when approaching the scripture, is it presumptuous to look for a "take-away" lesson? why or why not? what, if any, expectations should we have when we study the bible? (i went to another small group tonight as you can guess. there was beer this time, so that was kind of cool) i'm serious. comments, please.
was this something we talked about in seminary while i wasn't paying attention? shoot. i was probably checking my email.
4 comments:
From a very uneducated, average Joe like myself my answer would be, no it is not presumptuos to look for "take-away" lessons when approaching scripture but I can also say that I do not always think that should be the intention of "Bible study". There is history and depth of a different kind and whether you walk away with application to your life or not I think I can say that there is always something that you can take from it.
i see four purposes of studying scripture. to know god, to understand our identities, to journey with others, and to understand our relationship with creation.
specifically, when we study the bible 'together' (like in a bible study) in this shared experience we also begin asking together what does this mean for us shared living experiences in the here and now.
... "life lessons" ... "how does this apply to our lives" ... seems to me if these questions don't arise when confronted with the living God through his word ... seems like your missing the whole point ...
yeah beer! get the Spirit flowing!!!
(you heathen)
Aud:
How great to see you writing about the Bible and reading Gilead. Am still reeling about how the A's stomped our Twins--still so damaged that I find myself pulling for Detroit. How did that happen?
Contact me by email sometime--Cathy and I have lost the ability to keep in touch, since we lost your addresses long ago.
As for your Bible-study frustrations, the answer is: "If not completely presumptuous, it's a little silly and probably ego-centric." Anyway, sometimes the take-away lesson is simply, "You suck," or "God is gracious."
All the best...
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