An Equipment Check An Equipment Check for Holy Spirit for Holy Spirit

ParasailingParasailing

A guide for studying A guide for studying Scripture to weather the Scripture to weather the

winds of uncertaintywinds of uncertainty

2 Peter 1:20-21 2 Peter 1:20-21

• Above all, you do well if you Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the scripture ever comes about by the prophet's own imagination, for no prophet's own imagination, for no prophecy was ever borne of prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (NET)spoke from God. (NET)

2 Timothy 3: 16-172 Timothy 3: 16-17

• All Scripture is inspired by God All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God's to do what is right. It is God's way of preparing us in every way, way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do. (NLT)thing God wants us to do. (NLT)

Safety First!Safety First!

• Two principles Two principles should guide our should guide our interpretation of interpretation of ScriptureScripture– Prayer and the Prayer and the

Guidance of the Guidance of the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit

– Alignment with Alignment with Christian Christian DoctrineDoctrine

Guidelines for your Guidelines for your excursionexcursion

• The Bible has The Bible has human authors-it is human authors-it is a message we can a message we can understand!understand!

• The Bible has a The Bible has a divine author-it is divine author-it is God’s unified God’s unified message!message!

• The Bible has The Bible has ultimate authority ultimate authority for doctrine and for doctrine and life!life!

Buckle Up!Buckle Up!

• Prayer/Holy SpiritPrayer/Holy Spirit– Expect God to Expect God to

reveal something reveal something to you (Psalm to you (Psalm 119:125)119:125)

– Expect God to Expect God to challenge what challenge what you think you you think you already know!!already know!!

– Expect to put what Expect to put what you learn into you learn into practice! (James practice! (James 1:22-25)1:22-25)

• Christian DoctrineChristian Doctrine– Expect what you Expect what you

discover to adhere discover to adhere to Christian doctrineto Christian doctrine

– Expect to see Jesus Expect to see Jesus as the “interpretive as the “interpretive key” to any textkey” to any text

– How well do you How well do you know the know the essentials? How can essentials? How can you get to know you get to know them better?them better?

Christian DoctrineChristian Doctrine

The Christian past holds a The Christian past holds a huge sum of information on huge sum of information on spiritual formation. It is a spiritual formation. It is a treasure--- a God deposit---in treasure--- a God deposit---in Christ’s people. We must take Christ’s people. We must take the trouble to know it and to the trouble to know it and to own it in ways that are own it in ways that are suitable for today.suitable for today.

Can I trust my ‘chute?Can I trust my ‘chute?

• CanonCanon– A term that A term that

literally means literally means “measuring “measuring stick”stick”

• OT canon set by OT canon set by the end of the the end of the first centuryfirst century

• NT canon was set NT canon was set at the Council of at the Council of Carthage in 397 Carthage in 397 ADAD

Which type of chute is Which type of chute is right for me?right for me?

• Understanding Bible translation Understanding Bible translation methodsmethods– Literal (KJV, NKJ, NAS, ESV)Literal (KJV, NKJ, NAS, ESV)– Readable (NIV, NRSV)Readable (NIV, NRSV)– Paraphrase (LIV, NLT, Message)Paraphrase (LIV, NLT, Message)

• The one that helps you to The one that helps you to understand the most is the best understand the most is the best for you (sometimes that can for you (sometimes that can mean more than one translation mean more than one translation for a difficult text)!for a difficult text)!

Types of ParasailingTypes of Parasailing

•BeachBeach•BoatBoat•PlatformPlatform

• Narrative/Story Narrative/Story – (OT History, NT (OT History, NT

Gospels)Gospels)

• Epistle/Letter Epistle/Letter – (NT Letters---Paul, (NT Letters---Paul,

John, etc.)John, etc.)

• WritingsWritings– (Psalms, Proverbs, (Psalms, Proverbs,

etc.)etc.)

• Prophetic Prophetic • ApocalypticApocalyptic

Types of ParasailingTypes of Parasailing

Understanding the Understanding the Different TypesDifferent Types

• NarrativeNarrative– Read through the Read through the

whole story to whole story to get the flowget the flow• Observe what is Observe what is

going ongoing on• The message lies The message lies

in the story (the in the story (the author is author is presenting his presenting his message with his message with his version of events)version of events)

Understanding the Understanding the Different TypesDifferent Types

• LetterLetter– Try to read in one Try to read in one

setting to get the setting to get the main ideamain idea

– Read over and Read over and over to get a feel over to get a feel for the purposefor the purpose• Mark important Mark important

words like words like “therefore”, “therefore”, “since”, “so that”, “since”, “so that”, etc.etc.

Understanding the Understanding the Different TypesDifferent Types

• WritingsWritings– Old Testament wisdom literatureOld Testament wisdom literature– Includes: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Includes: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of

Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, etc.Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, etc.– These books describe our relationship with These books describe our relationship with

God as a way of life: both the good and the God as a way of life: both the good and the bad!bad!

– Look for:Look for:• Examples of behaviorExamples of behavior• Examples of prayer and lamentExamples of prayer and lament• Examples of worship!Examples of worship!

Understanding the Understanding the Different TypesDifferent Types

ProphetsProphets– Who is the Who is the

prophet? Why prophet? Why was was hehe called? called?

– Who will God Who will God judge?judge?

– How will God How will God show mercy? (Is show mercy? (Is it to the same it to the same group?)group?)

Understanding the Understanding the Different TypesDifferent Types

• Apocalyptic---the Apocalyptic---the hardest of allhardest of all– Try not to be Try not to be

overly literal!overly literal!– Look for Look for

messages of hopemessages of hope• Apocalyptic was Apocalyptic was

intended to intended to provide hope for provide hope for the community to the community to which the book is which the book is written!written!

Steps to SuccessSteps to Success

• ObservationObservation– Slow down note Slow down note

what is going onwhat is going on

• InterpretationInterpretation– Look for the Look for the

meaningmeaning

• ApplicationApplication– Personalize itPersonalize it

• ProclamationProclamation– Learn so you can Learn so you can

share with othersshare with others

Psalm 119: 105-112Psalm 119: 105-112

• Your word is a lamp to my feet Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous that I will follow your righteous laws. … Your statutes are my laws. … Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the on keeping your decrees to the very end. very end.

Enjoying the Fruits of Enjoying the Fruits of your Laboryour Labor

• Proper Bible Proper Bible study techniques study techniques help you to help you to appreciate the appreciate the Bible in a new Bible in a new wayway

• Knowing the Bible Knowing the Bible enables you to enables you to share your faith share your faith with others with others confidentlyconfidently

Enjoying the Fruits of Enjoying the Fruits of your Laboryour Labor

• Knowing the Bible Knowing the Bible allows you to allows you to grow as a grow as a follower of Jesus follower of Jesus ChristChrist

• Good Bible study Good Bible study habits take a habits take a lifetime to lifetime to develop---Enjoy develop---Enjoy the process and the process and the the viewview!!!!

Tools of the tradeTools of the trade

• Readable BibleReadable Bible– Choose one that you Choose one that you

understandunderstand

• Book on Bible Book on Bible backgroundsbackgrounds

• Commentary Commentary – Use these last!Use these last!– Pick one that focuses Pick one that focuses

on application!on application!

• Internet/ComputerInternet/Computer– Bible.orgBible.org– Logos/LibronixLogos/Libronix