Child of Abraham Child of God: August 2014

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Group Bible Studies: Why We Need Them And How To Best Conduct Them

Individual use is permitted.

The Milk of the Word is a Bible Study that was produced because of the need for Christians to understand the difference between cheap grace and true repentance.

Repentance is something that requires knowledge and many people suffer because of a lack of knowledge. Among Christians in many parts of the world, particularly those who are influenced by the Laodicean gospel that excludes the preaching of repentance from dead works, there is a lack of knowledge about what God requires of those who claim faith in Him. Instead of coming to knowledge of the truth, there is preference to believe the lie that we are saved by grace alone, rather than the truth that we are saved by grace through faith. This is because grace through faith requires works to be evident. These works are not efforts to obtain salvation but evidence of repentance from dead works; the fruit of salvation.

The concept of salvation by grace alone is promoted heavily by certain individuals who receive a hearing because there is no need to change. All people are told to do is simply confess with their mouths that Jesus is Savior and that is sufficient. Ironically, those who teach that we have to confess Jesus is Lord is anathema to these people.

The concept that we are “saved by faith alone” is biblical. However, merely stating with our mouth “Jesus is Lord” and not bringing forth fruit is the same kind of hypocrisy that comes with the “saved by grace alone” teaching. The Apostle James quite clearly stated this truth, much to Martin Luther’s chagrin, that we demonstrate our faith by our deeds. The caliber of faith that we possess is evident by the lives we live, not by acknowledging confessions of faith in creeds or anything else.

The Bible teaches that before we can begin to grow as a Christian we need to repent from dead works and demonstrate faith in God. Repentance means to change our mind, our attitudes, our behavior and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit of God as a result of a new heart.

Interestingly, the prophet Jeremiah said that God would put a new heart in us and we would know His Law. The Apostle Paul says that the just requirement of the Law is now fulfilled in us if we walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Only those who live in the Spirit submit to the Law of God, whereas those who love the flesh reject the Law of God. Oddly enough, we find many people claiming to be Christians and saying that the Law (as in the Ten Commandments of God) is no longer valid. Consequently, they speak of being saved by grace alone and live lives that spurn the blood of Jesus because, always returning to their sin, they refuse to be cleansed of their sin and walk in the light of true life.

The Apostle Peter says that such people are dogs that turn to their own vomit, and pigs that have been washed only to wallow in the mire again. The book of Jude states these persons“ are clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.”

Conducting a group Bible Study is really a simple matter. All one has to do is open a Bible and begin expounding the scriptures within. But is this the best way to run a Bible Study?

Bible studies can be run in the form of a lecture where a person stands in front of a class or audience and talks about what the Bible means. The participants can take notes and then go home and study them at their leisure. If everybody who attended a Bible Study that was a lecture took notes and then found the time to meditate and reflect upon their notes at home, we would be probably living in the ideal world. The reality is people might take notes but just as likely will not find the time nor the motivation to meditate upon those notes when they get home. Usually there will be various distractions and other people demanding their time.

Bible studies of this nature where people come together, sit in an auditorium or even in somebody’s lounge room and listen to somebody impart his or her understanding of what the Bible means is not as effective as having a small group of between three and six people sharing an experience as participants in a Bible Study.

It is often said that we recall ten per cent of what we hear, thirty per cent of what see and sixty percent of what we do. Acquiring skills may involve listening and watching, but action is how they are really acquired. Likewise, we learn more from active participation in a discussion than from observation or listening. This is because when we are actively participating in something, more of our faculties are involved in the learning process. Consequently, we automatically concentrate more in order to make sure that we are being understood and that we are understanding what other people are communicating to us.

When we are actively involved in a group activity and not on the sidelines as a passive observer, we focus more on our participation and benefit more. This is because we are engaged emotionally, intellectually and even physically, rather than as an observer of proceedings or a spectator at someone else’s performance or a bystander with casual curiosity.

When running a Bible Study, the aim should be for everybody to gain the utmost benefit possible for each participant and allow the Word of God to become something that can be meditated upon at the time discussion is taking place, and not something to be done at a later date. Life does not work this way. Life is lived in the now. What we experience is in the now. The enemy of mankind is not waiting for a future date to foul, with the filthy waters of the world, our cisterns which are created for the waters of life. They are fouled up now, and the Devil and his agents are doing their best to get everyone of us to drink them at our peril. We are under constant spiritual attack. When we are discussing Scripture and what it means to us, we need to be reflective during the conversation, not put it off until a later date. A soldier who goes into battle without his armor is at the mercy of the enemy. Devotional application of the Scriptures during a group Bible Study is equivalent to hammering out the iron for the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, and the shield of faith—as well as sharpening the sword of the Spirit. This is best done in small groups consisting of three to six people, where everybody is encouraged to express their views and thoughtfully ponder each other’s experiences in respect to the Word of Life.

Some people might be alarmed that a novice is encouraged to express his or her views. However, unless each person in the group is encouraged to share what he or she believes or has come to know about a particular topic, or an experience he or she has had relating to a matter at hand, then these individuals will not be as receptive to learning as what they will be after having shared.

It is a truism that students at school, who take the time to discuss the lessons with their teachers and peers, learn and understand more than those who do not. These are usually the ones who seem to fly through school examinations like swallows in a breeze.

In the following chapters we will look at some simple strategies for making the most of a Bible Study and getting the most from the experience. To do this we have to learn to be servants of our fellows, which is what leadership in the Kingdom of God is about.

Happy Riches

August, 2014.

What is required to run a Bible Study?

What is required

to run a Bible Study?

There are two requirements for a Bible Study. One is a Bible and the other is participants. Of course it is important for each participant to have a Bible. And while it is an advantage for every participant to have the same version of the Bible, this is not necessary. In fact, it is often helpful when other versions are consulted because this enables participants to gain different insights into what the scripture might imply, unless indoctrination is the desired aim of the so-called Bible Study; rather than discovering the truths of God and the goodness of His heart towards us.

When it comes to understanding the Bible, we need to realize that it possesses a depth not found in books written from a mere human understanding. The Bible incorporates the mind of God and because of this it is many faceted and possesses a depth of perspective not found in other books. Moreover, unless we possess the Spirit of God ourselves, gaining insights into the omniscient mind of God is a hard yard. Nevertheless, this is possible and God appears to have chosen the interaction of humans sharing around His Word in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit as the means by which this is best attained.

When we engage in a group Bible Study, we are effectively bringing our hearts to the table of fellowship and the Word of God is the food upon what we are feasting. This food we share with each other by divulging how we believe each portion of the Word of God benefits us individually. As we share our own individual understanding of the benefits of what the Word of God means to us, we all benefit and come to understand each other more. This is something that does not happen in Bible Study lectures.

There is a place for anointed Bible teaching, but it is not what is desired for small group fellowship centered around the Word of God.

What is required is people who have a hunger for the truth and a willingness to discuss the truth as it is applied to their lives.

While it is true that we only need a Bible and willing hungry hearts to conduct a Bible Study, there are some requirements that we as leaders should be willing to comply with, if we are to run a successful group Bible Study where participants enjoy striking the anvil of truth to fortify Godly convictions, and winnowing the grain from the chaff to uncover life-giving seed and eternal truth.

We need to have an orderly run meeting and as leaders we need to learn how to handle objections, disagreements and distortions of truth in a way that brings the best out of every one. Our aim is for participants to thoroughly grasp the meaning of the Scriptures so that they begin to bear fruit within the lives of participants and enlarge our own borders of understanding. Ideally, after having completed a group Bible Study on the topic at hand, every participant, himself or herself, should have the confidence to organize a successful group Bible Study. Following the recommendations of this book and utilizing the keys outlined herein in most cases should produce participants who go on to bear fruit.

Can a Novice run

a group Bible Study?

When we talk of a novice, we are usually thinking about somebody who has not had any training. However, if there are three people who come together and they are all novices and decide to look into the Word of God, surely this has to be better than gathering around a book of pornography. But if they had a Bible Study such as The Milk of the Word, which is designed for individuals to engage in an examination of themselves and share their understanding regarding what it means to sin, and how it has affected them, then novice Christians should be quite competent.

Sin is something that human beings experience from a young age. Overcoming sin is what becoming a Christian is really about. Understanding sin and its consequences is really the beginning of becoming a Christian. In fact the book of Hebrews (6:1-2) tells us that repentance from dead works and having faith in God form the rudiments of becoming a Christian and embarking upon a true spiritual adventure into eternity as a child of God. In this respect, we are not novices. We could say we are expert sinners. However, while we may be experts when it comes to sin, when it comes to overcoming sin and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, this may be another matter. Only like children, we learn as we go. Once we know what sin is and how it has affected us, if we are novices learning about the Milk of the Word, then there is no reason why a novice cannot run a Bible Study that explores human nature from a biblical perspective—in which case, get excited!

Where, When & How of Meetings

Where should

meetings be held?

To discuss where a group Bible Study should meet might seem somewhat superfluous, but sometimes good ideas can be triggered in our minds in the most unexpected places.

Essentially, a meeting to study the Bible can be held anywhere. There are no requirements or restrictions as to where a Bible Study between three to six people can be held. People have held Bible studies in hotel bars, parks, restaurants, and even with prostitutes in houses of ill-repute. Wherever a Bible Study is held, it is best that a level of quiet can be achieved and there are no distractions, so each one can focus on what is being talked about.

Naturally, the more congenial a setting is for people to feel comfortable the better. Not to have to worry about distractions or give any room for the enemy to get in the way of equipping the saints with body armor is the aim of the game—only this is not a game, this is serious training in being victorious over the Devil.

Once I met a married couple who were Christians. They had moved from another city and were looking for a church to attend that would suit their needs.. The woman expressed a desire to attend a ladies meeting. I introduced the young Christian mother to a mid-week ladies fellowship that was held during the day. This was at a church close to her. Unfortunately, the women there did not like her bringing her two children and the atmosphere did not bring God glory. Instead of the older ladies thinking about helping her, they resented her children being present and throwing their weekly meeting into chaos.

Bible studies are always difficult for young mothers with children. Children cannot participate in a Bible Study, therefore it is best if a means can be provided for some form of child care. Having children in a meeting where people are trying to concentrate on what is being said so they can understand each other does not work when children are around. While the mother of a child might be slightly annoyed at times, often those without children are inconveniently distracted to such an extent that it is unloving to obligate them to be more considerate. Consideration is a two-way street and if a mother with young children wants to participate in a group Bible Study, she really needs to be considerate of others, and arrange for something more suitable for her needs.

When it comes to having even a small group Bible Study of between three to six people with any mothers with young children, consideration needs to be given to where the event is to be held. This is because accommodation for the children needs to be taken into account. However, if there are six participants and a couple of them are mothers with young children, while it might be fine for those without children to have the meeting in MacDonald’s or a local coffee house, it would pay for the meeting to be split into two groups of three, so that the two mothers could meet at a location where there are facilities for the children.

Should Meetings

Be Weekly

or Fortnightly?

Optimally, Bible studies should be no more than one week apart. It is probably better if people can meet twice a week, if possible. When people meet twice a week to have fellowship around the Word of God, this is usually best. There is nothing wrong in having daily devotions either, but in a practical sense, we have to consider the circumstances and what will benefit participants the most. Fortnightly Bible studies are a little too far apart; whereas group Bible Study that is held on a weekly basis tends to pull a sense of commitment from the participants, which is an aid to growth. Meetings that are held twice a week or more demonstrate a hunger among the participants and there is nothing wrong about being hungry for the Word of God. Blessed indeed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

One of the benefits about running a Bible Study in a small group is that it is easier to accommodate special requests to adjust meetings because of circumstances that arise every now and then. Although, when people are interested in participating in a regular meeting, they will make the effort to be in attendance. This is especially when a leader runs a Bible Study along the lines advocated in this book, because each participant will enjoy fellowship with one another in the Holy Spirit, feasting on God’s Word.

How Long Should

A Bible Study BE?

From my experience, the length of a Bible Study for optimal benefit in a small group depends on the desire of the individuals present. However, I have found two hours is usually about the optimum time to get a feed of the Word sufficient to last for a week. Although, shorter periods can work well if they are broken up and held on the same day.

When it comes to group Bible Study where maximum benefit is obtained, participants need about two hours for a solid in-depth session of discussion and enlightenment. Of course, this is not always the case, and much depends on how many people are involved in discussion. and each one’s attention span. Bible Studies that are lectures are a different matter.

The type of Bible Study that we are talking about here is one where each individual contributes to the discussion. This may mean that some individuals will have more issues than others and the number of scriptures discussed may be more on some days than others. The servant-heart of Philippians, chapter two, should always be foremost on our minds as leaders.

The important element when it comes to having a successful Bible Study is not to rush through matters, but to exhaust what needs to be discussed so each individual can learn about the needs of other people and allow the Holy Spirit to use one another to minister where needed. We all come to the table with different histories and this often means different insights regarding life’s trials and temptations.

What is a study of the Bible?

What is a study

of the Bible?

Simply put, a study of the Bible is an investigation into the meaning of the scriptures. Consulting concordances, Greek and Hebrew lexicons, biblical dictionaries, commentaries, and encyclopedias is generally the means by which this happens. The aim of Bible Study is to arrive at the literal and historical truth regarding the text and its relevance today. The reason why Bible Study is approached using the above-mentioned tools is they help us to understand the historical context at the time the books were written, and to get a better insight into the meaning of the words that were being used in the original languages.

Concordances are consulted to see where a particular word is used in other parts of the Bible. Concordances also indicate where words have been translated into the same word in the English language but have been derived from different words in the original language. To illustrate this, I have often heard preachers over the years claim that the word “love” in English can represent different types of love in the Greek, such as love of God, man, sex and family, but there is only one word to express love in English and as a consequence of this not only is English deficient as a language but also unable to express the true meanings of the Greek.

Such statements are misleading because they give the impression that love has only one meaning. This is one of the problems that can occur if we only use a concordance alone as our only reference. For if we consult any English dictionary, we can expect to find more than one meaning to the word “love”. Except for children’s or pocket-size dictionaries, we can expect to find between ten to twenty different variances of meaning in the larger dictionaries. In fact, the Similes Dictionary, published in 1988[i], attributes seventy-eight different variations of meaning in English for the word “love”.

If we consider the Hebrew word "ahavta" which means "to love" and investigate into how it is translated in the New American Standard Bible, we learn that the word is not always translated without a change of nuance into English. The following is a record of every translation of the Hebrew word “ahavta” written in the New American Standard Bible:

beloved (1), dearly love (1), friend (5), friends (6), love (88), loved (53), lover (1), lovers (16), loves (42), loving (2), show your love (1), shows love (1).

As you can see there is some variation in the translation, even though “ahavta” is mostly translated “love”, “loves” and “loved”.

The word “love” is first used in the English Bible when God speaks to Abraham and informs him that his actions have demonstrated his love for our Heavenly Father. Later on, that is, some fifteen centuries later, the same word in the Hebrew “ahavta” was used in the book of Chronicles and is translated into English as friend.

Genesis 22:2: He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." (NASB[ii])

2 Chronicles 20:7: "Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? (NASB)

What is interesting about this change in meaning, which has taken place is that over five hundred years later we find the concepts of friend and love close to being synonymous in the Greek.

In the New Testament Book of James, the author makes a reference to these two scriptures when he states:

…and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God (James 2:23 NASB).

The word used in this New Testament text for “friend” is the Greek word “philos”, which also means “to love”. HELPS word study lexicon provides us with the following information regarding “philos” as used in this context by the author in the Book of James:

phílos – a friend; someone dearly loved (prized) in a personal, intimate way; a trusted confidant, held dear in a close bond of personal affection.

Note: The root (phil-) conveys experiential, personal affection– indicating (phílos) expresses experience-based love.

HELPS Word Studies[iii] then contrasts philos with another Greek word agape that is translated as love into English:

(agapáō) focuses on value-driven (an decision-based) love – which of course does not exclude affection!]

agapáō – properly, to prefer, to love; for the believer, preferring to "live through Christ" (1 Jn 4:9,10), i.e. embracing God's will (choosing His choices) and obeying them through His power. 25 (agapáō) preeminently refers to what God prefers as He "is love" (1 Jn 4:8,16).

With the believer, agapáō ("to love") means actively doing what the Lord prefers, with Him (by His power and direction). True agapáō ("loving") is always defined by God – a "discriminating affection which involves choice and selection". 1 Jn 4:8,16,17 for example convey how loving ("preferring," agapáō) is Christ living His life through the believer.

agápē – properly, love which centers in moral preference. So too in secular ancient Greek, (agápē) focuses on preference; likewise the verb form (agapáō) in antiquity meant "to prefer" In the NT, (agápē) typically refers to divine love (= what God prefers).

Essentially there are only two words used to express love in the New Testament, although many commentators refer to a third word eros (meaning sexual love or lust). The word eros is not found in the New Testament.

Some commentators make a reference to a fourth word storge, of which there is only one mention in the Bible; this is in the book of Romans. This term is only found in a compound word philostorgoi, which is invariably translated as devoted, even though the word means “to express love of family” (that is, the natural affection that occurs between parents and children). The scripture where this sole term storgoi is used also contains another compound word for brotherly love incorporating the term delphia that specifically means brother. The word philostorgoi is translated as devoted in New American Standard Bible, so we will compare the three versions to see how the two thoughts of brotherly love and familial love are dealt with: in Romans 12:10:

Be [philostorgoi] devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor (NASB).

In love of the brothers be [philostorgoi] tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another (WEB).

Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another (AMP[iv]).

The Amplified Bible encapsulates the thought of members of the body of Christ being family that ought to love one another with brotherly and sisterly affection. As is evident by the above, using other tools of trade as Bible Study leaders, we are able to dig deeper into the Scriptures and put a more complete picture together, as the need arises during a meeting.

By using a concordance we are able to locate words in the Bible. By using a concordance that has a lexicon we able to discover the inherent meaning of a word. By using a Bible lexicon, as well as a concordance, we can competently flesh out more facts about a word (e.g. as we have done with the word “love”) than we otherwise would, if we had been using a concordance alone.

We have seen that the word for love in the Hebrew is translated into friend in the English. With the help of a concordance, I have been able to determine that the Greek word eros (meaning “sexual love) is not found in the New Testament but the Greek word derived from storge (meaning familial love) is found once when it forms part of a compound word.

This information can now be used for expository, exegetical, hermeneutical, systematic and devotional purposes when seeking to uncover the mind of God and the literal and historical truth of the Bible as we share this with other people.

When a person is leading a Bible Study, it is advisable that some background information is gleaned before conducting a meeting to teach or investigate or consider the Bible in any way. However, while for many the aim of Bible Study is to arrive at the literal and historical truth regarding the text, unless there is a devotional application (that is, a personal application to our own lives), studying the Bible is equivalent to accumulating trivia. For most people there is no incentive for learning about the Bible for knowledge’s sake, unless we want to be a pompous puff ball. This is not to say that some people do not derive pleasure from memorizing otherwise useless information in the hope that it might one day help answer a question on biblical trivia. Then again, becoming a notable atheist like Bertrand Russell or Richard Dawkins and memorizing biblical facts for the sake of derision is just as futile as being a fool who claims there is no God and biblical principles are unworthy or unnecessary for application to oneself. The Bible is a book that contains information which has huge implications for our well-being, not only for eternity, but also right now.

The Bible is a written record of God’s dealing with humankind and the working out of His purpose for the creation of the Universe as far as it concerns us. Because God’s purpose concerns us, we really are under an obligation to ourselves to find out what that purpose is. Not to discover God’s purpose, when we have been given the opportunity to do so, is to reject our responsibility to ourselves and incur the consequences of failing to voluntarily be accountable for our decisions, behavior and course of action in life. In line with what has just been mentioned, a study of the Bible forms part of each one’s quest to understand and know God in person.

As noted earlier, Bible Study can be conducted as a lecture or as a group discussion.

The lecture format can be used where notes are distributed to attendees and a talk is given. The person giving the talk can make use of a whiteboard or overhead projectors to illustrate points. The lecture format is useful for doing a Bible Study that is more about the impartation of information for historical or eschatological purposes rather than devotional application of the mind of God to one’s own life.

Many Bible Studies are conducted as a group discussion. Usually there is a leader and points of doctrine are discussed. All Bible Studies are in fact hermeneutical in nature, but too many are a concentration on dogma.

Dogma consists of doctrinal propositions put forward as distinctive truths that define a worldview held by a particular group or denomination which reflects a sphere of thought and practice within Christendom. For instance, the immaculate conception of Mary is teaching that is adhered to by the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. Protestants refute this altogether. Out of the Protestant movement, many other movements and groups have arisen that broadly hold to views known as Calvinism, Arminianism, Fundamentalism, Evangelicalism, and Pentecostalism; although there are so many differences among adherents within those classifications of “isms”, a complete list of the all different points of disagreement is bewildering. Unfortunately, the indoctrination of the members into these different points of view is often what Bible Study is about rather than arriving at life-changing truth that enables us to be more like Christ.

When the Apostle Paul passed through Thessalonica, he came upon some Jews in Beroea who were more noble than others whom he had encountered (Acts 17:10-11). These individuals decided to diligently search the Scriptures for themselves to see whether what Paul was saying was true. Today, there are a number of different groups who refer to themselves as Bereans after these individuals at Beroea, because they claim to diligently search the Scriptures. Diligently searching the scriptures can mean different things to different people. Some people search the Scriptures to prove other people wrong. Many people search the Scriptures to find out when the world is going to end; that is, when Jesus is going to return. People who emphasize end-times, are not really seeking to know the truth, they are usually trying to justify a position, although, some may argue differently.

Searching the Scriptures to know the truth is different from searching the Scriptures to find out when the world is going to come to an end. People heading up organizations that specialize in prophecy mostly fail in their predictions and use fear tactics to keep members focused on being loyal. The use of fear is not what searching for the truth is all about. The very Bible itself informs us that truth sets us free. People who are free are not bound by fear. Therefore, we can say that people who are diligently searching the Scriptures to learn the truth about God and His purpose are doing so to be set free from ignorance. This is what Bible Study should be aimed at doing.

Bible Study is the searching of the Scriptures to find out how we can be set free from issues that plague our lives and leave us feeling purposeless, hopeless, and depressed. The reason for Bible Study should be to find out our purpose for existence; why and how we can have hope, and how we can overcome feelings of depression in an oppressive and unfriendly world doomed to death and destruction. Bible Study should be of a devotional nature if it is going to be of real value to us. Bible Study involves the investigation of what the text means; the examination of ourselves in relation to what the text is saying; and the realization of how to apply the truths found within its pages to our own lives.

The one thing Bible Study should not produce is people who possess a theological mindset that has no understanding of the will of God for the individual, but is orientated towards academic theological debate.. For instance, one church deacon whom I was having a discussion with thought very little about testifying to the glory of God for what Jesus had done in a person’s life, but had a high regard for theological terminology. He frequently peppered his speech with theological jargon rather than use every day terms to express the same idea. However, when I had the opportunity to ask him what he believed God’s will was for his life, he said that he did not know—after thirty years a Christian!

What Does the Bible Really Teach?

What Does

the Bible Really Teach?

When it comes to understanding what the Bible really teaches, unavoidably this involves hermeneutics. Hermeneutics is the process of interpretation that is used to develop our belief system. Any erroneous matter used in the process means that we will miss the truth when forming our conclusion. This is just like shooting an arrow at a target in an archery competition and a miscalculation of the wind causes the arrow to drift a little causing it to miss the target. We can be assured that there has to be many errors in interpretation of the Scriptures, because there are so many different points of view on the various topics that are found in the Bible. Consult an encyclopedia or dictionary on theology and you will be astounded that one book, which is purportedly a love letter from God to humans, can be interpreted in so many different ways. Understanding what the Bible really teaches requires us to be diligent in finding out how we can interpret it correctly and apply its truths for our good.

A couple of days prior to writing this, when walking on a walkway that crossed over a road to a railway station, I saw a Jehovah Witness sitting on a chair next to a portable book stand advertising their literature. I decided to talk to a Jehovah Witness. At the time, he happened to be writing a letter. During our conversation, I asked him a number of times how we could get to know God personally. He kept telling me: “We get to know Jehovah through reading the Bible”. I explained to him that if he were to write me a letter and told me all about himself, this did not mean that I actually knew him. For all I know, he might not exist. Someone else could have written the letter. And even if he did write the letter, unless I knew him personally, I could not possibly get to truly know him by means of the letter alone. At best, all I could know would be facts about him based on how I interpreted what he wrote. Naturally, he agreed with what I was saying because what I was saying is true; besides, he was writing a letter and I did not know him. Eventually, he admitted that he did not really know God, only what he had read in the Bible. I suggested that he ought to read the Gospel of John, from chapters ten to sixteen, and ask God to show Him the truth. The reason I said this to him is because I know that if he truly read these Scriptures, he would have read such things as:

I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture. The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10.9-11 ).
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me (.John 14:6)
However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming (John16:13).

The Jehovah Witness replied, “I would start at Psalm eighty-six first, because there we find the name of Jehovah.”

In the World English Bible “Yahweh” is used instead of “Jehovah”. When we read the first six verses of this Psalm, we learn that the writer is petitioning (to be truly technical) YHWH and not Jehovah or Yahweh to answer his prayer:

Hear, Yahweh, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you. Be merciful to me, Lord, for I call to you all day long. Bring joy to the soul of your servant, for to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive; abundant in loving kindness to all those who call on you. Hear, Yahweh, my prayer. Listen to the voice of my petitions (Psalm 86:1-6).

The truth is the Jehovah Witness has been indoctrinated to accept that Jesus is not really God, only Jehovah is God, therefore praying to Jesus is futile. The Jehovah Witness cries out to Jehovah to be saved and ignores the fact the same Bible informs us that only through knowing the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus, can we be saved and receive the Spirit of Truth, Who will guide us into all truth. The question for the Jehovah Witness is: Does he truly want to know what the Bible teaches? Or, Is he going to rely on studying Jehovah Witness publications for his Bible Study? From reading the Bible myself, I have come to realize, a personal relationship with Lord Jesus Christ is required to begin learning what the Bible really teaches—since all things have been created through Jesus Christ, it just so happens, He is also the Author of the Bible. The Jehovah Witnesses, on the other hand, teach that Jesus is not God but a created being, just like any other angel. In which case, according to their thinking, why go to a created being to be saved when Jehovah is greater than all. However, if we understand that only Jesus is the way to the truth that provides eternal life, then we would earnestly seek out Jesus, so we might be set free from ignorance by learning the truth.

Hermeneutics is the interpretation of the Scriptures. How we are going to interpret the Scriptures is up to us. If we are going to understand what the Bible really teaches, then our exegesis of a text has to be correct and in accord with the general revelation that permeates Scripture. Exegesis is the critical explanation of what a text means. The general revelation is the theme that runs from the first book of the Bible, Genesis, to the last book of the Bible, Revelation. Essentially, we could say that the Bible begins and ends with the revelation of Lord Jesus Christ, because the word GENESIS means ORIGIN and the last book of the Bible begins with the words THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST. With this in mind, it is understandable that we read in the book of Revelation, our Lord Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. From reading the pages of the Bible we have to conclude that when Jesus was talking to the Jews, what He said then is still true:

You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me. Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life (John 5:39-40).

What this means is any exposition of the Scriptures, any explanation of the Scriptures, any interpretation of the Scriptures, has to bear witness to the purpose of God as revealed through Jesus Christ. Therefore, any systematic search of the Scriptures must also produce within the person doing the searching, a deeper understanding of the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Author and Finisher, the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith.

Systematic theology is constructed with the view that classifying ideas, and then critically analyzing them in the light of the current knowledge of the world, enables us to gain greater insights into what religion means, and how people’s interpretation of their quest to find the answers to life’s questions can be understood at the present time. Systematic theology allows us to trace an idea through the Bible and apply some scientific rigor by utilizing methods of analysis to see where it is faulty or where weaknesses of interpretation lie. A thorough investigation into scriptural themes that critically examines their validity in respect to the purpose of God bears the hallmarks of seeking the truth. Unfortunately, many systematic theologies are propositions (philosophical proposals put forth) that use scripture as proof texts and are not the results of rigorous investigation into the truth of the Scriptures. Systematic theology is a topical arrangement of thought which tends to have an underlying premise from which to interpret the theme, so that it is easy to explain. The problem is always found when a compiler of systematic theology refuses to acknowledge contradictory statements within the Bible and, by doing so, does not allow them to unveil error in the interpretation that is being supported by the proof texts selected on the topic.

It may seem surprising that people claiming to desire the truth, or claim to be hammering out sound teaching on the anvil of truth, could come up with erroneous doctrines. But it happens. Why does it happen? It happens because facts that do not fit the picture the interpreter is trying to put together are disregarded. Learning the truths of scripture are like putting together a large jigsaw puzzle made up of small jigsaw pieces. Rather than letting the Holy Spirit show where inconvenient truths belong, pieces of the puzzle are discarded and others that do not really belong in that part of the picture are made to fit. Consequently, the picture becomes distorted. Instead of putting together a true representation of spiritual realities, counterfeit similarities are created that appear to have a ring of truth about them, but the sound is foreign to the ears of those who sit in the counsel of God Almighty. Unlike the counterfeit, the truth sets us free; but truth also hurts, and hurts are painful. Pain is not something we are attracted towards. Pain is something we hate. Hence when we encounter something that we do not like, our tendency is to obfuscate the issue and create something more to our liking that seems easier to understand. No wonder Jesus said that the way to life is narrow and few it is that find it.

To illustrate the point with an example from the scriptures, we shall consider the practice of water baptism. Jesus said to those whom he chose to teach, who were to become the apostles, that they were to make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Yet there is no evidence of the apostles ever doing this. There is evidence that the apostles practiced baptism but by calling on the name of the Lord or the name of Jesus Christ, but there is no scripture within the New Testament to support that the formula “the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit” as being used. Consequently, any teaching on Baptism that overlooks this fact is in error, if the group or denomination is claiming to abide in the Apostles teachings. For all true Christian teaching is founded on and originated from the Apostle’s teachings. We could even go as far as to say, all true biblical teaching is the teaching of the Apostles. In which case, the following would not be a problem for any believer:

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls. They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:37-42).

Now if we are not abiding in the Apostle’s teachings, whose teaching are we abiding in?

For many people claiming to trumpet the truth, this little oversight is usually overcome with the premise that no doctrine can be formulated from the book of Acts because it is merely a record of what happened, not what was actually taught as doctrine. It is no wonder that analytical observers are seen raising their eyebrows when Scriptures are quoted from the book of Acts by these naysayers to support various doctrines based on their propositional truths.

Another celebrated example is the opposing ideas of “Justification by faith alone” and “Justification by works”, which the Reformer Martin Luther is said to have had difficulty with; so much so, he claimed the book of James should be removed from the Bible, because it taught justification of faith by works.

There are other issues that arise from systematic theology that divorce it from being a coherent expression of a true biblical overview of what the Bible teaches. Systematic theology ought to be like the gospel of John that overlays the other three gospels and when understood brings the four gospels into a cohesive expression of Jesus Christ. In the Gospels, the unenlightened see discrepancies and inconsistencies, but the enlightened see the truth of the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is no problem when every scripture is understood as bearing witness to Lord Jesus Christ. For when we ask the question, “What did Jesus come to Earth to do?” we learn Jesus said that he came to fulfill the law and the prophets, and the Ten Commandments would not pass away until Heaven and Earth do first.

“Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished (Matthew 5:16-17).

Many people interpret this as meaning that we no longer have to acknowledge the Ten Commandments. Only if we read the above text from Matthew, we can see that this is not the case. Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets, but the Law itself was not going to pass away. What Jesus fulfilled was the requirements to sacrifice a righteous life as a ransom for all men, so they could be saved, once and for all. This in effect constitutes the fulfillment of the ceremonial laws given to Moses and the predictions of the prophets. The Ten Commandments that were written by the finger of God were not done away with. In fact, they are supposed to be written on the heart of every person who is actually saved unto eternal life. This suggests two things. One that every person who is saved understands and knows the Ten Commandments. The second being, Scripture needs to be interpreted in the light of the Ten Commandments. This should be a natural response for a saved person to do, because the Ten Commandments are written on each one’s heart.

What does the Bible really teach? The Bible teaches that the Ten Commandments are the only words that have been written by God Himself and they define the requirements for walking with God. Anyone therefore teaching anything different has to be in error. In fact, the Apostle John writes:

Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God; and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded. He who keeps his command-ments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us (1 John 3:21-24).

While the temptation is to say that we no longer have to understand the Ten Commandments because Christians believe in the name of Jesus Christ and now love one another, it needs to be noted that in the above text this is referred to as one commandment. Having recognized this, the question now becomes what are the other commandments? The Ten Commandments becomes the obvious answer, if we desire the truth. Moreover, interpreting the Bible through the prism of the Ten Commandments enables us to understand what God requires of us as members of the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Ten Commandments provide us with a system with which to interpret the Scriptures and bear witness to Jesus Christ. They also bring the devotional element of having a personal experience with our Heavenly Father through our Lord Jesus in the Holy Spirit into focus, when we consider the way we ought to live our lives once having examined them in the light of the Ten Commandments.

Seriously, we need to ask ourselves: Does the New Testament teach that it is permissible to possess an evil eye, bear false witness, steal, commit adultery and other sexual perversions, murder, dishonor parents, labor for our salvation, take God’s name in vain and blaspheme God, be idolatrous and reject the salvation offered to us by our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ for humanism? The answer is NO. All these issues and more are covered within the understanding of the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments need to be addressed at the beginning of the Christian walk. Sin is not something that ought to be addressed after having claimed to be a Christian for years. Repentance from dead works is essential if we are to have faith in God, otherwise we are numbered among the hypocrites, and Jesus had a lot to say about them.

The Apostles never taught the Ten Commandments were done away with. The Apostle Paul had much to say about the Law, but he is often misquoted and misunderstood. This is evident in the Book of Romans where we read:.

The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ (Romans 8:7-9).

The Bible teaches that those who walk according to the Spirit submit to the Law of God. Those who walk according to the flesh, do not submit to the Law written by the Finger of God because their deeds are evil. The Law shows us what sin happens to be so we can turn away from it and walk in the Spirit of God. We cannot walk in the Spirit of God and commit sin at the same time.

How Should A Group Bible Study Be Conducted?

How Should A

Group Bible Study

Be Conducted?

The aim of the group Bible Study is to involve every participant at the table of the Lord in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. This means that every individual should be given the opportunity to comment on every portion of scripture in the study. Therefore a Bible Study should be opened in prayer and the Holy Spirit should be invited to anoint the participants hearts and minds and tongues.

In a number of group Bible Study meetings that I have attended, the pastor or leader has asked participants to read a section of scripture, or the scriptures that are to be considered in the study, by getting every member of the group to read a portion each at the beginning of the study. Unfortunately, this tended to create a number of problems.

One problem occurred because everybody had read the passages of scripture that were to be discussed at the beginning of the meeting and these passages had been forgotten; consequently, they had to be read again, which proved an ineffective use of time.

Another problem was that people had different translations, and it became difficult to follow the person reading out the text, especially when the person was reading a paraphrased translation. Frequently, the next person who was to read their portion of the text had to ask where we were up to, even though they knew we were to read two or three or four scriptures each. This would detract from the reading of the text because it interrupted the flow of the narrative. This is resolved, of course, when everybody has the same version. However, this is not always the case, and when people have different versions, reading out the text to be covered at the meeting proves to be an unproductive time waster and creates confusion.

The best practice is to work through the Bible Study one scripture or portion of text at a time and discuss it there and then, before moving on to the next text. In doing this, each person takes a turn in reading the text to be discussed after the previous text has been discussed to the satisfaction of every person within the group. This enables people with different versions to listen to the person reading out the text, and if they feel the version of the Bible they are reading from has something different to offer which clarifies a point, they can make a valid contribution at that time for the benefit of all, without creating any confusion.

By working clockwise or anti-clockwise each person reads a text and then the text is discussed. The person who reads the text is given the first opportunity to contribute to the discussion. This is extremely beneficial for encouraging people who otherwise are disinclined to contribute. It is easier for the person to make a contribution to the discussion if they have just read out the text to be discussed.

In one Bible Study that I was participating in, there was a person who suffered from a number of disabilities, one being a reading difficulty. In this Bible Study there were seven people, and the fact that members were willing to wait for this man (in his early thirties) to read out the scriptures and even help him with pronunciation, encouraged him to even make a comment. Amazingly, this person, whom most people would think was dumb, began to discover that he was appreciated and loved, and was encouraged to believe that he was capable of more than even he thought possible, let alone anyone else. This is what Bible Study in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is all about: helping people discover who they are in God and that others are as important to our Heavenly Father as we are ourselves.

The importance of giving each member of the group an opportunity to read and comment on what they read cannot be overstated. A group Bible Study should be conducted so that every person is able to make a contribution, feel they are appreciated, and be encouraged on a path of self-discovery with Jesus Christ as Lord.

The road to self-discovery in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit is made easier when people are given the opportunity to express themselves. When people read one scripture and that is considered sufficient contribution to the Bible Study, this is a restrictive means of sharing in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

Sharing also means respect, which means it is always advisable to start and finish a group Bible Study at the designated time. Of course, when finishing, we always close with prayer.

What Is The Role of the Leader?

What Is The Role

of the Leader?

The leader of a group Bible Study acts as a facilitator to ensure the discussion runs smoothly. This is done by using a number of strategies that help facilitate effective communication and enables people to express themselves freely and fully. This is why each person who reads the text is then encouraged to comment straight after they have finished reading the text. After that person has commented, each person is then permitted to make their own contribution in turn. This is done with the leader controlling the flow of the discussion and guiding the speakers in an anticlockwise or clockwise fashion.

When a person has read a text and has made a comment, the leader quickly makes a summarization of what the person has said and then invites the next person to make a comment. When that person has commented, the leader once more makes a summary of what the person has said and invites the next person to comment. When there are only three to six people in the group Bible Study, summarizing comment is not burdensome and encourages each person to contribute.

Sometimes people interject out of turn. When this happens, it is always best if the leader can take control and ask the other person to wait his or her turn. Bear in mind, being assertive can have its problems, so if the person leading the study feels that the person interjecting has some issue to get off his or her chest, rather than create a political situation, the leader is wise to assume control by letting the person speak, summarize what the person interjecting has said, and return to the original order once more.

In a situation where a person interjects and insists on speaking, just because the interjector is permitted to finish their heart-felt point, some people might think that the leader is losing control of the meeting. This is not the case, if the leader acknowledges what has been said and then the meeting continues as planned. In fact, this is demonstrating control, because what could have become a negative confrontation was avoided and a release valve was activated, by letting out the pent up emotional pressure within the injector. The is a very positive way of taking control and helpful in removing specks from participants eyes.

In one situation, I witnessed, a person interjecting attempted to hijack a meeting by introducing his agenda which had nothing to do with what was being discussed at the time. The leader waited for the interjector to release some pressure and at the appropriate point in the tirade, he quickly summarized what the interjector said. The interjector who was being blatantly obnoxious could not believe he had just been outwitted so effortlessly and was left speechless. The meeting then continued from the point under discussion at the time of the interjector’s attempt to hijack the meeting.

The leader of the meeting was acting in love, because he was courteous enough to acknowledge the interjector’s point and gracious enough to overlook the true intent of the interjector. Clearly, in this case, the person conducting the meeting was like a maestro with an orchestra. Indeed, the leader’s role in a group Bible Study is just as important as an orchestra’s conductor.

Why summarize comments?

When a leader summarizes the comments that have been made, this shows that the person leading the study is listening. It also indicates to others that this is about learning what each one has to contribute. As each one’s comments are summarized, each person feels he or she has contributed something of value and does not look a fool. Moreover, other participants realize that the leader is considerate and is worthy of respect; thus ensuring a more blessed gathering.

Summarizing comments also has the effect of silencing those who love to hear their own voice and want to dominate conversations or group discussions, because it reinforces who is leading. Long-winded people become to realize that what they had to say can be said in less words and they ought to think more about what they are saying rather than blowing wind.

Another benefit that comes from summarization is that people begin to focus on the text under discussion and tend to waffle less about irrelevant matters. For once the text has been discussed to everyone’s satisfaction, the leader is then able to summarize more readily what has been derived from the text within the group discussion, before moving on to the next scripture. The benefit of this is the points which have been missed can easily be brought into focus as well.

As already noted, sometimes people have thoughts that did not occur to them when it was their turn to make a comment. These can also be accounted for in an orderly way. Summarization of each contribution aids the flow of orderly discussion and enables each person to feel that they are making valuable contribution to the group discussion.

Summarization is helpful in not only getting people to focus on points raised that are relevant to the topic under discussion, but also in improving the morale of participants. This is especially the case when a participant feels the need to share a deep and meaningful experience they had and then become aware of the fact they have just confessed personal details about which he or she is embarrassed.

Summarizing the feelings of the person and incorporating a prayer of forgiveness at this particular time alleviates any anxiety or guilt that might arise.

Summarization therefore can be the summarization of feelings expressed, or for people who are having difficulty expressing what they mean, even if it is a little off topic, a short statement in summary of what they might have meant can be valuable in restoring a positive demeanor, and a desire to delve into the Word of God.

A summarization of a person’s feelings is different to reflecting feelings back to a person. Summarization means stating what the person has declared about how he or she felt and what it means when people feel as the person has stated. For instance, if the person stated they felt embarrassed and put out and found the experience difficult to endure, a summarization would be along the following lines: “You said you felt embarrassed and put out and you do not feel the experience was something you would like to endure again.

A summarization of meaning requires a slightly different approach. As with all summarizations, it is a concise statement of content but requires an assumption to be made. Say the participant, whom we will call, John, was having difficulty in trying to get to the point and in a very long-winded and convoluted way said, “An eye for an eye is not very good, because the person is not going to be able to see and will be blind forever, if both eyes had to be removed and if the person is supposed to repent and because what he sees himself doing is wrong, he is not going to be able to see at all because he is blind and this is not going to help him repent. We are supposed to be helping the person to repent from doing wrong, not ripping eyes out so they cannot see.”

A summarization of meaning could be along the lines of: “As John has just said, “Two wrongs do not make something right, and everybody needs to be given the opportunity to repent.”

A summarization of meaning is not really a paraphrase because it is much shorter and incorporates the main point that is meant by the statement. When something is paraphrased, the aim is to convey what is meant, only with much greater clarity. What this means is that paraphrasing tends to be a longer explanation than a summarization. A paraphrase of meaning in the above case would result in something like, “John appears to be saying that an eye for an eye is going to do more damage to a person because rather than providing greater vision, the person is going to be made blind. In which case, this is not going to lead a person to repentance but more than likely harden the person’s heart. Rather than permit this to happen, the person needs to be given the chance to repent. This could require more time for the realization of the need for repentance, before any drastic action is taken such as ripping out a person’s eyes.”

The difference between the summarized version and the paraphrased version is quite evident in respect to the length of each statement. Paraphrasing of meaning therefore is not the same as summarization. Paraphrasing has its place but takes on a different form to summarization and is best used for different circumstances.

Overall, the value of frequent summarization, providing it is not long-winded becomes evident at the beginning of the following meeting, when participants are asked to recall what they got out of the previous Bible Study and produce a higher rate of recall than they would otherwise. Participants have a more meaningful experience because they were able to cogitate issues more clearly as a consequence of the frequent summarization.

When people feel awkward and misunderstood, they are disinclined to continue in attending a group Bible Study. Our aim as leaders is to make the experience as enjoyable as possible, so the Word of the Lord can take root in the participant’s hearts. Amen!