Discipleship is the process of growing in faith and spiritual maturity through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is a lifelong commitment to learning and growing that happens through regular prayer, Bible study, and being part of a Christian community. It includes learning to share the gospel with others and helping them grow, too, all an essential part of the Great Commission.
Tent-making, sewing and Bible study have one thing in common. They all require the ability to “cut it straight.”
When a seamstress cuts out the pieces of a pattern, she must do so accurately or the pieces won’t fit together properly. As a tent-maker, Paul understood this principle because it also applied to his trade. And he used the same language to explain the importance of accuracy in our study of God’s Word. Today we’ll look at ten important principles that will help us “cut it straight.”
What if our churches were closed down? What if it was suddenly illegal to own or read the Bible? Are you faithfully studying God’s Word for yourself or are you content to be spoon-fed on Sunday mornings? Do you have enough of God’s Word hidden in your heart to sustain you? Could you remain faithful? Could you teach others?
Probably few of us could have foreseen the damage an invisible virus would do to our economy, sense of security, and national attitudes before 2019. And while we all know there are aggressive, hostile nations in the world, few expected Russia to brazenly invade her neighbor Ukraine. Even fewer would have expected that war to go on for over two years. Add to that rising inflation, concerns about our border, contentious politics, and growing hostility toward people of faith and there is much that could tempt us to worry.
Yet, none of this was a surprise to God. And if we understand His sovereignty, we must admit that He not only knew each situation was coming, He allowed, possibly even ordained, all these circumstances. And all that has happened as a result, including our responses, has happened in the presence of God, coram Deo, literally before His face.
As we contemplate that fact, we should also remember that what God allows and ordains in our lives serves His purposes. He has general purposes for us all, but He also has specific plans and purposes for each of us. Those purposes are always for our good and His glory. And those two are never opposed to one another. They work in perfect harmony. So, how can understanding these things help us respond better in times of adversity?
Do you want to go deeper in your study of God’s Word? Would you like to do it at your own pace? Get a FREE downloadable and printable Bible study through the entire gospel of Mark when you subscribe to...
Yesterday, I said that the heart of the Bible’s message is simple. But if that’s true, what do we do with some of the puzzling Bible passages and statements made by Jesus and others? Is it possible to better understand them and if so, how?
And speaking of puzzling Bible passages, why would God command such an elaborate system of laws and regulations in the Old Testament? What does all of it have to do with us and the laws of our land?
I’ve noticed that most people either find prayer a natural part of their Christian life or thoroughly enjoy studying the Bible. But rarely, have I met someone who says both come easily and naturally to them. Yet, it’s the two...
In this post we are going to take another bite out of the Doctrine of the Bible or Bibliology. This week we will talk about studying the Bible. In my last “Bite Sized Theology” post I covered general and special...
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