welshie's wanderings

RUCU Cell Leader's Training Weekend 2006. Word Workshop - How do we prepare studying the Bible? Dave Bish

• Inspired. What does that mean? God's voice. The Spirit of God speaking to us. God's revelation of Himself. The Bible isn't just some other book. Doesn't mean it's the ONLY place where God speaks, but the ultimate, supreme authority. All other revelations are subject to Scripture. Can't separate God speaking and the Bible.
• Infallible. True and reliable. God is able to reveal Himself, and He does. The Bible doesn't have mistakes in it. God commands His revelation be made known. As Christians we have the Holy Spirit in us.
• Authoratative. What it says goes. If our thinking is different to the Bible's, we're wrong. We stand under it.
• It's about Jesus. Not me! Not even firstly written to me. But it is for us.

How do we dig deeper?

1. Author's purpose.

Usually ask 'what' does it say? Do we ask 'why'? Don't always get obvious statements of purpose but they're there. John 20:30-31. Luke 1:1-4. 1 John 5:13.

Where it's not explicit, we have to dig a little deeper. Colossians 1:3-8. What's this about? Encouragement? A reminder of truth? Be nice to those who teach us?

But what we've done here is grab it and say 'What can I get out of this?' But we need to look at the context. Find out the purpose for this letter. Written from Paul, to a church in Colossae. What's the situation of the author and the reader? What does the Bible iteslf tell us? Colossians 1:8 and Colossians 4:12. Epaphras is praying coz he's concerned about them. Are we told about any problems in the situation? Colossians 2:8, Colossians 2:16, Colossians 2:18. - Threat from false teachers, pagan traditions, judging - can see why Epaphras is wrestling in prayer for them!

Are there any repeated/key themes? Colossians 2:6-7.

BE ROOTED IN JESUS!!!!

Just as you began with Christ, so continue in Him. STICK WITH JESUS!!!

Big idea of Colossians.

How does that, then, help us understand Colossians 1:3-8??

With the big idea in mind, this isn't just a nice encouraging passage. It's saying,

'you're real Christians, you've got faith, hope and love. You don't need anything else, you don't need to add to it. What you believe - well people are becoming Christians all over the world coz they believe it too - and the guy who taught it to you, well he teaches the truth, so you don't need to add anything. You don't need anything else, you're real Christians.'

That's SO much richer than what we'd skim off the surface!

2. Context.

Don't read the Bible like an encyclopaedia! John 12:32 (Keeping purpose in mind.) How do we take that verse? Read verse 33- context makes all the difference!

3. Structure.

Might instinctively look at chapter/verse numbers, paragraph splits, headings...they're not there in the original. Not always helpful. LINKING WORDS and REPETITION. An event...therefore...an action. Consequently/for this reason/so...

Not just a command, a reason's given for it. If we miss those reasons, we'll end up with a list of commands. Or we'll know some theology but not know what we're meant to do with it.

"If...then" - e.g. 2 Peter 2:4-9.

"so that..." - we saw this in Titus.

Connections between things are crucial. So it's helpful to have as literal a translation as possible. Other translations add some interpretation ...

Also applies when we think about repetition. Some translations change the word so it's easier to read (not reading the same word all the time). BUT then we miss the repetition. eg. in Titus we have 'self control, self control, self control...'

John 6:47-59 - what words are repeated? Comparison between what can be life and what can't.

Jesus is the bread of life. This is true! Jesus came down from heaven to give us eternal life.

Matthew 18:20- can take this (it is often taken) out of context. Look at the context!! In context of talking to a Christian brother who sins against you. Pagans and tax collectors treated as outsiders. Idea is to gain your brother, not have it escalate as portrayed. So verse 20? Referring back to Matthew 18:15-17. Connection between Matthew 18:18 and 19. ="again". It's not the fact that any 2 or 3 people have the right to kick someone out of the church! Has to be whole church.

And our aim shouldn't be to kick someone out,

should be to restore them.

John 14:26. - how do we read that if we take it out of context? We could easily presume it's about us. BUT we're in John's gospel...who is Jesus talking to? His disciples. So before we think 'What does this mean for me?' we have to ask what it means for the disciples.

So it's saying that the Holy Spirit will remind them of what Jesus said so they'll be able to write the Bible. So to us - the Bible is reliable. We need to study it!

When leading a Bible study...

• Want people to communicate. Group dynamics. Try and set up the environment.
• Versions to versions - helps if everyone has the same.
• Plan time well! Means can't cover everything.
• Don't score all the goals. Not supposed to be giving the answers!
• Don't always have the last word.
• Try and keep people on the passage.
• Confess you sins. Be honest when you make mistakes.
• Different kinds of people. Inevitably have some who are quiet, some who always have to have their say. Don't sit opposite the person who always has to have their say!
• Cut off tangents/trivia. Talk about it afterwards. Rub people's noses in the text. Where did they get their answer from?
• MAKE TIME TO APPLY
• Real, soft and serious.
• Be specific about action.
• Hold each other accountable.
• Keep to time.
• Pray.

posted by Welshie @ 7:01 pm