Pick up a quick tip to get more out of your Bible study

I've taught for over twenty years and I can help you go deeper when you open up the Word.

Study Tip: Names of God

One of the things we miss out on in our English Bibles is the variety of names for God used in the original Hebrew. Each one points to an intensely personal encounter with Him. The English doesn’t leave the names out, you just have to learn to recognize them. I’ll touch on four of the most used names.

God – This is Elohim, the most commonly used name. The ‘im’ ending means it’s plural, but it takes a singular verb, indicating the three-in-one God. It’s the name used in Genesis 1:1. The first part of the word “El” is used in other names for God like El Elyon, the

The first part of the word “El” is used in other names for God like El Elyon, the most high God, and El Shaddai, Almighty God. (Interesting side note: When Jesus cries out from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” He uses a singular form.) “El” appears in proper names too, like Daniel- God is my judge, Ezekiel – God will strengthen, and Samuel – asked of God.

LORD or GOD – (Usually appears in all caps or small caps) This is Jehovah, the covenant name God gave to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3:14. He called Himself the I AM, highlighting His eternal, self-existent nature. He is the covenant-maker, and the promise-keeper. This name is also used in proper names

This name is also used in proper names too, and shows up as “jah” or “iah” at the end of a name, like Isaiah – Jehovah has saved. It also appears at the beginning of names as “Jo” like in Jonathan- Jehovah has given or “Je” like the Old Testament kings Jehoshaphat- Jehovah is judge or Jehoiakim- Jehovah raises up.

Lord – This is Adonai. It’s used when the writer is focused on God’s personal rule over him. David uses it in Psalm 51 as he confesses and asks forgiveness. The Hebrews used this name rather than take a chance on misusing God’s covenant name, Jehovah.

LORD of hosts – This is a special one, translating the Hebrew name Jehovah Sabaoth. That word looks a lot like sabbath, but it’s the word for army. This is the vision Isaiah sees in chapter 6, Jehovah the Warrior King.

There are many others including El Roi: God Who Sees (Genesis 16:12), Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:13-14), and Jehovah-Rohi: The Lord My Shepherd (Psalm 23:1).

As you read, notice which names are used in the verses that stand out to you.

Which name is most meaningful to you?

Study Tip: Finished

By Paula

Usually, when I study, I focus on books or passages, or even words, with the intent of seeing the deep details God incorporates into His word. I love studying that way. However, sometimes it’s good to remember that the Bible for all its diversity in authorship, time and style is one coherent story. This one story is told in three parts, each marked by the word “finished” (or “done,” depending on your translation).

Creation is finished.
And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. Genesis 2:2

Salvation is finished.
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19:30

Final redemption is finished.
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. Revelation 21:6

He created us. He saved us. He will one day bring us into His eternal presence. He initiated each step in the plan and He brought it to completion. Keeping the larger narrative in mind helps refocus our attention on God and His plan. In focusing on and glorifying God that way, we fulfill the true purpose of all Bible study — worship.

Study Tip: Palm Sunday

By Paula

All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
“Tell the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your King is coming to you,
Lowly, and sitting on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
Matthew 21:4-5

The Bible records two instances in which Jesus rode instead of walking. The first we’ll remember and celebrate this coming Palm Sunday. The second we’ll celebrate sometime in the future.

Matthew 21:1-5 records Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem the Sunday before His crucifixion. In a perfect fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, He enters the city riding on a young donkey.

Albert Barnes and others who study the historical side of Scriptures attest that horses were rare in Judea, so they were only used in times of war. During peace time, kings and princes rode donkeys. (Judges 10:4, 12:14 and 1 Samuel 25:20 show the noble and the wealthy riding donkeys.)

The unmistakable picture is that of a King coming as a peacemaker. The crowds immediately recognized what Jesus was doing and began shouting the Messianic sections of Psalm 118. All of the promises they had clung to through countless Passover celebrations were about to reach their fulfillment.

Except they didn’t.

We know how the story plays out. The mood changed and days later that crowd who had pronounced blessings became a mob calling for His blood.

Now let’s skip ahead.

In Revelation 19:11, John reports, “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.”

Now Christ rides a white horse. Roman general rode white horses, especially in their victory parades. Jesus is not coming to make peace this time. The text plainly says He’s coming to make war. The offer of peace has expired, and those who have rejected it have become His enemies and will face Him on the battlefield. Further reading in Revelation 19 reveals it’s a war He will win decisively.

As you celebrate Palm Sunday this weekend, consider what an amazing thing it is for the King, crowned with power and majesty, to offer us terms of peace, a peace that would cost us nothing but our allegiance to Him.

Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Study Tip: Opened and Torn

By Paula

Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him. Mark 1:10 NAS

Today’s study tip is a quick behind-the-scenes look at a couple of verses from Mark’s gospel. The word “opening” in Mark 1:10 is the Greek word, schizo, the root for the English words schizophrenic and schism. I’d always pictured this more like a curtain opening at the beginning of a show, but schizo means to rend or cleave. It’s much more energetic and active.

Now skip ahead to Mark 15:38. “And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” Torn is the same Greek word, schizo, that we saw in Mark 1:10.

The writer nerd in me immediately sees this as a subtle but beautifully crafted way to bookend the story of Jesus’s ministry. It’s even more significant than that.

At the start of Jesus’s earthly ministry, the heavens are opened. God gives notice that Jesus is His Son, and we should listen. God validates Jesus’s ministry with the seal that Jesus speaks for Him. In the Upper Room, He tells His disciples if they’d seen Him, they’d seen the Father. In other words, all the access you could ever want or need to the Sovereign King of Kings was now available. If you wanted to talk to God, you simply had to talk to Jesus. That’s an amazing thing right there.

But it got better.

At the end of Jesus’s ministry, the veil in the temple is torn from top to bottom. The physical access people had to the Father through the person of Jesus Christ was now completely wide open because of His shed blood on the cross. We are no longer limited to meeting God at a particular time and place. We have free, unlimited access to Him because of Jesus. All the barriers are have been torn, cleaved, rent apart.

That’s a lot of power packed in that one little word.

Study Tip: The Approach

By Paula

Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day. Psalm 25:5

Sometimes our Bible study is hindered by the attitudes and expectations we bring to it.

We may believe Scripture is confusing and hard to understand, so it’s as satisfying as reading the legal notice for prescription medicine.
We may see it as a list of rules so we look forward to it like we anticipate the changes to the IRS code.
We may study purely out of obligation so it brings us as much joy as skipping dessert.

But what if we saw it as an invitation to step onto holy ground instead?
What if we viewed it as a chance to hear from the wisest counselor?
Or a visit with a mighty king for a private audience?
Or maybe a quiet conversation with a trusted friend?

It’s even more than that.

The Bible is the way the ultimate lover of your soul reveals His heart.

The next time you sit down to study, take a few moments to decompress, to focus and to ask God to reveal His heart as you read. He promises that if we seek Him, we will find Him. After your study, make sure you thank Him and record what you learned. It never hurts to share it with someone else, too.

Study Tip: God’s Love

By Paula

Since Valentine’s Day is this week, let’s do a quick study of God’s love.

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you. Jeremiah 31:3

The Bible has a lot to say about love. In fact, after God or Jesus, love probably has more entries in your concordance than anything else. Love originates with God. He defines it and He embodies it. Interestingly, the first mention of the word love is a father’s love. It comes in Genesis 22 referring to Abraham’s love for Isaac.

The Bible uses two unique words to try to describe God’s love for us.

In the Old Testament, writers chose the word hesed. It’s usually translated mercy, lovingkindness, steadfast love or unfailing love. Wrapped up in that one word is the idea that we, in our weakness, rest in the protection and blessing of God. He offers it with a generous unyielding commitment, not borne of obligation but of choice. It is God’s particular love for His chosen people. Psalm 136 uses hesed in its refrain.

In the New Testament, we see agape used. It’s the unshakeable, sacrificial love that prompts action. It’s the love that initiated the plan of salvation, the love that caused Jesus to die for us and the love the causes us to obey God and serve others in grace.

While you could easily devote your life to studying, meditating on and basking in the love of God, here are a few verses worth considering, but keep in mind, hesed, may be translated any number of ways.

Exodus 15:17
Numbers 14:18-19
Psalm 5:7
Psalm 103:8-11

John 14:15
1 John 4:9-10 (pretty much the whole book of 1 John)
Romans 5:8
Ephesians 2:4
Romans 13:8

What do these verses tell you about love? About God? About us? What actions does love prompt God to take? What should love lead us to do?