We are in a series called “Sword Sharpening” and looking at how to make the most out of your time with the Bible. This week, we will look at how His Story fits into history. We will also talk about how we deal with Bible verses that seem a little difficult. As you take time to read through the Bible, you will find some passages and verses that are not always easy to deal with. Can we just take the parts of the Bible we like or agree with and ignore the more difficult parts? Another thing to consider is how to handle these verses in a way that is loving.
I said a few weeks ago that one of the things that should be happening as we dig into the Bible is that we become more loving people. We talked about this and we looked at an encounter where Jesus was asked by an expert in the law, “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law”? This was Jesus answer:
Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Bible reading and studying should help us realize how much we are loved, making us more loving. What does it look like to love well in the face of a difficult Bible verse?
This week we will be considering some verses like these:
John 14:6 (NIV)
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV)
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,
Acts 4:11–12 (NIV)
11 Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
For a Christian, these passages are not all that difficult. But what about people who are not Christians?
I believe we can gain some insight into these verses as we look at how His Story fits into history. I will be introducing you to this flowchart on the weekend.
Make plans to join us in-person or online!
Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.
