Category Archives: Bible Study

Fully Equipped for Perilous Times

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“Perilous times will come” – II Timothy 3:1-17 contains a warning of difficult times.  The first century church did not live in an idealized world, nor do we!  Early Christians faced immorality, internal and external doctrinal errors, and a hostile environment that was pagan and secular.  Paul warns Timothy in this chapter of even more difficult times to come.  We can learn much from their experiences.

“Men will be lovers of themselves” – The characteristics of wicked men are described.  Heart-sins are described (lovers of self, of pleasure; not lovers of family or of God; covetous, proud, unthankful, unholy, heady, etc.).  The Christian needs a defense and a weapon that will pierce and guard his heart.

“Having a form of godliness” – Difficult times will be made more difficult by the work of evil and false teachers.  These professors of religion had a form of godliness (some of the externals seem to be present) but they deny the power of true religion (verse 5).  False teachers often do their work privately and underhandedly.  They look for prospects who are weak and prey on their weakness.  These teachers are in sharp contrast with the teaching and character of the true teacher presented later in this chapter.  The false teacher’s true character will be revealed in due time, as was the character of the opponents of Moses.

“You have carefully followed my doctrine” – The combination of wicked hearts encouraged by perverted teachers led some to persecute God’s servants.  Paul’s own experience (vs. 10-13) is evidence of this fact.  He was a genuine disciple in doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, and patience.  Verse eleven (and much of the book of Acts) shows the many persecutions he endured.  Yet out of all those trials God delivered Paul.  He becomes, then, a pattern of endurance to help every Christian endure in faithful service in the times in which we live!

In some ways there are the best of times, in other ways, the worst of times, to paraphrase Charles Dickens.  We have great potential, great opportunities, and great visions of work to be done.  But, we also have adversaries on every hand.  What is the path we should follow?

“You continue in the things which you have learned” – Verses 14 through 17 give us the answer to our questions.  The way to deal with our current situation is by the use of the Power of God as revealed in His holy scriptures.  Timothy is instructed to take specific actions; we must follow these same actions in the twenty-first century.  These actions are as follows:

Continue in the things we have learned – verse 14.  The scriptures we have learned, which have given us assurance, are from an unchanging God.  Times may change, evil may take on a new face, but God is the same.  We have an unchanging Christ in a changing, and ever-degenerating world.  He is the anchor of our hope, and the anchor of our soul.  We must proceed with confidence in God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit as we face whatever the world brings against us.  “If God be for us, who can be against us?”  Rom. 8:31.

“From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures” – Faithful teachers have illustrated the trustworthiness of our faith.  Timothy had seen the fruit of faith in his mother and grandmother.  They had instilled the teachings of the Old Covenant into young Timothy (2 Tim. 1:5, 3:15) and he had therefore been prepared to receive the gospel preached by Paul and others.  The knowledge of the scriptures made Timothy “wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (verse 15).

“Holy Scriptures” (verse 15) are literally “sacred writings”.  These are not the words of a newspaper, novel, or even that of a well-written essay.  They partake of the nature of the One who gave them.

“Wise for salvation through faith” – “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” v. 16.  The “sacred writings” of the Old and New Testaments were designed for our spiritual well-being.  “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:4).  Jesus encouraged (John 5:39) the reading of the Old Testament which would point people to Him.

“That the man of God may be complete” – Since the Holy Scriptures are divine in origin, they are profitable for every task the teacher has.  The scriptures are all that is needed for the “perfect” (complete, fully furnished) teacher to effectively do his work.  Every Christian “man of God” (verse 17) longs for a complete guidebook for all his work.  The Holy Scriptures supply that need.  The scriptures equip us for doctrine, righteous living, and for reproof and correction.

“The Last Days”, “The Christian Age, “The Gospel Age” all refer to the time in which we live.  Our need for guidance in a wicked world has not changed.  We need not despair, God has met our needs in the blessings promised in the scriptures.

L.O. Sanderson has well-stated the great value of the scriptures in the chorus of his song “The Precious Book Divine”:

   “Holy Bible, book divine!

Precious Treasure, thou art mine.

Lamp to my feet and a light to my way

       To guide me safely home.”

 

By Carl Witty

Jesus’ Age at the Time of His Death

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During a study this past week, a question surrounding the chronology of Jesus’ birth early life arose and it led me to wonder about how we determine the age of Jesus at the time of His death. Perhaps you have had a similar interest in the answer to this question. Or, maybe you have always wondered why the number thirty-three is given as an approximate age for His death; if so, I hope you will continue studying and reading this article with great interest.

Before jumping in to some of the guesswork and estimates, let’s state what we know as evidence, thanks to the biblical record:

Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1) and at the tender age of 8 days old He was circumcised (Luke 2:21).

At about the 40th day of His time here on earth, Jesus was taken to the temple to be presented to the Lord (Luke 2:22-24; cf. Leviticus 12:2-4).

  • Based on the abominable and cruel edict that Herod put out in Matthew 2:16, we can safely conclude the next time we read of the life of Jesus that He is under the age of 2 years old.
  • The next time we read of the young Child, on His return to Nazareth from Egypt (Matthew 2:19, 20), He must be several years older, though it is impossible to determine exactly how old Jesus is at this time. Some historians have guessed that He is likely two to four years older than when He fled to Egypt, though this is speculation and cannot be proven.
  • Jesus continues to grow in stature, strength, and wisdom (Luke 2:40, 52) and we are given a glimpse in to His life at the age of 12 years old when He and His parents travel to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover (Luke 2:41, 42).
  • The Holy Spirit then sees it fit not to record the next 18 years of His development, but we are introduced to Him again when He is “about thirty years of age” (Luke 3:23).

Luke 3:23 is the last time we are given a round number regarding the age of Jesus. From here we must rely on the Gospel of John and its chronological record of the Feasts of the Passover.

The Passover Feast commemorated the liberation of the Israelites from the hands of the ruthless Egyptians and their slavery, as recorded in the book of Exodus (Exodus 12:14-17). The Passover was an annual feast that commenced Israel’s religious year.

How often does the Gospel of John record the annual event that helps us date Jesus’ age at the time of His death? The Passover Feast is recorded at least three times in the Gospel of John, meaning that in John’s account of the life of Jesus, at least 3 years passed.

  1. John 2:13 records the first occurrence of the Passover.
  1. The second Feast is recorded in John 6:4.
  1. The third and final Feast is recorded in John 11:55.

Based on the timeline we have given of Jesus’ age thus far and the number of times the Gospel of John records the annual event which is the Passover, we conclude that Jesus is somewhere around the age of thirty-three years old (33) at the time of His crucifixion.

Most scholars agree that Jesus was between the age we have given and the age of thirty-five (35). Numbers and estimates vary for several reasons, including Luke’s estimate of His age at the time when Jesus begins His ministry (Luke 3:23).

Knowing the age of Jesus is not critical. It is, however, fascinating, and helps the author of this article appreciate and admire to an even greater degree that a human could grow from infancy to manhood and still be without sin (Hebrews 4:15)!

Isaac Muñoz

How a Congregation Stays Strong Through the Years

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We read in Scripture about congregations that were established by the apostles in the first century. Can there be a stronger way to start? We also read about the work they did among these congregations. Paul, for example, spent a year and a half in Corinth. He spent three years in Ephesus. He was actively involved in congregations in Philippi, Thessalonica, Colossae, and in Roman and Galatian churches. If any groups received strong, sound teaching, they did.

Two thousand years later, these churches no longer exist. The letters addressed to churches in Revelation 2-3 reveal some struggling groups, threatened with having their lampstands removed unless they repent. Time changes much, of course, and among the factors are that people die, move away, and some, sadly, fall away. No congregation will be the same forever; within a 50 year period, one generation will have passed and a new one will have emerged. Will this new generation make for a strong church?

What does it take for a congregation to stay strong over a long period of time?

No doubt there are many principles and applications that may be considered. Here we provide three broad areas that are going to be critical for any congregation that seeks to survive for long. In many ways, they overlap each other, but to get us thinking in this direction, we want to think about the following:

Knowledge

In Hosea, the Lord lamented, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (4:6). Part of their downfall was due to the fact their leaders did not know the Lord, didn’t know His law, and weren’t able to teach it. Later, the Lord said, “For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (6:6). Knowledge is paramount.

For a congregation to stay strong over a period of time, Christians need knowledge of God and Scripture. This knowledge is not just about having information; it’s about a close relationship with God. Knowledge has the practical effect of bearing fruit for God, just as Paul expressed in Colossians 1:9-12.

Further, this knowledge needs to be passed on to others, including the next generation, if we want the church to continue strongly into the future. Paul told Timothy, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2).

Knowledge of God and His will, passed down to others through time, will help a church remain strong for the Lord through the years.

Commitment

Commitment is an overarching principle and applies to all that we do for the Lord. For example, if a congregation will stay strong, Christians must be committed to:

  • Growing in God’s grace and knowledge (2 Pet. 3:18).
  • The authority of God and the Word (Heb. 4:12-13; 2 Tim. 3:15-17).
  • Living the word and keeping excellent behavior (1 Peter 2:12; Phil. 1:27; Eph. 4:1).
  • Unity of the Spirit (Eph. 4:1-6).
  • Speaking truth in love so that each member learns to serve and participate (Eph. 4:11-16).
  • Spreading the word to the lost (1 Tim. 2:4; 1 Thess. 1:8).

The list can be multiplied, but the point is that the only way any of these will be accomplished through commitment. Commitment is not an accident. It is a purposeful effort that requires running the race with endurance (Heb. 12:1-2), and endurance means faithfulness and longevity for both individuals and congregations.

Love

In conjunction with, and necessarily tied to our commitment, love needs to be the motivating factor for action within a congregation. We cannot afford to leave our “first love” (Rev. 2:4). We need to show our love for God (back to commitment), and one another. This means being “kind to one another, tender- hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32).

Faith works “through love” (Gal. 5:6). “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Cor. 16:14). “Walk in love” (Eph. 5:2). “May the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another” (1 Thess. 3:12). Without love, we are nothing (1 Cor. 13). Love is foundational to all we do and directly impacts our commitment and desire to know God and His word.

Much more may be said, but let’s be thinking about ways we can increase and abound in these traits. Through knowledge, commitment, and love, a congregation may remain strong for the Lord well into future generations. May God help us to be such a group.

By Doy Moyer

Our Bible Classes

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[Editor’s Note: We have run this article before in our bulletin, however, I felt it to be a timely reminder as we are set to begin a new teaching quarter in two weeks. It is my hope that all will give serious consideration to the things set forth.]

The church that meets and works together at Chapman Acres has decided to set aside 45-50 minutes every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening to study the Bible in the form of a class. If you will join us at 9 A.M. on Sundays and 7 P.M. on Wednesdays, you too can join us in this engaging study of God’s holy word. At these studies you can expect, first and foremost, teaching from the Bible, teachers who have prepared to instruct the students and who care for the souls of those whom they teach, and fellow truth-seekers who desire to know and understand God’s will more than all else. All adults are welcome and encouraged to join us for these profitable studies (even if it is not your custom to attend these on a regular basis).

These Bible classes are not just for adults; young children and adolescents will greatly benefit from age-appropriate studies as well. Two separate classes are offered for the younger people. It is not the responsibility of the local church to raise children; that responsibility is placed on the shoulders of parents (Ephesians 6:4), however we believe that the studies offered here at Chapman Acres can be of aid to parents in that most important task of raising godly children. To that end, we would encourage all parents to bring their children to these Bible classes. Grandparents, we would ask you to consider this an opportunity to help mold the spiritual future of your precious grandchildren. We may not all be Bible class teachers and have the opportunity of directly influencing the future generation, however more of us can play the pivotal role that Lois and Eunice played in the rearing of Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14, 15).

Attendance to these studies is an obvious way we will benefit from these Bible classes, however, if we think that by simply attending these studies we will grow spiritually mature, we are mistaken. In the continuation of this article, let us offer some other ways we can help our spiritual walk as it relates to our Bible classes.

Pray

One of the best things we can do as we try to improve our Bible classes is pray. There are so many things to pray for. You can pray for your understanding of the text. You can pray for open hearts to the word. You can pray for the instructors who will be leading the studies. You can pray for resolve to follow and apply what you learn from the studies. As you can see, there are many things that we can pray for as it relates to our studies. While this is a good start, it should not be the only step.

Prepare

I think most would agree that when only the teacher is prepared for Bible class, it is usually not one of the best classes. Certainly, the teacher has the responsibility of preparing and doing his homework for the class, but should he be the only one?

In two weeks, the adults will begin a study through material titled A Solid Foundation. Wednesdays we are studying through the Old Testament. The children’s classes will begin a three year study of the Old and New Testaments. Most of us have plenty of time during the week where we can get ready for these Bible classes. Read the text before you come to class. Lesson sheets have been made and everyone is encouraged to have those filled out before class. If you wish to gain much good from these classes, remember that you must put forth your best effort as well.

Participate

Once you have prayed and prepared yourself for Bible class, you will now be in a good position to participate in the class and help make it engaging for others with your contributions. As always, any and all comments and questions are always welcome. One of the advantages of studying the Bible in a class setting is that you have so many sharp minds also studying the material. This can incredibly helpful as often others can shed light and bring clarity to what otherwise be a tough subject. Not everyone feels comfortable speaking up in a public setting, and that is fine, but remember that there are other ways of participating other than by speaking up.

Practice

The goal of Bible study is not to simply memorize Bible facts. While facts can be extremely helpful, the true purpose of Bible study is to reform us. The reason we study, meditate, learn, and teach is so that our hearts and lives might be changed. We always want to conform our will to the Scriptures.

As we go through our material in our Bible classes, remember to let God’s word change you and to practice the things we learn from our Bible studies. “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:21, 22).

 

Isaac Muñoz

Welcome!

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Thank you for picking up and taking the time to read this bulletin! If you are visiting with us from the community or a nearby congregation, we want you to know we are grateful for your presence with us. Your presence is an encouragement to us, and it is our most earnest desire that our worship has been beneficial to you and favorable in the sight of God, our Savior.

If it’s your first time being with us or you are unsure of why we do the things we do, allow us to explain.

The church of Christ at Chapman Acres is an independent, non-denominational group of Christians whose goal is to serve God, the Creator and Savior. Free from the authority of man-made creeds or charters, our only standard is the Bible. Our only model is the church that Jesus established, of which we read in the New Testament. While we pray for and encourage other churches who seek to follow the New Testament pattern, the church at Chapman Acres maintains no organizational ties with other congregations either in our local area or abroad.

The Christians who make up the church are not perfect, but our goal is to live for the One who died for us. We are forgiven sinners who have believed in Jesus Christ, have committed our lives to Him, and have obeyed His command to be immersed in baptism. To us, being a Christian is not about living our way and expecting God to approve of whatever we do. Jesus Christ is Lord and King. However, neither is being a Christian a matter of cold, robotic obedience to laws. Being a Christian is about cultivating a relationship with the Father. Whatever He asks, we lovingly seek to give Him.

Our God-given duty as a group is to spread the Gospel locally and abroad, to encourage the members of the church, and to help Christians who are in spiritual or physical need. We do not provide recreation or entertainment. God has given His church much more important work with eternal consequences. Our job is to help everyone we know be saved.

We read in the New Testament that Christians regularly met together to worship and study. They sang songs in order to praise God and encourage one another. They prayed together. They contributed financially to the work of the church. Teaching and Bible reading were essential parts of their activities. In addition, we read that they regularly met on the first day of the week to observe the Lord’s Supper and remember the sacrifice that makes it all possible. These simple, spiritual activities are what you will find at Chapman Acres.

We would love for you to visit with us. You will find a friendly greeting, reverent worship, group Bible study, and teaching from the Bible. Feel free to contact us if you wish to study with any of the men or women of the church at a place of your choice. Our prayer is that you dedicate yourself to the Lord and seek His will. We will help in any way we can.

[This description of the saints which meet at Chapman Acres can be found, along with much more information, at www.chapmanacres.org.]

In addition to finding more information about the church that worships and works together here in Huntsville through our website, you can also “like” our page on Facebook (Chapman Acres church of Christ), and stay connected with us through that medium.
Not only will you be able to keep up with the news at Chapman Acres, but it will also give you an opportunity to think on spiritual things throughout the day, as we often try to place thought-provoking and spiritually-engaging posts.

Again, thank you for visiting us and taking the time to read this. Please do not hesitate to let us know how we can help you draw nearer to God.

The Christians at Chapman Acres

 

In addition to welcoming our guests from the community and other congregations we also want to extend a warm welcome to our brother and special guest, Jonathan Reeder.

We have been looking forward to this week for some time and have been praying for the success of the Gospel through this effort. We thank you for coming our way and anticipate your lessons from the word of God. God bless, brother!

“So [we] sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

Acts 10:33

Our Bible Classes

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Isaac Muñoz

The church that meets and works together at Chapman Acres has decided to set aside 45-50 minutes every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening to study the Bible in the form of a class. If you will join us at 9 A.M. on Sundays and 7 P.M. on Wednesdays, you too can join us in this engaging study of God’s holy word. At these studies you can expect, first and foremost, teaching from the Bible, teachers who have prepared to instruct the students and who care for the souls of those whom they teach, and fellow truth-seekers who desire to know and understand God’s will more than all else. All adults are welcome and encouraged to join us for these profitable studies (even if it is not your custom to attend these on a regular basis).

These Bible classes are not just for adults; young children and adolescents will greatly benefit from age-appropriate studies as well. Two separate classes are offered for the younger people. It is not the responsibility of the local church to raise children; that responsibility is placed on the shoulders of parents (Ephesians 6:4), however we believe that the studies offered here at Chapman Acres can be of aid to parents in that most important task of raising godly children. To that end, we would encourage all parents to bring their children to these Bible classes. Grandparents, we would ask you to consider this an opportunity to help mold the spiritual future of your precious grandchildren. We may not all be Bible class teachers and have the opportunity of directly influencing the future generation, however more of us can play the pivotal role that Lois and Eunice played in the rearing of Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14, 15).

Attendance to these studies is an obvious way we will benefit from these Bible classes, however, if we think that by simply attending these studies we will grow spiritually mature, we are badly mistaken. In the continuation of this article, let us offer some other ways we can help our spiritual walk as it relates to our Bible classes.

Pray

One of the best things we can do as we try to improve our Bible classes is pray. There are so many things to pray for. You can pray for your understanding of the text. You can pray for open hearts to the word. You can pray for the instructors who will be leading the studies. You can pray for resolve to follow and apply what you learn from the studies. As you can see, there are many things that we can pray for as it relates to our studies. While this is a good start, it should not be the only step.

Prepare

I think most would agree that when only the teacher is prepared for Bible class, it is usually not one of the best classes. Certainly, the teacher has the responsibility of preparing and doing his homework for the class, but should he be the only one?

Today we start a study of 1 Peter. Wednesdays we are studying through the Old Testament. Most of us have plenty of time during the week where we can get ready for these Bible classes. Read the text before you come to class. Lesson sheets have been made and everyone is encouraged to have those filled out before class. If you wish to gain much good from these classes, remember that you must put forth your best effort as well.

Participate

Once you have prayed and prepared yourself for Bible class, you will now be in a good position to participate in the class and help make it engaging for others with your contributions. As always, any and all comments and questions are always welcome. One of the advantages of studying the Bible in a class setting is that you have so many sharp minds also studying the material. This can incredibly helpful as often others can shed light and bring clarity to what otherwise be a tough subject. Not everyone feels comfortable speaking up in a public setting, and that is fine, but remember that there are other ways of participating other than by speaking up.

Practice

The goal of Bible study is not to simply memorize Bible facts. While facts can be extremely helpful, the true purpose of Bible study is to reform us. The reason we study, meditate, learn, and teach is so that our hearts and lives might be changed. We always want to conform our will to the Scriptures.

As we go through our material in our Bible classes, remember to let God’s word change you and to practice the things we learn from our Bible studies. “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the im-planted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:21, 22).

Welcome!

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The Christians at Chapman Acres

Thanks you for picking up and taking the time to read this bulletin! If you are visiting with us from the community or a nearby congregation, we want you to know we are grateful for your presence with us. Your presence is an encouragement to us, and it is our most earnest desire that our worship has been beneficial to you and favorable in the sight of God, our Savior.

If it’s your first time being with us or you are unsure of why we do the things we do, allow us to explain.

The church of Christ at Chapman Acres is an independent, non-denominational group of Christians whose goal is to serve God, the Creator and Savior. Free from the authority of man-made creeds or charters, our only standard is the Bible. Our only model is the church that Jesus established, of which we read in the New Testament. While we pray for and encourage other churches who seek to follow the New Testament pattern, the church at Chapman Acres maintains no organizational ties with other congregations either in our local area or abroad.

The Christians who make up the church are not perfect, but our goal is to live for the One who died for us. We are forgiven sinners who have believed in Jesus Christ, have committed our lives to Him, and have obeyed His command to be immersed in baptism. To us, being a Christian is not about living our way and expecting God to approve of whatever we do. Jesus Christ is Lord and King. However, neither is being a Christian a matter of cold, robotic obedience to laws. Being a Christian is about cultivating a relationship with the Father. Whatever He asks, we lovingly seek to give Him.
Our God-given duty as a group is to spread the Gospel locally and abroad, to encourage the members of the church, and to help Christians who are in spiritual or physical need. We do not provide any recreation or entertainment. God has given His church much more important work with eternal consequences. Our job is to help everyone we know be saved.

We read in the New Testament that Christians regularly met together to worship and study. They sang songs in order to praise God and encourage one another. They prayed together. They contributed financially to the work of the church. Teaching and Bible reading were essential parts of their activities. In addition, we read that they regularly met on the first day of the week to observe the Lord’s Supper and remember the sacrifice that makes it all possible. These simple, spiritual activities are what you will find at Chapman Acres.

Each and every time you visit with us you will find a friendly greeting, reverent worship, group Bible study, and teaching strictly from the Bible. Feel free to contact us if you wish to study with any of the men or women of the church at a place of your choice. Our prayer is that you dedicate yourself to the Lord and seek the relationship that He wants with you. We will help in any way we can.
[This description of the saints which meet at Chapman Acres can be found, along with much more information, at www.chapmanacres.org.]

Along with the information you can find on our easy to navigate website, you can also find great resources. Sermons, Bible classes, and articles are all available for your consideration. Our website has more than 200 sermons on a huge variety of Bible passages and topics. Our Bible classes are regularly posted to the website. We trust that as you listen to the audio recordings on our website, you will find teaching strictly from the Bible. If you have any questions about the material, please feel free to ask.

In addition to finding more information about the church that worships and works together here in Huntsville through our website, you can also “like” our page on Facebook (Chapman Acres church of Christ), and stay connected with us through that medium.

Not only will you be able to keep up with the news at Chapman Acres, but it will also give you an opportunity to think on spiritual things throughout the day, as we often try to place thought-provoking and spiritually-engaging posts

Again, thank you for visiting us and taking the time to read this. Please do not hesitate to let us know how we can help you draw nearer to God.

Two Men Can’t Agree on Religion

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Bill Hall

Two men are religious and both seem to be sincere, but they never seem to agree on religious questions. A brief look at their applications of the Bible helps to explain their problem.

The first man views the Bible as the complete and final answer to all religious questions pertaining to salvation. For him a clear statement from the Bible ends all controversy. His simple approach is well stated by a bumper sticker we have seen: “God said it; I believe it; that settles it.” In fact, he would agree that God’s word “settles it” whether he believes it or not.

The second man relies on several sources for his religious beliefs. He believes the Bible and many of his convictions are based on what the Bible says. But he also is convinced that he has been “led” into certain beliefs by the Lord. Some of those beliefs he could not defend by the Bible, and in fact some of them seem to contradict the Bible, but he is sure that they are true, for the Lord would not have so “led” him had they not been true. One man frankly said to this writer, “I read the Bible, but I mostly just depend on the Spirit to lead me in what I believe.” He has also had his beliefs verified by knowledgeable preachers, who might not be right in everything, but would hardly be wrong on any serious question of truth.

The first man reads the Bible seeking for answers from God. The second man reads the Bible for the same reason, but his perception is affected by what he has been “led to believe.” He has difficulty being objective, and, in fact, he might hold to what he has been “led to believe” ahead of plain teaching of scripture. He frankly finds his likeness in the man of Colossians 2:18-10 who takes “his stand on visions he has seen” and is “not holding fast to the head” (NASV). His religious practices may be different from the man described in Colossians, but his approach to authority in religion is the same.

We do not hesitate to side with the first man in his approach. God indeed “leads” us into truth, but He does so through His inspired word. Consider the following passages: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). “Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). “All Scripture is given by the 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” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

The two men of our article will come to remarkable agreement when they both approach the scriptures as the final word from God, but not until then. Religious differences are not the product of scripture, but of varying attitudes toward what constitutes final authority in religion. True unity is desirable, and it can be enjoyed by those who humbly submit to God’s word and will.

Which Version of the Bible Do You Use?

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Greg Chandler

Ask the above question and you will receive a number of replies. Some might respond by stating their belief that the King James Version is the best. Others might answer the New King James or English Standard Version. Still others might state their preference for The American Standard or New American Standard Version. All of these choices would certainly present the reader with a quality read through the Bible, yet there are other versions that are widely used, though perhaps not typically named. Consider your own view of the Bible and determine which version you use.

The Dusty Bible Version

Those who prefer this version of the Bible rarely take the time to open it. Sometimes it is displayed prominently on a coffee table or sometimes stuffed on an unused shelf in the cupboard, yet its pages rarely see the light of day. Proponents of this version often state their solid belief in the Bible, but pursue lifestyles that give little to no time for reading the holy words of God. They share much in common with Israel of old. Speaking through His servant Hosea, the Lord said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me.”

And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will for-get your children” (Hosea 4:6). Though users of this version might claim to be a part of God’s holy nation (I Peter 2:9), they will suffer the same rejection as spoken of by Hosea because of their refusal to come to know the message of God found within His Word.

The Church Pew Version

Users of this particular version have a Bible on Sunday morning, which may be the only time they assemble with the saints. Pulling it from the songbook rack, they turn to the passages under consideration in the morning Bible class and sermon. Unlike those mentioned earlier, users of the church pew version take an interest in religious ideas mainly because they enjoy letting others hear their opinions of the text. Often in the Bible class period they make comments and seek to answer questions, yet no previous study on the subject has taken place at home. As a result, these comments often reveal little insight into the text and often seek to take the class in a different direction than the teacher had planned. Sadly, adherents of this version of the Bible have failed to read a very important message given by the Lord: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart”(Hebrews 4:12). As an unskilled swordsman, their use of the Bible often results in more harm than good.

The Family Bible Version

Laced with birth announcements, obituaries, and keepsakes from the past, this version is read on a somewhat regular basis and its users have a long history with religion. Generations of family members have held tightly to the beliefs passed down from earlier generations and their rallying cry is, “If it was good enough for Grandpa, it is good enough for me.” Any ideas that challenge the long held and cherished beliefs are quickly dismissed and labeled as false teaching. Anyone daring to disagree with proponents of this version is surely a false teacher and quickly falls under the scrutiny of every family member. Unknown to this group is their similarity with their ancient counterparts, known as Pharisees, who also used the Family Bible Version. As Jesus said to the Pharisees, so He says to adherents of this version: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:6-7).

The Yellowed and Torn Pages Version

With the glimmer of pristine pages long gone and its leather case now faded and worn, this version testifies that its users truly understand the purpose of the Bible. This version has been used on a daily basis to draw near to God. It has been employed when crises arose in its user’s life and scoured when disagreements arise between brethren. None of its pages still stick together because every part of God’s word is considered holy and sacred to the reader who diligently seeks to find God on every page. Proponents of this version have much in common with the author of Psalm 119. Like he, they can say, “Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works” (vs. 27).

Which Version Do You Use?

Every person professing an interest, however remote, in spiritual concerns will find himself described in some aspect of one or more of these four “versions.” God has clearly stated which view is pleasing to Him and everyone seeking to please the Lord must put away improper views and become humble students and followers of His Word. Those who do so will quickly concur with the words of Paul written to Timothy: “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 complete, equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16-17). So, which version of the Bible do you use?

10 Chapters…Part II

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Editor’s Note: This article is a follow-up to last week’s bulletin article. If you have not read the first article we would encourage you to read it and commit to follow the reading plan contained within.
There was a very positive response to last week’s article and ac-companying sermon, 10 Chapters. In addition to the positive response, there were also some questions that were raised and will be answered in this article.

Before attempting to answer the questions raised concerning Dr. Horner’s Bible Reading System we would like to quickly remind everyone of what the plan is. Every day the reader will read from one chapter of ten lists, for a total of ten chapters a day. To com-plement the benefit of this system we believe it would be helpful if the reader will also jot down some quick notes or lessons that were learned from each chapter.

How does one read ten chapters a day? Dr. Horner seems to anticipate this question and gives his Secrets to Success:

  • Read one chapter from each list each day; in one sitting or two. At the end of a book; go to the next book. At the end of the list; start it again. Do it in the order given.
  • Read quickly (without “speed-reading”) in order to get the overall sense. Read as fast as you comfortably can with moderate retention. You’re not studying deeply or memorizing; shoot for 5-6 minutes per chapter. At the end of a chapter, move immediately to the next list.
  • GET THROUGH THE TEXT – no dawdling, back reading, looking up cross-references!
  • There are different ‘kinds’ of reading: super-quick skimming, careful moderate-paced, studying the text, deep meditation. You should be between the first and second kind.
  • Most people decrease their time spent and increase their retention after just two-three weeks!
  • Don’t look up anything you ‘don’t get’ – real understanding will come through contextualizing by reading a LOT of scripture over time. Get through the text!
  • If you miss a day or two – ok, get over it, then keep going. Don’t cover yourself in sackcloth and ashes and quit! Move the bookmarks along, to find your place(s) quickly next day.

Hebrews 4:12; 5:11-14; Ephesians 5:26; 6:17; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 119; Ezra 8; Proverbs 3:1-2, 10:14; Daniel 1

  • If you are wondering why you should read Acts (or Proverbs) all the way through every single month, then — you’ve just shown that you NEED to read them that often!
  • The goal of this system is simple, and twofold: To know scripture, and to love and obey God more!

Hope these are helpful as you begin this reading system. If you have other questions, as always, feel free to ask.