1. How to be true to the Spirit in reading Bible narratives

a. Depend on God

i. Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. (Psalms 119:18)

b. Don’t be proud

i. Be willing to admit that we have been wrong. [Pastor B]

ii. Don’t assume that you can do it all by yourself. Consider the words of God, scholars, and your teachers.

c. Desire to perfect your skill to wield the Bible like a sword

i. And take (you can take it anytime!) THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph 6:17)

ii. The good hand of his God was upon him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. (Ezra 7:9-10)

d. Done? Ask yourself…

i. Has the Holy Spirit convicted my heart of something?

ii. What have I learnt… and what will I do?

e. Key caution… Don’t think that you have mastered a book just because you spent some time studying it.

2. How to be skillful and true in studying Bible narratives

a. Big Picture (Breath before Depth)

i. Why? We want to get the key message(s)

ii. How? Look for authorial and Authorial intent (or no intent)

iii. When? Often. Review how in-depth study changes our overall perspective.

b. Look for Detail

i. Look at the words used and the way words are used.

ii. Consider other passages… We can’t read Greek but we can read different verses and translations.

o Faith in Bible > Faith in Greek.

iii. Lexicons and grammar aids can help even a beginner.

c. Read in Context

i. Why? We are not supposed to create new messages only identify them.

ii. How? Look up. Look down. Look around.

o Consider the words of scholars in understand the historical context.

o Avoid reading verses in isolation (for study purposes).

o Ask yourself… is that really what the author meant to communicate?

iii. When? All the time.

d. Key caution… No right answer / No right opinion, but there are strong inferences and poor inferences.

3. How to be skillful in teaching Bible narratives

a. Study and Pray

i. Watch and pray, so that you will not fall into temptation. (Matt 26:41)

ii. Ask God… what do you want me to teach?

b. Know the main point and bring it home.

i. Over-communication is not better.

ii. You won’t get lost if you are true to the text. People pay attention when you crystallize a thought that they’ve never thought about. And because studying scripture is part skill part Spirit, there are lots of thoughts that your student has never thought about.

iii. Be relevant. People pay attention when you say something meaningful.

c. Be ready to answer questions… How?

i. Ask yourself… what do I not understand? Because what you understand your can give an answer for.

ii. Ask yourself… where do I stand? Have I considered the alternatives?

iii. Ask yourself… Must I take a stand?

o It’s better to take a stand than not to. Otherwise…

o It’s better to admit you don’t know than to talk trash.

d. Challenge when appropriate.

i. Key Caution: Bible study groups are not primarily about “what it means to me”… The Bible means what it means. But “What I think it means” or “What I learnt” and venturing guesses are OK.