Part I The Bible: an Overview

What does God want to tell us through the collection of books called the Holy Bible? Globally the Bible tells the story of Love, Betrayal and Triumph between God and Mankind: It is the story of Creation and the history of Mankind – how it began and how it will end.  It is the story of God’s love for his creation, the betrayal that stole his love, and his plan to redeem them.  On a personal level, the Bible is a Life’s Instruction Manuel that comes in 3 forms:

1. The Laws and Commandments – the what’s

God called out the descendants of Abraham to become a nation. He taught them how to organize and develop as a community (e.g. Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy). Later Jesus called out a people to form his church and taught them how to live together in love and harmony as a community (e.g. Colossian and Ephesians).

2. Wisdom & Discernment – the why’s

It instructs by characterizing the law of interactions (mankind vs mankind and mankind vs nature), human nature, and behaviors (e.g. Proverb and Ecclesiastes). By understanding how these laws govern our successes and failures, we can live a productive and prosperous life on earth when we choose wisely. Jesus uses parables to instruct us about the kingdom of God, and how we can prepare ourselves to gain eternal life that is available to us after this life on earth.

3. Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount & Real Life Examples – the how’s

As the Son of God, Jesus seems to turn the teaching of the Law upside down, when he says that we should ‘turn the other cheek’ when someone strikes us and that we should give also our coats when someone demands to take our shirts! There is a common misconception that the old testament God seems to be full of wrath and revenge, while Jesus teaches forgiveness and kindness. In reality, Jesus is showing us how to uphold God’s commandments by taking us deeper into a trusting and loving relationship with God.  Real-life stories of the people in the Bible also teach us how we can imitate their faith, character, and heart to live an impactful life. We watch, for example, David’s rise and fall from a shepherd boy to a powerful king. We are inspired by Esther, a young woman who suddenly finds herself in the position to save an entire race from genocide. Jesus didn’t just teach, he lived what he taught and modeled for us how to have a relationship with God.

Reflection

Which aspect of the Bible, or my faith, would I like to learn more about? In which areas of my life do I think the Bible can help me the most?

Part II How to Read the Bible

1. Mediate on the Scripture

Read: Psalm 119: 97 - 99

What is the difference between reading and meditating? What does it mean to meditate on something? How should I go about meditating on the Bible verses when I read? And what is the benefit of taking the time to meditate on the Bible verses? (hint v. 99)

2. To be guided by the Holy Spirit

Read: 2 Peter 1: 19 - 21

Note: prophetic message simply refers to messages from God. Prophecy can be about the prediction of the future, or can be a divine message or instruction.

We are called to pay attention to what we read – to take time to reflect and understand – this implies that the Scripture is not always easily discernable. Why do you think this is? Can you think of some Bible teachings that you find difficult to understand or accept? This Bible verse says though the book is written by men, God is the ultimate author as he is the one who moved people to write through the Holy Spirit. Conversely, the Holy Spirit can help us to understand the message when we ask him. Therefore, before you read, pray and ask God to open your mind and your heart to understand. Ask God: ‘What do you want to tell me today?” Be diligent but patient, that is take time to read the context, to reflect, to question, to challenge. It’s OK if we do not understand everything now - some topics may take years to become clear to us.

3. Be ready to be trained

Read: 2 Timothy 3: 14-17

Do you believe that the Bible can be used to teach and train? It promises to thoroughly equip us for every good work in life. What then is our part? To be open and willing to be taught and trained. This involves active learning, listening, and participation when we read.  As in all training, it also means having the discipline to read, meditate and reflect on the Bible texts on a regular basis.    

4. Put it into practice

Read: John 8: 31 -32

There are two promises here. First, we can know the truth by putting into practice Jesus’ teaching. This implies that just believing is not enough. Why do you think this is? Secondly, after putting into practice the teaching, not only the truth will come to us, but it will also set us free. Here Jesus is referring to spiritual freedom such as freedom from fears and anxieties, and from guilt, shame, addictions, and so on. Can you imagine how by putting into practice the Bible you can be set free?

Read: Matthew 7: 24-28

Only by practicing God’s Word would it become the foundation of your life. But many people take shortcuts. Maybe they just go to church, and listen to sermons, but live their lives differently from Monday to Saturday. Or they know what the Bible teaches but simply choose to do whatever they want, such as cheating on tax or business expense accounts, or not taking responsibility for the harm they cause others. Jesus compares this behavior to building a house on sand.  Everything may look fine for a while until the storm of life hits, and it all falls apart.  Why is it so hard to do what the Bible says, even though we intellectually may believe that the teaching is good and right for us?  How would you choose?

Reflection

What role does the Bible have in shaping my faith?  Am I  prepared to invest time and effort to go deeper and wider in my Bible knowledge?  Am ready and willing to allow God to transform my life by putting into practice what I learn?

1. To run away when it hurts

Read: Hebrews 4: 12 - 13

God’s Words remain relevant (living) and impactful (active) today as it was 2,000 years ago. This is because it addresses the human heart, which does not change with time, civilization or technology development. 2,000 years ago one may be envious of his neighbor’s goat, but today one could be envious of his neighbor’s shining BMW. Here the Scripture is being compared to a sword, or better yet, a medical scalpel – that cuts deeply into us – in fine details, or in ways that are not visible to us. At times we can even get angry because we feel judged. Why then should I remain committed to learn God’s Word even if it causes me pain? (Hint: if sin is like cancer, then God’s word is like the expert surgeon’s scalpel).

2. To distort it to fit in our own understanding

Read: 2 Peter 3:15-16

This is a serious warning that, when we distort God’s teaching, we can ruin our own lives. Consider the teaching that clergymen should not marry. This is a distortion of Paul’s teaching about marriage. Priests who want to serve God but cannot control their sexual needs end up committing sexual offenses against innocent believers. Are there other distortions of the Bible you have been led to believe to be God’s truth?

3. To value human opinions or tradition over God’s truth

Read: John 5: 39-44

The Jews missed it! Here is Jesus standing right in front of them, yet they do not recognize him, the one they have been learning about all their lives. Why? It is likely that they have a certain preconceived notion about the Messiah – and when what God reveals to them does not fit their frame of mind, they are quick to reject God over their own ideas. What human opinions or traditions do you have a strong affinity for, such that they may cause you to miss God’s truth?

Reflection

How would I change the way I read the Bible, and how could this have a positive impact in my faith and in my life? 

Part III What not to do when reading the Bible

Appendix: An Anatomy of the Bible

The First Five Books of Moses

1. Genesis

2. Exodus

3. Leviticus

4. Numbers

5. Deuteronomy

History

1. Joshua

2. Judges

3. Ruth

4. 1 & 2 Samuel

5. 1 & 2 Kings

6. 1 & 2 Chronicles

7. Ezra

8. Nehemiah

9. Ester

Poetry

1. Job

2. Psalms

3. Proverbs

4. Ecclesiastes

5. Song of Songs

Major Prophets

1. Isaiah

2. Jeremiah

3. Lamentations

4. Ezekiel

5. Daniel

Minor Prophets

1. Hosea

2. Joel

3. Amos

4. Obadiah

5. Jonah

6. Micah

7. Nahum

8. Habakkuk

9. Zephaniah

10. Haggai

11. Zechariah

12. Malachi

The Gospels

1. Matthew

2. Mark

3. Luke

4. John

History Acts

Paul’s Letter to Churches

1. Romans

2. 1 & 2 Corinthians

3. Galatians E

4. Ephesians

5. Philippians

6. Colossians

7. 1 & 2 Thessalonians

Paul’s Letters to Individuals

1. 1 & 2 Timothy

2. Titus

3. Philemon

Author Unknown Hebrews

Letters written by other Apostles

1. James

2. 1 & 2 Peter

3. , 2 & 3 John

4. Jude

5. Revelation

Next Study

Study #2 Discipleship

• Part I Jesus the Perfect Model

• Part II How to be a Disciple of Jesus

• Part III Choose Discipleship

Back to the reFoundation series overview