Scripture Study

H.A.B.I.T.S. Plumbline Devotional Scripture Study

“In the end we retain from our studies only that which we practically apply.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“In the end we retain from our studies only that which we practically apply.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Feb 12 — Feb. 18, 2009

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Scripture Study

Found these stats online: Among 12-18 year olds  39% prayed regularly within the last 30 days  24% had told a friend about their religious beliefs (30% in ‘05)  15% had invited someone to a church activity (19% in ‘05) 14% read the Bible regularly

Pageand 15 18. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19. Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" 20. Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") 21. When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?" 22. Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." 23. Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?" 24. This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 25. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. hods.

What does this tell you? It tells me, among other things , that you are more likely to share Christ with someone that you are to read the Bible. And how, dear friend, are you to share Christ if you aren’t reading His Word?? This week we are going to study some tips and tricks for getting into the word. Today we’re going to talk about the Devotional Method. What do you think of when you hear the word Devotional?

Look up the definition in the back here and write it here:

So the devotional method is having your own little worship service. Feel free to include singing, announcements, testimony and dismiss part of your brain to children’s church so it doesn’t distract you.

Devotional: adjective 1. relating to worship; "a devotional exercise" noun 1. a short religious service Agapê: Unconditional or God love Philia: Friendship, affinity, bringing pleasure Storgê: To like or prefer one thing over another. A love that has its basis in one's own nature.

First, read the passage. This week we are going to be working our exercises out of John 21. Today read verses 1-7.

February 12, 2009 January 1, 2009

Dictionary

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Scripture References John 21:1. Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 2. Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. 6. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." 11. Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16. Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 17. The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.”

Scripture References

Steps Step 1 - Pray for understanding and guidance as you apply the passage into your life.

Step 2 - Meditate on the verse(s) you have chosen for your study. Meditate just means to think through. Pause after each verse and think about what is being said to others or to you.

Step 3 - Write out some applications you might take from this passage. I like to phrase these as a question. Like: Do I jump in the water when I see Christ a-waiting? Do I listen when he tells me to do silly things like throw my net on the other side? Do I recognize him when he shows up?

Step 4 - Memorize a verse from the passage that summarizes what you have learned. Here comes that “B” back to haunt us.

Another tip for verse by verse study is to make use of all those little numbers in the margin and bottom of your Bible. Looking up these verses could shed some light on what you are learning. “Whoever raises his voice while studying will find that his learning endures, but one who reads silently will soon forget”

Scripture Study

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For more information about the study methods discussed here or to learn about more ways to study the Bible for yourself you can check out:

Character Study The Bible is filled with people who have a variety of backgrounds, strengths, weaknesses, successes and failures. Just like you and me. Sometimes studying one of these people can help you identify more readily with what the Bible has to say to you. Going along with our John 21 theme we are going to do a little work with Peter. Read the following verses and write a little note about what they tell you about Simon Peter. Background: Matt 4:18 Mark 1:30 Significant events: Matt 14:25 Matt 16:16 Mark 8:29 John 13:36

After reading these passages, what do you think of Peter? Who does he remind you of that you know?

Would you like him or not? Why?

February 13, 2009

http://www.eachnewday.com/HowToStudyTheBible/ the_Bible_study_met18htm#Method_1

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Scripture Study

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What does he do that you would like to do more of?

What does he do that you have done and regretted?

As promised...here is a list of some great men and women in the Bible who would enjoy being studied: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.

Abraham Daniel David Elijah Elisha Ezekiel Ezra Isaiah Isaac Jacob Jeremiah Jesus John – apostle Joseph – OT Joshua Moses Nehemiah Paul Peter Pharaoh Samson Samuel Saul – OT Solomon

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

Abigail Abishag Anna Bathsheba Deborah Delilah Dinah Dorcas Elizabeth Esther Eunice Eve Hagar Hannah Jezebel Jochebed Leah Lydia Martha Mary – Jesus’ mother

Tools: When you do a character study it helps to have a Bible dictionary so you can easily find all of the references about a particular person. Hints: Sometimes a person can be called more than one name. Our Peter was called Simon Peter or just Simon sometimes. A dictionary can help you sort out who’s who. Steps: 1. Choose a person (there’s a short list of some characters at the back of this book) 2. List all references concerning that person. 3. Note your first impression of the person after your first reading of the passages 4. Make a chronological outline of the person's life after your second reading 5. Identify some character qualities. 6. Show how some other Bible truths are illustrated in this person's life 7. Summarize the main lesson(s) you have learned 8, Write out a personal application

“Seeing much, suffering much, and studying much are the “In ofthe end we retain from our three pillars learning.” - Benjamin Disraeli

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Scripture Study

Read Matthew 25:35-46

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What did Jesus say here about our responsibility to others?

Word Study

What conclusions do you draw from these verses?

I first heard this word study a couple of Easters ago. I was familiar with the passage but I never knew how the whole meaning of the passage changes when you see the original Greek. Read John 21: 15-19 As a little background...this is after Jesus has been crucified and resurrected. Peter denied Christ three times. Now Jesus is basically welcoming him back by asking the question three times.

Here are some additional verses if you’d like to study more:

In honor of our recently past Hallmark Holiday...we will do a little study on the word love. There are three versions of the word love in the Bible. Look up the definition (in the back) of these words and write them out.

Matthew 7:1-6

agapê

Matthew 5:38-42

philia storgê Look up the following verses that relate and see how they enhance your understanding of each usage: Agape: John 3:16, John 17:26 and John 14:21.

Philia: Hebrews 13:1, John 5:20, John 20:2.

Storge: Ro.1:31 and 2Tim.3:3.

February 16, 2009

Tools: You will need a really good concordance for this one. Surprise your parents and ask for a Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance for your next birthday. Steps: Step 1 - Compile a list of words related to the topic you will study Step 2 - Collect all references relating to each word Step 3 - Consider each reference individually Step 4 - Compare and group the references Step 5 - Condense the results of your study into a brief outline

“Excellence is a better teacher than mediocrity. The lessons of the ordinary are everywhere. Truly profound and originalthe insights end are to be found in studying the exemplary.” - Warren G. Bennis “In we only retain from our

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Scripture Study

Top 25 Accounta bili ty Ques tio ns

Topic study Sometimes, we are looking for some Biblical guidance about a particular topic.

Now, how does the mean of this passage change when you see the Greek words substituted for their English equivalents?

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When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly (agape) me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I (philia) you." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly (agape) me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I (philia) you." "Simon son of John, do you (philia) me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I (philia) you." How does this shift your understanding of the passage?

Read John 21:20-25

What is Peter’s main concern in this passage? Tools: Mutiple translations of the Bible, Concordance, Bible dictionary, English dictionary How did Christ respond to him?

Hints: Remember that often a single word in the original language may be replaced by many different words, or even phrases, when translated into English. *An exhaustive concordance such as Strong's or Young's are especially valuable for this study since they associate each discrete original word to its English translation.

This would be a great place to start a topical study on a number of relationship topics. Maybe “What is my responsibility to others?”

Read Genesis 4:8-11 What question does Cain ask?

If God had answered yes or no which would it be?

February 18, 2009

Steps Step 1 - Choose the word you will study Step 2 - Find its English definition in the English dictionary Step 3 - Compare treatments of the word in the various translations Step 4 - Note the definition of the original word (Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic) Step 5 - Discover just where the word is used in the Bible Step 6 - Find the origin and root meaning of the word, how the word was used by the secular culture of the day Step 7 - Determine how the word was used in the Bible and how it would have been understood in the culture to which the Bible was originally addressed Step 8 - Write an application

“Instead of studying for finals, what about just going to the Bahamas and catching some rays? Maybe you'll flunk, but you might have flunked anyway; that's my point.” - Jack Handy

“In the end we retain from our

Scripture Study

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Other items: Where? When?

What words are repeated? Why are they important?

Chapter Summary Method

Use cross references to look up related verses. How do they enhance your understanding?

This is more of a big-picture study method. Start by reading all of John chapter 21. Try not to look at the built in chapter headings. How does this apply to your life? If you were to write your own chapter heading for this section, what would it be?

Who are the main people?

Create an outline of the main events I.

Hints: Read the chapter from a Bible without notes in order to encourage fresh insights rather than reaffirming those already found. Read the chapter without stopping in order to get a feel for the flow of the chapter. Read the chapter in various translations noting important differences discovered. Steps: Step 1 - Give the chapter a short but descriptive heading. Step 2 - Make a list or outline of the major point of the chapter. Step 3 - Make a list of the major people. Step 4 - Select a verse that is significant in the chapter or which you find is important during this study. Step 5 - Make a list of the key word(s) of the chapter. Step 6 - Is there anything you don’t understand? Step 7 - Use your cross references to find other passages in the Bible that help you to understand this chapter. Step 8 - List the major lessons taught in the chapter that you have learned at this time. Step 9—Application. How can you apply this chapter to your life?

A. B.

February 17, 2009

“The bitterness of studying is preferable to the bitterness of ignorance” “In the end we retain from our