What are you reading? Old Testament or New Testament?
New Testament
'Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Sctripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had it's origin n the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit'.
2 Peter 1:20-21
History (Mathew - John) Four Gospels
History (Acts) The beginning of the church
Letters (Romans - Jude)
Prophecy (Revelation)
Ask the question, What was the original setting and what did it mean to the first hearers?
History (Mathew - John) This is the life and teachings of Jesus from four viewpoints. What do you learn about the person of Jesus? How can this affect your life?
History (Acts) What was the setting? What can I learn or apply from this?
Letters (Romans - Jude) Who wrote to whom? Why was the letter as a whole written? Can I apply aparticular lesson to my situation?
Prophecy (Revelation) Written in 'apocalyptic' style: poetic imagery. Prophecies concerning Jesus Christ are fulfilled and a concluding call to His Lordship assures us that He will soon return. What quesions are raised here?
Get stuck into God's Word for yourself. Dig, dig, dig and discover the treasure. And keep talking to God as you go and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus and his truth to you.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Understanding the Bible (Part 3)
What are you reading? Old Testament or New Testament?
Old Testament
'These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life n his name' John 20:31
Law (Gen- Deut)
History (Joshua - Esther)
Poetry & wisdom (Job & Song of songs)
Prophecy (Isaiah - Malachi)
In all the above ask the question what is the original setting and what it meant to the first hears
Law (Gen- Deut) A moral law for all time? A sacrificial or social law? Is there a general principal to consider?
History (Joshua - Esther)What happened? Where? Why is the story there? Is there a lesson for you?
Poetry & wisdom (Job & Song of songs)Poetry is a picture language. Allow yourself to enter into the emotion of the words as you read.
Prophecy (Isaiah - Malachi)What is the setting? Is the language sybolic or direct? What response should the passage evoke?
'The unfolding of your words give light; it gives understanding to the simple' Psalm 119:130
New Testament to follow....
Old Testament
'These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life n his name' John 20:31
Law (Gen- Deut)
History (Joshua - Esther)
Poetry & wisdom (Job & Song of songs)
Prophecy (Isaiah - Malachi)
In all the above ask the question what is the original setting and what it meant to the first hears
Law (Gen- Deut) A moral law for all time? A sacrificial or social law? Is there a general principal to consider?
History (Joshua - Esther)What happened? Where? Why is the story there? Is there a lesson for you?
Poetry & wisdom (Job & Song of songs)Poetry is a picture language. Allow yourself to enter into the emotion of the words as you read.
Prophecy (Isaiah - Malachi)What is the setting? Is the language sybolic or direct? What response should the passage evoke?
'The unfolding of your words give light; it gives understanding to the simple' Psalm 119:130
New Testament to follow....
Thursday, 10 February 2011
5 Ministry Killers
Just as we have to defeat and prevent termites from destroying our homes, so we have to defeat and prevent some invisible "ministry killers," and Charles Stone, Pastor of Ginger Creek Community Church, identifies five of them. This is brilliant!!
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Understanding the Bible (Part 2)
How do you discover the joy of reading the Bible?
1. As you read, hold a conversation with God the Holy Sprit and ask him to help you understand it.
2. Approach God's word humbly and sincerely genuinely desiring to know more about God and his ways.
3. As part of your devotions, come to God's word in a prayful manner to discover the it's message rather than appraoching it as literature or information alone.
4. Allow God's word to lead you to be in awe of God of who his is and onto a journey of worship.
5. Apply what you have learned in your every day life
God's word is waiting to lead you into a wonderful encouter with God by the Holy Sprit that will transform your life and cause you to follow Jesus and serve his purposes for the rest of your life.
Hunger and thrist after him and you WILL be filled!
1. As you read, hold a conversation with God the Holy Sprit and ask him to help you understand it.
2. Approach God's word humbly and sincerely genuinely desiring to know more about God and his ways.
3. As part of your devotions, come to God's word in a prayful manner to discover the it's message rather than appraoching it as literature or information alone.
4. Allow God's word to lead you to be in awe of God of who his is and onto a journey of worship.
5. Apply what you have learned in your every day life
God's word is waiting to lead you into a wonderful encouter with God by the Holy Sprit that will transform your life and cause you to follow Jesus and serve his purposes for the rest of your life.
Hunger and thrist after him and you WILL be filled!
Understanding the Bible (part 1)
Someone asked me the question yesterday, ' can I understand the Bible more?' I sensed the hunger in their voice and shared a few things with them. It go me thinking about how I might be able to help others too. SO here we go......
The Bible was written centuries ago over a long period of time by many different people from all walks of life in a setting different from our own.
When you read a portion of scripture you should consider the following:
1. The type of writing
2. The context it is written in and for
3. The reason it was written
4. Ask yourself what can it now mean to me?
When you read a portion of scripture you must:
1. NOT take a verse or one part of scripture out of it's context
2. NOT creat an opinion based only on one verse or portion. This is a frequent error of cults and those who want to twist the meaning for their own ends.
3. NOT think of it as anything other than the word of God. Scriptures were written by real people for sure in real situations BUT under the Holy Spirit's inspiration.
As you open the Bible to read it, ask God to open your eyes and your heart and reveal the truth of his word to you by the Holy Spirit. HE WILL!!
The Bible was written centuries ago over a long period of time by many different people from all walks of life in a setting different from our own.
When you read a portion of scripture you should consider the following:
1. The type of writing
2. The context it is written in and for
3. The reason it was written
4. Ask yourself what can it now mean to me?
When you read a portion of scripture you must:
1. NOT take a verse or one part of scripture out of it's context
2. NOT creat an opinion based only on one verse or portion. This is a frequent error of cults and those who want to twist the meaning for their own ends.
3. NOT think of it as anything other than the word of God. Scriptures were written by real people for sure in real situations BUT under the Holy Spirit's inspiration.
As you open the Bible to read it, ask God to open your eyes and your heart and reveal the truth of his word to you by the Holy Spirit. HE WILL!!
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Just loved this qoute I read today
"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble. The world is moved along not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker. " ~ Helen Keller
Sunday, 30 January 2011
How to overcome dark valley’s by Rick Warren
I have valued the input and wisdom of Rick warren over the years in my life. This is an excellent post and fits in very well with my message on Sunday morning this week
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)
How do we handle the dark valleys of life? These facts about valleys can help.
1. Valleys are inevitable. They are a normal part of life. Don't be surprised by them. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble." (John 16:33)
2. Valleys are unpredictable. They’re sudden and unexpected. Jeremiah 4:20 says, "In an instant my tents are destroyed, my shelter in a moment."
3. Valleys are impartial. No one is insulated from pain and sorrow. No one gets to skate through life free of problems. Problems don’t mean you're a bad person. They mean you’re a person. In Matthew 5:45, Jesus said, "He … sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
4. Valleys are temporary. A valley is something we go through – a situation that has a season (see Ps. 23:4). 1 Peter 1:6 says, “Now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”
Life is tough, but it's only for a while. There is joy ahead if we know the Lord Jesus Christ. There are no dark days in Heaven.
5. Valleys are purposeful. God has a reason for taking us through them. 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, "These [trials] have come so that your faith … may be proved genuine.”
Pain can be productive. God wants to build our faith in the valleys. We love the mountaintops, but we build faith in the valleys. When we come face to face with a dark valley, we get on our knees.
Prayer guidance: Ask God to walk with you and teach you through the inevitable valleys of life.
To think about: Recall dark valleys of the past. Were they temporary? Were they purposeful?
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)
How do we handle the dark valleys of life? These facts about valleys can help.
1. Valleys are inevitable. They are a normal part of life. Don't be surprised by them. Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble." (John 16:33)
2. Valleys are unpredictable. They’re sudden and unexpected. Jeremiah 4:20 says, "In an instant my tents are destroyed, my shelter in a moment."
3. Valleys are impartial. No one is insulated from pain and sorrow. No one gets to skate through life free of problems. Problems don’t mean you're a bad person. They mean you’re a person. In Matthew 5:45, Jesus said, "He … sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
4. Valleys are temporary. A valley is something we go through – a situation that has a season (see Ps. 23:4). 1 Peter 1:6 says, “Now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”
Life is tough, but it's only for a while. There is joy ahead if we know the Lord Jesus Christ. There are no dark days in Heaven.
5. Valleys are purposeful. God has a reason for taking us through them. 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, "These [trials] have come so that your faith … may be proved genuine.”
Pain can be productive. God wants to build our faith in the valleys. We love the mountaintops, but we build faith in the valleys. When we come face to face with a dark valley, we get on our knees.
Prayer guidance: Ask God to walk with you and teach you through the inevitable valleys of life.
To think about: Recall dark valleys of the past. Were they temporary? Were they purposeful?
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