Best Question

Buying

    
   Are you aware that there is a question you can ask yourself that could save you from making the wrong  decision? At all times? That question is a simple one.
    "What is the wisest thing for me to do?"
      Not what is the easiest or most expedient. Just a simple, What is the wisest thing for me to do?
    I wish I had known this earlier in life.
    Of course everyone says that. There are things you can look back on that you wish you had not done. Like my present finances.
    I should be saving up for retirement. Instead I felt I could start a business to bring in money for retirement. But the costs of setting up have exceeded the on-hand resources so I am left with debt far beyond what I have cash to cover.
   Sure, someone will say, but it is an investment in your future. Fine. If that explanation works for you, you run with it. It is not working for me.
    Now I have to hope my business takes off and stays steady.
     I am selling vitamins online. Yes, you can buy vitamins online. You can go  here  and you can shop and buy.
     It all depends on my being able to keep up payments on the program that includes the web site.

Researching

     Would I have invested if I had asked myself that question, "What is the wisest thing for me to do in light of my past history concerning business ventures?"
       Knowing what I know now the answer is probably not. But I must press forward. Whatever the outcome,-- the business takes off or fails,-- I will still have to pay off my debts.
  

Bible Study = Growth

Looking for Wisdom

      One of my favorite subjects to talk about. Bible study. How can you know what God has said unless you are reading what He wrote? I am firm here. "Study to show yourself approved  to God a workman who does not need to be ashamed..." 
    How can your faith grow if you don't know what to base it on? "Faith comes by hearing (And reading and study) and hearing by the word of God."
    When you do that Bible study have a pen or pencil handy. Also have a note book ready to jot down what you are discovering. Treat your Bible study time as a treasure hunt. There are little nuggets of wisdom. Some are on the surface and others have to be dug for.
   Ask yourself- what is the subject of this passage? Who is speaking? To whom is the passsge being transmitted? What does this passge tell  me about God?  What does it say about me?What am I to do with what the passage is saying?
    All may not be in that one passge. But as you study.. and that means re-reading it over and over, maybe coming back to it another time

        Also be in a Bible teaching church and fellowship with others. Ask them questions. Find a Bible Study group. Join. Add your two cents. Grow.

ABCD Bible Study Method

  Thank you for staying with me on this series. There are still more study methods to be talked about. I feel that for maximum benefit our Bible study should sooner or later end up related to a Bible book study. We must always guard against the danger of taking passages out of context. When we do so, error creeps in and even a cult is formed. In fact it is so important that I plan in the future to start a series of posting on Cults
   By definition a cult is something that calls itself Christian but isn't.
   At the moment though we are still looking at Bible Study Methods.
   In this posting I would like to expose you to  the 4P Method.

• Principle of Conduct
• Problems Related to the Principle
• Profit ( or loss) I can expect
• Plan of Action

       Since we don't find rules for every circumstance of life detailed in the Bible we must be careful. God does, on the other hand, reveal principles in His Word. In order to mature spiritually we need to learn to identify and apply these principles to our life.
        So to use this method, grab a piece of paper or two and divide it into four equal columns. Listed about is what you should put on the top of each column. Some principles are easier to see than others. In First Thessalonians 5:22 we can read "Abstain from all appearance of  evil" Okay, that one is an easy principle to see. But we look over at Paul's principle in first Corinthians 8 which tells us to not eat meat offered to idols. These principles are not easy to apply.
        The first step would therefore be to set down your principle for living in the first column. You may find several in one verse. You will find many in Romans 12:2.
         Ask "Is there a principle in this chapter I can apply to my life?" Record the principle in your own words.
       Ask "In what way could this principle be related to a problem I am facing in my life?" This goes in the second column. Don't limit it to one if you find it relates to many areas in your life.
      In the third column you will record the application and this is what you can meditate on.
      Definitely in the fourth column you have what you will be doing with this principle you have mined out. You mustn't be vague. "I will apologize to Bill tomorrow at work (if I see him)" "I won't be late to church on Sunday." No, no. Be specific. Be definite.

     Okay. Now we look at a variation of the analytical method known as the ABC Bible Study Method. This one is useful for discipleship and in followup.
     This one can be used with first John. Make a chart of your findings.
      You fill in your chart in reverse order, D through A.

1.      The D section stands for "digested" Read the passage through and summarize it. You can use one word for about every four.
2.      The C section stands for "cross references" Look for parallel passages for each verse. It can be related to a word, an idea, or general teaching.
3.       The B section stands for "best verse" You should be able to pick a verse as best. This is subjective
4.        The A section stands for "application" Try to find and make several applications from each passage you study.

  Thank you for reading this posting. Tell me how you are doing with the information. Is there anything that needs clarification. What method works best for you?

Locating Those Nuggets

  Education is not in knowing everything, but in knowing where to find the information., it has been said.

  Now I will go into the Deductive Method. We looked already at Inductive where you ask questions to find out what does it mean? Now I will talk about what has been referred to as "nugget hunting". Picture yourself walking through a mine field with a friend. "Here is something valuable," your friend will say as you walk alone. "If you pick it up you can take it with you."
  The thing to keep in mind is this valuable truth can not be discerned by an unsaved man as the unsaved one cannot understand the deep spiritual message of the Bible. Sure, he can read the words. Many have and many will tell you, "Yes, I've read through the Bible once or twice. Nice book."
   "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and  he cannot understand them, because they are spitually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14
    This method I am going to talk about is a good one for the new Christian or the old Christian who needs to get into Bible Study because this can be used to get them into the Word of God for themselves. They will need to learn how to see for themselves. They will need to see that "nugget" that is there out in the open.
   This also is a question and answer method. You need to learn how to recognize important truths. Find a passge you like and start digging. Ask, "What type of material do we have here?"
   Let us go back to John 11:35 "Jesus Wept"
   Ask "What group of people do we have here?" "To what group is Jesus talking?"
   Prepare questions as you go along. Talk to the Bible (No, you are not losing your mind. You are asking God for direction. He wrote the Scrpture you are reading. He is the best interpreter.)
   Questions fall into different categories.

1.   Factual Questions. --Who? What? When? Where? How?
2.  Translation Qestions.--These wil lead you to diagram, draw pictures, chart, summerize, search out technical information.
3.   Relationship questions-- compare, contrast, show cause and effect.
4.   Application questions-- how do you apply a rule or principle or perform a problem-solving task?

   Formulate your answers in a prayful and orderly way. After all this you can consult a commentary or two. Test all things, the Scriptures say. Do not believe all things just becasuse it is written. Test it by the Word. Scripture is its best interpreter.
   Don't give up. Write down what you are learning. Write down your unanswered questions. Maybe later something you are reading will help you answer the problem passage.
    And as you go about your day allow it to do its' work. You do this by mediatation. A subject that will be handled later in another post.
    
   Feel  free to comment. Please do. I am waiting to have a conversation with you. feel free to use the comment button on the bottom of this posting. (The word 'Comment" will open the site for you)  Ask questions. Suggest further subjects, or just say hi.
   You are an important part of the post and by commenting you are completing the cycle. Like a game of table tennis.
   Should there be spam or insincere comments, the comment button will stop working for you. but at the moment I await your free will decision to comment.
  In fact, I reserve the right to, if needed, edit and even delete comments. You know which ones. In other word, I will moderate No spam or flames will be tolerated..