Welcome to the first week of study on the book of James. Over the years we have focused on empowering believers in their personal interaction with God’s Word. For the next five weeks, we are supporting our online Monday night class through a variety of resources bi-weekly. Below you will find information, questions, videos, etc. to guide your steps in reading, understanding, and applying the Scriptures.
Refining Ministry is committed to help strengthen individualized study skills in practical ways that can become lifetime habits. With each study, we want to empower you to feel confident in spending personal time in God’s Word. As we dive into the book of James, we will share a variety of techniques and tips based on the recent released Beyond Scripture Typography when coming together during the Monday night meetings. If you would like to join our James study, leave us a comment or email us at refiningjourney@gmail.com. We will be happy to send you the Zoom link.
JAMES Study: April 22-May 27, Monday nights from 6:00-7:00 pm (CST)
BACKGROUND:
Audience: Mainly the scattered Jewish believers.
Topic: Practical day-to-day Christian living and how to live a Godly life.
Author:
Compelled to Write: The author might have felt compelled to write this message to . . .
Timeframe:
Why Jewish believers might listen to James: The Jewish believers might listen to James because he is one of them and has authority and understanding of their culture and faith.
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Proverbs 8:33 (NIV)
Is perception everything? Psychologists would probably say it plays a large part in how we process information, yet it does not mean personal interpretation is always accurate. Remember, it is based on how we perceive. As we process information whether sensory and/or mentally, there are lots of factors that can sway our thinking.
For me, this word tends to be the root of many of my rubs in life. When the vision of any situation is one-sided and then forced upon another individual (who of course has a different point of view) it can ignite a problem. It is not always easy to see a different viewpoint because you do not have the same experiences, surroundings, background, processing mechanisms, etc. as the other person. However, we do have the option of humbling our self-centered thinking and opening our hearts to try and understand a different perception.
Now, let us turn our thoughts to Bible intake. El Shaddai, one attaining greater wisdom, wrote Scripture. He has an all-knowing angle with sincere-unflawed character and love. When we are reading, studying, and digging for meaning, it is normal to interpret based on personal perception. We naturally surrender to our insight or the thoughts of those we surround ourselves with daily. It takes intentionality and time to posture ourselves under the foreign mindset of the Lord.
Thoughts on gaining God’s Perspective:
Humble yourself under His authority every time you encounter His Word.
Rely on the Holy Spirit’s wisdom over your own understanding.
Place your thinking at the feet of the Father and seek His perception.
Take time to truly listen to His voice above all others.
Be open to see, hear, feel, and comprehend on a level beyond earthly life.
Pray, submit, ask, and expect wisdom.
Present yourself to the Lord with reverence, obedience, and gratitude.
Allow the Holy Spirit to revitalize your philosophies, customs, opinions, and beliefs.
Change is not easy and comprehending the Lord’s perception is a challenge because His character is far removed from our own innate being. Present your questions and thoughts to Him. Consider His ways and purposefully seek the perception of our great Father.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 (ESV)
If you need wisdom, ask your generous God, and he will give it to you. He will note rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 (NLT)
Where would you claim is “your hang out” spot? In front of the TV, behind the wheel, on the beach, with a fishing pole, next to those you love, painting a canvas, cooking and baking, crafting a new creation, cutting and sewing, shopping till you drop, exploring the world, hiking the mountains, alone with God, learning new things, dancing, helping others, gardening, etc. We all have them and they are often what keeps us sane in life. It is a comfortable area affirming the joy within us and a place where inner peace may be found. Many allow it to deliver meaning to life and even permit it to define a portion of who they are.
The Lord longs for us to truly love to hang out in the Bible. He would love nothing more than us cherishing His voice by praying, studying, examining, rereading, asking, researching, wrestling, and taking Scripture bite by bite. “God is Jehovah, a relational Father, who longs for us to know Him intensely” much like we know our favorite hang out in life.
Discovering the full meaning of a portion of the Bible is time consuming to say the least. It is not always appealing to hang out in a chapter for an extended period when there are thousands of verses still out there to explore. For most of my life, I skimmed through God’s Word and was just hoping for some miraculous life-changing wisdom to transform my life. It was much like driving by the gym or track but never engaging fully yet thinking I was going to achieve that ripped bikini body. (Go ahead-laugh-I sure am!)
We must search for techniques and methods to dive into the Bible on a deeper level. It requires us to throw out the checklist approach and spend our time in a chapter longer than usual. I call this residing-where deep meaning and understanding blossom. You might see this as a way to study intensely.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 (NIV)
Much like a scientific method, gaining wisdom takes certain steps and approaches. Where does one begin? Well, that is a great question. Maybe the best way to answer is to provide you a list of choices and encourage you to try a few each time you intentionally hang out in God’s Word.
Here are a few from this chapter:
Background check-dig into the original meaning of the text. Determine the author, timeline, and location. Discover the original audience and the culture of the day. Read several reliable summaries and outlines to affirm the main message. Apply the 5Ws and an H: who, what, when, where, why, and how.
Identify-Highlight any assurances and promises God has made in the passage. Reflect on the instructions and commands that are present. Cling to the attributes and characteristics of the Lord as they are revealed in Scripture.
Investigate-Find the Hebrew meaning of the main focused terminology. Consult the Greek meaning for New Testament reading since it was the primarily language of the time but rely on Hebrew as well. Read different translations to bring clarity and exact meaning.
See the big picture-When a verse tugs at your heart strings, read the entire context. Find the original meaning and audience rather than “making it fit” for your life. Consult commentaries and investigate the full counsel of God through cross-references.
The primarily take away is to find God in the story and discover His wisdom by hanging out in a chapter. “It is a chance to uncover the biblical sustenance you might need to infuse in your life on a grander scale. Remember, God’s Word can nourish every aspect of your life. What a nutritional diet!” Who knows it might even bring greater peace to your favorite hangout spot in the future.
Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scripture. Luke 24:45
I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Proverbs 8:17 (NIV)
Framework…And does that mesh with Scripture study? As with anything the mind comprehends, the brain needs structure to organize the incoming information. Once we process context, we mentally filter and decide what is valuable enough to place in our memory bank as we build our schema around the topic.
So, you may be still asking, what does that have to do with God’s Word? Our understanding of the Bible requires a deciphering and configuring system for the vast array of wisdom found in Scripture. It furnishes a structure to consume the words of the Lord and establishes how we can approach, process, and absorb passages. Framework is an important tool to assist in comprehending the individualized message through God’s love story.
There are lots of options available: SOAP, TEXT, SOAK, POWER Inductive method, PRAISE, and the list goes on. If you would like to read more, here is a website highlighting a few: 27 Bible study methods for beginners and groups – The ultimate guide – The Faith Space The purpose behind each is to assist readers in pinpointing the essential knowledge and recognizing the significance for their life. It is not meant to complicate or hinder the process.
Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? Job 11:7 (ESV)
It is a system to enhance your time with God’s Word and permit you to grasp and comprehend Scripture easier. If you choose something too complex, the purpose become a moot point. Although it does take time to develop a muscle memory framework, the deciding factor should be based on the significant difference it can make on your life over time.
Everyone must find a framework to furnish them a way to deepen their understanding of Scripture and open a pathway to better communication with the Lord. The structure should not only simplify how to approach God’s Word, but challenge you in your spiritual growth. God wants us to explore the Bible to gain a greater understanding of His message and to know Him on a deeper level.
If you do not currently have a framework, I encourage you to read over some methods and start with one you feel you would benefit from using. If you do have a system in place, research other approaches and see if there is one new idea you could include periodically to avoid a stagnate engagement with the Bible.
I have been asked many times of what I would recommend. My suggestion is much like what Bible to buy—one that you will truly use. I rely on the AMPS approach presented in chapter five. This is a combination of various proven methods from humbling yourself before the Lord to inductively participating with Scripture. I found this extremely effective when I am working through the Bible chapter by chapter, but it is also relevant to any time when His Word is studied.
This has become my choice of framework for the following reasons:
It reminds me to posture my heart, mind, and soul under the authority of the trinity.
I tend to read Scripture with more intentionality and Holy Spirit vision.
This method reminds me to read the text in context and search for the meaning in Biblical times as well as the here and now.
AMPS prompts me to remember the text is living and God’s perspective should be my priority regardless.
The framework has given me a way to stay accountable for my actions.
I would encourage you to find your “skeleton diagram…to build your Bible intake actions and approaches while strengthening your relationship with the Father”. Pray about it and begin searching for your personal plan for Scripture study. It is the next step after determining why you want to engage with God’s Word. Let your desire generate your scaffolding. Once you find your platform, be ready for a new level of understanding with the Father and His Word. It will come with a great reward.
Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. Proverbs 16:20 (ESV)
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Ephesians 1:17 (NIV)
Chapter four is entitled “Embracing Beyond” but exactly what does that mean? It could simply be an emotion of longing for more with little effort or it might be defined as an action filled with sweat and tears to fight like crazy to get to new heights. Like most things in life, the definition lies within the beholder.
In Ephesians, Paul expresses his thoughts regarding “embracing beyond.” He clearly illustrates the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing God. Paul emphasizes this “beyond” is an action which takes a lot of time building rapport and intimacy with the Lord. He defines it as a lifestyle of gaining the full knowledge of the Lord by embracing a personal relationship.
Pastor Darren Dye of Freedom Fellowship Church in Canyon, Tx recently reiterated Paul’s primary point in Ephesians 1:17 when he made this statement from the pulpit, “When you agree with God’s Word, you invite the living power into your life.” Scripture opens the door to knowing about God, but when you go beyond and align your life with God’s ways, the relationship of knowing Him personally begins to blossom into a transformation of life like no other.
“The Lord wants you to know Him intensely, as He knows you.”
Our one-on-one experience with God is enhanced when we acknowledge and invite His presence. Each personal union with the Lord comes with its own uniqueness, beauty, and thorns. It is a commitment filled with daily habits and ways of the Lord so foreign to our own. (Isaiah 55:8-9) Often it requires us to:
Engage in conversation with God
Ask for spiritual wisdom
Be open to His insight
Invite Him into circumstances
Walk with Him minute by minute
Trust His understanding and timing
Posture ourselves under His influence
And the list goes on…
Under His authority, we must be calculated with our time and ignite our passion for God and His ways through our actions. God reminds us in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” It is up to us to determine our “beyond” and make the most of every opportunity to delight in the Lord with all that we are.
Chapter four is an extension of the Father’s invitation to come and partake in a relationship apart from what the world offers. For me, it was an opportunity to self-reflect on the main barrier holding me back-a gap in my daily conversation with God.
What might it be for you?
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees… Deut. 10:12-13 (NIV)
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 (ESV)
What do you think of when you hear the word grow? Plants-Kids-Puppies? Very rarely do I associate this word with God, however the Bible reminds us over and over that we continually develop in our faith.
The Lord has equipped us with tools to embrace an ongoing movement towards spiritual maturity and He has given us a list of qualities He wants us to strive to obtain. 2 Peter 1:8 reminds us that these qualities prevent us from being ineffective and unproductive. What are these attributes you ask? Faith*Goodness*Knowledge*Self-control*Perserverance*Godliness*Mutual Affection*Love (2 Peter 1:5-7)
Scripture also tells us that our faith must go beyond what we believe-faith must be displayed as an action as well. Our life reflects growth or the lack of through our daily way of life. (2 Peter 1:9). Growth requires continual practice and training just like an athlete because the Father wants us to refine our skills and abilities, study His word, and display a deep desire to grow in knowledge. Train and practice-strengthening our spiritual muscles.
As we work towards knowing God intimately and discovering the attributes of Jesus, we become equipped to increase our discernment from what is of him and what is of the enemy. Our growth in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has a way of heightening our senses to acknowledge things of the enemy and it guards us from being quickly deceived by the world around us.
Chapter three clearly presents growth as “a follower’s responsibility to cultivate it, knowing there is a progression to each bonding aspect with God, including communication with Him.” Growth relies on the intimacy with God and the discipline to carry out Proverbs 3:5. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
“Your development is continual and dependent upon the power in Christ.” (see Philippians 2:13) Be encouraged my friend “to stay active and tenacious” by making every effort to growth in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Cling to His promises and embrace your growth progression.
Come near to God and He will come near to you. James 4:8 (NIV)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)
Have you ever feared something in your life? I know I have and compiling a list might be overwhelming. So, what is fear? It can be an emotion, or an action based on believing something or someone may be dangerous and/or cause pain. From my past experiences, I might add – it can raise your anxiety level because of what you feel is to come. Fear can also be a chance to respond by decelerating or igniting even more fear.
What do you think of when the word fear is spoken? What if I said fear could be a healthy thing?
The Bible often references fear word regarding the Lord.
Job 28:28b “. . .The fear of the Lord-that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”
Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13 “. . .Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the duty of all mankind.”
I have struggled with “Fear of the Lord” throughout my lifetime especially when I reflect on Proverbs 1:7 which clearly states, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”. But as I have pressed into His Word and gained a greater appreciation for Scripture, I have come to realize fear of the Lord begins with accepting the fact that God is the only one who knows everything.
Fearing the Lord displays a healthy relationship with God. It is an action where we surrender to His authority not because we are forced to do so, but because we know He knows best. He expects us to keep an open mind to His advice and embrace His reproof. The Father is very clear about the outcome of those who follow Him and those who do not.
Romans 11:19-22ESV Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you too will be cut off.
This verse gives us the knowledge of God’s position on following Him. He wants us to seek His wisdom and love His ways by being a lifetime learner. As a helpmate, He provided His very words, the Bible, to give us Godly counsel and instructions yet much like our salvation, the choice is ours.
We must believe Scripture is:
A living document assisting in engaging with God
A source of inspiration to change our perspective and actions
A guide to molding and shaping our lives to do His will
A window to knowing God’s character
Transformational, miraculous, powerful, set apart from all other text
A love story with us
Elevating biblical text necessitates work and a commitment to go BEYOND!
Fear-do you value God enough to understand the fear of the Lord? How deep is your awe and submission to the Father? Does His Word play a significant role in your life? To what lengths are you willing to go to make Scripture engagement a life-changing event in your life?
Chapter two of Beyond Scriptural Typography is entitled Exceeding Reasons. We each must find the exceeding reasons to embrace the fear of the Lord and why we would seek Biblical knowledge. The personal choice does come with the wisdom that “obtaining life-changing engagement skills with God’s Word is a refining process with a time factor attached.”
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)
Welcome readers! This post begins a ten weeks study over a newly released book entitled, Beyond Scriptural Typography. It is designed to assist believers in personalizing their interactive framework with the Bible. In the introduction, the book refers to Scripture as “an open invitation to go beyond the charming print and a chance to experience the life-changing power…”. The book offers readers a chance to become better equipped in interacting with God’s Word no matter their level of spiritual maturity.
Pondering Revelations
As you ponder how many Bibles you own, how do you define the Bible? This week’s focal verse is Hebrews 4:12. The verse clearly refers to Scripture as the “word of God”. These words are often found in lyrics like a song by Mercy Me: Word of God speak, Would You pour down like rain, Washing my eyes to see Your majesty. To be still and know that You’re in this place. Please let me stay and rest in Your holiness-Word of God speak. The Bible is an intentional mode of communication established by the Lord to speak to each one of us. It is the very words of God.
We cannot deny the Bible is alive and active, more than print on a page, when we begin using it as a guide to daily living. Chapter one states:
“The potential elevation level of biblical print will always remain flat without action on our part.”
Scripture has transformational power ready and waiting as an invitation to ignite change throughout our lives. However, it is our choice to accept the welcoming welcome, surrender to it’s authority, and determine the depth of our interaction with God’s Word.
The Bible provides the knowledge that God lives among us, loves us, and longs for us to intimately know Him the way He knows us. He has full transparency of all that is within us, good, bad, and ugly, and yet loves us despite of it. The Lord has provided His Voice as spiritual food to strengthen our faith and draw us closer to Him. It is a tool to obtaining intimacy, but we have to be in it’s presence-reading, studying, interacting, listening, relying, praying, and believing on it’s every word to experience the beauty of the relational instrument.
His Voice can ignite change throughout our lives as our reliance grows daily. Matthew 4:4 reminds us that every word from the Father helps us know right from wrong and gives us a roadmap to carry out His plans. As we accept His invitation to partake in Scripture, we have to ponder our actions. To what extreme are we willing to serve and seek? Can we be all in with a willing mind showcasing a wholehearted commitment? What are we willing to do to learn “how to truly read, study, and apply the Bible?”
Chapter One gives you the opportunity to reflect on your Bible intake and Scripture infusion. It presents a challenge to embrace the process of discovering new ways to engage with God’s Words as part of loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. (Deut. 6:5)
“No one innately arrives with the knowledge, skills, and experience to comprehend and digest God’s Word.”
If you envision yourself fully saturated with Scripture, intentionally leaving no room for the enemy to pull you away from God, this book is exactly where the Lord needs you to be. It is an opportunity to foster an individualized method to delight in His Word through defining the Bible’s value for you and obtaining practical methods to experience its active and living power.
Chapter One helps you reveal your current interaction with Scripture, gives you amp opportunities to ponder your unfiltered view and value of the Bible, and identify ways you need God’s Word to be a stronger beacon in your life. The chapter end with Psalm 119:105
“Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
I look forward to this book study the next ten weeks: a discovery to use God’s Word to navigate life.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; … Psalm 1:1-6 ESV
Reading God’s Word has often been referred to as nourishment for the soul. So why isn’t everyone feasting on it daily?
This is a question I have asked myself over and over for years because I lived daily without Scripture being my manual for life. You may be wondering my reasons for this.
Well, I felt inapt to study the Bible on my own. I also had a fear of inadvertently misunderstanding text and possibly taking it out of context. I knew how easy it would be to possibly twist God’s Word to fit my liking. Also, I had not truly developed a routine nor sought ways to study Scripture on my own. And of course, I had all the traditional excuses too.
It wasn’t until life hit rock-bottom and I mean flat of my back-overwhelmed and determined to no longer live, that I realized my lack of personal seeking God through Scripture had caused a self-induced deficiency in knowing and relying on God for who He truly is, especially in the pit of darkness!
Therefore, the Lord allowed many rocky years as a method to gain my attention (aka…getting through to my thick skull) to ignite a mission within me. A journey to infuse my life with Scripture and discover the LORD on a deeper level.
So, where does one start to become a discerning student of the Bible? My first response would be-Go to God and pour out your heart to Him. Ask Him to give you full discernment of what the first step is for you. Here are a few basic suggestions as well:
Invest in a study Bible. It is a great tool to understand Scripture.
Attend a true Bible study class over a book of the Bible. This is a great way to gain study skills and resources from other Christians. Take it verse-by-verse.
Pause each time before you begin to study/read Scripture and ask for the LORD to reveal Himself to you. Be open to hearing the perspective of God through the Holy Spirit’s guidance and prompting.
Are you digesting God’s Word as your daily nourishment? What steps might you need to take to know the LORD on a deeper level? I am praying for you…May the Father reveal the next level of study to you as you are reading this article. Know this…you are greatly loved, and God wants to grow your faith daily-hand and hand with Him.
I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him, so that my hand shall be established with him; my arm also shall strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him. My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him, and in my name shall his horn be exalted. Psalm 89:20-38 ESV
Old Testament is often unread but referenced continuously in the New Testament. Refining ministry has devoted 2023 to walk alongside others in reading the Bible chronologically. We want to dig deeper into the understanding of the Old Testament to see God’s story from the beginning of its inception.
We are using the one-year Chronological Study Bible (NLT). It has provided a daily guide to understanding, reading, and meditating on Scripture through the fourteen eras. I love the verse stated on the first page: “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” Romans 15:4 (NLT).
I have enjoyed the website entitled CBT-Chronological Bible Teaching established as an extension of the Chronological Study Bible. Here is a direct quote from their website: “One of the grand themes of the Bible is the need for God’s people to read His Word and know it well. Bible literacy makes or breaks God’s people spiritually. They prosper when they treasure His Word, and they fall into sin and judgment when they neglect it.” WOW! What a profound statement.
CBT offers many resources for readers from daily devotional to podcast. If you would like to use your own Bible, the website has a one year reading plan just for you. My favorite resource they offer is articles on their blog. Here is an example: https://chronologicalbibleteaching.com/blog/posts/god-at-work-through-common-means
What a wonderful time to be living on earth-it is truly a gift to have resources at our fingertips. Think about how far we have come in the past three decades. God wants each of us to treasure Bible literacy and know Him like never before. In Deuteronomy 30:6 it states, The LORD your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love Him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!
Come join us on Monday nights from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. (CST) via Zoom as we continue the journey through the fourteen eras. We are just a group of ordinary Christians wanting to know Almighty God better, keep His commandments, cling to His promises, define key terms, and allow the Holy Spirit to provide understanding and discernment. Day-by-day we are discovering the contents of the New Testament through the understanding of the Old Testament.
Refining [Spiritual Growth] 