What is a Canonical Approach to the Bible? A Brief(ish) Explanation

What is the Canonical Approach to reading the Bible and how do we do it? This new blog series will demonstrate how to use the Canonical Approach to study the historical narratives within the first five books of our English Bibles, commonly referred to as the Pentateuch.

In this introduction to the topic, I define some important concepts for us (like historical narrative and narrative typology) and show an example of how those pieces work together to help us gain a greater understanding of what we’re reading in the Old Testament!

How to do Canonical StudyMary BusbyMarch 23, 2021Bible Study, Canonical Approach, Old Testament

Really Study God’s Word: Learning how to study methodically to gain confidence in understanding Scripture

Honestly, for most of my life, I’ve had no earthly idea what the Old Testament was about. Or most of the New Testament, for that matter (but it’s always seemed easier to read). I grew up in church, but I wasn’t taught a practical, methodical way to study my Bible on my own.

After college, what increased my knowledge and faith was learning the skills I needed in order to learn from the Bible itself.

The truth from God’s Word, planted deep in me by my own intentional study, built up over the course of time, has produced joy and excitement about God and the Bible, and it helps me to stay rooted and steady in life’s storms. I know that’s one thing we long for: for our faith in God to be strong during trials. We want a solid foundation to stand on and a rock to cling to.

Understanding our Bible will make the difference in our ability to know Jesus, to love Him, and to cling to Him.

You can download a free workbook at the end of this blog to help you learn intentional, methodical study.

Mary BusbyMarch 19, 2021Bible Study, Inductive Bible Study

Did God Create Evil?

Is God the primary cause behind the terrorist acts of ISIS? Is God the ultimate cause behind the antisemitism of the holocaust? Is God the one who causes tragedies, rape, birth defects, and abuse of children? These and other troubling questions boil down to asking, “Did God originate evil?”

Tim ColeFebruary 15, 2021Evil, serpent, Genesis 3:1, Gpd and evil, Author of evil, Crafty, Prudent, Garden of Eden, Paradise

The Ark of the Covenant and the Christmas Story

The seamless, unifying theme of the entire Scriptures is the story of God’s redemptive plan to restore his personal presence with His people. We first see God among his people in the original holy of holies, the Garden sanctuary on Eden Mountain. But due to their failure of faith in God, man and woman are expelled from his holy presence and from access to the tree of life, forced to descend to the valley and experience death.

But despite this failure, God doesn’t give up on dwelling with His people. He implements a plan, a journey of faith for us, to restore His fallen people to His holy and lofty presence. The Christmas story is a seamless continuation of that same story.

Luke's Portrait of Jesus

Luke is an artist. His version of the Christmas story is told not in one setting, but in five separate parts, five small paintings of Jesus, designed to be seen linked together as one large portrait. Like a puzzle with five pieces, when fitted together, these mini-portraits give us a fuller understanding and appreciation of Jesus and the meaning of Christmas.

Tim ColeDecember 8, 2020Christmas Story, Jesus' birth, Luke's Christmas Story, Luke 2:1-20, The Birth of Jesus

The Ballet Box and the Hope of Change

This week, we participate in a very competitive and divisive political battle for the leaders of our nation for the next four years. The nation is deeply divided. The stakes seem so high. The struggle to win is adversarial in nature. The results will likely be contested for months. In the wake of the election, we will see and hear expressions of anger, rage, hatred, disappointment, disillusionment, and doom. It may be the better part of wisdom, then, to remind ourselves of the comfort found in a few unchanging truths from Scripture.

Tim ColeOctober 31, 2020Voting, election, Presidential election, Basis of our hope, Polling Place, Mark 1:33, Mark 1:29-34