Tag: Bible

Posted on in Apologetics, Books and Movies I Like, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Wisdom

A Bird’s-Eye View of the Gospel

This week, I finished one of my church training courses! It was about the Synoptic Gospels, that is, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. These books have a lot in common, so they are grouped together. We may see them as biographies of Jesus Christ, though they actually provide little detail about his early life. Mostly, they capture the three years of Jesus’ ministry.

The course was not a super deep dive, but it helped me to see the bird’s-eye view. As I read my Bible alongside the course, it was cool to envision the authors’ word choices and what they included or left out. Of course, they were divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, who is the main Author.

As an author myself, I also felt this way when I was scribing the Gospel of John. It is fascinating to understand the overall purpose, the grouping of texts, and why things aren’t always chronological. It is even more amazing that, despite their differences, each of the four Gospels contributes to our understanding of Jesus. In fact, if they all ‘matched’ in details, that would signify possible collaboration and lead to speculation.

I’ve heard the parallel that if you and I were at the scene of a car crash, we could each give our report to the police. However, I might focus on who ran the red light, and you might focus on how many passengers in each car were hurt. We’d have different perspectives, but we’d have a more complete story.

Matthew, an eyewitness and disciple of Jesus, writes for a Jewish audience to show Jesus is the Messiah and King. It opens with the genealogy of Jesus, a perfect bridge between the Old and New Testaments, as lineage remains an important concept for Jewish people today. Matthew groups teaching topics together, such as the Sermon on the Mount in Chapters 5-7. Also, he writes of the Kingdom of Heaven because the Jews do not like to say God’s Name, out of respect.

Mark is next in our Bibles. He likely captured Peter’s account before Peter was martyred in Rome. Mark’s Gospel is full of action and urgency, with every other paragraph starting with ‘at once, or immediately, or after that.’ The Romans loved action, and Mark focused more on what Jesus did rather than what He said. Jesus is shown to be the Suffering Servant.

Luke’s perspective is broader, and we find the most information about Jesus’ childhood. Luke, a traveling companion of the Apostle Paul, wrote for the Greeks, and he uses classical Greek methods to portray Jesus as the Son of God. Luke talks more about the body and medical conditions because the Greeks were focused on these things. (Think about Hippocrates, the “Father of Modern Medicine,” or the physicality of Greek sculptures.) Luke shows that Jesus is for everyone.

Mark’s Gospel was likely written first, and Matthew and Luke then drew on Mark’s content and added their own material. Mark was written around 58-65 AD, while the other two were written around 60-69 AD. The Apostle John wrote his gospel, much later, likely in the 90s AD, along with Revelation. His perspective was to show the signs of Jesus being God, Messiah, and Savior. I love that he took a different strategy altogether.

I also learned more about Jesus’ parables and miracles. He did more than what is recorded, but what we have in the Gospels is sufficient for our faith. (John 20:30-31). Parables were used to hide the truth from those who opposed Jesus and to reveal it to those who cared enough to seek it. They are simple stories to show Kingdom principles. Miracles are unusual events that would not normally occur without an outside force or power. In the Bible, Jesus’ miracles demonstrated His power over Nature and illness.

Overall, this was a great course. The more I read and learn about the Bible, the more I am amazed. My favorite part was piecing together the chronology of Jesus’ life and ministry. It helped me understand the story better and avoid getting lost in the middle. I am looking forward to the next course on Acts!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for Your Word and Truth. Teach us Your ways and help us to walk in Your love and grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Which is your favorite of the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John?

Tasks: For a cool chronological way to read the gospels, check out PlusNothing.org. For a great book on understanding Jesus’ parables, check out this book by John MacArthur. Read this article about the reliability of the New Testament compared to other ancient texts. The Bible wins, hands down!

Posted on in Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

Fully Equipped

Do you feel fully equipped to accomplish everything today? Make sure you check in with the Lord. He has a good Word for you!

The Bible is God’s word, and it is such a blessing. After all, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

We can learn about God’s love, Jesus’s sacrifice, and Holy Spirit’s guidance. It corrects us and trains us in the way we should go. As Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

I took some notes while listening to a Bible lesson the other day. The teacher explained something to the effect that the Bible clarifies our ‘yes or no and our stop or go.’ It is comprehensive and covers all we need to live a full life on God’s terms.

I like rhyming and opposites, comparing and contrasting, so in terms of the Bible, I started thinking about all sorts of ways it is useful. Of course, some verses popped into my mind at the same time!

Up or Down: Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” The Bible helps us determine between what has eternal, heavenly value and what is only of the earth (temporary).

Good and Bad: Romans 12:1-2 says, “…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The Bible helps us discern between right and wrong. God’s word can convict or correct us and get us back on track!

Yes or No: Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.” We can use the Bible to help us decide if we should be involved in something and at what level. Usually, it’s not a decision between right and wrong (that should be obvious!), but rather a choice between what’s good, better, and God’s best.

Stop or Go: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 starts off with, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…” To me, this one is all about timing. We have to wait on the Lord and understand that His plan is best.

Right or Left: Psalm 23:3 says, “He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” We can trust God will direct our path and lead us where He wants us to be.

There are more ways to think about the Bible, but I will keep mulling on the points above. They remind me that God leaves nothing to chance. The Bible is all-encompassing. We are surrounded with opportunities to learn and grow in Christ! And He wants us fully equipped for every good work!

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God, thanks for the Bible and all we can learn from it! Help us to apply Your principles to our lives every day. May we step into all You have for us, fully equipped. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Which of the points above do you identify with the most? Would you say you are fully equipped or at least working toward that?

Tasks: Think about all the different points above and then apply them to your own learning time in the Bible! Keep growing!

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Hidden Blessings

BIBLE = Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth 🙂

Yesterday, I was scrolling social media and came across someone who quizzes people on the Bible. On Instagram, he is @tophertownmusic. Apparently, he is also a musician and an Army Veteran.

So, he walks up to people and starts a conversation. He gives them one hundred dollars if they answer three Bible questions correctly. It was fun to see him talk about God’s word with total strangers and then reward them!

That got me thinking… if Topher walked up to me, would I know the answers to his questions? So far, I’ve known the answers to all his questions, but I didn’t watch each post. 

I watched some of his other videos and commentaries, too. He is kind, generous, and funny, but he is also firm and able to discern the truth and apply it well. How refreshing!

This was a great example of the importance of God’s word and how it grows in our hearts. It’s not just random trivia. The Bible shows us how to live and walk in holiness. It is vital for understanding God’s character and His purpose for us. It can challenge us but also brings comfort.

There are many ways to interact with Scripture. If you are new to all of this, I recommend learning about Jesus first, starting in the Gospel of John. Beyond that, we can simply read one chapter or a few verses at a time. Some people read until the Holy Spirit illuminates an idea or speaks to them personally. There are daily/yearly reading plans, devotionals, topical books, or online studies. Find what works best for you!

Bible Studies with others can be fun ways to discuss Scripture with friends. I like to listen to the Bible on the YouVersion app while I get ready for work and often use BibleGateway to look up verses for blogging. The Bible Project videos are also great.

Going a little deeper, you can re-read the same passage of Scripture a few times to start noticing themes, repetition, similar verbs/actions, and more. You can search for clues about context to interpret the narrative, the meanings, and the message God (the Author) intended. Then, we are changed from the inside out!!

Life is short. We never know when we might need the truth of God’s word. It won’t return void, though we have to allow it to do its work in us. Yes, it acts as a ‘check’ on our hearts. It takes time and committment but always brings blessings as we draw close to God.

When life presses in, may God’s word squeeze out of us and bless others!

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God, thanks for the Bible and for Jesus who embodies Your grace and truth. May we hide Your Word in our hearts and use it correctly. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How do you like to connect with God’s word? What are you learning from the Bible lately?

Tasks: Read your Bible today and pray for understanding! If you need help, check out this link: Scripture Engagement (biblegateway.com)