LEARN%20TO%20READ%20%20THE%20BIBLE%20EFFECTIVELY

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LEARN TO READ THE BIBLE EFFECTIVELY
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INTRODUCTIONS
Ken Sommerville
Jeff Gelineau
Others...
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WHO WE ARE

• The Christadelphians

• World-wide community of Bible believers

• United by common faith in Gospel

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OUR MOTIVATION

• The Christadelphians

• Believe Bible holds answers to fundamental needs
  of all people

• Desire to help others discover the Bible message
  for themselves

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HELP YOU READTHE BIBLE EFFECTIVELY

• We will

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HELP YOU READTHE BIBLE EFFECTIVELY

• We will
• Help you become familiar with the CONTENT of the
  Bible

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HELP YOU READTHE BIBLE EFFECTIVELY

• We will
• Help you become familiar with the CONTENT of the
  Bible
• Assist you in learning the MEANING of the Bible

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HELP YOU READTHE BIBLE EFFECTIVELY

• We will
• Help you become familiar with the CONTENT of the
  Bible
• Assist you in learning the MEANING of the Bible
• Give you CONFIDENCE in the Bible as Gods
  inspired word

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How the Seminar will work...
Alternating presentations

• FORMAT
• CONTENT
• ATMOSPHERE
• QUESTIONS
• WORKBOOKS

Varied, to meet needs of both new and
experienced Bible readers
Informal friendly
Can be asked at the conclusion of each
presentation
Yours to keep, mark in, take notes on
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LEARN TO READ THE BIBLE EFFECTIVELY

• Session 1
• Introduction
• First Bible Reading Key
• Background to The Bible
• Overview of Books (1)
• The Bible Interprets Itself

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EFFECTIVEBIBLE READING KEY
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• Listen for Bible Echoes

(Section 1, pg. 1 in Notes)
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Listening For Bible Echoes

• Then they sent to him some of the Pharisees and
  the Herodians, to catch him in his words. When
  they had come, they said to him, Teacher, we know
  that you are true, and care about no one for you
  do not regard the person of men, but teach the
  way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes
  to Caesar, or not? Shall we pay, or shall we not
  pay?

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Listening For Bible Echoes

• But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them,
  Whose image and inscription is this? And they
  said, Caesar's.
• Then Jesus answered and said to them, Render
  to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to
  God the things that are God's. And they marveled
  at him.

Mark 1213-17
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Listening For Bible Echoes

• So God created man in His own image in the
  image of God He created him male and female He
  created them.

Genesis 127
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BACKGROUND OF THE BIBLE

• Coming next...

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BACKGROUD OF THE BIBLE
(Section 2, pg. 3 in Notes)
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BACKGROUD OF THE BIBLE

• Holy Bible Separate Book
• 66 Books
• gt 40 Writers
• Written over 1600 Years
• 2930 Characters in 1551 Places

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God is the Author
from childhood you have known the Holy
Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work. - 2 Timothy 315-17
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Men Recorded Gods Words
We also have the prophetic word made more sure,
which you do well to heed as a light that shines
in a dark place, until the day dawns and the
morning star rises in your hearts knowing this
first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any
private interpretation, for prophecy never came
by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as
they were moved by the Holy Spirit. - 2 Peter
119-21
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IMPORTANCE OF THE BIBLE
Source of Absolute Truth The law of the Lord is
perfect, converting the soul The testimony of
the Lord is sure, making wise the simple The
statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the
heart The commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes - Psalm 197-8
Provision of Hope For whatsoever things were
written before were written for our learning,
that we through the patience and comfort of the
Scriptures might have hope. - Romans 154
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IMPORTANCE OF THE BIBLE
Provision of Salvation For I am not ashamed of
the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God
to salvation for everyone who believes - Romans
116
Provision of Daily Guidance Your word is a lamp
to my feet and a light to my path. - Psalm
119105
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BIBLICAL DATES - BC
1800 Abraham, Patriarchs 1290 Exodus (some say
1440), Moses, Joshua 1050 Beginning of Israelite
Monarchy, Samuel, Saul 1000 King David,
Nathan 922 Division of Israel Rehoboam, Jeroboam
I 850 Ahab and Jezebel, Elijah and
Elisha 750 Rise of Assyria (745) Amos, Hosea,
721 End of Northern Kingdom Ahaz,
Isaiah 701 Invasion of Judah, Hezekiah, Isaiah,
Micah 605 Rise of the Babylon, Jeremiah,
Habakkuk 598 Captivity in Babylon Jeremiah,
Ezekiel 586 Destruction of Jerusalem,
Exile 538 Babylon falls, Return from exile,
Cyrus 450 Reforms of Ezra, Nehemiah,
Malachi 63 Roman takes Palestine under
Pompey 6-3 Birth of Jesus, Herod the Great
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BIBLICAL DATES - AD
27-30 Death and Resurrection of Jesus
Christ 33-60 Ministry of Paul 45 Council of
Jerusalem 50 Paul, Barnabus, Silas,
Thessalonians 60-70 First Gospel written Mark,
death of Paul 70 Destruction of Jerusalem by
general Titus 90 Last NT writings Gospel of
John, Revelation 135 Bar Kochba rebellion, Jews
expelled
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BREAK TIME...
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OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLE Part 1
THE BEGINNING
(Section 3, pg. 7 in Notes)
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THE BIBLE (66 Books)
OLD TESTAMENT (39 Books, 75 of Bible) Genesis
I Kings Ecclesiastes Obadiah Exodus II Kings
S. Solomon Jonah Leviticus I
Chronicles Isaiah Micah Numbers II
Chronicles Jeremiah Nahum Deuteronomy Ezra
Lamentations Habakkuk Joshua Nehemiah
Ezekiel Zephaniah Judges Esther
Daniel Haggai Ruth Job Hosea
Zechariah I Samuel Psalms Joel
Malachi II Samuel Proverbs Amos NEW
TESTAMENT (27 Books, 25 of Bible) Matthew II
Corinthians I Timothy II Peter Mark
Galatians II Timothy I John Luke Ephesians
Titus II John John Philippians
Philemon III John Acts Colossians
Hebrews Jude Romans I Thessalonians James
Revelation I Corinthians II Thessalonians I
Peter
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BIBLE OVERVIEW Part 1 of 6
GENESIS Creation Expulsion from Eden The
Flood Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph EXODUS Israe
l enslaved in Egypt Exodus from Egypt led by
Moses Wilderness Journey 10 commandments
given at Sinai Failed entry into Promised
Land LEVITICUS Law given for priests and
people NUMBERS Numbering of the people 40
years in the wilderness DEUTERONOMY 40 years in
the wilderness The Law from Sinai Death of Moses
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CREATION EDEN Genesis 1-2
The Beginning In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth. - Genesis 11
God Creates Man And God said, Let us make man
in our image, after our likeness... - Genesis
126
Paradise Harmony between God and Earth And God
saw everything that he had made, and behold, it
was very good. And there was evening and there
was morning, a sixth day. - Genesis 131
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PARADISE LOST Genesis 3-5
The Curse of Eden Then to Adam He said, Because
you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have
eaten from the tree of which I commanded you
Cursed is the ground for your sake  in toil you
shall eat of it all the days of your life   In
the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till
you return to the ground, for out of it you were
taken for dust you are, and to dust you shall
return. - Genesis 317-19
Murder The Accusation of Blood Then the LORD
said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? He
said, I do not know am I my brothers keeper?
And the LORD said, What have you done? The voice
of your brother's blood is crying to me from the
ground. - Genesis 49-10
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THE FLOOD Genesis 6-10
God saw that the wickedness of man was great in
the earth and it repented the LORD that he had
made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his
heart. - Genesis 65-6
Promise of Eternity And when the LORD smelled the
pleasing odor, the LORD said in his heart, I
will never again curse the ground because of man,
for the imagination of mans heart is evil from
his youth neither will I ever again destroy
every living creature as I have done. - Genesis
821
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ABRAHAM A CHOSEN PEOPLE Genesis 12-25
Gods Promise to Abraham The LORD had said to
Abram, Leave your country and go to the land I
will show you. I will make you into a great
nation and I will bless you and all peoples on
earth will be blessed through you. - Genesis
121-3
The Friend of God Abraham believed God, and it
was reckoned to him as righteousness and he was
called the friend of God. - James 223
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12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL Genesis 25-50
Abraham
Ishmael Isaac
Esau Jacob Israel
Simeon Judah Naphtali Asher Zebulun
Benjamin
By Division of the Land
Conventional definition The 12 sons of Jacob
(Israel)
Ephraim Manasseh
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SLAVERY IN EGYPT Exodus 1-2
Egypt enslaves Israel So they made the people of
Israel serve with rigour, and made their lives
bitter with hard service - Exodus 113
God Remembers His People And God heard their
groaning, and God remembered his covenant with
Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God saw
the people of Israel, and God knew their
condition. - Exodus 224-25
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MOSES FREEDOM FROM OPPRESSION Exodus
- Deuteronomy
A Chosen Leader I have seen the oppression with
which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will
send you to Pharaoh that you may bring forth my
people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt. -
Exodus 39-10
The Ten Commandments I am the LORD your God You
shall have no other gods before me for I the
LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the
iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the
third and the fourth generation of those who hate
me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of
those who love me and keep my commandments. -
Exodus 202-6
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A LAW FOR GODS PEOPLE
Leviticus
A Holy Priesthood This is what the Lord spoke,
saying By those who come near Me, I must be
regarded as holy and before all the people, I
must be glorified. - Leviticus 101
A Holy People You shall be holy, for I the Lord
your God am holy You shall not hate your brother
in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your
neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You
shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge
against the children of your people, but you
shall love your neighbor as yourself I am the
Lord. - Lev. 1917-18
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THE WILDERNESS JOURNEY Numbers
Numbering The People As the Lord commanded
Moses, so he numbered them in the Wilderness of
Sinai. - Numbers 117-19
Forty Years in The Wilderness According to the
number of the days in which you spied out the
land, forty days, for each day you shall bear
your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you
shall know My rejection. - Numbers 1420-23,34
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MOSES LAST WORDS Deuteronomy
Looking Back 40 Years Now it came to pass Moses
spoke to the children of Israel according to all
that the Lord had given him as commandments
Moses began to explain this law - Deut. 13-5
Love God Only! Hear, O Israel The Lord our God,
the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, with all your soul, and with
all your strength. - Deut. 61-5
The Death of Moses So Moses the servant of the
Lord died Moses was one hundred and twenty years
old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his
natural vigor diminished. - Deut. 345-8
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What do we learn about God?

• God is a lone power in the Universe, and the
  Creator of all things.
• Events in Eden led to a divorce in communion
  between man and God.
• God wants to heal this divorce, and so chose a
  people (through Abraham, who believed God).
• God made a promise that his chosen people would
  inherit a Promised Land.
• God does not forget or abandon his people he
  created a deliverer for them so they could break
  free of slavery.
• God loves his people, and so gave them a law to
  create a safe society for them.

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Next
THE BIBLEINTERPRETS ITSELF
(Section 4, pg. 13 in Notes)
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EFFECTIVEBIBLE READING KEY

• The Bible Interprets Itself

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(Section 4, pg. 13 in Notes)
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Let The Bible Interpret Itself

• Looking in the Same Chapter
• Looking in the New Testament
• Looking in the Old Testament

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Looking in the Same Chapter Matthew 13

• Verses 1-9

Verses 18-23
Verses 24-30
Verses 36-43
Have you understood all these things?
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Looking in the New Testament Exodus 31-6

• Who is speaking?
• God or an Angel?

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Looking in the New Testament Exodus 31-6

• And when forty years had passed, an Angel of the
  Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a
  bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai. When
  Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight and as he
  drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came
  to him, saying, I am the God of your fathers the
  God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of
  Jacob. - Acts 730-32

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Looking in the New Testament Exodus 31-6
Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in
the way and to bring you into the place which I
have prepared. Beware of Him and obey His voice
do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your
transgressions for My name is in Him. But if
you indeed obey His voice and do all that I
speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies
and an adversary to your adversaries. For My
Angel will go before you. - Exodus 2320-23
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Looking in the Old Testament Matthew 2746
Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in
the way and to bring you into the place which I
have prepared. Beware of Him and obey His voice
do not provoke Him, for He will not pardon your
transgressions for My name is in Him. But if
you indeed obey His voice and do all that I
speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies
and an adversary to your adversaries. For My
Angel will go before you. - Exodus 2320-23
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Looking in the Old Testament Matthew 2746
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
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Matthew 2739-49

• Points to notice...

• Religious rulers mocked Jesus

• Those most familiar with the Word of God

• Eli, Eli

• Why have you forsaken me?

• Quotation leads us to Psalm 22

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Psalm 22

• Points to notice...

• Verses 7-8, 11-12 Almost exactly what the
  leaders said!

• Verse 15 I thirst.

• Verses 16-18

• Verses 30-31 It is finished!

• Verses 14-21 God did not forsake Jesus

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Some Practical Advice

• DO
• Look first to the Bible for answers to your
  questions
• Read all of the Bible to find answers to your
  questions
• Write down questions (it may be a while before
  you find an answer)

• DONT...
• Expect quick answers
• Look at isolated passages and draw conclusions

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Keys to Effective Bible Reading
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• Listen for Bible Echoes

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Let the Bible Interpret Itself
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Read Carefully
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QUESTIONS???
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NEXT WEEK...

• The Purpose of God Revealed
• Overview of Books (2)
• Why The Bible is Difficult to Read