People Need To Hear From God

 

With all this basic foundation laid down in the past few postings, you may be saying to yourself, sure, but what if the scriptures that will allow me to know God are not in the language of the person I am talking to? I mean, what if I can't end my conversation by handing them a Bible in the tongue they can best read?

I have an answer. Get them a Bible in their tongue. And you can. I can link you to a Bible organization that will help you.  

Everyone should be able to read what God has said. I believe God has spoken and has overshadowed some writers to record what He has said. This was because He wants to communicate. Since He is spirit the only way He could connect would be this way.

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What Is Man?

Again we make a turn. There is so much that I can share and I can write on. Earlier in these postings I did a series on Bible study methods. It seems the ABC system is being well received.
And many other subjects through the years have been handled. For this series I would like to return to discussing major subjects handled in the Bible.
The book of Psalms chapter 8 verses states: "When I consider Your Heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained; what is man that you take thought  of him.."
No, I don't wish at this moment to unlock creation. Instead I wish to start to unlock us. MAN.
Just what are we? Are we, as the secular  says, a product of time and chance?  And is so, why do we feel there is something different about us?
Perhaps we are a special creation of a being greater than us.
Maybe in the beginning God created us male and female and put us in a place known as Eden. Maybe this being greater than us, and uncreated being beyond time and space limitations, wanted to fellowship with us.
That would make man different from the animals and the plants and other things.
Let us call this being God. One greater than we can conceive.
If this is so, man is special and asking what is an that you (God)  take thought of him is a very important question to ask and answer.
In the postings to come I hope to explore this deeply.
I feel enough has been started here for you to consider.
 

Further Help In Bible Study

I know some of you out there are doing a  research once again in  my posts on bible study methods. I notice 3 have  done a recent read  of the ABCD Method of Bible Study again. For further suggestions I would refer you back to an earlier one I posted in 2017 on Chapter study. This may help you do more intensive study. The only way we are going to dig deep in our study is to use different methods so our study doesn't become mundane.
I am happy to see that people are reading and interacting with this blog, for Your Information. Keep up the good work.

Search For Helpful Aids

A Deeper Way Of Study

   Now this is an more advance way of study. Maybe not for the beginner, but I would keep this one in mind as I seek to grow in my understanding and depth in my Christian walk.
    I have started this the last few months. To do this one you will need a note book to record your observations. A pen to write with is needed. You won't just be reading without responding. Maybe for a while you will be responding to the passages as if you were journaling. In fact you should be able, over time, to look back and trace your growth.
    For you will grow using this method.
    It goes without saying you will need a good version of the scriptures. NASB, NIV, English Standard, etc. Yes, even the King James helps. Or the NKJ. Just a good version that is readable.
    I take a chapter at a time. Once a day. I don't rush. I ask what is here? Who is speaking? Who is he speaking to? What is the context? I record as if  I were seeing this for the first time. I keep remembering I am not reading a 21st century book. It meant something to those who read it for the first time.  Look at it as it meant then.
    Just what was the impact?
    You will need a good book on Bible times to refer to. Maybe even a concordance to look up words and see how they were first used.
    Using this method you will end up comparing scripture with scripture. When was the word first used? What did it mean when used that first time?
     I told you this was advanced. It will take more than a few moments. But you can also break your devotion time down into segments so you may not do a full chapter a day. But you keep with it day by day until you finish that book.
      I hope you are enjoying the methods discussion of this blog. It seems some are.
      You can always search this blog. I am sure all the postings are there.

Growing in Bible Understanding

Well, I am still going to use this blog for the purpose of furthering your study of God's communication to us, the Bible.
The method I am talking about this time is devotions.
To do this properly you will need a good Bible, a pencil or pen and a note book. You may also need a commentary or a good handbook of the Bible.
 Chose a book of the Bible that you can spend time studying.
 The pen or pencil is for marking up the Bible. A well read Bible is a well marked up Bible.
You will be asking what is being said here? Who is speaking? You will be marking in your Bible the key word in each portion.
 I suggest you do a paragraph at a time this works well, but the idea is not speed. Or maybe a chapter at a time.
The notebook is to jot down what it is you are discovering. Also what you are noticing. Record the repetition of a certain word. You may find it repeats in another chapter. Note that. It is important .
Use the handbook for background and context.
Always search context. Don't take day dreaming trips. The Bible is not written in twenty-first century context.
 Use the commentary to understand if you are on the right track in the deduction you are making.
 Stay with it. Dig as in mining for precious ore.
 And may your understanding of God grow as you do so.

Chapter Study

   It would seem that you as a group are camping on the subject of Bible Study and the ABCD method. I would like to suggest an easier one for you to do. It doesn't require any other book except the Bible and a paper to jot down what you are learning.
   It is known as the chapter method. I would suggest you start this one with a shorter chapter  such as I Corinthians 13.
    Start out by reading it five times. Maybe one of the times you read it aloud to yourself. Notice the flow. Notice the main word or subject covered.
   After reading it through at least that many times, preferably in a Bile you have not made notes in yet , give the chapter a name. Then next paraphrase it. Note down the key word (in this case, love). Ask yourself how you can apply it. The purpose of Bible study is application not so much interpretation.
    Using a study Bible find the other places this topic is referred to.
    Find a verse to memorize in the passage read. This is very important as God the Holy Spirit will use it in your life. "Thy Word I have hid in my heart that I may not sin against God. Psalm 119:6" Always remember to include the address of the verse.
     Inform me how you are doing.

The Promised One

 

   Okay. Hold on to your hats. Here comes a big one in the doctrine world.
    I have posted some on this in previous logs. But I would like to dig deeper into this one.
   God became flesh. There was no other way to communicate so that we would understand.
    In the past He sent prophets. He sent people He worked with, through imperfect as they were. Few listened. He did everything to get man's attention.
    So, as you remember we talking about it, according to the plan He made in eternity past, before the world and time began, God Himself took on flesh. He was born in Bethlehem in an animal's feeding place. He grew up as part of a family. He learned about life the same way we do. He worked in a carpenter's work space. He was baptized by John  in the Jordan. He had a following of twelve men whom He choose. He went around teaching and doing miracles. He did things the prophets had said the coming savior was to do. He was nailed to a tree as a common criminal although He had done nothing wrong ( it also was something the prophets said the coming savior of the world would have to suffer) and he died and was placed in a tomb. But the story goes on to say He rose out of the grave three days later. And He ascended to heaven in a human body.
     Also He is coming back again.
     Yes, God became flesh. And Jesus was His name. He is 100% God and 100% humanity. Not mixed. Not blended. Separate. At the same time the two were united. He didn't get the spiritual at His baptism as some so called Christian groups ( I shudder to use that word for them--Christian, because they aren't) teach. Not did the divine leave at the cross.
     He was sinless. No one else is or has ever been.

     So far, guys, I notice I have had a few people reading these postings. But I am still waiting for feedback. And when you give feed back, please let me know how I can respond back so we have a
conversation not a monolog .
      On the other hand, maybe I am not connecting with any of you out there. If so, let me know that also.

The Lamb of God

No longer was man in the garden. It was no longer easy for him to approach God. God did give them a way. Through sacrifice. Through a lamb. God even decided to work through a nation.
 In the garden he was working through Adam and Eve. They sinned. They were  the start of God's working in the world. But He had a bigger plan in mind.
 So he chose Abraham and made from him a nation. The journey now lead through many centuries and many lands. But Abraham was promised some day a land, a people and a redeemer.
 Remember--Abraham was near 100 when he had a son. From this son would come the Jews, a nation of God's choosing, A nation that was to bring about a redeemer.
  I realize I am making this simple. I want you to grasp what I am saying. Since these postings are covering the subject of doctrine, I wish to make it so the little child can grasp it.
  The people called Hebrews were charged to bring  God to the heathens around them. They were also to stay pure. Not marry other nation's women or do what the nations around them were doing. No idol worship. No making of idols, no false tales. No lying-- Bearing false witness.  They were given the ten commandments as guidelines. They broke them all.
   God provided priests and prophets to guide them. Few listened.
    God sent them into captivity so they would perhaps learn to listen to Him.
    Finally, as per the discussion They (The Godhead) had in eternity past, God Himself entered into humanity. He became a baby. He felt every thing as a man. He bleed when cut. He cried. He felt pain. He felt sorrow. He felt disgust  He was fully human. While at the same time He remained God. This is a mystery. It was just done.
  This does not mean we humans are little gods. We aren't. We have within our bodies a broken sinful nature. God, who was given the human name, Jesus, did not have sin. By not having the seed of an earthly father, a male who carried the sin seed, He alone was born sinless. His human mother, Mary, had the seed of sin in her. But sin was not transferred to Jesus.
    He lived thirty years here on the human plan fully man, fully God-- as I said above. Then He was killed on a cross. Buried in a tomb. On the third day after he was put in the tomb, He came out.
     In a body He rose back to heaven. He will come back again some day soon.
     Man can now approach God because of what God has done not what man does.
     I know this is a lot to take in. Read it a few times. If  you have any question, post them in the comment section. I will be happy to help you.

The Show Begins

  Before there was anything, there was God. The first verse in Genesis states, in the beginning God created. He didn't need a big bang. All He needed was the spoken word. All came into being because He spoke it out.
   All the stars we see through a telescope-- all the things we see trough a microscope-- God made them by a word.
   The land we walk on--the air we breathe. All spoken into existence by God.
   The animals we see even us.. spoken into existence by God. 
    And humans are special. The Bible says God created Adam and Eve and blew into them life. This was a way of saying, God shared some of Himself with us. What is called the image. It is not physical. Since God is spirit, it was something to do with spirit.
    We read Adam and Eve had daily fellowship with God. They walked together, is the way the scriptures put it.
     Why we don't walk with God today will be covered in the next post.

The Beginning

  I thought about it and decided the best place to start is at the beginning and since I am going to do a study of doctrine for you., that beginning should begin farther back.
   Back to before the beginning. In school, I am sorry to say, you have been told a lie. The earth has not always been. It had a beginning and that beginning did not start it a big bang. God spoke things into existence.
    Okay, so let's say there was that bang. What was behind that bang. Great masses building up pressure and all at once the pressure is released.  Humm. Where did the mass come from?
    I hold there was nothing in the beginning. No matter. No form. No solids. Nothing.
    But God. Why?
    Didn't I say we needed a cause. A cause who is not caused?
    And God had no reason to cause anything. He was not lonely. God exists in a Trinity.-- Father, Son, And Hold Spirit. He had Himself and no needs. More on this in another post.
     So where did the world come from? Why creation? God spoke it in to existence. The earth and everything on it. The sea, the land, the plants, the animals, and man.
     And it was all good.
     But what happened to make it not good?
     Questions which we will look at as this study goes on.

Paul Still Roman-Part Seven

 
Now let's use the Book of Romans to answer- Can God be known  and How?
  Since you have been reading the book a few time already in preparation for this study method. you have a general idea of the answer. Since you are doing this Bible study method for application and for a tool in helping others, you need to get somewhat of a grip on the answer.
  We are still using a pencil and a notepad alongside our translation of the Epistle to the Romans
   From our reading we conclude that Paul says we are able to know God in a general way.. In general means that since God can be seen in a general way, all are guilty before God. We will find how as we read and study this book.
    He has revealed Himself. By carefully reading chapter one verses 18 to the end we should be able to answer..Use the notepad to chart the use of the phrase  "God let them over to.... Because they did not acknowledge Him."
    Note what happens when man suppress that truth.
    This is a deep study and your shouldn't expect  to dig out all the gold out of it in one study. You will only be doing a surface study at the moment. You can go back and dig more later. Note questions your reading gives you in your notebook.   
    Go back and search for the answers at a later time. I hold that the Bible explains itself.
     Comment back to me with how you are doing, please.

Every Church Should Have Some Deacons

 

Table Servers

   Let me slow down and talk about a group of men that each church should have. They aren't the pastor but they are very important people. I am talking about the group of people known as Deacons.
   In scripture they show up in the book of Acts when there is a need of table waiters The church was made up of Hebrews and Hellenists- those who spoke Greek. It was over the feeding of the widows. The apostles decided that seven men full of the Holy Spirit were to be chosen for this task.
   Today the  Deacons are there to help the pastor of the church in areas of service such as serving communion, handling the money used for meeting needs of the people.
    Paul thought this so important that he tells Timothy, a pastor of a church in Ephesus, the things to look for in  choosing a man to be a Deacon. This is recorded in 1Timothy 3. Trustworthy, above reproach, not a drunk. The husband of one wife-- gentle not quarrelsome. not in it for the money, You can read it for yourself
    They are very important people.   Pastors work with deacons. Deacons serve the people. Pastors preach the word. Deacons free them up to do so.
    In fact, you can do a study of deacons using a concordance and a Bible dictionary. Doing a word study on the term Deacon should be an interesting Bible Study for you.

Keep on Romaning With Paul-part five

Jot Down Observations

Okay. Let us get back to our Bible study method using the Epistle of Romans.
 There is so much here in this one short epistle. We can follow the mention of the wrath of God. What is it? Why do we mention the wrath? Isn't God all loving? For this you will need a Concordance which lists all the words used in the Bible. Also you may want to look up the wrath of God in a Bible dictionary. Make note in the margins of the paper you are recording your observations.
  Remember, I said you should have a notebook to jot down your observations. This is very important if you are serious about doing a Bible Study Method.
  Later on you will contrast the righteousness of God.
  I believe the Bible is able to answer the questions we have as we read and study. That is why having notes jot down are important. You may not find the answer in the passage of the book you are presently in, but as you read you will no doubt find some insight that will help you in your quest.
   Remember I have talked about your Bible study being like a quest for nuggets of gold? This is what I meant. Slow and steady.

Romaning With Paul- part 4

Bible Study

  I am going too fast and have taken on more than I can develop at the moment. Romans is a big epistle with many areas to study. I should have chosen a smaller epistle to work on. So to those who are out there waiting for me to unpack the whole thing, I will say hang on. A step at a time.
   Since this is not a group that is meeting in my house and I can not see your faces to know how I am doing, I will need you to comment from time to time and ask questions, make observations, respond. Can I get that from you?
    So I will change to a overview method and land on segments.
   In verse 17 which is part of what I submit to be the theme we read a quote from the Jewish scriptures -"The righteous shall live by faith."  We should ask ( and this is something you should note on your piece of paper you have with you as you study--to jot down questions to explore) just what is living by faith?  And what is faith? And what is righteousness? (Told you this was deep) Is there an example we can look at?
   Glad you asked.
   Paul looks at the example of unrighteousness first before he looks at a person who was living a righgteous life.
   You may have to take a paper and put on one side unrighteous and on the other righteous. In fact, that may be a good idea.
    You may be realizing when you do Bible study you need a large amount of time. It is not a small short session. It is work.
    As you read and reread the epistle you fill out the chart.
     You start your listing at verse 18. What does Paul and though Him, God, say unrighteousness looks like? What are the fruits of unrighteousness?
   It seems he spends a good amount of time on what he calls sin. Sin being less than what God requires. That definition is weak but it will do at the moment. As you work through this epistle you will come to a better definition.
   I guess  that is enough for now.
   When I see your responses I will venture on more with Romans . Until I hear from you, then, I will let Romans rest.

Following Paul In Romans - part 2

As we look at this epistle we note that it is deep. Therefore we should start our study by reading through it a couple of times to get the landscape plotted, so to speak. As we read through it we will no doubt notice a large section in it concerning the Jewish reader in Rome as well as the Gentile reader. Therefore we can figure there was some Jewish-Gentile tension in this group.
  The church in Roman might have started out as a Jewish church. It might have been start by a small group of those who had been in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost as spoken of in the book of Acts. They returned to Rome and started the group. Later Gentiles joined.
   Using a Bible dictionary we see that some people through the ages have thought Peter formed this group, but there is no significant evidence to support this premise.
   The Roman historian Suetonius records that the emperor Claudius (A.D. 41-54) expelled the Jews from Rome. We find this recorded in Acts 18:2.
   Reading this epistle a few times shows us that there are a number of themes running through this epistle. Some are gospel and law; the significance of Abraham; the future of Israel.
   Up to this point Paul has not been in Rome.The book of Acts tells us he was brought to Rome in chains.
   He wants them to know that the gospel was spoken of or hinted at by the prophets in the holy scriptures. All they had at that time was the writings we today know as the torah, the writings, the prophets, and so on. We call it the Old Testament. But since the books we know as the New Testament weren't yet in completed form when this epistle was written  in A.D. 57 we must be fair and deal with what was available then. In other words., don't read twentieth century back intro the epistle.
   Verse 8 tells us that this church was well known and talked about.
   Verse 16-17 can be looked on as the theme.
   I recommend to my groups to find one verse per chapter and commit it to memory.  "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word....I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.' Psalm 119:9,11. ESV
   Until next time.

Timing Of Studies

If you have been reading the last two posts and the earlier postings on Bible Study Method, you may be wondering just when are you going to find the time  to do all this. After all, you still have to go to work and earn a living. You still have to shop. And so on.
   None of these methods are meant to be a 24/7 program. They all take a scheduled period of time.
   I would suggest you have a period of time set up when you can be alone with your Bible and pad and pen or pencil. You need to open with prayer.."Open my eyes that I may see what you have in this passage for me.". or something like that. Remember, it is a period of time you are setting aside to hear what God is saying to you.
    Application is the goal here. What does it say? What is going on? How can I apply it?
    Don't worry if it doesn't grab you. The idea is that you are dedicating this period of time to this discipline. It is your faithfulness God is looking for.
     Have a set portion to read. You may only be able to dedicate this time once a week. Or maybe twice a week.   If that is all you are able to do, that is all that is required. As time goes on you will find you need to spend more time on it and when that time comes you will adjust..

Devotional Study

As in the previous Bible Study Method we must prepare ourselves for the study. Clear your known sins away by starting with confession. 1John says if we will confess our sins God will be faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. .
  He is able to do this because of the cross. When we become Christians our sins are nailed to the cross with Jesus who has become our sin bearing lamb.
   Which means the best way to study the Bible and understand it is by first acknowledging Jesus as the son of God who bore our sins and the penalty of sins on the cross. He collected the wage so you don't have to. That wage being separation forever from God.
    Our first Bible study method would be the devotional method.
   The goal of all Bible study should be application. But before application we have to do some reading and questioning. So we will start out by praying for insight on how to apply the portion of scripture to our life. The next big step would be to locate that passage we want to study. Once located we should make an application and record it. Lastly we must within the passage we have selected to study and apply we should memorize a verse which we have decided is key.
   The secret to knowing the scripture is the applying of scripture.
    Application is hard work. It should be personal, practical, possible and provable.
    Let me know how you are doing.
    As I said, feedback or I won't know if you are enjoying and wanting what I can offer you.

Can God Be Known?

This is a big question most have. Can God be known. From this we can also ask can God be defined?
Even as I contend the Scriptures to be the exact words of God to us to explain Himself to us, I realize this is not an answer to those who don 't feel God has revealed Himself.
This is where your view of the  66 books known as the Hebrew Christian scriptures comes to play. Is it what it says it is, the word of God, or is the book only another collection of so called holy writings?
two avenues to explore. And is is one area to be explored as you do Bible Study.
You will need a good translation of the writings. You will also need a concordance. You will be looking up words and phrases. Don't forget the notebook you are jotting your observations in.
First of all you must understand the Bible doesn't try to explain where God came from. God has always been and you must accept this as the first premise . Since God is He must exist. God told Moses His name is I AM.
God reveals Himself through actions. People you know reveal themselves through actions.
 God can be known by what He creates. Men are known by what they create. God created the sun, the moon, the stars,  these things seem to show that God has more power than man in the creation realm.
Can He be defined so to be controlled- kept in a box?  No, in that sense God can't be defined. But He can be defined by what He does and by what He has revealed. He is not silent. He is not way off. He did not create man and everything and then back away as the deists hold.
 --please comment and direct the discussion--

Let's Talk About Deacons

 You hear about deacons if you are in the church. No matter what type or branding of church you belong to, there may be a deacon board or just a group of deacons.
  Just what is a deacon?
  That is simple. A deacon is a helper. A table waiter. He pops up in the book of Acts, the sixth chapter.  There was a disagreement in the new church over ther serving of the new Jews, the group of new believers in Christ. They were saying they weren't getting their proper amount of attention or food.
  So James and the apostles got together and said, "It is not right we serve tables. We are called to give you the word of God and to pray for you. You select spiritual people, seven men, and let them take over the office."
   Deacons today are to do the business of care for the church and meet the needs of the people. They are to allow the pastor, who has been called to lead, to do his study and preaching.
  They are to free up the pastor from doing mundane things. Not that a deacon is less in the body but are important to the proper running of the congregation.
   But they are not the people called to run the church. They are called to help the church function.

It Is Okay To Ask Questions

When you are confronted with a puzzlement or even if you just wonder why something you have been told is accepted by others.. it is okay to question.
    Not everything you have been told or hear is found in a Bible verse or even is a teaching of the scriptures.
  You have to keep looking for the answer and prove all things.
  That is why we need to be in a Bible group or under a Bible immersion plan.
  Not becasue it is something I tell you. It is something that is needed for your growth..
   " Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman..."
    Not everything to know is in the Bible but all we need to know is there. At least when it comes to God.
     It is just a feeling of mine but God may not have revealed all about Himself. There may be areas of God we don't know about. These areas would then be areas that we have left to discover when He comes back for us. That comes in the area of hope.
   We hope to see Him face to face someday. We now see through a glass darkly, is the way the scriptures put it. 
   That will be a glorious day.