Introduction

• II Timothy 2:2
• Ephesians 4:11-12
• Each and every Christian needs to be studying the Bible on a regular basis!

What are you curious about?

• Make a list: “Things I’m curious about.”
  • Acts 17:30
  • Acts 13:47
  • Pick the most interesting thing on the list and study that!

Do some simple study

• Find all the relevant passages.
  • Example: The Lord’s Supper
    • Matthew 26:26-29
• Read!
• Compare translations.
  • What does the phrase “drink ye all of it” mean? Comparing translations shows that Jesus meant for all of those gathered to drink of the grape juice. It did not mean for them to drink all of the grape juice.
• Read the context.
• Consider the original meaning.
  • Matthew 26:27 – “fruit of the vine”?
• Account for figurative language.
  • Is it literally Jesus’ blood? Matthew 26:28-29. Jesus was using a metaphor.
• Check fallible sources for passages and ideas.
  • Don’t do this before reading the passages yourself first!
  • Acts 19:1-7; 18:24-28 – Apollos taught an incomplete message at first.
  • Acts 17:1-3
  • Are people proving their points from the passages?
  • Don’t look for the “church of Christ position”!
    • Matthew 15:2; 19:3-9 – Jesus directs the Pharisees back to the text when they try to figure out what doctrinal camp He is in.
• Harmonize all the passages into a conclusion.
• Repent and change yourself as needed.
  • Luke 6:46
• Save your notes.
  • Set up your own filing system, either on paper or digitally, so that you can find your notes again later.
  • Editor’s note: Consider a Zettelkasten system like Obsidian if taking notes digitally.

Conclusion

• II Timothy 2:15

Compliment someone

• Bible connection
  • Luke 6:43-45
  • Romans 12:9
  • Matthew 12:34-35
  • James 1:26
  • Ephesians 4:29
  • Hebrews 3:13
  • Hebrews 10:24-25
  • Complimenting others exhorts and encourages others. It takes the spotlight off us.
  • Luke 19:6 – The example of Zaccheus.
  • John 4:29 – The example of the Samaritan woman at the well.
  • Hebrews 13:1
  • Matthew 12:36
• Why is this hard?
• Why is it hard to accept a compliment?
• How can we improve on giving compliments, exhortation, and encouragement?
  • Golden Rule: Treat other people the way you would like to be treated.
  • Show interest in other people’s interests.
  • Philippians 4:8 – If we focus on positive things like this, complimenting others is so much easier.

• Ephesians 2:5, 8-9 – Does grace mean we have no role in salvation? Faith clearly has a role in salvation. God provides salvation through His grace, but it is on us to receive it.
• John 3:16; 8:24; Acts 16:31; Romans 3:21 – What faith does for the believer.

Faith alone is not sufficient

• Romans 10:9-10
• If salvation is dependent on confession, confession is not a “work” because we know that works don’t save us (Ephesians 2:8-9)!
• Acts 2:37-38 – Peter didn’t tell them to do nothing because they had already been saved. Acts 3:19-20
• Mark 16:15-16 – Belief and baptism are both equally required for salvation.
• Isaiah 59:16 – God’s own arm provided salvation, but we may accept it.
• Acts 9:18; 22:16 – Saul had been repenting and fasting for three days, but was not forgiven of his sins until he was baptized.

• Titus 3:5
• Ephesians 5:26 – This may also be a reference to baptism, indicating that baptism is a work of Jesus.
• Ephesians 2:10

Mediator

• I Timothy 2:5
• Mediator – one who goes between two parties to reconcile them.
• Hebrews 8:13
• Moses was mediator of the Old Covenant. God spoke to man through Moses. Through Moses, people could approach God. Moses made this communication possible.
• Jesus is the mediator of the New Covenant. Jesus makes it possible for man to approach God.
• We must be careful not to equate the mediator with the intercessor. Jesus on earth was a mediator – not intercessor.
• Hebrews 8:4

Sacrifice

• Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:22
• Hebrews 10:1-10
• II Corinthians 5:21 – Jesus did not take on the guilt of our sins. He became the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus knew no sin.

High priest

• Leviticus 16:12-34 – The high priest was to offer the blood sacrifice at the mercy seat of God and make intercession before God.
• Hebrews 7:24-25 – Jesus is our high priest.
• Hebrews 9:24-28
• Romans 8:27, 34, 26

Savior

• Matthew 1:21; Luke 19:10; Titus 2:12-14
• Matthew 11:28-30

Judge

• Jesus is going to be our judge!
• II Corinthians 5:10; Acts 17:31; Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 6:46; I John 1:8-10