Discerning Faith: Understanding Scripture and Our Calling

 

Summary

Understanding the Bible and discerning one's calling are profound journeys that require dedication and patience. Engaging with the Bible through study, church attendance, and reading is essential to grasp its overarching narrative. This understanding doesn't come quickly; it took me years, even through seminary, to see the unity of the biblical message. For those wondering if they are called to preach, it often begins with an inner conviction and a love for sharing the Bible. However, a supernatural calling from God, confirmed by others, is crucial. Engaging in small teaching opportunities can help discern this calling.

Upon death, our soul and body separate. The soul, which encompasses our self-awareness and consciousness, continues to exist. It enters heaven, a place beyond our current understanding, where we await the resurrection and reunification with our bodies. This intermediate state is mysterious, and while some theologians suggest a temporary body, the essence is that we are with Christ.

Self-righteousness is a constant struggle because the gospel humbles us by declaring our righteousness comes solely from Christ. We must daily remind ourselves of our justification by faith alone, casting aside any reliance on our deeds. This requires preaching the gospel to ourselves and recognizing our complete dependence on Christ.

To discern the state of our heart and spiritual well-being, we must examine our prayer life, Bible reading, and relationships with others. Are we growing in grace and love for Jesus? If we find ourselves lacking, we should flee to Jesus, asking Him to fill us with His Spirit and renew our hearts.

The ordinary means of grace, such as worship, scripture reading, and sacraments, are vital for spiritual growth. While they may seem ordinary, they are God's established ways for us to grow as Christians. These practices are accessible to all believers, regardless of their circumstances, and are essential for nurturing our faith.

Key Takeaways:

- Understanding the Bible's trajectory requires dedication and engagement through study, church, and reading. This journey is gradual and requires patience and commitment. [11:40]

- Discerning a call to preach involves an inner conviction and a supernatural calling from God, confirmed by others. Engaging in small teaching opportunities can help clarify this calling. [12:40]

- After death, our soul continues to exist in heaven, awaiting the resurrection and reunification with our bodies. This intermediate state is mysterious, yet we are assured of being with Christ. [14:33]

- Self-righteousness is a constant struggle, but we must daily remind ourselves of our justification by faith alone, relying solely on Christ's righteousness. [16:32]

- The ordinary means of grace, such as worship and sacraments, are essential for spiritual growth. These practices, though ordinary, are God's established ways for nurturing our faith. [21:27]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[11:40] - Understanding the Bible's Trajectory
[12:13] - Discerning a Call to Preach
[13:29] - Life After Death
[15:35] - Struggling with Self-Righteousness
[16:59] - Examining Spiritual Well-being
[18:00] - Fleeing to Jesus for Renewal
[19:40] - Ordinary Means of Grace
[22:38] - Are We Living in the Last Days?
[23:42] - Signs of the End Times
[25:15] - The Gospel's Global Reach

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 2 Corinthians 5:1-10
2. Galatians 5:22-23
3. Matthew 24:14

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Observation Questions:

1. What does 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 say about our existence after death and the concept of a "tent"? How does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on the intermediate state after death? [15:07]

2. According to Galatians 5:22-23, what are the fruits of the Spirit? How does the sermon suggest we examine these in our lives? [17:47]

3. In Matthew 24:14, what is said about the gospel being preached to all nations? How does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on the signs of the end times? [25:39]

4. How does the sermon describe the process of discerning a call to preach? What role do small teaching opportunities play in this process? [12:40]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of a "tent" in 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 help us understand our temporary state after death? What comfort does this provide to believers? [15:19]

2. Why is it important to recognize the fruits of the Spirit in our lives, as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23? How does this recognition impact our spiritual well-being? [17:47]

3. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of the gospel being preached to all nations before the end times? How should this influence our understanding of current events? [25:39]

4. How does the sermon address the struggle with self-righteousness? What practical steps are suggested to rely solely on Christ’s righteousness? [16:32]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current understanding of the Bible’s overarching narrative. What steps can you take to deepen your engagement with Scripture through study, church attendance, or reading? [11:40]

2. If you feel a potential calling to preach, what small teaching opportunities can you pursue to explore this calling further? How can you seek confirmation from others? [12:40]

3. Consider your prayer life and Bible reading habits. Are there specific areas where you feel you need to grow? How can you make these practices more consistent and meaningful? [17:14]

4. In what ways do you struggle with self-righteousness? How can you remind yourself daily of your justification by faith alone and rely on Christ’s righteousness? [16:32]

5. How can you incorporate the ordinary means of grace, such as worship and sacraments, into your routine to nurture your faith? What changes might you need to make to prioritize these practices? [21:27]

6. Think about a specific fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23 that you want to cultivate more in your life. What practical steps can you take this week to grow in that area? [17:47]

7. Reflect on the sermon’s discussion about the end times. How does this perspective influence your daily life and priorities? What actions can you take to share the gospel with others in your community? [25:39]

Devotional

Day 1: The Gradual Journey of Understanding the Bible
Understanding the Bible's trajectory requires dedication and engagement through study, church, and reading. This journey is gradual and requires patience and commitment. The Bible is not a book that reveals its depths quickly; it requires a lifetime of study and reflection. Engaging with the Bible through various means such as personal study, attending church services, and reading supplementary materials helps in grasping its overarching narrative. This understanding is not instantaneous; it often takes years to see the unity of the biblical message. The journey of understanding the Bible is one of patience and commitment, where each step taken in study and reflection brings a deeper appreciation of its truths. [11:40]

"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little." (Isaiah 28:10, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your engagement with the Bible, whether through study, church attendance, or reading?


Day 2: Discerning a Call to Preach
Discerning a call to preach involves an inner conviction and a supernatural calling from God, confirmed by others. Engaging in small teaching opportunities can help clarify this calling. For those who feel a pull towards preaching, it often begins with a deep love for sharing the Bible and an inner conviction that this is their path. However, a true calling to preach is not just a personal feeling; it requires a supernatural confirmation from God, often affirmed by the community around them. Taking small steps, such as teaching in smaller settings, can provide clarity and confirmation of this calling. [12:40]

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a small teaching opportunity you can pursue this week to explore your potential calling to preach?


Day 3: The Mystery of Life After Death
After death, our soul continues to exist in heaven, awaiting the resurrection and reunification with our bodies. This intermediate state is mysterious, yet we are assured of being with Christ. The separation of soul and body at death is a profound mystery, but the assurance of being with Christ provides comfort. While theologians may debate the specifics of this intermediate state, the essence is that our consciousness and self-awareness continue in the presence of Christ. This hope of resurrection and reunification with our bodies is a cornerstone of Christian belief, offering peace and assurance in the face of death. [14:33]

"For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Corinthians 5:1, ESV)

Reflection: How does the assurance of being with Christ after death influence your perspective on life and death today?


Day 4: The Struggle Against Self-Righteousness
Self-righteousness is a constant struggle, but we must daily remind ourselves of our justification by faith alone, relying solely on Christ's righteousness. The gospel humbles us by declaring that our righteousness comes solely from Christ, not from our deeds. This requires a daily reminder of our justification by faith alone, casting aside any reliance on our own actions. Preaching the gospel to ourselves each day helps us recognize our complete dependence on Christ and guards against the temptation of self-righteousness. [16:32]

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself today of your justification by faith alone, and how can this change your approach to self-righteousness?


Day 5: Embracing the Ordinary Means of Grace
The ordinary means of grace, such as worship and sacraments, are essential for spiritual growth. These practices, though ordinary, are God's established ways for nurturing our faith. While they may seem simple, the ordinary means of grace are vital for spiritual growth and are accessible to all believers, regardless of their circumstances. Engaging in worship, scripture reading, and participating in sacraments are ways God has provided for us to grow as Christians. These practices nurture our faith and help us grow in grace and love for Jesus. [21:27]

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." (Acts 2:42, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally incorporate the ordinary means of grace into your daily routine this week to nurture your spiritual growth?

Quotes


help you understand the flow of the of of the bible but you also need to go to a bible study you need to go to church you need to listen to sermons you need to start reading books about the bible and it's a fascinating and wonderful journey i think when you reach a point where you think all right i think i now understand the overall trajectory of the bible and that doesn't come quickly it took me many years it took me through seminary to see the unity of the biblical message [00:11:30]

well the moment we die our soul and body separate by soul i mean whatever you think of when you say that you're alive what what does that mean what does it mean that you're self-aware what does it mean to say you have self-consciousness that's what that's what the soul is and that continues after death so your body dies but your spirit your soul continues and you you you wake up as it were uh in heaven uh where jesus body is right now [00:13:38]

trusting in one's self-righteousness is a constant temptation because the gospel is really humbling it's saying that we are justified we are reckoned righteous in god's sight without any contribution of our own and so we need to cast our well there's a hymn it's an old hymn cast your deadly doing down down at jesus feet stand in him in him alone gloriously complete [00:15:42]

and i think that one of the things that we need to do is to preach the gospel to ourselves every day every morning we should remind ourselves what is the nature of my standing and relationship with god and how is that so and to remind ourselves of justification by faith alone apart from the works of the law but self-righteousness is a constant struggle [00:16:14]

prayer how often do you pray how fervently do you pray how often do you read the bible do you do you read it with some degree of regularity and are you thrilled and captivated by what you read what is your relationship to others are you always are i always wanting to be number one i always try to outwit somebody um are you always on the defensive [00:17:08]

flee to jesus and ask him to give you a heart that loves him more um you know we're not we're not saved by these things these things don't contribute to our salvation but there are evidences that we are saved and and i think that when ever we're convicted about our sin we need to take that to jesus and ask him to fill us with his holy spirit [00:18:15]

yes i'm not all together happy i think i'm with sinclair ferguson that i'm not altogether happy with with the phrase means of grace it it it is too it is too likely to become something mechanical or something even worse legalistic maybe but generally speaking what we mean by the means of grace is things like worship the sabbath the reading of scripture the preaching of scripture the baptism the lord's supper and that those are the ordinary means of grace by which we grow by which we are fed by which we are nourished [00:19:57]

people are always wanting to do something different you know we've done this now for so many years let's do something different let's liven things up let's let's think outside the box as to what we can do to help us grow and those questions are not necessarily wrong um but there are uh there are things that god has laid down there's a pattern that god has laid down there's a there is a way in which god has given us the a b and c and d and e and f of how we grow as christians how we advance as a christian community [00:20:47]

and they are going to church and um singing hymns and psalms and reading the scripture and listening to sermons and engaging in prayer and receiving the sacraments and these are the ordinary means of grace and is there an element to where these these things are very ordinary it's it's bread and wine it's water it's reading it's not necessarily the flashy thing that some people are seeking after it's something that any community can do [00:21:30]

uh everyone has access then to a bible they have access to preaching they have access to prayer they have access to bread and wine and water so you know it's it's it's meant to be something that every christian in the world unless they're in extreme circumstances can do [00:22:16]

there are those in our community who believe that jesus can't come until the gospel has been preached in all the world jesus talks about it in matthew 24 and 25 that before he comes the gospel will be preached in all the world what does that mean does it mean that the gospel must be preached in every people group i don't have the number in my head but there are let's say there are 5 000 people groups let's say there are 8 000 people groups there are different numbers people do it in different ways [00:25:32]

but of those people groups maybe a third of them still have never heard of the gospel they are discernible people groups with a discernible language and a discernible way of life and and and things about their community that that uh that are distinguishable but they haven't heard the gospel now if you believe that [00:26:06]

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Transcript
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