THE KEY TO
UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE, STUDENT - 1
for Young People and Adults
This series incorporates TRAINING
[showing, demonstrating, and helping discipline - my part. Your part is practicing, exercising,
working through] as well as TEACHING [instructing, directing your thinking (mine); thinking about it (yours)]. There are all kinds of Bible
"lessons" that teach good things, but there is not so much that
connects the individual lessons. Too
often we only see isolated stories, bits and pieces of the whole. This series is designed to help you discover
the focus of all the Scriptures - to reveal the key that unlocks the
whole Bible. It is a bridge between
Bible knowledge and understanding (the integration of the parts)
which gets at the meaning of biblical events, persons, symbols, and teachings.
PROCEDURES [your exercise
program] & INSTRUCTIONS [rules]
Complete study sheets prior to meetings as daily
homework assignments [a couple passages each day]. Do not
read ahead or check your responses
with the instructor's set.
Complete each exercise before moving on to the next. Follow the directions and answer the
questions that are asked. Write down
your questions, observations and thoughts. Prepare to
explain and support your answers, and bring relevant comments and questions to
the discussion. Absentees are
expected to keep up their lessons and go over missed meetings with another
participant before the next session. Ask
questions and request lessons and handouts to print out at Key to the Bible[subject line], pop@eradman.com.
INTRODUCTION
1.
Write a short statement describing your impression of what the Old Testament is
about.
We will be looking at and practicing getting at 2
fundamental aspects of OBJECTIVE TRUTH: (1) what the Bible says; (2)
what it means by what it says.
·
Employ
the following METHOD OF STUDY [your training workout] where appropriate: write
the passage or a portion of it, then observe and comment - focus and
think through what you are reading by interacting with the passage,
dialoging with it: reorganize the wording; identify [label] what is being
stated; describe; categorize [apdx.A]; summarize; draw conclusions;
question; follow leads; state implications; note what it doesn’t say. My interaction and comments are [bracketed].
EXAMPLE: Interact with Mk.1:14-15.
What is the context (see apdx.A)? [Jesus
continues the message of John the Baptist [continuity
of the message] after John's arrest] "Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the
[2] 'and the
[3] 'repent and believe in the Gospel' [appropriate response]."
FIRST LESSON
2. Briefly describe the situation
(context) where indicated, then interact with the
passages and summarize what they say about the theme of the Old
Testament.
Lk.24:44-47 [Context:
________________________________________
__________________________________________________________]
1
Cor.15:3-4
Acts 2:25-31 [Context:
________________________________________
___________________________________________________________]
Acts 10:42-43 [Context:
_______________________________________
___________________________________________________________]
Acts
26:22-23 [Context:
_______________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Why couldn't the disciples understand the Scriptures (Lk.24:25)? Why do
I have so much trouble?
Jn.5:45-47
Acts
26:6 [Context:
___________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Heb.3:5-6
How or in what manner was the truth of the Gospel foretold in the
OT?
Heb.9:8-12
Col.2:16-17
3.
Now, having thought through the above passages, what is the Old Testament about? Jn.5:39-40
Since Christ is also the
subject of the New Testament, we must conclude that He is the subject of
the Bible. Why is He so central? To answer this question, we must ask several
others.
4.
What are the two great works for which God is praised (2 Cor.4:3-6)? ______________ and
______________
Rev.4:9-11
[also Ps.148:1-6]
Rev.5:8-9
[also Ps.77:11-15]
The
significance of the Sabbath (7th day) is depicted in the 10
Commandments as a reminder of the completion of ______ ___________ __________
(Ex.20:8-11). Later, there is a shift in emphasis. The Sabbath is spoken of in connection with
God's _____________ ___
5.
What happened after God created all things? Gen.3
6.
The issue then becomes one of recovery.
How can sinners dwell with God in His perfection of holiness? Acts 26:18
7.
So, what is the pervading theme of the Bible?
Heb.2:14-15
Eph.1:7
Col.1:12-14
What struck you in this lesson? [opportunity
to share your discoveries and insights]
FURTHER STUDY
Look up the following passages.
Theme: Christ as fulfillment
Mt.
5:17-18
Mk.14:49
Acts
13:23-33
Rom.1:1-4
1
Pt.1:10-12
Theme: Christ as
creator/redeemer
Jn.1:1-13
Col.1:15-21
Heb.1:10
APDX A, TAXONOMY – Organizing by Contexts, Categories,
and Vocabulary
Our
minds are ordered by categories. Both clearly defined classifications and their labels
are necessary for understanding and communication. Classification is the identification of
groups based upon common features. Each
class or category functions as a descriptive label representing a
particular grouping. Theological terms are
categories that carry the concepts.
They encapsulate the doctrines in a vocabulary so we may
contemplate and communicate them. So, it is necessary to
correctly identify the subject matter, whether justification or
sanctification for example, as we consider a passage. Context
has to do with the structure within which the logical flow of thought and
progression of story or argument takes place - what situation is being
described or subject talked about.