Posted in Psalms, tagged Building Biblical Literacy, Creation Psalms, Psalm 8 on February 7, 2017|
Read Psalm 8
This is a Psalm of Praise. It is often categorized further as a creation psalm. Other creation Psalms include Psalm 19:1-6; Psalm 33 and Psalm 104.
1. What background and/or historical knowledge do you have for this Psalm?
2. What does David say about God in this psalm?
3. What does David say about man in relationship to God?
4. What does David say about man in relationship to the animals, fish, etc.?
Posted in Psalms, tagged Bible Study in Psalms, Building Biblical Literacy, Psalm 7 on January 24, 2017|
Read Psalm 7
1. What background and/or historical knowledge do you have for this Psalm?
2. What is the significance (meaning) of the name “Yahweh?”
3. What is David asking for in this psalm?
4. What does “selah” mean or signify?
5. How does David describe the evil or wicked one?
6. What do you learn about God’s character in this psalm? (verses 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
7. What is the change that occurs from the beginning of the psalm to the end in the mind/emotions of the psalmist?
8. What is the significance (meaning) of the name “Most High” (El Elyon) in verse 17?
Posted in Psalms, tagged Bible Study in Psalms, Building Biblical Literacy, Psalm 6 on January 6, 2017|
Read Psalm 6
1. What background and/or historical knowledge do you have for this Psalm?
2. What is the prayer of David to God in the opening verses?
3. What do you learn about David’s situation, mental state? Give verses to support.
4. Where does the transition in tone occur in this psalm?
Going deeper: What does “sheminith” mean?
Posted in Biblical Literacy, Psalms, tagged Bible Study in Psalms, Building Biblical Literacy, Psalm 5 on January 4, 2017|
Read Psalm 5
Because the Psalm is short, try to read it over several times during the week. Maybe even in different translations.
Psalm 5 is considered an individual lament psalm because it is a cry for help to God in a time of distress.
1. What background and/or historical knowledge do you have for this Psalm?
2. What is the Psalmist asking of God in the opening verses?
3. What does David (Psalmist here) have to say about God’s conduct and character? (Verses 3-6)
4. How does David describe his time with God? (Verses 7-8)
5. How does David describe his adversaries?
Going Deeper: From what you know of his life, who were some of David’s adversaries?
6. What do you learn about David from this Psalm? God? Believers (those who love God/righteous)?
7. What application can you make to your own life?
Posted in Biblical Literacy, tagged Bible study plans, Building Biblical Literacy, through the Bible in a year on January 3, 2017|
Hopefully, you were reading your Bible this year. There are many different ways to read systematically through the Bible. This is the most effective way of ensuring you are not “cherry-picking” scriptures to read – that is choosing those parts of the Bible that say the things that you like and don’t confront you in the areas where you are not lined up with God. It is important to study the whole counsel of God to know God and to be able to walk with Him consistently – in the good times and in the tough times.
The following are some links to help you find a schedule of reading that suits your desires:
Blue Letter Bible reading plans
While it is not the time frame in which you finish reading the Bible through, it is the consistent, daily, verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter reading of the Bible that makes a huge difference. It is not that you will understand everything or apply everything, but it is the idea that you are exposing yourself to the entire revelation of God. By doing that consistently over time, you will begin to see that the word of God will change you.
I also recommend that as you read through the Bible, you write down verses or sections of scripture that minister or speak to you on any given day. This writing out of scripture helps to reinforce it in your mind. It also helps you to meditate on it as you write it out by hand.
The benefits of a journal are to numerous to go into here, but perhaps that is a topic for another post.
May the LORD richly bless your efforts to study His word consistently every day of 2017.
Posted in Biblical Literacy, tagged 2016 in Review, Bible Study, Building Biblical Literacy on December 31, 2016|
In preparing for the coming year of building Biblical literacy, it is important to evaluate last year’s progress and to take a spiritual inventory of sorts. Consider the following questions as just some of the aspects of your spiritual life to consider:
1. What did you learn about studying the Bible this past year?
2. What books of the Bible did you read? Study?
3. Did God give you a scripture(s) this year? If He did, explain how that spoke to you throughout the year.
4. Did you share with anyone what you were learning from the Bible this year? Explain.
5. Did you share your testimony this year with anyone? Explain.
6. Did you lead anyone to Christ this year? Explain.
7. Did you disciple anyone in their walk with God this year? Explain.
8. Did anyone disciple you in your walk with God this year? Share your story.
9. What would you consider the spiritual highlights of this past year for you?
10. What, if any, spiritual goals do you have for the coming year?
As you consider these questions, feel free to post a comment sharing how God has brought you forward in your knowledge of Him and His word in 2016. I am sure this would be encouraging for everyone.
May God bless you as you close out 2016 and may He embolden you as you march forward into 2017.
Soli Deo gloria!
Posted in Christmas, tagged Angelus Silesius, Building Biblical Literacy, Christ is born, Meaning of Christmas on December 17, 2016|
Though Christ a thousand times
in Bethlehem be born,
If he’s not born in thee
thy soul is still forlorn
–Angelus Silesius (1624-1677)
Posted in Psalms, tagged Bible Study in Psalms, Building Biblical Literacy, Psalm 4 on November 28, 2016|
Read Psalm 4
1. What does David ask of God in verse 1?
2. What 2 things does David know about God according to verse 3?
3. What instructions does David give in Psalm 4:4-5?
4. What does verse 7 teach us about God?
5. What does David tell us about his sleep in verse 8?
6. How can you apply the promises and instructions of this psalm to your own life? Give examples.
Posted in Bible, Biblical Literacy, Uncategorized, tagged Bible, Building Biblical Literacy, why study the Bible? on January 4, 2016|
WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?
As with anything, consider the benefits of becoming more Bible literate in 2016.
For each of the following scriptures, either copy the verse or summarize the benefit discussed in the verse in your own words.
1. Joshua 1:8
2. Psalm 119:9
3. Psalm 119:11
4. Psalm 119:24
5. Psalm 119:25
6. Psalm 119:28
7. Psalm 119:42
8. Psalm 119:49
9. Psalm 119:50
10. Psalm 119:105
11. John 15:7
From these verses, choose one which speaks to a need in your life. Perhaps you need hope–Psalm 119:49 promises hope.
Perhaps you need to know how to answer those who reproach you–Psalm 119:42 provides that.
Perhaps you need to be cleansed–Psalm 119:9 provides instruction on that.
Mediate on your selected passage. Allow God to reveal how He will keep His promise to work in you and your life through His word.
Posted in Bible Study, Biblical Literacy, Christmas, Jesus, Uncategorized, tagged Bible Study, Building Biblical Literacy, Christmas, Who is Jesus? on December 16, 2015|
Who is He?
The world has struggled with this issue since Jesus came on the scene more than 2000 years ago. Was Jesus simply a man? Was he a great prophet or teacher? Or was He the Christ–the Messiah–the Promised One, fulfilling hundreds of prophecies of the Old Testament prophets?
1. What does Isaiah 7:14 foretell about Jesus (the Messiah-the Promised One)?
2. What does Isaiah 9:6-7 tell us about the Messiah?
3. What additional information is given regarding the Messiah in Isaiah 11:1?
4. What do you learn from Isaiah 53:1-3
5. When did Isaiah live and give his prophecies?
6. What does the prophet Micah tell us about the birth place of Messiah in Micah 5:2?
7. When did the prophet Micah live and give his prophecies?
8. What does the prophet Zechariah tell us about the Promised One in Zechariah 9:9?
9. When did the prophet Zechariah live and give his prophecies?
10. When read these prophecies, given hundreds of years before the person they describe was born, by three different men, and you learn that they came true in the person of Jesus, what does that make you think about the Bible? God?
Closer to the birth of Jesus, months before, we are given additional information about Jesus.
Read Luke 1
11. What has Mary been chosen to do? Why?
12. What prophetic information is given about the child in this chapter? Provide a verse reference.
13. What happens when Mary goes to visit Elizabeth? What prophetic information does Elizabeth speak about the child Mary is carrying?
After Jesus was born, people were still speaking about His future and who He was.
Read Luke 2:8-15
14. What was spoken about the Messiah to the shepherds? Who delivered the message?
Read John 1
15. What do you learn about Jesus from this chapter? On what did John base his knowledge about Jesus?
16. What does Peter say about Jesus in Matthew 16:13-17? Who does Jesus say gave him that information?
17. What does Jesus say about who He is in the following verses?
▸ Matthew 9:6
▸ Matthew 26:63-64
▸ Mark 8:31
Rooted and Grounded 