Pastor Shaun Marksbury

  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 co

  Blindness and Evil in God’s World (John 9:1–7) Series:               “John: Life in Christ’s Name”           Text:                 John 9:1–7 By:                    Shaun Marksbury                         Date:                September 24, 2023 Venue:              Living Water Baptist Church             Occasion:             AM Service   I.               Introduction One of the toughest questions for Christians to answer, perhaps the most difficult question, is that of the existence of evil.   The conundrum goes something like this: How can evil exist when God is both all-powerful and good?   Theologians and philosophers have dubbed this problem “theodicy,” seeking to explain how God can justifiably permit pain and suffering in this world. There have been multiple explanations in theodicy.   Perhaps the most common one to hear is that evil is the result of free will.   God didn’t want people operating robotically, lacking personal autonomy.   Yet, free will wo

  Honoring the Son (John 8:48–59) Series:               “John: Life in Christ’s Name”           Text:                 John 8:48–59 By:                    Shaun Marksbury                         Date:                September 17, 2023 Venue:              Living Water Baptist Church             Occasion:             AM Service   I.               Introduction A high sense of honor and shame is common in the ancient world, and it still exists in many non-Western societies.   We still have some sense of it in the West, though it’s fading, with many of our contemporaries lacking understanding of the importance of a good name and a sound reputation.   It is, however, important to understanding the Bible. For instance, you may remember when David was on the run from a deranged King Saul that he found help from the king of the Ammonites.   The king helped David since Saul was his enemy.   A while after Saul died and David had become king, the Ammonite king died; so, Da