1. Remember Sunday School 8:30-9:15 Starting Next Week!

2. Why did they write? Background and context We are the second recipients of Scripture. The biblical authors were writing to address readers in their own time. To be fair to the biblical authors – both the human author and the Holy Spirit - we must take time to understand the author’s original purpose and meaning. A passage may not mean to us what it did not mean to the original author.

3. Inductive Bible Study 1. Observation – What does the text say? 2. Interpretation – What did the text mean to the original readers? 3. Application – What does it mean for us? Adapted from Roberta Hestenes Using the Bible in Groups (Philadelphia: Westminster, 1983), 57-60.

4. Observation What does the text say about the author and purpose of the passage? What is happening in the passage? (who, what, where, when, how) Are there any repeated words or phrases?

5. Interpretation Are there any unfamiliar words? Are there any theologically dense words? Are there any customs that need to be explained? How does this passage relate to the rest of the book? To the rest Scripture? In a narrative passage, why did the people do what they did? What does it mean? What is the author’s main point?

6. Application How does the main point of the passage apply to us today? How are we the same as the original readers? How are we different? How does this principle apply in our own lives? What area of our lives is touched by this passage (thought, action, beliefs)?

7. What’s in a word? Word Studies Why do a word study?

8. What’s in a word? Word Studies 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions- is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1John 4:2,3 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

9. Different Translations ESV 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions- is not from the Father but is from the world. KJV 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. NIV 1 John 2:16 For everything in the world-- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-- comes not from the Father but from the world. NLT 1 John 2:16 For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world.

10. How to….. Match the English word with the Greek or Hebrew word Look up the Greek or Hebrew work in a variety of contexts Find the range of uses for that word If possible, find the way the word is being used in the passage of interest

11. Word Study – Your Task Group these verses according to similar uses of the word “flesh” Compare 1John 2:16 & 1John 4:2 to the range of meanings

12. What’s in a word? Word Studies 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions- is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1John 4:2,3 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

13. Psalm 8:3,4 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

14. Psalm 2:4 ESV Psalm 2:4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. KJV Psalm 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. NIV Psalm 2:4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. NLT Psalm 2:4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.

15. Useful Websites Parallel Bible for Original Language Word Studies http://www.tyndale.cam.ac.uk/ Bible Dictionaries and Bible Encyclopedias http://www.biblestudytools.com/ http://new.biblegateway.com/

16. Useful Websites Bible Introductions http://www.americanbible.org/bible-resources Every Thought Captive (blog) http://connect.gordonconwell.edu/ Academic Resources http://www.viceregency.com/DesktopTwo.html

17. Remember Sunday School 8:30-9:15 Starting Next Week!