Do Christians have to obey the laws of the land?

Answer: Romans 13:1-7 states, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.”

This passage makes it abundantly clear that we are to obey the government God places over us. God created government to establish order, punish evil, and promote justice (Genesis 9:6; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Romans 12:8). We are to obey the government in everything—paying taxes, obeying rules and laws, and showing respect. If we do not, we are ultimately showing disrespect towards God, for He is the One who placed that government over us. When the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, he was under the government of Rome during the reign of Nero, perhaps the most evil of all the Roman emperors. Paul still recognized the Roman government’s rule over him. How can we do any less?

The next question is “Is there a time when we should intentionally disobey the laws of the land?” The answer to that question may be found in Acts 5:27-29, “Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 'We gave you strict orders not to teach in this Name,' he said. 'Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood.' Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than men!'“ From this, it is clear that as long as the law of the land does not contradict the law of God, we are bound to obey the law of the land. As soon as the law of the land contradicts God's command, we are to disobey the law of the land and obey God's law. However, even in that instance, we are to accept the government’s authority over us. This is demonstrated by the fact that Peter and John did not protest being flogged, but instead rejoiced that they suffered for obeying God (Acts 5:40-42). – ( for more such Q&A about the Bible visit < GotQuestions.org >)

New life in Jesus is a transformed life

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new “(2 Corinthians 5:17).

According to the Bible we are "born again" when we:Acknowledge we have been separated from God -- living independently from Him -- and repent for staying separated. ("Repent" means to stop and completely change direction.)  Turn toward God and away from our former way of living. Personally, and verbally, ask Jesus Christ to be our Savior - receiving Him as the One who by His death, burial and resurrection made it possible to come back to God. Give ourselves fully to Him, recognizing that Jesus is Lord -the One who is entitled to all authority in our lives.This act of believing, the term used most commonly in the New Testament, is not merely mental assent but actively inviting Jesus to be our Savior and Lord with all our heart and strength. Passion is permissible!

Though observable changes didn't take place immediately, you see a process of gradual change - the ways the Bible describes transformation: Out of DarknessInto Light(1 Peter 2:9);Out of Bondage Into Freedom(Romans 8:21);Out of Death Into Life(Romans 6:13)

On day one after your commitment to follow Jesus you may not feel any different. Don't let your feelings obscure this one major fact: a huge transition has taken place! It will take time -- maybe a lifetime -- to fully appreciate the ramifications of turning your life over to Christ -- both now and for eternity. Don't be discouraged if you don't see the evidence right away. Stand your ground. You have embarked on a new journey. You are a new person with a new, transformed life. Your adventure of following Jesus has just begun.

Preaching : A. Introduction

 Homiletics is the science and art of preaching. A homily is a sermon. Preachers are to proclaim the Gospel—the Good News of Jesus Christ. Those who deliver messages not found in the Bible are not preaching the Gospel. Those who deliver sermons that distort the Bible are not preaching the Gospel. Faithful preachers follow the Holy Spirit in proclaiming the truth of Scripture. Pastors do most of the preaching . If you are a pastor, you are the shepherd of a flock—the congregation in a local church. You communicate not only the words of sermons; you communicate who you are. You have a special relationship with those in a local church. You and the congregation are all members of the body of Christ. But members of the congregation look to you for words of guidance and comfort—words inspired by God. They look to you as a role model. Christ is the ultimate role model. But sheep follow a shepherd, and a congregation follows a pastor. A congregation is concerned about how much you know, but they are more concerned with how much you care. They want to know that you care for them. After all, the two greatest commandments are about love—love for God and for people. Most preaching is done in the context of an on-going relationship between the preacher and the listeners. Preachers speak at a certain time in history, to a certain people, in a certain place. The truth of Scripture does not change, but the language in which the truth is presented changes with time and from culture to culture. So a preacher needs to speak in the heart language of the listener. One’s heart language is one’s language of choice—the language spoken in one’s own home. When you preach, you should preach from your heart in the power of the Holy Spirit. Listeners want to know that you believe what you preach. As you preach, it is helpful to direct your words to individuals, not merely to the congregation at large. That is, preach as if you were having a conversation with individuals. Look at people, not at a wall or at the floor. Sermons should not single out individuals, but the preacher should communicate with individuals. The words of a sermon are not directed only to one person. Instead, the words of a sermon are directed to the congregation. The preacher speaks as if he were talking with an individual, and the whole congregation listens. Of course, the preacher may preach louder than if he were speaking only to one person. The preacher may vary the tone more than if he were speaking only to an individual. But he still preaches while looking at one person, then another individual, and then a third individual, and so on.

In preparing sermons, it is helpful to discuss the proposed sermons with other people familiar with Scripture prior to preaching to a congregation. Other Christians have insights and may make you aware of errors prior to your speaking to a congregation. Pastors may get together for fellowship and sermon preparation. A preacher may learn from other pastors, but a preacher should not copy sermons from others. 30 “Therefore,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes,” declares the LORD, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The LORD declares.’ 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the LORD. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the LORD . (Jeremiah 23:30-32)

If God has called you to preach, he will give you the words to say. The way that you speak will be different from others because you are unique. God spoke through the prophets of the Bible, and each of them had their own style of speaking and writing. God speaks through preachers today, and each preacher has a particular style.

In preaching, as in the Christian life in general, we should be humble. When asked theological questions that we don’t have the answers to, we aren’t afraid to say, “I don’t know.” If we make an error in a sermon, we say we made an error. A good way to speak in regard to difficult theological questions is, “My understanding is this . . ..” And it is a good

policy not to preach on matters that we have little knowledge about. (For details and for free course visit <www.missionstraining.org>)

Interpreting the Bible

Prior to preaching or teaching, we need to determine what Scripture means and how we  can apply Scripture in our lives. Let us examine how to interpret Scripture.

A. Definitions : In theology, hermeneutics is the science of interpreting Scripture. Exegesis is the application of the principles of interpreting Scripture. Exposition is process of explaining the Scripture to people. So a preacher uses the principles of hermeneutics to exegete Scripture in order to proclaim an expository sermon.We want to avoid isogesis—trying to insert our own thoughts into Scripture, or trying to change the meaning of Scripture. Exegesis is “reading from” Scripture, whereas isogesis is “reading into” Scripture.

A pericope is a Scriptural passage forming one complete thought or idea. Sometimes a chapter in the Bible is a pericope. Sometimes a portion of a chapter or more than one chapter forms a pericope. In order to properly expound the Scripture, we need to determine where a pericope begins and ends.

B. Translation of Scripture

The original Biblical texts were written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. The texts have been translated into many languages and updated as languages evolve. It is important that you choose an accurate translation that can be understood by the people that you teach. A translation must be accepted by the mainstream Christian Church, as opposed to a translation written by a heretical sect. I use the New International Version (NIV). Another good translation is the New American Standard, which is more of a word-for-word translation than the NIV. The King James Version is good, but its language is somewhat outdated, making it more difficult to understand. It is best to choose one text as a primary source, rather than changing from text to text. Having one primary source allows us to more easily memorize Scripture. You may wish to supplement your reading with a paraphrased translation—which loosely translates the Scripture in order to make it easier to understand. Paraphrased translations seek to be the “dynamic equivalent” of the original texts. Since paraphrased Bibles are not translated word-for-word from the original text, I would not make them my primary source of Scripture. The Good News Bible is a paraphrased translation. If you have a limited English vocabulary, you may wish to get the Bible in Basic English. This Bible contains the Old and New Testaments, and is written using a basic English vocabulary of only about 1,000 words.

 C. Meaning of Scripture

A good translation of the Bible tells us what the Scripture says. But what did the Scripture mean in Biblical times? We are separated from the Biblical writers by time, by geography,and by culture. A statement in Biblical times may have had different meaning than the same statement today. So we must apply hermeneutical principles to determine what Biblical

writers intended to communicate. Following are such principles to be used in exegesis.

1. The Bible is authoritative. We believe that the 66 Books of the Old and New Testament are the authoritative Word of God. God inspired Biblical writers to communicate truth.16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

2. Scripture must be considered in context. In studying a verse or a pericope, examine also the passage and Book from which it was taken. What is the theme (or themes) of the Book? Why did the writer write the Book? Who wrote the Book and to whom was it written? When and where was the Book written? Examine the historical, cultural,geographical, and circumstantial context.

3. Determine the genre (type of literature). Is a Book or Scriptural passage one of hymns, poetry, prophecy, history, letter, Gospel, or Law? Language often has different meaning in different genres.

4. Assume the literal meaning of words unless there is a reason to assume otherwise. Generally the Bible means what it says—literally. The genre and context may indicate that some words are figurative. The Bible contains metaphors, similes, parables, allegories, and hyperboles. For example, the apocalyptic literature of the book of Revelation contains much figurative language.

5. Determine the meaning of words. Often, exegesis includes a word study to determine what a word meant when it was written.

6. Follow the rules of grammar . Bible students should understand the use of verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, direct objects and other parts of speech.

7. Let Scripture interpret Scripture. Clear Scriptural passages explain obscure Scriptural passages. Consider parallel accounts, such as those found in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Use references, such as those found in chain reference Bibles, to locate other Scriptures related to a topic. Also, concordances and topical Bibles are useful in finding related Scripture.

8. The first mention of something may explain it’s meaning wherever else it occurs. When an event or word first occurs, the meaning may be given. So consult a concordance to find the first occurrence of that event or word.

9. The Bible is a progressive revelation. Early Biblical writers did not have as much information as did later Biblical writers. For example, various mysteries were revealed with the first advent of Christ. Old Testament Prophets were not given information concerning the church. Old Testament Prophets did not understand that there were to be two advents of the Messiah. Even though revelation is progressive, the information given in the Old Testament is still valuable.

10. Use resources outside of the Bible. The Bible itself is our primary text in knowing the will of God. But various other aids are useful in understanding the Bible and the cultures of the Bible. Some of these resources are listed in the section below.

D. Application of Scripture

To properly study Scripture, we must apply its teaching. We must let Scripture guide us. Kenson Kuba offers an acrostic commonly used for applying Scripture.

SPACE plus T

Sins - Are there Sins I need to confess?

Promises - Are there Promises for me to claim?

Attitudes/Actions - Are there Attitudes/Actions I should adopt or avoid?

Commands - Are there Commands I ought to obey?

Examples - Are there Examples for me to follow?

Plus Truths - Are there Truths to believe? 2(For details and for free course visit <www.missionstraining.org>)

Interpreting the Bible

Prior to preaching or teaching, we need to determine what Scripture means and how we  can apply Scripture in our lives. Let us examine how to interpret Scripture.

A. Definitions : In theology, hermeneutics is the science of interpreting Scripture. Exegesis is the application of the principles of interpreting Scripture. Exposition is process of explaining the Scripture to people. So a preacher uses the principles of hermeneutics to exegete Scripture in order to proclaim an expository sermon.We want to avoid isogesis—trying to insert our own thoughts into Scripture, or trying to change the meaning of Scripture. Exegesis is “reading from” Scripture, whereas isogesis is “reading into” Scripture.

A pericope is a Scriptural passage forming one complete thought or idea. Sometimes a chapter in the Bible is a pericope. Sometimes a portion of a chapter or more than one chapter forms a pericope. In order to properly expound the Scripture, we need to determine where a pericope begins and ends.

B. Translation of Scripture

The original Biblical texts were written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. The texts have been translated into many languages and updated as languages evolve. It is important that you choose an accurate translation that can be understood by the people that you teach. A translation must be accepted by the mainstream Christian Church, as opposed to a translation written by a heretical sect. I use the New International Version (NIV). Another good translation is the New American Standard, which is more of a word-for-word translation than the NIV. The King James Version is good, but its language is somewhat outdated, making it more difficult to understand. It is best to choose one text as a primary source, rather than changing from text to text. Having one primary source allows us to more easily memorize Scripture. You may wish to supplement your reading with a paraphrased translation—which loosely translates the Scripture in order to make it easier to understand. Paraphrased translations seek to be the “dynamic equivalent” of the original texts. Since paraphrased Bibles are not translated word-for-word from the original text, I would not make them my primary source of Scripture. The Good News Bible is a paraphrased translation. If you have a limited English vocabulary, you may wish to get the Bible in Basic English. This Bible contains the Old and New Testaments, and is written using a basic English vocabulary of only about 1,000 words.

 C. Meaning of Scripture

A good translation of the Bible tells us what the Scripture says. But what did the Scripture mean in Biblical times? We are separated from the Biblical writers by time, by geography,and by culture. A statement in Biblical times may have had different meaning than the same statement today. So we must apply hermeneutical principles to determine what Biblical

writers intended to communicate. Following are such principles to be used in exegesis.

1. The Bible is authoritative. We believe that the 66 Books of the Old and New Testament are the authoritative Word of God. God inspired Biblical writers to communicate truth.16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

2. Scripture must be considered in context. In studying a verse or a pericope, examine also the passage and Book from which it was taken. What is the theme (or themes) of the Book? Why did the writer write the Book? Who wrote the Book and to whom was it written? When and where was the Book written? Examine the historical, cultural,geographical, and circumstantial context.

3. Determine the genre (type of literature). Is a Book or Scriptural passage one of hymns, poetry, prophecy, history, letter, Gospel, or Law? Language often has different meaning in different genres.

4. Assume the literal meaning of words unless there is a reason to assume otherwise. Generally the Bible means what it says—literally. The genre and context may indicate that some words are figurative. The Bible contains metaphors, similes, parables, allegories, and hyperboles. For example, the apocalyptic literature of the book of Revelation contains much figurative language.

5. Determine the meaning of words. Often, exegesis includes a word study to determine what a word meant when it was written.

6. Follow the rules of grammar . Bible students should understand the use of verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, direct objects and other parts of speech.

7. Let Scripture interpret Scripture. Clear Scriptural passages explain obscure Scriptural passages. Consider parallel accounts, such as those found in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Use references, such as those found in chain reference Bibles, to locate other Scriptures related to a topic. Also, concordances and topical Bibles are useful in finding related Scripture.

8. The first mention of something may explain it’s meaning wherever else it occurs. When an event or word first occurs, the meaning may be given. So consult a concordance to find the first occurrence of that event or word.

9. The Bible is a progressive revelation. Early Biblical writers did not have as much information as did later Biblical writers. For example, various mysteries were revealed with the first advent of Christ. Old Testament Prophets were not given information concerning the church. Old Testament Prophets did not understand that there were to be two advents of the Messiah. Even though revelation is progressive, the information given in the Old Testament is still valuable.

10. Use resources outside of the Bible. The Bible itself is our primary text in knowing the will of God. But various other aids are useful in understanding the Bible and the cultures of the Bible. Some of these resources are listed in the section below.

D. Application of Scripture

To properly study Scripture, we must apply its teaching. We must let Scripture guide us. Kenson Kuba offers an acrostic commonly used for applying Scripture.

SPACE plus T

Sins - Are there Sins I need to confess?

Promises - Are there Promises for me to claim?

Attitudes/Actions - Are there Attitudes/Actions I should adopt or avoid?

Commands - Are there Commands I ought to obey?

Examples - Are there Examples for me to follow?

Plus Truths - Are there Truths to believe? 2(For details and for free course visit <www.missionstraining.org>)

Interpreting the Bible

Prior to preaching or teaching, we need to determine what Scripture means and how we  can apply Scripture in our lives. Let us examine how to interpret Scripture.

A. Definitions : In theology, hermeneutics is the science of interpreting Scripture. Exegesis is the application of the principles of interpreting Scripture. Exposition is process of explaining the Scripture to people. So a preacher uses the principles of hermeneutics to exegete Scripture in order to proclaim an expository sermon.We want to avoid isogesis—trying to insert our own thoughts into Scripture, or trying to change the meaning of Scripture. Exegesis is “reading from” Scripture, whereas isogesis is “reading into” Scripture.

A pericope is a Scriptural passage forming one complete thought or idea. Sometimes a chapter in the Bible is a pericope. Sometimes a portion of a chapter or more than one chapter forms a pericope. In order to properly expound the Scripture, we need to determine where a pericope begins and ends.

B. Translation of Scripture

The original Biblical texts were written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. The texts have been translated into many languages and updated as languages evolve. It is important that you choose an accurate translation that can be understood by the people that you teach. A translation must be accepted by the mainstream Christian Church, as opposed to a translation written by a heretical sect. I use the New International Version (NIV). Another good translation is the New American Standard, which is more of a word-for-word translation than the NIV. The King James Version is good, but its language is somewhat outdated, making it more difficult to understand. It is best to choose one text as a primary source, rather than changing from text to text. Having one primary source allows us to more easily memorize Scripture. You may wish to supplement your reading with a paraphrased translation—which loosely translates the Scripture in order to make it easier to understand. Paraphrased translations seek to be the “dynamic equivalent” of the original texts. Since paraphrased Bibles are not translated word-for-word from the original text, I would not make them my primary source of Scripture. The Good News Bible is a paraphrased translation. If you have a limited English vocabulary, you may wish to get the Bible in Basic English. This Bible contains the Old and New Testaments, and is written using a basic English vocabulary of only about 1,000 words.

 C. Meaning of Scripture

A good translation of the Bible tells us what the Scripture says. But what did the Scripture mean in Biblical times? We are separated from the Biblical writers by time, by geography,and by culture. A statement in Biblical times may have had different meaning than the same statement today. So we must apply hermeneutical principles to determine what Biblical

writers intended to communicate. Following are such principles to be used in exegesis.

1. The Bible is authoritative. We believe that the 66 Books of the Old and New Testament are the authoritative Word of God. God inspired Biblical writers to communicate truth.16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

2. Scripture must be considered in context. In studying a verse or a pericope, examine also the passage and Book from which it was taken. What is the theme (or themes) of the Book? Why did the writer write the Book? Who wrote the Book and to whom was it written? When and where was the Book written? Examine the historical, cultural,geographical, and circumstantial context.

3. Determine the genre (type of literature). Is a Book or Scriptural passage one of hymns, poetry, prophecy, history, letter, Gospel, or Law? Language often has different meaning in different genres.

4. Assume the literal meaning of words unless there is a reason to assume otherwise. Generally the Bible means what it says—literally. The genre and context may indicate that some words are figurative. The Bible contains metaphors, similes, parables, allegories, and hyperboles. For example, the apocalyptic literature of the book of Revelation contains much figurative language.

5. Determine the meaning of words. Often, exegesis includes a word study to determine what a word meant when it was written.

6. Follow the rules of grammar . Bible students should understand the use of verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, direct objects and other parts of speech.

7. Let Scripture interpret Scripture. Clear Scriptural passages explain obscure Scriptural passages. Consider parallel accounts, such as those found in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Use references, such as those found in chain reference Bibles, to locate other Scriptures related to a topic. Also, concordances and topical Bibles are useful in finding related Scripture.

8. The first mention of something may explain it’s meaning wherever else it occurs. When an event or word first occurs, the meaning may be given. So consult a concordance to find the first occurrence of that event or word.

9. The Bible is a progressive revelation. Early Biblical writers did not have as much information as did later Biblical writers. For example, various mysteries were revealed with the first advent of Christ. Old Testament Prophets were not given information concerning the church. Old Testament Prophets did not understand that there were to be two advents of the Messiah. Even though revelation is progressive, the information given in the Old Testament is still valuable.

10. Use resources outside of the Bible. The Bible itself is our primary text in knowing the will of God. But various other aids are useful in understanding the Bible and the cultures of the Bible. Some of these resources are listed in the section below.

D. Application of Scripture

To properly study Scripture, we must apply its teaching. We must let Scripture guide us. Kenson Kuba offers an acrostic commonly used for applying Scripture.

SPACE plus T

Sins - Are there Sins I need to confess?

Promises - Are there Promises for me to claim?

Attitudes/Actions - Are there Attitudes/Actions I should adopt or avoid?

Commands - Are there Commands I ought to obey?

Examples - Are there Examples for me to follow?

Plus Truths - Are there Truths to believe? 2(For details and for free course visit <www.missionstraining.org>)

Interpreting the Bible

Prior to preaching or teaching, we need to determine what Scripture means and how we  can apply Scripture in our lives. Let us examine how to interpret Scripture.

A. Definitions : In theology, hermeneutics is the science of interpreting Scripture. Exegesis is the application of the principles of interpreting Scripture. Exposition is process of explaining the Scripture to people. So a preacher uses the principles of hermeneutics to exegete Scripture in order to proclaim an expository sermon.We want to avoid isogesis—trying to insert our own thoughts into Scripture, or trying to change the meaning of Scripture. Exegesis is “reading from” Scripture, whereas isogesis is “reading into” Scripture.

A pericope is a Scriptural passage forming one complete thought or idea. Sometimes a chapter in the Bible is a pericope. Sometimes a portion of a chapter or more than one chapter forms a pericope. In order to properly expound the Scripture, we need to determine where a pericope begins and ends.

B. Translation of Scripture

The original Biblical texts were written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. The texts have been translated into many languages and updated as languages evolve. It is important that you choose an accurate translation that can be understood by the people that you teach. A translation must be accepted by the mainstream Christian Church, as opposed to a translation written by a heretical sect. I use the New International Version (NIV). Another good translation is the New American Standard, which is more of a word-for-word translation than the NIV. The King James Version is good, but its language is somewhat outdated, making it more difficult to understand. It is best to choose one text as a primary source, rather than changing from text to text. Having one primary source allows us to more easily memorize Scripture. You may wish to supplement your reading with a paraphrased translation—which loosely translates the Scripture in order to make it easier to understand. Paraphrased translations seek to be the “dynamic equivalent” of the original texts. Since paraphrased Bibles are not translated word-for-word from the original text, I would not make them my primary source of Scripture. The Good News Bible is a paraphrased translation. If you have a limited English vocabulary, you may wish to get the Bible in Basic English. This Bible contains the Old and New Testaments, and is written using a basic English vocabulary of only about 1,000 words.

 C. Meaning of Scripture

A good translation of the Bible tells us what the Scripture says. But what did the Scripture mean in Biblical times? We are separated from the Biblical writers by time, by geography,and by culture. A statement in Biblical times may have had different meaning than the same statement today. So we must apply hermeneutical principles to determine what Biblical

writers intended to communicate. Following are such principles to be used in exegesis.

1. The Bible is authoritative. We believe that the 66 Books of the Old and New Testament are the authoritative Word of God. God inspired Biblical writers to communicate truth.16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16,17)

2. Scripture must be considered in context. In studying a verse or a pericope, examine also the passage and Book from which it was taken. What is the theme (or themes) of the Book? Why did the writer write the Book? Who wrote the Book and to whom was it written? When and where was the Book written? Examine the historical, cultural,geographical, and circumstantial context.

3. Determine the genre (type of literature). Is a Book or Scriptural passage one of hymns, poetry, prophecy, history, letter, Gospel, or Law? Language often has different meaning in different genres.

4. Assume the literal meaning of words unless there is a reason to assume otherwise. Generally the Bible means what it says—literally. The genre and context may indicate that some words are figurative. The Bible contains metaphors, similes, parables, allegories, and hyperboles. For example, the apocalyptic literature of the book of Revelation contains much figurative language.

5. Determine the meaning of words. Often, exegesis includes a word study to determine what a word meant when it was written.

6. Follow the rules of grammar . Bible students should understand the use of verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, direct objects and other parts of speech.

7. Let Scripture interpret Scripture. Clear Scriptural passages explain obscure Scriptural passages. Consider parallel accounts, such as those found in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Use references, such as those found in chain reference Bibles, to locate other Scriptures related to a topic. Also, concordances and topical Bibles are useful in finding related Scripture.

8. The first mention of something may explain it’s meaning wherever else it occurs. When an event or word first occurs, the meaning may be given. So consult a concordance to find the first occurrence of that event or word.

9. The Bible is a progressive revelation. Early Biblical writers did not have as much information as did later Biblical writers. For example, various mysteries were revealed with the first advent of Christ. Old Testament Prophets were not given information concerning the church. Old Testament Prophets did not understand that there were to be two advents of the Messiah. Even though revelation is progressive, the information given in the Old Testament is still valuable.

10. Use resources outside of the Bible. The Bible itself is our primary text in knowing the will of God. But various other aids are useful in understanding the Bible and the cultures of the Bible. Some of these resources are listed in the section below.

D. Application of Scripture

To properly study Scripture, we must apply its teaching. We must let Scripture guide us. Kenson Kuba offers an acrostic commonly used for applying Scripture.

SPACE plus T

Sins - Are there Sins I need to confess?

Promises - Are there Promises for me to claim?

Attitudes/Actions - Are there Attitudes/Actions I should adopt or avoid?

Commands - Are there Commands I ought to obey?

Examples - Are there Examples for me to follow?

Plus Truths - Are there Truths to believe? 2(For details and for free course visit <www.missionstraining.org>)

Forgiveness

“But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8)

Forgive someone from your heart now. Say, “Father, forgive _________. They don’t know what they’re doing.” Thank God for forgiving you in the same way.

The Bible says “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7). What have you been sowing? Peace, love, and kindness—all of the time? If so, you’re in luck. But if not, what fate awaits you? This is a tricky one, for the biblical principle of sowing and reaping still stands. However, there is a higher law. 

Forgiveness trumps Cause and Effect—every time. When Jesus was hanging on the cross—mid-crucifixion—He said to God on your behalf, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke 23:34). Can you believe it? It’s hard enough for me to forgive someone after they’ve hurt me, let alone while they are doing it. But in the middle of crucifixion, being tortured and killed as the Son of God for coming to save His own people, Jesus stands in the gap and tells God: I’m asking you not to hold it against them; they don’t know what they’re doing.

 The Bible says, “Love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). When He died for you, His sacrifice stretched over your sins and covered them completely, like a thick blanket. 

Jesus completely absorbed your punishment. He said, “I’m going to take their punishment. They’re going to get the positive consequences for my perfect actions (Heaven) and I’m going to take the dreadful consequences for their actions (crucifixion).” 

Now, who do you need to forgive? Jesus said it plainly, “But if you do not forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins” (Mark 11:26). By holding on to a grudge, you’re disqualifying yourself from Jesus’ forgiveness. Instead of holding a grudge, let someone have the grace Jesus gave you. Say, “Father forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing, just as I don’t. Thank you so much for forgiving me.” 

Forgiveness is the greatest need in the world.  Today, receive God’s gift of forgiveness to you and give it to someone else. 

Follow the example of Jesus

The Bible says, "Even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many."(Matthew 20:28) The Lord says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways” (Isaiah 55:8).

 The Apostle Paul helps us understand some of God’s ideas. The Lord built us certain ways for His reasons, and He knows how we fit into the Body of Christ, even if that is beyond our understanding: “In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. If God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with faith. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly” (Romans12:6-8) Maybe God puts various passions in Christians so we can be better at the gifts He’s actually given us.

Let us follow the example of Jesus, and Jesus (although He was part of God) came “not to be served, but to serve others”(Mark 10:45). So we should be servants for the Lord, as well. 

Jesus sent His Disciples, saying, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons” (Matthew 10:8). We have the opportunity to serve joyfully; as St. Paul encourages us, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people”(Colossians 3:23) . See if your passions match your gifts and go “preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are servants for Jesus sake” ( 2 Corinthians 4:5)

God vs. Satan:

 One of the mysteries of the Christian life is why God didn’t destroy Satan immediately after Satan sinned. We know that God will one day defeat Satan by throwing him into the Lake of Fire where he will be tortured day and night forever (Revelation 20:10), but sometimes we wonder why God has not destroyed Satan already. Perhaps we will never know God’s exact reasoning, but we do know certain things about His nature.

Assurances : 1. Companionship

Assurances : 1. Companionship

God assures us of his companionship. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6, NIV)

Prayer

Prayer is two-way communication between people and God. It is one of the greatest gifts that God has given. Prayer changes the world. Prayer changes the church. Prayer changes the individual. Jesus taught his disciples how to pray (see “Prayer” in the training module “Call to Missions”) through the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13). Prayer and fasting go together (see Matt. 6:9-18). When we fast, our hunger reminds us to pray throughout each day.

Someone suggested using the acrostic ACTS to remind us how to pray:

A Adoration of God

C Confession of sin

T Thanksgiving to God

S Supplication—asking God to supply needs

Consider each of these parts of prayer. We adore God by praising and honoring him, telling of his attributes—his holiness, sovereignty, love, mercy, grace, and faithfulness (see Rev. 4:9-11). We confess our sin so that we may be forgiven and have fellowship with God (see 1 John 1:9). We thank God for his blessings in all circumstances (see 1 Thess. 5:16-18). Such thanksgiving makes us happy and it makes God happy (see Luke 17:11-19). Supplication is the act of petitioning God to supply some needs (see Matt. 7:7-8; Phil. 4:6). We may petition God to provide for our need, or we may have intercessory prayer for the needs of others.

Evil :

 Harvey writes that as far back as the time of Plato (c. 427-347 B.C.), people have tried to explain the problem of evil. Any theism (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc.) that attributes goodness and power to the deity is faced with this problem. A theodicy is one’s way of explaining God’s goodness in light of the evil that exists in the universe. Christians express the problem of evil in this way: How can an all powerful and all-loving God allow evil to exist? If he is both powerful and loving, he should be able to prevent evil, and he would seem to want to prevent evil. Many Christian attempts to resolve this dilemma fall into one of the following two categories: