Category: Bible Study Helps

Bible study is the personal or communal study of the Scriptures, usually with a focus on the practical implications for contemporary living the Christian devotion.

The “Jesus Focus” in the Book of Matthew

Reading The Bible Through The Jesus Lens in Matthew

“From Biblical Book to Biblical Hook”

Charts adapted from Dr. Michael Williams Book

Title for Matthew

Matthew: Theme

Matthew 28:18-20

“Torah Fulfillment”

Jesus is the new Moses who reinterprets Torah.

 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Christ-Focus in Matthew

Implications from Matthew

Hooks from Matthew

Jesus fulfills the Torah of Moses.

 “Do you think that I have come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

  Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

 – Matthew 5:17-20

Our Faith in Christ satisfies the demands of the Torah.

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.

But the righteousness based on faith says,

“Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) or

“Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say?

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

 – Romans 10:4-13

Are you a good person?

 What is good?

 Do you describe “good” in terms of actions or of being?

 Can someone do enough good things to compensate for not being good?

 How good is good enough?

 What is the standard?

 Is it possible for you to meet you of God’s standards?

 What is the goal of the standards?

 How is that goal accomplished in Christ?

 Is there any use for the law of God in a Christian’s life today?

 Why might Jesus command his disciples “to obey everything I have commanded you?

 

The “Jesus Focus” in the Book of Malachi

Reading The Bible Through The Jesus Lens in Malachi

“From Biblical Book to Biblical Hook”

Charts adapted from Dr. Michael Williams Book

Title for Malachi

Malachi: Theme

Malachi 3:7

“Honor God”

When he comes to judge, God will spare those who honor Him.

 “Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty.

Christ-Focus in Malachi

Implications from Malachi

Hooks from Malachi

The Father honors Jesus, who honored him with faithful service.

 “who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.

 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.

 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.

 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later

 But Christ is faithful in all God’s house as a son.  And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.”

 – Hebrews 3:2-6

By the power of the Spirit of Christ, we must strive to honor God with our lives.

 “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”

 – John 12:26

 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

 – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Does your life bring honor to God?

 Have you allowed the demands of your immediate circumstances to crowd out the joys and responsibilities of a God-centered life?

 What is the ultimate end of a life focused on something other than God?

 What one thing could you do right now in your present circumstances to honor God?

 What is keeping you from doing it?

 Where can you find the strength to do it?

 

 

The “Jesus Focus” in the Book of Zechariah

Reading The Bible Through The Jesus Lens in Zechariah

“From Biblical Book to Biblical Hook”

Charts adapted from Dr. Michael Williams Book

Title for Zechariah

Zechariah: Theme

Zechariah 1:16

“Temple Building”

God uses apocalyptic, eschatological imagery to encourage his people to complete the rebuilding of the temple.

 This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,” declares the LORD Almighty.

Christ-Focus in Zechariah

Implications from Zechariah

Hooks from Zechariah

Jesus is the ultimate temple in which God’s presence dwells with his people.

 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

 Jesus answered them,

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

 – John 1:14, 2:19

We join in the building of God’s new temple as we seek to expand the church by the Spirit’s power.

 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”

 – 1 Corinthians 3:16

In the building of God’s new temple, are you more a craftsman builder or a construction-site golfer?

 Do you ever recognize that you are on God’s construction crew, building a glorious temple whose building site is the whole earth?

 What kind of building materials should we use for this new temple?

 Where do we get them?

 

The “Jesus Focus” in the Book of Haggai

Reading The Bible Through The Jesus Lens in Haggai

“From Biblical Book to Biblical Hook”

Charts adapted from Dr. Michael Williams Book

Title for Haggai

Haggai: Theme

Haggai 1:8

“Priority of God”

God directs his people to give priority to him and his house, and so to be blessed.

 “Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD.”

Christ-Focus in Haggai

Implications from Haggai

Hooks from Haggai

Jesus’ food was to do God’s will and finish his work.

 Jesus said to them,

“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”

 – John 4:34

We can be confident that we will be blessed if we seek to serve God as our first priority.

 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

 – Matthew 6:33

If you had only one day left to live, what would you do?

What does your answer tell you about where your priorities lie?

 Do you believe that real fulfillment in life comes from doing what God wants you to do or what you want to do?

 What does the Bible say God wants you to do?

 How would someone else see that God is the first priority in your life?

 If someone followed you around followed you around during the course of your day, would your actions make it clear to that person that you placed priority on honoring God?

 Or would that person see no real difference between what your actions showed that you valued and what unbelievers’ actions did?

What specific changes could you make in your life so that you could be more actively engaged in building the Lord’s house?

 

The “Jesus Focus” in the Book of Zephaniah

Reading The Bible Through The Jesus Lens in Zephaniah

“From Biblical Book to Biblical Hook”

Charts adapted from Dr. Michael Williams Book

Title for Zephaniah

Zephaniah: Theme

Zephaniah 2:3

“Coming Judgment”

God announces to Judah the approaching day of the Lord.

 “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.”

Christ-Focus in Zephaniah

Implications from Zephaniah

Hooks from Zephaniah

The Son of Man is coming to judge.

 “because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

 – Acts 17:31

Let’s encourage one another to live in the light of Christ’s imminent return.

 “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.”

 – 1John 2:28

Do you look forward to the Lord’s return, or do you fear it?

 What might be causing fear?

 Do you want God to remove sin from the world, or would you like to play with it a little longer?

 What makes sinful behavior attractive to you?

 In what will you take confidence on the coming day of judgment?

 How is your relationship with Christ?

 Is it growing deeper or are you growing apart?

 What is causing this?

Book Review: Loving the Way Jesus Loves by Phil Ryken

Jesus’ Loves Like No One Else – Perfectly! 

One of the biggest battles that we all face (if we are honest with ourselves) is that we are incurably selfish, self-absorbed, and idolatrous at the very core of our hearts. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he addresses this core reality that leads to all the problems or symptoms affecting the church due to this foundational problem – a lack of love for God and for one another. Phil Ryken has written a very convicting, and yet practically helpful book that exegetes from the context of 1 Corinthians 13 (Biblical Exegesis) but also walks you through the Gospels (giving a Biblical theology of love) and demonstrates how Jesus exemplifies the genuine love that is being described in Corinthians.

The reason that this book and applying this book and the Bible is so challenging is captured well by Ryken mid-way through the book where he writes:

“Unfortunately, many of our attitudes and actions are exactly the opposite of what they ought to be, and as a result, our hearts are constricted. This is one of the reasons why 1 Corinthians 13 is such a challenge for us. All of the things it tells us that love does are almost impossible for us to do, whereas all of the things it tells us that love never does are things we do all the time. This is because we love ourselves more than we love other people or even God.”

Ryken brilliantly and helpfully shows how Jesus does what we can’t do – love perfectly like Him. He shows how each aspect of love in 1 Corinthians 13 (e.g., patience, kindness, not envious, etc.,) is modeled from the Gospels in the life, death, resurrection, and future coming of Christ and how we can be receivers and reciprocators of this kind of love. Though the book is very convicting, it is also very encouraging because it demonstrates that in the gospel – even when we fail to love like Him – he never fails to love us in the deep ways described in 1 Corinthians 13.

I highly recommend this book in order to come to a deeper understanding of godly love, Christ’s love for us, and how to grow more in your love for God and others. Ryken has given us a Biblical Theology of love manifested in Christ, and reiterated in Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth – something we desperately need to apply in today’s church as well. One of the great features of the book is that it contains a very thorough study guide in the back of the book for discipleship or small group discussion.

*I received a free copy of this book by Crossway Publishers and was not required to write a positive review.

The “Jesus Focus” in the Book of Habakkuk

Reading The Bible Through The Jesus Lens in Habakkuk

 “From Biblical Book to Biblical Hook”

Charts adapted from Dr. Michael Williams Book

Title for Habakkuk

Habakkuk: Theme

Habakkuk 3:19

“Comfort in God”

God is my only comfort in life and in death in a world of seemingly unchecked evil.

 “God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.”

Christ-Focus in Habakkuk

Implications from Habakkuk

Hooks from Habakkuk

Jesus offers true comfort and rest to those who come to him.

 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 – Matthew 11:28-30

In any trouble, we may find comfort in God and in his care for us.

“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

 – 1 Peter 5:7

When things go wrong, where do you turn for comfort?

 What are the amazing things God has done for his people, and for you, in the past?

 Does God change?

 Do you really believe that God knows what he is doing?

 Do you believe that you know best?

 Are you able to believe in God’s power and wisdom when things don’t go as you want?

The “Jesus Focus” in the Book of Nahum

Reading The Bible Through The Jesus Lens in Nahum

“From Biblical Book to Biblical Hook”

Charts adapted from Dr. Michael Williams Book

Title for Nahum

Nahum: Theme

Nahum 1:7-8

“Judge of All”

The Lord is sovereign over all and will judge Ninevah.

 “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. But with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.”

Christ-Focus in Nahum

Implications from Nahum

Hooks from Nahum

God has raised up Jesus to be the righteous Judge of the living and the dead.

 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem, They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

 – Acts 10:39-43

 

 

The righteous Judge bore our judgment himself, so that we are free to serve him without fear.

 “For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”

 – 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

Why should God not judge is for our offenses against him?

 Has God dismissed our sins through faith in Christ, or has he judged our sins through our faith in Christ?

 How are Nineveh’s sins like ours before we are Christians?

 What are the opposites of Nineveh’s sins that we can see in the life of our Lord and, hopefully, increasingly in our own lives?

 Who ultimately calls the shots in our lives?

 Is our professed submission to God observable in our treatment of others?

 Do we rely on God’s strength or our own?

 How might the way we are living as Christians indicate how we regard the return of the one who will judge the living and the dead?

The “Jesus Focus” in the Book of Micah

Reading The Bible Through The Jesus Lens in Micah

“From Biblical Book to Biblical Hook”

Charts adapted from Dr. Michael Williams Book

Title for Micah

Micah: Theme

Micah 7:18

“Justice and Mercy”

God will punish his rebellious people, but promises future salvation.

 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.

Christ-Focus in Micah

Implications from Micah

Hooks from Micah

Jesus bears our judgment so that we can experience God’s mercy.

 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit”

 – 1 Peter 3:18

 

 

 

Christ died for us so that by his Spirit we may live for him, practicing justice and mercy.

 And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard Christ according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the unrighteousness of God.”

           – 2 Corinthians 5:15-21

Are you carrying around a load of guilt?

 Are you afraid of God’s justice?

 Do you feel unworthy of God’s mercy?

 Are you unwilling to let Jesus be your representative in matters of divine justice and mercy? Why?

 What is the motivation for your life, fear or gratitude?

 Where do you look to see what real justice and mercy look life?

 How do you let the Spirit guide you in the exercise of justice and mercy?

The “Jesus Focus” in the Book of Jonah

Reading The Bible Through The Jesus Lens in Jonah

“From Biblical Book to Biblical Hook”

Charts adapted from Dr. Michael Williams Book

Title for Jonah

Jonah: Theme

Jonah 4:2

“Extended Compassion”

The Sovereign Lord’s compassion extends beyond Israel.

 And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.”

Christ-Focus in Jonah

Implications from Jonah

Hooks from Jonah

Jesus is the good shepherd, who gathers his sheep near and far.

 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.”

 – John 10:14-17

Let us clothe ourselves with the compassion of Christ as we spread his good news to those near and far.

 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

 – Colossians 3:12-17

What does your life say about God’s compassion?

 Do you put limits on the exercise of compassion?

 What should God’s compassion look like in your circumstances?

 Like Jonah, do you, at times, run away from your responsibility to communicate divine compassion?

 Do you push yourself to extend to those who are different from you (perhaps even hostile to you) the good news of the compassion of God in Jesus Christ?

 To whom do you have the most difficulty showing compassion?

 Why might this be so?