Imagine arriving at the lake each Sunday at 10AM to capture the mad skills of a gifted fisherman as he captures your lunch for the day. In doing so, do you think you’d learn to fish for yourself by simply marveling at his skills? Not likely. Sure, you’d learn some ins and outs about the sport, but you wouldn’t learn to fish for yourself. That’s because fishing is learned through participating not mere spectating. As the saying goes, “Give a man a fish and you’ll feed him for a day but teach a man to fish and you’ll feed him for a lifetime.” It turns out that fishing is not only caught but taught. Similarly, when it comes to studying the Bible, many of us are like the spectator discussed above. We show up each week at 10AM for church, we marvel at the expositional skills of the pastor as he unpacks for us the weekly Word, yet we leave, bereft of our own skills to study the Bible. In many ways, Bible study methods should be discipleship 101 and yet there’s no shortage of Christians who’ve attended church for years without a single crash course on how to study the Bible. So here it is. A three-part crash course designed to equip you to study God’s Word on your own. To do this, I will devote three blogs to help you develop an approach to Bible study by using three words every serious student of the Bible is familiar with, namely, observation, interpretation, and application.
When it comes to Bible study, observation asks the question, “What do I see?” Interpretation asks the question, “What does it mean?” And application asks the questions, “How does it work?”
Observation: What do I see
Interpretation: What does it mean?
Application: How does it work?”“
It’s been said, “The difference between a good Bible student and a great one is the great one simply sees more. In this blog series I’ll introduce you to three acrostics using these key words to hone your Bible study skills. Beginning with observation, here’s how it looks, acrostic style: O.B.S.E.R.V.A.T.I.O.N.
Observe Prayerfully
The Psalmist captures this idea nicely when he writes, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psalm 119:18). Similarly, as we delve into God’s Word it’s good to ask the Lord to open our eyes to accurately understand Scripture.
Begin by Seeing the Big Picture
You can do this by reading the passage you’re studying several times to get a feel for the lay of the land. What you’re in search of is the overarching idea. The point of the passage. The big idea.
Select the Style of Literature
This is important. Not all Scripture is to be approached in the same manner. That’s because the Bible is comprised of various genres such as narrative, history, law, poetry, wisdom, prophecy, gospel, epistle, and apocalyptic. If you approach historical sections as metaphorical or apocalyptic portions as overly literal, you’ll soon find yourself in theological trouble when you arrive at the interpretation stage.
Explore any Commands to Follow
It’s helpful to know if the passage before you has any commands to follow, but also crucial to remember where you are in the Bible as it relates to the given command. That’s because some commands no longer hold. If you aren’t careful, you may find yourself feeling bound to commands that already served their purpose but are no longer required. This is especially true as it relates to the Old Testament dietary law that was clearly eradicated with the inauguration of the New Covenant.
Record any Warnings Given
Warnings are evident throughout Scripture. All the way from Adam’s warning in the Garden of Eden to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17) to the warning in Revelation to not add to God’s Word (Revelation 22:18-19). When the Bible issues a warning, observe it. Warnings are God’s way of trying to protect us. Therefore, stay alert.
Venture to Find Promises Proclaimed
This can be tricky, so be careful. Not every promise is recorded directly for us. We’ve all seen the abuse of Jeremiah 29:11, which refers to God’s promise to prosper His people after their time in captivity is fulfilled. Many of the people who would’ve heard this original message died in Babylon never to see it come to fruition. Knowing how to apply promises is crucial, especially to protect people from being disillusioned by God all because they claimed a promise that wasn’t intended for them.
Ask and Answer Questions of the Text
Perhaps you remember your six interrogative friends from grammar school. If not, no worries. These friends of old are Who, What, Why, Where, When, and How? We want to ask those questions of the passage we are studying. Who is it talking about? What is the big idea? Why was it written? How does it apply? You get the point.
Target Key People and Places
Here you’re looking to discover who the author is, who the recipients are, e.g., are they Jews, Gentiles, or both? You also want to discern the place from which the book was written and the location it was written to. Identifying key people and places will help you put the pieces of the puzzle together so you can capture a clear picture of the passage before you.
Inspect for Contrasts, Comparisons, and (Apparent) Contradictions
The contrasts may be between light and darkness, or sin and holiness, or truth and error. Comparisons might be between the rich and the poor, or the wise and the foolish, or a leader and his followers, or perhaps between heaven and hell. Regarding apparent contradictions, there are lots of them, but none of them lacks an explanation, so be encouraged.
Overview your Discoveries in Light of the Context
Here it’s important to remember that every text has a context. For example, consider Proverbs 5:15 says, “Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.” Absent of context we’d never know that this is talking about enjoying sexual intimacy with one’s own spouse versus drawing sexual satisfaction from another person’s spouse. Wells in the ancient world were privately owned. You weren’t to steal another person’s water, but drink from your own well. So too in marriage, we’re to stick to our own spouse. Enjoy our own well. You see, context is key.
Note Words that are Repeated and Emphasized
Doing this will help you unlock what the passage is about. For example, turn over to Psalm 150 for a quick read and you’ll see what I mean. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize that the key word is praise, which clearly indicates the theme of the Psalm.
If you want to practice your observations let me encourage you this week to take this acrostic and read Philippians once a day over the next week, while jotting down your observations. You’ll be amazed at what you discover. And more importantly, you’ll be ready for the next stage, which is interpretation. But for that acrostic you’ll have to wait for the next blog. Till next time.
O.B.S.E.R.V.A.T.I.O.N., in review:
Observe Prayerfully
Begin by Seeing the Big Picture
Select the Style of Literature
Explore any Commands to Follow
Record any Warnings Given
Venture to Find Promises Proclaimed
Ask and Answer Questions of the Text
Target Key People and Places
Inspect for Contrasts and Comparisons & Apparent Contradictions
Overview your Discoveries in Light of the Context
Note Words that are Repeated and Emphasized
Recommended Resources Related to This Topic
How to Interpret Your Bible by Dr. Frank Turek DVD Complete Series, INSTRUCTOR Study Guide, and STUDENT Study Guide
Why We Know the New Testament Writers Told the Truth by Frank Turek (mp4 Download)
The Top Ten Reasons We Know the NT Writers Told the Truth mp3 by Frank Turek
Counter Culture Christian: Is the Bible True? by Frank Turek (Mp3), (Mp4), and (DVD)
Oh, Why Didn’t I Say That? Is the Bible Historically Reliable? by Frank Turek DVD, Mp4, Mp3 Download.
Living By the Book by Howard Hendricks (Book, Full DVD set, and Condensed DVD set)
How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth by Gordon Fee and Doug Stuart (Book)
The New Joy of Discovery in Bible Study by Oletta Wald (Book)
Bobby serves as lead pastor of Image Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is well known for his YouTube ministry called, One Minute Apologist, which now goes by the name Christianity Still Makes Sense. He also serves as the Co-Host of Pastors’ Perspective, a nationally syndicated call-in radio show on KWVE in Southern California. Bobby earned his Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, his Doctor of Ministry in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary, and his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from the University of Birmingham (England) where he was supervised under David Cheetham and Yujin Nagasawa. Bobby’s also written several books including: The Fifth Gospel, Doubting Toward Faith, Does God Exist, and Fifty-One other Questions About God and the Bible and the forthcoming Christianity Still Makes Sense to be published by Tyndale in April 2024. He’s married to his lovely wife Heather and together they have two grown kids: Haley and Dawson.
Dave Rubin on Politics and Religion
PodcastWhat do we make of religion and politics in today’s ongoing culture war? In the words of Ben Shapiro, “Facts don’t care about your feelings.” But does the left-wing care about the facts? As the far left continues to lead primarily by feelings and emotions, many are shifting away from its current radical extremism and finding solidarity with conservatives. But can liberals and conservatives truly find common ground?
In this highly anticipated interview, New York Times best-selling author, comedian, and TV personality Dave Rubin of The Rubin Report joins Frank to share his journey out of leftism and reveals why he’s choosing to use his platform to champion and moderate civil, open conversations between people who have opposing worldviews. They address questions like:
Not afraid to tackle hot-button social and political issues, The Rubin Report has been a safe space for dialogue, challenging viewers from all walks of life. This episode is sure to be a step in the right direction for unity among liberals and conservatives.
PLEASE NOTE: Yes, we know that Dave Rubin is an openly gay man. CrossExamined.org does not always agree with and affirm all the held beliefs of our guests. Dave did not agree with everything Frank said when he was on The Rubin Report last month either. However, it is good to have dialogue and ask questions of non-Christian guests to see if they are open to Christ, as you will hear Frank do with Dave. We also welcome guests who can add value to specific topics on which we do agree. Despite our noted disagreements, Dave gets a lot right.
Dave’s Books:
Don’t Burn This Book: Thinking for Yourself in an Age of Unreason
Don’t Burn This Country: Surviving and Thriving in Our Woke Dystopia
Frank on The Rubin Report:
https://youtu.be/1ggnhLrnyPI
A Crash Course in How to Study the Bible, Part 2
1. Does Truth Exist?, 4. Is the NT True?, Theology and Christian ApologeticsNT Greek Scholar, Dan Wallace stated, “As a Protestant I cherish the NT teaching on the priesthood of believers—that each Christian has the right to his own interpretation, but also that each Christian has the responsibility to get it right.” Well said. But how do we do that? Here is a simple acrostic that can help you remember some key principles when seeking to decipher the proper interpretation: I.N.T.E.R.P.R.E.T.A.T.I.O.N.
Inspect other translations to discover textual difficulties
By comparing different translations you’ll notice textual variants amongst the translations that will reveal problems to sort out. Take for example 1 John 5:7-8 where debate exists regarding the Comma Johanneum which refers to the addition discovered in the KJV/NKJV. Critical scholars tend to view this passage as an addition to those texts to reinforce trinitarian theology. I won’t solve the debate here but only use this as an example of the types of resolutions you’ll be left to sort out when comparing translations.
Never impose current definitions and cultural customs on ancient definitions and customs
That’s because words may vary from context to context. You don’t want to consult Webster’s English Dictionary to learn what the Hebrew word for covenant means, but instead you’ll want to consult a Bible dictionary.
Tease out the main viewpoints for the passage you’re studying
You can do this by exploring various commentaries from authors holding to different interpretative positions. If you’re studying Judges 11:29-40, you’ll soon discover that there is a debate on whether Jephthah literally sacrificed his daughter or whether her virginity was sacrificed. By weighing the options, you can make a better-informed decision even if in the end, you remain unsure.
Evaluate and be able to critique heretical intepretations
Perhaps the best example of this is found in John 1:1. Jehovah’s Witnesses notoriously have butchered this verse in their New World Translation by translating the logos, i.e., the word, which refers to Jesus, as “a god.” Ironically enough, they argue that since the Greek lacks an article before the word logos that it can’t refer to God. And yet, in the same chapter they ditch their own rule of thumb when the article is missing in other cases, e.g., as in the case of John the Baptist, there’s no article, but they don’t translate the verse as saying, “There was a man sent from a god” (1:6). The problem is Jehovah Witnesses have forced their theology on the text instead of deriving their theology from it.
Recognize the time frame in which your passage was written
It’s important to remember this, especially when it comes to the application stage. If you fail to understand what commandments hold today versus those that no longer do you may find yourself applying parts of Scripture that are no longer necessary, like avoiding bacon when under the New Covenant you’re free to feast on that BLT (see Acts 10:15).
Purchase a good Bible software program to assist you in your studies.
Personally, I use Logos. What’s so great about having a Bible software program is the speed by which you can track down information. Gone are the days when I was preparing for ministry where the serious Bible student had his desk covered with all his various tools for study. Now at the tips of my fingers I can have a report produced within seconds of endless research.
Review various tools such as a Bible dictionary, commentaries, and word study aids
A good Bible software program will have all these resources, but if you opt out of that route you will at least want the tools listed above. Each is designed to help you faithfully interpret Scripture.
Evaluate the meaning behind metaphors, parables, apocalyptic imagery, and other figures of speech
This is where you’ll really sharpen as a student of Scripture. As you learn to distinguish various figures of speech and not just interpret them in an overly wooden sense, you’ll acquire a finesse regarding the use of biblical language.
Tap into the Spirit of God for wisdom to interpret accurately
Fortunately, when it comes to studying the Bible, we aren’t left to ourselves. No, as believers, the Holy Spirit is there to assist us in grasping spiritual truth (Jn. 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:10-14).
Aim to align your thoughts and feelings with God’s Word
It’s not surprising given the context we live in that there are some things in the Bible that are hard to relate to. When that happens, it’s important not to grant a favored status to our current way of doing things. But rather it’s our duty to understand the Word in the world it was crafted. If our thoughts and feelings struggle to absorb the truth of God’s Word, it can help to do more background work so we can better understand the original intent. What we don’t want to do is impose an alternative meaning to the text all because our thoughts and feelings couldn’t stomach the original point.
Trust that you’re dealing with God’s word
Here we’re reminded that as believers we are committed to biblical authority (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pt. 1:20-21). That means when we study the Bible, we recognize the difference between a ministerial and a magisterial approach to Scripture. The former approaches the Bible as a servant who sits under the authority of Scripture whereas the later approaches the Bible as one who stands in authority over it. The former is what we’re after when it comes to interpretation as believers.
Interpret difficult verses in light of clearer verses
Another way of stating this point is to interpret Scripture with Scripture. At least as much as you can without forcing various unconnected parts to fit together. Sometimes it’s helpful to interpret verses that are less clear with verses that are clearer. Take Acts 2:38. Many have interpreted this verse to mean baptism is necessary for salvation. But given clearer passages like 1 Corinthians 1:17 how might we avoid that conclusion?
Oppose building major doctrines on isolated unclear verses
A classic example of this is 1 Corinthians 15:29 which states, “…If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?” This is one of those verses which boasts many interpretations, and it is so isolated without other proof texts to back it up we’re left basically in ignorance this side of heaven. And yet, the Mormon Church has built an entire salvific industry on baptizing people for the dead by featuring massive Mormon ancestry databases. To build such an elaborate doctrine on one isolated verse with no clear interpretation should be avoided at all costs.
Nail down the author’s intended meaning by summarizing it into an interpretive sentence
Having worked through both the observation and interpretation acrostics you should now be ready to identify a working interpretation of your chosen text. In many ways both acrostics are simply observatory tools aimed at arriving at a faithful interpretation. Once you’re ready you can capture your interpretation by boiling it down to a digestible sentence. Space prohibits me from writing out examples, but you’re essentially answering the question, “What is this passage talking about?” Your answer is hopefully a sound interpretation of the text.
Now that you’ve arrived at an interpretation, you’re ready to answer the application question, “How does it work?” To assist you with an answer, in my next blog I will walk you through our third and final acrostic—application.
Recommeded Resources Related to this Topic
How to Interpret YourBible by Dr. Frank Turek DVD Complete Series, INSTRUCTOR Study Guide, and STUDENT Study Guide
Why We Know the New Testament Writers Told the Truth by Frank Turek (mp4 Download)
The Top Ten Reasons We Know the NT Writers Told the Truth mp3 by Frank Turek
Counter Culture Christian: Is the Bible True? by Frank Turek (Mp3), (Mp4), and (DVD)
Oh, Why Didn’t I Say That? Is the Bible Historically Reliable? by Frank Turek DVD, Mp4, Mp3 Download.
Living By the Book by Howard Hendricks (Book, Full DVD set, and Condensed DVD set)
How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth by Gordon Fee and Doug Stuart (Book)
The New Joy of Discovery in Bible Study by Oletta Wald (Book)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bobby serves as lead pastor of Image Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is well known for his YouTube ministry called, One Minute Apologist, which now goes by the name Christianity Still Makes Sense. He also serves as the Co-Host of Pastors’ Perspective, a nationally syndicated call-in radio show on KWVE in Southern California. Bobby earned his Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, his Doctor of Ministry in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary, and his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from the University of Birmingham (England) where he was supervised under David Cheetham and Yujin Nagasawa. Bobby’s also written several books including: The Fifth Gospel, Doubting Toward Faith, Does God Exist, and Fifty-One other Questions About God and the Bible and the forthcoming Christianity Still Makes Sense to be published by Tyndale in April 2024. He’s married to his lovely wife Heather and together they have two grown kids: Haley and Dawson.
The Holy Sexuality Project | with Dr. Christopher Yuan
PodcastIs unconditional love the same thing as unconditional approval? How do Christians navigate through tough conversations about sexuality with their teenagers? As more and more young people are falling into the trap of placing their identity in their sexuality and gender pronouns, it’s critical that parents and youth leaders be proactive in showing teenagers where their true identity lies. Are there any tools that are available to help them prepare for these conversations in advance?
In this week’s podcast episode, Dr. Christopher Yuan joins Frank to discuss his brand-new video curriculum The Holy Sexuality Project, which is designed to disciple teens on biblical sexuality. During this episode, Frank and Christopher address questions like:
Christopher knows a thing or two about placing sexuality at the forefront of his identity. Prior to his radical conversion to Christianity, he lived much of his young adult life identifying as a gay man and even spent time in prison. His experience inspired him to help others avoid some of the pitfalls he encountered because of his own identity crisis. Talking about sexuality with teens doesn’t have to be complicated or uncomfortable. This affordable video curriculum will take the pressure off adults and help kids understand and embrace God’s ultimate plan for sex and marriage!
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
The Holy Sexuality Project video curriculum for teens: https://holysexuality.com/
Examining the Evidence for the Destruction of Jericho – Part 2 | with Dr. Titus Kennedy
PodcastWhat can radio-carbon dating tell us about the timing of the destruction of Jericho? And how much does the archaeology seem to correlate with the biblical narrative? In this midweek podcast episode, author and archaeologist, Dr. Titus Kennedy, returns to continue the discussion on the evidence for Jericho’s destruction and his new research article, The Bronze Age Destruction of Jericho, Archaeology, and the Book of Joshua.
Frank and Titus explore more of the archaeological findings that have been discovered near Jericho such as scarabs, the Amarna Letters, pottery, and much more! Should the book of Joshua be considered as a valid historical source for what happened at Jericho? Listen as Titus explains why there is a compelling case to be made for the biblical account of the fall of Jericho.
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Link to full research article: https://www.mdpi.com/2343846
Evidence for the Exodus (podcast): https://bit.ly/46Oopz1
Top 10 Discoveries About Jesus Outside the Bible (podcast): https://bit.ly/3rufbIj
Books by Dr. Titus Kennedy:
Unearthing the Bible: https://a.co/d/ecsN1L7
Excavating the Evidence for Jesus: https://a.co/d/8VToSmp
The Essential Archaeological Guide to Bible Lands (available for pre-order): https://a.co/d/ggOYiiA
A Crash Course in How to Study the Bible, Part 1
1. Does Truth Exist?, 4. Is the NT True?, Theology and Christian ApologeticsImagine arriving at the lake each Sunday at 10AM to capture the mad skills of a gifted fisherman as he captures your lunch for the day. In doing so, do you think you’d learn to fish for yourself by simply marveling at his skills? Not likely. Sure, you’d learn some ins and outs about the sport, but you wouldn’t learn to fish for yourself. That’s because fishing is learned through participating not mere spectating. As the saying goes, “Give a man a fish and you’ll feed him for a day but teach a man to fish and you’ll feed him for a lifetime.” It turns out that fishing is not only caught but taught. Similarly, when it comes to studying the Bible, many of us are like the spectator discussed above. We show up each week at 10AM for church, we marvel at the expositional skills of the pastor as he unpacks for us the weekly Word, yet we leave, bereft of our own skills to study the Bible. In many ways, Bible study methods should be discipleship 101 and yet there’s no shortage of Christians who’ve attended church for years without a single crash course on how to study the Bible. So here it is. A three-part crash course designed to equip you to study God’s Word on your own. To do this, I will devote three blogs to help you develop an approach to Bible study by using three words every serious student of the Bible is familiar with, namely, observation, interpretation, and application.
When it comes to Bible study, observation asks the question, “What do I see?” Interpretation asks the question, “What does it mean?” And application asks the questions, “How does it work?”
It’s been said, “The difference between a good Bible student and a great one is the great one simply sees more. In this blog series I’ll introduce you to three acrostics using these key words to hone your Bible study skills. Beginning with observation, here’s how it looks, acrostic style: O.B.S.E.R.V.A.T.I.O.N.
Observe Prayerfully
The Psalmist captures this idea nicely when he writes, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psalm 119:18). Similarly, as we delve into God’s Word it’s good to ask the Lord to open our eyes to accurately understand Scripture.
Begin by Seeing the Big Picture
You can do this by reading the passage you’re studying several times to get a feel for the lay of the land. What you’re in search of is the overarching idea. The point of the passage. The big idea.
Select the Style of Literature
This is important. Not all Scripture is to be approached in the same manner. That’s because the Bible is comprised of various genres such as narrative, history, law, poetry, wisdom, prophecy, gospel, epistle, and apocalyptic. If you approach historical sections as metaphorical or apocalyptic portions as overly literal, you’ll soon find yourself in theological trouble when you arrive at the interpretation stage.
Explore any Commands to Follow
It’s helpful to know if the passage before you has any commands to follow, but also crucial to remember where you are in the Bible as it relates to the given command. That’s because some commands no longer hold. If you aren’t careful, you may find yourself feeling bound to commands that already served their purpose but are no longer required. This is especially true as it relates to the Old Testament dietary law that was clearly eradicated with the inauguration of the New Covenant.
Record any Warnings Given
Warnings are evident throughout Scripture. All the way from Adam’s warning in the Garden of Eden to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17) to the warning in Revelation to not add to God’s Word (Revelation 22:18-19). When the Bible issues a warning, observe it. Warnings are God’s way of trying to protect us. Therefore, stay alert.
Venture to Find Promises Proclaimed
This can be tricky, so be careful. Not every promise is recorded directly for us. We’ve all seen the abuse of Jeremiah 29:11, which refers to God’s promise to prosper His people after their time in captivity is fulfilled. Many of the people who would’ve heard this original message died in Babylon never to see it come to fruition. Knowing how to apply promises is crucial, especially to protect people from being disillusioned by God all because they claimed a promise that wasn’t intended for them.
Ask and Answer Questions of the Text
Perhaps you remember your six interrogative friends from grammar school. If not, no worries. These friends of old are Who, What, Why, Where, When, and How? We want to ask those questions of the passage we are studying. Who is it talking about? What is the big idea? Why was it written? How does it apply? You get the point.
Target Key People and Places
Here you’re looking to discover who the author is, who the recipients are, e.g., are they Jews, Gentiles, or both? You also want to discern the place from which the book was written and the location it was written to. Identifying key people and places will help you put the pieces of the puzzle together so you can capture a clear picture of the passage before you.
Inspect for Contrasts, Comparisons, and (Apparent) Contradictions
The contrasts may be between light and darkness, or sin and holiness, or truth and error. Comparisons might be between the rich and the poor, or the wise and the foolish, or a leader and his followers, or perhaps between heaven and hell. Regarding apparent contradictions, there are lots of them, but none of them lacks an explanation, so be encouraged.
Overview your Discoveries in Light of the Context
Here it’s important to remember that every text has a context. For example, consider Proverbs 5:15 says, “Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.” Absent of context we’d never know that this is talking about enjoying sexual intimacy with one’s own spouse versus drawing sexual satisfaction from another person’s spouse. Wells in the ancient world were privately owned. You weren’t to steal another person’s water, but drink from your own well. So too in marriage, we’re to stick to our own spouse. Enjoy our own well. You see, context is key.
Note Words that are Repeated and Emphasized
Doing this will help you unlock what the passage is about. For example, turn over to Psalm 150 for a quick read and you’ll see what I mean. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize that the key word is praise, which clearly indicates the theme of the Psalm.
If you want to practice your observations let me encourage you this week to take this acrostic and read Philippians once a day over the next week, while jotting down your observations. You’ll be amazed at what you discover. And more importantly, you’ll be ready for the next stage, which is interpretation. But for that acrostic you’ll have to wait for the next blog. Till next time.
Recommended Resources Related to This Topic
How to Interpret Your Bible by Dr. Frank Turek DVD Complete Series, INSTRUCTOR Study Guide, and STUDENT Study Guide
Why We Know the New Testament Writers Told the Truth by Frank Turek (mp4 Download)
The Top Ten Reasons We Know the NT Writers Told the Truth mp3 by Frank Turek
Counter Culture Christian: Is the Bible True? by Frank Turek (Mp3), (Mp4), and (DVD)
Oh, Why Didn’t I Say That? Is the Bible Historically Reliable? by Frank Turek DVD, Mp4, Mp3 Download.
Living By the Book by Howard Hendricks (Book, Full DVD set, and Condensed DVD set)
How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth by Gordon Fee and Doug Stuart (Book)
The New Joy of Discovery in Bible Study by Oletta Wald (Book)
Bobby serves as lead pastor of Image Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is well known for his YouTube ministry called, One Minute Apologist, which now goes by the name Christianity Still Makes Sense. He also serves as the Co-Host of Pastors’ Perspective, a nationally syndicated call-in radio show on KWVE in Southern California. Bobby earned his Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary, his Doctor of Ministry in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary, and his Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from the University of Birmingham (England) where he was supervised under David Cheetham and Yujin Nagasawa. Bobby’s also written several books including: The Fifth Gospel, Doubting Toward Faith, Does God Exist, and Fifty-One other Questions About God and the Bible and the forthcoming Christianity Still Makes Sense to be published by Tyndale in April 2024. He’s married to his lovely wife Heather and together they have two grown kids: Haley and Dawson.
Examining the Evidence for the Destruction of Jericho with Dr. Titus Kennedy
PodcastPodcast: Play in new window
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Have there been any significant archaeological finds that support the biblical account of the fall of Jericho? Joshua 6 describes the details of the conquest, led by Joshua himself, that took place almost 40 years after the Exodus from Egypt. But what exactly have archaeologists been able to uncover during Jericho’s recent excavations within the last century?
In this week’s podcast, archaeologist, author, and Biola Professor, Dr. Titus Kennedy, joins Frank to discuss his new eye-opening research article entitled ‘The Bronze Age Destruction of Jericho, Archaeology, and the Book of Joshua‘ where he analyzes the current existing evidence for the historical destruction of Jericho. Frank and Titus answer questions like:
For decades, skeptics, scholars, and archaeologists have disputed the details of this well-known story in the Bible. But where does the evidence actually lead? Dr. Kennedy has excavated all over the Middle East, and in this exciting new episode, he’ll reveal some of the fascinating artifacts that have been discovered near Jericho, and how these clues corroborate with the biblical narrative.
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Link to full research article: https://www.mdpi.com/2343846
Evidence for the Exodus (podcast): https://bit.ly/46Oopz1
Top 10 Discoveries About Jesus Outside the Bible (podcast): https://bit.ly/3rufbIj
Books by Dr. Titus Kennedy:
Unearthing the Bible: https://a.co/d/ecsN1L7
Excavating the Evidence for Jesus: https://a.co/d/8VToSmp
The Essential Archaeological Guide to Bible Lands (available for pre-order): https://a.co/d/ggOYiiA
Can the State Compel You to Violate Your Conscience? Plus Q&A
PodcastDoes the government have the right to force Christians (or anyone else) to say or do things that violate their conscience and/or religious views? The Supreme Court recently ruled in the favor of a Christian graphic artist who the Court declared cannot be compelled to create designs with which she disagrees, including same-sex weddings. Was this decision an act of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, or a true act of justice?
In this midweek podcast episode, Frank reacts to an insightful article written by Dr. Michael Brown entitled ‘Questions for Those Who Differ With the SCOTUS Decision in Favor of a Christian Graphic Artist’ that addresses the Supreme Court’s ruling in this controversial case. Later in the episode, Frank responds to several listener questions about the deity of Christ, how to pray for loved ones who are embracing sexual immorality, and why God seemingly allowed people to lie in the Old Testament (1 Samuel 16) .
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
Resources mentioned in the episode:
Dr. Brown’s article on The Stream: https://bit.ly/3rvtHze
Yes, There is a Difference Between New Age and New Thought
Culture CrossExamined, Theology and Christian ApologeticsWhen people hear the word “New Age,” they might think of the hippie generation of the ’60s. When people hear “New Thought,” however, most people have no idea what it means.
I believe New Thought has much more influence than New Age. Don’t be fooled by the names. Neither one of them are new. They’re as old as the garden. Many people use the terms interchangeably because the core belief is exactly the same: You are good, and You are God. “New Age” can be an umbrella term used for both New Thought and New Age, but they are actually different. And I believe it’s important to distinguish these terms. There are differences that I believe Christians specifically need to know about. Because New Thought can fool Christians before the New Age will.
First, let’s start with New Thought. If you remember anything about New Thought, remember this one thing: metaphysical Christianity. Literally, take any Christian doctrine and redefine it to put an allegorical metaphysical definition with it, and you have New Thought. It’s spiritual but not religious. This is particularly why I believe New Thought is much more sinister: it’s made to look Christian. Here are some brief terms to know:
Christ
This doesn’t mean the same thing within Christianity. In New Thought, “Christ” and “Jesus” are two different things. Jesus was a man, and Christ is the inner divinity that all mankind can awaken to. Jesus was the Way-shower to how this can be done. He obtained the “Christ Consciousness,” the awakening to his True Self, his inner divinity, and you can too. In this way, you are the I AM just as much as Jesus was.
God
An “It” not a “He.” This is a force or a spiritual source that pours out abundance and prosperity to those who know how to wield their power. New Thought isn’t pantheistic but pan-en-theistic, which is basically an attempt to fuse pantheism with theism. (See, “Panentheism”)
Sin
The only sin is your ignorance of your self-divinity and remaining in your False Self, or your Ego.
Atonement and Salvation
This means “At-One-Ment,” a mixing of the words to mean that you’re awakening to a higher level of consciousness. Salvation is found in your finding your True Self.
Evil/Hell/Satan/Heaven
None of these are literal, but states of mind or metaphorical. Anything that’s considered evil, such as someone flying into the Twin Towers, is because they are in their False Self. The reason for pain, suffering, and evil is because of humanity’s unawareness of their inner divinity, and therefore asleep to their True Self. In this way, they have created their own personal Hell or Heaven. New Thought also believes in an ambiguous Universalism. There is no judgment, only love.
Bible
The Bible is filled with metaphysical esoteric knowledge that those in the “spiritual know” can interpret. People that wrote the Bible only understood it in the time and place that they lived, but we understand more now because we have grown spiritually. This is why they can look at a Scripture and think, “what does this verse mean to me,” because their interpretation is subjective to their lived experience. Their view of the Bible is a higher spiritual view that depicts real Christianity.
Faith and Prosperity
New Thought might be best known through the popular concept of positive thinking that we see in the self-help section at your local bookstore. Faith is a power to make things happen. We can wield this power through our minds. Because New Thought teaches that God only allows good things to happen, if we have enough faith, we can proclaim health and wealth, and it must manifest itself in our lives. The Law of Attraction is probably the most popular New Thought belief that most would recognize. Your words have power and can create. God is a creative force. Since you’re a manifestation of God, you’re able to create with your words as well.
This list is by no means exhaustive. But these concepts are unique to New Thought dressed up as Christianity. New Age parts ways in its more occultic associations. New Thought might say that it frowns upon occultic practices, but that isn’t the case. They would say that truth can be found anywhere, including the occult. Both have gnostic leanings and a relativistic view of truth, but here are three specific differences between the New Age and New Thought:
Three Big Differences Between New Thought and New Age
Even though there are differences, the two almost always seem to overlap in beliefs on some level. For example, I have never met someone in the New Age who didn’t believe in Christ Consciousness or the law of attraction. I believe this is why the terms are used interchangeably, where most people would associate themselves with being caught up in the New Age when really they were more into New Thought (Myself included).
Both are alluring, and both are deceiving. Both elevate man and demote God. New Thought masquerades as true Christianity, and because of this, I’ve seen numerous Christians adopt New Thought beliefs and not know it. In my experience, Christians tend to be able to spot the New Age much better than they can New Thought. New Thought has been a shadow of a deception in the Church, and I want to shine a light on it so Christians can be equipped to know what they’re dealing with.
A constant companion to avoid deception: The Bible. Stay in it. Read it. Study it. You will be able to discern the metaphysical definitions that New Thought uses immediately if you know the real thing.
Recommended Resources Related to this Topic
How Can Jesus Be the Only Way? (mp4 Download) by Frank Turek
Person of Interest: Why Jesus Still Matters in a World that Rejects the Bible by J. Warner Wallace (Paperback), (Investigator’s Guide).
Another Gospel? by Alisa Childers (book)
Counter Culture Christian: Is the Bible True? by Frank Turek (Mp3), (Mp4), and (DVD)
Defending Absolutes in a Relativistic World (Mp3) by Frank Turek
Is Morality Absolute or Relative? (Mp3), (Mp4), and (DVD) by Frank Turek
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Melissa Dougherty is a Christian Apologist best known for her YouTube channel as an ex-new ager. She has two associate’s degrees, one in Early Childhood Multicultural Education, and the other in Liberal Arts. She also has a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies at Southern Evangelical Seminary.
How to Train Your Brain: An Introduction to Logic | with Shanda Fulbright
PodcastWhy have public schools seemingly abandoned the study of logic? Instead of learning how to think, most kids today are learning what to feel. But if critical thinking is a thing of the past, how can we help the next generation protect themselves against the lies of the culture?
Have no fear, Shanda Fulbright is here! A former public-school teacher and certified apologist from Biola University, Shanda joins Frank this week to expose some of the informal fallacies that have become popularized through social media and introduce their brand-new online course called ‘Train Your Brain: An Introduction to Logic‘. While the PREMIUM version of this course— the one with the live Zoom Q&A sessions— will be conducted for 6-8th graders, adults who have never had a course in logic before will benefit from taking the SELF-PACED course.
Frank and Shanda answer questions like:
Proverbs 4:23 reminds us that we must prepare the next generation to “guard their hearts” by using logic, sound reasoning, and evidence. And that is exactly what ‘Train Your Brain‘ will equip them to do. The PREMIUM CERTIFICATE course begins on 10/2, so be sure to use coupon code: LOGIC2023 to save 20% at checkout when you pre-register your child TODAY!
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
Shanda’s website: https://shandafulbright.com/
Train Your Brain: An Introduction to Logic: https://bit.ly/3NG09qm
Is Christianity a White Man’s Religion? Plus More Q&A
PodcastMany people around the world accuse Christianity of being a white, imperialistic religion that enslaved people of color and set the stage for racism here in the United States. But is the behavior of “bad” Christians a legitimate reason to reject the truth of the Gospel message? In this special Fourth of July midweek podcast episode, Frank addresses this and several other listener questions related to eschatology, transgender ideology, a perplexing ethical dilemma, and learning obedience through suffering.
To view the entire VIDEO PODCAST, be sure to join our CrossExamined private community. It’s the perfect place to jump into some great discussions with like-minded Christians while simultaneously providing financial support for our ministry.
Resources mentioned during the episode:
Christian Ethics by Norman Geisler: https://a.co/d/487wxGB
The Babylon Bee – If Jesus’ Resurrection Were a Hoax: https://bit.ly/46wdnOM