Spiritual Maturity Training Weekend 1 – Session 1

Spiritual Maturity TrainingWeekend 1 – Session 1Biblical Interpretation

APPROACHING THE BIBLE

• Whether you realize it or not you have an interpretive method of approaching the Bible

• You may have never thought it through• It may be inconsistent• But you do have one

• What method of biblical interpretation do you use?•How do you approach the Bible?

•2 Corinthians 2:14

14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.

•2 Corinthians 2

• What does this passage mean?• How can I apply it to my life?

• Interpretation

• Does it mean that Christ will always make us victorious in whatever we do?

• Interpretation

• Christ will always make us victorious in whatever we do• But is this correct?

• Jeremiah 29:11

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

• Jeremiah 29:11

Does God have a wonderful plan for my life if I will but follow his will?

• John 15:5-6

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

• John 15:5-6

Was Jesus threatening that if I am not evangelistically successful I will be cast out of the Kingdom of God?

•Objectives• We will learn how to approach the Bible as a unified Covenant document written for God’s people• We will learn how to understand and interpret the Bible in the way that it was written• Be able to identify the general meaning of passages within context• Use simple historical, grammatical, and contextual tools to learn how to get the most correct interpretation out of every verse in the Bible• Every person will walk away more confident in their handling of the word of truth

• Session 1 - 10:00-10:40 – Approaching the Bible From the Right Angle

• Break - 10:40-10:50• Session 2 - 10:50-11:35 – Crossing the River of Biblical

Interpretation• Break - 11:35-11:40• Session 3 - 11:40-12:20 – Context, Context, Context• Lunch - 12:20-1:20• Session 4 - 1:20-2:00 – Understanding the Old Testament in

Context• Break - 2:00-2:10• Session 5 - 2:10-2:50 – Understanding the New Testament in

Context• Break - 2:50-3:00• Session 6 - 3:00-3:45 – Putting it all into Practice• Q & A – 3:45-4:00

• Today’s Schedule•Spiritual Maturity Training

• Biblical Interpretation March 3, 2012 Milwaukee Michael BurnsMarch 10, 2012 MinneapolisMichael Burns

• Core Doctrines & Church Life September 15, 2012 MinneapolisSaindon/ BurnsSeptember 22, 2012 Milwaukee Saindon/ Burns

• Reading the Old Testament Spring, 2013 Milw. & Minn.Jason Alexander

• Reading the New Testament Autumn, 2013 Milw. & Minn.TBA

• Defending the Gospel Spring, 2014 Milw. & MInn. TBA• Evidences of the Faith Autumn, 2014 Milw. & Minn. TBA• What we Believe About God Spring, 2015 Milw. & Minn.

TBA• The Kingdom of God Autumn, 2015 Milw. & MInn. TBA

• Today’s Schedule•Spiritual Maturity Training

•What is the Bible and How is it Communicated?

• Could you adequately explain both the context and message of the entire Bible in less than 30 seconds?

•What is the Bible?

• What is the Bible about and how is it communicated to us?


• Kingdom of God is the thematic framework of the Bible

• Jesus is the theological center and purpose of the Bible


The Theological Center

Jesus Christ

The Thematic Framework

The Kingdom of God

The Biblical Structure

The Law; The Prophets; The

Writings

What is the Bible and How is it

Communicated?

Miles Van Pelt – Biblical Theology

•Acts 2823 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus.

30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

•Matthew 4

17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

•2 Corinthians 1

• 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

• John 1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

• John 5

39 You study[c] the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me

•Luke 24:44-45

• 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

The Theological Center

Jesus Christ

The Thematic Framework

The Kingdom of God

The Biblical Structure

The Law; The Prophets; The

Writings

What is the Bible and How is it

Communicated?

Miles Van Pelt – Biblical Theology

The Center and Purpose

Jesus Christ

The Visible and Constant Focus:

The Kingdom of God

The Word of God

A Framework forOur Lives

•The Covenantal Arrangement of the Christian Bible

Source: Miles VanPelt 2005


Covenant Prologue Covenant Epilogue

The Law Prophets Writings

Covenant Covenant History Covenant LifeLuke 24:44



Covenant Prologue Covenant Epilogue

The Law Prophets Writings

Covenant Covenant History Covenant LifeLuke 24:44


Genesis

ExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomy

PreachingIsaiahJeremiahEzekielThe 12

HistoryJoshuaJudgesSamuelKings

EstherDanielEzraNehemiahChronicles

PsalmsJobProverbsRuthSong of SongsEcclesiastesLamentations Revelation

MatthewMark LukeJohn

History & PreachingActs

Paul’s EpistlesHebrewsJames 1 & 2 Peter 1 & 2 John Jude

•One Book, One Covenant

• What is the general theme of the first chapter of Genesis?


• What is the general theme of the first chapter of Genesis?• Creation


• What is an important elemental theme of the second chapter of Genesis?


• What is an important elemental theme of the second chapter of Genesis?• Marriage – the two becoming one


• What is the general theme of the third chapter of Genesis?


• What is the general theme of the third chapter of Genesis?• Satan tempts human and causes them to fall


• What is the general theme Revelation 20?


• What is the general theme of Revelation 20?• The defeat of Satan


• What is the general theme of Revelation 21?


• What is the general theme of Revelation 21?• The Marriage of the Lamb and the church – the two becoming one


• What is the general theme of Revelation 22?


• What is the general theme of Revelation 22?• New Creation (Eden Restored)

CreationMarriageSatan Wins

Gen. 1

Gen. 2

Gen. 3

Satan Loses

MarriageNew Creation

(Eden)

Rev. 20

Rev. 21

Rev. 22

• Is it a rulebook?• If it says it, then I must do it• If it doesn’t say it then I can’t do it?

• Is it something that I listen to when I want to but ignore when I don’t?

• Can I read it as though it was written directly to me?

• Should I try to imitate and copy everything I see in the Bible?

• Should I approach it like a horoscope?• Can interpreting the Bible incorrectly cause trouble?

•How Should we Approach the Bible?

• Like it or not, everyone has an interpretive approach

• That is true even if you’ve never thought about it


• We are certainly told to obey God’s word, but. . . • Does the Bible itself ever give us a clue as to how we should approach and interpret it?

• The Forgotten Question


• 1 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”[a] 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ,[b] as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

• 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation[c] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[d] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[e] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

• 1 Corinthians 10•Paul’s Approach

• Paul examines the incidents from the book of Exodus and pulls out the principles from their historical and cultural setting, applying the universal principle to a similar situation:

• They were God’s people but grumbled and committed idolatry by not truly putting God first

• They took for granted their status as God’s people and engaged in sexual immorality as though it was okay

• They went though a “baptism” of sorts and ate “ communion” of sorts but then didn’t act like God’s people

• These same principles applied to God’s people in Christ• Baptism and Communion weren’t magic talismans that they could

participate in and then live however they wanted with no respect for God

• God’s true people will live in a way that honors God and will flee from idolatry


• 23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. 25 Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”[f]

• 27 If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience. 29 I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom being judged by another’s conscience? 30 If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?

• 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.


• Paul’s approach is to once again lay out timeless principles and then apply them to a specific situation

• Everything the Christian does should be beneficial to their life in Christ

• Everything the Christian does should build up the body of Christ

• Everything the Christian does should bring glory to God

• Paul then applies these timeless principles to the question of whether or not a Christian should eat meat sacrificed to an idol


• Paul’s took out the principles from the Old Testament and applied them appropriately to the current situation

• Paul gave principles in his own writing and encouraged them to be applied to “whatever” situation his readers find themselves in

• Paul has just told us how to read and interpret both the Old and New Testament


• 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

• 1 Peter 3•Peter’s Approach

• 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

• 1 Peter 3•Peter’s Approach

Psalm 34:12-16

The Timeless Principle Applied

Documents

Spiritual Maturity Training Weekend 1 – Session 1