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Shhh. Close the door behid you. Welcome to Secret Church. There are two reasos we are here this eveig. Oe is to kow God s Word more itimately. Most of our time together is goig to be spet divig ito Scripture to ucover some of the timeless truths cotaied i this icredible livig Book. You ll eed a Bible, this study guide ad a pe this eveig. If you did t brig a Bible, you ll fid free copies available to you i the lobby. Dr. Platt will be teachig from the New Iteratioal Versio (NIV), but you ll be able to easily follow alog with ay moder traslatio. There s a secod, ad ultimately far more importat, reaso that we are here toight. We wat to idetify with our brothers ad sisters i Christ who are persecuted aroud the world. Right ow, i 2007, there are early 200 millio Christ-followers worldwide who do ot have basic huma rights. That meas they caot have a gatherig like this i public to study God s Word. I almost all cases they would be harassed. I may cases they would be arrested. I some cases they would be imprisoed, tortured or killed. Today it s estimated there are 70 millio Christ-followers i priso worldwide. They take their faith ad their God very seriously. They are willig to sacrifice work, family, eve their lives if ecessary. Ad they are members of the same Church that we are. They are ot askig for our pity. I fact, persecutio has built their faith i ways we ca hardly imagie. If aythig, let us be ispired by them to kow God more fully ad His Word more deeply tha ever before. May aroud the world gather for worship as we do toight uder cover of darkess, quietly, i secret. They ofte meet for log periods of time because it s frakly dagerous to be i a large group with other Christ-followers ad they wat to make the most of their time together. Imagie for a momet that what happes toight iside this room could threate your life or the lives of your family. But these Christfollowers do ot cower i fear. Istead they come together joyfully to praise God ad thak Him for His grace ad mercy. Toight we will pray for the persecuted. Each Secret Church meetig focuses o a differet regio of the world where Christ-followers suffer because of their faith. I the back of this Study Guide you ll fid iformatio o oe particular cotiet that will guide your prayer time for our eighbors i these may atios. Keep this Study Guide as a remider ot oly to share what you are learig from God s Word, but to pray for people ad places where Secret Church is a reality. God, may we kow Your Word more fully. May Your watchcare be with our brothers ad sisters i Christ aroud the world who eve ow meet, pray, ad study i secret. Ame. - -
Program Notes Toight s Schedule 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Welcome, opeig, musical worship Special guest from Asia 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Teachig Sessio 1 7:30 to 7:45 p.m. Special guest from Asia 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. Teachig Sessio 2 8:45 to 9:00 p.m. Break (coffee, water ad sacks i the lobby) 9:00 to 9:30 p.m. The Persecuted Church b Special Guest from Asia b Prayer Time b Givig of Our Resources 9:30 to 10:40 p.m. Teachig Sessio 3 10:40 to 10:50 p.m. Prayer for the Persecuted 10:50 p.m. to Midight Teachig Sessio 4 ad Closig Bottled water oly is allowed i the Worship Room. Please do ot brig food or other types of beverages ito the Worship Room. Complimetary beverages will be provided i the lobby for attedees durig the break time. Restrooms are located i the lobby ad at the rear of the Worship Room. So as ot to distract from the study, please tur all cell phoes ad pagers to the silet or off positio while i the Worship Room. We realize may parets eed to keep i touch with baby sitters, but if you must use your phoe durig the eveig, please go all the way out ito the lobby before callig. Bibles are available free of charge i the lobby. If you do ot have your ow Bible, please keep the Bible you receive as our gift. David will be teachig from the New Iteratioal Versio (NIV). Secret Church Resources are available for purchase i the lobby before ad after the sessios ad durig the break time. Follow this eveig s teachig, a four-cd audio set of the sessios will be available for purchase for $29. A two-dvd set of videos of the sessios will be available for $39 i the comig weeks. Olie resources, icludig free MP3 audio dowloads of the teachig sessios, Quicktime (MOV) videos of the teachig sessios, study ad prayer guides i Portable Documet Format (PDF) ad liks to persecuted church resources are available at the Secret Church website, www.secretchurch.org. - -
Beyod These Walls... We re glad you ve decided to atted toight s Secret Church meetig. But eve if obody showed up, it would still be worth the effort. Actually, this Bible study will likely beefit far more people outside this room tha those preset. Here s why You ll otice video cameras i the room toight that will be recordig the teachig sessios. I the comig days, these sessios will be re-recorded ad traslated ito may differet laguages, icludig Spaish, Chiese, Japaese, Russia ad Arabic. The foreig-laguage versios of Secret Church will be available olie as traslatios are completed. But that s just the begiig. Most Christ-followers aroud the world do t have access to semiaries or Bible colleges. I fact, most parts of the world have o formal Christia teachig at all. Dr. Platt will be leadig several more Secret Church studies i the comig year, creatig 30 to 40 hours of Bible teachig o the Old ad New Testamets, Coveats, Disciple-Makig, Bible Study ad Teachig ad other topics. These sessios together will comprise a semiary o a stick a mii-course i solid Bible kowledge accessible to ayoe. Durig the eveig we ll be takig a offerig. Portios of the proceeds will provide Secret Church Bible studies i multiple laguages o ipods, Memory Sticks, Flash Drives ad other small computer devices that are easily trasported to other coutries. We re excited about providig hours of Bible teachig, i people s ative laguages, to those who caot atted a course like this. Imagie a house-church leader i Asia or the Middle East, ow able to atted 40 hours of Bible teachig classes as he plugs i a video ipod with Secret Church teachig i his ow laguage. With your help, this will be a reality i the comig year! - -
How to Study the Bible: Sessio 1 WHAT Bible We Study The law of the Lord is perfect, revivig the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, makig wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, givig joy to the heart. The commads of the Lord are radiat, givig light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, edurig forever. The ordiaces of the Lord are sure ad altogether righteous. They are more precious tha gold, tha much pure gold; they are sweeter tha hoey, tha hoey from the comb. By them is your servat wared; i keepig them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-11, NIV) The Word is perfect. The Word is relevat. The Word is good. The Word is clear. The Word is eteral. The Word is true. The Word is available. 4 The eed for traslatios Total world laguages: 6,912. Laguages with o Bible: 2,286. 4 The questio of traslatios Which traslatio should I use? Look at the process behid the traslatio. 4 The process of traslatio A Divie Author. Huma Authors. Origial Text. Copies of the Origial Text. Critical Text. Traslator or Traslatio Team. Traslatio. Cotemporary Reader. 4 The cotiuum of traslatios The Formal Approach: word-for-word. The Fuctioal Approach: thought-for-thought. 4 A recommedatio for Eglish traslatios New Iteratioal Versio Eglish Stadard Versio New America Stadard Bible - -
WHY We Do t Study The Bible I do t see how the Bible really applies to my life. I ve tried, but I just do t kow how to study the Bible. I m ot a professioal; is t that the pastor s job? I just do t have time. I m ot sure if the Bible is eve true. To be hoest, it just seems borig to me. WHY We Must Study the Bible Because it s essetial for spiritual growth. Like ewbor babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up i your salvatio. (1 Peter 2:2, NIV) 4 We eed it. 4 We wat it. 4 We ca t grow up without it. Because it s essetial for spiritual maturity. We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explai because you are slow to lear. I fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you eed someoe to teach you the elemetary truths of God s word all over agai. You eed milk, ot solid food! Ayoe who lives o milk, beig still a ifat, is ot acquaited with the teachig about righteousess. But solid food is for the mature, who by costat use have traied themselves to distiguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14, NIV) Because it s essetial for spiritual effectiveess. All Scripture is God-breathed ad is useful for teachig, rebukig, correctig ad traiig i righteousess, so that the ma of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV) WHO Ca Study the Bible? Ayoe ca study the Bible. Oly those who have the Spirit of Christ ca uderstad the Bible. - -
We have ot received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may uderstad what God has freely give us. This is what we speak, ot i words taught us by huma wisdom but i words taught by the Spirit, expressig spiritual truths i spiritual words. The ma without the Spirit does ot accept the thigs that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishess to him, ad he caot uderstad them, because they are spiritually discered. (1 Corithias 2:12-14, NIV) 4 The Spirit ispired the Word. 4 The Spirit illumiates the Word. 4 The Spirit istructs us i the Word. So HOW Do We Study The Bible? Study the Bible Prayerfully. 4 We NEVER study the Bible aloe. Study the Bible Humbly. 4 Do you really wat to kow Him? Study the Bible Carefully. 4 We wat to uderstad the text rightly. Study the Bible Joyfully. 4 Bible study ivolves the thrill of persoal discovery. Study the Bible Simply. 4 You, the Bible, ad the Holy Spirit 4 If you ca read, you ca study. Study the Bible Cofidetly. 4 The Holy Spirit is i you to eable you to do this! Study the Bible Cosistetly. 4 We eed to be equipped to study every text of every book. Study the Bible Diligetly. 4 Learig to study the Bible will ot happe overight. Study the Bible Itetioally. 4 Always study with a otebook ad pe/pecil i had. Study the Bible Persoally. 4 You will fall i love with the Author of the Book. 4 You will fid true life uder the authority of the Book. DANGEROUS APPROACHES TO BIBLE STUDY The emotioal approach. 4 What feels right to me? The spiritual approach. 4 What deep, hidde meaig is there for me? - -
The pragmatic approach. 4 What works best for me? The superficial approach. 4 What does this mea to me? A DEPENDABLE APPROACH TO BIBLE STUDY Imagie goig o a missio trip Observe their home: What do I see? Uderstad their home: What does it mea? Brig it back home: How does it relate? Apply it i your home: What do I do? Let s take a trip ito the Word Observe their home: What do I see? 4 This step ivolves exploratio. 4 Discover what the text says. 4 A questio of cotet. Uderstad their home: What does it mea? 4 This step ivolves iterpretatio. 4 Discover what the text meas. 4 A questio of cotext. Brig it back home: How does it relate? 4 This step ivolves implicatios. 4 Discover how the text travels. 4 A questio of coectio. Apply it i your home: What do I do? 4 This step ivolves applicatio. 4 Discover how the text trasforms. 4 A questio of coduct. OBSERVE THEIR HOME: What Do I See? Two Revolutioary Disciplies for Readig the Bible Lear to liste. Lear to look. Lear to Liste Liste thoughtfully. 4 Bible study is ot a midless activity. Liste thoroughly. 4 If we wat to uderstad the Bible, we ve got to bombard it with questios. - -
4 Who? Wrote it? Origially read it? Are the mai characters? 4 What? Is happeig i the text? Is wrog with the picture? Is the author sayig? 4 Where? Is the writer? Are the origial readers? Is the text takig place? 4 Whe? Was it writte? Did the evets take place? 4 Why? Is the author writig this? Is this icluded i Scripture? Did the evets happe the way they did? Did the author say what he said? Liste repeatedly. 4 Read the text over ad over ad over ad over you get the poit! Liste patietly. 4 Be patiet with the text. 4 Be patiet with yourself. Liste imagiatively. 4 See the sights, smell the smells, ad experiece the emotios. Liste meditatively. 4 Take time to relfect. 4 Dietrich Bohoeffer: Just as you do ot aalyze the words of someoe you love, but accept them as they are said to you, accept the word of Scripture ad poder it i your heart, as Mary did. That is all. That is meditatio. Do ot let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate o it day ad ight, so that you may be careful to do everythig writte i it. The you will be prosperous ad successful. ( Joshua 1:8, NIV) Blessed is the ma who does ot walk i the cousel of the wicked or stad i the way of siers or sit i the seat of mockers. But his delight is i the law of the Lord, ad o his law he meditates day ad ight. (Psalm 1:1-2, NIV) Oh, how I love your law! I meditate o it all day log. (Psalm 119:97, NIV) - -
Liste purposefully. 4 We wat our lives trasformed by the heart of God through His Word! Lear to Look The art of Bible readig is seeig. How may squares do you see below? (There are 30 squares below.) Look for what the Word emphasizes. 4 Verbs How does the author depict the actio of the text? Is the verb past, preset, or future? I him we were also chose, havig bee predestied accordig to the pla of him who works out everythig i coformity with the purpose of his will, (Ephesias 1:11, NIV) Is the verb imperitive? Therefore go ad make disciples of all atios, baptizig them i the ame of the Father ad of the So ad of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19, NIV) Is the verb active or passive? The Lord had said to Abram, Leave your coutry, your people ad your father s household ad go to the lad I will show you. I will make you ito a great atio ad I will bless you; I will make your ame great, ad you will be a blessig. I will bless those who bless you, ad whoever curses you I will curse; ad all peoples o earth will be blessed through you. (Geesis 12:1-3, NIV) Do ot get druk o wie, which leads to debauchery. Istead, be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesias 5:18, NIV) - 10 -
Sice, the, you have bee raised with Christ, set your hearts o thigs above, where Christ is seated at the right had of God. (Colossias 3:1, NIV) 4 Space Is the author devotig cocetrated attetio to a certai theme, character, evet, etc.? Geesis 1-11, 12-50. Matthew b Of 1,062 verses, at least 342 of them (1/3 of the book) give us teachigs from Jesus. Ephesias b 1-3: Explaatio of Salvatio. b 4-6: Applicatio of Salvatio. 4 Purpose Statemet Does the author describe why he says somethig or why somethig happes? Look for that, i order that, so that, to, or for. See, I have taught you decrees ad laws as the Lord my God commaded me, so that you may follow them i the lad you are eterig to take possessio of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom ad uderstadig to the atios, who will hear about all these decrees ad say, Surely this great atio is a wise ad uderstadig people. (Deuteroomy 4:5-6, NIV) I have hidde your word i my heart that I might ot si agaist you. (Psalm 119:11, NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his oe ad oly So, that whoever believes i him shall ot perish but have eteral life. ( Joh 3:16, NIV) You did ot choose me, but I chose you ad appoited you to go ad bear fruit fruit that will last. The the Father will give you whatever you ask i my ame. ( Joh 15:16, NIV) Jesus did may other miraculous sigs i the presece of his disciples, which are ot recorded i this book. But these are writte that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the So of God, ad that by believig you may have life i his ame. ( Joh 20:30-31, NIV) - 11 -
4 Order Is the author givig strategic importace to somethig by puttig it i a certai order? Matthew 10:2-4 Mark 3:13-19 Luke 6:12-16 Acts 1:12-14 Simo Peter Simo Peter Simo Peter Peter Adrew James Adrew Joh James Joh James James Joh Adrew Joh Adrew Philip Philip Philip Philip Bartholomew Bartholomew Bartholomew Thomas Thomas Matthew Matthew Bartholomew Matthew Thomas Thomas Matthew James/Alphaeus James/Alphaeus James James/Alphaeus Thaddeus Thaddeus Simo the Zealot Simo the Zealot Simo the Zealot Simo the Zealot Judas/James Judas/James Judas Iscariot Judas Iscariot Judas Iscariot (Matthias) 4 Exaggeratio Does the author exaggerate somethig for itetioal effect or emphasis? My soul is cosumed with logig for your laws at all times. (Psalm 119:20, NIV) I robbed other churches by receivig support from them so as to serve you. (2 Corithias 11:8, NIV) You blid guides! You strai out a gat but swallow a camel. (Matthew 23:24, NIV) 4 Chiasm Does the author (especially i the Old Testamet) highlight a mai idea through a parallel structure i the text? Psalm 76:1 I Judah 4 God is kow. 4 His ame is great I Israel - 12 -
Geesis 3 Itroductio of Si (3:1-7). 4 Cofrotatio of Ma (3:8-12). Cofrotatio of Woma (3:13). b Cofrotatio ad Promise to Serpet (3:14-15). Promise to Woma (3:16). 4 Promise to Ma (3:17-19). Cosequece of Si (3:20-24). Geesis 11 The whole world (1) 4 Had oe laguage (1) Shiar, ad settled there (2) b Come, let s make bricks (3) c Come, let us build (4) x A city with a tower (4), But the Lord came dow (5) x To see the city ad the tower (5) c That the me were buildig (5) b Come, let us go dow ad cofuse their laguage (7) Babel because there (9) 4 The Lord cofused the laguage (9) The whole earth (9) 1 ad 2 Kigs Two Chapters: Itroductio ad Rise (1 Kigs 1-2). 4 Nie Chapters: Sigle Kigdom Solomo (1 Kigs 3-11). Twety-Nie Chapters: The Divided Kigdom (1 Kigs 12-2 Kigs 17) 4 Six Chapters: Sigle Kigdom Josiah (2 Kigs 18-23). Two Chapters: Coclusio ad Fall (2 Kigs 24-25). Look for what the Word repeats. 4 Does the author itetioally repeat aythig i the text? 4 Terms, phrases, ad clauses Psalm 136 His love edures forever! Matthew 5:34-6:34 God is our Father! - 13 -
Praise be to the God ad Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassio ad the God of all comfort, who comforts us i all our troubles, so that we ca comfort those i ay trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferigs of Christ flow over ito our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort ad salvatio; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces i you patiet edurace of the same sufferigs we suffer. Ad our hope for you is firm, because we kow that just as you share i our sufferigs, so also you share i our comfort. (2 Corithias 1:3-7, NIV) Do ot love the world or aythig i the world. If ayoe loves the world, the love of the Father is ot i him. For everythig i the world the cravigs of siful ma, the lust of his eyes ad the boastig of what he has ad does comes ot from the Father but from the world. The world ad its desires pass away, but the ma who does the will of God lives forever. (1 Joh 2:15-17, NIV) 4 Characters Barabas i Acts 4:36; 9:27; 11:22; 15:36-39. 4 Patters Pharoah hardes his heart (Exodus 7:13, 14, 22; 8:11, 15, 28; 9:7, 34, 35; 13:5). God hardes Pharaoh s heart (Exodus 4:21; 7:3; 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10; 14:4, 8, 17). 4 New Testamet use of Old Testamet passages Matthew 5:21-47 You have heard that it was said Look for what the Word coects. 4 Does the author establish certai relatioships betwee certai items, ideas, or idividuals? 4 Cojuctios Look for ad, for, but, therefore, sice, or because Therefore, I urge you, brothers, i view of God s mercy, to offer your bodies as livig sacrifices, holy ad pleasig to God this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romas 12:1, NIV) Therefore, sice we are surrouded by such a great cloud of witesses, let us throw off everythig that hiders ad the si that so easily etagles, ad let us ru with perseverace the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1, NIV) For God did ot give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love ad of selfdisciplie. So do ot be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoer. But joi with me i sufferig for the gospel, by the power of God, (2 Timothy 1:7-8, NIV) - 14 -
4 Prepositios Look for by, with, from, i, o, upo, through, or to I have bee crucified with Christ ad I o loger live, but Christ lives i me. The life I live i the body, I live by faith i the So of God, who loved me ad gave himself for me. (Galatias 2:20, NIV) Therefore, sice we have bee justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gaied access by faith ito this grace i which we ow stad. Ad we rejoice i the hope of the glory of God. (Romas 5:1-2, NIV) 4 Geeral ad Specific Look for times whe a author itroduces a geeral idea ad the provides a explaatio through specific supportig ideas (or vice versa). From geeral to specific: Galatias 5:16-23. So I say, live by the Spirit, ad you will ot gratify the desires of the siful ature. For the siful ature desires what is cotrary to the Spirit, ad the Spirit what is cotrary to the siful ature. They are i coflict with each other, so that you do ot do what you wat. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are ot uder law. The acts of the siful ature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity ad debauchery; idolatry ad witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambitio, dissesios, factios ad evy; drukeess, orgies, ad the like. I war you, as I did before, that those who live like this will ot iherit the kigdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patiece, kidess, goodess, faithfuless, getleess ad self-cotrol. Agaist such thigs there is o law. (Galatias 5:16-23, NIV) From specific to geeral: 1 Corithias 13:1-13. 4 Questio ad Aswer Look for questios that are aswered ad also rhetorical questios i which the aswer is implied. Who is this that darkes my cousel with words without kowledge? Brace yourself like a ma; I will questio you, ad you shall aswer me. ( Job 38:2-3, NIV) A so hoors his father, ad a servat his master. If I am a father, where is the hoor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me? says the Lord Almighty. It is you, O priests, who show cotempt for my ame. But you ask, How have we show cotempt for your ame? (Malachi 1:6, NIV) - 15 -
The he retured to his disciples ad foud them sleepig. Could you me ot keep watch with me for oe hour? he asked Peter. (Matthew 26:40, NIV) What advatage, the, is there i beig a Jew, or what value is there i circumcisio? (Romas 3:1, NIV) What the shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered i this matter? (Romas 4:1, NIV) What shall we say, the? Shall we go o siig so that grace may icrease? (Romas 6:1, NIV) Do you ot kow, brothers for I am speakig to me who kow the law that the law has authority over a ma oly as log as he lives? (Romas 7:1, NIV) 4 Cause ad Effect Look for particular causes stated by the author which result i a particular effect or multiple effects. A getle aswer turs away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up ager. (Proverbs 15:1, NIV) For the wages of si is death, but the gift of God is eteral life i Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romas 6:23, NIV) Ad Saul was there, givig approval to his death. O that day a great persecutio broke out agaist the church at Jerusalem, ad all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea ad Samaria. (Acts 8:1, NIV) 4 Meas Whe somethig happes i the text, look for the meas that brought about that particular actio or result. How ca a youg ma keep his way pure? By livig accordig to your word. (Psalm 119:9, NIV) For if you live accordig to the siful ature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sos of God. (Romas 8:13-14, NIV) - 16 -
4 Coditios Look for specific clauses that demostrate certai coditios which brig about a desired respose. Look for if (the coditio) ad the (the cosequece). If you fully obey the Lord your God ad carefully follow all his commads I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the atios o earth. (Deuteroomy 28:1, NIV) Therefore, if ayoe is i Christ, he is a ew creatio; the old has goe, the ew has come! (2 Corithias 5:17, NIV) If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk i the darkess, we lie ad do ot live by the truth. (1 Joh 1:6, NIV) 4 Lists Look for ay istaces of two or more itemized thigs ad observe how ad why they are ordered i a certai way. For everythig i the world the cravigs of siful ma, the lust of his eyes ad the boastig of what he has ad does comes ot from the Father but from the world. (1 Joh 2:16, NIV) Put to death, therefore, whatever belogs to your earthly ature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires ad greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is comig. You used to walk i these ways, i the life you oce lived. But ow you must rid yourselves of all such thigs as these: ager, rage, malice, slader, ad filthy laguage from your lips. (Colossias 3:5-8, NIV) - 17 -
4 Proous Look for how proous coect relatioships i the text. Praise be to the God ad Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us i the heavely realms with every spiritual blessig i Christ. For he chose us i him before the creatio of the world to be holy ad blameless i his sight. I love he predestied us to be adopted as his sos through Jesus Christ, i accordace with his pleasure ad will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely give us i the Oe he loves. I him we have redemptio through his blood, the forgiveess of sis, i accordace with the riches of God s grace that he lavished o us with all wisdom ad uderstadig. Ad he made kow to us the mystery of his will accordig to his good pleasure, which he purposed i Christ, to be put ito effect whe the times will have reached their fulfillmet to brig all thigs i heave ad o earth together uder oe head, eve Christ. I him we were also chose, havig bee predestied accordig to the pla of him who works out everythig i coformity with the purpose of his will, i order that we, who were the first to hope i Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. Ad you also were icluded i Christ whe you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvatio. Havig believed, you were marked i him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guarateeig our iheritace util the redemptio of those who are God s possessio to the praise of his glory. (Ephesias 1:3-14, NIV) If they have escaped the corruptio of the world by kowig our Lord ad Savior Jesus Christ ad are agai etagled i it ad overcome, they are worse off at the ed tha they were at the begiig. (2 Peter 2:20, NIV) 4 Major Shifts As you read larger uits of text, look for critical places where the text seems to take a ew tur. 2 Samuel 11-12. Now a agel of the Lord said to Philip, Go south to the road the desert road that goes dow from Jerusalem to Gaza. (Acts 8:26, NIV) Therefore o oe will be declared righteous i his sight by observig the law; rather, through the law we become coscious of si. But ow a righteousess from God, apart from law, has bee made kow, to which the Law ad the Prophets testify. (Romas 3:20-21, NIV) To him be glory i the church ad i Christ Jesus throughout all geeratios, for ever ad ever! Ame. As a prisoer for the Lord, the, I urge you to live a life worthy of the callig you have received. (Ephesias 3:21-4:1, NIV) - 18 -
Look for what the Word compares. 4 Does the author compare certai items, ideas, or idividuals to others? 4 Simile Look for expressed comparisos of two thigs that are differet. Look for as ad like. As the deer pats for streams of water, so my soul pats for you, O God. (Psalm 42:1, NIV) Just as Moses lifted up the sake i the desert, so the So of Ma must be lifted up, ( Joh 3:14, NIV) Like ewbor babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up i your salvatio, (1 Peter 2:2, NIV) 4 Metaphor Look for implied comparisos betwee two thigs that are differet. Compariso without usig as or like. Whe we put bits ito the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we ca tur the whole aimal. Or take ships as a example. Although they are so large ad are drive by strog wids, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wats to go. Likewise the togue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Cosider what a great forest is set o fire by a small spark. The togue also is a fire, a world of evil amog the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole perso, sets the whole course of his life o fire, ad is itself set o fire by hell. ( James 3:3-6, NIV) 4 Allegory Look for istaces where the author uses a certai image or compariso to commuicate a deeper meaig i the text. - 19 -
Tell me, you who wat to be uder the law, are you ot aware of what the law says? For it is writte that Abraham had two sos, oe by the slave woma ad the other by the free woma. His so by the slave woma was bor i the ordiary way; but his so by the free woma was bor as the result of a promise. These thigs may be take figuratively, for the wome represet two coveats. Oe coveat is from Mout Siai ad bears childre who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stads for Mout Siai i Arabia ad correspods to the preset city of Jerusalem, because she is i slavery with her childre. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, ad she is our mother. For it is writte: Be glad, O barre woma, who bears o childre; break forth ad cry aloud, you who have o labor pais; because more are the childre of the desolate woma tha of her who has a husbad. Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are childre of promise. At that time the so bor i the ordiary way persecuted the so bor by the power of the Spirit. It is the same ow. But what does the Scripture say? Get rid of the slave woma ad her so, for the slave woma s so will ever share i the iheritace with the free woma s so. Therefore, brothers, we are ot childre of the slave woma, but of the free woma. (Galatias 4:21-31, NIV) 4 Type Look for istaces where the author uses a symbolic picture to demostrate somethig to come i the future. Nevertheless, death reiged from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, eve over those who did ot si by breakig a commad, as did Adam, who was a patter of the oe to come. (Romas 5:14, NIV) So it is writte: The first ma Adam became a livig beig ; the last Adam, a life-givig spirit. (1 Corithias 15:45, NIV) Look for what the Word cotrasts. 4 Does the author cotrast certai items, ideas, or idividuals with oe aother? 4 Look for but. He who oppresses the poor shows cotempt for their Maker, but whoever is kid to the eedy hoors God. (Proverbs 14:31, NIV) For the wages of si is death, but the gift of God is eteral life i Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romas 6:23, NIV) 4 Look for cotrastig metaphors. Look for implied cotrasts betwee two thigs. - 20 -
Which of you fathers, if your so asks for a fish, will give him a sake istead? Or if he asks for a egg, will give him a scorpio? If you the, though you are evil, kow how to give good gifts to your childre, how much more will your Father i heave give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:11-13, NIV) Look for how the Word commuicates. 4 Does the author use certai words, images, phrases, or other literary tools to commuicate certai emotios, moods, or toes i the text? 4 Emotios Look for words that covey particular feelilgs or emotios. I myself said, How gladly would I treat you like sos ad give you a desirable lad, the most beautiful iheritace of ay atio. I thought you would call me Father ad ot tur away from followig me. But like a woma ufaithful to her husbad, so you have bee ufaithful to me, O house of Israel, declares the Lord. ( Jeremiah 3:19-20, NIV) I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have doe me o wrog. As you kow, it was because of a illess that I first preached the gospel to you. Eve though my illess was a trial to you, you did ot treat me with cotempt or scor. Istead, you welcomed me as if I were a agel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. What has happeed to all your joy? I ca testify that, if you could have doe so, you would have tor out your eyes ad give them to me. Have I ow become your eemy by tellig you the truth? (Galatias 4:12-16, NIV) 4 Mood Look for evidece of the author s demeaor as he writes. Rejoice i the Lord always. I will say it agai: Rejoice! (Philippias 4:4, NIV) 4 Toe After lookig at idividual emotioal terms ad istaces of mood, cotiue o to discover the overall toe of the text ad/or book. I am the ma who has see afflictio by the rod of his wrath. He has drive me away ad made me walk i darkess rather tha light; ideed, he has tured his had agaist me agai ad agai, all day log. He has made my ski ad my flesh grow old ad has broke my boes. He has besieged me ad surrouded me with bitteress ad hardship. He has made me dwell i darkess like those log dead. (Lametatios 3:1-6, NIV) - 21 -
You sakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape beig codemed to hell? Therefore I am sedig you prophets ad wise me ad teachers. Some of them you will kill ad crucify; others you will flog i your syagogues ad pursue from tow to tow. Ad so upo you will come all the righteous blood that has bee shed o earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah so of Berekiah, whom you murdered betwee the temple ad the altar. (Matthew 23:33-35, NIV) You foolish Galatias! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to lear just oe thig from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observig the law, or by believig what you heard? Are you so foolish? After begiig with the Spirit, are you ow tryig to attai your goal by huma effort? Have you suffered so much for othig if it really was for othig? (Galatias 3:1-4, NIV) Observatio overall Observe idividual verses. Observe paragraphs. Observe etire discourses. Ad remember be patiet! Observatio i actio - 22 -
But you will receive power whe the Holy Spirit comes o you; ad you will be my witesses i Jerusalem, ad i all Judea ad Samaria, ad to the eds of the earth. (Acts 1:8, NIV) - 23 -
UNDERSTAND THEIR HOME: What Does It Mea? Movig from exploratio to iterpretatio From what the text says to what the text meas. From questios of cotet to questios of cotext. Cotext, cotext, cotext The defiitio of cotext 4 Cotext = that which goes with the text. The dilemma created by cotext 4 The Bible commuicates eteral cotet. 4 The Bible commuicates through specific cotexts. 4 How do we go from the ad there to here ad ow? The dedicatio to cotext 4 We work to step ito the author s shoes ad determie his origial itet. 4 A biblical text ca ever mea what it ever meat. 4 Cotext shapes meaig. 4 The rule of cotext: CONTEXT RULES! The diversity of cotexts 4 Our cotext. 4 Their cotext. Cosider our cotext Our preuderstadigs: 4 All of our precoceived otios that we ucosciously or cosciously brig to the text. 4 Our pride. Pride kows before listeig. 4 Our ageda. Two optios: b Stad over the meaig of the text. b Keel uder the meaig of the text. 4 Our familiarity. Do t skip over a text just because it s familiar. 4 Our culture. Laguage. Customs. Stories. Family. Values. Ecoomics. Politics. Ethicity. - 24 -
Geder. Religio. Arts. Images. 4 Our goal: Miimize subjectivity! But ot completely Our presuppositios: 4 The Bible is ispired. 4 The Bible is reliable. 4 The Bible is uified. 4 The Bible is diverse. 4 The Bible is superatural. Thus the Bible has tesio ad mystery to it. 4 The Bible is purposeful. So how ca we best uderstad their cotext? Cosider their cotext Never forget that Scripture was God s Word to other people before it became God s Word to us. 4 God cared deeply about them. 4 God cares deeply about us. Literary Cotext: 4 Geres. Differet forms or kids of biblical texts. We eed to kow the rules ivolved with differet geres. Old Testamet b Narrative b Law b Poetry b Prophets b Wisdom New Testamet b Letters b Gospels c Parables b Acts b Revelatio 4 Grammar Idividual words, phrases, clauses all fid meaig i cotext. 4 Surroudigs. The Bible cotais a itegrated message i which the whole is greater tha the sum of its parts. - 25 -
Text Immediate Cotext Segmet Rest of Book Rest of Bible For where two or three come together i my ame, there am I with them. (Matthew 18:20, NIV) To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me o my throe, just as I overcame ad sat dow with my Father o his throe. (Revelatio 3:21, NIV) Historical-Cultural Cotext: 4 The time ad culture of the author ad his readers, icludig the social, geographical, topographical, ad political factors that are relevat to the author s settig. 4 Get to kow the author This is the disciple who testifies to these thigs ad who wrote them dow. We kow that his testimoy is true. ( Joh 21:24, NIV) 4 Get to kow the audiece But these are writte that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the So of God, ad that by believig you may have life i his ame. ( Joh 20:31, NIV) 4 Get to kow the geographic coditios Whe the Lord leared of this, he left Judea ad wet back oce more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. ( Joh 4:3-4, NIV) 4 Get to kow the social coditios - 26 -
Whe a Samarita woma came to draw water, Jesus said to her, Will you give me a drik? ( Joh 4:7, NIV) 4 Get to kow the religious coditios The Samarita woma said to him, You are a Jew ad I am a Samarita woma. How ca you ask me for a drik? (For Jews do ot associate with Samaritas.) ( Joh 4:9, NIV) 4 Get to kow the ecoomic coditios Sir, the woma said, you have othig to draw with ad the well is deep. Where ca you get this livig water? Are you greater tha our father Jacob, who gave us the well ad drak from it himself, as did also his sos ad his flocks ad herds? ( Joh 4:11-12, NIV) 4 Get to kow the political coditios The woma said, I kow that Messiah (called Christ) is comig. Whe he comes, he will explai everythig to us. The Jesus declared, I who speak to you am he. ( Joh 4:25-26, NIV) Theological Cotext. 4 Where does this passage fit ito the ufoldig revelatio of God i Scripture? 4 J. I. Packer: The Bible appears like a symphoy orchestra, with the Holy Ghost as its Toscaii, each istrumet has bee brought willigly, spotaeously, creatively, to play his otes just as the great coductor desired, though oe of them could ever hear the music as a whole The poit of each part oly becomes fully clear whe see i relatio to all the rest. Basic Priciples for Bible Iterpretatio Remember that cotext rules. 4 Never take a Scripture out of its cotext to make it say somethig that is cotrary to the text. Always seek the full cousel of the Word of God. 4 The more you study, the more you will be able to discer what Scripture meas. Remember that Scripture will ever cotradict Scripture. 4 Compare Scripture with Scripture use cross-refereces! 4 The best iterpreter of Scripture is Scripture. Avoid basig your doctrie o a obscure passage of Scripture. - 27 -
He writes the same way i all his letters, speakig i them of these matters. His letters cotai some thigs that are hard to uderstad, which igorat ad ustable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their ow destructio. (2 Peter 3:16, NIV) Iterpret Scripture plaily. 4 Use the literal sese uless there is some good reaso ot to. 4 Use the figurative sese whe the passage tells you to do so. 4 Use the figurative sese if the expressio is a obvious figure of speech. 4 Use the figurative sese if a literal iterpretatio goes cotrary to the cotext of the passage, the cotext of the book, or the purpose of the author. 4 Use the figurative sese if a literal iterpretatio ivolves a cotradictio of other Scripture. 4 Use the figurative sese if a literal meaig is impossible, absurd, or immoral. Coclude the process of iterpretatio by describig the author s iteded meaig i the passage. 4 The major questio: What s the poit? 4 I oe or two seteces, write out what the author is sayig to the origial readers ad why he is sayig it. 4 Be resposible. Remember - A text caot mea what it ever meat. 4 Be cocise. Keep it simple. 4 Be specific. The author commuicated this text at that time for that purpose. Check your coclusios by leaig o the church. Iterpretatio i actio Acts 1:8 What s the poit? - 28 -
BRING IT BACK HOME: How Does It Relate? The goal Idetify the timeless truth(s). This is the theological priciple that applies to all people of all times. The guidelies The timeless truth is biblical. The timeless truth is compatible (with the rest of Scripture). The timeless truth is eteral. The timeless truth is cross-cultural. The timeless truth is applicable (both here ad there). Implicatio i actio Acts 1:8 What is (are) the timeless truth(s) i Acts 1:8? APPLY IT IN YOUR HOME: What Do I Do? The differeces betwee iterpretatio ad applicatio Iterpretatio focuses o meaig. 4 Applicatio focuses o actio. Iterpretatio ivolves a sigular meaig. 4 Applicatio ivolves multiple actios. Iterpretatio is the same for all Christias. 4 Applicatio is differet for specific life situatios. Iterpretatio ivolves gettig ito the Word. 4 Applicatio ivolves the Word gettig ito us. Iterpretatio asks, What does this text mea? 4 Applicatio asks, How does this meaig apply to my life? Three steps to resposible, biblical applicatio Meditate o the timeless truth(s). Relate the timeless truth(s) to today. 4 See the timeless truth i its origial situatio. Look for key elemets (people, places, relatioships, ideas, items, etc.) i the origial situatio. - 29 -
4 Idetify a cotemporary situatio that parallels the origial situatio. Look for key elemets (people, places, relatioships, ideas, items, etc.) that parallel the origial situatio. 4 Relate the timeless truth specifically to that cotemporary situatio. Practice the timeless truth. But as for you, cotiue i what you have leared ad have become coviced of, because you kow those from whom you leared it, ad how from ifacy you have kow the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvatio through faith i Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed ad is useful for teachig, rebukig, correctig ad traiig i righteousess, so that the ma of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. I the presece of God ad of Christ Jesus, who will judge the livig ad the dead, ad i view of his appearig ad his kigdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared i seaso ad out of seaso; correct, rebuke ad ecourage with great patiece ad careful istructio. (2 Timothy 3:14-4:2, NIV) 4 Five questios Who should I be? b Ay applicatio of the text is depedet o Christ i you. How should I thik? b We eed to lear from the Word how to thik Christialy. What should I do? b Is there a si to avoid? b Is there a verse to memorize? b Is there a promise to claim? b Is there a prayer to repeat? b Is there a commad to obey? b Is there a coditio to meet? b Is there a challege to face? Where should I go? b All of Scripture is iteded to be uderstood i the cotext of missio. Who will I teach? b The best way to lear is to give it away this is what disciplemakig is all about! Applicatio i actio Idetify the key elemets ivolved i the timeless truth(s) i Acts 1:8: - 30 -
Idetify ay situatios, i.e., real-world scearios that that cotai those key elemets: Now write out how the timeless truth(s) i Acts 1:8 affects this particular realworld sceario: Fially, ask the five questios ad write out ay respose you eed to take to the Word based o them Who should I be? How should I thik? What should I do? Where should I go? Who will I teach? - 31 -
Missig teachig otes? This complete teachig guide, icludig all the blaks filled-i, is available for dowload i PDF format at www.secretchurch.org. - 32 -
How to Study the Bible: Sessio 2 JOURNEYING THROUGH DIFFERENT GENRES The Uique Challeges of Various Types of Literature I The Bible Difficulties ivolved i readig certai geres Geeral guidelies for readig certai geres A practical process for readig certai geres Examples of readig certai geres JOURNEYING INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT The Letters Difficulties ivolved i readig the letters What i the world does that mea? Now if there is o resurrectio, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are ot raised at all, why are people baptized for them? (1 Corithias 15:29, NIV) What i the world are we supposed to do? Be devoted to oe aother i brotherly love. Hoor oe aother above yourselves. (Romas 12:10, NIV) Everyoe must submit himself to the goverig authorities, for there is o authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have bee established by God. (Romas 13:1, NIV) Greet oe aother with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ sed greetigs. (Romas 16:16, NIV) Geeral guidelies for readig the letters New Testamet letters are occasioal documets. 4 Writte to a specific audiece. 4 Writte at a specific time. - 33 -
4 Writte to address a specific situatio. Behaviors that eeded to be corrected. Doctries that eeded to be straighteed out. Misuderstadigs that eeded to be clarified. 4 We have the aswers, but we do t always have the questios! 4 We are careful ot to coclude too much from oly oe letter. 4 We are cofidet that God has clearly commuicated to us what is most importat. New Testamet letters are NOT theological treatises. Overall, New Testamet letters have a commo form: 4 Itroductio Idetificatio of the author. Idetificatio of the audiece. Greetig. Prayer or Thaksgivig. 4 Body 4 Coclusio Fial greetig. Farewell. Various elemets b A umber of differet elemets icludig: b Travel plas (Titus 3:12; Philemo 22). b Commedatio of workers (Rom. 16:1-2). b Prayer (2 Thess. 3:16; Hebrews 13:20-21). b Prayer requests (1 Thess. 5:25; Heb. 13:18-19). b Greetigs (Rom. 16:3-16, 21-23; Heb. 13:24; 2 Joh 13). b b Holy kiss (1 Thess. 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14). b Autograph (Col. 4:18; 2 Thess. 3:17). b Beedictio (1 Cor. 16:23-24; Eph. 6:23-24). b Doxology (2 Peter 3:18; Jude 24-25). 4 Differeces i form are ofte clues to meaig. Fial istructios ad exhortatios (Col. 4:16-17; 1 Tim. 6:20-21a). A practical process for readig the letters Observe their home: What do I see? 4 Read: Begi by readig the letter aloud through i oe settig. 4 Recostruct: As you read, recostruct the origial situatio behid the letter. Uderstad their home: What does it mea? 4 Thik paragraphs! 4 For each paragraph ad series of paragraphs, write dow i oe or two seteces the aswer to the overall questio: What s the poit? - 34 -
Brig it back home: How does it relate? 4 Look for the biblical ad compatible Focus o truths that are cetral to the message of the text ad all the Bible. 4 Look for the eteral ad cross-cultural Focus o truths that are cosistetly taught i Scripture. 4 Look for the applicable Focus o truths that are iheretly true i all situatios. 4 Write out the timeless truth (or truths) usig preset-tese verbs. Apply it i your home: What do I do? 4 Meditate o the timeless truth. 4 Relate the timeless truth to today. See the timeless truth i its origial situatio. b Look for key elemets (people, places, relatioships, ideas, items, etc.) i the text. Idetify a cotemporary situatio that parallels the origial situatio. b Look for key elemets (people, places, relatioships, ideas, items, etc.) that parallel the origial situatio. Relate the timeless truth specifically to that cotemporary situatio. 4 Practice the timeless truth. Who should I be? How should I thik? What should I do? Where should I go? Who will I teach? A example of readig the letters Hebrews 12:1-3 - 35 -
Text Hebrews 12:1-3 Date November 9, 2007 STUDYING THE BIBLE From Their Home To Our Home Observe their home: What do I see? Write dow sigificat otes cocerig who, what, where, whe, why, ad how. What does the Word emphasize, repeat, coect, compare, or cotrast, ad how does the Word commuicate? Hebrews writte to ecourage Jewish Christias facig threat of persecutio to trust i Jesus. Therefore coects text with precedig chapter Hall of Faith amidst trials Followed by istructio to persevere i disciplie: obviously talkig about edurace i faith. Imagery ruig a race with effort ad edurace toward the fiish lie. Let us Verb metioed three times Throw off, ru, fix our eyes Throw off two objects: everythig that hiders ad si that etagles Ru with edurace (a prevalet theme i all of Hebrews ad this particular cotext) Fix our eyes o Jesus He has ru the race ahead of us - He edured ad eables me to edure. He edured for joy he was motivated by joy! He scored the shame of the cross Eve the most brutal shame could ot stop him. At the right had of the throe of God Romas 8:34 He is itercedig for us there. Purpose Statemet We look at Jesus so that we will ot grow weary ad lose heart. Uderstad their home: What does it mea? Takig ito accout literary, historical-cultural, ad theological cotexts, idetify i oe or two seteces the primary meaig of the text for its origial readers. The author of Hebrews ecouraged these Jewish Christias to edure i their faith despite oppositio. He remids them that the oly way they ca edure is by focusig o Jesus Himself. - 36 -
Brig it back home: How does it relate? Idetify the timeless truth(s) i this passage that relates to both the origial readers ad us. (If studyig a Old Testamet passage, filter theological priciples through the New Testamet.) The Christia life is like a race that requires effort ad edurace. The saits who have goe before us provide valuable examples of edurace that ecourage ad ispire us. To ru the race successfully, Christias eed to reject thigs that hider their progress ad focus completely o their relatioship with Jesus. Apply it i your home: What do I do? Idetify parallel situatios betwee the biblical cotext ad ours. Make specific applicatio of the timeless truth to our life today by askig five questios: Who should I be? I wat to be completely focused o Jesus i every facet of my life, especially i the trial I am goig through right ow. How should I thik? I eed to thik about the trials I am facig right ow i light of Jesus edurace. I eed His perspective o my troubles. What should I do? I will go back ad read about others i the Bible who have faced difficult challeges ad see how God provided i their lives. I will also repet of selfishess that is etaglig me ad keepig me from Christ. Where should I go? Eve though I do ot uderstad why I am goig through this trial ad I am strugglig i my faith, I will cotiue to gather together with the church for worship (Hebrews 10:24-25). Who will I teach? I will look for opportuities to itetioally show the supremacy of Christ i sufferig to my co-workers who do ot kow Christ. I will also be hoest with my small group about the trial I am goig through so that the stregth God gives me might ecourage them to edure. - 37 -