Author: Holly Stoner

Simple Tips on How to Study the Bible

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1–2 minutes

Today’s post is late and not looking at scripture but how to study it. I’ve been dealing with an illness for myself and my 15 year old cat (2 different things) so I haven’t been able to focus enough on my notes and current Bible study to get a post written but I wanted to get something out today. I did some blog maintenance as well. If you’re a repeat reader, thank you so much for coming back. If you like what you’re seeing can you please share this blog with others? My homeschool portion of the blog, according to my analytics, remains to be the most popular and that is expected because it was out there a lot longer until I shifted gears and also I knew blogging about the Bible would probably not be as popular but it is something I felt I was supposed to do.

I’m not a theologian, I didn’t go to seminary, so I guess I’m not what you call an “expert”, if there is any such thing when reading scripture. However, I can read, I like to study, research, learn and truth matters to me as does getting the true gospel message out there without the confusion, mis-interpretations, and mis-handling of scripture. I may not get everything right and you may not agree, but my goal is for you to dig deeper into your own studies and focus on what the Bible says, in context, and not what people, including me, tell you it says.

It’s my opinion the Bible is not really hard to read but people make it hard by adding a whole lot of things to it that it doesn’t actually say. God is not a God of confusion and wouldn’t give us something that we need “experts” to help us understand. Be careful about the “experts” you choose to listen to. Pay attention to how they are using scripture for a specific topic or narrative. Don’t be deceived. Search the scripture for the truth in context.

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Studying “The Good Samaritan”

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Let’s look at this parable told by Jesus today. What was he saying? How can we apply this? What is the deeper meaning, if there is one? Read Luke 10:25-37. This parable starts out with a man described as being an expert in the law (religious law this would mean) asking Jesus what he must do to obtain eternal life. Jesus asked this man to tell him what the law says and the man replied with,“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus tells him that he is correct. But then the man asks Jesus to tell him who a “neighbor” is. The motive behind these questions is not clear in the text but we see it read, “to justify himself” which could indicate selfish reasons. Jesus answered him with a parable about a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and encountered robbers who robbed him, beat him and left him for dead.

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Studying “The Rich Man”

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Luke 16:19-31 Read the passage

This passage of scripture Jesus is telling the parable of the rich man and a man named Lazarus (this is not the Lazarus he rose from the dead). This Lazarus is described as a poor man covered with sores, compared to the rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen (purple symbolized royalty or wealth). Both men died in this parable but Lazarus was said to have gone to Abraham’s side, a place of comfort, while the rich man went to Hades, a place of torment. So why did these 2 men go to different places and what are these 2 different places? What was the reason Jesus told this parable?

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What is Worship?

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You have gotten up early, you got dressed, you drove the distance, even if it was snowing, and you walked into the building. You were either ushered to a seat or found your own. The musicians are on the stage and than the worship leader asks you to stand for worship. This is probably what 80 percent of Christians today think worship is. To worship for most who attend church means singing, whether that is classic hymns or more modern contemporary tunes. But is that really what worship is or can it be something else? What does it mean to worship? Who are we worshipping? Is there a rule or command that tells us how? Does it matter if it’s public or private? Is there a scripture about worship?

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Digging Deeper – Calvary

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1–2 minutes

When you read the account of Jesus’ death on the cross at Calvary (Golgotha), are you seeing the whole picture? Many people don’t. They see one thing happen there and that one thing is Jesus’ death, but is there more? What about his death? So many people can tell you he died there but they really don’t know the significance or anything outside the fact that he died hanging on a cross. What about the other 2 men who were also there hanging to their deaths? Do they have any significance? It wasn’t an accident or just by chance that they were there, I can tell you that. God always has a plan. Nothing that is done is by accident or just by chance because God is in control of all things and everything is significant. Do we see it? Do we make this scene about us? Is it? What does it say about God? Let’s look at it together. First you need to read the scripture so you know what is being discussed. You can read the account in several places and we are only focusing on the day of the crucifixion but please read the events leading up to it and after (his burial and resurrection). I suggest reading all 4 passages.

  • Matthew 27:32-56
  • Mark 15:20-41
  • Luke 23:32-49
  • John 19:16-37
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