40 Days in the Word Week 5

40 Days in the Word - How to Study a Bible Passage

Message by:
Pastor Terry Carwford
Covenant Church
Shepherdstown, WV

The key to Bible Study is asking good questions like…

1. What does it say?
2. What does it mean?
3. What other verses explain it?
4. What will I do about it?

Philippians 2:19-30
But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly. But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard;because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.

God wants us to get something out of His Word.

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

1. Observation: What does it say?

Paul intended to send 2 men to the church at Philippi.

Paul endorsed them as role models who deserve honor.

What does it mean to be like these men? What are they like?

2. Interpretation: What does it mean? A Godly man is…

Caring.
vs. 20-21 “takes a genuine interest”

Cooperative Trustworthy.
vs. 22 “has proved himself.”

Committed.
vs. 25 “my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier”

Courageous.
vs.27-30 “almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life

3. Correlation: What other verses explain it?

Philippians 4:14-18
Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.
You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

4. Application: What will I do about it?

S.P.A.C.E.P.E.T.S Questions
SIN TO CONFESS?
PROMISE TO CLAIM?
ATTITUDE TO CHANGE?
COMMAND TO KEEP?
EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW?
PRAYER TO PRAY?
ERROR TO AVOID?
TRUTH TO BELIEVE?
SOMETHING TO THANK GOD FOR?


For more information, please visit: Covenant Church

40 Days in the Word Devotions