Here’s my take; admittedly, I give focus to the guide’s content:
1. Each guide or help or commentary will have strengths and weaknesses.
2. Picking through the strengths and the weaknesses becomes a task.
3. It is work having to evaluate everything we read or hear. We wish we could relax about this.
4. It is a worthy goal to learn from brothers and sisters with whom we do not share every word and point of doctrine.
5. Maybe these are the top areas and questions to keep in mind (as I write these, I assume the author of the guide believes the Bible is the inerrant, inspired Word of God):
a) Does the Bible Study guide or commentary show a fairly consistent approach to appreciating the unity of the Old and New Testaments? Does it show that the New fulfills the Old? The New builds off of the Old?
b) Does this appreciation for the unity of the Bible give a focus to the person and work of Jesus Christ? Does it work with the themes of God’s redemption? These themes are: God is at the center glorifying Himself—Father to Son, Son to Father, Spirit to Father and Son—by His power, wisdom and love in and with His creation and all His creatures; That His covenant and Kingdom show His rule and grace; That His Word calls for faith and trust in Him through an appointed leader, a representative (mediator); That Christ is being presented more and more from Genesis moving into the New Testament as the One who is the fulfillment of promises, hope and joy as the believer’s Mediator; That we, as believers, are bound together in Christ with privileges and responsibilities—to worship and serve as the Church; That God is the Judge over all; That the Gospel triumphs over sin, death, hell and the devil. Themes. Does the study guide help you to see themes?
c) Is there a consistent message that Jesus Christ is the way of salvation for sinners? That faith alone in Christ alone has focus? Is the study material following the doctrines of God’s grace—T.U.L.I.P.?
d) Is there a consistent reminder that believers are to live out of their spiritual union—their spiritual oneness—with Christ? Do you read or hear, “Christian, be who you are in Christ…….obey God’s commandments motivated by and supplied by the grace of God in Jesus Christ—that He is your life and strength and confidence”?
e) Is there an appreciation for the church being central as the primary form and example of God’s way of i) ruling, ii) providing for, and iii) being involved in the world? We know He is Lord over all men and things. One important way that we learn of this is through His dealings with His church. When we approach things this way, we grow in our appreciation for the local church. This is what is meant when we say that the church provides cues for the world. When the church is showing proper, faithful leadership, then the world has an example to follow. When the church is providing for and caring for one another, the world learns about providing for and caring for others. The church is a model of God’s kingdom. The church’s centrality is upheld.
f) Ethical application issues in a study guide—where am I weak? Proud? Troubled? Rebellious? Poor example? Making gains? Where is the church weak? Proud? Troubled? Rebellious? A Poor example? Making gains? Etc.
Studies and commentaries will move in and out of these points. We, as teachers and leaders, should aim to see these things in a Bible passage. When we use a study guide keeping these points in mind, we’ll be seeing more of a well-rounded approach to opening and using God’s Word.
G. Mark Sumpter
No comments:
Post a Comment