Bible Study – Page 12 – The Internet Monk Archives

Time? or Timing?

One common area of cultural misunderstanding involves the perception of time. Once, when we were in India, our host planned a day of sightseeing before the mission team was to present an evening program. In typical fashion, everything took much longer than anticipated and we arrived at the church over an hour and a halfContinue reading “Time? or Timing?”

iMonk: The “Magic Book” Approach to the Bible

From the classic Michael Spencer post, Magic Books, Grocery Lists and Silent Messiahs: How rightly approaching the Bible shapes the entire Christian Life * * * I believe most Christians use the word “inspiration” to mean “the Bible is a magic book, where God speaks to us in unusual ways.” By this they mean thatContinue reading “iMonk: The “Magic Book” Approach to the Bible”

Have You No Shame?

Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible by E. Randolph Richards & Brandon J. O’Brien IVP Books (2012) Part Three of a series. “In fact, the entire issue of honor and shame over against right and wrong (innocence and guilt) is a bit of a mystery to us. AsContinue reading “Have You No Shame?”

There Is No “Me and Jesus” in the Bible

Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible by E. Randolph Richards & Brandon J. O’Brien IVP Books (2012) Part Two of a series. One major impediment Westerners have in reading the Bible and practicing the Christian faith is our individualistic perspective. For the Bible was written in a muchContinue reading “There Is No “Me and Jesus” in the Bible”

A Horse of a Different Color

Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible by E. Randolph Richards & Brandon J. O’Brien IVP Books (2012) This is part one of a series of discussion-starters from this fine book. * * * “That is a good horse,” said the man as he watched it pull the farmer’sContinue reading “A Horse of a Different Color”

iMonk: “What Is the Bible?”

From Michael Spencer’s classic post, A Conversation in God’s Kitchen * * * What is the Bible? When I was a senior in high school, I made it into an Advanced English Class taught by Mrs. Vista Morris. Mrs. Morris taught us to research, to write and to speak. Oddly, we never left her room,Continue reading “iMonk: “What Is the Bible?””

Counting the Commandments

Those of you who have experience in various Christian traditions may have observed that there are different ways of numbering the “Ten Commandments.” This is not a mere academic issue of interpretation. It can be shown that the different schemes can lead to some significant ways of understanding and living out the faith. In myContinue reading “Counting the Commandments”

Scripture Redeems Itself

One of the most provocative and helpful books I have found on the nature of the Bible and how Christians may receive it and read it is Kenton L. Sparks’ book, Sacred Word, Broken Word. I will have some future posts that reflect on his proposals, but today I want to share one wonderful passageContinue reading “Scripture Redeems Itself”

Overcoming God’s Reluctance?

Last Sunday’s Gospel, Mark 7:24-37, has to contain one of the most puzzling set of stories we have about Jesus. The first tale in particular, the account of Jesus’ encounter with the Syrophoenician woman in the region of Tyre, is a doozy. Jesus left that place and went into the region of Tyre. He didn’t wantContinue reading “Overcoming God’s Reluctance?”

The Alpha and Omega Principle

Reading Romans (4) The Alpha and Omega Principle Welcome one another, therefore, as the Messiah has welcomed you, to God’s glory. Let me tell you why: the Messiah became a servant of the circumcised people in order to demonstrate the truthfulness of God — that is, to confirm the promises to the patriarchs, and toContinue reading “The Alpha and Omega Principle”