table of contents · hebrew aramaic greek latin (vulgate-255) english king james persian babylonian...

Table of contents

Using This Guide ………………………………………………………………………….……. i

Welcome ………………………………………………………………………………………....1

Agenda …………………………………………………………………………………………..2

Course Objectives ……………………………………………………………………………….3

Lesson 1: A Test Drive …………………………………………………………………………..4

Lesson 2: How did the Bible come into being ……………………………………………………9

Lesson 3: Overview of the Bible ………………………………………………………………..21

Lesson 4: The First process of the Bible GPS is Understanding ………………………………...35

Lesson 5: The Second process of the Bible GPS is Application ………………………………....51 The Third process of the Bible GPS is Communication

Lesson 6: The Bible GPS on Galatians 5: 16-26 ………………………………………………...63

Lesson 7: The Bible GPS on Ephesians 5: 8-20 ………………………………………………....71

Lesson 8: The Bible GPS on Romans 3: 21-26 ……………………………………………….…79

Facilitator guide information

Last updated 01/01/2012

Notes:

Instructional durationrecommendations arelisted here

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Group Exercise

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Using this Guide________________________________________________________________

Location of MaterialsAll instructor materials are located in this manual.Participant materials can be printed from the CD.Address any questions to Kobus Genis at [email protected]

Conventions used in this GuideThe list of the icons found in this manual and their meanings.

Interaction is requested. Ask participants a question as listed in the Guide, or makeup one that is more relevant to the participants.

You are about to begin an activity and the participants need direction. Specificdirections accompany this icon.

Let the participants know how they are doing against the course and moduleobjectives.

Signals that a group activity is underway.

Present information. Be sure that you ask clarifying questions throughout thepresentation of information..

Materials and Equipment NeededFlipcharts, Student guides, Evaluation forms, Attendance sheets, Dry erase

markers, Flipchart markers, PC/laptop , PowerPoint presentation, Projector,

Replacement projector bulb, Projection screen suitable for facility and an

extension cord.

The Bible as Your GPS

© Kobus Genis 2012 1

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Welcome

Welcome

⌂ Facilitator information

⌂ Introduction of students

⌂ Agenda

________________________________________________________________

Welcome participants and congratulate them for taking the study!

Provide your name and relevant information about yourself (why you are fit toinstruct this course; additional areas of subject-matter expertise.)

Review information about facilities – where bathrooms are, when there will bebreaks if any and so forth.

Ask participants to introduce themselves and what they expect from this course.

Open with a prayer and scripture reading e.g. 2 Tim 3:16-17 or Psalm 19: 7-11 orPsalm 119: 105

Play any song that relates to Scripture like “Thy Word” by Amy Grant

Transition into agenda slide



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Agenda

1. A Test Drive

Agenda

3. Overview of the Bible

2. How did the Bible come into being?

4. The First process of the Bible GPS is Understanding.

5. The Second process of the Bible GPS is Application.The Third process of the Bible GPS is Communication.

6. The Bible GPS on Galatians 5: 16-26

7. The Bible GPS on Ephesians 5: 8-20

8. The Bible GPS on Romans 3: 21-26

________________________________________________________________

Discuss the agenda.

Ask participants if there are any questions at this time.

Transition into next slide



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Course objectives

Course objectives⌂ Goal: You will be able to use the tools in the Bible asyour GPS to understand, apply and communicate theessentials of the Bible into the 21st century.

⌂ How will we accomplish our goal?- You will demonstrate knowledge of the GPS model.- You will learn how to get to the message to theoriginal receiver of the Bible passage.

- You will learn how to discern if the message to theoriginal receiver is applicable or not to our situation.

- You will learn how to communicate the essentials tospecific target groups.

- You will practice the GPS model on Bible passages.

________________________________________________________________

Discuss the points on the slide.

Explain how personal attainment of the objectives will help the participants intheir life.




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1. A TEST DRIVEObjective: You will experience a taste of what you will be able to doyourself – and that is to experience the wonder of the Bible!

A Test Drive

________________________________________________________________

Ask a participant to read the objective.

Tell participants to fasten their seat belts for the ride of their life!




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Ephesians 2

1As for you,you were dead in your transgressions and sins,2in which you used to livewhen you followed the ways of this worldand of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,the spirit who is now at workin those who are disobedient.3All of us also lived among them at one time,gratifying the cravings of our sinful natureand following its desires and thoughts.Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

WHAT

A

MESS

________________________________________________________________

Tell the participants that you will read the verses 1-3 of Ephesians 2 and that theyneed to mark all the person(s) mentioned in this passage with a meaning indicator.You will show them as you read.

= you (the people in the congregation in Ephesus)

= people outside the congregation

= Paul and the people in the congregation in Ephesus

Tell the participants that you are going to read it for a second time and that theyneed to mark everything that is negative in red or with a similar meaning indicatore.g. a circle, square. Tell them that they can mark along with you.

= all the negative stuff

Ask a participant to read all the negative words and someone else to count them.

Ask them how they will summarize this passage. Guide them to come up withsomething in the line of:

* What a mess * A life before salvation * Sin




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4But because of his great love for us,God, who is rich in mercy,5made us alive with Christeven when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved.6And God raised us up with Christand seated us with himin the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,7in order that in the coming ageshe might show the incomparable riches of his grace,expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.8For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith–and this not from yourselves,it is the gift of God–9not by works,so that no one can boast.

WHAT

A

GOD

________________________________________________________________

Tell the participants that you will read the verses 4-9 of Ephesians 2 and that theyneed to mark all the person(s) mentioned in this passage with a meaning indicator.You will show them as you read. Tell them that verse 4 begins with “but.”

Tell them that Paul loves the word “but” and it always bring a change ofdirection in any argument. You need to listen carefully when someone says “but”in any conversation because what will follow is what the person actually wants tobring across. Read further …

= God

Tell the participants that you are going to read verses 4-9 for a second time andthat they need to mark everything that is positive in green or with a similarmeaning indicator e.g. a circle, square. Tell them that they can mark along withyou. = all the positive stuff

Ask a participant to read all the positive words and someone else to count them.


* What a God * A life after salvation * Salvation




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10For we are God's workmanship,created in Christ Jesus to do good works,which God prepared in advance for us to do.

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ▬▬▬

WHAT

A

DIFFERENCE

________________________________________________________________

Tell the participants that the focus of verse 10 changes from God (verses 4-9) topeople. Read verse 4 and mark the words that belong together.

▬ = “Workmanship”, “created”, “to do good works”, “prepared inadvance” and “to do” relate, therefore we mark them the same.


* What a difference * A life as result of salvation * Service

It will be good to write out the layout of Ephesians 2 as follow:Verses1-3 = What a mess! or SinVerses 4-9 = What a God! or SalvationVerses 10 = What a difference! or Service(Note that Sin, Service and Salvation start with an “S” and makes it therefore easyto remember.)

Ask participants how they have experienced the “Test drive.”

Close with a prayer.



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2. HOW DID THE BIBLE COME INTO BEING?Objective: To discover that the Bible is the greatest monument ofhumankind and how it is still applicable today!

1. A Test Drive

Agenda








_______________________________________________________________

Welcome everybody and open with a prayer.

Ask a participant to read the objective out loud..





How THE BIBLE came into being. (Schematic)How THE BIBLE came into being. (Schematic)Traditions

Languages

Empires

Councils

Oral Written

Hebrew Aramaic Greek Latin (Vulgate -255)English

King James

Persian

Babylonian

Assyrian

Greek

(Alexander theGreat)

Roman

Jamnia(Jewish Council)

±90ADOT Canon without

Apocrypha

Carthage±397AD

NT Canon(Early Churchaccepts thedecisions of

Jamnia & Carthage)

Trent±1546AD

(Located in Northern Italy)Roman Catholics officially

defined the CatholicCanon which include the

Apocrypha)

±1000BC ±400BC ±90AD 397AD ±1546 AD ±1611 AD

_______________________________________________________________________________________Notes:

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Tell the participants that the above is a snap shot of the complex process of howthe Bible came into being.Go over it briefly and focus on the four main points:Traditions, Languages, Councils and Empires

Tell the participants that the rest of this session is a deeper look into each of thefour points





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Ask a participant to readthe page.

After reading this pageask if there are anyquestions.


How THE BIBLE came into beingHow THE BIBLE came into being A Process

CANONCANONAPOCRYPHAAPOCRYPHA

1. Genuine.

2. Authenticity.

3. Divine authorityand inspiration.

________________________________________________________________

Why should we have some understanding of how the Bible came to us?Answer: To realize that the Bible truly bespeaks inspiration - a book beyond the scope of merehumankind.

The Bible did not just simply drop from the sky, but it came into being througha fascinating, but complicating process. To best understand the process we need tobe aware of the dispute regarding which books are, or are not, included. Thebooks that made it into the Bible are called the CANON. "Canon" is a Greekword which means a rule or measuring line.

A Canonical book, therefore, passes the test of being authentic, genuine, and ofdivine authority and inspiration.

The debate regarding the canon and apocrypha stems back to the early churchand the Greek translation of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint. AfterJerusalem had been sacked by the Romans in 70 AD, there was another Diasporaof Jewish people all over the world. Spoken and written Hebrew remained strongin the lands of Judea/Palestine, as opposed to Alexandria, the home of manyGreek speaking Jews. This lack of familiarity with the Hebrew Scriptures gaveimpetus for Greek speaking Jews, to translate the Hebrew scriptures. Thistranslation is called the Septuagint.

There were other writings circulating, in Alexandria especially, which werebeing widely read. These writings were included in the Septuagint. Thesewritings are called “Apocrypha” by Protestants.

The word Apocrypha comes from the Greek word, meaning “hidden” or“concealed”. The term generally refers to religious writings found in theSeptuagint and Latin Vulgate, but not in the Hebrew Bible.



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Ask a participant to readthis passage.

After reading this passageask if there are anyquestions.

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Tell the participants thatyou will read this passageand that they need to fillin the missing words.

Ask QuestionAfter reading this pageask if there are anyquestions.Transition into next slide

The JewsThe Jews

TheTheRomanRoman

CatholicCatholicChurchChurch

The ProtestantsThe Protestants

How THE BIBLE came into beingHow THE BIBLE came into being A Process

________________________________________________________________

The Apocrypha consists of 15 books of Jewish literature written during theintertestamental period.What is the significance of the Apocrypha?

For Christians and Jews, these books represent a continuation of sacredwritings in the Jewish community up until Christ came. They paint a picture of thecultural and religious mindset in Judaism before the appearance of Christianity.They set the scene for the coming of Jesus and help the reader to relate to thesocial and religious context Jesus found in Israel.

The acceptance of the apocrypha: As a general summary:* The Jews DID NOT accept the apocrypha as part of their Scriptures.* Protestants also DID NOT accept the Apocrypha as Scripture, though some

ascribe to them value as "good and useful reading" and "for example of life andinstruction of manners."

* The Roman Catholic Church ACCEPT 12 of the 15 apocryphal books atthe Council of Trent, April 8, 1546 A.D. as canonical (omitting I & II Esdras andthe defaulter of Manassah from the above list). Roman Catholics call thesewritings “deuterocanonicals” or “second canon” because its inspiration wasrecognized later.

Roman Catholics argue that the Apocrypha was an integral part of the earlychurch and should be included in the list of inspired Old Testament books.However, Protestants, Roman Catholics, and Greek Orthodox ChristiansAGREE on the same 27 books for the composition of the New Testament.



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Ask a participant to readthis passage and to giveparticipants time to fill inthe missing words.



TALKTALK

TALKTALK

TALKTALK

TALKTALK

TALKTALK

TALKTALK

TALKTALK

ORALORAL2500 BC

TALKTALK

TALKTALK

TALKTALKTALKTALK

TALKTALK

How THE BIBLE came into being.How THE BIBLE came into being. 1. The Traditions

________________________________________________________________

The Bible evolved over a time span of approximately 2000 years. The timespan can be divided in an ORAL tradition and a WRITTEN tradition.

The oral tradition is likely dated to the time of Abraham, around 1800 BC.Before anything in the Bible was written down, people told stories about God andGod's relationship with the people we now read about in the Bible. The oraltradition lasted for many years as families passed along the stories of theirancestors to each new generation. In the case of the Jewish Scriptures (OldTestament), some stories were told for centuries before they were written down ina final form.



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TALKTALK

TALKTALK

TALKTALK

TALKTALK

TALKTALK

TALKTALK

TALKTALK

ORALORAL WRITTENWRITTEN2500 BC

TALKTALK

TALKTALK

TALKTALKTALKTALK

TALKTALK

How THE BIBLE came into being.How THE BIBLE came into being. 1. The Traditions

________________________________________________________________

Eventually, as human societies in the Near East began to develop forms ofwriting that were easy to learn and use (around 1800 B.C.), people began to writedown the stories, songs (Psalms), and prophecies that would one day become apart of the Bible. These were written on papyrus, a paper-like material made fromreeds, or on vellum, which was made from dried animal skins. But all the booksfound in the Old Testament were not written down at one time. This process tookcenturies. While some books were being written and collected, others were stillbeing passed on in storytelling fashion.

Some very old copies of both the Old and New Testament writings have beenpreserved, and they are now stored in museums and libraries around the world.Once the stories of the Bible began to be written down, it became necessary tomake new copies before the old ones wore out from repeated use and becameunreadable. Sometimes several scribes made copies while another scribe read thetext aloud. The books of the Old Testament were written over several centuries,beginning in the 10th century BC - by which time the Hebrews were settled inCanaan, or Palestine. The Old Testament, in roughly the form that we know it, did not emerge untilafter the return from Babylonian exile around 500-450 BC. Likewise the New Testament underwent a similar process of development,although in a much shorter time frame. The first letters of Paul were writtenaround AD 45-50, the first Gospel (Mark) around AD 60, and the last of thecanonical Epistles around AD 90-100.

Rolls of papyrus (plant material) and parchment (animal skin) were used.Probably the first written parts of Scripture were short pieces of poetry, dating tothe time of the exodus around 1300 BC.



Notes:5-7 minutes

Question




Council of JamniaCouncil of Jamnia±±AD 90AD 90

Old

Testa-

ment

New

Testa-

ment

Apocrypha/Deuterocanon+

How THE BIBLE came into being.How THE BIBLE came into being. 2. The Councils

Council of CarthageCouncil of Carthage±±AD 397AD 397

Council of TrentCouncil of Trent±±AD 1546AD 1546

________________________________________________________________

The entire Old Testament canon, without any of the apocryphal books, didnot reach an "official" codified form in Judaism until the Council of Jamnia in±AD 90. This was largely a Jewish response to Christianity that was producingnew writings (what we call the New Testament) to add to what was alreadyauthoritative in Judaism.

However, the 27 books of the New Testament did not emerge as an entirebody of collected writings until well into the third century AD at the Council ofCarthage AD 397. Even then, some of the books were debated (for example,Hebrews, James, the Revelation) and some sections of the church used books thatwere not accepted in other areas (The Didache, The Epistles of Clement, The Shepherd ofHermas, etc.).

So although the New Testament took shape over roughly 100 years and wasvirtually complete by the early second century AD, it took another two to threecenturies for the church to begin defining the canon of the New Testament.

However, the Christian canon was not "officially" closed until the tensions thaterupted during the Reformation led to the exclusion of the Apocrypha by theemerging Protestants, which in turn led to the Catholic Council of Trent in AD1546 that officially defined the Catholic canon including the apocryphal books.The apocryphal books are called being called the deuteron-canon (second canon)by the Roman Catholics and are included in their Bible.



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HEBREW

GREEK

LATIN

ENGLISH

How THE BIBLE came into being.How THE BIBLE came into being. 3. The Languages

________________________________________________________________HEBREW

Most of the original manuscripts of the Old Testament were written inHEBREW, although a few chapters of Ezra and Daniel were recorded in Aramaic(dialect of Hebrew), the language spoken by Jesus.FROM HEBREW TO GREEK

The New Testament was written in the first century AD in Greek because itwas the most SPOKEN language around the Mediterranean at the time.The Septuagint (Greek)

The first translations of the Bible were of the Hebrew Bible into Greek. It iscalled the Septuagint. The conquest of ALEXANDER the Great in the fourthcentury BC made Greek the most widely spoken language in the Mediterraneanarea. It, therefore, seemed a natural step to translate the Scriptures into Greekfor the benefit of non-Hebrew-speaking Jews.FROM GREEK to LATIN (The Vulgate (Latin)

As the centuries after the resurrection unfolded, the dominant language spokenin the ROMAN Empire began to change. No longer was Greek the dominantlanguage. In 382, Pope Damascus therefore commissioned Jerome (c. 347-420) totranslate the Bible into Latin, a task which took him twenty years to complete.FROM LATIN to ENGLISH

The first English translation of the Bible was by John Wycliffe. He translatedthe Bible into English from the Latin Vulgate. This was a translation from atranslation and not a translation from the original Hebrew and Greek. Wycliffewas forced to translate from the Latin Vulgate because he did not know Hebrewor Greek. The Advent of Printing greatly aided the transmission of the biblicaltexts. The King James Version (1611AD) is the translation from the originalHebrew and Greek into English.



Notes:7-10 minutes

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WESTWEST

How THE BIBLE came into being.How THE BIBLE came into being. 4. The Empires

EASTEAST

Assyrian

Babylonian

PersianGreek

Roman

________________________________________________________________

Most scholars agree that the Old Testament, the first section of the two-partChristian Biblical canon, was composed and compiled between the 12th and the2nd century BC. It was during the time of the Assyrian (900-607BC), Babylonian(607 -536BC), Persian and Greek Empires. The first mention of Assyria in The Bible is extremely ancient - Genesis 2:14speaks of the region in relation to The Garden of Eden. Although founded as earlyas 1700 B.C., the Assyrian Empire, with its capital at Nineveh, actually had itsgreatest influence on Bible History during the period from about 900 to 600 B.C.The Assyrians conquered and took into captivity the northern kingdom of Israel,from which the "Lost Ten Tribes" never returned (2 Kings 17:1-23). The New Babylonian Empire, which existed from 606 to 536 B.C., fullyconquered the southern kingdom of Judah in 586 B.C. It was then that theBabylonians under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar completely devastated thecity of Jerusalem, looted and burned the original Temple of God, built bySolomon (see Temple Mount Treasures), and carried the people of Judah,including the prophets Daniel and Ezekiel, off into captivity. Of all of the human empires that affected the people of Israel, the Persians didsomething rather unique - they permitted the return of the people of the southernkingdom of Judah, by God's command (see above verses), 70 years after their exile bythe Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar.



Question



The world power shifted from the east to the west with the rise of Alexanderthe Great. Alexander the Great lived only about 33 years, from 356 to 323 B.C.,but during that time he became one of the most successful military commanders inhuman history. He became the ruler of the earth from Greece to India.

Alexander died before his thirty-third birthday. After his death, his empire wasdivided among his four generals. They shared Alexander’s dream and continued tospread Greek culture, Greek thinking and the Greek language everywhere. The next world rulers, the Romans, fully embraced Greek culture. The Greekdialect used at the time was known as koine (general) Greek and flourished in theRoman Empire. The New Testament, the name given to the final portion ofthe Christian Bible, written after the Old Testament, were written in Koine Greekby various unknown authors after c. AD 45 and before c. AD 140. Its 27 bookswere gradually collected into a single volume over a period of several centuries.



Notes:5-7 minutes

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How THE BIBLE came into being. (End remarks)How THE BIBLE came into being. (End remarks)

Bible means “books”

Manuscripts

Dead Sea Scrolls

Codex Sinaiticus

Codex Vaticanus

________________________________________________________________

WHERE DOES THE NAME “BIBLE” COME FROM?The Bible is the classical name for the Hebrew Bible of Judaism or the

combination of the Old Testament and New Testament of Christianity.The word Bible comes from the Greek βιβλια—biblia, meaning "books", which inturn is derived from βυβλος—byblos meaning "papyrus", from the ancientPhoenician city of Byblos which exported papyrus.MANUSCRIPTS

Although we don’t have the original manuscripts of the Bible, we do havemanuscripts that still exist today. Some of the most important are:

1. The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in eleven caves along the northwestshore of the Dead Sea between the years 1947 and 1956. The Dead Sea Scrollsdate from 200 B.C. - 70 A.D. and contain the entire book of Isaiah and portions ofevery other Old Testament book but Esther.

There are over 5,600 early Greek Manuscripts of the New Testament that arestill in existence. The oldest manuscripts were written on papyrus and the latermanuscripts were written on leather, called parchment.

2. 350 A.D. Codex Sinaiticus contains the entire New Testament and almost theentire Old Testament in Greek. It was discovered by a German scholar, Tisendorf,in 1856 at an Orthodox monastery at Mt. Sinai.

3. 350 A.D. Codex Vaticanus is an almost complete New Testament. It wascataloged as being in the Vatican Library since 1475.



Notes:5-7 minutes

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FeedbackAsk participants how theyhave experienced thissession.Close with prayer.

Instruct

How THE BIBLE came into being. (End remarks)How THE BIBLE came into being. (End remarks)

Old TestamentOld Testament

3939

New TestamentNew Testament

2727

TOTAL = 66TOTAL = 66

________________________________________________________________

The Bible consists of two major divisions. These two primary divisions are

the 39 books that constitute the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New

Testament. The names "Old Testament" and "New Testament" have been

used since the close of the second century A.D. to distinguish the Jewish (God’s

covenant with Israel) and Christian (God’s new covenant people) Scriptures. Testamentwas a translation of the Hebrew word berith ("a covenant") to render the Greek

word diatheke (Latin testamentum).

Even though these books were written at different times and varying

circumstances, they harmoniously compliment each other and constitute a whole.

It has been aptly remarked that the Hebrew scriptures are the New Testament in

prophecy and the New Testament is the Hebrew scriptures in fulfillment (Jer. 31:

31-34, cp. Heb. 8: 7-13).

When one considers there were about 40 persons, many of whom from totally

different backgrounds, and about 1500 years consumed in the making of the Bible,

the Bible truly bespeaks inspiration - a book beyond the scope of mere

humankind. No other book has influenced the thinking of humankind and the

molding of their character as the Bible. The Bible is for sure the Greatest

Monument of Humankind!

For the next session please read the pages in the book “The Bible as Your GPS”that covers the 10 major blocks of the Bible (pages 25, 35, 45-46, 89-90, 111-112,169-170, 243, 267-268 & 303-307).



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3. OVERVIEW OF THE BIBLEObjective: To get a better overview of the Bible which will help youto better understand, apply and communicate the essentials of theBible.

1. A Test Drive

Agenda








_______________________________________________________________


Ask the participants how they have experienced the readings (It was theirassignment for the week.).

Ask a participant to read the objective loud.





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Overview of the Bible1. Pre- History

9

87

65

4321

10

2. The Patriarchs

3. Exodus and Conquest4. Judges5. United Kingdom6. Divided Kingdom and Exile7. In Exile8. Return from Exile9. 400 Silent Years10. New Testament

________________________________________________________________

Tell participants that this slide is a schematic representation of the overview of theBible.

Ask if anyone can tell you why blocks 1-9 represent a ascending line while block10 represents a horizontal line (pages XXI-XXII in “The Bible as Your GPS”).


Transition into the next slide



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Overview of the BibleOverview of the Bible 1. Pre-History

CreationFall

Confusionof Babel Flood

The first 11 chapters of Genesis describe how humanbeings miss the mark. The rest of the Bible tells us how

God accompanies human beings on their journeythrough life in order to create a community of believers

— a family of faith!

1.

Gen 1-11

________________________________________________________________

Ask participants if anyone can tell why the first eleven chapters of the Bible arebeing called “pre-history?” (Page 25 in “The Bible as Your GPS”)

Discuss the points on the slide


Transition into next slide = map of the exodus



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Overview of the BibleOverview of the Bible 2. Patriarchs and Slavery

In these chapters in Genesis, we seethe wondrous ways God goes about

establishing a new community of faith.

God’s rescue plan – a covenant

Four maincharacters

Abraham

JosephJacob

Isaac

2.

(±2000 – ±1250 BC) Gen 12-50

________________________________________________________________

Ask participants if anyone can tell what a covenant is? (Page 35 in “The Bible asYour GPS”)



Transition into next slide = map of Abraham’s journeys




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Overview of the BibleOverview of the Bible 3. Exodus to Conquest

(±1250 – 1220 BC) Exodus – Joshua

3. A FAMILY TURNS INTO A NATION-God begins to fulfill his promise to

Abraham

Events

Moses leadsthe people from

Egypt

The Passover

The desertwanderings

Offering system Conquest ofCanaan

________________________________________________________________

Ask participants if anyone can tell how many years difference there are betweenthe last chapter of Genesis and the first chapter of Exodus? (Pages 45-46 in “TheBible as Your GPS”)



Transition into next slide = map of Exodus




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Overview of the BibleOverview of the Bible 4. Judges

(±1200 – 1020 BC) Judges & Ruth

4.The events between the entry into thePromised Land and the establishment

of the monarchy of Israel

12 tribes notclosely united

Dark period –Faith in God dwindled

during this phase

A ray of lightin dark times

God uses Ruthand Boaz

________________________________________________________________

Ask participants if anyone can tell why this was a dark time in the history of Israel?(Pages 89-90 in “The Bible as Your GPS”)






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Overview of the BibleOverview of the Bible 5. The United Kingdom

(±1020 – 925 BC) 1 – 2 Samuel; 1 Kings 1-11

1 Chronicles – 2 Chronicles 9

Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes

Song of Solomon5.

Monarchy established

3Kings

Saul

David

Solomon

God continues towork out his

rescue plan forthe nations –

2 Sam 7:10, 12, 14-16

________________________________________________________________

Ask participants if anyone can tell why Saul fail as a king? (Pages 111-112 in “TheBible as Your GPS”)



Transition into the next slide = map of 12 tribes




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Overview of the BibleOverview of the Bible 6. The Divided Kingdomand Exile

(925 – 586 BC)

The consequence of breaking the covenantthrough idolatry: A Divided Kingdom

1 Kings 11: 9 & 1 Kings 12: 14

Northern Kingdom= Israel (10 tribes)

Southern Kingdom= Judah (2 tribes)

God continues to be committed to hiscovenant - Prophets point to new things

6.

1 Kings 12 – 2 Kings 25

2 Chronicles 10–36; Jonah; Amos; Hosea;

Isaiah 1-39; Micah; Nahum; Zephaniah

Jeremiah; Lamentations

Habakkuk; Obadiah; Isaiah 40-66

________________________________________________________________

Ask participants if anyone can tell why the kingdom of Israel split into two? (pages169-170 in “The Bible as Your GPS”)



Transition into the next slide = map the Divided Kingdom




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(925 – 586 BC)

Overview of the BibleOverview of the Bible 6. The Divided Kingdomand Exile

Ezekiel and Daniel

6. 722BC – The end of theNorthern Kingdom

Assyrians

2 Kings 17: They continued to sin against Godand ignored the prophets’ warnings

How will God fulfill his promises toAbraham and Israel?

586BC – The end ofthe Southern Kingdom

Babylonians

The unthinkable happened: Jerusalem collapsed

________________________________________________________________



Transition into the next slide = map of Israel and Judah into captivity




Notes:5-8 minutes

Ask Question

Instruct

Ask Question

Overview of the Bible 7Overview of the Bible 7. In Exile

(925 – 586 BC) Ezekiel and Daniel

Changed way of worship

The unthinkable happened: Jerusalem collapsed

From Temple sacrifices in Jerusalemto

prayer, confession and teaching in houses

7.

How will God fulfill his promises toAbraham and Israel?

________________________________________________________________

Ask participants if anyone can tell why God did not turn his back on His people?(Page 243 in “The Bible as Your GPS”)






Notes:5-8 minutes

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Instruct

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(538 – 420 BCBC)

Overview of the Bible 8Overview of the Bible 8. Return from Exile

Haggai; Zechariah; Joel; Esther

Ezra ; Nehemiah; Malachi

8. The Persians encouraged therepatriation and also subsidized it. Persians

The first groupreturned ± 536BC

and started torebuild the temple

The next maingroup returned

458BC withEzra

In 444BCNehemiah

returned withanother group

God remains faithful in keeping his promises.The prophets continue to point to the Messiah.

The Exiles who returned were called Jews –derived from “Yehudi” which is related to Judah

________________________________________________________________

Ask participants if anyone can tell what the “Return from Exile” tells us aboutGod? (page 267-268 in “The Bible as Your GPS”)






Notes:5-8 minutes

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Instruct

Ask Question

OT NT

Overview of the Bible 9Overview of the Bible 9. 400 “Silent” Years

(420- ±6BC)

Décor shifts1. Political shifts2. Cultural shifts

4. Religious shifts3. Geographical shifts

5. Language shifts

9.

________________________________________________________________

Ask participants if they can tell why this period is refereed to as the “Silent” Years?(page 303-307 in “The Bible as Your GPS”)

Discuss the points on the slide by flipping through the sides.





Notes:5-8 minutes

Instruct

Feedback

NT

Overview of the Bible 10Overview of the Bible 10. New Testament

10. The 27 books that make upthe NT were nearly all

written before the end of ad100. The 27 books can be

grouped the following way:

The four Gospels

The letters of Paul

The Acts of the Apostles

The general letters

John’s visions

God is faithful to hiscovenant in creating a

community ofbelievers — a family of

faith!

________________________________________________________________

Discuss the points on the slide.Tell participants that page 34 of the handouts is the schematic representation ofthe ten blocks.

Ask participants how they have experienced this session.

Close with prayer.



The BibleThe Bible – Schematic representation.

1 2 3 4 5

Pre-History The Patriarchsand Slavery

Exodus andConquest

Judges

The UnitedKingdom

Genesis 1-11:9 Genesis 11:10- 50 Exodus - Joshua Judges and Ruth 1&2 Samuel,1Kings 1-11,1Chronicles –2Chronicles 9,Psalms,Proverbs,Ecclesiastes,Song ofSolomon.

1. Creation.2. Fall.3. Flood.4. Babel.

--------------

--------------

--------------

--------------

--------------

-------------

--------------

--------------

--------------

--------------

--------------

--------------Pre-History- Creation- Noah builds theArk

-2500 -2000 -1406 -1375 -1105

Abraham(-2166)

Joseph(-1915

to -1805)

Moses(-1526to -±1406)

Judges(-1375)

PromisedLand

Samuel

Saul king – 1050,David king - 1010

+ Temple -959

-2500 –Egyptiansdiscoverpapyrus and ink,first libraries.

-2300 -Egyptians tamehorses, bow andarrow used inwarfare.

-1700 - Egyptiandocument describesmedical and surgicalprocedures.

-1400 – First period ofChinese literature;intricate clock used inEgypt

-1200 – Laborstrike inThebes; firstChinesedictionary.

-1183 –Destructionof Troy

-1000 – City of Pekingbuilt; glazing of bricksand tiles begin in theNear East.

Job?

6 7 8 9

DividedKingdom

Exile Return fromExile

The 400 SilentYears

New Testament

1Kings 12 – 2Kings 25;2Chronicles 9-36;Isaiah, Jeremiah,Lamentations, Hosea,Joel, Amos, Obadiah,Jonah, Micah, Nahum,Habakkuk, Zephaniah.

Daniel en Ezekiel Ezra, Nehemiah,Esther, Haggai,Zechariah, andMalachi.

Old Testament Apocrypha:

1 & 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judit,Additions to Daniel (1. ThePrayer of Azariah – Daniel 3 –2. The Song of the Three HolyChildren. 3. The story ofSuzanna -Daniel 13-. 4. Beland the Dragon –Daniel 14.)Additions to Esther, Theprayer of Manasseh, Theletter of Jeremiah, The Bookof Baruch, The Wisdom ofJoshua Ben-Sira, TheWisdom of Solomon, 1 & 2Maccabees.

-925 to -586 -586 to -538 -538 to -420 -420 to ± -6

The returning Exileswere called “Jews” forthe first time. [Yehudi= Judah (Tribe of).]

Templecompleted -515

NorthernTribes (Israel),break away.SouthernTribes = Judah

End ofNorthernKingdom(Israel)-722

End ofSouthernKingdom(Judah),Jerusalemdestroyed-586

Prayer, confessionand teaching fromScripture becamefocus of theirworship Ezra 7 en

Nehemia -464to -423

Assyriansinventinflatableskins -900

First knowndate ofOlympicGames -776

Elijah -875, Elisha -848,Jonah -793, Hosea -753,

Isaiah -740, Jeremiah -627,Nineve destroyed -620,

Daniel -605

EstherQueen of

Persia -515

GautamaBuddha born-563,Confuciusborn -551

Lock & key,water level&carpenterssquare -550

Polo in Persia -525, RomeRepublic -509, Indian surgeonperforms the first cataractoperation, origin of Halloween -500, first time Greek men chooseshort haircuts, Parthenon -448.

Romans build first paved road -312,Hebrew O.T. translated to Greek -255,Great wall of China built -215, JuliusCeasar born -100, Rome conquersEngland -55, Cleopatra becomesEgyptian ruler -51

The BibleThe Bible – Schematic representation.



Notes:2-5 minutes

Ask Question

4. THE FIRST PROCESS OF THE BIBLE GPSIS UNDERSTANDING.Objective: To realize that because the Bible was written in differentlanguage, tradition, time, situation and history we need a responsiblemethod to understand the message to the original receiver of the Bible.

1. A Test Drive

Agenda








________________________________________________________________







Notes:2-5 minutes

.

Ask Question

Why is the Bible not always easy to understand?Why is the Bible not always easy to understand?

………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………….

________________________________________________________________

Ask the participants to answer the question of this slide.Answer: Language, tradition, time, situation and history



.



Notes:2-5 minutes

Ask Question

In Flanders FieldsIN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies

grow In Flanders fields.By John McCrae

________________________________________________________________

Why is it easier for Canadians to understand this poem than people e.g. in thePhilippines?Answer: Canadians understand “In Flanders Field” because it was written in their languageand part of their tradition, situation and history.




Notes:2-5 minutes

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(The Westminster Leningrad Codex)

________________________________________________________________

This poem is Psalm 51 in its original language, HebrewWhy do you think is it easier to understand Flanders Field than this poem?Answer: It was written in a different llanguage, tradition, time, situation and history

Who best understood this passage and why?Answer: The sender of the message and the original receivers best understood the message becauseit was written in their language, tradition, time, situation and history.




Notes:5-8 minutes

Ask Question

Instruct

What are the differences between usand the original receivers of the Bible?

1. ………………………………………………………………….

2. ………………………………………………………………….

3. ………………………………………………………………….

4. ………………………………………………………………….

5. ………………………………………………………………….

________________________________________________________________

Ask the participants to answer the question of this slide.Answer: (1) language, (2) tradition, (3)time, (4) situation and (5)history


We’ve seen that the Bible was written in a totally different language, culture, time,situation and history than we are used to. Therefore, we cannot apply everythingin the Bible to our life today. The following example will illustrate this point:




Notes:5-8 minutes

Ask Question

Please tick in the block which version you will usewhen you need to do a devotional at a youth camp.

“Greet one another with a kiss of love.Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”I Peter 5: 14, New International Version

“Greet each other in Christian love.Peace be to all of you who are in Christ.”I Peter 5: 14, New Living Translation

Who best understood the message of 1 Peter 5 verse 14?

……………………………………………………………

________________________________________________________________

Ask the participants to answer the first question of this slide.Answer: It will be better to use the New Living Translation.The New Living Translation has translated “kiss of love” over into our culture. In Biblicaldays (and still in some countries today) a kiss on the cheek was an expression of brotherly love.Today, in our culture, we shake hands or give a high five.

Ask the participants to answer the second question of this slide.Answer: The sender and the original receiver.





Notes:2-5 minutes

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But how can the message to the original receiversspeak to us in the twenty first century?This happens through three processes.

1. ………………………………………………………

2. ………………………………………………………

3. ………………………………………………………

UNDERSTANDINGAPPLICATION

COMMUNICATION

________________________________________________________________

Read the question on this slide and let the participants fill in the three processes.





Notes:2-5 minutes

Instruct

Ask Question

UNDERSTANDING

COMMUNICATIONAPPLICATION

Message tothe original

receiver

TargetGroupThe GPS

DIFFERENCES of

LanguageTradition

TimeSituationHistory

________________________________________________________________

Discuss the points on the slide and tell participants that this is a schematicrepresentation of the GPS method.





Notes:8-10 minutes

InstructTell the participants that…

In the previous sessionwe’ve seen that the senderand the original receiversbest understood themessage of the Bible. Buthow can the message tothe original receiversspeak to us? Thishappens through thethree processes of

1. Understanding,2. Application,3. Communication.

Ask QuestionAsk participants if theyknow what the missingword is.

InstructTell participants that … The steps ofunderstanding can besummarized with theacronym of S.T.A.R.T.We will use Ephesians 2:1-10 (refer to Test Drive)as an example to learnhow to apply the 5 stepsof Understanding

Ask Question

The FIRST process: UNDERSTANDINGThe FIRST process: UNDERSTANDING

1. Situation

S.T.A.R.T.

2. Type of literature

3. Analyze the passage

4. Relate the message to therest of the Bible

5. Test your findings


receiver

UNDERSTANDING

________________________________________________________________

The first process is UNDERSTANDING. (Exegesis)

The Purpose of this process is to understand the message as well as or almost aswell as the original receivers did.

.





Notes:5-10 minutes

Instruct

Ask Question

Apply the steps of UNDERSTANDING to Ephesians 2

This will help you to better understand the message. You can getsome background information in the Bible as well as outsidesources, like study Bibles.

1. SSituation

2. TType of literatureIt is important to establish the type of literature. E.g. you cannotread poetry like a story and vice versa.The diagram is a brief summary of the major types of literature inthe Bible.

S.T.A.R.T.

Prose Poetry

InstructionExplanationProcedure

You get poetry in …* Psalms* Prophets* Wisdom literature

Narrative

________________________________________________________________

Tel participants that this slide deals with the first two letters of the acronymS.T.A.R.T.Discuss the points on the slideIt is important to establish the type of literature. E.g. you cannot read poetry like astory and vice versa.The Prose-Poetry diagram is a brief summary of the major types of literature in theBible. You can refer to page XX and XX1 in the Bible as Your GPS.





Notes:5-10 minutes

Instruct

Tel participants that thisslide deals with the thirdletter of the acronymS.T.A.R.T.

Ask QuestionAsk a participant to readthis passage.

Ask participants if thereare any questions at thistime.

Instruct

Tell participants that thefollowing slides willillustrate the analysis ofthis passage.Remind them that thefollowing slides are fromthe Test Drive (session 1).


3. AAnalyze the passage


3.1 Write out the passage in smaller units (if necessary)

3.2 Mark the significant meaning indicators

3.3 Explain difficult words and phrases

3.4 Establish the meaning structure

3.5 Conclude and summarize the message to the original receiver

________________________________________________________________

3.1 Write out the passage in smaller units (if necessary)Some passages (e.g. explanation and instruction) are ‘loaded’. It is therefore

helpful to write the passage in smaller units in order to make it easier to analyze.

3.2 Mark the significant meaning indicatorsMarking words/phrases with the same/related or opposite meanings help

us to see how the author developed his/her thoughts.

3.3 Explain difficult words and phrasesWe want to find out how the original receiver understood the words and

phrases of a paragraph.

3.4 Establish the meaning structureIn the light of the findings of the previous three steps, we now attempt to

see how the author arranged the main ideas.

3.5 Conclude and summarize the message to the original receiverFollowing on from the previous step, the message to the original receiver

can now be summarized. It is done as the conclusion to the findings of all thesteps of UNDERSTANDING.



Notes:10-15 minutes

Instruct

These slides deal with 3.1-3.43.1 It is written in smallerunits because Paul writesvery loaded. (Refer toTest Drive)

3.2

The above are themeaning indicators

3.3 Explain difficultwords (if any).

3.4 The meaning structureof Ephesians 2:1-10 is:- What a mess!- What a God!-What a difference!

Ask Question

Ask participants if thereare any questions at thistime.


Ephesians 2

1As for you,you were dead in your transgressions and sins,2in which you used to livewhen you followed the ways of this worldand of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,the spirit who is now at workin those who are disobedient.3All of us also lived among them at one time,gratifying the cravings of our sinful natureand following its desires and thoughts.Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

WHAT

A

MESS

4But because of his great love for us,God, who is rich in mercy,5made us alive with Christeven when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved.6And God raised us up with Christand seated us with himin the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,7in order that in the coming ageshe might show the incomparable riches of his grace,expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.8For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith–and this not from yourselves,it is the gift of God–9not by works,so that no one can boast.

WHAT

A

GOD

10For we are God's workmanship,created in Christ Jesus to do good works,which God prepared in advance for us to do.

WHAT

A

DIFFERENCE



Notes:5-10 minutes

Instruct

Ask Question

3. AAnalyze the passage


3.1 Write out the passage in smaller units (if necessary)

3.2 Mark the significant meaning indicators

3.3 Explain difficult words and phrases

3.4 Establish the meaning structure

3.5 Conclude and summarize the message to the original receiver

VERSES 1-3 = what a mess (sin)VERSES 4-9 = what a God (salvation)VERSE 10 = what a difference (service)

…………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………

________________________________________________________________

This slide deals with 3.5

3.5 The meaning structure will help you to summarize a passage. Tell participantsthat the message to the original receivers can be summarized in many ways e.g.We are not saved by god works but for good works.





Notes:2-5 minutes

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4. RRelate the message to therest of the Bible

In this step we determine whether the findings of theprevious steps relate to the rest of the Bible.

Do you think that the message to the original rceiverrelates to the rest of the Bible?

YES NO

________________________________________________________________

Tel participants that this slide deals with the fourth letter of the acronymS.T.A.R.T.

Discuss the points on the slide and make it very clear what the purpose of ths stepis.

Ask the question on the slide. The answer is “yes.”





Notes:2-5 minutes

Instruct

Ask Question

Feedback


5. TTest your findings

In this step you test your ownfindings against those of others.(e.g. commentaries, study Bibles)

Sin messes everything but Godenables us through Jesus tomake and to be a difference.

UNDERSTANDING


receiver

________________________________________________________________

Tel participants that this slide deals with the fifth letter of the acronym S.T.A.R.T.

Discuss the points on this slide and make it very clear what the purpose of thisprocess is.



Close with prayer.



5. THE SECOND PROCESS OF THE BIBLEGPS IS APPLICATION. THE THIRD PROCESS OF THE BIBLE GPSIS COMMUNICATIONObjective: To learn the skill in how to apply and communicate themessage to the original receiver into the 21st century.

1. A test drive

Agenda








________________________________________________________________



UNDERSTANDING

DIFFERENCES of

LanguageTradition


Essential =Moral



receiver

The GPSTargetGroup

Incidental = Cultural, Ceremonial & Civil

________________________________________________________________

The Purpose of the process of Application is to bring the message to theoriginal receivers across time by applying it to our situation.

We’ve seen that the Bible was written in a totally different language, culture, time,situation and history than we are used to in the 21st century. Therefore, wecannot apply everything in the Bible to our life today! How do we determine WHAT to apply and WHAT not?

You first need to distinguish the difference between an ………………….. and an

………………………….

An ESSENTIAL: The message is applicable to the original receiver and everyone.

An INCIDENTAL: The message is only applicable to the original receiver.



How do you know when a Bible passage is anESSENTIAL or an INCIDENTAL?

You need to distinguish the three types of laws in the Bibleand one practice

Ceremonial Laws

Civil Laws

Cultural Practices

Moral Laws

________________________________________________________________

How do you know when a Bible passage is an ESSENTIAL or an

INCIDENTAL?

……………………………………………………………………………………

1. …………………… laws,Example: Exodus 30: 17-22Reason: …………………………………………………………………………...

2. …………………… laws,Example: Deut 22:8Reason:………………………………………………………………………………….

3. …………………… laws.Example: Exodus 20: 15Reason:…………………………………………………………………………………....

4. …………………… practicesExample: 1 Peter 5: 14Reason:……………………………………………………………………………………





NOTES………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Pease select the proper word for the blank spaces. It iseither ESSENTIAL or INCIDENTAL.

CEREMONIAL LAWS were ……………………………… for the original

receivers but are ……………………………………. for us because it was

fulfilled in Christ offering on the cross.

CIVIL LAWS were ……………………………… for the original receivers

but are ……………………………for us because our situation is different.

MORAL LAWS were …………………………………. for the original

receivers and it is ………………………………… for us because it goes

beyond language, culture, time, situation and history.

CULTURAL PRACTICES were ……………………………….. for the

Original receivers and it is ………………………………….. for us

because our culture, time, situation and history are different.

________________________________________________________________



Conclusion:Ceremonial laws therefore are …………………………Civil laws therefore are …………………………..Cultural practices therefore are …………………………

Moral laws therefore are …………………………

Therefore only the ………………………… are applicable to us.

________________________________________________________________



1 Peter 5 verse 14 as an illustration

“Greet one another with a kiss of love.Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”

Question 1: What is Essential to the original receivers? The kiss

Question 2: Is it an Essential or Incidental to us? Incidental

________________________________________________________________



INCIDENTALMessage onlymeant for the

original receiver

Example

perceivedas =

ESSENTIALChristians shall kiss

one another

INCIDENTALKiss as a way to

greet(1 Peter 5: 14

ESSENTIALMessage to theoriginal receiverand everyone

perceivedas

=

An illustration of the importance of this process

________________________________________________________________



ESSENTIALMessage to theoriginal receiverand everyone

Example

perceivedas =

INCIDENTALJesus was only amoral teacher like

the Buddha

ESSENTIAL

Jesus is God(John 20: 28)

INCIDENTALMessage onlymeant for the

original receiver

perceivedas

=

An illustration of the importance of this process

________________________________________________________________



UNDERSTANDING

DIFFERENCES of

LanguageTradition


Essential =Moral



receiver

The GPSTargetGroup


________________________________________________________________

The Purpose of the third process is to ………………….. the essentials in arelevant way.

There are many ways to communicate a message.Discuss the different ways a message can be brought to e.g. a youth group.

The ………………………… will determine how you communicate the message.



Target group: Waiter in Mexico

It is January and you are in Mexico on holiday at a very nice resort. You areoutside at the pool of the hotel reading the Bible while you enjoying the nicesunshine. Later you call the waiter and order a nice drink just to cool things down.The waiter was very friendly. That had given you the opportunity to start a littleconversation. It went something like this:

Waiter: By your accent you must be Canadian.You: Yea, you bet.

Waiter: Escaping the cold?You: Of course. You know we have only two seasons in Canada: Winter andconstruction!

Waiter: I see. May I ask you a question?You: Sure!

Waiter: Are you a Christian?You: Yes, but why do you ask?

Waiter: I see you are reading the Bible. Why are you a Christian?You: I would love to tell you but do you have time now?

Waiter: O yea, my boss is cool. Besides, we are not that busy today.You: By the way, my name is Paul.

Waiter: My name is Diego.Paul: Okay, I would love to tell you how why I am a Christian.I grew up in a Christian home. I am very thankful for that but that doesn’t makeme a Christian. Like growing up in a bakery doesn’t make you a baker. I realizedone day something was missing in my life. Even life didn’t make sense to me. Iwas watching news one evening and was strike by all the mess in this world. Ishared my experience with a good friend and she helped me a lot. She pointed outthat God didn’t turn his back on this mess and on us. The amazing thing is thatHe entered our mess with the birth of Jesus and reconciled us with God throughhis death and resurrection. Jesus became what I am, a sinner, to make me what Idon’t deserve, a child of God. What a God!! I am so thankful to God that I wantto make a difference in the messy world by doing good.

Diego: So what you say is that good works cannot save you?You: No. The Bible makes it very clear that good works cannot save you. If yourgood works are able to save you, then you can actually boast about it. The otherproblem is that if your works can save you, when do you know you have doneenough good works. We are not saved by doing good but to do good.



Diego: I never thought about it in this way. It makes sense to me.How can I make this my own because I want to follow Jesus?You: You just need to accept what Jesus did for you and start a journey of growth. Diego It sounds too good to be true. Is their small print (smile)?You: No (laugh). Can I pray for you? Diego: That will be so cool!You: Lord, Diego longs to be your child and to get to know you better. Thankyou Lord that he can accept the free gift of eternal life through faith. Lord I prayfor his new journey and that he will grow in You. Thank you Lord that you lovehim and that in Jesus he can know that he is forgiven and that nothing canseparate him from You. We pray this in your name. Amen!

Diego: Wow! Thank you and thank God!

1. How do you feel about Paul’s approach?

……………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………

2. Do you think that Paul knew Ephesians 2: 1-10?

……………………………………………………………………………………



6. THE BIBLE GPS ON GALATIANS 5: 16-26

Objective: To apply the GPS method on Galatians 5: 16-26

1. A Test Drive

Agenda








________________________________________________________________



UNDERSTANDING (S.T.A.R.T.)


1. Situation ………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………….



* Psalms* Prophets* Wisdom literature

NarrativePOETRY inPROSE

________________________________________________________________




3.1 Write out the passage in smaller units3.2 Mark the significant meaning indicators3.3 Explain difficult words and phrases3.4 Establish the meaning structure

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3.5 Conclude and summarize the message to the originalreceiver…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

________________________________________________________________



Galatians 5

16So I say, live by the Spirit,

and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.17For the sinful nature desires

what is contrary to the Spirit,

and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.

They are in conflict with each other,

so that you do not do what you want.18But if you are led by the Spirit,

you are not under law.19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious:

sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;20idolatry and witchcraft;

hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage,

selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy;

drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

I warn you, as I did before,

that those who live like this

will not inherit the kingdom of God.22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness and self-control.

Against such things there is no law.24Those who belong to Christ Jesus

have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.25Since we live by the Spirit,

let us keep in step with the Spirit.26Let us not become conceited,

provoking and envying each other.

(New International Version)



4. Relate the message to the broader Biblical andtheological framework?

5. Test your findingsUNDERSTANDING

Message to the originalReceiver

We need to choose to live by the Spirit.This will result in the fruit of the Spirit.

The reality is that our sinful natureis in conflict what the Spirit desires.

We just need to keep on allowing the Spirit toguide us.

Such a life style makes us freefrom the punishment of the law.

We cannot take this lightlybecause the kingdom belongs to people

living by the Spirit.Message tothe original

receiver

________________________________________________________________



UNDERSTANDING

Essential =Moral



receiver

TargetGroup



We need to choose to live by the Spirit.This will result in the fruit of the Spirit.

The reality is that our sinful natureis in conflict what the Spirit desires.

We just need to keep on allowing the Spirit toguide us.

Such a life style makes us freefrom the punishment of the law.

We cannot take this lightlybecause the kingdom belongs to people

living by the Spirit.

________________________________________________________________



UNDERSTANDING

Essential =Moral



receiver

The GPSTargetGroup


A friend

________________________________________________________________

1. I really try hard not to watch pornography on the internet. I pray very hardabout it and for God to help me. I start a day with good intentions but just don’tseem to control myself. What is going on with me?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. How can I have victory over temptations?

Get some feedback from the group. If there is time, ask the group to read Day 302from “The Bible as Your GPS” or Page 189from “Hearing God’s Tweet.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Notes:

Ask Question

7. THE BIBLE GPS ON EPHESIANS 5: 8-20

Objective: To apply the GPS method on Ephesians 5: 8-20

1. A Test Drive

Agenda








________________________________________________________________







Notes:

Ask Question

Instruct

Ask Question

Coach and

Direct

Ask Question



1. Situation ………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………….





________________________________________________________________

Ask participants what the first step of the GPS method is.Answer: UNDERSTANDING

Ask participants what the purpose of this process is.Answer: The Purpose of this process is to understand the message as well as or almost as wellas the original receivers did.

Ask participants to use their certificates to follow along.

1. SituationYou can either ask a participant to read from a study Bible or you can share thesituation (background) of the Ephesians.

2. Type of literatureAsk the participants if they can tell what type of literature this passage is.Answer: Explanation and Instruction. (Paul’s letters always fall in this category)

Tell participants that you will read Ephesians 5:8-20 and that they must tellwhether it is “explanation” or “instruction.” They can even do it in a small group.Mark “E” for explanation and “I” for instruction.Remember that an Instruction is a direct command.





Notes:

Ask Question

Instruct

Ask Question



…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………


________________________________________________________________

3.1 Ask participants why it is necessary to write out the passage in smaller unit.Answer: Paul writes very loaded. (E.g. if someone gives you directions to a specific address youwrite it in smaller units.)

3.2 Read through the passage and mark everything that relates to“dark” with a “×,”“light” with an “O,”“wise living” with a “∆,”“foolish living” with a “□” andverses 18-20 are three instructions and can be marked with differentmeaning indicators (≠, ═, ♫, ●).

3.3 Be ready to explain difficult words or phrases.

3.4 Establish the meaning structureA = Live in the light and not darknessB = Live wisely and not foolishlyC = Be filled with the Holy SpiritD = Make music unto the LordE = Be thankful

3.5 In this step you summarize the findings of 3.4.Our life must be characterized by doing what is right, good and true. It is not easy and

requires wisdom. The best way to do it is to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, to sing to theLord and to be thankful.





8 At one time you were in the dark.

But now you are in the light

because of what the Lord has done.

Live like children of the light.9 The light produces what is completely good,

right and true.10 Find out what pleases the Lord.11 Have nothing to do with the acts of darkness.

They don't produce anything good.

Show what they are really like.

I

E

E

E

I

I

×

× × × × × × × × ×

× ×

A

O O

O O

O O

O O

15 So be very careful how you live.

Do not live like people who aren't wise.

Live like people who are wise.16 Make the most of every opportunity.

The days are evil.17 So don't be foolish.

Instead, understand what the Lord wants.18 Don't fill yourself up with wine.

Getting drunk will lead to wild living.

Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.

I

I

∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆

× ×

BI

I

□□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□

C

∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆

□□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□ □□

∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆

≠ ≠ ≠≠ ≠ ≠ ≠ ≠ ≠ ≠ ≠ ≠ ≠ ≠ ≠ ≠

= = = = = = = = = =

≠ ≠ ≠ ≠

12 It is shameful even to talk about what people who don't

obey do in secret.13 But everything the light shines on can be seen.14 Light makes everything clear. That is why it is said,

"Wake up, sleeper.

Rise from the dead.

Then Christ will shine on you."

E

EE × ×

× ×

AO O O O O O O O O O O

O O O

O O O O

19 Speak to each other with psalms, hymns and spiritual

songs.

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.20 Always give thanks to God the Father for everything.

Give thanks to him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(New International Reader’s Version)

I

I

D

E

♫♫♫♫

♫♫♫♫

♫♫♫♫♫♫♫

♫♫♫♫ ♫♫♫♫♫♫♫♫

♫♫● ● ● ● ● ●

● ● ● ● ● ●

A = Live in the light and not darkness

B = Live wisely and not foolishly

C = Be filled with the Holy Spirit

D = Make music unto the Lord

E = Be thankful



Notes:

Instruct

Ask Question

Instruct

Ask Question




Our life must be characterizedby doing what is right, good and true.

It is not easy and requires wisdom.The best way to do it

is to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you,to sing to the Lord and to be thankful.Message to

the originalreceiver

________________________________________________________________

4. Tell participants that steps number 4 and 5 are to make sure that your findingsfrom step number 3 are in line with the broader Biblical message.

Ask participants if they think that the message can relate to the broader Biblicaland theological framework.Answer: Yes, it does!

5. Tell participants that this step is to test your findings by reading commentaries,Study Bibles etc. We need to understand that many godly people have wrestledwith this passage before.

After you realized that your findings corresponds with the findings of others youhave come to the message to the original receiver.





Notes:

Ask Question

UNDERSTANDING

Essential =Moral



receiver

TargetGroup



Our life must be characterizedby doing what is right, good and true.

It is not easy and requires wisdom.The best way to do it

is to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you,to sing to the Lord and to be thankful.

________________________________________________________________

Ask participants what the second step of the GPS method is.Answer: APPLICATION

Ask participants what the purpose of this process is.Answer: The Purpose of the process of Application is to bring the message to the originalreceivers across time by applying it to our situation.

Ask participants how we determine whether the message to the original receiver isan essential or an incidental.Civil and Ceremonial laws as well as Cultural practices are incidental.Only the moral laws are essential and therefore applicable.

Ask participants whether the message to the original receiver is essential; orincidental.Answer: Essential





Notes:

Ask Question

Coach and

Direct

Feedback

Ask Question

UNDERSTANDING

Essential =Moral



receiver

The GPSTargetGroup


A friend youmade at a camp

site

________________________________________________________________

Ask participants what the third step of the GPS method is.Answer: COMMUNICATION

Ask participants what the purpose of this process is.Answer: The Purpose of the process of Communication is to communicate the essentials in arelevant way.

Scenario: You meet a great person while camping. One night at campfire theconversation lead to a serious discussion. In the light of this passage (and otherpassages), how would you have answered the following questions that were raisedby your friend during the course of the discussion?

Questions of friend:

1. Why is the world in such a mess?

2. What is the answer to this mess?

3. My child is hanging out with the wrong crowd. My wife and I just don’t knowwhat to do anymore. He /she has so much potential and causes us so much painby the foolish things he/she does. We lack some wisdom. What do you think weneed to do? (Read Day 48 from the Bible as your GPS or Page 46 from HearingGod’s Tweet.)Ask the group how they feel about this devotion and how it can help to parents todeal with their children.


Close with prayer



Notes:

Ask Question

8. THE BIBLE GPS ON ROMANS 3: 21-26

Objective: To apply the GPS method on Romans 3: 21-26

1. A Test Drive

Agenda








________________________________________________________________







Notes:

Ask Question

Instruct

Ask Question

Coach and

Direct

Ask Question



1. Situation ………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………….





________________________________________________________________

Ask participants what the first step of the GPS method is.Answer: UNDERSTANDING

Ask participants what the purpose of this process is.Answer: The Purpose of this process is to understand the message as well as or almost as wellas the original receivers did.

Ask participants to use their certificates to follow along.

1. SituationYou can either ask a participant to read from a study Bible or you can share thesituation (background) of Romans.

2. Type of literatureAsk the participants if they can tell what type of literature this passage is.Answer: Explanation and Instruction. (Paul’s letters always fall in this category)

Tell participants that you will read Romans 3:21-26 and that they must tell whetherit is “explanation” or “instruction.” They can even do it in a small group.Mark “E” for explanation and “I” for instruction.Remember that an Instruction is a direct command.





Notes:

Ask Question

Instruct

Ask Question



…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………


________________________________________________________________

3.1 Ask participants why it is necessary to write out the passage in smaller unit.Answer: Paul writes very loaded. (E.g. if someone gives you directions to a specific address youwrite it in smaller units.)

3.2 Read through the passage and mark everything that relates to“our restored relationship with God” with a “<,”“the law of Moses” with an “□,”“believe” with a “∆,”“sin” with a “×,”“sacrifice” with a “+” and“undeserved kindness” with a “═.”

3.3 Be ready to explain difficult words or phrases.

3.4 Establish the meaning structureA = not works (law) but faith in Jesus brings us in the right relationship

(righteousness) with GodB = No one can live up to God’s standardsC = The sacrifice of Jesus has put us right with God and that is not because we are good but because of undeserved kindness shown by

God.

3.5 In this step you summarize the findings of 3.4.Sin has separated us from intimacy with God. The only way to bring us back (reconcile)

to God was through the sacrifice of Jesus which paid for the penalty of sin. The sacrifice of Jesushas put us right with God and that is not because we are good but because of undeserved kindnessshown by God.





21 But now God has shown us a way

to be made right with him

without keeping the requirements of the law,

as was promised in the writings of Moses

and the prophets long ago.22 We are made right with God

by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.

And this is true for everyone who believes,

no matter who we are.23 For everyone has sinned;

we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>

□ □ □ □

□ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □

∆ ∆ ∆

∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆ ∆

× × ×

× × × ×

E

E

E

A

B

24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness,

declares that we are righteous.

He did this through Christ Jesus

when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin.

People are made right with God

when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life,

shedding his blood.

This sacrifice shows that God was being fair

when he held back

and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>∆ ∆ ∆ ∆

× ×

× × ×

× ×+ + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + ++ + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + >>>>>>>>

═══════════════

═════════

═══════

E

E

C

26 for he was looking ahead

and including them in

what he would do in this present time.

God did this to demonstrate his righteousness,

for he himself is fair and just,

and he declares sinners to be right in his sight

when they believe in Jesus.

(New Living Translation)

>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>

∆ ∆ ∆

>>>>>>>>>>

══════════

E

C



Notes:

Instruct

Ask Question

Instruct

Ask Question




Sin has separated us from intimacy with God.The only way to bring us back (reconcile) to Godwas through the sacrifice of Jesus which paid forthe penalty of sin. The sacrifice of Jesus has putus right with God and that is not because we are

good but because of undeserved kindnessshown by God.


receiver

________________________________________________________________

4. Tell participants that steps number 4 and 5 are to make sure that your findingsfrom step number 3 are in line with the broader Biblical message.

Ask participants if they think that the message can relate to the broader Biblicaland theological framework.Answer: Yes, it does!

5. Tell participants that this step is to test your findings by reading commentaries,Study Bibles etc. We need to understand that many godly people have wrestledwith this passage before.

After you realized that your findings corresponds with the findings of others youhave come to the message to the original receiver.





Notes:

Ask Question

UNDERSTANDING

Essential =Moral



receiver

TargetGroup



Sin has separated us from intimacy with God.The only way to bring us back (reconcile) to

God was through the sacrifice of Jesus whichpaid for the penalty of sin. The sacrifice ofJesus has put us right with God and that is

not because we are good but because ofundeserved kindness shown by God.

________________________________________________________________

Ask participants what the second step of the GPS method is.Answer: APPLICATION

Ask participants what the purpose of this process is.Answer: The Purpose of the process of Application is to bring the message to the originalreceivers across time by applying it to our situation.

Ask participants how we determine whether the message to the original receiver isan essential or an incidental.Civil and Ceremonial laws as well as Cultural practices are incidental.Only the moral laws are essential and therefore applicable.

Ask participants whether the message to the original receiver is essential; orincidental.Answer: Essential





Notes:

Ask Question

Coach and

Direct

Feedback

Ask Question

UNDERSTANDING

Essential =Moral



receiver

The GPSTargetGroup


A friend

________________________________________________________________

Ask participants what the third step of the GPS method is.Answer: COMMUNICATION

Ask participants what the purpose of this process is.Answer: The Purpose of the process of Communication is to communicate the essentials in arelevant way.

Scenario for group discussion: Your friend got a promotion and following thepromotion she / he experienced that some of her / his colleagues were veryjealous and did not treat her / him very well.

1. Discuss in the group how you will comfort her / him.

2. Share in your groups of situations in your life where you also experiencedarrogance and jealousy and how you dealt with it.

3. Read Day 28 from “The Bible as Your GPS” or Page 36 from “Hearing God’sTweet”

Ask the group how they feel about this devotion and how it can help to addressthe problem of jealousy.


Close with prayer

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