How to get the most out of reading God’s Word
Friday, June 22, 2012, Part 1
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
IDEA: One reason we misinterpret or misapply a passage is that we often don’t consider the literary genre in which it is written.
PURPOSE: To help listeners be aware that different kinds of biblical literature have to be interpreted in different ways.
fit for a king?
Singapore is a democratic state. It was a British colony for 150 years and had a string of kings and queens during that time period. But now democracy rules the day! In 1 Samuel 8 we find the people of Israel demanding a king (see also 1 Samuel 10:17-19, 12:6-18). Why did they want a [...]
God provides joy amidst even the most difficult seasons of life–Cheryl’s Story
Sometimes finding hope to face another day can be difficult. When Cheryl’s daughter began to show signs of learning disabilities and the doctors had no answers, she found an answer of a different kind in the Scriptures. Learn more of what the Bible says about “How Can a Parent Find Peace of Mind?” We would...
Lessons from a blistered left hand
By Edna Ho, Malaysia I just came back from a church camp with my family. It was a tiring but fun-filled 3 days 2 nights at a hill resort. On the second day, we played our own version of the famous “Minute-to-Win-It” telematch. I enjoyed myself so much that I didn’t even realize that I [...]
Let’s look at passage in Revelation where a church was falling far away from God and didn’t know it
Have you ever thought you were on top of the world, doing great at work, at home, only to find things weren’t as perfect as they seemed?
Tempting Outside; Toxic Inside
An Australian study concluded that plainer cigarette packages would make smoking less appealing to teens. In response, the Australian government introduced legislation that would require tobacco companies to replace color, logos, and promotional text on cigarette packages with health warnings and images of diseased lungs. In effect, the Marlboro Man would give way to the Grim Reaper in an effort to reduce the number of deaths caused by smoking. But cigarette packaging isn’t the only thing that may be tempting on the outside with a toxic product inside.
lost
Yesterday I lost my wedding ring. I was splashing about in a river when the wet band apparently slipped off my finger. I’m devastated. I can’t afford to replace what I lost, as the price of gold is at an all time high. But even as I’m feeling sorry for myself, I realize that I’ve [...]
A Good Neighbor
In June 2011, when disastrous flood- waters chased residents of Minot, North Dakota, from their homes, the people of that community did what seemed to come naturally to them—they helped others who were in need. People from more than an hour away, without being asked, showed up to help. Some loaned their campers to those who lost their homes and others allowed their garages to be used for temporary storage. The people of North Dakota were showing what it means to be good neighbors.
Finding new meaning in a familiar Bible passage
When we find an image in the Bible, it’s important that we not assume that the image may not be referring to what we think it does.
amputate!
The film 127 Hours tells the true story of Aron Ralston, based on his memoir Between a Rock and a Hard Place. In 2003 Aron’s forearm became pinned under a boulder for 5 days with no rescue in sight. Out of desperation he freed himself by cutting off his right arm with a blunt penknife. [...]
The Failure Of Success: The Story Of Jonah | An Adaptation
By Bill Crowder Adapted by Rachel Ang This is an adaption of the Discovery Series booklet The Failure Of Success: The Story Of Jonah by Bill Crowder. It is a project under Youth Ministry Initiative by RBC Ministries to mobilize and equip Christian youth to bring God’s Word to their peers. Rachel Ang is a [...]
Judge Rightly
After a national news magazine posted an online story listing my community as one of the top-10 dying cities in the nation, local citizens were outraged. They registered their indignation, pointing out evidence to the contrary. One resident went to great lengths to disprove the harsh judgment. He recruited local citizens to show up downtown and appear in a video that showcased the vibrancy of our community. The video received international attention, and the news magazine admitted it was wrong. But the organization that had done the “research” stood by the conclusion, even though it was based on limited criteria.
Discover how to get a deeper understanding of God’s Word
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
“Let not those who wait for You, O Lord God of Hosts, be ashamed because of me; let not those who seek You be confounded because of me, O God of Israel. Because for your sake I have borne reproach; shame has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, and an alien to my mother’s children; because zeal for your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me. When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting, that became my reproach. I also made sackcloth my garment; I became a byword to them. Those who sit in the gate speak against me, and I am the song of the drunkards” (Psalm 69:6-12).
IDEA: Misinterpreted or misapplied passages have different degrees of consequences.
PURPOSE: To help listeners realize the importance of interpreting and applying biblical passages accurately.
seasons
Last summer brought unrelenting temperatures of more than 100 degrees to my part of the country. So when a day arrived when the sky brought overcast clouds and rain, I began to think about autumn and cooler weather. I love certain aspects of summer, but the too hot days stir my anticipation for what comes [...]
Practical tools for getting the most out of your Bible study
Monday, June 18, 2012
“And Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his treasures—the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory—all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them . . . and [Isaiah] said, “What have they seen in your house?” So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house, there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them” (Isaiah 39:2-4).
IDEA: Misinterpreted or misapplied passages of Scripture have different degrees of consequences.
PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that there are consequences to the ways they interpret the Scriptures.
