SERMON: Old Testament Overview, Part 1: Introductions

 






Old Testament Overview: A Twelve Week Trek through the Text

  • Part 1 - Introductions.  This Session:
    • Introducing Bible Study
    • Introducing the Bible
    • Introducing the Torah
  • I. Introduction to Bible Study 
    • Bible study starts with reading it.
    • The best way to know the Bible is to read it through, right-to-left!
      • Not random verses!
      • Not here a little, there a little!
    • Studying the bible includes:
      Observation, Interpretation, Application (O-I-A Method)
      • Start by reading and noting what the text says in context
      • After all the observations, identify what it means
      • Then move to application!
      • OBSERVATION
        • Observe what’s there!
        • Bible books:
          • Book as a whole 
          • Divisions 
          • Sections 
          • Segments [chapters] 
          • Paragraphs 
          • Sentences [verses] 
          • Clauses 
          • Phrases 
          • Words 
        • Interpretation comes after observation.
          (“Elementary.”)
        • Good interpretation is based on the Historical-Grammatical Method.
          • That’s considering the history and the grammar of the text.
          • We consider what the Spirit-inspired text actually says and in what context He delivered it.
          • Not allegorizing everything! (How would you want your words interpreted?)
      • APPLICATION: Relating the Meaning of the Biblical Text to Present Life
        • We jump to application too quickly!
          • We can’t correctly apply a text if we have misinterpreted it.
          • We can’t correctly interpret a text if we have failed to observe its parts.
        • When we are read, we apply in two ways
          • Personal (A command for me to follow?  A truth for me to believe?)
          • Public (i.e. Expository Preaching, teaching a study/devotion, providing counsel, sharing the gospel, etc.) 
  • II. Introduction to the Bible


    • Bible blocks
      • The Old Testament (start here – 78% of Bible!)
        • The Hebrew breakdown of the Bible:
          • The Law (Torah/Pentateuch) – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy 
          • The Prophets 
            • The Former Prophets – Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, 
            • The Latter Prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, The Twelve
          • The Writings – Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ruth, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther, Daniel, Ezra/Nehemiah, Chronicles
      • The New Testament (Written in one generation)
        • The Historical Books – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts 
        • The Epistles
          • Pauline – Romans, Corinthians (2), Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians (2), Timothy (2), Titus, Philemon
          • Non-Pauline – Hebrews, James, Peter (2), John (3), Jude
        • The Apocalypse – Revelation
  • III. Introduction to the Torah
    • Hebrew: Torah – “direction, instruction, law”
    • Greek:  Pentateuch – from penta (five) and teuchos (volume), a “five-volumed book” 
    • Biblical:
      • The Law (Josh. 8:34; Ezra 10:3; Matt. 12:5; John 7:19) 
      • The Book of the Law (Josh. 1:8; Neh. 8:3; Gal. 3:10)
      • The Book of the Law of Moses (Josh. 8:31; 2 Kin. 14:6) 
      • The Book of Moses (Ezra 6:18; Mark 12:26)
      • The Law of Moses (Dan. 9:11; Mal. 4:4; Luke 2:22; John 7:23) 
      • The Law of the Lord (Ezra 7:10; Luke 2:23, 24) 
      • The Law of God (Neh. 10:28, 29) 
      • The Book of the Law of God (Josh. 24:26; Neh. 8:18) 
      • The Book of the Law of the Lord (2 Chr. 17:9; Neh. 9:3)
    • Its Importance
      • The Torah is the Foundation of Spiritual Truth
        • Deuteronomy 31:12
        • Joshua 1:8
      • The Torah Points to Christ 
        • Luke 24:27, 44
    • Its Purpose:
      • God chose Israel to be His priestly nation over His created earth. (cf. Exodus 19:4–6)
    • Its Breakdown:
      • The Primeval History (Gen. 1-11) 
      • The Patriarchal History (Gen. 12-50) 
      • The Beginning of the History of the Nation of Israel (Exod. 1 – Deut. 34)


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