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My Strange Bible || How To Study The Bible

This week we want to examine why we need to know the Bible and how to study the Bible.

 

Some people like to read.

 

When you study the Bible it comes alive.

  • It’s not just a book.

 

Make Sure We Use the Bible in its Proper Context
Remember this:

God’s word used out of context is not the truth, but a lie.

  • This has been a tactic of the enemy since the beginning of creation.

 

An example of this would be when Satan twisted the words of God to Eve in the garden and told her if she ate of the tree God told her not to eat from, she would not die, but she would be like God.

 

It’s so important to know God’s word and understand it.

If you read a verse and you’re not sure of the meaning, go back and read the entire chapter.
Use a version you understand; there are many good versions of the Bible; they are translations to help us.

  • ESV , English Standard Version
  • NIV , New International Version
  • NLT , New Living Translation
  • NKJV , New King James Version

 

2 Timothy 2:15 NIV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

We want to handle God’s word correctly!

 

Why We Need To Know The Bible

 

Why is it so important to know God’s word?

  • We need to be able to stand up against the enemy when he attacks.

Matthew 4:1-11 NIV

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

 

When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus himself used the word against satan.

  • The Bible was his weapon.
  • We need to know his word.

 

Psalm 119:11 NIV

I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you.

 

We need to hide his word in our hearts.

 

John 8:31,32 NIV

Jesus  said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

 

The Bible is our weapon when we come under attack from the enemy.

  • We need to know God’s word!!

 

How To Study The Bible

So how do we learn God’s word?

We are so blessed today because we can listen to God’s word on;

  • The radio
  • Watch it online.
  • Watch on TV

 

But We still need to study the Bible!

 

You know it’s one thing to read scripture, but when you interact with it and learn to slow down to read it, suddenly words start popping off the page.

 

The SOAP method.

 

A pastor created the SOAP method years ago to help people study the Bible.

 

S- scripture

O- observation

A- application

P- prayer

 

 

 

S: Scriptures

John 8:1-11 NIV

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

 

O: Observation

 

1. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery and made her stand before Jesus and in front of the crowd, he was teaching. And they were trying to trap Jesus.

  • They were exposing her sin in front of everybody and trying to trap Jesus
  • They were trying to embarrass the women and wanted something on Jesus.

 

2. Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground.

I wonder what he was writing about, the religious people’s sins, or how much God loved them and what he had done for them?

 

3. Jesus said let the one without sin cast the first stone.

Jesus put this back on them. He knew their hearts.

 

4. All the religious people left. Why

None of them were without sin, so they could not cast a stone.

 

5. Jesus never condemn her.

  • He told her to go and leave her life of sin; Jesus didn’t look at the sin. He looked at her heart and had compassion for her. This woman wasn’t perfect but Jesus still loved her.

 

A: Application

 

 ///How do I apply this to my life?

1. I want to do my best not to judge someone who is lost, not to look at their sin. But look at their heart.

2. I need to remember that I was once a sinner myself. Before I accepted Jesus as my savior.

3. I need to show the love of Jesus to everyone, even the lost.

4. I should be praying for them, that they will give their heart to Jesus.

5. I’m not worthy of condemning anyone. If Jesus didn’t condemn this woman how could I ever condemn anyone.

 

I thank God he didn’t condemn me.

 

P: Prayer

 

Sample Prayer

Heavenly Father I love you so much,

I thank you for giving your son Jesus to die for my sins.

Jesus, please help me not to judge others,

And to remember how you love me and forgave me of my sins,

And never condemn me.

I love you Jesus.

Amen
This is the SOAP method of studying the Bible.

 

  • Isn’t it wonderful to see the compassion our savior has for us?
    And the grace he shows to us when he forgives us?

 

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 

This is an awesome scripture about how much God loves us; he gave his Son so we can have eternal life.

 

John 3:17 NIV

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
If you don’t know this Jesus as your personal savior please ask him in your heart today.

 

He loves you and wants to save you not condemn you.

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