New Identity Magazine

God in focus. World in scope.

  • About
  • Grow
    • Spotlight: In Perspective
    • Growth & Maturity
    • Foundation
    • Practical Application
    • Jargon
  • Connect
    • Community
    • Discovering God
    • God Talk
    • Life Together
  • Live
    • Give Back
    • People
    • Culture & Creativity
    • Careers & Callings
  • Back Issues
  • Write
    • Submit an Article
    • Writer’s Guidelines
    • House Style Guide
    • Content Submissions Agreement
    • Jargon Substitutions
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Contact

How Anyone Can Study The Bible

By Christopher L. Scott Leave a Comment

“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t,” said the Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon. Navigating the Christian life requires you clasp your Bible and use it for guidance in relationships, work, and spiritual life. When you study God’s word, you obey God. He told his people, “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do” (Joshua 1:8, NLT). 

Perhaps you want to know God better through his Word, but are not sure how to study the Bible. Bible study is not just for preachers; it is for everyday people. One way you can study the Bible is by following a simple three-step process. 

Observation: What does the text say?

Most Christians can’t read Greek or Hebrew, so we depend upon Bible translations by modern scholars. The translations available to us typically fall into three categories: (1) rigid translations (word-for-word) which include translations such as KJV, ESV, NASB, etc; (2) dynamic translations, which tend to be middle-of-the-road translations that try to be true to the original text while softening idioms and making them more manageable for modern readers and include such translations as the NIV and the NLT; and (3) paraphrases (which do exactly that) including the Message, the Voice, etc. A good starting point to a thorough bible study would be to read one of each of these types of translations before digging deeper. That way you can get the widest range and picture of what is actually presented in the original ancient text. 

For the three-step bible study process to begin, the first question to ask is, “What does the text say?” This is called “observation.” In his book on bible study methods, Searching the Scriptures, Chuck Swindoll writes, “Just as a knowledge of the ingredients is a prerequisite for making a delicious meal, a careful reading of the Scriptures is required for proper understanding.” In this critical first step of Bible study, you describe what you see in the text. 

I’d like to show you an example of how to make observations from even a well-known verse. Below is the verse with some of my observations.

OBSERVATION EXAMPLES: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28, NLT)

“And” is a conjunction that connects to equal parts of speech.

“God” likely is a reference to God the Father, because the Holy Spirit is mentioned in verses 26 and 27 and the Son is mentioned in verse 29. 

“Causes” is in the present tense, which means it is going on continually. It’s not something God does occasionally or just when he feels like it. It’s a constant action. 

When I was studying this verse for a sermon I recently preached at our church, I filled up an entire sheet of paper with more than 17 different observations. 

The first step of bible study is basic. You’re not trying to solve Bible mysteries or discover truths unknown to others. Nor are you trying to apply things to your life. You must discover what the text says. The goal is awareness of what is in the text, not what it means (step two) or how to apply it (step three). 

Interpretation: What does the text mean?

In this step, you go deeper in your Bible study. In the interpretative phase, you ask, “What does the text mean?” Some resources to help you better study the interpretation are 1) a Bible concordance (a list of biblical words and in which passages they occur based on the translation you are using – some study Bibles include a basic one within their pages); 2) a Bible dictionary (I prefer the New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, and again, some study Bibles also include helpful definitions in their footnotes but aren’t exhaustive); and 3) a commentary (such as the Bible Knowledge Commentary, Warren Wiersbe “BE” series, or J. Vernon McGee’s “Thru the Bible”) where other well-known or popular theologians share their deeper knowledge of their longtime study of the text. If you prefer technology to hard copy, you can purchase bible study software such as Logos (which I use) or Olive Tree. 

If you don’t have all these types of references at your fingertips right now, that’s okay too – there are also several good phone apps and other free software available online that you can access immediately such as YouVersion, Bible Gateway, or E-Sword. Some publishers also offer additional online study resources with the Bible they produce. For example, the Filament Bible offers not only a nice-looking Bible in an accessible translation (NLT), but also offers interactive features for in-depth study, supplied by the Bible Project.

Interpretation of a passage requires hard work, which is why you use a Bible study process to accurately study God’s Word. Often when we approach Scripture we jump to the question, “What does this passage say to me?” But instead, we should be asking, “What does this passage say” (observation) and then ask, “What does this massage mean to the original audience it was intended for?” And since the Spirit has been active and present in every cultural moment of the church’s history, we could also ask, “How has this passage been interpreted by the Church throughout history?”

Each person comes to a Bible passage with his own culture, language, and historical understanding. Sometimes we use these to interpret the Bible, but the hard work of bible study requires that you get rid of those things and interpret the passage by allowing it to speak for itself in its own language, cultural context, and historical background. In other words, interpretation is hard work because you are trying to to discover what the passage meant to its (original) audience 2000 years ago (even though we are reading it today). Helpful for getting more out of your interpretation is reading in context, as in not only isolating one passage in your study. Even though my example is outlining the work on a single passage of scripture, make sure to also read around each passage to gather the full breadth of what is being said and to bring out the fullest enrichment and overall meaning of the text. 

The late Howard Hendricks, who taught bible study methods at Dallas Theological Seminary, used to teach his students that, “’Meaning’ is not our subjective thoughts read into the text, but God’s objective truth read out of the text.” Having a specific Bible study method, such as the one I am describing for you in this article, helps you discover one meaning of the passage.

INTERPRETATION EXAMPLE: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28, NLT)

Through studying, we might reflect on our Triune God, i.e. the Father sent the Son, and the Son sent the Holy Spirit (John 15:26). While all three members of the Godhead are equally God and submit to each other, Jesus told us, “I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will” (John 6:38 NLT). So one interpretation is that when our life situations are worked out for good, we have God to thank for orchestrating that goodness in our lives. 

While this process may feel extensive, detailed, and difficult, you must remember that you have a helper for bible study. He’s a personal tutor, of sorts. He’s there to guide you along and to step in when you get stuck. He’s the Holy Spirit.

This is the doctrine of illumination. Illumination is the Holy Spirit’s ministry helping you understand God’s truth. The Holy Spirit was at work in you as you became a Christian and now as you seek to grow in God’s word. Shortly before Jesus died, he told the disciples, 

“There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’ (John 16:12-15, NLT)

This is how the Holy Spirit works through our lives in bible study. When we study his word, he shows us its meaning and how it applies to our lives (2 Corinthians 2:12,14). Like I said, interpretation is hard work. Because it is hard work, the Holy Spirit helps us to understand God’s truth. 

I don’t want to give the impression that we are “searching for a hidden meaning” in Scripture. Scripture is available for everyone to study and grow. However, the process of in-depth Bible study requires hard work. To open your Bible and read a passage in your devotional time is something anyone can do. But if you want to deepen your walk with God, there will be times you need to engage in a systematic study of passages of the Bible. 

Now that you have made many observations of the passage and discovered the interpretation, the final step in the Bible study process is finding an application.

Application: How do I apply the text?

The last step gets personal. “How do I apply the text to my life?” This third step is based on what you see (observation) and what the text means (interpretation). Howard Hendricks said, “Scripture was written not to fatten geese, but to train athletes and equip soldiers for the realities of life.” Good bible study ends with application. 

Find specific applications. Don’t say, “I will stop worrying.” That’s too general. Say, “When I start to worry about something, I will quote Philippians 4:6-8 and focus on God.” Here’s an example from the verse I’ve already showed you observations and an interpretation from:

APPLICATION EXAMPLE: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28, NLT)

I am going to memorize this verse so that the next time I talk to a Christian who is in a difficult situation, I can share it with her and encourage her. 

Some say bible study without application is not bible study, but we also can’t discount the potential of the Holy Spirit to shape and change us merely by our engagement with the Word of God – such as devotional reading. But what makes application so important is that it adds an element of choice and desire for growth or change on our part. This type of study is not like the years of formal education that taught you to learn what will be on the test at the end of the semester. When you study the Bible, the question you ask should not be, “God, what do I need to know for your exam?” It should be, “God, how am I supposed to live?” 

Start your Bible study process

Bible study is hard work. It requires time and focus. God chose and used Ezra to restore his people in the city of Jerusalem “because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the LORD and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel” (Ezra 7:10, NLT).

There are many things that pull for our attention. But when we direct our attention to God’s word and study it, it’s worth it. Those of you who are married, think back to when you first started dating each other. You probably looked forward to getting to know one another. You spent time together, and that’s how you developed a strong relationship. The same thing happens with Christ. When you spend time with him, you get to know him and love him more. While you can spend time in God’s creation appreciating his beauty, or with him in prayer, you can also get to know him more intimately through his Word.

Time won’t magically appear for you to study the Bible. So, wake up early in the morning and study or stay up late after everyone is asleep. Do whatever it takes to carve out time for your study.  

A child of the president of the seminary I attended told a story of how their family was staying in a motel during summer vacation. The child woke up during the night and noticed the bathroom light on. He approached the door and opened it to find his dad sitting on the edge of the bathtub in his pajamas with a pad of paper, pen, Bible, and various bible study tools laid out. Do whatever it takes to find the time to study your Bible. 

In addition to time, focus is also required for bible study. Silence your cell phone and turn off the TV. Grab a journal, pen, your Bible, a couple resources to help you study, and a cup of coffee, and focus on God and his Word. 

You can study the Bible at any time. Pastor Chuck Swindoll says, “A Bible that’s doing its job becomes well worn and well marked. Its pages begin to fray, just like a favorite family cookbook. The more we study God’s Word, the better acquainted with it we become.” 

This is one method for bible study that provides a step-by-step process that will help you learn God’s Word, guide you towards an intimate relationship with the Savior, and help change your life in the process. Wear out that Bible you have!

I opened this article with the Charles Spurgeon quote about how if it looks like your Bible is falling apart, then your life won’t. I don’t want to sound flippant or curt. I don’t want to give you a “get out of pain quick” false sense of problem solving. (We already have too many get rich quick schemes around us.) The Christian life is hard work. It’s not easy. But through regular and systematic study, you can come to know our Lord in a deeper way than you ever have before. And when you go through struggles, you can know that a strong relationship with God is there for you based on your time spent with him in his Word. 

Share with friendsShare on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Reddit
Reddit
Email to someone
email

Filed Under: Featured, Grow, Practical Application Tagged With: Issue 41

Related Posts

  • An Eye for An Eye, and a Tooth for a ToothAn Eye for An Eye, and a Tooth for a Tooth
  • Muting The Noise of the WorldMuting The Noise of the World
  • Memorable Middle EarthMemorable Middle Earth
  • God The GardenerGod The Gardener
  • Kingdom AcceptanceKingdom Acceptance
  • “ALTARING” THE BODY“ALTARING” THE BODY

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Current Issue

Current Issue

Read Now

newidentitymag

New Identity | Exploring Faith
Whether we celebrate it, run from it, long for it, Whether we celebrate it, run from it, long for it, or seek to reconfigure it entirely, most of us would agree that the family is a crucial shaping force in our lives. In family life a whole host of concerns—psychological, political, economic, emotional and religious—converge in powerful ways that affect us directly. Family life can be both filled with joy and fraught with risk. Questions of gender and gender roles are inseparable from all of this, as the family is where most people begin to associate masculinity and femininity with particular social roles. No wonder, then, that as societies have wrestled with competing ideas about what it means to be a man or a woman, the family has been a prominent topic of discussion.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Délice Williams in "Following The Leader" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
My paraphrase of the beginning of John says, “In My paraphrase of the beginning of John says, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word was light and came into the darkness but the darkness rejected the light.” In the early chapters of John, I believe the author lays down a foundation of three major themes to give them emphasis: light, belief, and new birth. These themes are separate, but they all refer to the life of Jesus and what he has done for us. We see the idea of light is introduced in John 1:4: “The life was the light of men.” John shows us from the beginning of his gospel that Jesus is God’s Son and Jesus is the light who came into the darkness. The second theme of belief is found in verse 1:12: “But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.” Those who believe that Jesus is God, leave the darkness of the world and come into the light that is Christ. Lastly, in chapter two when the water is turned into wine, this is about new birth. After believing and receiving Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us and give us new life a part of the Kingdom of God.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Delbert Teachout in "Jesus Is" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
When we think of the most influential people in th When we think of the most influential people in the Christian faith, we think of Martin Luther, John Wesley, and John Calvin. We think of Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield, and the Great Awakening. For those of us who have a broader historical view, we think of Augustine and Tertullian and Athanasius, but in our minds they are still perceived as white males instead of Africans. This confirms the cultural imperialism inherent in our understanding of Christian history. Even when we think of people born and raised on the African continent we think of them as looking similar to Europeans.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Ramon Mayo in "The Multicolored Hall of Faith" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
At the age of fifteen, I received a work permit an At the age of fifteen, I received a work permit and began applying for various part-time jobs in the small city where I lived. With every potential opportunity, I could taste freedom. There was one section, however, on each job application that seemed to mock me. “Are you available on weekends?” the form asked. Since I had grown up with a strong sense of commitment to church as a part of my Christian faith, I had a hard time reconciling a job that would schedule me to work on Sunday, the day I set aside to attend church with my family. Although I was flat out turned down from some opportunities for that reason alone, I made a decision that day to take the fourth commandment seriously and apply it to my life the best way I could.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: ERICA MONGÉ-GREER in "The 4th Commandment" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
I was told that Christian faith had to have some d I was told that Christian faith had to have some defining point in time of true conversion, the point at which baptism happens, yet this singularity did not exist in my own life.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @sclimk in "How To Change Your Mind" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
I don’t know about you but all the English gramm I don’t know about you but all the English grammar that I learned in elementary school has leaked out of my brain. The English language is so complex. Some words in English can be verbs and nouns. Take for instance the word sleep. You can sleep the night away and someone can ask you if you have had a good sleep. It can be a verb, a word describing an action; or a noun, a word describing a person, place, thing, or idea. Another instance of a verb and a noun is the word study. You can study for a test and you can do it in the library or in your own personal study. One of the most important words in the Bible that functions as a verb and a noun is sin. Sin is both a verb and a noun; an action as well as a condition.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Ramon Mayo in "What Is Sin?" | Continue reading at newidentitymag.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"Living in the will of God is the safest place on "Living in the will of God is the safest place on earth." –Kelli Ward⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Kelli Ward in "What Does It Mean To Store Treasures In Heaven?" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
Personally, I believe value is connected to identi Personally, I believe value is connected to identity. You need to know who you are. I really believe that you really don’t know who you are, until you know who Jesus is. Jesus said if you lose your life, you find it (Matt. 10). I never quite understood that growing up, but I have come to realize that if you lose yourself in Jesus and keep a clear perspective of who he is, you won’t ever forget who you are.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @israelledesma in "Grace Like An Avalanche" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
“For the growing good of the world is partly dep “For the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.” –George Eliot⁠
📓⁠
It happens all the time. We’re going about our lives, our work, our play, our families and our friendships, and then it hits us. It’s a product of what we hear, what we see, and sometimes even what we do ourselves. It’s a feeling that something’s not quite right with the world, a feeling that makes us uncomfortable with what was done or what was said. And the urge to respond, to resist or to repair that bad thing that has happened, begins to rise up in us. What then do we do? Here we see a wide divergence of behavior: some choose to ignore the feeling because they’re too busy to deal with the situation, some choose to stuff it back down because they doubt their ability to be able to make a difference, even if they did choose to act, some are afraid of what the consequences might be to their resistance, and some are so accustomed to the broken state of the world they live in that their capacity to respond has withered dangerously close to the point of apathy. But there are also some who choose to act - and as author George Eliot suggests, we owe an immeasurable debt to their courage.⁠
⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @slimkeman in "A Hidden Life" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
As we enter springtime, let’s rejoice in and giv As we enter springtime, let’s rejoice in and give thanks for the glorious resurrection of which springtime reminds us. Jesus’ resurrection is not just ancient history; it is played out day by day in Creation and in our very lives. When we see cherry trees blossoming, crocuses and tulips sprouting from the ground, and birds beginning to sing again, we can choose to face the future with joy because we know these beautiful sights are just dim reflections of the renewed world to come.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Bethany Cummins @bethany_kathleen in "Choosing Spring" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
Many Christians talk about being called. Whether i Many Christians talk about being called. Whether it’s to this ministry or to that particular church, many use the word “calling” to state their certainty in making decisions. In fact, it no longer is a decision when someone says they have been “called” to something. It means that something or someone external to them has summoned them to make a decision. In some ways it can be used to justify irrational and unwise choices. Some have stated they were called to be a missionary in another country when they haven’t lead anyone to know Christ in their home country. Others use their “calling” as a way to justify verbally assaulting and bullying others under the guise of their prophetic calling. After all, it can’t be wrong if God called you to it. But God never calls us to violate scripture, the wisdom of the community, and his character. Violating any one of those things should give us reason to pause and if we violate all of them we can be sure that it is not God. What does it mean to be called? Who is doing the calling? Is it an audible voice that is heard or is it an internal feeling?⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Ramon Mayo in "What Does It Mean To Have A Calling?" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
There’s a very popular book called "The 7 Mounta There’s a very popular book called "The 7 Mountains of Influence" by Bronwyn O’Brien. The message of the book is that in order to change the world, there are seven mountains of influence that God wants to permeate: Arts & Entertainment, Business, Education, Family, Government, Media, and Religion. The main idea here is that each one of us is called to a specific mountain, or several of these specific mountains, to bring influence. The idea I believe God wants us to get is that the passions we carry, even the one’s we’ve thought are worldly or not Godly, often times are Godly. If you have a passion to be a professional basketball player, a stay at home mom, or the world’s greatest plumber, these are all passions God has very likely placed within you to walk out. The things that bring you joy and bring life, even if they’re outside of the church, are many times the Lord’s doing. God hasn’t called everyone to serve in the church or stand behind a pulpit. God has called us all to be ministers in every sphere of influence for his glory and kingdom! Understand that you are called to a specific mountain of influence, so the question isn’t whether or not what you’re passionate about is of God; the question is, how can I use this passion I have for God?⁠
⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Nicholas Sowell in "Mountains of Impact" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
Happy Easter! We hope your day is filled with hope Happy Easter! We hope your day is filled with hope and sunshine!
📖⁠ But on the first day of the week, at early 📖⁠
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened. [Luke 24:1-12] For the full story on what happened the rest of the day, read in full Luke 24:1-53.⁠
💬⁠ Known as the “Great Sabbath,” Holy Sat 💬⁠
Known as the “Great Sabbath,” Holy Saturday is considered a day of silence that points to how Christ “rested” physically in the tomb. Churches that have services on Holy Saturday often keep their worship gatherings simple and bare, encouraging participants to rest in anticipation for Easter.⁠
⁠
On Holy Saturday, taking a moment to pray and reflect on Jesus’ death is a practical way to remember God’s work. How does Jesus’ death affect you? What does his death mean for you, both personally and for the church? How might you respond to Jesus’ death? What areas of your life do you feel most affected by Jesus’ sacrificial death?⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @lukegeraty from “Elevating Easter”⁠ | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
"Even though I was only in high school, I still th "Even though I was only in high school, I still thought about things like eternity. I thought about death. I thought about the meaning of life and all of this stuff. I just didn’t know where to put that or how to answer any of those questions. Walking into Young Life and hearing the gospel gave me a context for that and made a ton of sense."⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: Tyler Weaver as interviewed by Ben Helms in "No Cookie-Cutter Christian" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
📖⁠ After this, Jesus, knowing that all was no 📖⁠
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. [John 19:28-30 ESV] For the full story of what led up to the death of Jesus, read John 18:2-19:42.⁠
Judah was outraged when he heard ⁠ Tamar, the wi Judah was outraged when he heard ⁠
Tamar, the widow of his deceased son, had become pregnant because of prostitution. He demanded, “Bring her out, and let her be burned!” (Gen. 38:24, NLT). What a shame to their family name! What an embarrassment for her! But this story exposes Judah’s poor character, not Tamar’s. ⁠
📖⁠
Judah’s firstborn son was Er who married Tamar, but Er died. So Judah had his second-born son, Onan, marry Tamar, as was customary to continue the family name and keep their land secure. But Onan died too (Gen. 38:3-10). Judah’s only living son was too young to marry Tamar, so Judah told Tamar to go live with her parents and remain a widow until his youngest son, Shelah, could marry Tamar. Although “Judah didn’t really intend to do this because he was afraid Shelah would also die, like his two brothers” (Gen. 38:11). ⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: @the_christopherscott in "Cultivating Good Character" | Continue reading at newidentitymag.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
📖⁠ Then Jesus went with them to a place calle 📖⁠
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” [Matthew 26:36-46 ESV] For more of these eventful 24-hours for Jesus, read Matthew 26:17-46.⁠
The crux of the Christian faith is found in Easter The crux of the Christian faith is found in Easter. It is the story of a man called Jesus, who was killed by being hung on a cross, and then three days later rose from the dead. The Bible says in John 3:16 that because of this act of love, those who believe it will be given eternal life.⁠
⛪⁠
Easter is a holiday celebrated in many shops and restaurants as being all about colourful bunnies, chicks, eggs and lots of chocolate and candy. But for those who look a little deeper it is laden with symbolism that can help you focus on what Easter is really all about: thanking Jesus for changing our lives forever.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
.⁠
✍🏽: WENDY VAN EYCK in "9 Ways To Make Easter More Meaningful" | Continue reading at newidentitymagazine.com⁠ by visiting the link in our bio and tapping on the image.⁠
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Subscribe

More Articles

SURFING AND SERVING IN PANAMA

It all started with a revelation, a vision that exceeded the previous capacity of my heart. I sat on my board, waist high in water, facing the horizon as the sun … [Read More...]

SHOULD WE QUESTION GOD?

We may have heard that we should not question God because questioning may cause our faith to weaken. I have heard someone say we should never end a prayer with words … [Read More...]

SACRIFICIAL LOVE

Sacrificial love in any relationship, be it with a parent, sibling, spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, or or friend means loving the other person with good intentions, … [Read More...]

Copyright © 2021 New Identity Magazine. All Rights Reserved · Log in