Take AIM Always Respect The King
Maple Grove…
2000 years a David… a king, a warrior, a worshipper, a man who chased after the heart of God... wrote the following Psalm about how he felt about the Words of God.
The instruction of the LORD is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise.
The precepts of the LORD are right, making the heart glad; the command of the LORD is radiant, making the eyes light up.
The fear of the LORD is pure enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are reliable and altogether righteous.
They are more desirable than gold—than an abundance of pure gold; and sweeter than honey, which comes from the honeycomb.
In addition, your servant is warned by them; there is great reward in keeping them. – Psalm 19:1-7
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15
Prayer
OKAY – so we are this series ‘Understanding The Bible’
LAST WEEK – we talked about
Hermeneutics
And
several reasons that should motivate you to study God’s Word and to
The Bible is the Word of God (2 Peter 1:20,21; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16,17)
The Bible nourishes us spiritually (Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Peter 2:2,3)
The Bible encourages us to see ourselves we are (James 1:22-25)
The Bible exposes false teaching (1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11; 2 Peter 16-18)
The Bibles empowers us to resist temptation (Psalm 119:9-11)
AND REMEMBER – I said that we defeat temptation the same way that Jesus did during those 40 days in the wilderness… with the Word of God. By like Jesus memorizing scripture.
In Ephesians 6 when Paul writes about the armor of God that enables us to stand firm against all of the schemes of the evil one… He only mentions one offensive weapon, the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
QUESTION – how can we (how can you) expect to stand firm against his attacks if you have never stabbed those attacks with a Sword.
The Bible brings transformation (Romans 12:2; Hebrews 4:12)
The Bible is a source of comport and hope (Psalm 119:49-52; Isaiah 49:14-16)
The Bible is the foundation of a storm weathering life (Matthew 7:24-27)
The Bible has an important threefold purpose (Hebrews 1:1-3; John 20:31; 2 Timothy 3:15-17)
• To reveal God to us
• To reveal the way of salvation
• To reveal and equip us to live the life that God desires
NOW – I don’t know about you but those are 9 very good reasons for studying the bible…
AND LISTEN – we could to those reasons what David said in Psalm 19…
The Bible
• Renews our lives
• Is trustworthy
• Makes the inexperienced wise
• Makes our heart glad and lights up our eyes
• Is pure and will endure forever
• Is reliable and altogether righteous
• Is more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey
• Warns us of danger and rewards us greatly when we follow it’s teachings
AND LISTEN – because of these reasons…
We should want to, we should be motivated to, compelled to…
Read and understand the Bible.
UNDERSTAND – if we do not read the Word or understand the Word and therefore handle it correctly we, you, I… will neither experience it’s power or benefits.
Which is why hermeneutics the science and art of studying, understanding and interpreting the Bible is so very important.
NOW – I like how Robert Stein puts it…
The importance of interpreting the Bible correctly cannot be overemphasized. The claim that the Bible is inspired and that it is God’s revelation to humanity is ultimately of little value without some understanding of how that divine revelation should be interpreted. When we describe the Bible as “infallible” or “without error,” these terms are meaningless if we do not know how to interpret it.
– Robert H. Stein ‘Playing By The Rules, A Basic Guide To Interpreting The Bible’
AND MGCC – here’s the deal…
If you read the bible you are already interpreting it, you already have a hermeneutical theory in mind.
YOU SEE – you cannot read the Bible for long before the questions of ‘what does this mean’ begin forming in your mind.
SO – the issue is not whether or not we have a basic interpreting framework, because we all do.
NO – the issue is…. Whether or not our framework is clear or unclear, adequate or inadequate, correct or incorrect…
Is our framework, our way of interpreting the bible, our hermeneutical process leading towards the truth of God Word or further away from it.
GET IT?
OKAY
Let’s do this.
Let’s start unpacking some principles for understanding the Bible.
NOW – this morning we will unpack 2 foundational principles in a conversation I am calling ‘Take A.I.M. and
Always Respect The King.’
I. Take AIM
NOW – in all communication three distinct components are necessary. AND IF – any of these is missing or lacking communications is impossible.
These 3 components are the author, text, reader/interpreter.
And there are other ways of describing this…
• The sender, message, and the receiver
• The speaker, speech, listener
• The pastor, sermon, you
UNDERSTAND – all authors have both emotions and experiences. What that means is that is a speaker/writer is to be clearly understood, the listener reader must know something their background.
FOR EXAMPLE – let’s say you hear someone give a talk about forgiveness. Do you it would make a difference in how you listen to that person if they were a victim of child abuse or a Nazi concentration camp survivor?
NOW – the illustrations of this could go on endlessly, but I think you get the point… if we are to fully understand the author’s words we must know something of the author’s experience and emotions.
LIKEWISE – every reader/listener has certain experiences, emotions, levels of interest…etc
Would the way a person who has just suffered great loss reads the book of Job be different then someone whose life is going smoothly… Would the way a divorcee reads ‘honor your husband’ be different than a 16 year old boy, a preacher or someone who is happily celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
NEXT – all communication acts are filtered through language which is always an imperfect science and art… with several obstacles along the way.
Obstacle #1 – written texts lose the advantage of voice – of vocal inflection.
FOR EXAMPLE…
In the NIV John 14:1 has Jesus saying…
Trust in God, Trust in me also… - John 14:6
Both are interpreted as commands.
But what if we read the first phrase as a simple statement.
You trust in God, you should trust in me also – John 14:6
Or perhaps we could read the first phrase as a rhetorical question…
You trust in God? Well then also trust in me… - John 14:6
UNDERSTAND – these other readings are perfectly acceptable grammatically.
And they make a great deal of sense considering Jesus is about to say… “If you have seen me you have seen the Father.”
But the problem is we can only be sure if we heard Jesus’ vocal inflection.
Obstacle #2 – Transmission, nobody is a perfectly clear communicator. Sometimes stuff just comes out badly.
OKAY – here are a few announcements from an actual church paper.
“For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.”
“Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.”
Now, we all misspeak at times… so we should in turn be courteous listeners, and try to understand what people meant to say.
Obstacle #3 – when translating from one language to another sometimes it is difficult to capture the meaning of a phrase.
NEXT – in between the interpreter and the text is our Hermeneutical Lens.
Some see the bible as a history book so they find historical data.
Others as a storybook and find helpful moral lessons from fables.
Some see it as an ethics textbook and they walk away with rules and doctrines.
What I am trying to say is that the hermeneutical lens that you wear when you approach the bible will largely determine what you see in it.
I MEAN…
IF YOU - want to see a Jesus who is a middle-class Republican, you can find Him there. IF YOU – want to find reasons to criticize God’s action as unjust, you can find it there.
NOT ONLY – does our hermeneutical lens separate us from the text but so does our hermeneutical distance.
UNDERSTAND – we are separated from our text in a number of significant ways…
Time, Culture, Language, Geography, Religion (Jesus was not a Christian He was a Jew who wore a prayer shawl, refrained from pork, worshipped on Saturday).
OKAY – here is what I am saying.
Communication is simply the convergence of an author, a text and a an interpreter. That is simple enough.
YET – language is a complicated process because…
a) Both author and reader have their own emotions and experience that may hinder understanding.
b) All communication is filtered through language which as we have seen some obstacles to overcome
c) We all have a hermeneutical lens and often what we are looking for determines what we find
d) Finally we are separated from the text by time, language, culture, geography and religion
NOW – add all this up and one might come away with a pessimistic view of understanding anything…
YET – the reality is that we do understand each other.
MOTHERS – tell their children to clean their rooms and they ‘get it’ (whether they do it or not is determined by other factors)
WOMEN AND MEN – actually get married and have families (crossing the male/female divide which is perhaps the most mystifying divide of all human communication).
SIMPLY PUT – language works.
WHY?
BECAUSE – despite all the difficulties inherent in language, we are somehow able, with courteous listening to understand one another. Perfectly? No, but we get close enough to buy and sell, make appointments, express feeling, resolve conflicts and misunderstandings, describe events, teach and learn new things, and even tell a joke now and then… and have people get it. BOTTOM LINE – we really can some within understanding distance of the author…
HEY – the fact the some of you can come in this room each week and not think that what you have heard from me is complete nonsense is proof that communication can work if we work at it…
Which brings us to the principle of AIM
(The principle of the Authors Intended Meaning)
UNDERSTAND – the AIM must be your aim in studying the bible.
I showed pictures that could be seen as…
A duck or rabbit
Young lady or old lady
Young guy or old guy
YES - people can look at the same drawing and they see something different.
BUT – is there anyway for us to know for sure what the object is?
SURE – ask the artist; “What was your intent when you drew this picture?”
When we look at a passage in the bible our goal is to figure out the authors intended meaning.
What did Paul, Peter, Moses, Isaiah mean when he wrote that verse?
LISTEN – if I write a letter to my wife it means what I intended it to mean…
NOW - many times people ask the wrong question in studying the bible – ‘Bill what does this text mean to you’
NO – that is not the right question.
It is certainly not the first question.
INSTEAD – the first question is what did the author mean when he wrote the passage…
UNDERSTAND – there are certain things that we do not have the right to simply interpret what they mean to us…
• Military orders
• A summons to court or a traffic ticket
• A written assignment from our boss
• A legal contract
SO WHY – do we think we have the right to make the Bible mean whatever is convenient, comfortable, or culturally acceptable at the time?
MGCC – we do not have that right.
“I promise to seek the AIM, the whole of the AIM, and nothing but the AIM, so please help me God.”
– The Interpreters Pledge
OKAY – maybe some of you are thinking… “Seriously Steve, is there really only one AIM? Can’t a passage mean different things to different people?
NOW - I think it would be helpful to talk about the difference between meaning and significance…
Meaning – is singular it is tied to the text… there is one meaning (interpretation)
Application – how we live out the text is varied.
It may be very different from how your parents, friends, spouse, or someone living on the other side of the world would apply it.
OKAY…
BUT – how do we know there is only one AIM?
Let me suggest a few reasons
God is the source of the Bible
While we do have human authors
II. Always Respect The King
UNDERSTAND – if you and I are ever going to be legit Bible students we must both learn and embrace the following mantra REPEAT – after me…
Context is king - Context is king - Context is king
QUESTION…
HAS - something you’ve said ever been taken out of context?
BY - your spouse? Kids? Parents? Friends? Boss? Co-worker?
HAVE YOU – ever taken something that someone said (either verbally or through non verbal cues) out of context?
(a little over a week ago… I took Laurie’s nonverbal cues out of context and – let’s just say my inner Irishman was unleashed and it was not Jesus-like)
AND - I remember back when we were in a study of the book of James unpacking James 3:13-4:3 (it’s a passage about wisdom) - in a conversation that I called, ‘Don’t Be Stupid.’
AND OBVIOUSLY - I had people turn to the person to their right and left and tell them ‘Don’t be stupid.’
NOW – I did not realize that Joe Johnson had stepped out of the room when we did this…
And after church I looked him in the eyes and said, “hey Joe, don’t be stupid.’
AND – let me tell the look he gave me made me realize I had some explaining to do…
YES – context is king and it is essential in understanding situations and what people are saying…
Several years back Ameriquest a financial company ran a series of really funny commercials about people taking things out of context…
VIDEO CLIP
YES – context matters, amen?
IT MATTERS - in life, in all forms of communication and it most definitely matters in interpreting the bible…
IN FACT - when it comes to interpreting the bible like we have already said…
Context is king…
AND UNDERSTAND
BECAUSE – context is king, this means that it must ‘always rule over’ our understanding of any text or passage of Scripture.
AND LISTEN – here’s the deal we make more interpreting errors by pulling passages out of their context then all other kinds of errors combined.
NOW - simply put… the context of your passage are the words and passage that immediately surrounds it.
NOW – I want to spend some time looking at some well know passages that have been the frequent victim of being taken out of their context.
AND LISTEN – when that happens…
When we take a verse out of it’s God inspired context, we loose the power, the truth and spiritual authority of what is being said.
Get it?
OKAY - The first victim of being frequently taken out of context (F.B.T.O.O.C.) that I want us to look at is, Matthew 18:20
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them… - Matthew 18:20
QUESTION – have you ever heard that verse before?
Have you ever heard it quoted and used this way…
“Now, I know that there are not many people here tonight for prayer or for our study, but remember wherever 2 or 3 are gathered Jesus is right there with us…”
QUESTION – is that really what Jesus is teaching here?
THAT HE - is only with us when 2 or 3 are gathered?
I MEAN – if this is true, what does that mean when you are alone? Does mean that God is not there?
QUESTION – so what is the context for this verse?
And will it help us uncover the true meaning
OKAY - let’s turn there… Matthew 18:15-20
"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'
NOW - Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 19:15, where the Mosaic law states that for someone to be convicted of any crime the case must be established by the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses.
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
QUESTION – do you see the context for verse 20?
What has Jesus been talking about?
Something that is very difficult and that we don’t like to do… Confronting people and church discipline…
Jesus is saying that if 2 or 3 brothers come to a decision that another is in sin, they have Jesus’ legal authority to carry out discipline on him, even leading to excommunication.
SO RATHER THAN – justifying a small worship service, this text is a legal ordinance for carrying out one of the most neglected practices of the modern western church – the discipline of wayward members.
OKAY
HERE’S THE BOTTOMLINE…
Whenever Jesus followers take on this difficult task of church disciple, whenever 2 or 3 gather to protect His name, His person and His church… Jesus backs them and He shows up in a special way.
OKAY – here is the next verse that has suffered much and has been taken out context often…
IN FACT – it’s ‘out of context’ interpretation has sold countless posters – pictures – and has been printed tee shirts and coffee mugs… than would fit in this room.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength
– Philippians 4:13
QUESTION – does this verse mean that through Christ I can do anything?…
I MEAN – it is teaching that through Christ I can…
• Teach that class,
• earn that degree,
• get the A,
• climb that mountain,
• run a mile in under 4 minutes,
• bench press 350 pounds,
• sing in the praise band,
• play QB in the NFL
• win the next dancing with the starts competition
SERIOUSLY - is this text really saying that I can do anything, because Jesus will give me the power to do it…
AGAIN – let’s look at the context of that verse…
(note – Paul is in prison)
I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. – Phil 4:10-14
OKAY – so what is the context?
Paul’s ongoing and unyielding contentment even in the face of tremendous trouble and hardship…
LISTEN – in CONTEXT, Paul is saying…
“Yeah it is tough, but I can endure, I can make it through, I can stand up under anything and everything – and still be content as long as I have Jesus, who has and will continue to give me the strength to endure – even in the midst of the most violent of storms.
NOW – I for one think the true meaning, the contextual meaning is so much more powerful…
UNDERSTAND B/S - Our contentment does not need depend on our outward circumstances being perfect, but rather on having a deep personal relationship with Jesus.
YES – Jesus IS the secret to contentment
Yes – Context is King!
OKAY – here is the next text frequently taken out of context verse and it is also from Philippians.
I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ… - Philippians 3:7,8
QUESTION – is the meaning of this passage that when people come to Christ that all the things of life that they had previously chased so hard after…
The money, the houses, the promotions, the applause, the worldly success, the popularity, pleasure, possessions…
That ALL of it, when compared to Christ are rubbish?
NOW UNDERSTAND – though that is very powerful and true statement…
IT - is not what Phil 3:7,8 is teaching.
AND - to be honest there have been times in the past when I have taken this verse out of context and preached it, because it helped me make a point I was trying to make.
BUT LISTEN…
WHAT THIS TEXT – is really teaching is even more powerful… than the truth that… money, houses, promotions, applause, investments, worldly success, popularity, pleasure, possessions …etc.
That ALL of it, when compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ is nothing but garbage.
OKAY – let’s see what the King has to say…
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
UNDERSTAND – There were false teachers in the church in Philippi trying to put the Jewish laws back on the people
If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
But whatever was to my profit
I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,
but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
UNDERSTAND – for years Paul (like many of us in this room) had lived believing that righteousness, that being right with God… was something that he had to earn by what he did.
AND SO - for years Paul went ‘all in’ trying to by his own effort…
TO – measure up, to earn, to deserve and achieve salvation.
TO – be right with God…
YET – he always knew that he came up short, way short.
HOWEVER NOW THAT – he has tasted the salvation that…
• comes by grace through faith…
• is fuel by the unfailing love of God and bought by the blood stained cross of Christ
He considers all of that past human effort and any addition human effort to earn salvation… rubbish, a waste of time.
YOU SEE - Paul is has tasted the power, peace and beauty of living from God rather than living for Grace and he is never going back.
Note – as believer he was still ‘all in’
YES – context is KING!
It must always rules over our understanding of a text.
NEXT – have you ever heard the expression, “God will not give you more than you can handle.”
Q - where did that come from?
Is it true?
Is it in the Bible?
OKAY - here is where that belief and saying comes from…
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13
Now the word translated ‘tempted’ comes from a Greek word that carries the following meanings…
Trial, testing, temptation.
And some people choose to view it as trails…
No trial has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tested beyond what you can bear. But when you are tested, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13
OKAY – but what does the King have to say about this verse..
Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.”
We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
– 1 Cor 10:6-13
SO – what it the context?
AND – what is the awesome promise?
(Side note - God may give you more than you can handle, but He will never give you more than He can handle)
OKAY – just one more verse you may have heard before – the is a frequent victim of being taken out of it’s context.
NOW – you may have seen it printed on an evangelistic tract or brochure…
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. – Revelation 3:20
QUESTION – what does this verse mean?
WHAT – is Jesus saying in these words?
I MEAN – is this verse talking about a lost person asking Jesus for the first time to come into their life for salvation?
Many think so and use it in that way…
BUT REMEMBER – our opinion is not the king, context is.
AND LISTEN – when we let context rule over this verse we find that it is has a different, I feel more powerful meaning.
REMEMBER…
When we take a verse out of it’s God inspired context, we loose the power, the truth and spiritual authority of what is being said.
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. – Revelation 2:14-21
OKAY – so what is the context?
What is the context?
Jesus is talking to believers at the church in Laodicea who…
What is the awesome promise Jesus is giving?
YES – context is critical for understanding the bible…
IN FACT – Context is King!
