How to Study The Bible From a New Covenant Perspective

Invitation to an Interactive Online Meeting

Looking for meaningful conversations and fresh ideas? Join us for an engaging interactive online meeting where we’ll explore impactful topics, share perspectives, and connect with others in real time.

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• Thought-provoking discussions.
• Opportunities to share your voice.
• Practical takeaways to enrich your life.

Let’s also dive into a challenge many of us face: when we meet one-on-one, we often struggle to truly share the value of those moments. Why? Because we don’t always know how to listen deeply or talk about the important things that matter most. Together, we’ll explore how to bridge that gap and make our conversations more meaningful.

When: Saturday December 13th but you know I like that it's new people I like that they open to talk you know. 2025 9 AM
Where: Online zoom praying for that

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81172198337?pwd=QjdkVmR2cWhlSEhzUVpDZnBqZC80UT09
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### ### Key Points from "How to Study the Bible" (Leadership Training Guide)

#### Core Principle
- **Spiritual Approach to Bible Study**: Emphasizes reading the Bible with the spirit, not the mind or cleverness (quote from Watchman Nee). The Bible's words are spirit-inspired and require spiritual discernment.
#### Revelation
- **Definition**: Revelation means uncovering the unknown; believers receive it via the Holy Spirit as thoughts or pictures in their spirit, conveyed to the mind. It's constant (24/7) for indwelt believers.
- **Regained Ability**: Lost after the Fall (Genesis 1:26-27), regained through faith in the Gospel. Like a blind man gaining sight and learning to use it, believers must learn to rely on spiritual "sight" over natural methods.
- **Revelation Precedes Faith**: Christianity is based on revelation. General revelation exists in creation (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20), pointing to God as Creator.
- **Sources**: Directly from Holy Spirit, Bible/Christian literature, or other believers (Body Life).
- **4 Best Practices to Accelerate Revelation**:
1. Be quiet and still before the Lord.
2. Be an active listener (revelations as internal inklings, confirmed externally; e.g., Acts 13:1-4).
3. Ask before praying/reading: "What do You want me to know, do, or see?"
4. Journal revelations and review them.
- **Warning**: Disquiet hinders revelation. Paul prayed for a spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17).
- **Q1**: Describe revelation and why these practices help (encourages personal reflection).
#### Bible Overview and Interpretation
- **Composition**: 66 books (39 OT, 27 NT), written over 1500 years (1400 BC–90 AD) by 40 authors. Paul wrote 13 NT books; Luke wrote 27.5% of NT pages.
- **Principles**: Scripture interprets itself; no contradictions; inspired by Spirit (2 Timothy 3:15-16). Sum of parts makes the whole (e.g., Hebrews' theme: new covenant better than old).
- **Covenants**:
- **Old Covenant (Law)**: Exodus 20 to Christ's crucifixion/resurrection. Achieving system (do to be accepted). 90% of Gospels under Law; Jesus' teachings often highlight inability to keep Law (e.g., Matthew 6:9-15 on forgiveness applies differently post-cross).
- **New Covenant (Grace)**: Post-resurrection to Revelation. Receiving system (blessings in Christ; Ephesians 1:3). God indwells believers; no mixing covenants (Romans 11:6 creates error).
- **Source**: Bible initiated by Spirit, not human will (2 Peter 1:20-21).
- **Translations and Resources**:
- Original: Hebrew/Aramaic (OT), Greek (NT). Translations not inspired (e.g., literal: NASB, NKJV, ESV; paraphrase: NIV, NLT, MSG).
- Study Bibles: Read Scripture first, then notes (many mix covenants—error).
- Recommendations: NASB + Amplified Bible; "Bible Knowledge Commentary"; Paul Ellis' "Grace Commentary" (online); GotQuestions.org (use for comparison, not first).
- **Q2**: Explain differences in interpretation/application: Old (Law-based, achieving, external) vs. New (Grace-based, receiving, internal union with God).
#### Ways to Read the Bible
- **Meditatively**:
- Spirit gives life; words are spirit (John 6:63).
- **Rhema vs. Logos**: Rhema = spoken word (revelation); Logos = written word/Jesus (John 1:1). Bible starts as Logos; becomes Rhema through Spirit-revealed insight.
- Meditative reading: Seek Rhema; unmeditative: Stays Logos.
- Illustration: Man misunderstanding Trinity due to Logos-only approach (lacks Spirit indwelling or seeking Rhema).
- **Inductively**:
- Systematic: Context, thought blocks, key words (original languages), observation, interpretation, application.
- Tools: Bible software for searches/cross-references (manual possible but slower).
- Overcomes intimidation (school-like); combines with Rhema for blessing.
- Steps for a section:
1. **Observation**: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How (5W's & H); repeated words (e.g., "Therefore" signals topic shift).
2. **Interpretation**: Logos to Rhema; paraphrase literally (no hidden meanings). OT types/allegories shadow NT truths (e.g., oil = Holy Spirit; Hebrews 10:1; Galatians 4:24 on Hagar/Sarah as Law/Grace).
3. **Application**: How to live Christian life (e.g., renew mind; Romans 12:1-2).
- Example: Romans 6:1-8 (observation: Paul to believers, key words "we" 10x, "sin" 5x as noun; interpretation: Believers died to sin's power; application: Why do Christians still sin? Renew mind).
- **Q3**: How Logos becomes Rhema: Through Spirit speaking to believer's spirit via revelation, regardless of method (meditative or inductive).
#### Conclusion and Homework
- Believers know God's thoughts via Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:11-13).
- **Homework**: Inductively study Romans 7:1-4 (paraphrase: Believers die to Law through Christ, joined to Him for fruit).
- **Recommended**: Inductive study of Philemon (25 verses; hints: Philemon = slave owner, Onesimus = runaway slave; refresh 2x; picture of Christ's atonement in vv. 18-19).