Hebrews 4:12-13, 5:11-6:20
How do you view Scripture? I'm not talking about inerrancy or infallibility today. I want to know how do you view reading your Bible? Is it your roadmap? Is it your place of comfort? Is it where you find those answers to life's challenges? Is scripture what you turn to in order to get yourself out of a pickle? If you answered yes to those questions, we have a place to start. You must then at least view scripture as valuable. You must believe it has meaning and can be used in today's world. You must believe it is somehow tied to a loving and gracious God who gave it to us for our benefit. But let me ask you also, in finding comfort or answers or just time in our Bible's, have you ever been left wanting something more? Does the comfort just not quite feel complete? Are the answers not quite good enough or do you find yourself seeking second opinions? Do you end up in the same bad situations time after time after time?
As you read through these verses for the sermon, ask yourself
1. What is the purpose of Scripture?
2. What is the text saying to me about my approach to Scripture?
3. Do I resent anything I have read in these verses? Why?
4. If I change my approach, what may be the result?
5. Maybe you don't read your Bible regularly, why not?
6. Do you more often only give lip service to what the Bible says? Is it
evident in your life?
Tomorrow's sermon will deal with the fact that so many of us usually go to scripture looking for the "how's" of life instead of the "why". We can effectively state "how" to be saved, "how" to live christian, "how" to____________, well just fill in the blank. But when it comes to really getting down to the "why" we fall short. More often than not "Because the Bible says" is not a sufficient answer for ourselves let alone to someone who doesn't believe. Now, that is my belief, that the Bible says, but "why" does the Bible say so. "Why" is salvation found in no other name? "Why" is Jesus better than Moses? "Why" is his message more reliable than the prophets and angels? "Why" should we be committed? "Why"!?!?!?!?!
How will we be changed if we begin to focus more on the "why" than the "how"?
When reading the Bible, How do we start and where do we start?.....I have tried following the daily reading starting at Genesis and get lost and/or confused. What do you recommend?...Deb
ReplyDeleteThis is a pretty normal question so don't think that you are the only one. I have more often than not always struggled with where and what to read. That is why teaching has always been great for me. It forces me to be in a particular book or passage. The dilemna for most Christians though is that they don't teach in a formal situation like I do. My advice is Gospels. I direct people to Mark or John as a general rule. The best thing a christian can do is to study and learn what Jesus actually taught and how he lived and so on. Learn to use your study notes, don't necessarily rely on them, but use them. I suggest finding a Bible that also has good cross-references. Learn to use these and use them often. As you study and are flipping from passage to passage using these references, use a notebook to jot down anything that catches your eye or looks interesting or something that you want to study further or deeper. That is how I used to study. I had a notebook full of next studies. It didnt' have to be full books of the Bible, it was sometimes certain people, customs, battles, etc. Doing that has served me well as a teacher.
ReplyDeleteThe problem I have with Daily Readings, ie Bible in a year plans is that I get stuck in a passage doing the referencing. I find myself in a passage for 2-3 days sometimes for a week or two. Then I have to "catch" up. It is very easy to get frustrated this way. Discipleship Journal has a good plan that gives 5 days at the end of the month for this catch up or further study.