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Who am I? I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or heaviest

burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.

I am completely at your command. Half the things I do you might just as well turn over to me and I will be

able to do them quickly and correctly. I am easily managed- you must merely be firm with me.

Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great individuals and, alas, of failures as well. Those who are great, I made great.

Those who are failures I have made failures. I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine

plus the intelligence of a human. You may run me for a profit or run me for ruin, it makes no difference to

me. Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your

feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

I AM ___________________________

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• Why Should We Believe The Bible?

• How Did The Bible Come Down To Us?

• What Books Belong in the Bible?

• Does Historical & Archaeological Evidence Support The Trustworthiness of the Scriptures?

• Does Bible Prophecy Support the Divine Origin of Scripture?

• To What Extent Is The Bible Inspired?

• Has the Text of the Bible Been Corrupted?

• What Is Meant By “The Scripture Cannot Be Broken?”

• Can We Understand the Bible Alike?

• How Do You Explain The Alleged Contradictions In The Bible?

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A FUNDAMENTAL DISCIPLE HABIT

To be a disciple I must develop disciple habits. Your old self with its practices have died and you have put on the

new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word,, you are My disciples

indeed. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (NKJ)

Sustained Bible study is a key element in spiritual growth. The good news is, that the

more you do it, the more you will want to do it. This class will equip you with the basic skills you

need to achieve positive results.

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It is not automatic Hebrews 5:12-14 --- “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come

to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of

righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good

and evil.”

We all know people who have been Christians

for many years, exhibit the traits of immaturity. Just owning a Bible and showing up for Bible

Study will not produce spiritual growth.

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It is a process 2 Peter 3:18 ---- “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord

and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever.

Amen.”

Regular study, along with prayer and constant application, produces

the development of spiritual muscle.

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It requires discipline 1 Timothy 4:7 – “But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward

godliness.” (NKJV) 1 Timothy 4:7 – “But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the

other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;”

There are no shortcuts. Diligence over the long

run gets the most desirable things in life.

"The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions

never come." C.S. Lewis

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A FUNDAMENTAL DISCIPLE HABIT

Sow a thought, reap an act

Sow an act, reap a habit Sow a habit, reap a

character Sow a character, reap a

destiny

TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE WE MUST ….

• Understand The Divisions Of The Bible. (Period Divisions) • Understand The Breakdown Of The Bible. (Topical Divisions) • Understand Who is Speaking, To Whom It is Being Said and What Is Being Said.

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UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE Eph. 5:17; Hebrews 1:1-2

IF WE ARE TO UNDERSTAND

WE MUST HAVE THE DESIRE – John 7:17; Psa. 119:10,97; John 8:32

WE MUST READ IT –Eph. 3:2,4 ; 2 Tim. 2:15

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THERE ARE …. Three Distinct Dispensations!

OLD TESTAMENT NEW TESTAMENT

Mosaical Patriarchal Christian E

T

E

R

N

I

T

Y

E

T

E

R

N

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Y

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Patriarchal

ORAL – All Men

Creation – Gen. 1:1

Beginning of Sin – Gen 3

Promise of Redemption – Gen 3:15

Worship – Gen. 4:1-8

GRACE – FAITH – OBEDIENCE – Genesis 6:8-22

E

T

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Y

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LAW of MOSES

Written – JEWS ONLY

Deut. 5:2-3

Place of Worship

Tabernacle – Ex. 26 ; Temple – Deut. 16:16

Sabbath Day – Ex. 20:8 ; Circumcision

Animal Sacrifices – Instrumental Music – 2 Chron. 29:25

Temporary in Nature – Gal. 3:19,24

GRACE – FAITH – OBEDIENCE

E

T

E

R

N

I

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Y

E

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CHRISTIAN

WRITTEN – All Men

Gal. 3:28 ; 2 Tim. 3:17

For All Nations

Christ, The Sacrifice for Sins – Heb 10:4-10

Baptism for Remission of Sins – Acts 2:38

Church = Equals the Body of Saved – Eph 5:23

Worship – John 4:23ff ; 1st Day of Week – Acts 20:7

Return of Christ & The End of Time

GRACE – FAITH – OBEDIENCE

E

T

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N

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E

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THE AMERICAN COLONISTS LIVED UNDER THE LAWS OF ENGLAND UNTIL 1776, UNDER THE ARTICLES OF

CONFEDERATION FROM 1781-1789, AND UNDER THE CONSITITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1789

Law of Moses CHRISTIAN PATRIARCH

AL

Oral – All Men

Laws of England Until

1776

Written – Jews

Only

Articles of Confederation

(1781-1789)

Written – All

Men

Constitution of The U.S.

(Since 1789)

So, likewise, God has had THREE DIFFERENT LAWS

For THREE DISTINCT PERIODS OF HISTORY!

E

T

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THE BIBLE IS A COLLECTION OF 66 BOOKS...

Written over:

A period of 1600 years (+-1500 O.T.) (+- 100 N.T.) ; Over A span of 40 generations

Written by approx. 40 authors from every walk of life; e.g.:

Moses, a political leader trained in the universities of Egypt

Peter, a fisherman

Amos, a herdsman

Joshua, a military general

Nehemiah, a cup bearer to a king

Daniel, a prime minister

Luke, a physician

Solomon, a king ; Matthew, a tax collector

Paul, a tentmaker and rabbi

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Written in different places

Moses in the wilderness ; Jeremiah in a dungeon ; Daniel on a hillside and in a palace ; Paul inside prison walls ; Luke while traveling ; John in exile on the isle of Patmos

Others in the rigors of military campaign

Written at different times and during different moods

David in times of war, Solomon in times of peace

Some writing from the heights of joy, others from the depths of sorrow and despair

Written on three continents, and in three languages

Asia, Africa, Europe

Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek

Which subject matter includes hundreds of controversial topics

The origin of man & the universe

The nature of God

The nature of sin & man’s redemption

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TOPICAL ORDER OF BOOKS: Books Of Law - 5

Books of History - 12

Books of Poetry (Devotion) - 5

Major Prophets - 5

Minor Prophets - 12

Biographies (the Gospels) - 4

History - 1

Epistles (Personal Letters) - 21

Prophecy 1

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How do you locate in your Bible David’s Adultery with Bathsheba?

First you know that David reigned during the United Kingdom.

With this knowledge you can rule out all the Histories and prophecies of the Divided Kingdom.

Next you know that David was not a figure in the books of the Law. Nor in the Conquest of Palestine.

Next you can rule out Ruth as this is a love story between Ruth and Boaz of which David is a descendent.

This leaves the books of Samuel – but which one? 1st Samuel is all about the first King of Israel and the

anointing of David.

2nd Samuel David ascends to the Throne.

Since this event took place while David was King – 2nd Samuel has to be the choice.

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Can you by the process of elimination, determine

which book of the Bible tells of the completion of the

first Temple?

The Rebuilding of the Temple?

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LAST EVE I PASSED BESIDE A BLACKSMITH’S DOOR

AND HEARD THE ANVIL RING THE VESPER CHIME:

WHEN LOOKING IN, I SAW UPON THE FLOOR

OLD HAMMERS WORN WITH BEATING YEARS OF TIME.

“HOW MANY ANVILS HAVE YOU HAD, I SAID,

TO WEAR AND BATTER ALL THESE HAMMERS SO?”

“JUST ONE, SAID HE; THE SAID WITH TWINKLING EYE,

THE ANVIL WEARS THE HAMMERS OUT, YOU KNOW”

AND SO I THOUGHT THE ANVIL OF GOD’S WORD

FOR AGES SKEPTICS BLOWS HAVE BEAT UPON:

YET, THOUGH THE NOISE OF FALLING BLOWS WAS HEARD

THE ANVIL IS UNHARMED – THE HAMMERS GONE!

THE BIBLE

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