Knowing you are reading it right part 1

We continued our series this past Sunday "40 Days in the Word" with part 5" How to study a particular passage of the Bible." You can listen to the podcast at http://www.wyandottefamily.com/listen.html or you can download it from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wyandotte-family-church/id478735158  

We talked about how "context is key." When reading the Bible understanding the context makes the world of difference in understanding what the Bible is actually saying. We talked about the 1st way to get context which is  historical context. We practiced it on Sunday by going through John 15 together and getting the historical context. Check out the link above and listen to the message.

The 2^nd way to understand context is to define the key words.

If you’re going to get the right meaning of a Bible verse, you’ve got to make sure that you understand what the word means, not what you think it means.  Just because it means something somewhere else doesn’t mean it means that in this particular verse. 

Have you ever had an argument with your husband or your wife or your boyfriend or your girlfriend because you both used the same word but meant different things by it? 

Words have multiple meanings.  For instance, does this word have multiple meanings – “grass?”  Yeah, it really does.  How about “trip?”  It has multiple meanings.  How about “lean?”  It could be “lean on me” or describing a piece of meat. The word “band” means a thin strip for binding, a group of musicians, a ring of elastic or to gather together.  Different meanings.  Context determines what it means. If we use the word “batter” you might be talking about the liquid you use to make a cake and I might be talking about a baseball player.  Batter. 

 

Did you know that the word “pin” in English has over 50 different meanings?  It could mean like a stiff piece of wire with a sharp point.  It could mean a thin fastener to put together bones that are fractured.  It could mean a part of a lock.  It could mean a baking roller pin.  It could mean a bowling pin.  It could mean the number for your credit card – pin number.  It could mean to take somebody down in wrestling – to pin them.  It could mean a flag pole in a hole on the golf course.  Hitting the pin.  On and on.  

So when you look at a verse in the Bible and you see a word, you can’t automatically assume.  Like fire – that must mean hell.  Not necessarily. 

In this particular passage, John 15, the word “love” is used nine times and the word “fruit” is used nine times in seventeen verses.  Most of us would figure out, I think I know what love is.  But what is fruit?  If I’m called to be fruitful, if God expects me to bear fruit in my life, I’d better know what it means.  What is fruit?

People say, I know what fruit is, it’s the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, kindness, self control – those nine qualities.  Not automatically. 

You see, the word “fruit” is used forty-four times in the New Testament, and it has at least ten different meanings.  You can’t just automatically assume you know what the word means.

        In Matthew 3:8 the word “fruit” is used for the “fruit if repentance.”

        In Matthew 26:29 it talks about the “fruit of the vine.”  He’s talking about communion wine.

        In Romans 7:5 it talks about we bore “fruit for death.”  He’s talking sinful lifestyle.

In Romans 15:18 “We receive this fruit.”  There it’s talking about an offering of money as fruit.

        In Galatians 5:22 talks about “the fruit of the Spirit” – that’s the nine godly attitudes.

        In Ephesians 5:9 it talks about “the fruit of life” which is truth, righteousness and goodness.

In Colossians 1:6.  “The gospel is bearing fruit and growing.”  He’s talking about new believers.

In Hebrews 13:15 it talks about “praise to God, the fruit of our lips.”  When you praise, that’s fruit.

 So what is it?  If God says I am to bear fruit, and John 15, Jesus is saying this is so important it’s one of the last things I’m going to talk about.  You better know what fruit means.  What does it mean?  What is Jesus taking about when he says we must bear fruit in this context?

We’ll look at this more tomorrow as we look at the 3^rd step of understanding context which is using clear verses in the Bible to help interpret unclear ones.

PS. Adapted from thoughts from Rick Warren and 40 Days in the Word Campaign

PSS. Our next 3rd Friday event is Friday, February 21st "Fire & Ice." Ice Sculpture festival downtown Wyandotte. We'll have our own ice sculpture, have a warming tent, hot chocolate, and children's activities. Sign up to be a part on Sunday or email timeialee@yahoo.com