Knowable Word

Helping ordinary people learn to study the Bible

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Look and Look and Look

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When I first learned how to study the Bible, I heard the story of Professor Agassiz, telling his student to look, look, and look again at a fish. The story tells of the wonder and amazement that comes from simply learning how to observe. And it shows how difficult it is to overcome our assumption of familiarity which prevents us from observing as we ought.

It’s a classic illustration, and John Piper tells it beautifully in this short video from Desiring God.

https://vimeo.com/208846470

Let this spur you to keep looking at the Scripture. You might think you already know it, but you’ll be amazed at how much more there is to see of the beauty and glory of Christ. Check it out!

HT: Andy Cimbala

One Week That Changed the World

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Every Wednesday, I encourage you to check out something on the web (not on this site) to show that we’re not the only ones talking about or employing the OIA Bible study method. In particular, I’m eager to show you that I didn’t invent this method, and that I’m not the only one using it with great profit.

This week I am delighted to refer you to the keynote messages from our recent DiscipleMakers Fall Conference. (DiscipleMakers is the campus ministry organization I serve with.)

In these messages, the main speakers walked through John’s account of the last few days of Jesus’ passion week. We aimed to observe the text, interpret what John meant to communicate, and apply it practically and specifically. These men have been some of the most influential teachers in my life, and I’m eager to commend their messages to you.

Mark Fodale on the arrest of Jesus:

Brian Parker on the trial of Jesus:

Rhys John on the crucifixion of Jesus:

And I closed the conference with the resurrection of Jesus. In this talk you’ll notice many themes from my recent studies in Exodus. John has much to say in applying tabernacle imagery to the work of Christ:

If you’d like to see more such teaching, getting more models of OIA Bible study in action, you can find our library on the DiscipleMakers website. Check it out!

3 Questions to Help Kids Read the Bible

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At the Gospel Coalition, Sara Wallace has two principles and three questions to help us teach our kids to read the Bible.

The principles:

  1. The Bible is Not About You
  2. The Bible Tells One Story

The questions, for the kids to consider when they read:

  1. What does this passage teach me about God?
  2. What does this passage teach me about human being (or myself)?
  3. What does this passage teach me about the need for and the coming of a Savior?

It’s really that simple. Whether you try these three questions, or our devotional page, or any other way to frame these issues—the best thing we can do for our kids is inspire them to drink from the fountain of delights which is this book, the word of God. Whatever makes most sense to you and to your kids, do it!

Check it out!

The Golden Rule of Bible Reading

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This short video from John Piper explains what he calls “The Golden Rule of Bible Reading”: Figure out what the original, divinely inspired author intended to communicate. Piper readily concedes that this rule is an attempt to define what “meaning” is, as in, “How do we decide the meaning of a passage of Scripture?” So he gives four reasons for this definition of “meaning.”

  1. The Bible assumes this definition of “meaning.”
  2. We should treat the biblical authors the way we wish they would treat us (Matt 7:12).
  3. Humility requires it of us.
  4. God’s authority over us requires it of us.

https://vimeo.com/223505453

Piper’s challenge is one we would do well to heed. The video is well worth your time.

Check it out!

Tips for Reading the Bible with your Kids

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I recently wrote of an “aha” moment, when I realized I could read the Bible to my kids. At Crossway’s blog, David Murray has a few short articles that can help you, too, to get started with what he calls this “holy habit.”

In “How to Help Your Kids Get Excited About Reading the Bible,” Murray explains the one crucial technique—in fact, the only technique—you must master: being enthusiastic about Bible reading yourself. Do this, and your kids can’t help but get infected.

In “6 Tips for Reading the Bible With Your Kids,” Murray gets specific with these practical tips:

  1. Give them a good reason to read the Bible: make sure they know why you’re doing this!
  2. Establish a routine: do it in the same time and place each week.
  3. Be realistic: understand what your children can handle.
  4. Be systematic: read through whole books, not just a verse here and a verse there.
  5. Ask good questions: help them to process what you read.
  6. Ask God for help: pray together!

These encouraging articles give much help and encouragement to families. But don’t read the Bible with your kids just because you should. Do it because you can. Because you get to. Because you can’t wait to do it. Let them see your excitement, so they can come to see the value in it with you.

Check it out!

What the KJV Translators Can Teach Us About Bible Translation

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At the LogosTalk blog, Mark Ward has posted some much-needed insights into Bible translation—directly from the quills of the KJV’s own translators. Would you believe they never expected the KJV to be very well-received? Or that they knew it wouldn’t be the ultimate English translation of the Bible? Or that they expected better and different translations to come along in future generations?

Ward first translates the original preface to the King James Version into modern English. Then he reflects on some lessons we can learn from it about Bible translation. In particular:

  1. People don’t like change.
  2. Watch out for petty objections.
  3. No translation is perfect.
  4. People must have the Bible.

I find especially helpful Ward’s comments on the way uninformed readers today love to make sweeping generalizations about what is the “best” Bible translation or “best” way to translate segments of the Bible:

The KJV translators anticipated waves of abuse from the great-great-great-great-great-great grandparents of today’s internet trolls. If there’s one line in the KJV preface that has come to mind over the years more than any other, it’s this from the second sentence: “Cavil, if it do not find a hole, will make one.” In other words, by sentence two the KJV translators are already complaining archly about the human propensity to let petty objections destroy something good.

Every Bible translation involves approximately 327 gazillion decisions about word choice, word order, textual criticism, assonance and consonance, meter, theology, tradition, typography, the current state of the target language, and numerous other factors. Someone, somewhere, is going to dislike just about every choice of any significance—particularly if it is an innovation overturning an established tradition. As the KJV translators say, “So hard a thing it is to please all, even when we please God best, and do seek to approve ourselves to every one’s conscience.”

I think (I hope) most Christian people have a sense that it is indiscrete to offer unsubstantiated opinions about pork futures in Australia (Market’s goin’ up ten points this year!) or the best fabric blend for patio table umbrellas (80% polyester, 10% elastane—that’s what I always say!). But somehow sweeping generalizations about the NIV (They’ve given in to gender politics!) or the ESV (They’ve given in to gender politics!) are permitted, even from people who’ve never read either side in significant translation debates.

It’s not wrong to have opinions about Bible translations: it’s wrong to speak opinions boldly about complex matters when you haven’t done the work to back them up. Internet commenters and cavil-hole makers of all sorts, be warned: the KJV translators are on to you.

If you can see any piece of yourself in Ward’s criticism, I highly commend his reflections to you.

Check it out!

Disclaimer: The Amazon link above is an affiliate link. If you click it and buy stuff, this blog will receive a small commission at no extra cost to yourself. If you choose not to click the link, we promise not to accuse you of giving in to gender politics.

Learning From Young People Who Wrestle With Difficult Scriptures

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Writing at Discipleship Research, Ruth Perrin addresses the uncomfortable topic of acts of violence, committed by God in Scripture. She uses this topic to discern how young people tend to deal with such difficult parts of Scripture. Her keen insights deserve serious consideration.

From her research through focus groups, Perrin identifies 5 ways these young folks tend to grapple. These responses range from unquestioning acceptance to outright denial.

She moves from these observations to ask some great questions:

How SHOULD I help young adults make sense of the complicated, beautiful, ancient literature we believe was inspired by God Himself? How can we help our guys to do that well – not just be boggled, resigned or confused by how to make sense of the word of God?

And her conclusion:

This really matters – when faced with aggressive secular atheism and well documented biblical illiteracy we have to equip our young people to be confident in handling Scripture in a meaningful and life-giving way.

I commend Perrin’s article to your consideration. She is absolutely right: it really matters to equip our people (including our young people) to confidently handle Scripture in a meaningful and life-giving way.

Check it out!

 

 

Questions to Avoid in Small Group Discussions

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Melissa Kruger has some helpful thoughts on the types of questions that tend to stifle conversation in small group settings:

  1. Questions with an obvious answer
  2. Questions with a one-word answer
  3. Questions only researchers could answer
  4. Application questions that get too personal too quickly

My co-blogger Ryan has written helpful posts on how to ask good observation, interpretation, and application questions—right along these lines Kruger hopes to avoid.

Kruger has some helpful explanation. Check it out!

HT: Jake Swink

God’s Subtle Work in Your Bible Reading

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Erik Raymond reflects briefly yet gloriously on “God’s Subtle Work in Your Bible Reading.” With a personal anecdote, he models how important Bible reading is, even when it doesn’t rock your world every day. The persistent work of God over time is worth the effort we put in.

Here is a taste:

Here’s the thing: God uses your regular exposure to the Word of God to mold you into the image of his Son. Your faithful reading of and meditation upon the Bible makes grooves. And the wheels of your life ride along in these tracks. You might think, What’s the big deal if I don’t read my Bible and pray today? The big deal is this, you are missing out. You are missing out on being exposed to the gloriously infinite treasure of the Scripture. And you are missing out on the privilege of God pressing down the mortar of his Word into your life with all of the force of your current circumstances and emotions. You are missing out on the supernatural compound effect of Bible reading in sanctification.

Check it out!

5 Benefits to Reading Entire Books of the Bible in One Sitting

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Crossway recently posted 5 benefits to reading entire books of the Bible in one sitting:

  1. You’ll gain unique perspective.
  2. You’ll let Scripture speak for itself.
  3. You’ll read like a writer.
  4. You’ll read more.
  5. You’ll broaden your understanding.

Under that first point, they explain, “By taking in a larger swath of Scripture uninterrupted, you can more easily see themes or patterns in the writing, the narrative’s flow, and the context of each verse. Reading this way can be likened to getting an aerial perspective on a city as compared to your viewpoint from a single address on the map.”

Have you experienced such benefits? Have you ever tried reading the Bible at length? Crossway offers some welcome motivation.

Check it out!