Inductive Bible Study #1

A fellow blogger, Kristen, has a blog strictly for Bible study and all things spiritual.  She gave all of her readers a challenge to be involved in this inductive Bible Studying.  The instructions are here and the more the merrier!!  This is the first one that I have ever done and I enjoyed it.  I am a little late on posting mine, but hopefully it will be ok.  Here is Kristen's and here are all of the other links she has.

So, without further ado...

This is the scripture this week:
                                                                                       

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.  As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."

II Timothy 4:1-8

My Paraphrase:

I come to you on behalf of God

and Christ, who is the judge of all 

Through them preach the word; 

always be ready to confirm your  

faith, be harsh when needed, and 

lift up and praise others around 

you.  Remember to be patient with 

people because there will be a 

time when they will not listen. 

They will want to have "feel 

good" faith.  But you stay focused 

and keep your eye on the prize. 

I have offered my life to the Lord

and my time is almost over.  I

have suffered for the Lord, fought

for the Lord, and kept the faith

through it all.  That is why I have

a home with the Lord.  However,

there is enough room for more

and if you do all of these things

you too will be loved by Him.

My thoughts:

I love how Paul has such a strong introduction "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:" and then simply says "preach the word."  It seems like such a simple thing to do, but then he goes on to say...Be ready in season and out of season.  That means so much more to me right now living in a Muslim country because we are NEVER allowed to approach them and talk to them (it's against the law), but if they ask questions then we are allowed to answer.  So, that's like almost having one shot.  If they ask you have to ready to answer and you never know when they will ask.

In verse 3 my bible relates the word "sound" to the word "healthy."  This makes me think of a diet.  These people have already heard the truth, but because they desire their own passions they are turning from the faith.  Just like a person knows that fries aren't good for them will still eat them because they taste good.

When you are reading these passages it seems so easy to preach the Word, but when you look back on Paul's life it was anything but easy.  To run a race you have to be in shape, have endurance, and follow the path.  Just like spiritually...we have to be in shape to answer questions at all times and have the endurance to continue on the right.

Paul is so confident and if we follow this message we can be just as confident!

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I have enjoyed this so much and I'm looking forward to the next passage that Kristen picks out.  You are free to join at anytime, just write a message on Kristen's blog and she will link it to hers.

Happy studying,