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Houston, Texas 77037
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10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
Basic Discipleship
Written by Dr. Lester Hutson
This material is copyrighted c2002 and may not be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the Berean Baptist Church.
To order a copy of Basic
Discipleship,
please visit our Publications section.
SESSION 2
INITIAL GROWTH
SESSION 8
From the previous exercise, your disciple should have a greater
understanding of and appreciation for the Bible. For his spiritual preservation,
it is imperative that he see the Bible as a great resource of God provided for
his spiritual well-being, and that he become committed to the regular and
efficient use of it.
Be careful that you don’t bog down here on the issue of
translations. Since false translations are a chief way of Satan in undermining
one’s faith today, a brief explanation of which translation to use is included
in this exercise. Hopefully, it is
adequate to convince and satisfy your disciple.
Should he (or you) have more questions, I recommend Which Bible and
True or False by David Otis Fuller, and The Providential Preservation
of the Greek Text of the New Testament by Rev. W. MacLean, M.A.
Don’t tie up all your time discussing translations.
Move on. You can discuss translations in greater detail later after the
disciple has grown more and when you are better prepared to do so.
The main thrust of this exercise is to get your disciple effectively into
the Word. Labor the matter of
keeping things in context. So many
false religious concepts are the direct result of a violation of context and
misapplication of truth. If one is
going to stay true to The Faith (the Word of God), he must stay true to the
context, and it is very easy to get off track.
History has proved that systematic study out-paces a sporadic, random
approach. The second segment of
this exercise introduces and recommends several types of systematic study. This
section also presents the steps by which the truths of the Bible are best
mastered.
The final segment of this exercise recommends that the disciple make
definite preparations for serious study. Encourage and help him with this.
General intentions, however good, have a way of never materializing.
Action occurs best when people get specific. Specifically preparing a
study place will enhance your disciple’s chances of follow-through.
Remember to give your disciple form BD#9 before you leave. Don’t
forget to pray.
Your Bible is the greatest book you will ever own and it is one of God’s main resources provided by Him to insure your spiritual welfare. Hide it in your heart (Psalm 119:11) and make it your life-long resource manual and guide.
The Old Testament of your Bible was originally written, mostly in Hebrew and partly in the Chaldee language. Fanatically exacting Jewish scribes faithfully preserved it in what is called the Masoretic Text. The New Testament was originally written in Greek and was preserved in a standardized text based on hundreds of Greek manuscripts. That Greek text is called Textus Receptus. About 200 years later, liberal Anglican scholars, from less than a dozen previously rejected manuscripts, standardized a Greek text which is called The Revised Text. It is a corrupt text, which often changes the meanings of scriptures, particularly those relating to the deity of Christ. Most modern translations are from The Revised Text. You should steadfastly reject any such translation. Your English translation of the Bible should be from Textus Receptus . The King James translation is based on that text.
This exercise is designed to help you to more effectively use your Bible. Though it is a great book and a vital Christian resource, it is quite complex. The guidance offered here should make it easier for you to use it more quickly and effectively.
I.
LEARN HOW TO CONSISTENTLY GAIN AN ACCURATE
UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR BIBLE.
In order to accurately understand your Bible, use the same rules of language interpretation in studying it that you would use in studying and understanding any other written material.
A.
Always understand scriptures in context and never take
meanings out of context.
1. Look up the word context in a dictionary.
2.
Always consider the immediate context, which necessitates considering
what was said immediately before and immediately after the part
under consideration. Sufficient
prior and following verses should be considered to establish the context or line
of thought.
3. Always consider the overall context, which necessitates understanding any passage in harmony with all other parts of the entire Bible.
God is always consistent with Himself. What He said in one part of the Bible will always be in perfect harmony with all other parts.
4.
Compare II Peter 1:20 with Isaiah 28:9-10,13. In your
own words explain how these verses demand that each scripture be considered in
light of and harmony with all other scriptures.
5.
Read Jeremiah 23:36. Any
scripture taken out of context is a perversion.
B. Always determine the sense of a word or passage.
1. Learn correct Bible definitions.
The Bible often defines its terms as in I Corinthians 15:1-4. What Bible term is defined in this passage? Gospel.
Read Galatians 1:6-9. Even the definition of Bible words can be perverted. Those who twist or pervert the gospel of Christ are accursed. It is very important to stay with the definitions, which God sets forth in the Bible. A good Bible dictionary can help with Bible definitions. One such Bible dictionary is Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, which includes both a Hebrew and a Greek Dictionary of Bible words.
2. In a given passage, use Bible terms in the sense in which the Bible uses them.
a.
Determine whether a term or passage is used in a literal sense or in a
figurative sense and understand what is said in that sense.
Read I Peter 1:18-19 and Matthew 26:27-28 and consider the term “blood” in each case. Explain how one case uses blood in a figurative sense while the other does not.
b.
To save, in scripture, means to deliver from a peril. God
saves believers from the peril of eternal damnation in hell, from the peril of
daily defeat at the hands of Satan, and from His wrath, which will ultimately be
poured out on this world at some future date.
For believers, one deliverance has already occurred, one is occurring,
and the other will occur. Failure
to understand the sense in which the word saved is used in any given
passage can lead to serious misinterpretation and misapplication.
In what sense is the word “saved” used in Luke 19:10?
c. Always determine the sense of a Bible passage and be consistent to use terms and phrases in that sense. Generally the sense will be literal and the immediate context will determine the application. Read Psalm 56:5. People can be guilty of wresting the words of others, even God.
C. Always consider the limitations of a Bible passage.
1. The promise of Genesis 12:1-3 is made specifically to Abraham.
2. The promise of I Thessalonians 4:13-18 is limited to brethren, meaning those who are saved.
3. Some Bible activities such as miraculous healing and miracle workings are limited in time, some references are to things that will occur at some future date, some statements are limited to church members, and others refer specifically to unbelievers.
4. The Bible also quotes several people who were not telling the truth or who misapplied truths. Read Job 42:7. When God records the false ideas and the lies of people, He does not intend that anyone misunderstand and assume those misunderstandings and lies are to be believed and embraced.
II.
LEARN HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR BIBLE.
A. Study it systematically.
1.
Study it chronologically. taking each person and event in the
sequence in which they occurred. Who conducted a study like this in Luke 24?
Jesus Christ. Consider verse 27.
2.
Study it theologically. This is a systematic study of Bible
doctrine. Read II Timothy 3:16. “All scripture is profitable
for doctrine.”
3. Study it topically. This is finding what the Bible has to say about any given subject. For example, you might study all the women of the Bible or you might study the city of Jerusalem, the Moabite people, or the subject of marriage.
4.
Study it biographically which is a study of some particular
individual like King Solomon or Christ. Who said in John 5:39, “Search
the scriptures;.., they are they which testify of me?”
Jesus.
5. Study it historically. You might trace the history of Israel or ancient Eastern customs.
6.
Study it devotionally. Study
its character types, its promises, its instructions and its beauty, that your
own soul might be profited. Read Romans 11:33. Your Bible is a treasure
chest of great wisdom and knowledge.
B. Apply to your life those things you learn from the Bible.
1.
Study it regularly, Romans 10:17.
2.
Seek to discover and understand its meaning. Jesus
said in Matthew 15:10, “Hear and understand.”
3.
Memorize as much as you can. “Thy word have I hid in mine
heart....”Psalm 119:11.
4.
Meditate on what you study. Read Psalm 1:2-3.
5.
Do what it says. Read James 1:11-25. “Be ye doers of the
word”
III. LEARN HOW TO ENHANCE YOUR BIBLE STUDY TIME.
A. Develop a definite time to study.
1. This study time should not be confused with your daily devotional time with the Lord, that time when you commune with Him in meditative reading and prayer.
2.
Regular and reasonable intervals of time in His Word will prove to be
more profitable than sporadic long periods of study. Read Ecclesiastes 12:12.
“Much study is a weariness of the flesh.”
B. Develop a definite place to study.
1. A private place where you can concentrate is best.
2. This study place should have good lighting, ventilation, and be reasonably comfortable. You should outfit it with an adequate desk and chair.
3. It is conducive to good study to keep your reference materials in this place along with paper and other office materials
C. Develop good study habits.
1. Take one subject at a time and stick with it.
2. Don’t just skim the surface; dig in.
3. Take notes.
4. Organize your findings.
5. Establish a good file system.
2. Where do you
intend to establish your study place?
______________________________.
4. List in order the five steps in application of God’s Word to your life.
1. Study it.
2. Understand it
3. Memorize it.
4. Meditate on it.
5. Do it.
"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"