You need a Bible, writing utensil, and something to write on. BIBLE STUDY BASICS #1#1#1#1

And you thought your job was bad…

3 Simple Steps Context Questions Ask & Answer Apply The intended application Make it personal

John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Either the Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible. The Bible was not written to satisfy your curiosity, but to make you conform to Christ’s image. Not to make you a smarter sinner, but to make you like the Savior. Not to fill your head with a collection of Biblical facts, but to transform your life.

3 Simple Steps Context Questions Ask & Answer Apply The intended application Make it personal

We’ll start with asking Questions One of our problems is that we don’t ask enough questions. And without asking questions, we don’t come up with the right answers (though we think we have the answers). Know that if you can answer all your questions, you haven’t asked enough. Do not use study notes and such until you’ve studied and prayed hard.

Some Examples of why asking questions is so important: Genesis 1:1 What is the first thing we learn in the Bible (besides the fact that God is)? Matthew 22:15-22 (Pay taxes to Caesar?) If the man had not been a skeptic, what would his next question have been? QUESTION: In the beginning of what? Answer: In the beginning of TIME. Therefore God is eternal. What then is God’s? I suppose Jesus might have said – look in a mirror. Whose image do you see? You are made in God’s image. Give to God what is God’s.

A professor had his class ask questions about John 3:16 – how many questions do you think they came up with? Over 800 Some Examples from John 3:16

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Let’s Ask Questions Take a piece of paper – alone or in groups of 2 or 3. Go. The Key thought here is that the wonderful things in God’s Word are always there. We just have to have our eyes opened to see them. God must open our eyes or we are lost – Story – Deity of Christ

It has been said that the Bible is so deep that theologians cannot touch the bottom, yet so shallow that babes cannot drown. Sow a thought, and you reap an act; Sow an act, and you reap a habit; Sow a habit, and you reap a character; Sow a character, and you reap a destiny (anonymous) The Bible was not written to satisfy your curiosity, but to make you conform to Christ’s image. Not to make you a smarter sinner, but to make you like the Savior. Not to fill your head with a collection of Biblical facts, but to transform your life.

3 Simple Steps Context Questions Ask & Answer Apply The intended application Make it personal

1 John 1:9 What does this tell us about how to be saved? Revelation 3:20 What does this tell us?

Take a fish out of water and it doesn't function very well. The same holds for Scripture when taken out of context. Context is that “stuff” (“stuff” is a technical term used by youth pastors when they don’t know what other word to use) surrounding the information that determines its meaning. What is Context?

Olga slept peacefully, unaware of his presence as he silently crept into the room. As he reached the bed, he paused. Is this good or bad?

Scenario 1 Little Grant woke up from a scary dream. He got up and went to his mom’s room. Olga slept peacefully, unaware of his presence as he silently crept into the room. As he reached the bed, he paused. Then he said, “Mom. I had a scary dream and I think I wet my pants.”

Scenario 2 Steve was exhausted after working 14 straight hours on 2 nd shift. He just wanted to fall into bed. Olga slept peacefully, unaware of his presence as he silently crept into the room. As he reached the bed, he paused. He sure would be glad when he got moved to 1 st shift.

Scenario 3 Scarface just had one more person to kill, and there would be no witnesses. He put on his gloves and then took out his knife. This would be one easy killing. Olga slept peacefully, unaware of his presence as he silently crept into the room. As he reached the bed, he paused. This was just too easy.

Context is King! Many Biblical misunderstandings are easily figured out when we take context into consideration. Whenever we study God’s Word, we must understand the context first. Not only do we need to know who is talking and who they are talking (writing) to, but we also need to have at least a general understanding of their thought process or outline.

The first two questions of Context: Who is talking (writing, speaking)? Who are they talking to?

What is this?

“I looked at the trunk” What was I looking at?

1 John 1:9 What is the context? Revelation 3:20 You figure out on your own – what is the context? 2 Chronicles 7:14 Some think this is a message to America. We’re not a theocracy – and we definitely aren’t Israel.

“If a man’s Bible is coming apart, it is an indication that he himself is fairly well put together.” The ultimate goal of Bible study is not to do something to the Bible, but to allow the Bible to do something to you. “My rule for Christian living is this: anything that dims my vision of Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it.” (Dr. Wilbur Chapman)

3 Simple Steps Context Questions Ask & Answer Apply The intended application Make it personal

HAVE A PLAN Have a set time and a set place – make it sacred. - Friend – no physical food until he’s had spiritual food Study through a book - This automatically gives you context Maybe Read through the Bible in a year - and choose a part of it to really study - Possibly use the Discipleship Journal From the Navigators Have someone keep you accountable – someone who loves you enough to do it (parents; youth pastor; pastor; Sunday School teacher) WRITE STUFF DOWN – TAKE NOTES IN SOME WAY

ROMANS 12:2 Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. “Transformed” Who transforms us? Passive tense – an outside force transforms us God will change us (renew our minds) from the inside out as we fall in love with Him through His Word.

Our hunger for the Word of God will be in direct proportion to our obedience to the Word. Either the Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.

Why I Love the Word of God Like an infomercial guaranteeing financial success if you just buy the video... It’s like having an open book test It’s like the electricity that goes to the fridge... Because Jesus believed it was powerful (Luke 4) (Jesus quoted it often) Luke 4 - while being tempted by the Devil IT IS WRITTEN!!!

Because God created the world by His Word (Gen 1; Ps 33:6) Because it changes lives (2 Timothy 2:24-26) Only God and prayer are talked of in any sort of similar terms. God has used a talking donkey - but normally, He uses His word Romans 12:1-2 - God must change us - we do NOT change Him Because Salvation is impossible without it. (Rom 10:17) Because it is foundational to the Church and the Christian life (Acts 2:42) Notice that music is not foundational

Because it is the only authority thing we have (2 Timothy 3:16) All else is subjective Because it keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:9-11) If you want to overcome sin - be in God’s Word Because one of the great qualifications for being approved by God is that we rightly use His Word (2 Tim 2:15)

God has exalted his name and word above all things - Ps 138:2

Our hunger for the Word of God will be in direct proportion to our obedience to the Word. Either the Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.

I hope these slides help you in some way (feel free to delete this slide). Feel free to contact me for any reason. I have some handouts and extra info for some of the slides that I did not include. There are also a few notes at the bottom of some slides, but not as much as I should have. If you have some great ideas or help or criticisms, or just want to talk, give me a call or shoot me an . (515)