GROW UP Session 3 Understanding the Bible

GROW UP Part 3

UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE

INTRO: Have you ever been in a country where you could not speak the language? It can be very difficult to even eat!

Illustrations: Tokyo… Crisco can...

Many of you may feel that way about the Bible! You may be doing daily Bible readings or reading verses about some struggle you are having in your life, but you get nothing out of it! It’s like you’re in a strange country reading in a foreign language! To many the questions remains: “How do I read the Bible? It is just a bunch of words!”

I’ve got good news! You can read the Bible, and understand what you read! I believe God made the Bible easy to understand.  After all, He gives a special blessing to those who read it, hear it, and obey it.  Why would He hide the meaning?

I Timothy 4:13 (NKJV) Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

Revelation 1:3 (NKJV) Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

The truth is we preachers are to blame for that! We have told people that the Bible is full of hidden meanings that have to be taught to you.

This started in the Middle Ages where the Bible was chained to the pillars in the church buildings and written in a language the people could not even read! They were told only the priest could interpret the Bible, so don’t even try. When men wrote the Bible in the common language they were burned at the stake! No wonder Bible readers didn’t run in great herds!

Protestants were not much better. We put such emphasis on education that people felt that unless they had been to Bible college or seminary, understanding the Bible was out of their reach. I remember being told since I did not know Hebrew and Greek I could not exegete, or interpret, the Bible! My God!

The end result is people believe the Bible is a closed book only the ‘initiated’ can comprehend!

That is a lie! You can read and understand God’s Word!

1.     Get a Bible in a language you can understand!

a.     Language changes over time.

A.   Words have different meanings and people talk in different ways. Don’t be afraid to try a more modern language than the King James Version!

b.    Three types; all good; different purposes.

A.   Literal: word for word translation; KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV

B.    Dynamic: thought for thought translation; NIV, NLT,

C.    Paraphrase: stating something in your own words; MSG, TLB

1.     Which one is best? The one you will read!

2.     God can speak through them all!

c.     Specialty Bibles: chronological, amplified, story…

2.     Read the Bible like you would any other book.

Now don't misunderstand, the Bible is not like any other book. It is written by God Himself! How?

2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, (only time used in NT)

2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV) All Scripture is God-breathed,

2 Peter 1:20-21 (NIV) Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Written over some 2,000 years by 40 different authors from three continents, who wrote in three different languages…

But read it like other books…

A.   What is written is a straight-forward expression of what is meant.

1.     Francis Schaeffer…

B.    We understand there are different genres: narrative, history, poetry, visions and dreams…

3.     The Bible is a story.  It is the story of God’s plan for man.

a.     The Master Theme of the Bible is the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world.

A.   As we read this story, we see how God deals with people and with us, in particular!

b.    The Old Testament centers on God’s dealing with one man, Abraham, and his family, the children of Israel.

A.   This is a real man and a real family. The children of Israel were the descendants of Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, who became Israel.  The “Children of Israel” were the children of Israel!

c.     The New Testament centers on God’s plan to redeem all mankind from sin. 

A.   The key figure is Jesus!

4.     Fall in love with the author!

a.     Reading someone else’s mail!

CONCLUSION

The Bible gives you all you need, when you give your all to the Bible!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT) All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Turn over to Alba…

GROW UP Session 2 Meditation

GROW UP Part 2

"MEDITATION"

2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV) but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Intro: My discipleship process… Last week: quiet time, time alone with God listening to Him… Devotional reading; Scripture guided prayer…

Today: Meditation, the Key to Success in Life.

Joshua 1:8 (NKJV) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Psalms 1:2-3 (NKJV) But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

WHAT IS MEDITATION?

More than just reading the Bible. Goal is quality, not quantity.

ILLUSTRATION: Hot dog eating contest!

Difference between a hot dog eating contest and savoring a real Chicago dog!

We meditate to hear God’s voice!

Isaiah 30:21 (NKJV) Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.

Matthew 4:4 (NKJV) But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (Deuteronomy 8:3)

John 10:27 (NKJV) My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

We are not talking about transcendental meditation as practiced by the Cosmic humanists of our day.  They believe in clearing your mind and letting a spirit guide (demon) put his thoughts into your head, leading to inner enlightenment and Nirvana.

We believe in focusing our heart and mind on the Lord and His Word.

Psalm 63:6 (NKJV) When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.

Psalm 77:12 (NKJV) I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds.

Psalm 119:15 (NKJV) I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.

Psalm 119:23 (NKJV) Princes also sit and speak against me, but Your servant meditates on Your statutes.

Psalm 119:27 (NKJV) Make me understand the way of Your precepts; so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.

Psalm 119:97 (NKJV) Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:99 (NKJV) I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.

Psalm 119:148 (NKJV) My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word.

Psalm 143:5 (NKJV) I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse (ponder) on the work of Your hands.

Psalm 145:5 (NKJV) I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works.

STEPS IN MEDITATION

The re-processing of material! A cow chewing cud!

1. Read

I Peter 2:2 (NKJV) as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

Read like any other book…

A true story…

I Timothy 4:13,15 (NKJV) Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

Read the Word, listen to the Word, study the Word, and not just the parts you like.

 II Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I Corinthians 3:2 (NKJV) I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

Hebrews 5:12 (NKJV) For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

How do I start? Daily Bible reading. Where are you struggling? What would you like to know?

2. Memorize

Psalms 40:8 (NKJV) I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.

Psalms 119:11 (NKJV) Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

How do I start? One verse a week. One passage a month. One book a year.

Scripture songs… .

3. Personalize

Isaiah 6:5 (NKJV) So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts."

How do I start? Take any Scripture and put your name in it.

4. Hear

Matthew 11:15 (NKJV) He who has ears to hear, hear!

Revelation 13:9 (NKJV) If anyone has an ear, hear.

Seven churches all commanded to hear!

How do I start? Make an appointment. Remove distractions. Start with the Word.

Mark 4: open heart, soft heart, no weeds, clean heart...

Closing: Genesis 24:63 (NKJV) And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming.

Many of you are waiting on your camels to come home because on those camels is your promised bride!

Psalms 19:14 (NKJV) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Psalms 5:1-3 (KJV) Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.