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Let me ask you something…
Do you feel alone?
Are you hurting?
When you close you’re eyes is the only thing you see the troubles and strife in life?
May I share something with you?
Did you know; that even though you may feel alone that Jesus is therewith you?
Did you know; that even though you are hurting Jesus is thereapplying his healing love to your broken heart?
Did you know; that even though all you see is troubles and strife Jesus is there holding you close, caring for you, carrying you, providing for you?
I am reminded of a story in the Matthew 8 and Luke 8 where the disciples and Jesus all boarded a boat and set sail. Jesus had just finished doing a lot of teaching and ministering so he had decided to lay down for a bit and take a nap. I imagine that it was nice calm peaceful day and the rocking of the boat and the cool air would have helped him fall asleep much quicker.
Then, suddenly, a massive storm hit. Towering waves came crashing down upon the boat! Tossing it back and forth like a rag doll. The wind howled and roared through their sail, possibly causing small rips in the fabric. The slick wood of the boat and the rocking of the waves; causing the men to slip and fall. This storm must have been much more than any ordinary storm because the disciples were experienced fishermen and they were terrified.
Does your life feel like this? Do you feel like you are one of those men on that boat.You’ve tried everything you know, but it all failed. You are now to the point that you are just holding on for dear life trying not to drown in the midst of your situation and despair.
Lets continue the story…
You see they didn’t stop their. They didn’t allow the storm to just over take them. Instead, they looked to the one person who could help. But when they looked at him he was asleep. I’m sure in some of their minds they felt abandoned thinking, “how in the world could he sit their and sleep while we are all so scared to death!” Others thinking, “Oh, we should bother him. He’ll just tell us to figure it out.”
Hmm.. seems like their situation just went from bad to worse. Do you feel the same way. Do you feel like Jesus has abandoned you? Or do you feel like he wouldn’t care about your situation?
Then perhaps… I should finish this story?
I wonder which disciple was the first to say “Forget this! I’m going to wake the master. I know he can help us.” And he, with weak legs struggling to walk across the tossing boat went to the Jesus to wake him. I wonder what he thought as he reached out his hand to the Jesus to seek help?
Suddenly the master arose, walked out on deck of the boat, and with his tongue, rebuked the storm. At that moment the storm in their lives came to calm.
If you are going through a storm right now, I want to urge you. Look to the one who can help. Reach your hand out to the one who can calm the storm of your life.He’s not to busy for you. He loves you, He cares for you. All you have to do is reach out and ask him for help.
Sunday we finished up our 3 weeks series on The Bible. Before i wrap up the final steps Let me recap the first 2.
1. First we must ask "what did the text mean to the original audience?" Remember it was written to certain group at a certain for a certain purpose. So discover it's meaning we must first discover what it meant to them.
2. We must then discuss the differences between the original audience and us. Things like language, customs, covenant, and situation are things we must look for.
The next two steps are often meshed into one step but in reality should be two seperate.
First we must take what we know and figure out the meaning. Remember there is one meaning to scripture and our task in this next step is not to come up with the meaning but rather DISCOVER the meaning intended by the author.
While it was written to a specific time for a specific audience he is also giving universal theological teachings for all of his people through these same texts. So in the midst of discovering the meaning you must discover the principle being taught. Then knowning the principle we look at the similarities between the Biblical situation and our own . For example in Joshua 1:1-9 we are also the people of God, in covenant relationship (new covenant though not old); while we are not the leaders of Israel, nonetheless many of us are in leadership position in one way or another. We are not invading the Promised Land, but we are seeking to obey the will of God and to accomplish what he has commanded us to do.
Now there are 5 very important things about the meaning that you must know.
1. It should be reflected in the text. 2. It should be timeless and not tied to a specific situation. 3. It should not be culturally bound. 4. It should correspond to the teaching of the rest of Scripture. Scripture proves scripture. 5. It should be relevant to both the biblical and the contemporary audience.
If it's missing any of those then you should go back and continue to dig deeper. Remember to allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate parts of the scripture to give you clearer understanding. Don't get frustrated if you are not getting it's meaning right off the bat. Some scholars, many who have more degrees then they have wall space, spend years on one verse.
In our example of Joshua 1:1-9 the Meaning (or theological principle if you like) is :
To be effective in serving God and successful in the task to which he has called us, we must draw strength and courage from his presence. We must also be obedient to God's Word, meditating on it constantly.
The final step is what i believe to be the coolest part of scripture. The application. Scripture is meant to be challenging and life changing. The Bible is not a book meant to be read on a whim and then toss to the side with out second thought. After discovering the meaning of the text we MUST apply it to our lives. There are many applications for different scriptures.
here's one example... Let's say... mmm that you feel God calls you to teaching a discipleship group of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, graders... ::cough cough:: not saying anything, just saying.... But anyways. Let's say you're teaching this class. It's new and scary for you because you may not have done anything like this before. But you can be strengthened and encouraged by God's empowering presence. Be obedient, keepign a focus on the scriptures.
So there you have it, How to read the Bible in 4 steps. :) i hope you've enjoyed the journey and i hope you enjoy every journey through scripture that you will ever take in your life.
I know i know most of u r rolling ur eyes but get over urselves. this is gonna be sweet! Why am i excited? cuz my inner geek is screaming out in excitement that Osamu Tzuka's work is still being carried on :) yay!!!
So i don't normally post my notes from my Sunday night notes but i felt that i should post up this one...
I started off by handing all the kids a card. I told them to describe themselves. I told them to describe themselves physically and also describe their personalities. They had a really really rough time with this.
We then discussed why it was hard to describe their personalities. It's said that people have a hard time of really looking at themselves because they afraid that when they really take a look at who they are, they won't like what they see.
I then told them to flip the card over and write at the top of it
I am
You should do this too... yes you who are reading this right now... i'll wait...
got a card? good.
Like i said people have a hard time describing themselves because they are afraid of what they will see. But let me take you on a journey to discover who you really are.
Write down on your card Genesis 1:26. Look at this first part of the verse.
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness
It says that God made us in His image. Now, would you call God ugly? Dumb? So if you are made in the image of God why would you call yourself that?! So next to that verse i want you to write
I am made in the very image of God.
Now flip over to Ephesians 2:10 and write it down on the card. It reads
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
According to this verse we are the very workmanship of God. Some would say the masterpiece of God. And it also says that we were created to do good works.
So next to the the verse Ephesians 2:10 write this
I am a masterpiece of God and was created to do good works.
Now flip over to John 14:12-15. Write it down on your card :) now it reads
12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Now next to the verse on your card write this
I am able to do many great things that Christ did and greater through Christ to bring glory to God.
hand getting tired? well hang on one last verse. Write down Acts 2:17
'In the last days, God says,I will pour out my Spirit on all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy,your young men will see visions,your old men will dream dreams.
According to this verse God will pour out gifts on us and we will have dreams and visions. so next to the verse write out
I am chosen to have dreams and visions.
Now take the card. get up from your seat. walk to the nearest mirror. when you get there look at yourself and read that card. Go ahead do it. i'll wait here for you.
Welcome back...
We as a whole, from babies to 80's are bombarded with images and concepts of what we are suppose to look like. We are told to look a certain way, to act a certain way, to be this, to be that. 9 times out of 10... those things aren't what God has dictated to be true. I had you and the kids get up and read that card in your mirror to help get into your spirit the truth. So that next time you look at yourself... you won't be afraid of what you find. you'll find the truth that God has laid out in his holy word.
Welp this week i'm just gonna put up my notes that i use for the sermon. enjoy :)
Central Idea of the Sermon: To understand the Scriptures we must first understand why it was written.
Introduction: Have you ever Read something and went "huh!?" For the next two weeks we will discover how to avoid the huh!?'s Now you will still get those but we'll try to make it easier for you!
TS: Ever read someone else's mail?.
I. Scriptures were written with purpose.
Exp: Scripture was written at a certain time, for a certain group, for a certain reason.
Ill: For an illustration I read an old e-mail from a friend of mine. The e-mail was from 2004 and made references to personal conversation and things that were happening in 2004
TS: Now that you understand that they are personal we must figure out why they were written.
II. Why’d they say that!?
Exp: To understand the Big picture we must first understand the smaller parts. When you read the Bible we must first attempt to understand why it was written and what it mean tot the original audience. If we don’t first understand that how can we possibly apply it out our lives? To do this we must read the scripture very carefully. Looking at what is said from their point of view.
Ill: Let’s look at Joshua 1:1-9. What did the text mean to the Biblical Audience?
The Lord commanded Joshua, the new leader of Israel, to draw strength and courage from God’s empowering presence, to be obedient to the law of Moses, and to meditate on the law so that he would be successful in the conquest of the Promised Land.
TS: Now that we know what it meant now need to figure out what the differences are between THEM and US.
III. Difference
Exp: There are differences between us and the biblical audience. These things include culture, language, situations, and also the time period.
Ill: If I gave you instructions on how to play a cassette tape, many of you would be completely confused. Why? Because you don’t know what a cassette tape is! Many of you are WAY to young to know what that is. What how about an 8-track player? Anyone know what that is? There’s a difference between then and now. So what are the differences? One… we don’t use those anymore. Now we use CD’s and MP3’s. Right? So what are the differences in the text.
App: We are not leaders of the nation Israel (although some of us may be leaders in a the church). We are not embarking on a conquest of Canaan, the Promised Land, We are not under the old covenant of law.
Conclustion: So now what? What do we do now that we know what the text meant to the original people and what the differences are between them and us today?
QUE PASA!! hello ladies and gents! i am Dallas (aka Sir Roam) I am the ORIGINAL Poor Albino Mexican! but more importantly i'm madly in love with CHRIST! I just graduated from Southwestern Assemblies of God University with a degree in Youth Ministries. I'm presently the Children's Pastor at my church. VERY exciting :) I enjoy fencing, chill'n draw'n and listen'n to music. not only that but i LOVE HUGZ! yes hugz rock! If yall get bored just holler at your boy here!
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