2 Timothy 3:16-17 Bible Study Method

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3:16-17)

1)Approach the passage with prayer, thanking God for His word (His breath), and breathe in like it's life for you. Ask Him to show you His truth

2)Approach the passage asking 4 key questions:
-[teaching] - is there anything in the text that is new (or newly remembered)   information?
      Gospel Focus
      1. God (nature and work)
      2. Man (nature and condition)
      3. Christ (prophet, priest, king)
      4. Response (repentance and faith)

 -[reproof] - is there anything in the text that convicts me of sin in action and/or belief (omission / commission)?

-[correction] - is there anything in the text that corrects my theology (doctrines, ecclesiology, morality) (think orthodoxy and praxis)?

-[training in righteousness] - is there anything in the text that (directly or indicrectly) is a practice I need to employ (personally or corporately)?

3)Thank God for providing everything you need to grow in Him in His Word.

Taken from Pastor Mike Lumpkin's (UBC Fayetteville Pastor) 6/2/13 sermon notes: Essentials: Bible Study – 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Why This Blog

in progress...

Love and the Inhumanity of Same-Sex Marriage

Love and the Inhumanity of Same-Sex Marriage

Excerpts from above post by The Gospel Coalition: 

"There are several assumptions behind the idea that a person with same-sex attraction might say "I am a homosexual" in the same way someone might say "I am a male" or "I am black." First, one assumes that homosexual desires are rooted in biology and therefore a natural part of being human. Second, one assumes that our natural desires are basically good, so long as they don't hurt others. Third, one assumes that fulfilling such basic and good desires are part of being fully human."

 ... 

"Here is what's often missed: neither the fact of the desire, nor its possible biological basis, gives it moral legitimacy. Don't mistake is for ought. We understand this quite well, for instance, when it comes to the behaviors associated with some forms of substance addiction or bipolar disorder. The biological component of these maladies certainly calls for compassion and reams of patience, but it does not make their attendant behaviors morally legitimate. To assume they do means treating human beings as just one more animal. No one morally condemns a leopard for acting instinctually. Yet shouldn't our moral calculations for human beings involve something more than assent to the biochemistry of desire? We are more than animals. We are souls and bodies. We are created in God's image. To legitimize homosexual desire simply because it's natural or biological, ironically, is to treat a person as less than human." 

... 

"Further, same-sex marriage embraces a definition of humanity that is less than human and a definition of love that is less than love."

31 Status and Nothing Less - Video For Your Daughters

Atheism Question and Answer by Albert Mohler @ U of A

Albert Mohler (president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) giving a Q & A regarding atheism (given at the U of A).

Questions directed to Dr. Mohler [and the time they appear in the video]

1 [0:00] “Do you believe Christianity must change or die? If so, how must it change?” (referencing Bishop John Shelby Spong’s book – Why Christianity Must Change or Die)

2 [4:47] “How do you reconcile the existence of evil with an omnipotent, omniscient, holy, good God?”

3 [13:49] “What high profile theologians can you point to who oppose atheism from a creationist perspective? Do you think evangelicals can hold to theistic evolution consistently?” (regarding Mohler in his book (Atheism Remix) faulting two opponents of new atheism, theologian Alister McGrath and philosopher Alvin Plantinga, for being open to theistic evolution)

4 [18:03] “If the rise of atheism is fueled by more intellectual, new scientific theories coming along, [and it being a] more socially acceptable form of atheism, what is your standing on the argument of the burden of proof [being on theism's side]?”

5 [20:32] “I’m an atheist and I respect your right and others' right to believe whatever they believe. I fought a war back in the 90’s to give you that right. If Dr. Albert Mohler becomes king Albert Mohler tomorrow will he extend me that same right?” [Military Veteran speaking]

6 [23:55] “God ordered Joshua, after Moses, to kill men, women, innocent kids, cows, cats, and dogs. Why? If the answer is “there are some things done by God that we cannot understand,” then how do you respond to a Muslim with the same argument?"

7 [29:15] – What do you say to the person who says there are so many stars in the universe and we’ve been around for so long that life can’t help but exist? Therefore, by Occam’s Razor, since the idea of God is so complicated, we shouldn’t believe it because there is a much simpler and logical explanation for the existence of life in the universe.” [Occam’s Razor – a principle used in logic and problem solving that states - among competing hypotheses, the one that makes the fewest assumptions should be selected (wikipedia)]

8a [32:52] “If you read through Judges 19, there is a verse that says God was with His people, and they were driving out the people out of their land. But they weren’t able to drive a certain people out because they had iron chariots. [If]… they were not able to defeat the people, even though God was with them, God isn’t all-powerful.” Is God Omnipotent?

 8b [36:10] Why do Christians strive to follow the 10 commandments but not follow the other laws of the Old Testament?

9 [39:04] “Is it really true that a person who dies apart from Jesus Christ will go to hell as the Christian world claims? And can you address the Christian view of heaven and getting there?

The Inn Keeper

Posted by a father of providence, Wesley Bond

CPR for a Bad Mood

CPR (Crabby "Patty/Patrick" Resuscitation)

It's CPR in reverse. You lightly perform compressions (push down) on the mouth and then begin a set of rescue breathing (blowing raspberries) on the individual's belly. Repeat until individual is happy. Works every time :)

The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Study by Starr Meade

Great study of the entire Bible. When purchased, you get 4 workbooks (2 for each 1/2 of OT and 2 for NT) and 1 answer key (close to 1000 pages) which could easily be used as a 2 to 4 year Bible study curriculum for kids and adults alike.

Click here for a preview of one of the OT workbooks.

Click here for a preview of one of the NT workbooks.



Book Description from Amazon:

The Bible is often neglected or weakly emphasized in the education of our children. However, author Starr Meade contends that God's Word is the most important thing a Christian will ever study. This introductory overview of the message of the Bible encourages middle and high school students to explore God's Word for themselves. Available in multiple volumes or as a set, The Most Important Thing You'll Ever Study leads young teens through the story of the Bible chronologically, teaching them about important themes and topics, such as the role of God as the main character of his own story and the relationship between Scripture's divine inspiration and human authorship.

Students can either use the text as a supplementary companion to their own reading of Scripture, or they can simply use the study guide to move through the Bible from beginning to end. 

Blessings

(From father of Providence Wes Bond)

The Truth About Man Workbook by Paul Washer

Below is a link to The Truth About Man Workbook by Paul Washer

Download The Truth About Man by clicking here or access the ebook and others @ http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/resources/ebooks.

The softcover workbook can also be purchased for ~$5 @ amazon.com. I recommend taking a look @ the free ebook from the heartcrymissionary site; if you like it, go ahead and purchase the workbook from Amazon - cheaper than the $15 it will cost @ at UPS store.

See below for excerpt from book description on Amazon
Through a guided study of God's own words, and under various systematic headings, The Truth about Man unfolds the desperate condition of humanity. As the second part in a series of rich, biblical studies, this workbook provides the reader with a no-nonsense Bible study on a fundamental tenant of the Christian gospel the lost condition of man. Like the previous book, The One True God, this workbook keeps the student engaged directly with the Bible throughout the entire study. It is intended not just to teach truth, but to lead to an encounter with the living God and a deeper understanding of the magnitude of our salvation by demonstrating man's true need of God's redemption. In this study students are encouraged to thoughtfully draw conclusions from the Scriptures rather than to merely absorb the principles, inferences, and illustrations set before them by the author. For this reason the book includes very little of such material and instead focuses on digesting the Scriptures directly. Learning in this way, the reader is set on a firm foundation and will readily perceive the centrality and high authority of biblical doctrine within the Christian life. 

Hope it is a blessing
(From father of Providence Wes Bond)

One True God Workbook by Paul Washer

Below is a link to the One True God free downloadable workbook by Paul Washer

Download One True God by clicking here or access the ebook and others @ http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/resources/ebooks.

The softcover workbook can also be purchased for ~$5 @ amazon.com. I recommend taking a look @ the free ebook from the heartcrymissionary site; if you like it, go ahead and purchase the workbook from Amazon - cheaper than the $15 it will cost @ at UPS store.

Great resource that, by studying the attributes of God found in scripture, aids in a better understanding of who God is and what He is like. I highly recommend this resource and plan on using it and Mr. Washer's other workbook (The Truth About Man) as a good introduction to the first half of the gospel for the kids @ home.

See below for excerpt from book description on Amazon
The One True God is a unique kind of workbook, intending not just to teach truth but to lead to an encounter with the living God. Beneath that goal the book aims to ground believers in orthodox Christian theology and the actual contents of the Bible. Students are encouraged to thoughtfully draw conclusions from the Scriptures rather than to merely absorb the principles, inferences, and illustrations set before them by the author. For this reason the book does not include such material and instead focuses on digesting the Scriptures directly. Through God s own words and under various systematic headings the book unfolds the nature of God. In this way the reader is set on a firm foundation and will readily perceive the centrality and high authority of biblical doctrine within the Christian life. It is the author s conviction that the study of doctrine is both an intellectual and devotional discipline. Therefore students are guided throughout the study to think through and apply the truths they learn, meditating on the demands of Scripture for their heart and mind. The book puts us squarely in the middle of the material, and demands we give searching thought to how we will live before such a God. This workbook is especially suited for the following contexts: (1) doctrinal training for new converts; (2) college or adult Bible studies; (3) private study; (4) Christian or home school curriculum; (5) Sunday school material; (6) an aid to parents in teaching the Word of God to their families.

Hope its a blessing
(From father of Providence Wes Bond)

Extra Incentive to Pray for Your Kids Today

Check out these heroes of the faith: #1 Dad or what?

Jacob, played favorites with Joseph and neglected his other children leading to them hating their brother to the point of faking his death and selling him into slavery (Gen 37-45).

Aaron's two oldest sons, Nadab and Abihu, irreverently offered strange fire before the Lord and were consumed by fire (Lev 10:1-3).

Eli, the high priest, did not rebuke/discipline his sons appropriately who were worthless men (1 Sam2:12) despis[ing] the offering of the Lord" (1 Sam 2:17) and "lay[ing] with the women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting (1 Sam 2:22). God's vision to Samuel includes "For I have told [Eli] that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them" (1 Sam 3:13). His two sons, Phinehas and Hophni were killed soon thereafter as the Philistines routed Israel and took the ark of the Lord (1 Sam 4).

David sets a horrible example for his children by killing his loyal servant Uriah so that he can steal Uriah's wife Bathsheba who he has already gotten pregnant (2 Sam 11). An example of the fruits he later reaps with his children, David's son Amnon rapes his sister Tamar and is not punished by his father. David's other son Absalom ends of seeking revenge for his sister's disgrace, kills Amnon, and runs away (2 Sam 13). It ends up taking the king's servant, Joab, persuading the king to finally bring back Absalom after 3 years of exile. Father and son's relationship are never reconciled and Absalom ends up temporarily taking the thrown from David,that is, until David's men kill Absalom in a later battle.

Solomon's son, Rehoboam, leads the country to the dissolution of the single nation of Israel into the divided kingdoms and continues Solomon's idol worship in Judah (which started when his 700 wives and 300 concubines turned his heart away from the Lord after other gods) (1 Kings 11-13).

Hope that was an upper for all. Seriously, these guys are some of our heroes of the faith, yet they royally screwed up their kids or at least ended up with screwed up kids. My question is, what hope do you or I have of doing any better?

After the anxiety passes, I'm very thankful for passages of scripture like the above that demonstrate we cannot trust in man, including ourselves, but that we must seek the Lord in raising our children and ultimately rely on Him alone.

Remember, you're probably not the "World's #1 Dad"; so, seek the one Dad who is.
Pray for your kids!

Psalm 127:1 "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it..."

Fellowship / Bible Study Opportunity

Each Friday, starting 10/12/12, we will be having a bible study at our home starting at 7:00 pm. We will be studying the letter of I Corinthians. Everyone is invited. If you have any questions, please call me at 200-6318 or email me at wareagle2534@gmail.com Have a great day. [From father of Providence - Lucas Griggs]

What father doesn't want his daughter to marry a good man?

PCCA Father - Wesley Bond - "My daughter is only 7; so, I'll be saving this video for a much later date but thought it might be a blessing to all of you with a teenager."

What is the Bible really all about?

PCCA Father - Wesley Bond "Wow! It's not about me and what I have to do; it's all about Him and what He has already done!"

Written Briefly by Bob Jennings

Below is a link to Written Briefly by Bob Jennings which is a great compilation of outlines of various Christian doctrines and topics (see below for examples of content included):

Download Written Briefly by clicking here or access the download and others @ http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/resources/ebooks

Topics included:

The Revelation of God by Creation, in Man, and by the Bible

Trinity

God's Two Wills (Revealed and Secret)

Does God Know Before Hand

Old & New Covenant

The Stumbling Block of the Cross

Assurance of Salvation

Repentance

and many more...

(From father of Providence Wes Bond)

Reasoning with Atheism (C.S. Lewis)

The Parent Rap

Google Play - Titus: A Comrade of the Cross

Google Books has quite the collection of old ebooks that can be downloaded for free onto your computer/tablet using Google Play. I've recently found several books from LampLighter Publishing we've really enjoyed reading, such as: Teddy's Button and Titus: A Comrade of the Cross.
We're about 1/3 of the way through Titus: A Comrade of the Cross, but so far it has been a great.

The following is a description from the book and Lamplighters Publishing:
"Early in the year 1894, the publishers of this book, desiring to secure a Life of Christ of superior merit and special character, offered a prize of $1000 for the best manuscript submitted" which was awarded to "Florence Kingsley ... for writing a story that would set a child’s heart on fire for Jesus Christ. In six weeks the demand was so great, they printed 200,000 additional copies! The award-winning entry, Titus: A Comrade of the Cross, is provocative, full of suspense and drama."

A review from amazon regarding the book (by: Abigail Larsen)
A surprisingly obscure Lamplighter novel, Titus: Comrade of the Cross is one of the richest, deepest, and most moving stories I've ever experienced. You'll follow Titus, a teenager with a zealous heart and an accute burden for his younger crippled brother. Become absorbed in his struggles as he joins a large band of passionate rebels led by Barabbus, who is out to bring the Roman empire down. This gripping narrative climaxes in an unbelievable scene at the foot of the cross. Watch the life and death of Jesus unfold through lost, needy eyes and be prepared to be blown away by the most emotional, poignant ending I've yet to read. It's a finish you won't see coming, and it's more than worth wading through the often heavy chapters. If you've read this novel I'd love to hear your reaction to it. If you haven't traveled through this masterpiece by Ms. Kingsley, I'd encourage you to consider it. It is particularly special to time the read so that you're finishing the final chapter around Resurrection Sunday, as this books sheds light on a beautiful angle of Jesus' sacrifice for us.
Also avilable as sequels to this book (free historical/biblical fiction spanning the entire new testament):
Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross and Paul: A Herold of the Cross

The Gospel While Mowing

The next time you're outside mowing the lawn, pulling weeds, or raking leaves let it be an occasion to remind you of why we need the gospel.

Remember Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after eating the forbidden fruit. Soon thereafter God curses the Snake, Eve, and then Adam. See below for the curse upon Adam.


Genesis 3:17-19
“...Cursed is the ground because of you;

    through painful toil you will eat food from it
    all the days of your life.
¹⁸ It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
    and you will eat the plants of the field.
¹⁹ By the sweat of your brow
    you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
    since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
    and to dust you will return.”

So the next time you're soaking wet with sweat from mowing the lawn, remember you're a sinner and this is part of our curse. Let this stir us on to think about the redemption which God has accomplished for us... with one very, very small fulfillment being no more "painful toiling" over this earthly ground.

Or possibly better yet, let your kids mow the lawn and remind them that they are sinners and let them contemplate what God has done through Christ for them. I know it might be tough giving up this job, but remember, its for their sake. :)

Pig Slop No Longer

An illustration of the conversion of a man @ the time of salvation originally by Charles Spurgeon and retold by Paul Washer.

"...Charles Spurgeon describing true conversion. If you were to release a pig onto a stage where on the floor were both a bucket of pig slop and a nice steak dinner, you would see the pig charge headlong to the bucket of slop, shove his head into it, and eat with joy. That's what you would expect; he's a pig and that's what pigs do! But if you had the power to instantly change that pig into a man, he would yank his head out of the slop, vomit up the contents of his stomach (for a man cannot eat what a pig eats), and sulk in shame when he realizes you have seen what he was doing. 

Prior to our conversion, we are the pig, happily feeding in our bucket of sin. God changes our heart. Immediately we can no longer stomach the sin, yanking our head out. We feel revulsion and shame toward our sin, desiring to be as far from it as possible. But God, in His mercy, forgives us based on the sacrifice of His Son, separating us from our sin as far as the east is from the west. Although we may occasionally remember our days as a pig and stick our head back in the bucket of sin in hopes of finding a morsel or two, we will always find it to be wretched and turn back to our Savior. We cannot help but do otherwise, for we have been changed!" 


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