Knowable Word

Helping ordinary people learn to study the Bible

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Application & Bible Basics

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Knowable Word LogoCheck out these great posts:

Learning the Art of Sermon Application – Jeramie Rinne explains how to go about applying a text to your audience. Even if you’re not a preacher, you’ll find his suggestions useful in your own study, or as you lead discussions.

What is the Bible? – Mark Driscoll just began a series of posts on how the Bible has been transmitted, translated, and trusted by Christians. This first post addresses what the Bible is, what Christians believe about it, and what it says about itself. It’s a great intro to these issues.

Bible Study and the Cross of Christ

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Knowable Word LogoMelissa McDonald, who blogs at The Cross and the Kitchen Sink, just began a short series on how to study the Bible. It might look terribly familiar to what you’ve seen at Knowable Word, but we assure you we’ve never even met. We’ve said from day one that we’re not the only ones doing OIA. Here’s more proof, if you needed it.

Also, Chan Kilgore wrote a great article at The Resurgence about “Reading the Bible Through the Cross.” I appreciate his perspective that the cross is not simply the message of Scripture, but the very lens through which we must read Scripture.

The cross of Christ crushes self-righteousness within us and calls us to enter into the very presence of a holy and righteous God, where we can receive grace and mercy. It is this grace and mercy that transforms our heart as we soak in the Scripture. The cross represents more than Christ’s death. The empty cross represents the deity of Christ, his incarnation, his perfect life, his death, his resurrection, his ascension, and his reign at the right hand of the Father. It is before this cross that we must read Scripture.

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What You Should Know About the Bible

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Knowable Word LogoThe last few weeks spawned some great articles to help your Bible study.

9 Things You Should Know About the Bible – Joe Carter at The Gospel Coalition lists 9 brief facts about the history and use of the Bible. From defining the word “Bible” to recounting the history of printing to explaining various approaches to translation, Joe’s article will give you a concise and understandable introduction to important facts. I was surprised to see that sales of the NIV exceed those of the KJV, and that the NLT is the third most popular translation.

The Big Story of the Bible – In this post, Yancey Arrington explains that “there is a way to read the Old Testament, even Numbers and Leviticus, that will bless you and not send you away in despair.” The trick is to see the Old Testament as a road to Jesus. Arrington explains the theology behind a Jesus-centered way of reading the Old Testament. For practical tips on how exactly to read the OT this way, see my post on how to see Jesus in any Bible passage.

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The Danger of Following Without Understanding

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Image-Jonathan_EdwardsIn our generation, many churches have honed their focus on the gospel of Christ’s grace. This is a very good thing.

Good teachers and useful books abound. Sermon audio multiplies more rapidly than loaves and fishes. Such resources are more plentiful and more available than ever before.

As a result, many thousands of churches fill their pulpits with clones of John Piper, RC Sproul, John MacArthur, Mark Driscoll, or Tim Keller.

Many can imitate the style of great teachers. But can they replicate the study of great teachers? Can you show how your ideas come from the Bible, or do you simply mimic what you’ve heard others say?

Erik Raymond at the Ordinary Pastor blog reflects on a few of these questions. He concludes that without effective Bible study skills “we are susceptible to losing what we have. If we are just fan-boys then we may follow a new theological band someday. If we are just fan-boys then we can’t train a new generation to discover these truths themselves.”

These important issues illuminate why we want to help ordinary people learn to study the Bible. Please continue learning from good teachers. And keep taking what you learn right back to the Scripture.

Erik’s post may challenge you. Check it out!

 

Now Accepting Guest Posts

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Knowable Word LogoWe’ve had over 5,000 unique visitors to the site in the last year, and we’re delighted by all that God is doing.

We would like to help even more people learn to study the Bible, so we invite you to partner with us!

If you would like to write a guest post for us, please check out our guest post guidelines.

Theology is Never an Academic Exercise

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Knowable Word LogoMike Riccardi recently posted a great article at The Cripplegate on the book of Philippians. He shows how studying theology and growing in virtue are inseparable.

Although Riccardi’s point is well-made, I commend his article to you more for his excellent model of Bible study. He identifies the main point of Philippians, and he traces out Paul’s flow of thought effortlessly.

The Book of Philippians is about the Gospel. It’s not quite an exposition of the doctrinal content of the Gospel, like Romans is. And it’s not quite a defense of the Gospel in the face of heresy, like Galatians is. Philippians is more about the implications the Gospel has on the various aspects of our lives as believers. It’s about how we are to live in light of the Gospel. The thesis verse of the letter is Philippians 1:27, in which Paul commands his dear friends to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.”

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How to Win Your City

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Knowable Word LogoThe Gospel Coalition recently published a guest post I wrote called “How to Win Your City.” It’s a study of Daniel 1, explaining how to live as strangers and exiles in our communities.

World-changers are a rare breed. But they don’t have to be. If displaced youths can revolutionize the kingdoms of the earth in God’s name, you and I can transform our communities with the gospel.

Consider the year 605 B.C., as the nation of Judah is losing power and significance. Babylon rules the world, with Nebuchadnezzar as king and general.

Then the unthinkable happens. Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem, and the city falls because God hands it over to him. Thus begins the book of Daniel: clarifying who truly controls the situation, thereby revealing Daniel’s secret confidence that inspires him in three key world-changing behaviors. Since he knows God rules all earthly kingdoms, he can settle down, start small, and win big.

Please check out the full article!

You Can Trust the Text

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Knowable Word LogoCan you trust the text? Is the Bible you hold in front of you a reliable copy of what was written so many centuries ago?

Michael Kruger at the Gospel Coalition says YES! Even though we don’t have the autographs (original manuscripts of Bible books), we still have very good reason to believe that the copies we have are reliable. He says that:

When it comes to the quantity of manuscripts, the New Testament is in a class all its own. Although the exact count is always changing, currently we possess more than 5,500 manuscripts of the New Testament in Greek alone. No other document of antiquity even comes close.

Kruger explains the difference between “autograph” and “original text.” His article introduces the topic of manuscript evidence clearly and concisely.

If you’re interested in understanding this important topic better, then check it out!