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Listen to the Best Interpreter

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This is a guest post by Zack Gugenheim. Zack lives in Lewisburg, PA with his wife Heather and their two children.  Since 2008, he has ministered with DiscipleMakers, training students in bible study, evangelism, and discipleship.  He is the lead campus staff at Bucknell University.  You can follow his blog at Escape Escapism, or find him on Facebook. If you’d like to write a guest post for Knowable Word, please see our guidelines.

I was going to be the best. As a college student, I wanted to know God’s Word, and I wanted to interpret the Word well—and I wanted everyone to know it. Though God was working in many people, He was obviously working in me more! I expected people would see me as a deep thinker with an influential voice. What I didn’t expect, however, was that, during Bible study, I would find a better interpreter.

At our meeting we studied Matthew 13. In the chapter, great crowds gather to Jesus, and he tells of a sower who sows seed. Four soils each produce a result. Three yield no fruit, but the fourth yields lots of fruit!

As a proud, young, Christian, I of course knew the parable. But my greatest surprise came at what Jesus told His disciples afterwards:

Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom… (Matt 13:18-19a)

Jesus explains the parable. The sower sows the seed of God’s Word. And the soils? They represent people who hear the Word. At this point, the Bible study leader remarked, “Do you realize that as we interpret the Bible, the Bible is actually interpreting you?”

Ed Yourdon (2008), Creative Commons

Ed Yourdon (2008), Creative Commons

I was in shock. I wanted to prove myself as a great Bible interpreter. But I hadn’t yet realized that the best interpreter in the room was the Word itself. It exposed my hard heart, and it revealed my lack of fruit. My invulnerability, pride, and self-centeredness were in the open. God’s Word had found me out, as it always does.

Now, of course we want to observe, interpret, and apply. We should be good students of the Word. But we must remember it isn’t a one-way street. We need more than good scholarship; we need exposure. As we look at God’s Word, it’s being sown in our hearts. And our response to that Word reveals what kind of people we are.

Can a book know us better than we know ourselves? The book God wrote can, and exposure produces change in us. Consider Hebrews 4:11-13:

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Imagine that. The world’s sharpest sword pierces your heart; it sees and understands all your thoughts and intentions. And nothing is hidden from God. You are naked and exposed. Why? So you may strive to enter that rest. In other words, only exposed people will cling to the cross of Christ.

So, as you interpret God’s Word, have you considered how it’s exposing you? Or do you hide behind facts, theology, or pride? Do your applications penetrate the surface of your life? Is God’s Word showing you where you are weak?

Let’s interpret God’s Word well. But as we do, let’s remember that this Word is always the best interpreter in the room.

Don’t Be Afraid to Teach Children’s Sunday School

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Ralph Häusler (2013), public domain

Ralph Häusler (2013), public domain

As reliably as winter gives way to spring, churches need teachers and helpers for children’s Sunday school.

Not everyone is called to this ministry, but far more are equipped than are enlisted. Why do we have a shortage?

A High Calling

Sunday school is not just a way to occupy the children. For those 45 minutes, teachers talk to students about God, point them toward Jesus, and train them in Christian disciplines. What a high calling! What an opportunity!

We can become fearful when facing a weighty mission like this. Like a pot on the stove, the heat accelerates the anxieties in our hearts, and they bubble to the surface and pop.

Four Fears

Teaching children is difficult work, to be sure. But if we put the difficulty aside, I suspect fear and doubt are at the heart of our reluctance to step into this service.

1. Doubt about calling

Some people think they’re not the teacher type. They worry about connecting with children, answering their questions, and handling crises. They’re afraid of causing long-term damage.

But if you love the youth of your church and are willing to serve, you are ready to talk about teaching. You don’t need to be perfect. In general, children are resiliant and eager to forgive. And your mistakes will be more evident to you than to your five-year-olds.

An additional note: The church at large needs more men teaching our children. Boys and girls need to see godly men and women serving and caring for people of all ages.

2. Fear of missing out

Many people don’t serve the children because they want to hear Bible teaching themselves. They’re jealous for their own sanctification.

However, your Christian growth will not be stunted by teaching children. In fact, you’ll likely mature more through service than through study.

The crucible of preparation and explanation brings a unique clarity and conviction. And your growth isn’t just intellectual. God refines our character through challenges (James 1:2–4) because we’re forced to rely on him. So as a teacher you’ll have tremendous opportunity to flourish, especially if you don’t think you’re a natural.

3. Doubt about the Bible

The Bible should play a central role in Sunday school instruction. But many people think the Bible is too difficult for kids to understand.

They shrink from teaching because they fear the material won’t be engaging, relevant, or meaningful. They yearn for supplements that do all the work and leave nothing to chance. But when we pull the Bible away from our children, we keep them from the fountain.

Children might not understand every passage right away, but they’re usually ready for the Bible before we hand it over. Because it is God’s word, it is powerful and appropriate for Christians of any size, height, or age.

4. Doubt about your skills

Some shy away from teaching because they don’t feel qualified. They know they will be teaching the Bible, and they don’t consider themselves intelligent, studious, or insightful. They would rather the duties of studying and teaching the Bible be left to the pastor and elders of the church.

But the Bible is for everyone. You need no degree, certification, or minimum IQ score. The Scriptures are for the children in the classes and the teachers. Everyone can learn to study the Bible.

While churches need pastors, the most vibrant churches foster a Bible study culture where everyone embraces the privilege and responsibility of digging into God’s word.

Who Will Go?

I don’t write to provoke guilt. Rather, think of the vast opportunity! The children of your church need a teacher, someone who loves God and is committed to His word. Someone who wants to help young people follow Jesus and be changed by the Scriptures. Someone who wants to influence the next generation for the kingdom of God.

Might God be calling you to step forward?

Play the Long Game When Teaching Bible Study

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“You can’t win a golf tournament on Thursday, but you can lose it.”

Professional golf tournaments stretch over four days (usually Thursday through Sunday), so a strong opening round is essential. But without excellent play through the weekend, a player has no shot at the trophy. He needs a good start, but he needs more.

Stefan Waldvogel (2012), Public Domain

Stefan Waldvogel (2012), Public Domain

Indirect Instruction

A Sunday school class is a great venue for teaching Bible study skills. But direct instruction like this, while necessary, is only the beginning of lifelong training.

Imagine an aspiring novelist who attends an intense, week-long workshop, complete with all the instruction, feedback, and discussion one could want. A wise writer won’t just lean on this experience; he’ll use this learning, along with inspiration and ideas from ongoing reading, as he works toward a final product.

Over the long term, we all need reminders and examples of good Bible study. So whenever we teach the Bible, we should model and pass along Bible study skills.

How to Model Bible Study Skills

Most churches have numerous openings for Bible teaching: Sunday school classes, Wednesday night studies, even weekend seminars. To build a Bible study culture in our churches, we must take advantage of every opportunity.

When a teacher is intentional, modeling Bible study skills is neither difficult nor time consuming. Here are five suggestions.

1. Practice sound Bible study skills.

The other suggestions on this list are worthless if you’re not studying the Bible using a solid method. Teachers are an example of how to think about, understand, and apply the Bible. By God’s grace, make sure you’re an example worth following. (Start here if you need help learning to study the Bible.)

2. Choose your language.

Develop a “local language” around Bible study at your church so everyone knows what you’re talking about. On this blog we advocate the Observation, Interpretation, Application (OIA) method of Bible study, but the specific words you use aren’t important so long as the meaning is clear.

When teaching the Bible, discuss your observations about the text and use that word. Talk through the different interpretations that came up in your study. And so on. Repeating these words will remind the class about the different phases of Bible study.

3. Structure your teaching around Bible study principles.

If you want discussion in your class, use the structure provided by the different aspects of Bible study. Ask broadly for observations from the text, then start a conversation about repeated words, comparisons, connector words, etc.

On the heels of your observations, ask interpretation questions to move the class along. Having studied the passage yourself, you should be able to explain the main point.

Don’t forget application! Spur on your class by sharing how God has worked in you.

4. Recommend resources.

When modeling Bible study skills, the resources you recommend to your class are a powerful tool for Bible study instruction.

You might prepare a sheet for students to use for notes during class. Construct something simple with Bible study principles in mind. When I taught 1 Corinthians last fall, I emphasized the main point of a passage and subsequent applications. I designed my class handout with this in mind.

Additionally, consider recommending other resources on Bible study to interested students. There are many excellent websites and books on Bible study, including the Knowable Word book by Peter Krol (founder of this website). When people are looking to read and get training on their own, you can give them reliable places to turn.

5. Provide homework.

Some students in your class will be eager for extra work, and some…will not. Be careful to structure your class so no one is excluded.

Make a special effort to connect with the people who are hungry to learn, study, and grow. Your assignments may offer just the extra boost they need.

If you can work a week ahead in your class preparation, distribute a sheet of questions for your students to ponder between meetings. As they think about the relevant Bible text, your handout can guide them through the stages of Bible study.

If you aren’t this far ahead in your planning, encourage the class to study the upcoming passage on their own. Provide them with a few general Bible study guidelines, and urge those who are interested to take some OIA worksheets home with them.

Teach Bible Study in Sunday School

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MikeDKnight (2007), Creative Commons License

MikeDKnight (2007), Creative Commons License

Like the smell of garlic sizzling on the stove, a Bible study culture within a church is evident and attractive. It seeps into everything from the sermon to the conversations over coffee. But how does a church create such a culture?

Culture change begins with individuals, and a large number of Christians have never been trained to study the Bible. A well-advertised class offers an efficient, straightforward way to point everyone in the same direction.

Take Advantage of Sunday Morning

Instead of a weekend seminar or mid-week workshops, churches should consider using the built-in time on Sunday mornings. A Sunday school class will catch most regular attenders in their weekly pattern. And when the training happens over a stretch of six or eight or twelve weeks, the repetition will help students retain the material and build Bible study habits.

Many people within the church need this direct, intentional training. New believers need these skills. Many Christians who’ve been in churches for years don’t study the Bible on a regular basis. And as children grow and mature in the faith, they need an opportunity to learn and practice the Bible study skills they will use for a lifetime.

Barriers to Bible Study

Sadly, not everyone in your church will be excited about a Bible study training class.

Church members who have been through a similar class might resent the repetition. As with riding a bike, they find additional instruction unnecessary.

Others don’t think they are smart enough to study the Bible. They think Bible study is only for professionals and academics. Reading the Bible for inspiration or devotional purposes seems to be working just fine.

Try to anticipate these objections. Exult in the fact that the Bible is for everyone. Remind people that studying the Bible is less like learning to read than learning to paint—we all have lots of room to improve. Plan to discuss why we study the Bible in the first class session.

Seven Tips

If you’re thinking of coordinating or teaching a course in Bible study skills, here are some suggestions.

  1. Sharpen your skills — Review the Observation-Interpretation-Application method of Bible study. I used the Knowable Word book as the core of my curriculum when I taught a class at my church last year.
  2. Pick a book of the Bible — In a cooking class, students don’t learn to crack eggs and use a whisk in the abstract—they learn these skills as they make real food. In the same way, we should teach Bible study skills while studying the Bible. (I suggest a book of the Bible instead of a chapter or long section so the class can discuss a book overview.)
  3. Make the class active — For your class to pick up Bible study skills, they need to dive in. So turn up the participation and dial back the lecture. I suggest loading up on supplies (colored pencils, pens, highlighters) and handing out printed copies of the Scripture you’ll be using.
  4. Arrange the room — If possible, teach the class in a room which encourages an active audience. Tables will give your class adequate space to work and a whiteboard will provide a place to record observations or interpretive questions generated by the class.
  5. Provide other resources — Consider using the Knowable Word book as a textbook. Make a generous stack of OIA worksheets for the class to use on Sunday mornings and throughout the week.
  6. Assign homework — For eager students, suggest follow-up exercises each week. Point them to the next section of the passage and ask them to practice the Bible study skill you just learned. Structure the class so students will still benefit if they don’t complete the homework, but they will grow all the more if they do.
  7. Go slowly — Learning the OIA method will take time, so don’t rush through the material. Spend several weeks on each of the observation, interpretation, and application steps of the process, practicing as you go. Guide the class toward the main point of the passage and dig deep into applications. Be careful that you don’t lose or discourage any students in your class.

Teachers Wanted

Do you want a Bible study culture in your church? Does your church need a class like this? Why not volunteer to teach it?! Teachers are always needed, so if you approach your elders with a goal and a plan, they will likely be eager to sign you up.

3 Stages of Listening to a Sermon

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jacinta lluch valero (2012), Creative Commons License

jacinta lluch valero (2012), Creative Commons License

Want to know which way the wind is blowing? Just look at a weather vane.

Want to know how a church approaches the Bible? Just listen to a sermon.

A sermon won’t give a complete picture. But if a church has a robust Bible study culture, the sermon is a good indicator.

Now a sermon is not like an IV drip, where you passively receive nourishment. Rather, a sermon is like a hearty meal—the cook labors in the kitchen to measure and mix and simmer. He sets down the food and urges you to eat. But you won’t enjoy or benefit from the meal unless you raise a fork and tuck in.

With a sermon, this happens in three stages.

Before the Sermon

To get the most from a sermon, consider two important activities in the preceding week: prayer and study.

Both the preacher and the hearer need God’s help. Pray for your pastor as he studies the Bible and prepares to proclaim it. And pray for yourself and your fellow listeners, that you would understand and be changed by God’s word.

During the week, there’s another way to plow up your heart to prepare for the Sunday morning planting. Find out the Bible passage for the sermon and study it on your own. (If you aren’t sure how to study the Bible, start here.) Take a stab at the author’s main point, connect that to Jesus, and write down some applications. If Sunday morning is the second time you’ve grappled with the preacher’s text, God’s word is more likely to take root and sprout up in you.

During the Sermon

Honoring God during the sermon is straightforward, if not easy: Focus and listen.

We should give our full attention to the preaching of God’s word. Grab a Bible and locate the relevant passage. Think carefully with the preacher as he talks through the text.

For some, taking notes is essential. Writing helps these people follow the main ideas of the sermon and gives them a record to consult later.

For others, note-taking is a distraction. Trying to listen and write leaves them with scattered scrawlings and murky memories. These folks should consider jotting down their thoughts after the sermon, so those God-given impressions and applications don’t flit away.

We all have difficulty listening to sermons from time to time. This may have nothing to do with the preacher! Late nights, a difficult week, restless children, illness, or a hundred other factors may make it hard to concentrate. We should do our best to pray and prepare and focus. Beyond that, remember that God knows his children. His love for us doesn’t increase or decrease based on our attentiveness during the sermon. It is full and secure because of Jesus.

After the Sermon

When the preacher finishes his post-sermon prayer, your obligations are not over. Like The Carpenters, you’ve only just begun. The best ways to promote a Bible study culture in your church after the sermon are to apply and discuss the Bible.

Assuming your preacher handled the Bible faithfully and connected his applications to Jesus, now it’s your turn. With the help of the Holy Spirit, take your pastor’s suggestions, mix in your own, and apply this passage to your head, heart, and hands.

If you question the preacher’s interpretation, study the passage again. Request a meeting later that week. God brought this passage to your attention and you should pursue understanding and joyful obedience.

In addition to applying the sermon text yourself, talk about it with others in your church. If you do so right after the worship service, you have a ready-made entrance to fruitful conversation.

Encourage others with the truths of the Bible you’ve just heard, especially the good news about Jesus Christ. Brainstorm necessary and creative applications, both for yourself and for your church. Confess the barriers to obedience in your own heart and offer help and support to your friends. We need community to apply the Bible.

Make sure your discussions about the sermon aren’t an excuse to criticize your pastor. Talk about the Bible and how best to understand and apply it, but don’t become an Olympic figure-skating judge.

Imagine the growth you would see if even half your congregation invested time before, during, and after the sermon to give attention to the Bible. It would transform your church.

So, what’s on your menu for this coming Sunday?

How the Sermon Can Shape a Church’s Culture

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A church with a healthy Bible study culture is a blessing to members and visitors alike. Though all aspects of a church contribute to this culture, the sermon is among the most noticeable.

by William Hamilton (1788), license

by William Hamilton (1788), license

Evaluating the sermon in this context demands that we move past the good-or-bad question asked over bowls of Sunday soup. How can a sermon help create a Bible study culture?

The Importance of the Sermon

In evangelical churches, the sermon is the centerpiece of weekly worship. Singing, giving, praying, testimonies—these are often seen as appetizers before the main course.

Without minimizing other elements of the worship service, the sermon is critical. For thirty or so minutes, God’s gathered people focus on hearing and understanding his word. The way the preacher handles the Bible communicates the church’s values and shapes the culture.

A Slight Departure

At Knowable Word, we’re committed to helping ordinary people learn to study the Bible. We rarely target preachers. But as preachers prize God’s word and encourage its study, “ordinary people” will flourish.

So, a word to non-preachers: This post is for you, too! Through the sermon, you can recognize a church with a Bible study culture. You should also find ways to pray for and encourage your preacher(s).

Nine Strategies

Enough jibber-jabber. Here are nine strategies for a sermon that can help create a Bible study culture in your church.

  1. Pray and trust God — A preacher should soak all his study and preparation in prayer, relying on God’s strength and grace. The preacher must recognize the power of God’s words, for the flavor of a sermon indicates whether he believes God’s power lies in the Bible or in his own words. Sermons lead people into greater reliance on one or the other.
  2. Choose the text carefully — When preachers expound a passage of the Bible (instead of hopping around based on a topic), they plant the sermon in rich soil. Over weeks and months, preaching consecutively through a book of the Bible builds familiarity with the author’s main point and helps God’s people to see the place of that book within the Bible’s big story.
  3. Show the work — A sermon should both explain and equip, but many focus only on the former. Instead, the preacher should communicate both his conclusions and the way he reached them. OIA (Observation, Interpretation, Application) terminology isn’t essential, but the preacher should have language to describe what he’s doing. One metric for the success of a sermon is this: Are people replicating the preacher’s Bible study process and reaching the same conclusions?
  4. Minimize quotation from commentaries — Preachers often consult commentaries when preparing a sermon, and this is valuable if one avoids common mistakes. But when a sermon is full of quotations from commentaries, the preacher teaches that Bible study is best left to professionals and academics.
  5. Study and prepare — Sermon preparation skills can be divided in two: getting it right (studying the Bible) and getting it across (public speaking). Both categories are crucial! If you need help in the first, start here.
  6. Include application — A sermon without application is like visiting the beach without touching the sand. A preacher should bring applications to his congregation that have already produced fruit in his life. In this way he avoids hypocrisy and his vulnerability (which is hard work!) shows that application is for everyone.
  7. Prune “proof texts” — A preacher shouldn’t pluck Bible verses and wave them around like so many garden flowers. If a preacher needs the support of another Scripture passage, he should take the time to read it and interpret it in context. We all need help with correlation.
  8. Warn against dangers — There are pitfalls associated with every step in studying the Bible. When appropriate, a preacher can highlight any relevant hazards. (Peter has written about the danger of familiarity when observing, the dangers of relativism, presumption, and observation when interpreting, and the dangers of insight and inertia when applying.)
  9. Make a resource sheet — Churches often tuck a sermon outline into the bulletin; why not use this to also recommend excellent resources? A preacher can encourage his people to study other relevant Bible passages and point them to the best commentaries, biographies, histories, and websites. Including the exact wording and source of any extra-biblical quotations from the sermon could also bless the congregation.

Many thanks to Peter for his help with this post. He uses the categories in point 5 but does not claim them as his own—he has seen them in places like the Simeon Trust.

A Bible Study Culture within the Church

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A group of able, determined people can accomplish what an individual cannot. Witness this video, where about twenty people in China converge to free a woman trapped beneath a car.

Molly A. Burgess (2010), public domain

Molly A. Burgess (2010), public domain

From One to Many

Personal Bible study is at the heart of this blog. We advocate the Observation-Interpretation-Application (OIA) method, and we produce and collect resources to help Christians investigate God’s word.

When we adopt a habit of Bible study, we cut the ribbon on an adventure. By his Spirit, God changes us—from the inside out—as we give ourselves to reading, understanding, and obeying his word. Such change is not easy; in fact, it is a series of small deaths. But these deaths are life—we are new people being renewed.

Now multiply the effect of one changed life. Imagine a troop of transformed, growing Christians. Think of the impact a united, thriving, God-glorifying church can have within a community.

Churches and the Bible

Many churches say they are dedicated to the Bible. The pastor preaches from the Bible, the confessional standards are dense with Bible references, and the pews and Sunday school rooms are chock-full.

But how much is a broad allegiance worth? Suppose a grocery store promotes healthy eating in its flyer, but within the shop they conceal the carrots and push the pastries. You can see the company’s values by walking the aisles.

For some churchgoers, the Bible seems irrelevant; for others, it’s impenetrable. They may half-heartedly open the book on Sunday morning but it has no place of honor in their lives. As a church loses regard for the Bible, they also lose the power to love and influence their communities.

You’ll see a different picture when Christians are committed to studying the Bible. The distinction is not one of intelligence or morality, but of authority. Because God has spoken, such believers are devoted (by God’s grace) to reading God’s word closely and obeying, no matter how uncomfortable the conclusions.

Blessings of a Bible Study Culture

This post begins a series on the distinctive marks of churches which have a Bible study culture. We’ll discuss different aspects of the church in future posts, but today I want to highlight God’s gifts through churches like these. Here are seven blessings to expect when your church embraces a Bible study culture.

  1. Sound doctrine — A church that studies the Bible can stand confidently for truth against all heretical threats.
  2. Unity — Listen to A.W. Tozer: “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?”
  3. Obedience — Application of the Bible leads to greater love and obedience, and God blesses obedience. (See James 1:25, Luke 11:28.)
  4. Help — We often need help studying the Bible, and in a Bible-studying church, we are resources for each other.
  5. Encouragement — Because Bible study can be difficult, we need encouragement. We will find ample support among like-minded Christians.
  6. Healthy norms — When a church studies the Bible, it shows how natural and healthy this exercise is. This discipline isn’t reserved for academics or the super-spiritual, this is a normal Christian practice.
  7. Training — If you want to learn Spanish, move to Spain. New members of a church will pick up Bible study quickly if it is part of the church’s culture. If everyone from grandparents to gradeschoolers is studying the Bible, new members won’t be intimidated to begin.

This series is not meant just for information. In the next post, we’ll start to look at some features of a Bible-studying church. Read prayerfully. Then in your own church, encourage what is present and work toward what is lacking.

Choosing a Bible Passage to Study

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Jim has showered and eaten breakfast, and now he wants to meet with God. He reaches for his Bible and says a quick prayer. He isn’t sure what to read, so he sets the Bible on the table and lets the book fall open. Jim trusts God to lead him to the right passage. This display of God’s sovereignty comforts Jim as he takes up Psalm 137.

Jim is not alone in his method, and I understand the attraction. It is powerful to think God “opened your Bible” to a specific page. God has a message prepared especially for you!

Miracles

Though you may respect Jim’s approach to Scripture, you might question his sanity if he bought a house this way. Open a real estate web site and make an offer on the first house in your price range. After all, God is sovereign! In this setting, we understand the value of a careful and deliberate manner.

So why do we crave a mystical experience when studying the Bible? Why do we expect God’s miraculous intervention?

We feel our weakness and confusion as humans and long for strength and certainty; we see our finitude and stretch for the infinite. Like the Jewish people of Jesus’s day, we seek a sign (Matt 12:38). The burning bush, the audible voice, the vivid dream—we covet God’s unmistakeable actions.

When Jesus was asked for a sign, he pointed to himself and his resurrection. (See Matthew 12:38–42.) His incarnation and resurrection form the centerpiece of history, the miracles that confirm God’s word and make all other miracles possible. (Read more about the place of miracles in the modern church in this article by Justin Holcomb.)

Plans

These days, God guides us more often with a careful plan than with a shriveled hand (1 Kings 13:4). Many think this sounds boring, but to me this understanding injects a holy significance and excitement into each day on the calendar.

In the Bible, God frequently uses “ordinary” means to lead his people.

  • Nehemiah prays and asks the king for permission and support to rebuild Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 2:1–8)
  • Jethro sees Moses carrying a heavy burden and suggests he enlist others to help him judge the people. (Exodus 18:13–27)
  • Joshua sends spies to Jericho. They meet Rahab, and this proves critical in overthrowing the city. (Joshua 2:1–24)
  • Through his skill, planning, and experience David wins many battles. (2 Samuel 8:1–14)
  • Paul makes travel plans without a vision or angelic itinerary. (Romans 15:22–25)

Though God worked in and through these decisions and events, we witness no disruptive divine intervention. Today, as then, we need not depend on writing in the sky to learn from God.

Considerations

Make a plan to study a portion of the Bible. This is different than a Bible reading plan. What part of the Bible will you dig into and find under your fingernails? Where will you direct your blossoming OIA skills?

Consider these questions as you make your plan.

  • What is your church studying? God often presses us with the application of a passage as we see it from different angles (personal study, sermon, Sunday school, small group).
  • What have you studied recently? Don’t hesitate to vary the length, genre, or time period of the passage from one project to the next.
  • What is your background? If you’re new to studying the Bible or to the Christian faith, ask a pastor or Christian friend for some suggestions.
  • How lengthy is your plan? Don’t rush! God’s word is deep and yields a rich harvest for those who take time to carefully work the field.

Feel free to take detours from your Bible study plan. But don’t despise plans themselves—God often uses unspectacular means to direct and guide us.

Who is The Servant of the Lord?

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Imagine driving by your child’s school and spotting a fire truck next to the building. If you recall the fire safety assembly scheduled for the day, you’ll look forward to hearing all about the brave firemen. But if you forget this event, you’ll view that truck in a different light.

Poghia (2006), public domain

Poghia (2006), public domain

In Bible study as in life, context matters. We’ve covered this topic before at Knowable Word. But with the popularity of word studies and the indiscriminate use of cross-references and search engines, we all could use a reminder.

The Servant of the Lord

In the book of Isaiah, interpreters often understand the term “Servant of the Lord” to refer to the Messiah. Beginning in chapter 42 and continuing through the end of the book, the prophet describes the coming Christ in sweeping terms—what he will be like, what he will do, why he must come and suffer. Isaiah 42:1 serves as a preamble:

Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.

But read further in the chapter, and you might hear the proverbial record scratch when you hit Isaiah 42:18–20.

18 Hear, you deaf,
and look, you blind, that you may see!
19 Who is blind but my servant,
or deaf as my messenger whom I send?
Who is blind as my dedicated one,
or blind as the servant of the Lord?
20 He sees many things, but does not observe them;
his ears are open, but he does not hear. (Isaiah 42:18–20)

Say what?

Are we reading here that the Messiah is the chief example of one who is blind and ignorant of God’s word? How do we explain this? It doesn’t match what we know of—or what we need from—the Savior.

The Servant Israel

When we read further in Isaiah 42, we see the last half of the chapter addresses God’s people and their failure to respond to God. We see the people in caves and prisons in Is 42:22. Isaiah writes about Jacob and Israel in Isa 42:24, explaining that God “gave up Jacob to the looter” because they weren’t willing to walk in his ways. God brought drastic measures (battle and fire) against them but they “did not take it to heart” (Isa 42:25).

God referred to Israel as his servant (twice!) in Isa 41:8–10, so if you’ve read chapter 42 in context, the reference to the blind servant of the Lord makes a bit more sense. Israel is God’s servant.

So here’s the better question: why should “servant” in Isa 42:1 not refer to Israel? If Israel is God’s servant both in Isa 41:8 and Isa 42:19, why should the reference in Isa 42:1 be different?

A Better Servant

Our understanding of the “servant of the Lord” as the Messiah is sharpened and filled out in later chapters of Isaiah. But there’s an important lesson about salvation in chapter 42.

When God calls attention to his servant in Isa 42:1–4, he has big plans in mind. This servant “will bring forth justice to the nations.” The word “justice” appears three times in those four verses.

Much of Isaiah 42:5–17 describes God’s involvement in this justice mission. He will hold the servant by the hand (Isa 42:6). God’s glory and his name are at stake (Isa 42:8). He will prevail like a warrior (Isa 42:13). He will shame those who trust in idols (Isa 42:17).

Thus, when we see Israel described as a blind and deaf servant in Isaiah 42:19, we naturally wonder—how can such a sinful servant accomplish God’s justice?

The logical answer is, he can’t. It will take a better, holier servant of the Lord to accomplish this momentous task. Considering the “servant of the Lord” in context shows us the need for a greater servant than the world had yet seen.

Pray for the End of Your Small Group

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How do you pray for your small group? You might pray for your group leader, the friendships within the group, your time studying the Bible, or the growth of each member. God loves to answer these prayers. There’s another way to pray for your Bible study group that is unpopular, seldom used, and crucial for maximizing your group’s impact. This prayer needs the spotlight.

You should pray for the end of your small group.

Andrew Hurley (2011) Creative Commons License

Andrew Hurley (2011) Creative Commons License

To be clear, I’m not advocating for scandal, factions, apostasy, or apathy—I want just the opposite. I want your group to be so winsome and vibrant that it grows and grows. I want addition, not subtraction. Small group birth, not death.

I want your group to end because it splits. And you should want this too.

A Good Problem

Like corn stalks in the summer, a healthy group will grow. As a small community is centered on Jesus and committed to the Bible and each other, people will show up. Our hearts are drawn to close relationships focused on the most important questions and answers in life.

But a growing group reaches a point at which the word “small” no longer applies. Depending on your group’s purpose, this might be fine. But if you aim to take advantage of the friendships and interaction that can make a small group special, you’ll see that a larger group adds some challenges.

When a group exceeds ten or twelve members, it is more difficult to connect with each person in the group. Timid group members can fade into the shadows, and the leader may be tempted to lecture instead of lead a Bible-focused conversation. The prayer list can bulge and swell, spilling out of the house, oozing down the street, and threatening to consume the town. There’s a good reason why many churches and Christian ministries aim to start small groups.

Addressing the Problem

For the good of your Bible study, you should consider splitting the group in two. This makes space for new members and allows close relationships to flourish.

How should the group split? Some groups reach a saturation point, split the group evenly, and come up with a process by which the groups are populated. In other Bible studies, the leader is always training an apprentice. In the fullness of time, the apprentice will start his own group, inviting new people to join.

You may encounter some resistance from within your group when the time to split arrives. This is natural—your group members have formed close friendships, and the potential loss of those friendships looms large. This is why the kingdom-focused vision for your small group is so important. If your group aims to give birth to another, make sure that purpose is clear and repeated often. Pray for it frequently and invite and invest in people with this in mind.

How to Pray

As you pray for the end of your small group, you’ll also need to pray for a new leader. Start early, and pray frequently for God to prepare and equip such a person. (If you’re reading this article and following this series, you might well consider whether God is calling you to lead such a group.)

Pray for single-mindedness and unity within your group. If your group exists for the purpose of introducing people to the life-changing gospel of Jesus as he is known in the Bible, and if God gives your group this common vision, you will be prepared for Spirit-given growth. A tug-of-war changes dramatically when everyone pulls in the same direction.

Ultimately, pray for God’s kingdom to come and his will to be done, both within each group member and in your community. When your group splits, it may feel like an end, but it’s just another beginning. It’s a chance to bless even more people by loving them and pointing them to Jesus.