OUTLINE:
Theme: Simplicity and Purity of Devotion to Christ
– New Year, Fresh Start (2 parts) [prioritization of first love]
– Stress (10 parts) [greatest stress factor is loss of first love]
– Look Around. Seriously, Look Long and Hard (2 parts) [embrace the simple things in life]
Heb 3:15
As it is said,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
2Co 11:3
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
Php 2:12-13
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Reading Your Bible
It is imperative that you read your Bible with the utmost good intention of reading for context. This implies you understand the theme, setting, writer’s intent, audience, etc. Furthermore, since all scripture is God-breathed (2Ti 3:16-17), interpreting a book, passage, verse, or word must seek harmony with the rest of the Bible.
Read For Context!
Be humble, be open, and ask the Lord to show you the contextual meaning… what HE MEANT, in context.
Homework: Blogs on “Context”
– Context is Key – Oct 29, 21 (29-10-21 on website)
– Context Demanded – Jan 10, 2020 (10-01-20 on website)HINT: use the “tag” dropdown list and select “context”
Context is Key – blog – Oct 29, 2021
The Bible says those who “practice” the “fear of the Lord…have good understanding.” [Psa 111:10] This means that if we, motivated by a healthy fear of the Lord, pay close attention to His words (more specifically, His Word, the Bible) we are assured good discernment. However, if we treat His word flippantly, we run the very real risk of misunderstanding what He wishes to convey to His children. This error has disastrous results.
God-centric vs. Egocentric Interpretation of Holy Scripture
While the Bible is written for man’s edification, it is God’s perspective that we must seek, ultimately. As the Author of salvation, God decreed the whole of it before humans were even created.
Context is Key – blog – Oct 29, 2021
The Bible expects us to exercise good discernment when reading any word or phrase that may have at least one universal connotation to it regarding people (e.g. “everyone”, “all”, “whole”, “world”, etc.).
Context is Key – blog – Oct 29, 2021
We cannot be lazy interpreters of Holy Scripture, for it demands our utmost attention. We cannot read individual verses out of context, superficially, and expect to land safely on the true meaning of the passage…
Homework: Blogs on “Context”
– Context is Key – Oct 29, 21 (29-10-21 on website)
– Context Demanded – Jan 10, 2020 (10-01-20 on website)HINT: use the “tag” dropdown list and select “context”
1Co 8:2
If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.