Brandon Martel

The Bible serves as God’s word for us to better connect with Him. Sometimes though, we don’t know where to start, or how to exactly study. This post will give tangible tips and strategies to better study what we’re reading.

Our first step is deciding what exactly we should be reading. If you’re brand new to reading the Bible, there are certainly no right answers, but there are certainly wrong answers (looking at you Revelations and Song of Solomon). The Bible is telling one BIG story, but it’s also comprised of smaller stories in 66 total Bible books by over 40 human authors. Think of the Bible like a river–all flowing in one direction. You don’t want to drop in completely midstream where the water is flowing fast and you have no idea what’s going on, but there are also a lot of easy places where the water slows and it’s a great time to hop in! Some great options include the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John), Romans, Psalms and Genesis! Another idea is using a Bible reading plan found at bible.com.

So now that we have where we’re gonna be reading, we gotta figure out how to study it. That is where we introduce a nice acronym called SOIAP. This acronym walks us through how to study a passage in that way.

Number 1 is S, which stands for Scripture. This is where you read the package. Now, I would actually recommend saying it aloud, it helps to truly process each word, but you could even use an audio bible to have it read to you too, it all depends on how you learn. Another cool thing that I’ve found is that writing an important verse or two helps me focus on each word individually and on the passage as a whole. It also helps me soak it in and meditate on it. And for those who have short attention spans […squirrel!] this really helps hone our focus on the task of studying Scripture instead of looking at the cobwebs in our bedrooms.

Next we have O, which represents observation. This is where you examine the text and write down what you notice. This means asking yourself questions like – what do you see in the verses that you’re reading? Who is the audience? Is there a repetition of words? Who is it written by? What seems interesting or unusual? These observations may start with the obvious (i.e., Jesus spent time with his disciples), but will gradually become deeper. This is also where you may write down questions that you have about the passage that you’re reading.

Number 3 is I for interpretation.Interpretation is super important, because Interpretation helps us get “unstuck” when we read a hard part of Scripture. Interpretation is asking: what does this Bible passage mean, particularly to the first audience? Although we can understand some of that by simply reading the passage, the correct interpretation won’t always come naturally. There are historical, cultural, and language barriers to us understanding what Bible passages meant to the first audience. We are not experts in Jewish or Roman or Greek history or culture. We are also not experts in the Bible’s original languages: Hebrew and Greek. Because of our lack of knowledge that we have as readers, we need to spend time on interpretation to figure out what the words we read in the Bible actually mean. How do we interpret? First we can look at the immediate Bible passage context. The verses or chapters before or after may give us more understanding. The Bible book as a whole will, too. But there are times where we will simply not know enough to understand and interpret properly. Bible dictionaries, Bible encyclopedias, and commentaries are key to interpreting correctly. This does not mean “an article that you saw on Facebook,” but a studied, learned scholar of the languages and history. We also need to interpret the Bible passages based on the type of literature that particular passage is from. The Bible is made up of poetry, letter, narratives, and more. Just like you don’t interpret Shakespeare’s poetry the same way you interpret a text from your friend, you aren’t going to interpret Psalms the same way you interpret Galatians. This Bible Project video gives some excellent information about types of literature in the Bible.

The A stands for Application- this is when God’s Word becomes personal. We try here to apply God’s Word to our life in a practical way. What is God saying to me today? How can I apply what I just read to my own personal life? What changes do I need to make? Is there an action that I need to take? If it’s an action, try to make it SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. This allows us to actually pull what’s going to help us change our lives for the better, or just be encouraged through our situation.

Finally, we have P for prayer. This is where we have the opportunity to pray about what we’ve learned from the passage and what God has put on our hearts. This could be praying for help to do what we’ve committed to apply to our lives, or thanking God for bringing something to our attention.

As you study the Bible further, you will learn your best way to study. Our prayer is that you would seek Christ and learn more about Him, studying the Word of God.

Over the past number of weeks, we have been in the Light & Love series, studying the book of John. It has given us insight into moderation, being judgemental, persecution, among many other things. With all of those wonderful topics, it is also understand the context that this book was written. Why is historical context important when studying God’s Word? It will reveal why the text was written. It will enrich what you take away from the passage, and help you understand the full meaning. It will help you grasp why the words were significant to their original audience. It will increase the likelihood of you interpreting the Bible correctly.
The book of John is one of the four gospels in the New Testament of the Bible. It is a testament to the life, teachings, and ministry of Jesus Christ, as recounted out by its author, John son of Zebedee. John was one of the apostles, and is said to have written the Gospel of John, 1-3 John and revelations.
The gospel of John was written later than the rest of the gospels, while was living in Epheseus, likely between 80-90 A.D. This book is unique among the four gospels in its focus on the person and teachings of Jesus, and its emphasis on the idea of Jesus as the divine Son of God. John’s gospel is structured differently from the other gospels, with a more philosophical and theological tone. Unlike the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, John does not follow a strict chronological order, but instead focuses on specific events and teachings that highlight the significance of Jesus and his message. The audience for this book is not narrow in any sense, being written for those who are not believers, or who are new to Christianity from both Judaism or other religions.
One of the key themes of John is the idea of Jesus as the light of the world, a theme that is introduced in the opening chapter and woven throughout the rest of the book. In this gospel, Jesus is portrayed as a teacher who uses miracles and parables to reveal God’s truth to the people. John also emphasizes the idea of faith, and how belief in Jesus can bring salvation and new life to believers.
Another important aspect of John is the depiction of Jesus’ miracles, which serve as signs that demonstrate his power and authority. In John, these miracles are not just performed for their own sake, but are meant to reveal the deeper spiritual truths about Jesus and his role as the Messiah.
Throughout the book, John also provides several intimate, personal moments with Jesus, such as his conversations with Nicodemus and the woman at the well, which serve to illustrate his compassion and wisdom. These moments also provide insight into the nature of Jesus’ relationship with his followers and his teachings on topics such as love, obedience, and the importance of belief.
The book of John concludes with the account of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the aftermath of these events as the apostles and other followers spread the news of Jesus’ message throughout the world.
In conclusion, the book of John is a powerful and thought-provoking account of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Through its emphasis on the person and message of Jesus, this gospel offers a unique perspective on the foundations of Christianity and the role of faith in the lives of believers.

It actually happened. You knew it would but now it’s finally real. Your daughter or son have decided they want to start dating. Admittedly, I don’t have any kids, but it wasn’t so long ago that my parents were navigating this issue with me. It was never easy, and I struggled with wanting to be honest with my parents but also gaining some independence for myself. As a parent, you want your teen to be equipped with the right tools to navigate through the ups and downs of relationships. From a Christian perspective, relationships leading to marriage are viewed as a sacred bond between two people who share their lives with each other in a loving, caring, and respectful manner. However, with the rise of technology and social media, the definition of relationships has changed, and many teens are struggling to find their way. As a parent, it’s important to have an open and honest conversation with your teen about relationships and the values that are important in a healthy relationship. Here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Be honest with yourself and them
As much as you may want to ignore it, your teen is going through changes that will change the ways they see the opposite gender. The culture around them will bombard them with messages about sex and dating, from the movies they watch, to the games they play to the conversations they have with their friends. If you google the word “Dating”, you would get 790,000,000 hits. Instead of deciding to stick your head in the sand, recognize what they’re going through and seek to build a culture of honesty with them.

2. Start with the basics
Before diving into more complex topics, start with the basics. Talk to your teen about what love is and how it is demonstrated in relationships. Explain how love should be unconditional, forgiving, and selfless. Discuss the role of trust, honesty, and communication in a relationship, and emphasize the importance of setting boundaries and respecting each other’s individuality. The Bible gives us one of the best ways to describe relationship health in 1 Corinthians 13.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

But it’s important to remember to not just talk about it, but to model it as well. Teens will pick up on how you treat your spouse, friends, and other family and often that will teach them more than what you say

3. Emphasize the importance of self-respect
It’s essential that your teen understands the importance of self-respect in relationships. Teach them to value themselves and to expect the same from others. Explain that a healthy relationship is built on mutual respect and trust, and that it’s okay to walk away from a relationship that does not align with their values and beliefs.

4. Discuss the role of faith in relationships
From a Christian perspective, faith plays a significant role in relationships. Discuss with your teen how faith can bring people together, provide comfort and support, and help them to make decisions that align with their values and beliefs. Explain that having a shared faith can provide a foundation for a strong, healthy relationship and can help them to navigate through difficult times.

5. Talk about the dangers of premarital sex
In a society that often promotes casual sex, it’s important to discuss the dangers of premarital sex with your teen. Explain that sex is a sacred act that should be reserved for marriage, and that engaging in premarital sex can lead to emotional and physical consequences. As much as this might be the most awkward part of any conversation, it’s one of the most important parts, as teenagers will have questions, concerns and be hearing a lot from other friends.

6. Be a good listener
Finally, it’s important to be a good listener when talking to your teen about relationships. Be open to their thoughts and opinions, and don’t judge or dismiss their feelings. Encourage them to ask questions and to express their concerns, and offer support and guidance as needed.

In conclusion, talking to your teen about relationships can be a challenging but rewarding experience. By emphasizing the importance of self-respect, faith, and healthy relationships, you can help your teen make wise decisions and form meaningful relationships that will last a lifetime.

If you’ve joined us (or watched online) for a number of Sundays, you’ll notice that we do something at the end of our service each week, called the benediction. Now this can be odd sounding to some, sounding simply like a more pious way to tell everyone that they are dismissed.

However, a benediction has biblical roots and serves a very special purpose. The benediction is God’s good word to us. That’s essentially what benediction means. It is a compound word from Latin: bene, which means ‘good,’ and dicere, which means ‘to speak.’ From that comes the Latin word benedictio, which means “blessing.” It is a pronouncement of God’s blessing upon his people. When we read the Bible, we see a number of times a benediction is used. Most notably, when the Lord commanded Aaron to say the following to the Israelites “‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace”’ (Numbers 6:23-26). We don’t see this practice just in the old testament but also in the new testament, particularly in the epistles. Some of these are: Ephesians 3:20–21: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…” Or Jude 24–25: “Now to Him who is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us blameless before His presence with great joy…” Or 2 Corinthians 13:14: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Even Jesus blessed his disciples before ascending to heaven in Luke 24.

So while it is certainly biblical, why do we choose to do it at All Nations Church? For many people a Sunday morning service is an oasis in the midst of a busy, crazy life. At the end of the service, we all head back to our homes with leaky faucets and bills, relationships that are challenging and work with looming deadlines. Benedictions allow us (as pastors and elders) to speak a final blessing as you go into our life. Benedictions give us God-sized expectations for our week, blessings for everyone that matter to our every day life.

So next time you’re with us on a Sunday morning, take the benediction and go out into your week with the blessing it conveys.

Allow me now to electronically speak this benediction over you for this week from the book of Romans. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Amen!

Many would say that phones can destroy humanity, Studies show that smartphone users experience withdrawal symptoms and can’t focus when separated from their phone. But what if we can use our phones to help us grow in our relationships with Christ? We asked some of our great leaders to share apps that they use and we couldn’t wait to share them with you. Read on to hear to some awesome apps (other than The Bible app) to download today!

1. Enduring Word Commentary — Looking to dive in deeper when you’re reading the Bible? The enduring word commentary is written by Pastor David Guzik, a missionary, pastor and Bible teacher. It seeks to provide explanations and interpretations of Scripture. It also has quotes from major Christian theologians and scholars such as Archibald Robertson, William Barclay and Charles Spurgeon.
2. Got Questions — Sometimes the things that we read in the Bible really don’t make sense and that’s where Got Questions comes in. “Got Questions Ministries seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by providing biblical, applicable, and timely answers to spiritually related questions through an internet presence.” It has over 700,000 answers to questions and you can even submit your own if you can’t find an answer.
3. All Nations Church Sudbury App — No list would be complete without ANC’s very own app! Available on every app store, there are a variety of features you can make use of. You can access our livestream, watch and download previous sermons and access the Chosen TV series!
4. bible.is — Some of us find reading more difficult than other and prefer audio Bibles. Bible.is provides God’s Word in high-quality, dramatized audio. You can download your favoruite version for offline listening and study. They also provide 1,800+ languages and counting. You can also watch word for word Gospel films showing Jesus’ life and ministry.
5. Bible Project — The Bible Project aims to make the Bible accessible to everyone everywhere. They produce free Bible videos, podcasts, blogs, classes, and educational Bible resources. Some of our favourite videos include Bible book overviews and their series on how to read thew Bible.

This is not an exhaustive list! There are so many apps to help you study the Bible and it’s all about finding ones that are right for you!

P.S. Don’t use a smartphone? Don’t like apps? That’s okay! All of these have websites that you can access, just Google them and you’ll find their website!