E is for Exegesis

Exegesis (noun);  a critical explanation or interpretation of a text. The term is traditionally applied to the interpretation of Biblical works. 

Simply put, exegesis is not about discovering what we think a scripture text means (or what we may want it to mean) but what the biblical author actually meant. It’s all about intentionality.

This will mean you need to dig into the historical context, the original language, and the author's intent in order to let the text speak for itself.

What kind of Christian ... ?

 

Cartoon: Copyright Private Eye. No infringement intended. 

Do You Get The Point?

Biblical?

Z is for Zaccheus

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

Luke 19:5 (NIV)

When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

Luke 19:5 (NLT)

Y is for Yearning

From the deep water I cry out to you, O Lord.

O Lord, listen to me. 

Pay attention to my plea for mercy.

If you, O Lord, were to keep track of sins,

O Lord, who could stand before you?

But you are willing to forgive,

so that you might be honoured.

I rely on the Lord.

I rely on him with my whole being;

I wait for his assuring word.

I yearn for the Lord,

more than watchmen do for the morning,

yes, more than watchmen do for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord,

for the Lord exhibits loyal love,

and is more than willing to deliver.

He will deliver Israel

from all their sins.

Psalm 130 (New English Translation)

X is for Excellence

And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

2 Peter 1:4 (NLT)

God made great and marvellous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.

2 Peter 1:4 (CEV)

W is for Wisdom

When I was a boy at my father’s knee, the pride and joy of my mother,

He would sit me down and drill me:

    “Take this to heart. Do what I tell you—live!

Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding!

    Don’t forget one word! Don’t deviate an inch!

Never walk away from Wisdom—she guards your life;

    love her—she keeps her eye on you.

Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!

    Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!

Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won’t regret it;

    never let her go—she’ll make your life glorious.

She’ll garland your life with grace,

    she’ll festoon your days with beauty.”

Proverbs 4:3-9 (The Message)

V is for Vine

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener."

John 15:1 (NIV), the words of Jesus

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser."

John 15:1 (ESV), the words of Jesus

U is for Understanding

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;

don’t try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;

he’s the one who will keep you on track.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Message)

T is for Trust

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,

a stronghold in times of trouble.

Those who know your name trust in you,

for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 9:9-10 (NIV)

God’s a safe-house for the battered,

a sanctuary during bad times.

The moment you arrive, you relax;

you’re never sorry you knocked.

Psalm 9:9-10 (The Message)

S is for Sacrifice

Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?

Matthew 16:24-26 (The Message)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

Matthew 16:24-26 (NIV)

R is for Rejoice

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4 (NIV)

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! 

Philippians 4:4 (The Message)

Q is for Quench

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (NIV)

Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (The Message)

P is for Praise

Praise the Lord.

How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp.

Psalm 147:1-7 (NIV)

O is for Obedience

This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.

Revelation 14:12 (NLT)

Meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God’s commands, staying faithful to Jesus

Revelation 14:12 (The Message)

N is for Nothing Is Impossible

“And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.”

And Mary said,

    Yes, I see it all now:

    I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.

    Let it be with me

    just as you say.

Then the angel left her.

Luke 1:36-38 (The Message)

Furthermore, six months ago your Aunt Elizabeth—‘the barren one,’ they called her—became pregnant in her old age! For every promise from God shall surely come true.”

Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to do whatever he wants. May everything you said come true.” And then the angel disappeared.

Luke 1:36-38 (TLB)

M is for Money

Whoever loves money never has enough;

whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.

This too is meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NIV)

Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NLT)

L is for Love

"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."

John 14:21 (NIV) - the words of Jesus

“The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that’s who loves me. And the person who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and make myself plain to him.”

John 14:21 (NIV) - the words of Jesus

K is for Keep On Asking

‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV) - the words of Jesus

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT) - the words of Jesus