072413: Welcome to the TAB #4 -- Bible Study

Bible Study

I.                   Introduction

a.       We have talked about 2 ways to grow closer to God, Prayer and Worship, today I want to talk about a 3^rd: Bible Reading/Study

II.                Body:

a.       Why read the bible?

                                                              i.      Psalm 119:130 – “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”

                                                                                i.      It shows us why we are here, what we are to do, and why we should be doing things the way it tells us to, so that we can avoid some very bad things happening to us now and in eternity

                                                            ii.      1^st Peter 2:2 – “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,”

                                                                                i.      When we read the Bible it helps us to grow spiritually, because we are spending time with God and knowing what he is like and thus what we should be like.

                                                          iii.      Romans 15:4 – “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.”

                                                                                i.      It teaches us, gives us endurance and encouragement, and helps us have hope.

                                                          iv.      Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” 

                                                                                i.      It is a book of God’s words to us!

                                                                              ii.      It can speak to us today

                                                                            iii.      It can help convict us of our sins so we can grow more godly

                                                            v.      Matthew 4:3-5 – “The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”  Jesus answered, “It is written: man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”

                                                                                i.      It is as essential to our spiritual life as food is to our physical life

                                                                              ii.      It can help us overcome temptation

b.      How to get something from your reading

                                                                                i.      Do it daily, consistently

                                                                              ii.      Get rid of distractions

                                                                            iii.      Do it for the relationship with God to grown, not out of obligation

                                                                            iv.      Use SOAP

What does SOAP stand for?

S – Scripture; O – Observation; A – Application; P – Prayer

How does SOAP work?

Scripture – First you write down the scripture that you are reading

EXAMPLE: S – John 3:1-21

Observation – Second you write down an observations that you make while reading it.  The who, what, when, where, and why.  Also write down any questions you have.  And if you have any background information write that down as well.

EXAMPLE: O – Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council

                            Nic came to meet Jesus at night

    (Why did he come at night?  Why did he meet with Jesus at all?)

     Nic and ruling council think Jesus is a teacher sent from God

(Why?) No one but one sent by God could perform the miracles

 that Jesus is performing

                            Jesus – no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again

                            Nic doesn’t understand this and takes it in a literal way of being born

                            Jesus rephrases and makes it a spiritual birth not a fleshly birth

                            (What does water and the Spirit mean?  Is it talking about baptisms?)

                            Those born of the spirit are like the wind

Meaning: Can’t tell where they come from or where they are going

                            Nic still doesn’t understand what Jesus is talking about

                            Jesus chides him for not understanding since Nic is a spiritual teacher

                            Nic’s people still don’t understand or accept what Jesus is teaching

                            Jesus has spoken about earthly things and Nic doesn’t get it

                            Jesus – none have gone into heaven except the Son of Man – Jesus

                            (How is this possible was there no one in heaven yet?)

                            Jesus compares himself to a bronze snake from a story in Numbers

                            Jesus must be lifted up: crucified.  Then all who believe will be saved

                           God loved the world so much he sent Jesus

                            Whoever believes in Jesus will not perish but have eternal life

                            Jesus didn’t come to condemn but to save the world through himself

                            If someone doesn’t believe in him they are condemned

                            He uses Jewish ruling council term of Verdict to show finality and truth

   Verdict: Light came, men love darkness, those who do hate light, and

       won’t come to the light for fear of being exposed, if you live by truth

      you come into light, those who do, see what God has done.

(Is there more to this conversation that we don’t hear or does it end here?)

This happened toward the beginning of Jesus ministry, right after he cleared the temple for the first time, he was probably in or near Jerusalem

We find out later that Nic became a believer and helped bury Jesus, even though he didn’t want the others on the council to know he believed.

Application – Write down what this scripture means for you and your life.  Think: what does this mean to me?  What is this trying to teach me? 

EXAMPLE: A – I need to believe in Jesus in order to be saved

                            I am supposed to be in the light (letting God expose my wrongs) so that

        I can be free and know the truth

    I need to be reborn spiritually so that I am of the Spirit rather than flesh

Prayer – Write down a prayer to God asking him to help you in the application or applications that you have found in the passage.

EXAMPLE: P – Dear God help me to come to you and allow you to see and expose those areas of my life that I try to hide in darkness.  Forgive me for those things and help me to live a life following You and Your Spirit not my own flesh.  Amen.

The Greatest Sci-Fi Novel #5: Resolution -- 032812

Tonight we continued our study of the Bible by looking at the resolution.  The resolution, also known as the Denouement is the point in which the conflict is revealed to be resolved and there is an unravelling of the knots of the plot.  In fact denouement is the combonation of two words which mean to untie a knot. 

In the beginning we had a conflict arise between God and humans, so they couldn't have a close relationship anymore, sin had tied us up with knots so that we couldn't escape, because of this we are destined to die and go to hell.  But God had a plan to untie those knots of sin, and it involved Him coming to earth and dying for us, talking our sin upon Himself, this was the climax of the book we talked about last week.  Then Jesus was buried, everyone on earth, and even Satan, thought the plan had failed, but God's plan had actually worked.  Early on that following Sunday morning Jesus rose from the grave, alive!  The resurrection of Jesu was the resolution to the conflict.  It proved that Jesus had defeated sin and death, he had untied the knot of sin that was keeping God and humanity apart.  We could have a close relationship with him again, and we oculd go to eternity with him instead of hell when we die.  Denouement means untying a knot.  Your life is in a knot if you haven't made Jesus your God.  You are tied up in your sins and have no way to escape.  But Jesus' death and resurrection has provided a way to have those sins untied and give us freedom, allw e have to do is repent and make him our God.  Are you ready for him to untie your knots?  Just ask.

I give tonight: A++
Favorite moment: Pastor Alex being all tied up during the service

The Greatest Sci-Fi Book #1 -- Exposition: 022212

Tonight we began a long (6 weeks) series about the Bible, it is entitled: The greatest sci-fi novel.  But not because the Bible is a sci-fi book, instead we are using The Hobbit as our great sci-fi novel and using the Bible as a book of truth (thought I would clarify that before we go to far).  Every good book as different parts (exposition, foreshadowing, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, and an epilogue that leads to a sequel).  The Bible has all these parts, and though not a sci-fi book, it is a book of truth tha can change your life. 

Exposition introduces the protagonists (main characters) and the antagonists (those opposed to the main characters).  It introduces the conflict and gives the background and the setting for the rest of the book.  Genesis 1-3 is the expositional part of the Bible.  In it we learn who the protagonists are (God and man), who the antagonists are (satan and sin), what the conflict is (Satan tempts Adam and Eve to sin, causing a wedge to divide God and them from a close relationship, death enters the world), the background of the main characters (God has always been and is powerful enought to create everything, he intended everything to be good, man was created in his image, we are made to have relationship with each other and with God, we were intended to be perfect and live forever), and it gives us the setting for the rest of the book (the universe and specifically the earth that God created.  It is where the conflict started and where it will end).

We were created fora  relationship with people and with God.  You might feel alone and as though you are seperated from God and other people.  You don't have to be alone, God wants to restore your relationship with him and hwen you havea  good relationship with him you will be able to restore healthy relationships with people.  How do you get that relationship back?  That is what the next 5 weeks of the study are all about, but let me give you the end of the story.  Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross to restore relationship between you and God.  He was prefect and because of that was able to take your sins upon himself, taking your punishment.  All you have to do is believe and aks for forgiveness, making him your God.  When you do so, and really mean it, your relationship will start to be restored (then it is just a matter of spending time with him and obeying him in order to continue building that relationship).  You won't be seperated from him anymore.

I give tonight: A+
Favorite Moment: Having Jana back for the night.

Cranium #3 -- The Bible: 071311

Tonight we continued our study of what we beleive by looking at the Bible and what it does for us. Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." it can help us avoid dangers that we would have otherwise encountered in this life. It can give us driection when we are lost (meaning wisdom to know what to do and when to do it). It can give us directino when we are lost (meaning forgiveness, by showing us how to obtain forgiveness through Jesus). God's word is the foundation of how we know God, he reveals things about himself that we would never have understood about him otherwise. It also reveals things about us and our nature and our reason for being her that we wouldn't know otherwise. God's word shows us what is right and wrong according to God. God's word draws people to God. God's word gives hope and life.

I give tonight: A-

Favorite Moment: Gordie the Gorilla Vide

Committed To The Bible -- Wednesday, February 3rd

Tonight we continued our series about being Committed. Today's commitment was to The Bible. It is a very important book, it tells us where we came from, why we are here, why there is evil in the world, how we can go to heaven, how the world will end, and how to live a good life. It is God's very words to us! What do I mean by being committed to the Bible? It means to commit to read it or listen to it, commit to study it, commit to follow what it teaches, and commit to make it a daily part of our lives. Many of you want a better spiritual life, a closer walk with God, and I guarentee that if you commit to the Bible you will grow spiritually. So my challenge was for you to get a bible if you don't have one. Read the bible if you don't. Study of the bible if you do read it. And then bring a rock next week to represent that commitment.

I give tonight: B-
Favorite Moment: The Purple Driven Life