How to Live the Bible
Here's the link to the entire gathering. Message starts at location 1:04
1. Live as if the Bible is true and absolutely trustworthy.
2. Check your current experience against God’s Word (frequently!)
The Kingdom of God is “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.... The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...” If that’s not your experience, don’t feel condemned; feel invited!
From Treasure That Transforms
3. Approach the Bible with the Right Heart (attitude)
The Four Keys of Transformative Bible Reading: Read (or listen to) Scripture Slowly, Strategically Seeking God with a Surrendered Heart.
· Slowly = Slow down enough to pause, reflect, and interact with God as you read. Illustrations:
Psalm 119:15 says, “I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.”
John 10:27 (NIV) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
2 Peter 1:3 (NIV) His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Be sure to view the context, too
· Strategically (wisely!)
o Study in a way that fits you.
o Read in a version that makes sense to you (New Living Translation is a good, safe choice).
o Read where you need to read. The Bible is a library, not a single book. What do you need from the library? Where is the Librarian (Holy Spirit) leading you to read?
· Seeking God.
“The Bible isn’t simply a collection of ideas to analyze but a way to encounter God himself. Think of your study as time with him, not just about him.”
· Surrendered heart—Scripture only changes us if we respond to it. Come ready to obey and not just understand and/or agree.
4. Get it right.
Learn how to properly interpret and understand the Bible.
The Four C’s:
1. Care (careful observation)
2. Curiosity (our secret weapon)
3. Context (extremely important)
4. Comparison (check other translations)
The Four Questions
1. What does it really say?
2. What did it mean to the original hearers? You can’t know what it means to you if you don’t understand what it meant to them.
3. What does it mean to me/us?
4. How should I/we respond?
Here are some examples of how powerful this is.
· John 10:14-16, 27 (Comparing the NKJV and NIV)
o (NKJV) John 10:14-16 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
o John 10:14-16 (NIV) “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
27 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
· God’s Anxiety “cure” (The importance of context)
Philippians 4:4-9 (My paraphrase) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Live rejoicing! Let your gentleness be what everyone around you experiences. The Lord is near. When you find yourself worrying, stop and pray, start with thanksgiving then present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—be intentionally thinking about such things. And whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
· A really important example: Translating believe and/or faith as “trust.” The CJB helps with this.
o John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only and unique Son, so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life, instead of being utterly destroyed.
o Ephesians 2:8 For you have been delivered by grace through trusting, and even this is not your accomplishment but God’s gift.
o Galatians 3:6-7 It was the same with Avraham: “He trusted in God and was faithful to him, and that was credited to his account as righteousness.” Be assured, then, that it is those who live by trusting and being faithful who are really children of Avraham.
o Faith is trust that grows out of your growing experience of God’s love and trustworthiness (faithfulness). It grows by direct experience of His love, provision and daily encounters with Him.
5. Get it in you
· Psalm 119:11. “I have hidden (hidden away like treasure) your word in my heart so that I won’t sin against you.”
· Jesus’ example in the temptation story: He answered with Scripture because Scripture was in Him.
· The Bible only speaks to you if you know what it says.
· Meditating and memorizing go together. Memorizing Scripture gives the Holy Spirit a vocabulary.
6. Live it Out
· Scripture only works if we respond to it.
· But be sure to read and respond to it from the place of a beloved son or daughter. “If you love me, you will obey me.” John 14:15 (CJB) “If you love me, you will keep my commands.”
· Discovery Bible Study Apps can be wonderfully helpful. See my favorite DBS at https://waha.app/ and check out this amazing website if you haven’t already. https://bibleproject.com/
