Forgiving Grace Ministries

What I thought I would do is re-post an older article I wrote on the “5 Steps of Bible Study” as with many things we learn it is always a good idea to go back and refresh ourselves with the structure, the how to’s, and the reasons for why and the how’s of what we do. Posted in the “Special Studies” area you will find these steps laid out in an easy to follow chart.

Well, it has been a long time since my last post and I thought that while I am taking a break from my sermon preparation for this Sunday’s message, I would share with you a nice tool that I use for my personal studies, for Lesson planning and for my sermon prep.

We have all heard about 12 step programs for this and for that, and as long as Christ is the First Step, then I am OK with most plans of that sort. However, these 5 steps are not part of a recovery plan, or are they.

This is a tool to help you stay focused on God’s Word, and to help you make sure that you are always letting scripture speak for its self and that you are not relying on someone else to give you the meaning of the text. Likewise, this is a great tool to check what you are being taught. Maybe there is just a point of contention; or someone is trying to persuade you to his or her belief and you are just not sure. Well, this tool with elbow grease applied can help.
As you go through each step, it is very important that you do not skip ahead, remember that when one mines for the purest ore or rarest diamonds, there is protocol, procedure, and it requires intentional hard work!

As you work each step in order, you will find yourself getting deeper into the text, in the genre, in the world and language of the Biblical writers. All the while you are getting such an awesome, inspiring, up close and personal view, that not only can, but will change your studies, understanding of the Word and with some time even your life.

Step 1, Survey the Background, this is where you find out, who is writing, where they wrote, to whom are they writing and the like. Here the only intention is to find out information about the players. You might find that Matthew wrote his Gospel before 70 AD and it was likely written in Antioch or Palestine, and that it s genre is a gospel, and that he wrote for primarily a Jewish audience. These are the types of thing your looking for in this step.

Step 2, Examine the Context, this is where you dig in a little more and begin to find out the setting of the passage you are looking at, from the previous step, you may have been looking in Matthew chapter 5, at the sermon on the mount, here you find out Jesus is teaching, He is message is oriented in instructing about life as a disciple, life as a believer in the World, and our personal relationships and how we are to live.

Step 3, Analyze the Grammar, simply put this is looking at the relationship between the words of the text. You are looking for the important key words/instructions, verbs, nouns, phrases, clauses etc.

Step 4, Define the Words, here you get back to the original language whether Greek or Hebrew and find the definitions. Here you will be so surprised how many teachers today will use today’s definition, when more times than not, this just does not fly with the “AIM” Author’s Intended Meaning.

And lastly;

Step 5, Consult the Commentaries, this is a way to make sure that you or the teaching you are checking on is not out in left field, peddling a message outside the intended message of scripture.

You see, many teachers out there today will try to sell you the easy-believism, the idea that we are just fine the way we are and that all we need to do is, “just believe” or that God only wants to bless you and increase your fortune, if you just sow a little seed of faith. BEFORE YOU BUY IT, SELL IT OR BELIEVE IT, DIG IT OUT FOR YOURSELF AND SEE IF YOU ARE HEARING THE TRUTH!

My task is not to beat you over the head, my task is to educate you and speak, teach, preach the truth, and that is it, (disclaimer… this is very over stated, my task is much greater but for my purpose here, and to keep this post manageable, this is a sufficient representation of my task.)

Well, time has come and I must return to my sermon, I pray that you will find this tool most useful in your day-to-day studies of the scriptures, and that it will likewise prove most useful in your ability to ward of the flaming arrows of the false teachers, who are already among us.

So, I guess this may just be a recovery program for those who have strayed from the path of diligent study of the scriptures, well may the Lord bless your studies and I will try to share more tools as time allows.

In His Service, For His Glory!

Steven

That was the title to the Christmas day sermon. While many churches in our society found it “cool or hip” to close this past Sunday. I found it an offense and an opportunity. An offense because they would not close their door for Easter Sunday, nor any other Sunday, but on the day that we as Christians set aside to have a special celebration marking the birth of Jesus our Messiah they found it okay to say, “stay home celebrate your way” becuase we wont be here either.

An opportunity because our doors were open, we came together, we left the secularism of the holiday and came together to celebrate the true reason for the season. We sang hymns which praised and blessed our Lord’s name. We prayed for those less fortunate, those who were sick, and hurting.

Finally, I walked up to the pulpit and proceed to give way to the Holy Spirit’s message for us this Christmas. I had looked forward to this particular Christmas for several years, my first Sunday, Christmas since I became a minister. One I will never forget, as one member of the congregation put it “I was so enthralled in the message I forgot…” It was and is a powerful message for us not only at Christmas but everyday. Every time the Lord grants us the newness of the day, we should praise Him. And for those who are still alienated form Him, each new day is a new opportunity for you to accept His pleading. “Come all you who are burdened.”

Go back to the FGM home page, click “MP3 Sermons” then scroll down and find “So Wise…They Missed Their Savior!” and find out for yourselves the power of God.

Well, it is Sunday, and Friday night I did it, I graduated from Central Christian College of the Bible. There were times in the past five years where I thought I would not make it. Times when I felt like giving up and quitting. Alas, I hung in there, I did not give in or let up. And I can give a lot of thanks to my wonderful wife, who stepped up beside me, when I felt the load to heavy and the climb to high. She was there with an encouraging word, and she always had a warm smile and grand advice. Thanks my love, for everything.

Graduation followed finals week, so there was plenty of stress to go around, there I was with three finals, two of them the day before graduation. This past week has been one for the books. I am as tired as I have ever been. It is almost like being in a foggy state. In some ways this week flew in other it seem like an eternity. However, Friday came, I began the day by going to the store and getting my fishing license, the wife got hers too, I guess you can figure out what my plans are for this week.  We had to be at school at 1 PM for rehearsal, which lasted until 2:30, then my wife, mother and kids came back and picked me up and we ran and got some food, then rushed back to campus in order to get to the reception, which lasted until 5 PM, from there we went to Pelfrey Hall made our way to the gym and I got the family seated, just in time to gather with the rest of the graduating class of 2011. From there we proceeded into the gym and listened to probably the best graduation message I have ever heard. Notice, I did not say, ever been a part of, because I have heard many such messages in my life and by far Professor William Walton, had not only the best message but the most relevant and encouraging, yet honest message I believe any graduation class has every had the pleasure to hear. Well, my time came I walked across the stage and it was at that moment I felt the weight lift and I realized that life was about to change. As I sit here today, I am so amazed at the love and grace God has to offer the human race. I still do not understand why so many people refuse to believe, when people all around them have amazing testimonies of this great love of God. Besides all that, I am beginning, a new chapter in my life and walk with the Lord Jesus. Today, I sit here in the realization that I am a peer to some of the greatest men; I have ever had the privilege to know. Men that I have been so humbled to study under, men of such great Christian character, that I often felt unworthy to sit under.

Today, I begin… Tomorrow, I fish. Sorry, I could not help that, I have not been fishing in almost four years and it is something I love so much, but an activity I gave up for these years so I could dedicate myself to study. I have not and will not ever give up my studies, as I walked across the stage, Dr. Fincher read my plans, and I am looking forward to continuing to minister in this community with the great people of our congregation, and I am looking forward to reading some books that are not assigned for a change. I am ready, I am willing, and…I have got to run. May the Lord God bless you and keep you until next time.

Steve