Sword of the Spirit
To help you prepare, listen to Trip Lee's track, Manolo, a few times and see if you can figure out what he's really rapping about.
What is the Bible?
· OT (39) + NT (27), ordered by theme, chronology, and authorship
· Divinely inspired: God is the author, the people were the pen
· Illustrations: covenant between God and people, love letter from God to us, GPS, owner’s manual, first aid kit, God’s yearbook
· Biblical Metaphors: inspired writings (2 Tim 3:16-17), truth (John 17), soul mirror (James 1), food/milk/honey (Deut. 8:1-3, Matt. 4:4, Hebrews 5:11-14, Psalm 19), living/active (Hebrews 4:12), sword of the spirit (Eph. 6), Light/illumination, wisdom (Psalm 119:105), seed sown in soil (Mark 4)
· Key Analogies for proper perspective and approach:
o encyclopedia < library
o self-help < stories
o playbook < game film
Can we trust the Bible?
· Eye-witness accounts, archaeology, abundance of manuscripts
· Complex, deep, profound, simple, convicting
How to study the Bible
· Know the reference system, don’t forget about Table of Contents
· Pray—God’s Holy Spirit brings clarity and conviction
· Context (historical, literary; use commentaries, use the Bible)
· Observation (like a reporter, just the facts), pray
· Interpretation (author, intended audience), pray
· Application, pray—God’s Holy Spirit guides and directs
Where to start
· Rookie: start w/the Gospel of John and read/mediate on 1 chapter/day for 3 weeks
· Veteran: Read Ephesians once per day for 2 weeks.
· Captain: Memorize Philippians 3 in 1 month
What to remember
· It’s worth your time (great minds, foundation of western civilization, ethics, and morality)
· It’s all about Jesus, and how our story fits in w/His story. Luke 24:25-27
· Soak this up: 1st Corinthians 1:17-31
Questions?
Personal Enrichment Opportunity – Look up the Scripture references in this handout. Read the backside of this handout, explore the listed websites, get a recommended book, and discuss with other people.
