Rule 6: Mark SMART Applications
October 18, 2023 • Pastor Zach McAlack
Rule 5: Look for Jesus but don't Play Hide and Seek
October 11, 2023 • Pastor Zach McAlack
Rule 4: Ask "what is the author doing?"
October 4, 2023 • Pastor Zach McAlack
Rule 3: Let Scripture Interpret Scripture
September 27, 2023 • Pastor Zach McAlack
This session addresses hard passages that make it difficult to arrive at a summary of the passage. What do we do when main characters do things that seem wrong? When passages seem to contradict each other? When a passage is just confusing?
Rule 2: Put Scripture in its Context
September 20, 2023 • Pastor Zach McAlack
The second session begins the discussion on interpretation. This discussion will span from session two to session five. Interpretation is the process of determining the meaning of communication. This curriculum teaches that meaning is found by determining the author’s intended communication not by reader-response. Every passage has one intended meaning given to the reader by the author, both human and divine. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate source of the scriptures as He inspired the human writers to communicate. From that one meaning there are endless applications which can be made. All interpretation should begin with prayer as the reader seeks to perceive the mind of God as he communicates through His Word.
Rule 1: Observe Well
September 13, 2023 • Pastor Zach McAlack • 1 John 2:1–11
The first session, Observe Well, presents both an introduction to hermeneutics with a brief overview of Observe, Interpret, Apply. In this opening it is explained that all received communication follows the pattern Observe, Interpret, Apply. Information is perceived in Observe, meaning is evaluated in Interpret, and action is taken in Apply. In the introduction it is explained that the goal of reading the bible is to arrive at application. The reader wants to be shaped into the image of Jesus Christ by reading, properly interpreting, and applying the Bible. The is possible because the Bible is the inspired Word of God.
