BIBLE STUDY METHODS - Book Background

In addition to our next Bible Study Method, I emphasized three very important words that are foundational to our walk with Christ: BELIEF, FOCUS, and TRUST.

We will not realize God's purpose for our lives until we first BELIEVE that His word is "alive and active", and that we will benefit greatly once we understand the importance of "dividing soul and spirit". (Hebrews 4:12)

In order to activate your BELIEF, you must FOCUS. The distractions in our modern world are numerous. If you don't BELIEVE, you will not FOCUS your priority on eliminating the many distractions that keep you from reading God's living, life-changing word. Even though you might constantly be "hearing" His word, as Jesus said, you "do not hear or understand." (Matthew 13:10)

TRUST requires us to "deny" our will in exchange for God's will. TRUST requires us to wait for God's timing and not grow impatient when the tests of life last longer than we expect. TRUST is only possible once we truly BELIEVE. Jesus often asked, "DO YOU BELIEVE?" (Matthew 9:27-28; John 9:35-38) He asked, even though He already knew. But it must have been an important question if He felt it necessary to ask. So I encourage you to ask yourself, "DO I BELIEVE?" If you truly BELIEVE God's word is important, then do what you must to FOCUS your life and illuminate the distractions that keep you separated from God's living word.

The BOOK BACKGROUND Method of Bible Study can actually be thought of as simply the BACKGROUND Method. Not only can you do a background study on a book in the Bible, you can choose a subject, person, or word to research.

In order to get the full impact of what a biblical writer is saying, it is necessary to "transport" ourselves back into the time in which he lived. Since the Bible was written in the midst of history, it can only be understood more fully in light of that history. Often a statement, word, custom, or event in another culture or time will be understood in a sense totally different from the meaning we attach to it today in our country. Most of the information you need is available through excellent research tools: a Bible dictionary and/or Bible encyclopedia; a Bible handbook; a Bible atlas. Many of these tools and more are available online or in our church library.

In step five you discover some insights from the culture that existed at the time. Here are some areas you can research while asking yourself, "how do all these things affect the message and the people about whom I am studying?"

• Types of clothing people wore
• Professions and trades in biblical times
• Music in the Bible
• Architectural styles in the Near East
• Manners and customs in Scripture
• Recreation in ancient times
• Family life in the Middle East
• Art in the Bible
• Languages and literature of surrounding nations
• Religious ceremonies in Israel and among pagan neighbors
• False religions of the area
• Weapons and tools used by the people

Some subjects to consider as you begin using the BOOK BACKGROUND Study Method are:

• The book of Philippians
• The book of Haggai
• The book of Colossians
• The book of Ruth
• Pharisees and Sadducees
• Temple worship
• The Romans in Palestine
• The life of Saul/Paul

This week we had our Summer class social at Firestone Pizza. Most of the buzz was around the  "runDisney" coming up this Winter. Almost half of the group present at dinner were planning to head south this Winter to Orlando, so I thought the appropriate background for our group picture should include a "touch of Disney".