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comment - johnson.c.ron@gmail.com
Bible
Studies (i.e. mine) vs. Sermons and/or Teaching
I am writing this on 8-18-10 and the last
study listed is dated 6-20-10 (i.e. 'Salted with Fire'). Even
so, I shall
be placing it at the top of the list of 'short Bible studies' in the
hope that
all new and regular visitors will notice it and read it.
(Barbara and I
have had a very busy summer.)
As these are my personal studies and I offer
them to others (to gaze over my shoulder, so to speak), earlier it had
not
occurred to me to discuss the distinction between
Bible study (as I
do it) versus the typical sermon and teaching. However, over the last
eight to
ten studies I have been commenting about how most of the New Testament
authors
- in writing a particular passage - were at the same time writing of a
broader
truth. Especially it is true in the Gospels, and recently I
had begun
to point it out to the reader.
For many years my studies typically have begun
with my attention being drawn to a passage, and from there I would read
before
and after that passage to gather in the author's broader message (i.e.
it is
like a stage upon which the passage was presented). This
broader message
(or stage) contains the proper lighting in which to consider the
passage.
The New Testament authors had for their Bible
the Old Testament and they typically and often referred to passages in
It
(often in direct quotes - Jesus did it as a matter of course).
Therefore, I
would usually search out the Old Testament contexts for
such references and/or quotations. Taken together, this would
prepare the
environment for me as I pursued my course of study.
However, for too many of my younger years I did
not follow this procedure and thus I came to too many “correct”
conclusions
only later to find in further studies that I must correct what I had
thought to
be “correct”. In my many years of study this became habitual. At first
it was
discouraging, in that I had worked hard to become “correct”. Ah, but in
time it
became enlightening. For finding errors in my concepts and beliefs only
led to
clearer and often simpler concepts (that is, when I pressed on through
my
discouragements) and these usually merged in me even better toward
whole of
God's Truth.
In other words, I had entered a long process of
my own bias being more or less removed from the study-process by
allowing
(indeed searching for) the Bible to speak to me of Itself. The process
continues and I continue receiving, learning, receiving,
changing...etc.
My early discouragements (that I was not nearly as smart,
knowledgeable,
or spiritual as I had thought) turned to joy as
eventually something
newer and better was revealed to me. It might be quickly or in a week,
or
months or years depending upon God preparing me to receive it. It
became fun,
is fun, and I am continually being changed.
I no longer compare myself to others and their beliefs.
Nor do I compare a new study to my present state of beliefs or
doctrines. It is interesting how a Bible text no longer makes
sense to me
and then a word of preaching or another passage or even a tv commercial
will
suddenly trigger the Bible text into much better and clear view. Also
it is
interesting how it then raises questions about my thinking on other
passages.
“Seek and it shall be opened unto you”. Also consider 'But without
faith it is
impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that
he is and
that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.' Hebrews 11:6
Moreover, fellowship with others is always good,
in that I am free to seek the Lord my way and I have freed others (in
my mind
and heart) from having to agree with me. I feel no need to change
others; and
as I am being changed I trust that it is mostly by the Lord.
Therefore, I
entrust the changing (or steadfastness) of others to Him as well. In
this,
then, I experience 'rest', the kind of 'rest' in Hebrews 4.
It seems to me that the lack of 'rest' among
most of God's people is the reason there are so many differing
opinions, which
have led to so many differing teachings, which have led to so many
differing
doctrines among Christians...and sadly among scholars of scripture.
As individually we read and study, we naturally think within
the knowledge
already abiding in us. That is, a person reads or listens into his
present
environment of knowledge, and therefore he considers incoming things in
the
light of that knowledge. Moreover, his knowledge has been
molded by his or
her internal condition (i.e. mental, spiritual, educational,
etc.).
Consider a TV Episode
Within the last year I have taken note
of the
number of commercials inserted into an episode of one of the many 'cop
shows'.
This led me to note the time of each segment of an episode between
commercials.
This led to noting how the writers of such episodes had mastered the
art of
telling a full story (the episode) in about forty-five
minutes...not an
easy thing for long winded folk like me. This, then, led to considering
each
segment, which is nearly a self-contained piece of the story; that is,
it has a
beginning to catch again the viewer's interest and it has an ending
that must
lead the viewer naturally into the next segment...and so on.
Bible Study
Bible study (as I do it, somewhat
described
above) is similar to a TV episode. In reading scripture
before and after
an interesting passage, I have found that usually there is a beginning
and ending of some broad truth upon which the
author is intent, which
does not necessarily match beginnings and endings of chapters. In a
small New
Testament book usually there are several 'episodes'. Larger books
usually
contain even more 'episodes'. (Though I write this well after
having
written 'Salted with Fire', that study a good example.)
This style of writing is especially true in
the Gospels where a writer had detailed some of Jesus'
teachings, actions,
and Old Testament quotes; for note that he organized these within a
broader
truth (episode). Jesus said and did far too many things; therefore,
none of the
Gospel writers even thought to attempt them all. We know that the
Spirit
inspired each to write what he wrote, and in this the Spirit limited
the
author; yet, the Spirit enabled the author to do some of his own
preaching,
which was in his grouping the things written.
Therefore, consider that the detailing of Jesus'
teachings, actions, quotes, etc. is contained within a broader teaching
(i.e.
episode) that in the author's opinion is very important to the
Christian
reader. Yes, a recorded teaching or action of Jesus is
ultimately
important in God's Plan of the Ages; yet, the author details
them encapsulated if you will in an essential truth especially
for the
reader.
Example: Many such
'episodes' have to do
with faith - Biblical faith that is implanted into each child of God.
Yes,
salvation came to the child of God by this faith (i.e. from heaven to
the child
of God). Also, only by this same faith can he or she properly
experience,
believe, grow, and comprehend the God of Salvation.
This is why the apostles in the Gospels and in
the Epistles continued to emphasize 'faith' whenever they could. Sadly,
because
one's mind and emotions are obviously involved, the child of God nearly
always
thinks that he is mostly acting, reacting, learning, etc. in his
connections
with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit; yet, nearly of it
(if it
is real) is of God and not of the very fortunate child (you and me).
Yes, in
the large scheme of things, what Jesus taught and did was (and is) of
ultimate
importance; yet, the author's context (i.e. the episode, the stage
within which
may exist in any number of passages) is ultimately important to the
individual
reader. According to the apostles, how else can a child of God actually
comprehend much less experience such truths?
So let me simply explain the 'episode'. It
usually begins where a major thought of a previous 'episode' ended.
Thus, any number
of passages about miracles, doings, or teachings of Jesus is
sequentially
detailed within another and different concept that the author wants the
Christian reader to understand. Now, comparing it to a tv show, each
detailed
thing (Jesus' miracle, doing, teaching, etc.) is a segment
of the
episode and all segments together make up the
episode. And each segment
is usually almost complete in itself (as described above about tv
episodes).
And this is why it is so easy for Christians to
focus on a passage segment only to miss the entire
episode. It is focusing
on a wonderful foundational truth while missing the
author's own
preaching to the reader (i.e. the 'episode'). So dear reader, besides
the
wonders of Jesus Christ, try also to catch the preaching of the Gospel
writer.
Sermons and Teachings
Usually an episode of scripture is too
long,
thus not convenient for teaching or sermon; and since most teaching and
sermons
are given to us for motivating us, much of a teaching or a sermon is
taken up
with the abilities of the teacher or preacher. Indeed, it is what we
expect and
then we can agree or disagree; moreover, we can admire (or not) the
teacher or
preacher. Seldom in today's sermons and teachings can one find an
'episode'. We
hardly even know that they exist in scripture, in all scripture.
Motivating is selling. The broader concept in
all that I do in our website is not to sell the visitor on what I
believe, but
rather to sell the visitor on the notion that he or she can and should
study
scripture alone in private; and that amid such study, a unique and
better
relationship will likely occur between you and the Master. I know and
trust
that within that kind of relationship you will receive and
grow according
to God's plan for you. Thank Goodness, teachings and sermons are
usually good
and often blessed of our Lord. Study groups and study books are fine
and the
same can be said for them. Yet, I encourage you to try going it
alone... and
the Lord will need you there.
However, for the time being (or the moment) you
are visiting us and I am trying to open you up to how I study scripture
and to
its advantages.
Sincerely, Ron
These are free printable Bible
studies by C. Ronald
Johnson at Christian Wilderness Press
- Christian Wilderness Press -