How to Study the Bible - CLT I - Notes

The Scriptures



Intro
-Intro CLT (purpose, dates…)
-Felt Needs (direction, skill, boring, motivation)
-Real needs (salvation – rom 1:18ff, growth in obedience – 1 John 2:3, 4)
-Sufficient solution (2 tim 3:14-17)
-outline – 4 facts – w/ skills that go along with each; q/a follows
-pray

Spiritual
From the Spirit – from another world (2 tim. 3:16)
-transformers analogy
-someone telling a sweet story about biophysics (language, caring)
We’re in the flesh world (1 Cor. 2:12ff; rom 3:10-12)
-good news – 1 Cor. 3:6ff
-HS like decoder in transformers; transforming power that makes you care about/understand biophysics
Skill – confess dependence/pray
Skill – discipline (study, under teaching, meditation) – discipline comes from care/need (why you date)

Authoritative
God breathed – true – binding – highest standard of knowledge (Rom 3:4; 2 Sam 22:31; Matt 5:19, 20; binding on mind, emotions, actions; compare to science- 2 Peter 1:16-21)
-personal application (if something rubs you the wrong way…)
-evangelism application
Skill – observation (bend the knee!) Rom. 1:8-17 (grammar note!) (questions too)

Human
Human product – specific people, places, situations – not written directly to YOU. (Gal. 5:12);
Skill – q and a (context – literary (2 are gathered!); analogy of Scripture- theological … essential truths of the Christian faith - sproul)
Skill 2: Big Idea of passage (Rom. 1:8-17) – (have ‘em do it)
Skill 2 ½: BI -> eternal big idea; theology book (Essentials – Sproul) – Rom. 1:8- 17…
Skill 3 – READING – forest/trees (what to look for when reading… THIS… segue)

Gospel Centered
What’s the gospel?
Give holistic definition
Luke 24:27; 44-47; Heb 1:1-3; John 1:12-18
Why is the Bible about the gospel?
-saves (Rom. 10; rom. 1)
-results in obedience – Galatians 3:1-3 (vs. commands -> death!)
-1 Corinthians 2:1ff; heb. 6; 2 cor 3:18
Skill 1 – Finding the sin condition(s)/need(s) that sin creates. How? Big idea
Do in Rom. 1
Skill 2 – Feel it. (Heb. 4:12 – ask how you break God’s commands – confess!)
-Decision Making (cuts, sufficient)
-Ferguson quote: (see below)
Skill 3 – Discover the gospel in the text – what’s Jesus’ cross done?
-this text?
-Matt 5:27-30 – (reading! Point of the gospel: Matt 27:46, 51-54)
-OT stuff is about Jesus! (Rom. 5:16; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Matthew 12:39-41; John 2:19ff)
-learn to search on biblegateway!
Skill 4 – Thank God for the gospel in the passage

Summary, Q and A following, prayer
Worship
Ann’c
Dismiss


Ferguson: "Christians in an earlier generation rarely thought of writing books on guidance. There is a reason for that (just as there is a reason why so many of us today are drawn to books that will tell us how to find God's will). Our forefathers in the faith were catechised, and they taught catechisms to their children. Often as much as half of the catechism would be devoted to an exposition of the answers to questions like the following: Question: Where do we find God's will? Answer: In the Scriptures. Question: Where in particular in the Scriptures? Answer: In the Commandments that God has given to us.

Why were these questions and answers so important? Because these Christians understood that God's law provides basic guidelines that cover the whole of life. Indeed, in the vast majority of instances, the answer to the question 'What does God want me to do?' will be found by answering the question: 'How does the law of God apply to this situation? What does the Lord require of me here in his word?'"