How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament

Understanding the Old Testament can be very challenging at times. Here are some helpful guidelines from Scott Duvall and Daniel Hayes:

1. Grasp the text in their town. What did the text mean to the biblical audience?
2. Measure the width of the river to cross. What are the differences between the biblical audience and us?
3. Cross the principilizing bridge. What is the theological principle of this text?
4. Cross into the New Testament. Does the New Testament teaching modify or qualify this principle, and if so, how?
5. Grasp the text in our town. How should individual Christians apply the theological principle in their lives?

See their short book:

and also...

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How to Have Quiet Time and Prayer with God featuring John & Nancy Ortberg

What do you do with distractions that come to your mind during prayer? What does it mean to be fully present with God? John and Nancy Ortberg speak honestly about their own struggles and in this area of the spiritual life.

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Why Study the Bible?

Why Study the Bible? There are at least 3 reasons:

First, the Bible teaches us about God, about ourselves, and how to live.

“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 competent, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)

Next, the Bible gives us hope, encouragement, endurance, and instruction.

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”—Romans 15:4

Finally, the Bible helps us grow and change.

“Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation…”—1 Peter 2:2

“For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”—1 Thess. 2:13

If we are to think Christianly in the day to day, the Word of God must saturate our hearts and minds. Here is a question we need to ask ourselves...am I in this book long enough and frequent enough to be shaped by it?

BTW - if you don't have your Bible with you, but can get online, visit Bible Gateway.

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Understanding the Bible...where do you begin?

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)

Christianity teaches that God has spoken in the Bible. And yet, it remains a very intimidating book and this intimidation keeps people from reading it...and therefore being transformed by it (Romans 12:2).

Over at the main think Christianly website (this blog is just one of the things we do to try to encourage you in your daily adventure with God), you will find resource pages in our (always growing) Card Catalog to help you on your faith journey. To learn how to start understanding the Bible for yourself, click here.

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Should People Take the Bible Literally?

My answer may surprise you. Check out this week's podcast. (also available on iTunes - "thinkchristianly podcast").

Is there a right way to read the Bible?

This is an important question for us individually as Christians, but also for our culture. I recently spoke in our church about this a little bit, you can listen to the segment Should People Take the Bible Literally? here.

The good people at Stand to Reason blogged recently about this as well and it is worth a read. Click here.

Looking for a place to start learning how to read the Bible to discover the meaning the author(s) intended the text to have?

I recommend: Journey into God's Word: Your Guide to Understanding and Applying the Bible by J. Scott Duvall J. Daniel Hays (2008)

Bible Reading Plans for the New Year

Hello everyone. I hope you had a good Christmas. I took a blogging break, but it's good to be back.

One of the goals I have is to be more consistent in my reading of Scripture--just to let the Word wash over me. In light of that I came a cross a great post that outlines some great Bible reading plans for 2009.

Click here for the plans.

"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 competent, equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

The ESV Study Bible

There are some really good study Bible's out there. But the ESV Study Bible is really well done and has been created with the reader in mind. The notes and articles are very helpful. It is filled with maps and charts (in color). The layout is pleasing to the eye and top notch scholars contributed the articles. The overview of theology - how we know and love God, explaining the key teachings of Christianity- is excellent (written by Dr. Erik Thoennes of Biola University).

Maybe ask for this study Bible for Christmas and dig deeper into the Word of God.

Check out the ESV website to view the online study bible that comes with your purchase of the Bible - the online features and access to all the notes and articles and text is worth the price of the Bible and is very easy to navigate and use. You can even listen to the whole Bible online with this feature.

*Here is a good word on the search for the perfect Bible translation by New Testament scholar Darrell Bock.

Do you know a high school or college student, youth pastor / leader, or parent? Check out Welcome to College: a Christ-follower's Guide for the Journey