FOCUSed15 Podcast

Though certainly not absolutely necessary for Bible study, having access to commentaries when you are studying a passage of Scripture can be super-helpful. However, if you've been down the commentary aisle at a bookstore, or searched Amazon for one ... it can be pretty overwhelming to know which to chose. We're here to help! Listen in to this 15 minute episode for answers to your question, "Which type of commentary should I use?!" IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT: How to select a commentary to match your skill level The importance of understanding the goals behind the publisher of every book, and who their target audience is Clues you can find from the back of the book that will help you know if it is a good selection for you How looking up theological "hot spots" can help you determine if that author is theologically sound The importance of asking your pastor and/or leaders in your church that you can trust for commentary How to think out of the box when it comes to finding help on a passage The best bang for your buck when it comes to investing in commentary Why it's a bad idea to buy a full set of commentaries RESOURCES MENTIONED: Links below may include affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I receive a small portion of your purchase. Thanks! Christ Centered Expositional Commentary series - We love this series! It is geared toward the pastor BUT I (Katie) find it very readable, relatable, and helpful! BestCommentaries.com PreceptAustin.org Matthew Henry Commentary Chris' Sermons Grand Island Baptist Pioneer Baptist The Village Church Sermons Desiring God Sermons The Girlfriend's Guide to the Bible Series - Stacey Thacker Is Jesus worth It? - Hebrews When Grace Walks In -Ephesians New American Commentary Series ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible - A great resource for any book of the Bible. Includes all the basic info you would need to know about a book (author, audience, aim) and more.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT: The author, audience, and aim of Song of Solomon. Chris' thoughts on the male lover debate - who is the main character in the book? Why did Solomon write this book and why is in included in Scripture? What we can learn from studying Song of Solomon: The importance of "don't awaken love until it pleases" The value of healthy sexuality within the confines of marriage The goodness of romantic love RESOURCES MENTIONED: Song of Solomon video study by Tommy Nelson Author - Audience - Aim: Find the worksheet in the resource library! Subscribe to the free Enjoy the Word membership for access. Other books authored by Solomon: Ecclesiastes Proverbs ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Links below may include affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I receive a small portion of your purchase. Thanks! ESV Study Bible - A great resource for any book of the Bible. Includes all the basic info you would need to know about a book (author, audience, aim) and more. Precepts Austin - This is a TREASURE TROVE of resources for the entire book of Bible.  SERMONS ON THE BOOK OF Song of Solomon: Sex in Salvation History by David Platt The Long Game by Matt Chandler:

Studying the Bible can be complicated. And especially if you are new to the Word of God, there are features in your Bible you may be missing out on.  In this 15 minutes episode we chat through what the itty bitty super-scripted numbers and/or letters that may be in your Bible. They’re there for a reason!

For some of you, your answer to this question may be a no-brainer. Or, maybe you are currently wading through theological waters to find the answer to this question. Either way it is important not only for you to know your answer to this question but also WHY. In this 15 minute podcast episode, Chris and I chat about whether or not the Bible is really error free. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT: Whether or not the Bible claims to be error free What to do with the supposed errors in the Bible An example of how Katie came across a passage that didn't seem to line up and looked inaccurate Three reasons to hold tightly to the inerrancy of Scripture RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Links below may include affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I receive a small portion of your purchase. Thanks! Are there errors in the Bible?  - This brief article from NAMB gives quick explanations for 16 different categories of supposed errors. What is Inerrancy? A quick and helpful Ask Pastor John audio interview. Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem - This is a resource packed with loads more than just info about Biblical inerrancy. Is Inerrancy a Historical Doctrine? In this video interview, Keith Whitfield sits down with Nathan Finn to talk about inerrancy and church history.A helpful look at the understanding of inerrancy throughout church history

We've been working through the Wisdom Literature this season. We've hit on the book of Psalms as well as Proverbs and now it's Ecclesiastes' turn! IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL HEAR ABOUT: The AUTHOR, AUDIENCE, and AIM of Ecclesiastes. The similarities between VH-1's Behind the Music and the book of Ecclesiastes. The main themes in the book. How a meals at Denny's and Ecclesiastes led Katie to marry Chris.

Today we tackle how to incorporate praying while we study the Bible. There are many potential ways to do this. In this 15 minute episode, Chris and I share what works for us! THREE WAYS TO INCORPORATE PRAYER INTO YOUR BIBLE STUDY TIME: Before you study: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18 ESV). Before you begin to study, take a moment to ask the Spirit to illuminate your time in the Word. Approach God’s Word with a HUMBLE heart. While you study: “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45 CSB). When you come to a verse you are uncertain what it means, ask God to open your mind to understand it! Study God’s Word with a DEPENDENT spirit. After you study: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22 ESV). Once we’ve identified the main idea of what we are studying, we need modify our lives to what we’ve learned. Leave God’s Word with a posture of RESOLVE to obey what we’ve seen. RESOURCES MENTIONED: (Affiliate links are present. At no extra cost to you, I receive a small portion of your purchase. Thanks for your support!) Praying the Bible by Don Whitney Pray With Your Eyes Open by Richard Pratt ADDITIONAL PRAYER RESOURCES: Val Marie Paper – These are the prayer journals I use. I CAN’T WAIT for the 2018 journals to get here. I’ve pre-ordered mine!!

Though you don’t need to know Greek or Hebrew to understand the Bible, having a general understanding of how to access the original language can be a helpful Bible study tool. No need to head to seminary or give in to defeat because you can’t. In this 15 minute podcast episode Chris and I share a few simple tips to begin your journey through the original languages of the Bible.  Click to tweet >>> I’M LISTENING TO: Do I need to know Greek or Hebrew to understand the Bible? HOW TO GET STARTED WITH GREEK AND HEBREW TIPS ROM THE SEMINARIAN (Dr. Orr): Start out with word studies Pick a verb you want to study Look at the semantic range – all the different ways the word can be translated Look at how else the author uses this word Once you are familiar with these steps and are ready for more, look in to the following: voice – is this active, passive verb? tense – is this word a past, present, or future, or perfect (completed) verb? mood – is this a command (imperative)? an indication (indicative)? TIPS FROM THE BEGINNER (Katie): Try this simple, three-step process used in the FOCUSed15 Bible studies DECIDE – pick a KEY word to look up. (Don’t waste your time looking up the word “the.” Pick a word central to the verse.) DISCOVER – find the original word as it was originally written DEFINE – that original word More tips and insight in the full episode! RESOURCES MENTIONED: BlueLetterBible.org FOCUSed15 Bible studies YouTube video tutorials Greek/Hebrew worksheet (subscribe to the newsletter for access) If you’re already a subscriber, check the bottom of last blog post email you received from me for the link to the resource library!

From the ideals promoted in the “Proverbs 31 Woman,” to the promise of Proverbs 22:6 (Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.) there is much we can glean from the book of Proverbs. Yet many struggle to understand exactly how to apply these wisdom sayings to everyday living. In this 15 minute podcast episode, we chat about some of the important principles to keep in mind as you study this book of wisdom.