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BO-1 - The bigger Picture

  1. Expectations
    1. What does the words “Bible study mean to you?    
      1. We all have expectations and different words and phrases can trigger them.
        1. When we don’t get what we expect, we either force the thing to change to fit the expectation or become frustrated and decide to quit.    
        2. When we do get what we want, it may limit us in getting greater things because we are so focused with the little that we miss the big.
    2. Filters 
      1. Expectations are filters
        1. They pick up on things that they are looking for and dismiss things that they don’t agree with.
      2. This is dangerous when learning studying God’s word
        1. Christ challenges us to live and learn bigger than we can imagine 
        2. We need to understand and lower our filters so that we can hear what God is telling us.
    3. This is the idea behind this study - to understand why we think what we do (our preconceived notions and filters) and challenge these ideas to discover if they are true or if they need to be re-evaluated.
      1. 3 part study
        1. We will analyze our filters
        2. We will see what the Bible says
        3. We will look at how the Bible is affecting your personal life and the world around us.
  2. Before we open the Bible - What is your filter about it.
    1. The bigger picture
      1. The Bible is like Marvel movies - each movie can stand alone, but together they tell a bigger story.  The Bible has 66 books that each can stand alone, but together they tell a bigger story.
      2. How you view this bigger picture affects how you read the Bible and how you live your life.
    2. Some common “Bible” filters
      1. Deists - believe God created the world, but left it to run itself.  Famous Deists included Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.
      2. Theists - believe God created the world and continues to be actively involved in it.  This would include Muslims and Jewish believers.
      3. Christians - believe God created the world, continues to be actively involved in it, and entered the world personally in the form of Jesus Christ to show us how to live.
      4. “Wrath of God” - believe that God is angry at the sin of the world and this is God’s warning to those that won’t listen.  It is an expanded version of the story of Noah.
      5. Text book/ history - God may or may not be real, but the Bible is an ancient storybook that gives some good advice for living and shows us a bit of history.
      6. “Love story” - The Bible is a love story from God to man. (I would fall under this category).  These are 66 personal letters from God to me to help me find HIm.
      7. “Social Justice” - The Bible shows us the unfairness of the world and teaches us how to live good lives that help each other out.
      8. “Prophecy” - The Bible was written to show us what will happen tomorrow.  Those that find the hidden meanings will be saved, but those that don’t pay attention will be lost.
      9. ‘Power’ - The Bible is a book that gives power to those who read it.  It shows us how to tap into God’s power so that we can control the world and people.
      10. “Affirmation” - The Bible affirms what I believe about the world around me. (Most dangerous mindset - it means that the reader is cherry picking verses that confirm what they already believe so that they can go on without changing anything about their lives - and can throw it into other people’s faces”)
    3. My Filter is the “Love story” 
      1. I believe that God is trying to tell us that He loves us.  Because of sin, we cannot enter God’s presence (His holiness would destroy us), God has been sending us reminders of His love and instructions on what we should do in order to be transformed into people that can return to God’s presence (as He created us).  
      2. Be aware of my filter - you will see it in much of my teaching.  
        1. You must decide if you agree with this filter or if your filter is different.  
        2. I will not force you to see things my way, but I do encourage you to reflect and think about your own filter.
  3. So - what is the correct way to read the Bible?
    1. You have to find that for yourself - because God speaks to each of us differently.  
    2. There is one message and one path to Heaven - but so many different and exciting ways God leads us down that path.  You have to hear HIm to see how He wants you to go.
  4. Some basics when studying the Bible that will help you get the most of your reading, no matter what your filter is: (From Tony Evans)
    1. Study the scriptures with a view to meeting God - not just learning about him.
    2. Ask: “What should I do in light of what I have learned?”
    3. Study the context of the verse - nothing was written in isolation.
    4. Study in prayer - aks the Holy Spirit to guide you to hear God’s word for you.
    5. Study with a kingdom mindset - seeking Do’s rule over every area of your life.
  5. 2 Timothy 3:16 - “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;”
  6. ‭‭Next week, 
    1. we will start the Bible at Genesis 1:1
    2. We will do three things
      1. Look at the context of the verse (what led to the writing of this verse)
      2. Look at the effect of this verse (how does it color the rest of Scripture)
      3. Look at the application of this verse (how does it affect your life)


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