This week we will address a bad habit when it comes to reading our Bibles. Glenn Paauw, the author of “Saving The Bible From Ourselves,” calls this bad habit ‘snacking on the Bible.’ What he is referring to is the tendency for us to take small bite size bits of the Bible instead of feasting on large chunks. He writes,
“Snacking on the Bible is addictive for all the usual reasons something becomes addictive: it’s easy, it feels good at the moment and the alternative seems complex and difficult. But why should we worry about it? It may involve only taking in small pieces, but it’s still the Bible, right? Isn’t it better than not reading the Bible at all?”
We will take a look at these questions and look for evidence of this bad habit in our own encounters with God’s word.
Preparation: The favorite verse of every competitor/athlete is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” This verse by itself seems to suggest that Jesus will indeed help you kick the 50 yard field goal or complete the bike race you signed up for.
Read this verse in the context of all of chapter 4 or even the whole book of Philippians. How does the meaning of this verse change or clarify as you do that?
Homework: We looked at four verses in sunday school that are clarified in their meaning when they are read in context (Jer 29:11, Phil 4:13, Matt 7:1, Matt 18:20). I would encourage you to look up some other popular verses you are familiar with and read them in the context in which the were written. Does the cultural understanding of these verses change or clarify when understood in context?
Adult Sunday School 