From the Classroom: Jump Into God's Word!

...but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

As business owners who profess our faith and the claim that God is all powerful (omniscient)...all-knowing (omniscience)...everywhere present (omnipresent) we must jump into God's word. To be effective business owners the word of God must be at the tip of our tongues when it seems our business is running into walls. It is God's Word that must sustain us when it seems hard and we want to throw in the towel. It must be God's Word that lays the foundation of all ethical decisions made when it comes to serving and leading others. When we ask God to move in our life (revival: an awakening, in a church or community, of interest in and care for matters relating to personal religion.), three things will happen:

1. A movement towards God's Word...

2. A movement towards Restoration (to bring back into existence, use, or the like)
from sin in our lives that separates us from God....

3. A movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

It starts though with God's Word. So today I want to give you a few tools that I teach my students when it comes to studying the Bible. In the March 14 blog entry, The Uniqueness of the Bible, we laid down the foundation why the Bible? Why should we read it? What makes it different than other holy books? In order to know God as described in Daniel 11:32... we need to get to know Him. The Old Testament looks at the characteristics of God, desired relationship with us, redemption and much more. If there is a theme about the Old Testament it would have to be obedience and disobedience. Adam and the garden...obedience and disobedience. Abraham becomes father of a nation...obedience and disobedience. Moses and the Hebrews in the desert before entering the Promise Land...obedience and disobedience. Joshua, the prophets, the kings and the people of ancient Israel...obedience and disobedience. There where rights and wrongs that God gave. The New Testament looks at fulfilled promises and redemption of mankind through Christ as seen through the eyes of the witnesses (2 Peter 1:16-21). It lays the foundation of our worldview when it views right and wrong, forming our values, in return shaping our behavior.

Three tools to help you JUMP IN!

First you will need to start with...

Observation: What does the text say?

When you read the passage it is important to read the context of the Scripture. Use a discerning eye to capture phrases and words that describe the passage and the writer's intentions. Its like reading a contract...you carefully comb through the words/sentences making sure everything is in order. the same must be done when it comes to reading God's Word. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. What do the verses before and after say concerning the passage I am studying?
(Example: We know John 3:16, but what does the passage say before and after verse
16. Read it. It just might change the context of that passage, making it even
more powerful!)

2. What is the background and purpose of the passage? (Example: Luke 1:1-4)

3. What is the historical background of the passage?
(Example: http://www.padfield.com/2005/corinth.html will give a historical
background on the city of Corinth and the writing of Paul's letters 1 and 2
Corinthians.)

4. Are the repetition of words key terms or of importance?

Interpretation: What does the text mean?

Once you have gathered information concerning the book/text you then put together the general principles underlying the text. Just like a contract. When asked "Do you understand the terms and your legal responsibilities?" You give a response of your general understanding and principles of the contract. The same is done when reading the text. There are two questions we must ask:

1. What timeless issues does the text address?

2. What light did the text shed on those issues for its original audience?

Example: Ephesians 5:1-7 What timeless issue (an issue that applies to the authors culture and ours today) does Paul address? What challenge does he give to his audience, which also applies to us today?

This is where Scripture comes alive! Always remember that you are reading over someones shoulder. The authors were writing to an audience of the culture. Our job is to take the Scripture and ask our selves what it meant to them in their circumstances before we apply it to our lives.

Application: What does the text mean to me? How can I apply it to my life?

This is where growth comes! We must ask ourselves the following questions:

1. What do I have in common with the original audience?
2. What response did the writer seek from them?
3. What am I going to do about it?

The Scriptures can have no place in your life until it has an impact on your actions.*


Once again, lets go back to the example of the contract. Once you have observed the contract. Come to an interpretation of the contract...you now have an understanding of the contract and how it will affect your life. You know what will happen if terms are broken or kept. You now run your business based on the contract terms given and understood. Ummmm, kind of sounds like God's contract/promises with us. The contract being the Bible. If we do not know the full contract of God's promise and terms given to us, then how can we live an effective and joyous life in relationship with God? How can we stand in confidence in the promises given to us through Christ? How then can our businesses stand on the ethical ideas of right and wrong when it comes to dealing with customers or colleagues? Have you read your "Spiritual" contract today? If you haven't, JUMP IN and see all that God has in store for you! Hope this helps!

His Call. His gifts. Your purpose. Irrevocable.

(Notes for study taken from "Making Bible Study Skills", * quote taken from "Making Bible Study Skills")