https://content.lessons.church/files/bundles/pcJyARCa0DZ/Study Files.zip?dt=1661521838492

Study Files

Session 5 Video

Increase your general knowledge of the biblical worlds.

Session 5

Study the world behind the text. (Historical Background)

Free video resources for you and your church. Designed for use in these environments: Adult Studies, Student Ministry, Leadership Training, Personal Growth.


The vision of Ozark Christian College is to glorify God by evangelizing the lost and edifying Christians worldwide. The mission of Ozark Christian College is to train men and women for Christian service as a degree-granting institution of biblical higher education.

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Lesson Outline

https://content.lessons.church/files/study/Qo8NsOO8ZpM/UjdCyA6ENL4/How to read the Bible (Michael DeFazio) 2016.pdf?dt=1661521744365

In this series, Michael DeFazio offers guidance on how to read the Bible more effectively to hear God's voice. It begins by setting the right goals and emphasizes the importance of reading with humility, arguing that character is as crucial to understanding the Bible as the method. The series then advocates for meticulous attention to detail and understanding the author's flow of thought by studying the context. Additionally, it stresses the value of familiarizing oneself with the historical background and reading each passage in light of the entirety of Scripture. Recognizing the relevance of genre sensitivity, the series also underlines that all principles apply to each genre, albeit not always in the same way. The final lesson emphasizes the necessity of living out what is learned from the Bible, stating that spiritual maturity is not gauged by knowledge alone but by how well one lives.

How to Read the Bible

 Michael DeFazio's series offers comprehensive guidance on effective Bible reading, focusing on goals, our own humility, detail attention, context comprehension, historical awareness, overall Scripture coherence, genre sensitivity, and the importance of applying learned teachings to life.

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Lesson

**Study the world *behind* the text. (Historical Background)**

   - We must understand and honor the way *God* chose to communicate.

   - The Bible was God’s word to *them* before it became God’s word to *us*.

   - And to do this, we’ve got to *close* the *gap* between them and us.

   - How can you do this?

     - Increase your general knowledge of the biblical world(s).

        - *The Greco-Roman World* by James Jeffers

        - *Day of Atonement: A Novel* by David deSilva

        - *A Guide to the New Testament World* by Albert Bell

        - *Backgrounds of Early Christianity* by Everett Ferguson

        - *A Week in the Life of Corinth* by Ben Witherington

        - *In the Steps of Jesus* and/or *In the Steps of Paul* by Peter Walker

        - Watch documentaries or miniseries on ancient Israel, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Assyria,

Babylon, Persia, or the Roman Empire.

     - *Identify and research* persons, places, events, customs, etc.

        - Inside the Bible itself

        - Bible Dictionaries & Handbooks

        - *The IVP Bible Background Commentary* series

        - Study Bible Notes

   - What to look for:

     - People (author, readers, relationship)

     - Places

     - Events

     - Cultural habits and assumptions

Study the world behind the text. (Historical Background)

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Classroom Instructions