Questions, anyone?
Last week we started looking at the six questions that can be used for studying the Bible, either in your small group or for your own personal devotion time. Here are those six questions:
What stuck out to you this time through? (last week)
Did these verses raise any questions as you read? (this week)
Where do you see Jesus Christ in these verses?
What is something that the Spirit of God is leading you to do as a result of reading this text?
Who is someone who might benefit from hearing what you’ve seen in the Bible?
Why are these verses in the Bible?
Questions are great. Some teachers say there are no stupid questions, and it’s about at that point that a bright student purposely asks a stupid question. So I don’t believe that particular mantra, at least not completely.
But I do find questions to be valuable. Questions open up your thoughts and cause you to explore.
Some would say that questions take you down a rabbit hole or off on a tangent, and that can happen.
But questions also offer you the prospect to learn more, to dig deeper, and to mine the intricate wording of the Bible’s many passages.
You might question the use of a particular word or phrase: Why does Luke 1:5 mention that Zechariah was a priest in the time of Herod, king of Judea?
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. // Luke 1:5
There is value in pursuing that answer. Does it help that Herod is an historical figure? Was he a good king, a ruthless king, a loved king, or was he despised? What does history teach us about Herod [the Great]? Did you know that there were numerous “Herods” and the one mentioned in Luke 1:5 is Herod the Great?
Questions also raise an awareness to other places in the Bible that have a connection to a particular reading or verse. Again, I will use Luke 1:5.
Where could I go in the Bible to learn about a priest? (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers 18)
What is the priestly division of Abijah? Does that matter? (A list of priestly divisions can be found in 1 Chronicles 24:7-18)
Elizabeth is also a descendent of Aaron. What could the Old Testament tell us about Aaron? (Exodus 4-6 can get us started)
Once you start to explore these questions and seek answers, you will find greater insight and depth of meaning in that particular text. Your exploration will cause that text to come alive as you traverse God’s truth.
Using Bible sites can be a great benefit to you in this search. I love to use biblegateway.com, blueletterbible.org, and biblehub.com for starters.
Blessings to you as you open your Bible up today.
Pastor Al