We had a technical glitch today with the computers so we were not able to put a recording of the program up on the website. If you missed the program, here are the notes for what we were able to look at on the show.

 
We need to remember that when we study scripture, we are reading someone else's "mail". When writing, the author of the letter, being inspired by God, had one thing in mind as he was writing. We need to understand what the author intended to get through to the original audience so we can make applications to our own lives. This is where examining the context is important.


Whenever we approach Bible study, an important principle to keep in mind is "never read a Bible verse." We need to remember that the Bible was not originally given to us in verses as we have it today. It can become very easy for us to take a verse out of it's original context to make it say something it doesn't say. To protect ourselves from this, we need to not read just one Bible verse, but also what is before and after the passage, and we also need to make sure we interpret a passage so that it does not contradict other passages of scripture. 


As we go through the following passages, we will put this principle into application. We will examine the original context of these passages which are often ripped out of context. 

MATTHEW 18:20 - "FOR WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED IN MY NAME, THERE AM I AMONG THEM” 

This verse is used by many to suggest that in order to amplify our prayers or our experience of God in worship, we have to form a gathering of at least two or three. 

It is important to note that the first word of this verse is ‘for’, which shows us that Jesus is either concluding His thoughts on a certain subject or saying something based on what came before. When examining what comes before, we see that this is the final part of a section about dealing with sin within a church or among individual Christians. If a brother were to sin against them, they were to go to their brother in private to tell them the wrong they have done (making a judgment) and to try to bring them to repentance. If they would not listen to you, then you were to take one or two others with you to confront the brother. It is on this use of the phrase “two or three” that Jesus picks up on and repeats in verse 20 when he says, "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." What Jesus is saying in this verse is that when two or three come together in making a judgment about a brother who is in sin and rebellion against God, Jesus is there with them in that judgment. He is not talking about either prayer or worship in this text, but making judgments and church discipline.

The way the passage is misused also makes it sound like Jesus is not among us if we are alone; that we must be in an assembly of at least two or three people to be heard by God. This contradicts other Bible passages which show that Jesus is always with His people and passages where we are commanded to pray alone. 


"AND WE KNOW THAT GOD CAUSES ALL THINGS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD..." (ROMANS 8:28).

Usually when this verse is quoted, the whole verse is not even quoted. This passage is often used to encourage someone (believer or not) who’s going through a tough time and to remind them that it will eventually work out for something good in their life; that God has some good end in mind. For instance, you lost your job because God has a much better job lined up for you. You got into a car wreck because you have a much better car in your future. Your marriage engagement was ended because God has a much better person planned for you in the future.

When being true to the contextual position of the text, we understand that the passage first deals with those who love Him and have been called according to His purposes.  That’s a very important distinction because it’s not for everyone. The promise of this passage is for Christians ONLY.  

Secondly, the “good” of which Paul speaks has nothing to do with our comfort and everything to do with our ultimate conformity in Christ.  So, rather than the good meaning the flipping of our circumstances from bad to good, here it means bringing us to glory through a process of being conformed to the image of Christ, which entails going through trials and suffering.  

Verses 16-17 of this chapter says, "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17  and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him." This is the "good" that is being referred to in verse 28: being glorified with Jesus. God allows His people to endure suffering because of the good it works in us. Just as Jesus suffered before He entered glory, so also do His people! 

Do you want to get involved in our next program via email? You can sign up to receive weekly emails on Thursdays by clicking here or you can come to this page to get the updates about what we will be studying along with some questions that you can answer by email or by calling in during the live program. 

Let us know what you think! 

This Sunday morning, Lord willing, we plan on discussing the most misused Bible verses. The Apostle Peter says that twisting what God says is so serious that it can endanger our souls (2 Peter 3:15-16).  We must be careful not to misrepresent and misquote what God says. Hopefully this program can help us all think more about how we use God's word. 

Give your feedback now. If you would like to be involved in the program via email, text, or phone call, prepare to offer comments on the following questions:

1. Here are some of the most common passages taken out of context. Do you have any thoughts on them?
   • “Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matthew 7:1).
   • "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:20).
   • "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good..." (Romans 8:28).
   • "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
   • "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
   • "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11). 
2. What are some of the Bible passages that you believe are taken out of context the most? 

You can either reply to this by email (AltoonaBibleTalk@gmail.com) now or send us email comments during the program, or you can call during the live program (Sunday between 8:05-8:30am) with your answers at 814-946-0435. You can also send us a text during the program at 814-414-3267 with your comments or to ask any Bible question you may have.  

By Jason Smith

A lot of churches are in the following position: there is a lot of talk about evangelism and teaching about evangelism, but nowhere near as much evangelism being done. We love to talk about lost people, their condition before God, where they will end up if they die, but we never overcome the fears and distractions in our lives to actually do the work that the Lord has left for us to do.

A faithful Christian and a faithful church fulfill the mission that the Lord gave his people. The mission we have been given is in Matthew 28:19-20.

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always , even to the end of the age.’”

The church’s mission is summed up in these verses. We are to 1.) Go share the gospel with the lost, and 2.) Teach and equip our brother and sisters in Christ to obey and serve the Lord. How are you doing in fulfilling this mission? Usually, Christians are a lot better at encouraging their brothers and sisters, and feel that they are being faithful to the Lord. But they are forgetting that the Lord also has commanded that we share the gospel with the lost. They think the words of Jesus in Luke 9:18-21 apply to them:

“And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, "Who do the people say that I am?" 19 They answered and said, "John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again." 20 And He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God." 21 But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone”

Jesus is not giving you and me this instruction! Are you telling anyone about Jesus, the Christ of God? It seems that for many Christians that the Great Commission has become the Great Omission.

The Great Commission is a command that is given to all of God’s people, not just those who want to share the gospel. You can be successful in sharing the gospel with the lost of this world. Do you believe this? If you go out into the world and do what you can to give the word of God to others, whether that be by preaching, one-to-one conversations, handing out tracts, etc., you are being successful in the mission that God has given you. Success is not measured by the amount of converts that we make or the amount of lost people that come and visit the church for worship services. It is ALL about us obeying the Lord by doing the work of sowing the seed of the word. If we are faithful in this, the Lord will bring the increase. This is our mission! A church cannot begin to call itself “sound” in the faith if it is not fulfilling its mission of sowing the seed of the word of God and encouraging God’s people to serve and follow in the steps of Jesus Christ.

By Jason Smith (EvangelismHelp.com)

Whenever we are going to share the gospel with lost-people, there are many methods of doing it. When choosing which method to use, we need to consider why we are choosing it. For example:

• Are we choosing certain methods solely on how comfortable it is for us? If we are most focused on how we feel when doing evangelism, we may not really be denying ourselves, taking up our crosses, and following Christ. In my experience the methods that are used that are most comfortable are not even evangelism because the message of the gospel is never proclaimed to the lost person.
• What do the statistics show? Many people choose a method solely based on what other peoples’ experiences have been and what surveys have said. But honestly, you have no clue what the best evangelism methods are unless you try them. Don’t take peoples’ word for it. Most statistics show that “evangelism” methods in which the gospel is not always proclaimed are the most “effective” methods. Some methods are only more effective because they are practiced by the majority of believers. IF the other, less popular methods were done just as much as the popular ones, we would see that they are just as effective. The Gospel being shared is ALWAYS effective, no matter which method you use (as long as the gospel is shared). If your method doesn’t share the gospel, it is not evangelism.

These are the big two criteria that people use when choosing an evangelism method. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with doing things that are more comfortable (I do them), and I do not have a problem with using methods that have been proven to be effective (I do them also), but the things I take issue with are:

• When the gospel is not proclaimed. Once again, if your method does not lead to the gospel being taught, it is not Biblical.
• Not having a desire to get out of our comfort zones. Having a desire to only do things that are comfortable is not denying self, and it does not show love to those who you are neglecting to share the gospel with.

With these things in mind, here are some helpful criteria to use in picking an evangelism method:

• Make sure it gives the opportunity to a lost person to hear the gospel. You fulfill the Great Commission when you “proclaim” the message.
• Choose a method that gets YOU active in evangelism. Don’t brush off the responsibility on other people, such as the evangelist/preacher or pastor. You are commanded to proclaim the gospel also.
• Make sure it is Biblical. Is it done in scripture? If Jesus, Prophets, and the Apostles did it, we know it is a method that brings glory to God.
• Does it show you believe in the power of the gospel? For instance, If you have to bribe people to come hear the gospel using fun, games, and food, your faith in the power of the gospel may need checked, and you more than likely will lose those people if you ever stop offering those things. The Apostles and early disciples preached the gospel no matter how they thought the people would respond. Timothy was commanded to preach “in season and out of season” (2 Tim 4:1-5).

Lord willing, there will be more articles placed on this website in the future regarding different evangelism methods which are used today.

By Jason Smith

When was the last time that you shared the gospel with someone? The answer to this question can at times can lead us to feel ashamed because we just do not share the gospel as much as we should; if at all. Do we believe that the gospel is the power of God that leads to salvation? (Rom 1:16). Do we believe that everyone needs to hear the gospel and obey it? We may say wholeheartedly that we believe these things, but do our actions show this?"What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself" (James 2:14-17).

At times we are like those in this verse who say, "be warmed and filled" but do nothing to help them. These people claim to be Christians, but their actions do not show this to be true. If we really believe something to be true, will we not act? The Lord has given us a mission. If we really believe that the Lord wants us to evangelize, We will evangelize. If we really believe the gospel must be heard and obeyed for someone to be saved, we will tell it to the lost.

Do you have faith that the gospel is the power of God that leads to salvation? Do a lost person a favor. Prove it!