Welcome to our new video series, How to Read, Understand and Make Use of the Scriptures.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

As the Apostle Paul declares, all of Scripture is useful for …

  • proclaiming right teaching about the Triune God
  • rebuking and refuting the false teaching of the devil and his agents of deception
  • correcting wrong living
  • encouraging, exhorting and training in right living
  • and they always point to the person and work of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. (Romans 15:4 NIV)

The Holy Spirit Helps Us Answer the Two Main Questions

If you feel like the Bible is an intimidating, overwhelming, daunting and closed book, take heart! We don’t read the Scriptures alone.

As we open the Bible, we have the promise that the Holy Spirit will be the Real Teacher. The very One who gave “God-/Breathed Words” to the prophets, evangelists and apostles, will help us understand and make use of the Scriptures.

He will open our minds and help us answer two basic questions:

  • What does this portion of Scripture mean? What is God saying in and through the words of the text? What is the content of the words and sentences and paragraphs? What’s the context of His revelation? How do I interpret the text and find the Triune God’s one intended meaning?
  • How does God want to apply these words to me? What gift do these words offer? What work does God want to do through them? Does He want to reveal/convict me of my sin? Does He want to reveal and offer the forgiveness of sins in Jesus? What is the Scripture’s “salutary use” for my life?

For more videos about how the person and work of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins is the central message of the Scriptures, you can go to the new ekklesia membership site and find an archived library of them here:

 

In-Person Ekklesia Study

We will also be having some in-person gatherings to discuss the content of the series. The colder and inclement weather has prohibited us from meeting in Warren and Elise Arndt’s backyard. But, Pastor Paul Monson and the saints gathered at SALT Church in Troy have graciously invited us to use their fellowship hall.

In November we will be meeting at …

Wednesdays, November 3rd and 17th

from 6:30 – 8:00 pm​

As the Psalmist prays, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” (Psalm 119:18)

Come what may, we do belong to Jesus!

List of Resources

Here’s a list of links to help you navigate through past videos or other digital resources:

Here’s a list of resources that I reference in the videos and that were influential in the creation of the content. Some are accessible and easy to read. Others are a bit more “academic” and “scholarly” in substance and require some effort to work through.