As I began teaching, though, I shared something with the class that I thought might challenge each of us as we seek to study the Bible. You see, I took a class on Philippians in my time in graduate school at Freed-Hardeman. Dr. Earl Edwards taught the class and the notebook he used to teach from is filled with scores of pages of good, helpful, well-researched material. In fact, several years ago, I used it to preach through the book at 9th Avenue.

However, what I told my class last night is this: my challenge in teaching this class is to avoid removing that notebook from my shelf a single time. That’s right: I’m not going to use that resource once in teaching this book.

Study is hard work, but the rewards are incalculable!

Now, of course, I am using other sources. As I type this post, in fact, there are four commentaries and one “background” book laying around that I used to get ready for my first class, as well as a couple of other sources. My Bible is open to Philippians, as well. But that notebook…it remains on the shelf.

Why? Because I want to challenge myself. I don’t want that to come across as some sort of arrogant statement. I want it to come across as a challenge to us all. Especially when we are dealing with passages that we are quite familiar with, it might be best to study from another source. My prayer is, by challenging myself, not only will I be enriched, but so will the class, because I will be teaching from my own intensive study, not just from looking back at one source and presenting it.

So, how do we do this? When you are looking at a passage, always come back to the Bible, but in your study…

1. Use a commentary or other source you haven’t used before. Many of us have a “go-to” commentary on certain books of the Bible, and that’s fine. But if we know a passage well, it might be worth looking at a new (or “new to us”) source.

2. Read from a different translation. If nothing else, this provides a great way to look at a familiar passage. You’ll want to keep your “normal” translation handy, but read from one you are not as familiar with, and it will help you think about a passage.

3. Utilize a different type of commentary. Don’t just use “preacher” commentaries, or don’t use only “scholarly” ones. If you are used to a devotional level commentary, try to work through a more scholarly level work. If you spend all your time in academic commentaries, step back and use a devotional one.

The challenge is to look at the familiar without going to a crutch. It will challenge you, but help you gain a depth of knowledge about that Scripture that you never saw before.

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What other tips would you give?

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In the comments, a guest stated that this program is funny. I was not arguing the humor in this program. I was trying to get us to see how, just a few years ago, Christians were constantly standing against programming that pushed a homosexual agenda, and today we find ourselves being entertained by it.

However, this post isn’t about that. It’s about picking one program (or musical artist, or celebrity, or movie, etc.) to represent the whole as an illustration or point of application. When I did that in yesterday’s post, I hope you noticed that it was a rarity. I also do this rarely when I preach. I have two major reasons:

1. Relevance. I do not know the “hippest” programs all the time. (I don’t even know if “hippest” is still used today!) I do not want to use some example of a program or song that “everyone is taking in, only to find out that it became uncool with a certain group (usually teens) a few months earlier. Doing that will cause them to question how well you really know your subject.

2. It allows an easy “out” of application. When I was a kid, I heard many speakers–usually at youth events–rail against heavy metal music. I had an easy “out.” I didn’t listen to that, so I was “okay.” However, there is smut and sinful content in various kinds of music. Instead of picking one and making it the only point of application, I try to speak in more generic terms, and use examples rarely. Then, when I do use one, it seems to have more impact.

When we preach or teach, it is fine to use specific examples, but I think that should be the exception rather than the rule. If we are constantly hammering away at one genre of music, one TV show, or one celebrity, that becomes a hobby horse whether we want it to or not. And that’s a horse I do not want to ride.

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Preachers, how do you handle this?

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Many of our young people laugh at the “puritanical” nature of early TV programs, where everyone was respectful and where sexual situations–even between husbands and wives–were never discussed. We remember that it took the “signing off” of some people to allow a singular curse word in the film Gone with the Wind. As fashion has grown more and more sensual, we think the days when groups like the Beatles wore suits in their performances are just relics of yesteryear.

And it is not just in the media. Everyday people talk more crudely and act in ways that are openly sinful, and we wonder why this downward spiral continues.

But this article is not just to describe the world “out there.” It is meant to be a challenge to Christians.

Far too many Christians look at the sinful world and say with pride, “I’m not as bad as that!” or “At least I don’t do that!” Of course, they have plenty of trash to pick from, but they choose something awful and proudly state that they are better than that.

However, all the time, our own morals are declining, too. As the world goes further and further away from God, we follow a line downward, too, just a little further behind.

Just think with me:

• How many Christians used to consider using euphemisms for God’s name (like “gosh”) to be totally unacceptable, but as the world has started taking God’s name in vain more and more, have just said that it’s okay now to use words like that?
• How many Christians would have never watched a show that promoted homosexuality just a decade ago or so, but now sit and laugh at Modern Family or other programs with openly homosexual characters?
• How many Christians used to fight against clothing that was revealing, but started to wear things that showed “just a little more” as the culture started wearing things that showed a lot more?

You see, we are often guilty of going down the same spiral, but just a little behind the culture.

My challenge for you is this: let’s not let the world be our standard any longer. Let’s let God be our standard!

Christians are to be holy people, and that means we are going to look very different from the world in which we live. Instead of slowly trending downward, let’s step all the way back up to God’s perfect standard and do all we can live our lives thereby.

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Where else have you seen this downward trend?

What suggestions would you give to work against it?

In our car, we have been playing some of the Hannah’s Hundred CDs for quite some time. If you are not familiar with these CDs, they are a collection of 100 verses per CD sung by our friends: Glenn, Cindy, Caleb, and Hannah Colley. We currently have two of the CDs and you would be amazed how many of those little songs our kids know, and how many they walk around the house singing. If you are interested in these resources, here’s a link to find out more.

As a funny little story, I was walking through the house one day and Turner, then age 4, was just singing one of the songs at the top of his lungs. The verse he was singing so loudly? “Thou shalt not commit adultery!” That will make sure that our marriage remains strong…when your children are singing that around the house!

In addition to these CDs, we are also beginning to do some of our own songs. As we read our Bible, or study for an upcoming lesson, we come across a verse we want the kids to know. Then we just make up a little melody to help them remember the words. You don’t have to have any musical talent whatever to do this. In fact, the child often best remembers the melody that you think sound the silliest!

The point of this post is to surround your children with God’s Word. In your car, as well as around the house, put these eternal truths in their hearts, and they will not soon forget them.

***BONUS TIP: You already know tons of Bible verses. Just flip through your song book and you will be amazed at how many songs are either direct quotations from Scripture, or are very close. If you are struggling to write little songs for the kids to learn verses, this is a good place to start! (Just as one example, “I Will Call Upon the Lord” quotes from Psalm 18:3.)

Month: May

Theme: 31 Days, 31 Proverbs

We are reading one chapter in Proverbs each day.

Sunday, May 13: Proverbs 13

Monday, May 14: Proverbs 14

Tuesday, May 15: Proverbs 15

Wednesday, May 16: Proverbs 16

Thursday, May 17: Proverbs 17

Friday, May 18: Proverbs 18

Saturday, May 19: Proverbs 19

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You see, as a preacher, one of the temptations is to only think about how to study for sermons, when I need to read and study for my own spiritual growth and maturity, as well. Keeping those two things separate is not easy (and they will never be totally divided, as some of my best sermon ideas are drawn from my own reading and study), it is necessary for me to focus on my personal walk with the Lord.

Part of the class involved sharing some tools I use and recommend. Last night, we spoke for a few minutes about Olive Tree Bible program, but I did not get to speak of it for very long. So, I decided to write this post as a follow up for those who are interesting in using some good tech tools for Bible study.

ONE DISCLAIMER: I am fairly new to Olive Tree and am still getting used to it. However, after just a few months of irregular use, I love it!

Features

Olive Tree itself is free. You can download an app for your iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire, or Android phone or tablet for free. Also, having an account with Olive Tree is free. Recently, though, they have taken it a step further, and this is where the beauty of the program comes in. You can now download an “app” (basically like an iTunes or Dropbox button) for you Mac or PC.

And…here’s the best part…you can sync across any or all of these FOR FREE. So, if you like to take notes on your iPad (for example), feel free to do that, then open up Olive Tree on your computer and, voila, there are your notes!

In Olive Tree, you can highlight text, make your own notes, and compare translations all with a simple keystroke. Further, there are tons of downloadable commentaries, word studies, and other works to add to your library. Some are free, but most cost money. [More about this later] So, take notes and highlight all you want on your Android phone, then get on your computer, and there are all your notes!

The other part of Olive Tree that I am still getting used to is customizing it. When you use the program on your phone or tablet, you can customize what different “gestures” (finger swipes, for example) will do. This can bring up dozens of possible resources, cross-references, or note-taking abilities that will then help you make your program truly be yours.

Cost

As I said, the program and many of the works are free. Below is a list of the works I have downloaded and used and I have yet to purchase a single volume.

• King James Bible (automatically comes with the program)
• American Standard Version
• Bible in Basic English
• Darby’s New Translation
• Holman Christian Standard Version
• Modern King James Version
• Revised Version (New Testament)
• The Tyndale Bible
• World English Bible
• Wycliffe Bible
• Jameson, Faucet, and Brown Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Commentary
• Easton Dictionary of the Bible
• Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary
• Sermons from John Piper
• The Works of Josephus

Again, I have not paid a dime for any of these. Now, there are other works I might add in the future, but I use Olive Tree mainly for note-taking, so I am not worried about having a huge library within the program. I do like having several translations available at my fingertips, though, for simple word studies.

Most of the paid volumes are priced fairly. This is my caution, though. I would caution not building a massive library and sinking tons of money into the program. I would see it as more of a note-taking program so that you can have all your notes in one place and more easily studied.

Back it Up with Evernote

If you are not familiar, I use Evernote to remember just about everything. One of the questions about any sort of technology software is, “What happens if the company goes out of business or discontinues the product?” That’s a great question, and that’s why you do not need to be dependent upon one company.

So, with Olive Tree, you can automatically back up your notes and highlights into Evernote. And, of course, if you do not have an Evernote account, it is free as well. [Sign up here.] That way, it would take both Olive Tree and Evernote “going under” at the same time for you to lose your stuff.

Get Started with These Resources!

Here are some resources to help you get started and to help you learn better how to use Olive Tree.

1. Olive Tree website homepage

2. My friend Daniel Howell recently wrote a wonderful tutorial on Olive Tree on his blog. I highly recommend it. Here’ the link.

3. A video about Olive Tree. The video quality is a bit lacking, but this 3:22 video will show you just some of the features and ease of use. Here’s that link.

4. A how-to showing the way to backup (sync) your Olive Tree notes with Evernote. It takes a few steps, but once it is done, it is automatic.

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Have you used Olive Tree? What are your thoughts? Tips? Complaints?

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However, in the years we have had this site, I have learned…or been reminded of…several things that have nothing to do with blogging. Here are seven.

Don't Worry, There's No Test on These Lessons

1. People Need Encouragement. Nearly any time I post something that provides encouragement, our number of comments goes up. Or, better said, we actually have comments . But it is interesting how often we post something else and people are willing to admit their hurts, fears, and frustrations in the comments. We live in a difficult world, and people need to be built up. [NOTE: As proof of that, our most read post ever deals with alcohol and what it causes. Almost 1000 people have viewed the article and it has over 250 "likes" on Facebook. If you never read it, here's the link.]

2. People Want to Know YOU. In our digital age, there is a real lack of personal connection. Some of that can be found in social media and through sites like this, but people still want to really connect. Personal posts attract a lot of attention because people want to know other people. Sounds like the basics of an evangelism class!

3. God’s People are Truly Helpful. I run this site by myself. Due to my lack of technological knowledge, I have made plenty of mistakes, but I have always found Christians willing to help me get the site fixed, up, and running again. Even when the entire site went down last week, a couple of Christians stepped in and helped me get it back up. What is true in the digital world is doubly true in our everyday lives. God’s people are remarkable.

4. Numbers Aren’t Everything. I look at our site’s statistics all the time. Rss feed numbers (which, by the way, went “kaput” after last week’s site crash), site hits, Facebook “likes,”…the list goes on and on. Sometimes I am shocked by what articles draw solid numbers. But, that’s just the point. It’s not about the numbers. It’s about touching people and teaching them. Maybe I need to teach myself that lesson on Sundays, too!

5. People are Hungry to Learn. I know our site isn’t exactly “scholarly,” but we are told that we live in an era when people just want to be dumbed down. That just is not true. People may go to different sources than they used to, but there are still plenty of people who read, hear, and watch things that teach them.

6. Consistency Pays Off. Not necessarily in money (trust me on that one!), but in readership, connections, and interaction. Our blog is about six years old now, and I am totally amazed that we have any “loyal readers,” and we have quite a few. That didn’t happen on day one. It didn’t happen in year one. But it has reminded me to look at the big picture in many areas of life, and not just the quick-hit results.

7. God Will Give You a Way to Use Your Talents. I enjoy writing. While I am not the best writer in the world, I do think I have a talent for writing in this format (short, quick, informative). Who would have ever thought that we’d live in a world where a talent like that could be used? But we do, and I believe that, with God’s help, you can use your talents if you will seek His ways. Whether it’s a talent for teaching your children in your home, leading singing, visiting those who are hurting, writing books, or cooking for others, God will open doors for you if you will let Him.

Thanks for reading our blog, and helping me learn these, and other, valuable lessons!

Other people should be grateful that they will not have to stand before me in the final judgment. In the spirit of insights gained from a former teacher, if I were the judge, some people would be allowed into heaven who should not be there and others would be excluded who should be welcomed in. God will not make such mistakes. Although we can live in the confidence that God is a righteous judge and that in Christ we do not have to fear His judgment, it is still sobering to contemplate standing before the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10). In the meantime, although not passing judgment on one another, should we not seek to do what we understand pleases the one who will be our judge?

–Thomas C. Alexander

Music in Worship, page 103