Studying your bible - Part 2

Studying your bible - Part 2

Context is everything

“I don’t read the Old Testament because I don’t understand it” – Many believers today

2 Timothy 2:15

Psalm 14 clearly states ­“_____THERE IS NO GOD______ “

The context is important, as this is not what it means. Read the whole verse in context to understand the truth.

The big picture – Dispensations (Ephesians 3:2)

This is one way to chop up the Bible.  You can also do it by Covenants or many other divisions, for example the New Testament can be divided into the early church and letters to the Jews, then the gentile church and the Pauline letters.

James 1:1 was written to the _______JEWS_________ .

Ephesians 2:11 – 15 - God never changes but how he deals with us does.

• The dispensation of _____INNOCENCE_________________________ (Genesis 1:1 – 3:5)
• The dispensation of _____CONSCIENCE________________________ (Genesis 3:6 – 8)
• The dispensation of _____HUMAN GOVERNMENT________________ (Genesis 9 – 11)
• The dispensation of _____THE PATRIARCHS_____________________ (Genesis 12 – 50)
• The dispensation of _____THE LAW________________ (Exodus – End of the Gospels)
• The dispensation of _____GRACE__________________ (End of the Gospels – Revelation 19)
• The dispensation of _____THE MILLENNIUM_____________________ (Revelation 20 – 22)

Homework

1.       Pray

2.       Read the book or chapter from last week 5 times.

3.       Answer these simple questions:

a.       How does this fit into the bigger picture of the whole book?

b.      Who is the book written to?

c.       What is the author’s relationship to them?

d.      What are the major points of the chapter?

e.      Are there any repeated words or phrases?

f.        What is the most important verse in the chapter, and why?