Knowable Word

Helping ordinary people learn to study the Bible

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What the Avengers Taught Me about Bible Study

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I just saw The Avengers and thought it almost lived up to all the hype.  It’s well worth seeing, and it can teach you about Bible study!

Characters, characters

This movie was well set up by all the (mostly) independent prequels: The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Captain America, and Thor.  Each of those movies tells the story of a single hero.  All the heroes come together as a team in The Avengers.  Needless to say, the movie’s greatest strength was its characterization.

There is no narrator to tell you what’s happening, and there’s not much explanation of plot or setting except through dialogue.  All you have that drives the drama and action is the characterization of the heroes as they relate to each other, and it works beautifully.

Tony Stark (Iron Man) considers himself a “genius, playboy, billionaire, philanthropist,” and his choices, especially in his relationships, directly reflect this chosen identity.  Bruce Banner (Hulk) remains pretty introverted, fearing the monster that rages within him.  When asked how he keeps the monster at bay, he reveals his secret: “I’m always angry.”  We can reinterpret his quiet withdrawal in light of this revelation.

I could go on, but the point should be clear that much of a story can be told through strong characterization.  Notice how the Bible uses the same technique:

  • Jacob’s character drives much of the last sections of Genesis, as his affinity for conflict (Gen 25:22) and deceit (Gen 27:18-19) is used against him by his uncle (Gen 29:23, 31:26-28) before the Lord redeems it and makes him fruitful through it (Gen 32:28).
  • We are told very little about the prophet Elijah, but we resonate with the one whose nature was just like ours (James 5:17) as we see him alternately hiding (1 Kings 17:5-7) and confronting (1 Kings 18:17-19), inspiring (1 Kings 18:38-39) and raving (1 Kings 19:10, 14).  The man who demanded justice (1 Kings 19:10) and saw the Lord only in wind, earthquake, fire, and whisper (1 Kings 19:11-12) eventually saw the fulness of God’s glory on that mountain in the face of Jesus Christ (Matthew 17:2-3).
  • One leper’s character shines when he returns to thank Jesus (Luke 17:15-19).
  • A whiny, victimized, blameshifting invalid (John 5:6-7) demonstrates the opposite of faith even after meeting Life in flesh (John 5:14-16).  We don’t need the author to tell us to avoid his example.

When you read the Bible, be aware of how the characters are portrayed.  By their description, choices, and dialogue, we receive instruction in how to flee temptation by remembering that Jesus is our escape (1 Cor 10:6-13).  If you still have the chance to see The Avengers, do so, and become a better Bible student.

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What The Hunger Games Taught Me About Bible Study

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I just finished reading the first Hunger Games book, which simultaneously captivated and horrified me.  This post is not a review of the content of the book, but an attempt to capture some literary points that (I think) contribute to the book’s success.  For more evaluative reviews, see my brief Goodreads review, or reviews by Tim Challies or Mark Meynell.

1.  Pay attention to verb tenses

Something nagged at me through the first part of the book.  The story felt alive to me, almost too alive.  It took a while to notice the cause, but eventually I realized the verbs were in the present tense.  Sorry, I did that paragraph all wrong; let me try it again.

Something nags at me through the first part of the book.  The story feels alive to me, almost too alive.  It takes a while to notice the cause, but eventually I realize it’s the verbs are in the present tense.

Collins isn’t the first novelist to use this convention, but I think it’s uncommon.  I can’t remember the last time I read a novel that employed it.

What does this fact have to do with Bible study?  Pay attention to tenses!  Authors communicate tone and mood through it.  Each biblical author communicates different style and purpose through his text.  One particularly vivid example is the Gospel of Mark.

For example, check out the New American Standard Bible, which conveniently lets us know when the original language behind a narrative uses present tense (instead of the more common past tense) by marking it with an *.

“Immediately the Spirit *impelled Him to go out into the wilderness” (Mark 1:12, NASB).

“They *went into Capernaum…” (Mark 1:21, NASB).

“Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they *spoke to Jesus about her” (Mark 1:30, NASB).

Swap each of those *verbs with a present tense (the Spirit impels…hey go…they speak…), and you’ll get the picture Mark intends.  You’ll picture yourself right there with Jesus and his disciples, and the story will come alive.

2. Put Yourself in the Story

Part of what I enjoyed about The Hunger Games was that stuff happens.  We didn’t need chapter after chapter of set up.  We didn’t get a lot of back story, except through the course of the action.  Collins’s greatest strength is her plot, which she uses well to both build characters and configure setting.  But the plot is always central.

So also, in the Bible, there are times when plot is central.  Again, the key example that comes to mind is the Gospel of Mark.  For example, notice how often Mark uses the word “immediately.”  Compared to the other three Gospels, Mark has the fewest recorded speeches of Jesus.  Mark cares about action, and he wants that action to impact us as though we were there.  Jesus is a doer, the King of the Universe, and he’s doing everything in his power to fix what is broken, especially in our own lives.

In short, as I read The Hunger Games and considered why it was so popular, I was inspired to go back and re-read Mark, which I did at my first opportunity.  As you engage in the folklore of our culture, allow it to sharpen your skill at reading God’s Knowable Word.

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How’d You Do That? (5/16/12)

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In Wednesday’s post, I continued listing some counterfeits to wisdom present in our day.  All I tried to do here was apply the introductory material by dealing with some issues that may hopefully hit closer to home for some of us.

How many times have you heard (or said) the following?

  • “You’ll understand when you’re older.”
  • “Once you get a few gray hairs (or some more experience under your belt), then you’ll earn more respect or influence.”
  • “Why should I do what you’re saying?”  “Because I’m your father!”

One way to apply Bible passages is to consider what we ought to believe.  I’ve heard this called the “Head” realm of application (as distinct from the “Hands” or “Heart” realms, which refer more to skills or character).  In this case, we ought to believe the right thing (and not the wrong thing) about how to become wise.  Let’s not fall for the subtle but unbiblical assumptions that exist all around us.

One more thought: in this post, I considered some common misconceptions about how one becomes wise.  I tried to reflect what was good before identifying what I thought was bad.

Even if we disagree with someone or some idea, we should always first aim to find what is good, true, and beautiful about it.  After we build agreement there, we can move toward addressing areas of disagreement.  I think Paul had this approach in mind when he wrote Philippians 4:8, which is in the context of helping two women deal with a conflict in Philippians 4:2.  I encourage you to study Philippians 4:2-9 and follow the steps listed there the next time you are in a conflict with another person and want either the peace of God or the God of peace to be with you.

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Finding Joy In What Isn’t There

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One of my favorite verses in all the Scriptures is one I didn’t even notice the first half-dozen times I read it.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1 ESV)

Do you see what that short verse is saying?  If so, you’re way ahead of where I was for quite a while.  The first times I read that verse my brain somehow translated it into, “Jesus is cool.”  Actually, most of the time when I read a verse and don’t think about it much, it gets translated as, “Jesus is cool.”  Thankfully, that’s a better statement than what used to enter my head before I was a Christian (which was something like, “Jesus, blah blah blah”), but it’s still not all that helpful.

So how do you go deeper?  How do you learn to appreciate this verse, and all the very rich verses of Scripture for that matter?  It’s what I call, “finding joy in what isn’t there.” It’s simple, really.  I just ask questions about what the text doesn’t say.  For example:

  • What if there were condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus?
  • What if there were no condemnation for those who just followed all the rules, regardless of their relationship with Christ Jesus?
  • What if there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… unless you are seriously messed up?  (That is, remove the “therefore” and the context of Romans chapter 7.)

Take a few moments and consider the answers to those questions!  The implications would be devastating for us!  As you consider each answer, you ought to erupt with thankfulness and praise to the One who caused Paul to pen Romans 8:1 just as it is written so that we know exactly how God has designed things.

  • There is absolutely, positively ZERO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!  If you are a Christian, you needn’t fear this ever changing.  There is quite literally no way you could be condemned.
  • This joyful life devoid of condemnation is not based on our observance of rules, but rather in the person and work of Christ Jesus.  This also means that if we are not in Christ Jesus, then condemnation remains for our sin.
  • Furthermore, even if we find ourselves in the position of the man in Romans 7 – thoroughly convinced that we are seriously messed up and without hope to change apart from our savior Jesus – then in THAT we find ourselves uncondemned.  In other words, Jesus accepts busted-up people, not those who think they’re doing just fine.

The implications are a LOT more than “Jesus is cool”!

Now it’s your turn.  What “isn’t there” in your favorite verse?

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What a Large Homeschool Convention Taught Me About Bible Study

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My wife and I just returned from “The largest Christian homeschool conference in the Northeast.”  We eagerly anticipated this event, and it didn’t disappoint.

So many benefits came from the time.  We were able to get our hands and eyes on many curriculum options, finally choosing what we will use for the coming school year.  We couldn’t even wait for the Fall to begin; as soon as we got home, we unwrapped a few things and immediately did the first of the new lessons with our children.  They just loved it, and our energy was still high from the buzz of the convention.

This blog isn’t about homeschooling, though, but about Bible study.  So, to get to the point: what I learned about Bible study is that we need much more of it.

At the convention, we heard a number of talks on various topics: publishing, storytelling, simultaneously instructing children of different grade levels, and including the preschoolers in homeschool time.  The last session we attended was especially helpful, in that the speaker (Marilyn Boyer of Character Concepts) listed about 30 character qualities, from the Bible, that we should seek to instill in our children.  She gave loads of tips on how to help our children connect with the Scriptures on a heart level, through memorizing them, meditating on them, and applying them to all of life’s adventures.

What I found noteworthy was that, other than this final session, the Bible was almost completely absent from the other workshops we attended.  To be fair, we could only attend a small fraction of the workshops, and perhaps we chose the only ones weaker on Scripture.

But I can’t help myself thinking that if “Christian homeschooling” can get dislodged from its moorings in careful biblical study, it’s merely symptomatic of Christian culture at large, which can be saturated with morals and activities but be somewhat barren when it comes to understanding God’s Knowable Word.

I’ll list just one other symptom that struck me.  Among the hundreds of vendors, we must have seen dozens of Bible curricula for children and teenagers.  This encouraged us.  However, almost every sample we perused focused on either the Bible’s stories, its ethics, or its theology.

These three are important topics, but what I’d also like to see is training for children and teens in how to study the Bible.  My hope for our children is that by the time they graduate high school, they won’t need a Bible text book anymore.  I’m not saying they’ll have perfect knowledge of all things, independent of the Christian community or the preaching of God’s Word.  I just mean that I’d like them to be able to pick up their Bibles, read them profitably, understand them rightly, and be equipped to use them to change the world.

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How’d You Do That? (5/10/12)

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In Thursday’s post, we briefly surveyed Proverbs 9 and identified a few common counterfeits of wisdom in our day.  Here are some principles demonstrated in that post.

1.  Observe Comparison and Contrast

Proverbs 9 describes two different women.  We are meant to observe what is similar (comparison) and what is different (contrast) about them.

Similarities: women, serving a meal, making invitations to bystanders.

Differences: prepared food vs. secret bread, mixing wine vs. stealing water, sending maidens vs. no maidens, hewing pillars vs. knowing nothing.

Observing the similarities and differences enables us to see that, though both want to recruit followers and serve them a meal, what they offer and how they offer it is very different.  Folly is copying Wisdom, but with less power and weaker results.  We too ought to expect counterfeits to wisdom.

Comparison and contrast are simple yet powerful to observe.  Here are a few more examples.

Characters, such as:

  • Abram/Lot in Genesis 13-14, 18-19
  • Zechariah/Mary in Luke 1:5-38

Plots, such as:

  • Men meeting women at wells in Genesis 24:15-21 & 29:9-12, Exodus 2:15-22, John 4:1-10
  • Sexually immoral demands at the doorstep in Genesis 19 & Judges 19

Settings, such as:

  • Personal encounters with God on mountains in Exodus 33-34, 1 Kings 19:9-18, and Mark 9:2-8
  • Childlessness in Genesis 11:27-31, 25:19-22, 29:31; Judges 13:1-3, 1 Samuel 1:1-2, Matthew 1:18-25

Things, such as:

  • Two gates, two trees, two candidates for the Kingdom, two houses in Matthew 7:15-27

Whenever we see two or more things that resemble each other in some way, we should keep our eyes out for both similarities and differences.  Make two lists, and ask yourself the question, “what is the author trying to communicate by comparing or contrasting these things?”

2.  Identify What a Passage is NOT Saying

When I moved toward particular application, I began to list some common assumptions in our day regarding what makes someone wise.  I haven’t yet defined, from the text of Proverbs, what wisdom is; I thought first it would be helpful to clear out some misconceptions.

One way to apply a text of Scripture is to consider what we ought to believe in light of the passage.  As we do so, we can identify what common beliefs exist in our culture don’t quite hit the bullseye.  Recognizing these faulty beliefs enables us to clear the debris so we can apply right beliefs.  We’ll see this in a few weeks when we move past the counterfeits (what wisdom is not) and define what wisdom is.

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How’d You Do That? (5/3/12, continued)

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Here are two more Bible study principles I employed in last Thursday’s post:

2.  Read the Bible as Literature

Every book of the Bible is a book.  Each of these books was written by a person to a group of people.  We ought to read these books like we read other books.  That means they have a beginning, a middle, and an end.  The ideas flow from one thought to the next.  This is why I’ll work through Proverbs 1-9 section after section.

3.  Pay Attention to Context

This point flows right out of the previous one.  When we forget that the Bible is a collection of books, it’s easy to read a verse here and a verse there as we feel inspired.  However, each of those verses has a context.  There is a literary context (the thoughts written before and after) and a historical context (the person who wrote the book, and the circumstances under which he wrote it).

Here’s an example.  If I told you that on May 3, The New York Times quoted Tobias Meyer as saying, “I have all the time in the world,” what would you think of?  Does the quote inspire you or frighten you?  Do you share the sentiment, or do you envy it?

It’s impossible to evaluate such questions when the quote is isolated from any context!  So let me fill you in with more details.

Tobias Meyer is an auctioneer.  A few days ago, painter Edvard Munch’s famous work, “The Scream,” came up for auction.  Once the bidding reached $99 million, the participants paused, likely in anticipation of the $100 million milestone.  At this moment, Mr. Meyer exclaimed, “I have all the time in the world.”  As you know, auctioneers are not known for taking time or for drawing things out.  This moment was one to be savored.

The bidding continued, and the painting finally sold for $119.9 million, becoming the most expensive piece of art in history.  See the full article here.

Now that you know the facts in their context, does the quote take on new significance?

Let’s do the same whenever we study the Bible, making sure we understand it rightly in its context.  I will seek to do it in Proverbs by focusing on Solomon’s main points and flow of thought.  You can do it as you read the Bible, too.

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How’d You Do That? (5/3/12)

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Everybody loves show and tell.  It’s that time in elementary school when you get to show all your friends something that really excites you, and then explain why it’s so exciting.

That’s why some of our blog posts will be given to showing you how to study the Bible, and others will focus on telling you how to do it.  Our hope is that by frequent showing and telling, you will be encouraged to practice these skills in your own study of God’s Knowable Word.

On Thursday, I began a series of posts on the Wisdom of Proverbs.  Even though Thursday’s post was a broad introduction, it still involved some weighty Bible study techniques. So I want to briefly comment on the key principles of Bible study demonstrated there.

1.  Know what the Bible says about the Bible.

We should read the Bible the way God wants us to read it.  Therefore, as we approach any passage of Scripture, we ought to know what the Bible says about the Bible.  On Thursday, I referred to 2 Timothy 3:16, which tells us that every passage of Scripture is useful.  Thus any Bible study we do ought to provide some sort of practical instruction, correction, or training in righteousness.  A Bible study that fails to provide practical help is incomplete.

Also, Jesus himself clearly stated in Luke 24:44-47 that the entire Bible was about Him.  He specifically referenced four components: his death, his resurrection, the forgiveness of sins, and the proclamation of these things to all nations.  So every Bible study ought to lead us to Jesus by illuminating one or more of these four areas.  If we haven’t seen Jesus, we haven’t rightly understood the text.

These two things are not all that the Bible says about the Bible; they’re just the two points I focused on in Thursday’s post.  Please feel free to leave a comment below about other sections of God’s Word that can help us in our study of any passage.

We’ll pick up two more principles tomorrow.

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