In an earlier post, I made reference to the 10:1 rule for preparing Bible studies or SS lessons. That is for every 1 hour of teaching/instruction, there should be at least 10 hours of preparation time.
I would like to also include that every Christian should easily have a ratio of 10:1 for private versus public prayer.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Life Verses
I have been at a loss on what to post. As I struggle to determine my future, a helpful suggestion posed by Dave Kraft's "Leaders who Last" was to examine the verses that God has impressed on my heart. Sadly, although I have been Christian for more than 10 years... I have been only able to discover verses up to four years old. All verses will be from NASB.
I did the think-of-a-passage and flip to it. So I thought of 44:7. Then I thought Isaiah, because no one ever reads Isaiah end to end. And... I was humbled.
but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense in account of the hope that is within you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 1 Pet 3:15
If Isa 44:7 was an unmerited answer by God to demonstrate that He is real, 1 Pet 3:15 was the verse I lived by to prove to others that God is real. I used to be very into apologetics. 1 Pet 3:15 was a sword-verse that many apologetic websites championed to encourage Christians to make a defense for Christianity.
I first discovered the verse in my University days. I frequently employed the verse to spur young Christians to 1) examine themselves and see if they were in the faith! 2) defend the gospel truths. As I have grown older, my attention has shifted to the "yet with gentleness and reverence". It becomes easy to win arguments against opponents, but that is not the goal. We wish to proclaim gospel truths and to show them the glory of Christ. To simply make a show of your knowledge and send your opponent home packing will bring him no closer to Christ unless he hears the gospel.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:14-16
I'm unsure of the timeline on this verse. I know this is towards the end of my University experience, that much is sure. This is a rich passage that I used for both comforting the brethren and myself. I don't have much to say on this passage... it's a good verse... let it speak for itself.
Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
Acts 17:11
Iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens another.
Prov 27:17
Two for one special. These two verses made an impact after a fateful night in September '08. This was the night I met my friend and pastor, Scott. It is actually a testament of how God works with such sovereignty. I had a friend in Ryerson who had a friend I met during a RCCF retreat. So this girl invited me to a Bible Study, and I went. Fast forward two years, and here we (Scott and others) are starting a church.
Anyways, when I first met Scott... I knew I met someone on a higher spiritual plane. And I was under the impression that I was there for a Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate... not a why Calvinism rocks Arminianism discussion. So I threw down as much as I could, referring to Scripture and problem passages (for Calvinism). These two verses probably stuck out to spur me on to study Scripture (examine extensively!) and although I was critical of Scott... we did sharpen one another.
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. Jas 3:1
Although the passage is aimed directly towards teachers, I would say it encompasses any leadership type position where you have authority over others and teach. I have served in various leadership positions, led different study groups, but nothing awakened me to the potency of this verse until I started teaching teen Sunday School in early '09. All those young impressionable minds that can be filled with good Biblical knowledge or every heresy conceivable to man.
I think this was the point at which I started the 10:1 ratio for SS and development of Bible studies. For every hour of SS or Bible study... there should be at least 10 hours of prep time spent in the Word and various commentaries.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:8
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23
These two verses became more prominent for me earlier this year. I have two reasons.
1) I have tried to witness more to my family, especially a cousin and her son from Calgary. My nephew is young and he has a heart for spiritual things and wants to learn of God. I pray continually that they and their family would come to know Christ.
2) I am trying to understand grace more. I'm a slow learner.
Or do you think lightly of the riches of his kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? Rom 2:4
Two months ago, I wrote this on my whiteboard. I am still learning about grace.
'Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it;
Yes, let him recount it to Me in order,
From the time that I established the ancient nation.
And let them declare to them the things that are coming
And the events that are going to take place. Isa 44:7
I did the think-of-a-passage and flip to it. So I thought of 44:7. Then I thought Isaiah, because no one ever reads Isaiah end to end. And... I was humbled.
but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense in account of the hope that is within you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 1 Pet 3:15
If Isa 44:7 was an unmerited answer by God to demonstrate that He is real, 1 Pet 3:15 was the verse I lived by to prove to others that God is real. I used to be very into apologetics. 1 Pet 3:15 was a sword-verse that many apologetic websites championed to encourage Christians to make a defense for Christianity.
I first discovered the verse in my University days. I frequently employed the verse to spur young Christians to 1) examine themselves and see if they were in the faith! 2) defend the gospel truths. As I have grown older, my attention has shifted to the "yet with gentleness and reverence". It becomes easy to win arguments against opponents, but that is not the goal. We wish to proclaim gospel truths and to show them the glory of Christ. To simply make a show of your knowledge and send your opponent home packing will bring him no closer to Christ unless he hears the gospel.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:14-16
I'm unsure of the timeline on this verse. I know this is towards the end of my University experience, that much is sure. This is a rich passage that I used for both comforting the brethren and myself. I don't have much to say on this passage... it's a good verse... let it speak for itself.
Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
Acts 17:11
Iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens another.
Prov 27:17
Two for one special. These two verses made an impact after a fateful night in September '08. This was the night I met my friend and pastor, Scott. It is actually a testament of how God works with such sovereignty. I had a friend in Ryerson who had a friend I met during a RCCF retreat. So this girl invited me to a Bible Study, and I went. Fast forward two years, and here we (Scott and others) are starting a church.
Anyways, when I first met Scott... I knew I met someone on a higher spiritual plane. And I was under the impression that I was there for a Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate... not a why Calvinism rocks Arminianism discussion. So I threw down as much as I could, referring to Scripture and problem passages (for Calvinism). These two verses probably stuck out to spur me on to study Scripture (examine extensively!) and although I was critical of Scott... we did sharpen one another.
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. Jas 3:1
Although the passage is aimed directly towards teachers, I would say it encompasses any leadership type position where you have authority over others and teach. I have served in various leadership positions, led different study groups, but nothing awakened me to the potency of this verse until I started teaching teen Sunday School in early '09. All those young impressionable minds that can be filled with good Biblical knowledge or every heresy conceivable to man.
I think this was the point at which I started the 10:1 ratio for SS and development of Bible studies. For every hour of SS or Bible study... there should be at least 10 hours of prep time spent in the Word and various commentaries.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:8
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23
These two verses became more prominent for me earlier this year. I have two reasons.
1) I have tried to witness more to my family, especially a cousin and her son from Calgary. My nephew is young and he has a heart for spiritual things and wants to learn of God. I pray continually that they and their family would come to know Christ.
2) I am trying to understand grace more. I'm a slow learner.
Or do you think lightly of the riches of his kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? Rom 2:4
Two months ago, I wrote this on my whiteboard. I am still learning about grace.