2 Timothy 2:15 (King James Version)
15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
There is a bit of teasing in our community about our study of the Bible. There is an understanding in our 5th Sunday group, which consists of five area churches, that “those folks from the Tabernacle” will have dissected and cross referenced the Word carefully before our 5th Sunday morning meeting.
It delighted me to find a word that described the joy with which we approach our daily study of God’s word.
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia:
exegesis
Scholarly interpretation of religious texts, using linguistic, historical, and other methods. In Judaism and Christianity, it has been used extensively in the study of the Bible.
Textual criticism tries to establish the accuracy of biblical texts.
Philological criticism deals with grammar, vocabulary, and style in pursuit of faithful translation.
Literary criticism classifies texts according to style and attempts to establish authorship, date, and audience.
Tradition criticism seeks the sources of biblical materials and traces their development.
Redaction criticism examines the way pieces of the tradition have been assembled into a literary composition by editors.
Form criticism studies the way narratives are shaped by the cultures that produce them.
Historical criticism looks at a text's historical context. (emphasis added)
Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/exegesis#ixzz1CbjAPUZa
Monday night study, our time of refueling, is a time of looking at a passage from several translations. It is a time of studying the who, when, to whom and why of a scripture. Monday night is a time of seeking application of the Word to our lives.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (Contemporary English Version)
11Christ chose some of us to be apostles, prophets, missionaries, pastors, and teachers,
12so that his people would learn to serve and his body would grow strong.
13This will continue until we are united by our faith and by our understanding of the Son of God. Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him.
God has blessed us with a teacher whose prayer for the ability to “make it plain” is answered over and over again. She is gifted with an understanding of the importance of presenting the Word in a way that all in the church can grasp.
The Greek word "didaskolos" ("teacher") is used of Jesus Himself. Nicodemus recognized that Jesus was "a teacher come from God" (John 3:2). Any Bible class teacher of any age ought to seriously study the teaching message, methods, and attitude of Jesus. As He is in every other aspect of life, Jesus is certainly the pattern to follow in teaching. http://www.ugcoc.org/Church/role_of_bible_class_teachers.htm
In our regular service this past Sunday we studied one of the parables that Jesus presented to His disciples as described in the book of Luke. It was a great reminder to me of the most frequently recorded style of our Master, His way of using every day events to convey spiritual principles.
It was a long time coming. It meant going to many churches before I found my fit, a place where I, personally, could get something out of the teaching, where I could understand that God’s Word applied to me. Oh, but it was worth the search. It was worth it to find a true renewing of my mind and an insatiable hunger to be in the presence of God through His Word.
I notice that the scripture does not say that God chose some to sit on the sidelines with their hands folded. Every one of us can make a contribution to the building of His Kingdom. We must diligently search for our place in the Body.
I thank God for this work. I thank God for the support and encouragement of my Church family. I thank God for being the center of my life.
I encourage everyone to find that work which is made for your hands and know the joy available to those who fully experience the companionship of the Holy Spirit, our Comforter.
May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!
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