Thank you for reading my blog. It is a privilege to create
this blog and to have you visit. I hope you find the information encouraging.
Our mission at Teleios is to provide science-based
information on the truth of scripture, its positive impact in our lives and to
educate on these results.
We recently performed a survey on the Instagram account,
InstaPray, asking participants about their Bible study and discipleship
beliefs. We had 822 participants of whom: 75% were female; 80% were 30 or
younger; 40% resided in the United States; and 80% described themselves as
evangelical. Please visit HERE
for the full findings.
The survey discovered many points about beliefs about Bible
study and discipleship. This week let us discuss what it revealed concerning how
to learn the Bible long-term.
Future Christian educational goals
When asked ‘Over the next 5-10 years what are your scripture
educational goals’, 63% of respondents indicated they wished to read the whole
Bible, while 60% answered they should learn the major themes of the Bible. Also,
47% noted they needed to learn what was in each book of scripture and 25%
wanted to master verse-by-verse study methods.
It is so heartening to see our participants have educational
goals in the Bible. Very few (8%) indicated they had no study goals. At Teleios
we emphasize three initial goals to most efficiently learn the Bible.:
1. Verse
by verse study in the Epistles – This method of study provides a greater
depth, joy and learning and consequently the more benefit of knowing scripture.
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We suggest the Epistles because those letters
are to the church and for our direction specifically.
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We emphasize especially starting in Ephesians or
Colossians because they provide the most efficient, compelling study comprising
both who Christ is and the Christian walk.
2. Major
themes of the Bible - Where verse by verse gives
you an exciting idea of what is in each book and a competency in reading and
interpreting scripture, studying the major biblical themes such as: salvation,
security, the Church Holy Spirit etc. integrates scripture from all portions of
the Bible to provide you topical knowledge. This is vital because as you talk
to others you typically do so topically and not verse by verse. Books about Christian
theology by Charles Ryrie or Lewis Sperry Chafer are very helpful (1,2).
3. Bible
overview – Gaining a general knowledge of each book, its history, major
themes and how it fits into the plan of God, does not take much time and
completes an overall knowledge of scripture until the books can be studies
individually. Talk Thru the Bible by Wilkinson is a good resource (3).
We have a wonderful text of scripture that is reliable and
our ability to know God through it is almost endless. Our study of scripture provides
a chance to influence not only our own lives, but our immediate community and society
as a whole.
Thank you for reading my blog. Please join us again next
week as we continue to discuss the immense value and truth of scripture.
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