June 2006

Bible Study – ExegesisAs I sit here in Greensborough, NC, I am reflecting on how we go about studying scirrpture and the nature of our Bible studies. Over the years I have seen more and more subjective interpretation. I think the problem is that most pastors do not to the hard work of real study in preparation for their sermons and Bible studies. With the plethora of sermons and studies out that can be bought and/or acquired for free. I think we have become lazy evangelicals. We impose that our 21st century culture on the text without any critical analysis

Another First Principle of Interpretation – Unity of the Bible One the most confusing issues for students of scripture is the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Although the whole bible was written by over 40 different authors from many different walks of life over a period of 2000 years with no collaboration between authors, the Bible is a harmonious unit. It contains no contradictions. Dispensational, Covenant, and New Covenant Theologians have been discussing this for some time, with Dispensational theology being a recient phenomenon of the 1800s and New Covenant an even more recent understanding (if

Bible Study: The Problem Of FeelingsOne of the things that is very concerning to me is that people today are becoming their own authority for how they interpret the Bible. Many Bible studies / small groups today no longer attempt to get at the authorial meaning that the Holy Spirit intended in inspiring the author, but deals with application right off the bat. A Person throws out a verse out there and says “I feel like this verse is saying . . .“, and then proceeds to give you their opinion of what the verse means. When this person is

Bible Study: Observation before Interpretation before ApplicationHere is a good application (A.p.p.l.i.c.a.t.i.o.n.s) acrostic that I found at pastors.com: Is there an Attitude to adjust? Is there a Promise to claim? Is there a Priority to change Is there a Lesson to learn? Is there an Issue to resolve? Is there a Command to obey? Is there an Activity to avoid or stop? Is there a Truth to believe? Is there an Idol to tear down? (That’s a big one.) Is there an Offense to forgive? Is there a New direction to take? Is there a Sin to confess? If you

Pressing on with the Advantage of the Holy SpiritText: John 16:1-11 Introductory ConnectionsThe comforter should quiet your fearsThe world deceives by placing all the advantages and profits they offer and the disadvantages that would be by rejecting them. They throw a shade on the privations that must be submitted to, labor that must be sustained, the sacrifices that must be made, and the sufferings that must be endured…How different is Christ…Happiness is spiritual, future, in another kingdom and that he who entered into it must forsake allWe must see ourselves not as salesmen, managers, homakers and students. We must see

Is the Insanity Defense Moral Evasion When we look at our court system today in America, it seems more and more that people want to shirk their responsibility for their actions.  We all do it too.  We rationalize our sin away by thinking that we are not that bad comparably.  But none of us can sin in isolation.  By that I mean that we cannot sin without it affecting others who know us.  Our character does matter and our current decisions are an important ingredient that forms our current character.  The bible states that 8For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the

Complementarian ConvictionsIt has always been important to me to regulate ministry by the Word of God.  I really have struggled with the issue of the Biblical roll of manhood and womanhood so as to have a conviction on the issue.  I believe that this issue will become a watershed issue showing those who want to interpret biblical language to accommodate today’s culture and those who want to Biblical convictions to penetrate shape the culture of today. Mark Dever has written on this critical issue at Undermining Tolerance for Egalitarianism see also www.disciplemaking.net