Margaret Feinberg - Gods Living Word: Relevant, Alive, and Active

2013 Thomas Nelson

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All Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Page design: Crosslin Creative

978-1-4016-7627-8

Printed in China

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Contents

1 The Bible
A Book Like No Other

2 The Law
A Portrait of the Character and Heart of God

3 Narrative History
Grasping the Big Story of God

4 Wisdom Literature
Living the Best Possible Life

5 The Psalms
Timeless Songs and Prayers for Every Age

6 The Prophets
Calling People to Love God and Others

7 The Gospels
Falling in Love with Jesus

8 Genealogies
Hidden Treasures of the Bible

9 The Parables
The Power of Jesus Stories

10 The Epistles
Love Letters to the Church

11 The Apocalyptic Literature
The Wondrous Mysteries of God

12 The Best Book Ever
Celebrating the Scripture Every Day

The Biblebanned, burned, beloved. More widely read, more frequently attacked than any other book in history. Generations of intellectuals have attempted to discredit it; dictators of every age have outlawed it and executed those who read it. Yet soldiers carry it into battle believing it more powerful than their weapons. Fragments of it smuggled into solitary prison cells have transformed ruthless killers into gentle saints.

Chuck Colson,

author of Loving God

We tend to have books we prefer to read whether snuggling down with a great biography, savoring a collection of poetry, or enjoying a mind-bending mystery novel. But have you ever considered that what we read affects how we read?

A good whodunit may make us flip the pages faster with every cliffhanger moment, while reading a rich, layered poem may slow our pace, inviting us to reread and reflect with each passing line. If were sitting down to a short, light summer fiction read, we might expect to be carried away in the storyeven choosing to read it in an afternoon or over a couple of days.

But if were about to crack open a 700-plus-page biography, we can expect the book to be neither short nor light. Were committing to dive deep into a persons life and topic, pay attention to details, and learn with each passing page. What we read affects how we read.

In the same way, understanding the different genres or writing styles of the Bible prepares us to receive more out of the Scriptures every time we read from them. The Bible is literature. When we know something about the background, purpose, and writing style, we can learn to appreciate Gods message all the more! Books of the Bible that may have appeared hard to read or disconnected from our modern world suddenly come alive in a new light. Along the way, we begin to lay hold of depth and delight in Gods Living Wordnot just as ancient writings, but as a book thats more relevant, alive, and active in our daily lives than we ever imagined.

In this study, were going to look at some of the genres found throughout the Bible. Were exploring only a sampling of the many different types of writing found throughout the Scripture. Im hopeful what youll discover will whet your appetite to dive deeper into the worlds most amazing book and learn to savor Gods Living Word like never before.

My prayer is that through this study the Scripture will come alive in your heart in such a way you cant help but become just a little bit more like Jesus.

Blessings,

Margaret Feinberg

For some people, the Old Testament, also known as the Hebrew Scriptures, can be intimating and overwhelming. Not only is the Old Testament a thick read, but its loaded with all kinds of historical details, records of the Jewish law, and miraculous accounts of God saving and redeeming His people. Understanding a few of the genres tucked into the Old Testament can help bring to life these important scriptures in your heart.

If you look at a window, you see flyspecks, dust, the crack where Juniors Frisbee hit it. If you look through a window, you see the world beyond. Something like this is the difference between those who see the Bible as a Holy Bore and those who see it as the Word of God, which speaks out of the depths of an almost unimaginable past in the depths of ourselves.

Frederick Buechner,

pastor and author

Andrew Frazer, a godly Irishman, traveled to California to recover from tuberculosis. The disease had taken a heavy toll on his lungs, leaving him barely able to speak. But while visiting a popular Bible teacher, H. A. Ironside, Frazer managed to open up a well-worn Bible and read the Scriptures in ways Ironside had never heard before.

Listening to the sweet words, Ironside brushed tears from his cheeks. He asked Frazer where he had learned his rich insights into Scripture. What books did he need to buy? What professor or seminary had given him such rich treasures?

My dear young man, Frazer answered. I learned these things on my knees on the mud floor of a little sod cottage in the north of Ireland. There with my Bible open before me, I used to

God has breathed on, in, and through the Bible.

This story is a powerful reminder that the Bible is a book like no other. While we can learn much through seminaries and scholarly commentaries, God wants to reveal Himself to us through Scripture as we read and study right in our own homes. Unlike other books you read, the Bible doesnt only offer wisdom for everyday life or practical advice for sticky situations. Through the Holy Spirit, the Bible contains the power to transform you from the inside out as you read, study, and obey.

Second Timothy 3:16 says, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. The word inspiration is translated from the Greek word theopneustos and literally means God-breathed.

Think about this for a moment: God has breathed on, in, and through the Bible.

While a number of writers contributed to the Bible, often adding their own personalites and styles, the real author of the Bible is God.

The Bible isnt a compilation of good ideas or religious ingenuity; its origin is rooted in God. This is His book and His story. God uses the Bible to reveal Himself to us, even today.

Through the Bible, we discover God is good, just, kind, loving, merciful, eternal, and gracious. We learn God is sovereign and true. We catch glimpses of Gods power as the One who created and holds all things together. In the Bible, we find not only that God goes to incredible lengths to invite people into a relationship with Himself, but also the consequences of those who choose to reject the loving invitation of God. The Bible also records the many promises and plans of God.

If we want to know God and recognize His voice and presence in our lives, the Bible is the foundation and the filter for this journey. Scripture helps us to grow into mature Jesus followers, learn from our mistakes, and become all God has called and created us to be.