Peter Krol | Knowable Word

3 Myths Exposed About Solomon’s Wisdom

February 28, 2013 By Peter Krol

We often ask God for wisdom with the expectation that he’ll teleport it directly to our minds. If we ask, he’ll give, and he’ll give it quickly and fully.

But, as we’ve seen in our series on Proverbs, that’s not at all how wisdom works.

Till He Comes just published a guest post I wrote as a companion piece to my Proverbs study. In this post, I debunk 3 common myths about Solomon’s wisdom. One of the myths is that God supernaturally zapped wisdom into Solomon’s brain. Nope. Nada. Not true.

I’m not going to tell you the other two myths here. You’ll have to go check it out.

The Legacy of Howard Hendricks

February 27, 2013 By Peter Krol

Howard Hendricks, long-time professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, passed away last week. I never knew the man, but I have much respect for his book on OIA Bible study entitled Living By the Book.

Dave Miller’s eulogy for Dr. Hendricks at SBC Voices captures the wonderful legacy of this man and his love for teaching others how to study God’s Knowable Word. May it be said of us that we had such passion and influence in propagating love for the Bible in our generation.

Check it out!

How to Apply the Bible: Summary

February 22, 2013 By Peter Krol

A few weeks ago I promised that anyone could learn how to apply the Bible to life. Since then, I’ve given a several categories to help flex your application muscles. Today I’d like to pull it all together.

We can apply the Bible in 2 directions and to 3 spheres. Think of these things as a matrix, with the spheres (head, heart, hands) down the left side and the directions (inward, outward) across the top. Here’s a worksheet to help you visualize it.

When you sit down to study the Bible, and you feel stuck in application, use this worksheet to help. Just write a few ideas in each box, and see if you can fill all six.

Here are some tips to help you do so:

Don’t fall into the trap of too much self-centered living. Push your application outward, and consider how you can be more effective at influencing others to know Christ.
Don’t fall into the trap of overly theological application (too much focus on your head). God cares about what you think and believe, but he also cares about your character and obedience.
Don’t fall into the trap of overly ethical application (too much focus on your hands). God cares about what you do, but he also cares about your thinking and character.
Don’t fall into the trap of overly pietistic application (too much focus on your heart). God cares about who you are, but it should flow out to your thinking and obedience as well.

Finally, here are some positive suggestions:

Remember Jesus Christ,risen from the dead (2 Tim 2:8). Your application will fall to pieces if it’s about you and your strength to produce change. Only the resurrection power of Jesus, put within you by his Holy Spirit, can make any difference in your life.
Get specific. Your application will flutter about in the wind of life if you don’t nail down details. Don’t settle for broad principles; make concrete action steps.

I’ll expand on these last two tips in the next few weeks.

Apply the Bible to Your Heart

February 15, 2013 By Peter Krol

"Lego Hearts" by Bill Ward (2009), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution license

Bill Ward (2009), Creative Commons

It’s possible to apply the Bible vigorously to your head and hands and still not end up in the right place. Just look at how many (ungodly) theologians and legalists abound in our day, and you’ll see what I mean.

So we must not miss the third sphere of application: the Heart.

In calling us to change, God’s ultimate purpose is to conform us to the image of Jesus (Rom 8:29). That’s a fancy way of saying he wants us to be like him.

It’s not enough to believe the truth. Unless you put it into practice, you remain only “not far from [but not yet in] the Kingdom of God” (Mark 12:32-34, ESV).

It’s not enough to do good things. Unless you become a new person, your obedience remains filthy and worthless. “For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation” (Gal 6:15).

Therefore, as you seek to apply the Bible to your life, you ought always ask the question: “what kind of person does God want me to be?”

You can tackle this question in a few different ways:

What do you desire or value, and what should you desire or value instead?
What ungodly character traits should you turn from, and what Christ-like character traits can you imitate instead?
How might you be relying on your performance, and how can you rely more on Christ’s performance?
What are your greatest hopes? Is your bucket list too small compared to the Lord’s bucket list for you?
Are the kind of person others should imitate? Why or why not, and what will you do about it?

Let’s practice once again with Luke 2:21. We’ve stated the main point as: “God sent Jesus to be born so he might save the lowly and rule them graciously. This brings him highest glory.” In light of that point, what sort of people ought we, who have hoped in Christ, to be?

Some inward Heart applications might be:

I ought to live more for the God’s glory than my glory.
I don’t need to get defensive about… (whatever someone tried to confront me on). It’s okay if my weakness is exposed. I need to grow at being more approachable.
I can be honest about my struggles with my friends, spouse, church family and children.
I must not look down on others for any reason. If God can save me, he can save anybody.
I should love non-Christians and desire their salvation. Why do I struggle with this?

Some outward Heart applications might be:

I should speak of God’s glory often, and call others to do the same.
I’ll figure out why I’m ashamed to speak of Jesus in public. What do I value more than his glory?
As I mentor younger Christians, I need to ask better questions to uncover what they value and desire in their sin struggles. Then I can help point them to the cross so they can repent and be made new.
My children have a greater need to learn teachability than to learn any particular skill or behavior. Am I modeling such teachability as a parent and calling the children to imitate me?
Since Jesus didn’t hide from his conflict with me, I will not run away from conflict with others. I will pursue it with grace, intending real reconciliation.

What other Heart applications from Luke 2 can you think of?

Apply the Bible to Your Hands

February 8, 2013 By Peter Krol

"Hands" by John Lambert Pearson (2007), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution license

John Lambert Pearson (2007), Creative Commons

Christians should be at the top of every field. They should be the best performers in the workplace. They should be the most productive citizens. They should be the most delightful neighbors and the most trustworthy companions.

But so often they’re not. Outsiders often see them as lazy, condescending, irritable, and ignorant.

Why? We’ve been bought with a price, and now get to honor God with our bodies (1 Cor 6:20). We have a new Master, and we work for him – not for any human supervisors (Col 3:23-24). Jesus plans to make all things new (Rev 21:5); surely this includes not only spiritual improvement but also technology, culture, the arts, and education.

Here’s the thing, though. People don’t become Christians because they’re particularly useful to God or exemplary in some skill. They’re not the sharpest knives in the drawer, nor the tops of their classes. They’re not the most beautiful, engaging, or selfless people on the planet. That’s why Christ died for them (1 Cor 1:26-30).

So there’s a reason Christians will never naturally gravitate to the upper levels of society in any generation.

But Jesus is in the business of making the unlovely lovely. He takes the weak and infuses them with his strength. He makes the poor rich in him, and he makes the ignorant wise in him.

In short, Jesus is taking over the world. If you follow him, he’ll shape you into something useful. He guarantees you a part in the drama. You’re an executive in his company.

This means that your application of the Bible must hit your hands. It must equip you in skills you didn’t think you could acquire. The Bible will instruct you and train you in fresh ways, so you can become a skilled laborer for the kingdom of God. This is the second sphere of application.

What does it look like to apply the Bible to your hands? How does one develop new skills?

Let’s practice by using the main point of Luke 2:1-21: “God sent Jesus to be born so he might save the lowly and rule them graciously. This brings him highest glory.”

Some inward Hand applications might be:

I should freely acknowledge those areas of life where I am weak and unskilled (lowly).
I can speak about these issues often, requesting advice so I can improve.
I should praise God explicitly when I succeed.
I should praise God explicitly when I fail.
I ought to think and speak about Jesus, his saving work, and his gracious rule constantly.
I can learn to work Jesus into any conversation, without any hint of arrogance or condescension. (This is not a matter of gifting. God commands every Christian to learn this skill. See Col 4:5-6.)
I can hear others out and seek to understand them, even if they don’t hear me out.

Some outward Hand applications might be:

I can train younger believers (including my children) in any of the items listed above.
I can encourage any and all progress I see.
I should graciously rebuke those who follow Christ, but who aren’t making any improvements in their lives (those who aren’t submitting to his gracious rule).
Whenever I learn a new skill, I should look for someone else to teach it to so God’s glory can keep spreading virally.

As you apply the Bible to your life, don’t stop with thinking true thoughts. Make sure you continue to apply the Gospel by doing good things (Gal 6:9-10).

What other Hand applications from Luke 2 can you think of?

Apply the Bible to Your Head

February 1, 2013 By Peter Krol

"Head" by Tinou Bao (2006), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution license

Tinou Bao (2006), Creative Commons

Gobs of Christians – myself included – do dumb things. We say dumb things and execute dumb decisions.

Every time I talk to someone who was offended by a hurtful, idiotic comment delivered in the name of Jesus, I feel like writing an official instruction manual for Christian growth. It would go something like this:

Take Bible. Read it; study it. Apply with force to head.

The first sphere of application is the Head. It’s critical in our day that we get this. Knowing God through his Word will change your thinking.

Consider 1 Timothy 4:16, where Paul urged Timothy to keep a close watch on himself and on his teaching, for by so doing he would save both himself and his hearers.

Consider Ephesians 4:22-24, where Paul describes Christian growth as a 3-step process:

Put off your old self.
Be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
Put on your new self.

Consider Romans 12:2, where transformation takes place when a Christian renews his mind.

Consider Matthew 22:46, where Jesus was so freaking smart that his opponents couldn’t muster the courage to ask any more sneaky questions.

But how, you ask, does one do this?

In our sin, we replace the truth of God with a lie (Rom 1:25). Therefore, repentance involves doing the opposite.

Therefore, three steps will enable you to apply the Bible to your thinking.

First, identify what you think.
Second, identify what God wants you to think instead.
Third, begin thinking the new thoughts.

For example, how might you apply the main point of Luke 2:1-21 (“God sent Jesus to be born so he might save the lowly and rule them graciously. This brings him highest glory.”) to your head?

I usually think I have to perform adequately before Jesus will take notice of me. I ought to think more of his glorious rescue than my performance.
I usually think that it’s a bad thing for my weakness to be exposed. Actually, it can be a very good thing.
I usually think I must have my act together in order to lead others. It’s more important for them to see me trusting Jesus and giving him glory.

And don’t forget to take your application outward as well:

Do I express favor or disappointment toward others based only on their performance? Or do I believe that, although God requires perfection, he provided it in Christ?
There are people in my life that I believe deep down are beyond salvation. I must repent of such unbelief and act toward them out of a true faith in God’s mighty working through the lowly.
I generally think of myself as “not a people person,” “not gifted at evangelism,” or “witnessing to Christ through my example.” Really, I am in love with my comfort and reputation. I must learn to think of myself as “ambassador,” “witness,” or “mouthpiece” of the Lord Jesus.

What other Head applications can you think of from Luke 2?

Tim Challies Recommends Good Commentaries

January 30, 2013 By Peter Krol

Tim Challies just began a series of posts where he plans to collect strong recommendations on good commentaries on each book of the Bible. His first post on Genesis is here.

He’s done a lot of work researching which volumes pastors and scholars have found most helpful. If you’re looking to get a commentary to help you prepare for a study or class, you may want to check out Challies’s recommendations.

We’ll plan to post here when we find his recommendations particularly helpful.

Check it out!

Three Spheres of Application

January 25, 2013 By Peter Krol

Last week, I wrote about the two directions we can take with our application. This week, I’d like to propose another way of thinking about application: the 3 spheres. Over the next few weeks, I’ll explain each of these 3 spheres in greater detail. Then I’ll pull it all together into a single model that will give you practical steps to follow when seeking to apply any passage of Scripture.

The 3 spheres for application are Head, Hands, and Heart. These spheres represent 3 different aspects of your life where you can obey the Lord and be conformed to the image of Jesus.

Tinou Bao (2006), Creative Commons

The Head represents everything you think and believe. This sphere involves thinking God’s thoughts after him and believing his truth. It involves identifying lies you believe so you can replace them with the truth.

>>You rebel against God when you believe what is not true (Rom 1:25).
>>When you know the truth of God’s Knowable Word, it will set you free from your slavery to deception (John 8:31-32).
>>”Faith” is what you demonstrate when you lay aside your deception and hold on to what is true, even if it’s not immediately visible (Heb 11:1).

John Lambert Pearson (2007), Creative Commons

The Hands represent everything you do. This sphere involves imitating the Lord and his ambassadors, learning new skills so you can be more effective at building God’s Kingdom, and laying aside your old patterns of selfish behavior.

You haven’t really repented of sin until your life changes (Luke 3:7-8, 10-14).
Change involves believing the truth (this overlaps with the “Head” sphere), quitting your old behavior, and developing new habits of obedience (Eph 4:20-24, with specific examples in Eph 4:25-32).
Any “faith” that cares only about the doctrinal statement is not true faith. Your doctrine matters (“Head” application, again), but only if you put it into practice (James 2:14-17).

Bill Ward (2009), Creative Commons

The Heart represents who you are. This sphere involves becoming a new person who desires the Lord above all and shows godly wisdom and selfless character.

>>Changing your behavior without changing your heart is an abomination (Isaiah 29:13-14).
>>Knowing the right thing to do (“Head” application) and doing it (“Hands” application), without being born again to new hopes and desires in Christ won’t count for anything (Gal 6:15-16).
>>A Christ-like heart with love for God and men is much more valuable than good religion and proper behavior (Mark 12:32-34).

All 3 spheres matter. Much of the trick of application is figuring out how to land in all three areas without imbalance.

Which of the three spheres do you find easiest or most difficult? Why?

Use Your Bible

January 24, 2013 By Peter Krol

Darryl Dash has a great post, where he shares his vision for frequent Bible use in our churches. Note that I didn’t say Bible “reading.” While reading the Bible is important, we should also make frequent reference to the Bible in all of our meetings, counselling, planning, and hanging out. Just beautiful.

Check it out!

Two Directions for Application

January 18, 2013 By Peter Krol

We think rich application is complicated, but Jesus proved it can be quite simple. Consider his summary of how to apply the Bible:

A lawyer asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt 22:35-40, ESV).

“All the Law and the Prophets” is pretty comprehensive. Jesus said that the entirety of what God wants us to do boils down to two things: love God and love your neighbor.

"The Fork in the Road" by i_yudai (2008), shared under a Creative Commons Attribution License

i_yudai (2008), Creative Commons

These two commands show two “directions” in which we can apply any passage of the Bible: inward and outward. We can work on becoming more Christ-like people who love God more desperately (inward application), and we can work on becoming more selfless people of influence who love others as Christ has loved us (outward application).

For example, Ephesians 6:4 has obvious and immediate inward application to fathers: Be a more Christ-like, patient, loving father to your children. Instruct and discipline them in the ways of the Lord. We could get much more specific, but I think you get the general idea here.

However, taking your application outward will deepen your insight, whether you are a male with children in the home or not. How can you invest in the fathers around you to help them be better fathers? How can you make the most of your current season of life (singleness, retirement, etc.) to serve others and help them in their parenting of their children? What can you do to serve in your church’s children’s ministry? How can you image God by being a father-figure to the fatherless in your community? How might these issues affect your prayers for your church and community?

Let’s practice further on Luke 2:1-21. We previously identified Luke’s main point as: “God sent Jesus to be born so he might save the lowly and rule them graciously. This brings him highest glory.”

Inward application might yield the following questions:

Do I see myself among the lowly, or among the high and mighty?
Am I open to the Lord’s correction and salvation?
How can I give more glory to God when he rescues me from my sin and foolishness?
Where do I feel the pain of my weakness? Where am I resisting the Lord’s efforts to change me?
Who can help me be more brutally honest about my need for Christ? How can I invite that person’s counsel?

Outward application takes us in a different, yet just as important, direction:

Am I faithfully proclaiming the message of Christ’s rescue to others?
How can I be more effective at connecting every conversation to the saving power of Christ to rescue the lowly?
How can I season my conversation with salt to expose where people trust in themselves and need Christ?
Do I believe that the Lord can rescue anyone?
How can I pray for God to rescue my extended family? My neighbors? My co-workers?
Why do I remain silent, caring more about my glory and comfort than God’s glorious rescue of sinners?

As you study the Bible, remember to consider both how you can change and how you can help others to change. All the Law and the Prophets depend upon it.

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