Spiritual Disciplines – Study

25_01_18 -Ep.347 - Run With Horses Podcast - Spiritual Disciplines – Study

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**(28:00)**
Today we consider the Spiritual Discipline of Study.

Welcome to Run With Horses! My name is Norman and my goal is to help you thrive as a follower of Jesus. The spiritual life is both incredibly simple and potentially the most difficult part of your life. God invites you to live intentionally and on His mission. It’s very cool that we can do that together!

Thank you for joining me today! “If you’re new here, you can check out past episodes at runwithhorses.net. As always, I appreciate your feedback, questions, and reviews!”

**(27:00 – 23:00)**
Caregiver’s Corner

**(23:00 – 0:00)* * PART 1**
Study as a Spiritual Discipline
1. Building a Biblical Foundation - Why Study
• Purpose of Study: To know God and grow in spiritual maturity.
◦ Key Scripture:
▪ 2 Timothy 2:15:
▪ Hosea 4:6a:
◦ Importance of Study:
▪ Strengthens our faith (Romans 10:17).
▪ Equips us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
▪ Protects against false teaching (Acts 17:11, Ephesians 4:14).
2. What to Study
• The Word of God:
◦ Primary focus should be the Bible.
◦ Key Scripture:
▪ Psalm 119:105:
▪ Matthew 4:4:
• Supporting Resources:
◦ Study guides, commentaries, and Bible dictionaries.
◦ Church doctrinal statements and creeds (to understand Baptist distinctives).
• Key Topics to Include:
◦ The nature of God, salvation, sanctification, and missions.
3. Who Should Study
• Every Believer:
◦ Spiritual growth is the responsibility of all Christians.
◦ Key Scripture:
▪ Colossians 3:16:
▪ 1 Peter 2:2:
• Special Responsibilities:
◦ Teachers and leaders bear greater accountability in teaching and applying truth.
◦ Key Scripture:
▪ James 3:1:
**(00:00) END PART 1**

**(27:00 – 5:00) BEGIN PART 2**
4. How to Study
• The Grammatical-Historical-Literal Framework for Studying the Bible
1. Purpose: Understanding how to study the Bible to uncover its intended meaning.
◦ Emphasize that Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and must be handled carefully (2 Timothy 2:15).
• Goal: Equip learners to study Scripture accurately and faithfully.
2. Overview of the Framework
• Definition:
◦ Grammatical: Focus on the language and structure of the text.
◦ Historical: Consider the historical and cultural context.
◦ Literal: Interpret according to the plain meaning of the text, unless clearly figurative.
• Key Scripture:
◦ Nehemiah 8:8:
◦ 2 Peter 1:20-21:
3. Step-by-Step Explanation
A. Grammatical Approach
• Focus:
◦ Analyze sentence structure, grammar, and word meanings.
• Practical Tools:
◦ Use concordances and interlinear Bibles to study original Greek and Hebrew words.
◦ Recognize literary devices like metaphors, similes, and hyperboles.
• Example:
◦ Study "love" in 1 Corinthians 13, noting the Greek word agape for deeper understanding.
B. Historical Approach
• Focus:
◦ Understand the cultural, geographical, and historical context.
• Practical Tools:
◦ Use Bible atlases, historical commentaries, and timelines.
◦ Research customs and traditions relevant to the text.
• Example:
◦ Explore the context of the Good Samaritan parable (Luke 10:25-37) to understand Jewish-Samaritan relations.
C. Literal Approach
• Focus:
◦ Take the text at face value unless the context suggests figurative language.
• Practical Tools:
◦ Identify genre: poetry, narrative, prophecy, etc.
◦ Compare Scripture with Scripture to clarify meaning.
• Example:
◦ Interpret Genesis 1 as a literal account of creation, unless a figurative explanation is evident.
4. Application and Integration
• Combining All Three Elements:
◦ Example Passage: Study John 3:16 using all three approaches.
▪ Grammatical: Analyze "believe" in Greek (pisteuo) to understand its depth.
▪ Historical: Consider Nicodemus’ Jewish background and understanding.
▪ Literal: Take the plain meaning of God’s promise of eternal life for believers.
• Practice Exercise:
◦ Assign a passage for group study, using the framework to break down its meaning.
5. Recommended Resources
• Concordances: Strong's Concordance.
• Interlinear Bibles: Available on BibleHub or Blue Letter Bible.
• Historical Context: Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary.
• Commentaries:
◦ For beginners: Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary.
◦ For advanced study: The Expositor's Bible Commentary.
• Practical Steps for Bible Study:
◦ Pray for Understanding (Psalm 119:18).
◦ Read the Passage Repeatedly (Joshua 1:8).
◦ Observe: Look for key words, phrases, and structure.
◦ Interpret: Use cross-references and study tools for clarification.
◦ Apply: Determine how the passage affects your life and obedience to God.
• Think – God given ability
• Recommended Resources for Beginners:
◦ A good study Bible (e.g., NKJV Study Bible).
◦ Bible dictionaries (e.g., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary).
◦ Introductory commentaries (e.g., Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Bible).
◦ Online tools like BibleHub or Blue Letter Bible for concordances and interlinear studies.
◦ Logos Bible software
**(5:00 – 1:00)**

Doctrine of the Month -
The Church Defined
Edification and the Local Church
Leadership of the Local Church

**(1:00)**

- “Thank you for listening today!

-If you enjoyed the show you can listen to all the past shows wherever you listen to podcasts. A good place to start is at runwithhorses.net. You can also write me at norman@runwithhorses.net or leave a comment on the Run With Horses Podcast facebook page. Take time today to pause and thank God for His work in your life and keep running.

**(00:00)**