
John 1:1, 14, 29 – Jesus is God, Jesus appeared, Jesus takes away our sin.
Revelation 21:1-4 – The New Heaven is coming, and we will live with God. Our tears will be wiped away, and there will be no more pain or death.
Another interesting exercise to encapsulate the unity of God’s Word is to describe the Bible in 10 words or less. Have an elevator pitch to explain the message of the Bible.
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Here are a few examples that I have seen.
“Everything is good. Everything goes bad. God’s plan: Jesus.”
“God is. God created. The created fell. God redeemed.”
“God loves everyone. People sin. Jesus forgives. We get heaven.”
“God built it. We broke it. Jesus fixed it.”
“Life is hard, Jesus came, We win!”
What are your ten words to describe the message of the Bible?
If we are going to understand the Bible, we need to comprehend its unity, and we also need to read the passages in context.
On Sunday, (HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE) I shared two quick examples that are often taken out of context and applied incorrectly. Let me share a few more for you to consider.
1. Philippians 4:13 is about learning to be content no matter your circumstances, not that you can accomplish your goals in the power of Jesus.
Philippians 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
2. Jeremiah 29:11 is about God’s promise of deliverance after Jerusalem is captured and its people taken captive to Babylon. The fulfillment of the promise will happen in 70 years.
Jeremiah 29:10 This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
3. Revelation 3:20 is a message to the Christians in Laodicea to repent and not be spit out of Jesus’ mouth because they are lukewarm. To use this verse to tell a non-Christian that Jesus is standing and knocking for them to be saved is out of context. Jesus is saying to quit relying on your own wealth and wisdom, not to be self-sufficient, to let Jesus in, and to surrender to His Lordship.
Revelation 3:14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 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 him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
As I said Sunday, Jesus is not calling this church to be hot, on fire for Him, instead of being lukewarm. Jesus is saying be useful, be hot, be cold, but because they have become lukewarm, Jesus is about vomit. Remember, Hierapolis sent hot water via aqueducts 6 miles to Laodicea, and when it got there, it was lukewarm. Laodicea also got cold water from Colosse, but again, by the time it was carried 6 miles, it was lukewarm.
As you read and study God’s word, you will be able to understand and apply it correctly. As Christians, we need to be faithful.
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
*****
Further study
4. Matthew 18:20 is about how to handle conflict with fellow believers and has nothing to do with how many people are gathered for the worship service. There may be a small crowd, but this verse should not be used to prove that God is with us in small numbers.
God, the Holy Spirit, lives within each of us. Therefore, God is always with us, even when we are alone.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Read the whole context of Matthew 18 and you will see we need two or three witnesses to verify a testimony so if a sinner is unwilling to repent two or three need to agree on the details.
Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
5. Matthew 7:1 is about lovingly helping people see sin in their lives and not condemning them like the religious leaders. It is saying don’t be in the habit of being judgmental. This verse does not say, live and let live; it does not keep us as Christians from being fruit inspectors or keep us from assessing the lives of others in light of God’s word.
Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Jesus tells us to examine our sins before we examine the sins of others. If we can remove the plank from our own eyes, we can help others.
Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Plenty of other verses have been taken out of context. If you have a question about a passage, please let me know. I will help you figure out what God is telling us.
The Bible is a library of 66 books with amazing unity.
If you had to pick only three chapters in the Bible to show this perfect unity to share with others, what would you pick?
Here are my three.
Acts 7 – Stephen summons up the Old Testament in his speech before he is stoned to death.
John 1:1, 14, 29 – Jesus is God, Jesus appeared, Jesus takes away our sin.
Revelation 21:1-4 – The New Heaven is coming, and we will live with God. Our tears will be wiped away, and there will be no more pain or death.
Another interesting exercise to encapsulate the unity of God’s Word is to describe the Bible in 10 words or less. Have an elevator pitch to explain the message of the Bible.
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
Here are a few examples that I have seen.
“Everything is good. Everything goes bad. God’s plan: Jesus.”
“God is. God created. The created fell. God redeemed.”
“God loves everyone. People sin. Jesus forgives. We get heaven.”
“God built it. We broke it. Jesus fixed it.”
“Life is hard, Jesus came, We win!”
What are your ten words to describe the message of the Bible?
If we are going to understand the Bible, we need to comprehend its unity, and we also need to read the passages in context.
On Sunday, (HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE) I shared two quick examples that are often taken out of context and applied incorrectly. Let me share a few more for you to consider.
1. Philippians 4:13 is about learning to be content no matter your circumstances, not that you can accomplish your goals in the power of Jesus.
Philippians 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
2. Jeremiah 29:11 is about God’s promise of deliverance after Jerusalem is captured and its people taken captive to Babylon. The fulfillment of the promise will happen in 70 years.
Jeremiah 29:10 This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
3. Revelation 3:20 is a message to the Christians in Laodicea to repent and not be spit out of Jesus’ mouth because they are lukewarm. To use this verse to tell a non-Christian that Jesus is standing and knocking for them to be saved is out of context. Jesus is saying to quit relying on your own wealth and wisdom, not to be self-sufficient, to let Jesus in, and to surrender to His Lordship.
Revelation 3:14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 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 him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
As I said Sunday, Jesus is not calling this church to be hot, on fire for Him, instead of being lukewarm. Jesus is saying be useful, be hot, be cold, but because they have become lukewarm, Jesus is about vomit. Remember, Hierapolis sent hot water via aqueducts 6 miles to Laodicea, and when it got there, it was lukewarm. Laodicea also got cold water from Colosse, but again, by the time it was carried 6 miles, it was lukewarm.
As you read and study God’s word, you will be able to understand and apply it correctly. As Christians, we need to be faithful.
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
*****
Further study
4. Matthew 18:20 is about how to handle conflict with fellow believers and has nothing to do with how many people are gathered for the worship service. There may be a small crowd, but this verse should not be used to prove that God is with us in small numbers.
God, the Holy Spirit, lives within each of us. Therefore, God is always with us, even when we are alone.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Read the whole context of Matthew 18 and you will see we need two or three witnesses to verify a testimony so if a sinner is unwilling to repent two or three need to agree on the details.
Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. 18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
5. Matthew 7:1 is about lovingly helping people see sin in their lives and not condemning them like the religious leaders. It is saying don’t be in the habit of being judgmental. This verse does not say, live and let live; it does not keep us as Christians from being fruit inspectors or keep us from assessing the lives of others in light of God’s word.
Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Jesus tells us to examine our sins before we examine the sins of others. If we can remove the plank from our own eyes, we can help others.
Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Plenty of other verses have been taken out of context. If you have a question about a passage, please let me know. I will help you figure out what God is telling us.
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