ENSURING CONTINUED HARMONY OF GROUP STUDIES by John David
Here are a few Scriptures describing the danger that all growth group meetings face when one outspoken person begins to espouse and teach his/her own ideas in a forceful, opinionated manner.
A. Disharmony can thus be generated when that person begins violating the given code of courteous order;
B. He introduces a dogmatic argumentative tone;
C. This is particularly so when he unrelentingly maintains his position
D. Thus his repetitive, interruptive manner demanding the group concede his point can waylay the normal dynamics of a healthy group examination of the Scriptures
E. If not gently checked by the leader with a measure of firmness his persistence will prevent a return to the prevailing dynamic of harmonious group exchange led by the leader’s scrutiny of the chosen biblical passage in question.
The advice of Paul the apostle affirms these dangers and the consequences of allowing such to occur for the sake of free speech.
1 Timothy 1:5-6. …turned aside unto vain jangling … understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
2 Timothy 3:7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Colossians 2:8. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men…
1 Corinthians 3:19. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God…
2 Corinthians 1:12. …in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom …
2 Corinthians 2:17. For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
2 Timothy 2:14-16 …strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers…rightly dividing the word of truth…but shun profane and vain babblings.
1 Corinthians 2:13. … not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
2 Corinthians 10:12. …: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
2 Peter 1:20. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Quoted verses from the King James Version (Public domain)
Article by John David of Bible Simply
PRESERVING BIBLE STUDY DISCUSSION HARMONY
Published by
Bible Simply
PROFILE of BIBLE SIMPLY
SIMPLE KEYS
TO UNDERSTANDING
AND KNOWING YOUR
BIBLE’S CONTENTS
HOW TO START READING YOUR BIBLE.
As we are educated to be doubters and skeptics, one way or another, you need to employ the willing suspension of disbelief at the very start and if you have not believed the following tenets enumerated below you must pretend they are true while reading.
1. Read it as if it is the infallible Word of God.
2. Remember in the first chapter of the first of sixty-six books: Genesis, these words appear:
a. “God said-God made-God called”
i. God said what you’re reading
ii. God made the patriarchs, prophets & apostles write them.
iii. God called ordinary men to write His Words. Do not treat them as in any other book.
3. Do not analyze it by your own intellect for logic or truthfulness;
4. Do not judge it by your powers of mental reason or of popular philosophy;
5. Read it as God’s Word demonstrating the waywardness of rebellious human nature cursed by sin;
6. Read it noticing the rare men or women that wholeheartedly seek God sincerely without ulterior motive;
7. Read it noticing the futile attempts of men to keep the moral law, vainly worshipping with lip service;
8. Read it and continue the habit even when you do not understand it for God is secretly at work because the Bible says:-:
a. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God:
i. Romans 10: 17.
b. The pre-eternal Christ’s name is the Word, in the triune godhead of the Father, the Word & Spirit:
i. 1st John 5:7; 1st John 1:1; John’s Gospel 1:1.
9. Read it without the help of church or clergy until there arises within your heart a pang of hunger to wholeheartedly be a daily Bible reader.
10. Read it until God’s grace enlightens the eyes of your understanding to fathom Christ’s message to you in both the Old and New Testaments (excepting the uninspired Apocrypha in some Bibles)
11. Read it noticing the principles of the wise reader found in the following Bible references:-
a. Proverbs 3:5-6; 1st Corinthians 2:14; 2nd Timothy 3:16; Romans 1:17; John’s Gospel 1:17.
12. Keep in mind that the minute your mind asserts superior wisdom over your Bible reading you are a fool.
a. Romans 1:22.
13. The reason the mind blindly argues against the credibility of Scripture that the problem is from the heart:
a. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
PROFILE
John David’s Bible Simply is a Know Your Bible program. Bible Simply has been formed to reach the ‘household of faith’ and the god-fearing pilgrims struggling to understand the Bible. Bible Simply would encourage spasmodic readers to become daily Bible readers and regular readers to become more acquainted with the Old and New Testaments.
For a free Bible Study or New Testament sample: c/- biblesimply@gmail.com or
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Bible Simply is neither church-based nor sectarian in approach. It does not solicit church attendance or use follow-up methods unless requested.
Bible Simply holds to the tenets of our Puritan forefathers and their early English Bible translations based on the Greek Text of Erasmus, not the unreliable 19th C Greek New Testament of Westcott & Hort upon which most modern translations of the Bible are based.
MOTTO: “Faith alone- by grace alone- through Scripture alone.”
‘The just shall live by faith,’ not of themselves but of grace.
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