Paula Wiseman

Faith and life meet in a story

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These posts will give you tips on how to get the most out of your Bible study

Study Tip: So?

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When we read Scripture, we tend to spend the most time on the major themes, or the narrative, or the beauty of the promises. However, if we pay attention to the little transition words, we can gain a little more insight into the passage as a whole.

Consider these opening verses in Luke 15:

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him (2) And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” (3) So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

Jesus goes on to tell the parables of the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son. The ‘So’ in verse 3, reveals the purpose for the parables. Jesus was illustrating the grace of God in receiving sinners, which was in stark contrast to the contempt the religious establishment showed them.

Another important little word is found in verses 6 and 9. ‘For’ tells us the reason for the joy. “I have found what was lost.” The restoration of the lost possessions is a metaphor for repentance. Jesus’s parables illustrate the joy at the restoration of the broken fellowship. It also shows how badly the Pharisees and scribes had misread the heart of God.

Other ‘why’ words include because, therefore (and its twin, wherefore), and occasionally ‘so’ is teamed up with ‘that’. I mark these words orange in my Bible to help them stand out. Pay attention to them and you’ll gain added insight into God’s purposes and ways.

(Bonus points if you noticed it all started with “then” which means we’re starting in the middle of the story. We really need to go back to chapter 14 to get the full context.)

Here’s another tip for you: Study Tip: Parables

Study Tip: Names of God

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One of the things we miss out on in our English Bibles is the variety of names for God used in the original Hebrew. Each one points to an intensely personal encounter with Him. The English doesn’t leave the names out, you just have to learn to recognize them. I’ll touch on four of the most used names.

God – This is Elohim, the most commonly used name. The ‘im’ ending means it’s plural, but it takes a singular verb, indicating the three-in-one God. It’s the name used in Genesis 1:1. The first part of the word “El” is used in other names for God like El Elyon, the

The first part of the word “El” is used in other names for God like El Elyon, the most high God, and El Shaddai, Almighty God. (Interesting side note: When Jesus cries out from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” He uses a singular form.) “El” appears in proper names too, like Daniel- God is my judge, Ezekiel – God will strengthen, and Samuel – asked of God.

LORD or GOD – (Usually appears in all caps or small caps) This is Jehovah, the covenant name God gave to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14. He called Himself the I AM, highlighting His eternal, self-existent nature. He is the covenant-maker, and the promise-keeper. This name is also used in proper names

This name is also used in proper names too, and shows up as “jah” or “iah” at the end of a name, like Isaiah – Jehovah has saved. It also appears at the beginning of names as “Jo” like in Jonathan- Jehovah has given or “Je” like the Old Testament kings Jehoshaphat- Jehovah is judge or Jehoiakim- Jehovah raises up.

Lord – This is Adonai. It’s used when the writer is focused on God’s personal rule over him. David uses it in Psalm 51 as he confesses and asks forgiveness. The Hebrews used this name rather than take a chance on misusing God’s covenant name, Jehovah.

LORD of hosts – This is a special one, translating the Hebrew name Jehovah Sabaoth. That word looks a lot like sabbath, but it’s the word for army. This is the vision Isaiah sees in chapter 6, Jehovah the Warrior King.

There are many others including El Roi: God Who Sees (Genesis 16:12), Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:13-14), and Jehovah-Rohi: The Lord My Shepherd (Psalm 23:1).

As you read, notice which names are used in the verses that stand out to you.

Which name is most meaningful to you?

Study Tip: 3 Keys to Interpreting Scripture

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woman studying her BibleThis week, I have another guide for you. This one deals with how to interpret Scripture. Wars, schisms and local church splits have all happened as a result of disagreements over the interpretation of Scripture, so it can be a tricky business. But it doesn’t have to be. This guide will help you discover not just what the Bible says, but what it means.

In the guide, you’ll find:

  • The single most important consideration for correctly interpreting Scripture.
  • The 4 types of context and how each of them affects interpretation.
  • How to use cross-references to deepen your understanding of a passage.
  • The difference between interpretation and application and why it matters.
  • How to ensure your interpretation isn’t way off base.

Download it here  

 

 

 

STT: Memorize

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Memorize it. That’s it. That’s the tip. Believe it or not, a key component to your Bible study is memorization. I know, we think memory verses are for kids, and we have way too much to remember NOW. Adding Bible verses will cause a total system shutdown.  

What if it was easy?  

Foolproof?  

Would you be willing to give it a try?

Kay Arthur has the easiest method to memorize Scripture I’ve ever run across. All you have to do is read. She says read the Scripture three times, out loud, in the morning, at midday and before bed. Just read. Look at it the whole time. Don’t worry about trying to remember it. In seven days, the verse will be locked in your memory.    

Give it a try and let me know how it works for you. The benefits are great!

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You! Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)

If you want more out of your Bible study, this book can help.

Study Tip: Making the Old Stories New

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Making the Old stories new title graphic

This time of year highlights one of the toughest aspects of Bible study. Reruns. Not to take away from the wonder and glory of the Easter story, but I know from teaching my boys on Sunday morning that it’s a challenge to come up with a new angle before they glaze over. My ten-year-olds have studied this lesson at least four times in their young lives, twice with me. So how can we breathe new life into the old, old story?

1. Read it out loud, maybe in a new translation. This forces you to slow down and pay closer attention to what you read. You can’t skip or skim, and your brain stays engaged.

2. Follow the action. Pay attention to what the people do. Often when we read, we key on the conversations, but the Easter story is full of action and movement. Sometimes I even imagine what the bystanders were doing. 

3. Details, details. One of my favorite details in the Easter story is a quick sentence in John 13:30. Jesus has just spoken to Judas, “What you do, do quickly.” Judas leaves immediately, and the verse ends with “And it was night.” Not just a report of the time of day, but a statement rich in implication. 

How do you keep familiar stories fresh?
My son’s favorite way to revisit favorite stories is to stage them with Legos. Here’s his Lego Good Friday. (He was disappointed that he had to use Persians for the Romans. I told him folks would understand.)
Lego Good Friday

Study Tip: What Interpretation Isn’t

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For our final look (for now) at how to interpret Scripture I'm gonna split some semantic hairs.
 
Often times I've heard teachers or have seen study guide questions that ask what a particular passage "means" to you. Beware. While I believe the questions are asked innocently enough, there's a distinction worth making. The "meaning" doesn't change. No matter who reads it or when, God's word doesn't change.
 
What does change, what is personal, is how it applies to your life.
 
Let's look at some verses that we don't need much interpretation to understand. Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
 
Some applications might be:
  • I need to give thanks more when I pray
  • I need to ask God to meet my needs rather than trying to do everything myself
  • I should quit worrying
  • God gives peace when I give Him my worries
 
Whatever I "take away" from Bible study is application, not a new interpretation. 
 

 

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