Words from the Word

Throughout the semester, we will be writing belief statements (individual assignments on a topic or doctrine) and/or lifelines (a belief statement done each week in class with a small group).  Here's a taste of what they're like. If you want the references, let me know! 

Conflict Resolution (Belief Statement)

Christ desires for us to live at peace with everyone;1 however, because of sin,2 conflicts

arise among believers,3 which should be addressed quickly.4 Before we approach

someone we should seek the Lord in prayer,5 examine our hearts for sin,6 and assume

the best.7 To confront your brother, privately show him his fault.8 If your brother is

wiling to resolve the conflict, you have won him over.9 If he is unrepentant, take two or

three believers with you to confront him.10 If he is still unrepentant, tell it to the church.11

If he refuses to repent, he should be treated as an unbeliever.12 As Christians, we are

called to pray for this individual13 and encourage him back to the faith.14 This process

should be done in humility and gentleness,15 to keep the unity of the Spirit,16 and to

become more like Christ.17

How Far is Too Far? (Lifeline):

It is God’s will for us to be able to control our body in a way that honors Him.¹ Living our lives according to the desires of our flesh will ultimately lead to death. ² But by protecting our mind, ³ our heart, ⁴ and our actions⁵ we will live a life of freedom in Christ. The lust of our flesh is not from the Father but it is from the world⁶ and separates us from God. ⁷ The Lord will provide a way out from our temptation⁸ if we look to Him for guidance. God created sex for a man and a woman in marriage, ⁹ so we exhibit self-control by fleeing from any situation that could cause us to fall short of God’s desire for our purity¹⁰ or that may cause someone else to sin. ¹¹ Our body is not our own, it belongs to God, so it is our duty to glorify to Lord with our body. ¹²

Honesty/Integrity/Character/Truth (Lifeline):

God has called us to a life of sanctification and holiness.[1]  In a life surrendered to Christ, we desire to please God through our actions and speech.[2]  As a guide, we look to Christ’s example and His Word of truth.[3]  We are to keep our commitments[4] and speak the truth in love.[5] Those who walk in integrity, walk securely.[6] 

An introduction to induction

IN(tro)DUCTION...

This week David Lawson from Precept Ministries International (yes, he works alongside Kay Arthur) visited the “Island” and spoke to our class about what inductive Bible study looks like.  Many people have not gone through any kind of teaching like this before, but I was blessed to have had the opportunity in college to take a class called ‘Interpreting the Bible’ that was very similar to David’s teaching.  I took that class in college a few years ago, so it was really neat to be reminded of the truth and reason behind inductively studying the Bible.  

Inductively studying anything means to gather all the details, to examine something very closely, to pick it apart and then make conclusions based upon the clear evidence.  The purpose is to investigate the text, going from small details to big idea, not big idea to small details.  It is important to inductively study the Bible to know God on a personal level.  When we study the Bible for ourselves, we begin to grasp the text and hear personally from God through His written Word.  The Bible comes alive in a new way when you study it for yourself.  It is no longer just what you have heard from your parents, friends, or pastors; you know it to be true because you read, studied, and discovered truth through the revelation of the Holy Spirit.  This kind of studying takes times and dedication.  This week in class we studied Titus in depth. In the three days of class with David Lawson, we probably read the book of Titus eight times, each time looking for something differnt.  We learned so much about Titus by using the three major areas of inductive Bible study: observation, interpretation, and application. 

The first thing to do in the observation stage is to read the text.  Ask yourself, what does it say? Take the Bible at it’s Word. God’s Word is flawless (Ps 12:6- And the Words of the Lord are flawless, Prov 30:5- Every Word of God is flawless).  We should not necessarily always take the Bible literally (it is full of metaphors, illustrations, parables, etc) but you must take it seriously.  As you read, observe the different people, places, and events.  Ask yourself, the 5Ws (who, what, when, where, why).  While reading, you will probably notice repeated words.  These are keywords, that if taken out, the passage would lose it’s meaning.  It is very helpful to use different color pens or colored markers to distinguish these things in answering these questions and noticing keywords (you may want to print out the book of the Bible you are studying while you dissecting it and go back later to your Bible and mark the biggest things that the Lord showed you).  While observing and answering these questions, also make a list of things you discover.  

Once we have observed the text by reading it a couple times, looking for keywords, making lists, and answering the previous questions we can begin to interpret the Scripture with the help of the Holy Spirit.  In this stage, context is crucial.  The word “context” comes from con meaning “with” and text meaning “woven.”  The Word is woven together, it is a whole, it is a book that is not meant to be taken apart.  When reading Scripture, studying it, and interpreting it, we must understand that the chapters before and after a passage are vital to understanding the passage, chapter, or book as a whole, to grasp what the author intended to communicate. 

What good does observing and interpreting do if we do not apply what we learn?  God did not intend for us to be only students of His Word, He’s called us to put our faith into action.  James 2:17- in the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead.  By being a good steward and studying the Word, we form our beliefs that turn into actions.  What we believe transforms our behavior and way of life. 

As David Lawson says, “Inductive Bible study is like a seven course meal” and we usually settle for drive through. Let us slow down daily as we read the Word, to ask ourselves these important questions and grow in the knowledge of our great God. Today, “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the Word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15)  

Another Adventure

Hey there friends and family!  I know it has been hard to keep up with my life these last few years- Florida, Arkansas, Texas, and now Missouri! I will be here at the Kanakuk Institute (KI, located at K-Kauai, aka “the Island”) in Branson until April 13th, studying God’s Holy Word! That thought and recent reality thrills me. Every single thing we have done since the day we got here has been full on intentionality.  The first week was packed with purpose...writing a vision/mission statement for our lives at the cemetery (sounds creepy but it was amazing), discussing absolute truth, character, integrity, and community, serving the families and churches in Joplin where the massive tornado took 150+ lives on May 22nd, and getting to know the other 70 students in the class.  

God has been so faithful to answer prayers and bless me in abundance. I am in a wonderful small group (the KI President’s wife, Karen Chancey), have a wonderful group of girls who I live with, have such a fun job of babysitting one of the full time KI staff’s children for my campus job, have an accountability partner that I meet with weekly, am interning at FBC Branson with the youth group (get to lead a small group of 10th grade girls), get to help lead worship every Monday morning, just got a job yesterday at Coldwater Creek, and get to sit under Godly leaders such as Todd Wagner, Bob Cornuke, Gary Smalley, and many others every day! WOW! Talk about an adventure! Please pray for me as I seek the Lord daily, strive to bring Him glory in all I do and lead others to do the same. 

Seven years ago this month was the anniversary of the car accident that changed my life.  God is Healer, I celebrate His miracle in my life and am so thankful to Him and my family for seeing me through.  He is and always will be good and uses every hardship for His glory. “Life is Goode,” only because GOD is GOOD. I want to be a Godly wife and mother one day and although that is in my paragraph long life purpose statement, summarized it will be something like this: Know & love God, serve & love others.