CSB E3 Discipleship Bible

By Fellowship of Christian Athletes and CSB Bibles by Holman

Since 1954, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has been challenging coaches and athletes to use the powerful medium of athletics to impact the world for Jesus Christ, reaching millions worldwide. The CSB E3 Discipleship Bible is full of intentionally crafted discipleship tools and resources based on the E3 discipleship method—Engage. Equip. Empower. As athletes engage with Scripture, they are equipped with biblical truth and empowered to share the gospel and disciple others.  

E3 discipleship-focused questions, articles, and commentary are placed alongside the corresponding biblical text for personal or group study. Also included is a unique interactive video and sharing feature through the use of QR codes associated with articles and other discipleship and evangelism resources in the front matter. This Bible makes an excellent gift for athletes and coaches currently participating or serving in FCA, as well as alumni or others whose lives have been impacted by the ministry of FCA.  

FEATURES 

• Foundational discipleship-focused study notes on every page of the Bible
• Nearly 30 articles introducing the E3 discipleship method and related resources  
• Over 60 discipleship focused topical articles with devotional and interactive QR code content 
• More than 150 feature boxes for further study with discovery and application questions placed alongside the corresponding Scripture passage 
• “99 Verses for the Christian Competitor” callouts placed throughout the Bible 
• Over 40 “Character Spotlights” to inspire coaches and athletes 
• Genre and book introductions with book-specific reading plans  
• Full-color immersive design 
• Durable Smyth-sewn lay-flat binding   
• Two-column text format 
• Easy-to-read 9-point type size 
• Words of Christ in red 
• Ribbon marker for easy referencing between pages  
• Concordance to quickly find and share key topics and truths in the Bible 
• Presentation page for gift-giving  
• Full-color maps  

The CSB E3 Discipleship Bible features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible® (CSB). The CSB captures the Bible’s original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture’s life-transforming message and to share it with others. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: BH Publishing Group
• Release date: Jan 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781087747385

Book preview

Table of Contents

Books of the Bible Arranged Alphabetically

Study Note and Genre Introduction Contributors

Articles Arranged by Topic

E3 Articles

Other Features

Features Overview

How to Read and Study the Bible

Biblical Foundation

History of FCA

Introduction to Discipleship

Discipleship Methods: E3

E3 Discipleship Training

Introduction to the Christian Standard Bible

Commonly Used Abbreviations in the CSB

Introduction to the Pentateuch

Old Testament

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Song of Songs

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

New Testament

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation

E3 Tools

Prayer Patterns

Heart Questions

Jesus Stories

Personal Testimonies

The FOUR

E3 Map

Persons of Peace

The CORE

Discovery Bible Study Training

Discovery Bible Study Method

Discovery Bible Study Sets

The Discipleship Filter

CSB Concordance

Competitor’s Creed

The Coach’s Mandate

Get to Know FCA

Get Involved With FCA

Faith Response Tool

Fields of Faith

Camps

Huddles

Coaches

Team FCA

Bibile Maps

The Digital Public Square

CSB E3 Discipleship Bible

Copyright © 2022 by Holman Bible Publishers

Nashville, Tennessee. All Rights Reserved.

Christian Standard Bible®

Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers.

CSB Text Edition: 2020

The text of the Christian Standard Bible may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio) up to and inclusive of one thousand (1,000) verses without the written permission of the publisher, provided that the verses quoted do not account for more than 50 percent of the work in which they are quoted, and provided that a complete book of the Bible is not quoted. Requests for permission are to be directed to and approved in writing by Holman Bible Publishers, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, Tennessee 37234.

When the Christian Standard Bible is quoted, one of the following credit lines must appear on the copyright page or title page of the work:

Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

The interior of the CSB E3 Discipleship Bible was designed and typeset by 2

k/denmark

, using Bible Serif created by 2

k/denmark

, Højbjerg, Denmark. Proofreading was provided by Peachtree Publishing Services, Peachtree City, Georgia.

FCA content, including devotional artilcles, E3 articles, and character spotlights, Copyright © 2022 Fellowship of Christian Athletes. All Rights Reserved.

Printed in Korea

1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 — 27 26 25 24 23 22

SWP

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Books of the Bible Arranged Alphabetically

Study Note and Genre Introduction Contributors

Articles Arranged by Topic

E3 Articles

Other Features

Features Overview

How to Read and Study the Bible

Biblical Foundation

History of FCA

Introduction to Discipleship

Discipleship Methods: E3

E3 Discipleship Training

Introduction to the Christian Standard Bible

Commonly Used Abbreviations in the CSB

Introduction to the Pentateuch

BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

OLD TESTAMENT

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Song of Songs

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

NEW TESTAMENT

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation

BOOKS OF THE BIBLE

ARRANGED ALPHABETICALLY

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

1 John

2 John

3 John

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Acts

Amos

Colossians

Daniel

Deuteronomy

Ecclesiastes

Ephesians

Esther

Exodus

Ezekiel

Ezra

Galatians

Genesis

Habakkuk

Haggai

Hebrews

Hosea

Isaiah

James

Jeremiah

Job

Joel

John

Jonah

Joshua

Jude

Judges

Lamentations

Leviticus

Luke

Malachi

Mark

Matthew

Micah

Nahum

Nehemiah

Numbers

Obadiah

Philemon

Philippians

Proverbs

Psalms

Revelation

Romans

Ruth

Song of Song

Titus

Zechariah

Zephaniah

E3 Tools

Prayer Patterns

Heart Questions

Jesus Stories

Personal Testimonies

The FOUR

E3 Map

Persons of Peace

The CORE

Discovery Bible Study Training

Discovery Bible Study Method

Discovery Bible Study Sets

The Discipleship Filter

CSB Concordance

Competitor’s Creed

The Coach’s Mandate

Get to Know FCA

Get Involved With FCA

Faith Response Tool

Fields of Faith

Camps

Huddles

Coaches

Team FCA

Bibile Maps

STUDY NOTE AND GENRE INTRODUCTION CONTRIBUTORS

The Study Notes in the CSB E3 Discipleship Bible have gone through numerous levels of editorial review and revision. The Notes as they now appear often differ from the Notes as originally submitted by the contributors. In some few cases, the final form of the Notes may express views that the contributor did not set out to discuss or endorse.

INTRODUCTION TO THE PENTATEUCH

Daniel I. Block

Wheaton College

Ph.D., University of Manchester

GENESIS

Robert D. Bergen

Hannibal-LaGrange University

Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

EXODUS

Dorian G. Coover-Cox

Dallas Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

LEVITICUS

Kenneth A. Matthews

Beeson Divinity School

Ph.D., The University of Michigan

Tiberius Rata

Grace College & Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

NUMBERS

R. Dennis Cole

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D.,New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

DEUTERONOMY

Eugene H. Merrill

Dallas Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Columbia University

INTRODUCTION TO THE HISTORICAL BOOKS

Kenneth A. Mathews

Beeson Divinity School

Ph.D., University of Michigan

JOSHUA

Richard S. Hess

Denver Seminary

Ph.D., Hebrew Union College

JUDGES

Iain M. Duguid

Westminster Theological Seminary

Ph.D., University of Cambridge

RUTH

Iain M. Duguid

Westminster Theological Seminary

Ph.D., University of Cambridge

1,2 SAMUEL

Bryan E. Beyer

Columbia International University

Ph.D., Hebrew Union College

1,2 KINGS

Andrew C. Bowling

John Brown University (Emeritus)

Ph.D., Brandeis University

1,2 CHRONICLES

Winfried Corduan

Taylor University (Emeritus)

Ph.D., Rice University

EZRA

Carl R. Anderson

Grace Redeemer Community Church, Richardson, TX

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

NEHEMIAH

Carl R. Anderson

Grace Redeemer Community Church, Richardson, TX

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

ESTHER

Carl R. Anderson

Grace Redeemer Community Church, Richardson, TX

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOKS OF POETRY AND WISDOM

Duane A. Garrett

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Baylor University

JOB

Richard D. Patterson

Liberty University (Emeritus)

Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

PSALMS

Kevin R. Warstler

Criswell College

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

Sheri L. Klouda

Taylor University

Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

PROVERBS

David K. Stabnow

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., Westminster Theological Seminary

ECCLESIASTES

Duane A. Garrett

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Baylor University

SONG OF SONGS

Craig Glickman

Attorney, Dallas, Texas

D.Th., University of Basel

INTRODUCTION TO THE PROPHETS

E. Ray Clendenen

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington

ISAIAH

Tremper Longman III

Westmont College

Ph.D., Yale University

JEREMIAH

Walter Kaiser, Jr.

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Emeritus)

Ph.D., Brandeis University

LAMENTATIONS

Walter Kaiser, Jr.

Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Emeritus)

Ph.D., Brandeis University

EZEKIEL

Mark F. Rooker

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Brandeis University

DANIEL

Michael Rydelnik

Moody Bible Institute

D.Miss., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

HOSEA

E. Ray Clendenen

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington

JOEL

Shawn C. Madden

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington

AMOS

Duane A. Garrett

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Baylor University

OBADIAH

Gregory W. Parsons

Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

JONAH

Joe Sprinkle

Crossroads College

Ph.D., Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

MICAH

Kevin Peacock

Canadian Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

NAHUM

Gregory W. Parsons

Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

HABAKKUK

Joe Sprinkle

Crossroads College

Ph.D., Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

ZEPHANIAH

Gregory W. Parsons

Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

HAGGAI

Gregory W. Parsons

Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

ZECHARIAH

D. Brent Sandy

Wheaton College

Ph.D., Duke University

MALACHI

E. Ray Clendenen

B&H Publishing Group

Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington

INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPELS AND ACTS

Andreas J. Köstenberger

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

MATTHEW

Charles L. Quarles

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Mid-America Theological Seminary

MARK

Ross H. McLaren

LifeWay Christian Resources

D.Min., Vanderbilt University

LUKE

A. Boyd Luter

The King’s University, Southlake, Texas

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

JOHN

Andreas J. Köstenberger

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

ACTS

Stanley E. Porter

McMaster Divinity College, Ontario

Ph.D., University of Sheffield

INTRODUCTION TO THE NEW TESTAMENT LETTERS

Charles L. Quarles

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Mid-America Theological Seminary

ROMANS

Edwin A. Blum

B&H Publishing Group

D.Th., University of Basel

1 CORINTHIANS

F. Alan Tomlinson

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

2 CORINTHIANS

Kendell H. Easley

Union University

Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

GALATIANS

A. Boyd Luter

The King’s University, Southlake, Texas

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

EPHESIANS

David S. Dockery

Trinity International University

Ph.D., University of Texas at Arlington

PHILIPPIANS

Richard R. Melick, Jr.

Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

COLOSSIANS

Andreas J. Köstenberger

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

1,2 THESSALONIANS

James F. Davis

Liberty University, School of Divinity

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

1,2 TIMOTHY, TITUS

Ray Van Neste

Union University

Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

PHILEMON

Murray J. Harris

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Ph.D., University of Manchester

HEBREWS

Malcolm B. Yarnell III

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

D.Phil., University of Oxford

JAMES

R. Gregg Watson

Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

1,2 PETER

Terry L. Wilder

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

1,2,3 JOHN

Robert W. Yarbrough

Covenant Theological Seminary

Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

JUDE

Terry L. Wilder

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Ph.D., University of Aberdeen

REVELATION

A. Boyd Luter

The King’s University, Southlake, Texas

Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary

ARTICLES ARRANGED BY TOPIC

ACCOUNTABILITY

God’s Game Plan

Giving God Our Best

Talk Is Cheap

The Will

ATTITUDE

Attitude Is Everything

Attitude of Gratitude

CONFIDENCE

All You Can Be

Dare to Be Different

CRITICISM

Spiritual Quarterback

The Voice of Truth

DEDICATION

Heart

Bend the Knees

Sidelined

Press On

DISCIPLESHIP

We Bear His Name

The Change

DISCIPLINE

A Competitor by Conviction

EMPOWER

Get Up, Go, and Announce

Jesus Is Greater

ENGAGE

Get Your Praise On

Game Face

EQUIP

The Off Season

EXCELLENCE

Victory

Game Day

What Is at Your Core?

Be a Thermostat Not a Thermometer

EXPECTATIONS

Looking Up

Forgiveness Surgery

The Ultimate Standard

FAILURE

Responding to Mistakes

FAITH

Season Change

A Better Plan

Have Hope

Love Is . . . Always Hopeful and Endures through Every Circumstance

IDENTITY

Identity Crisis

Love Wins

Beyond the Bases

INTEGRITY

Opportunity Knocks

Integrity of Heart

When Losing Is Winning

PRAYER

Looking for a Miracle

Warriors

PURPOSE

The Right Path

Why Jesus Christ

Playing Time

REDEMPTION

God’s Grace

RESPECT

The Dream Team: Understanding Ruth

Valuing Others Above Ourselves

Payback

RIGHTEOUSNESS

Put the Fire Out

Time to Forget

SACRIFICE

Lay It Down for the Team

In It Together

SELFISHNESS

Give and Teach as You Are Called To

Selfish Heart

SERVING

Right Place, Right Time

Serve Like Christ

The Ultimate Teammate

The Call

SUCCESS

Legacy

Next Level

The Highest Goal

TEAMWORK

Love Is . . . Not Unjust

Team Cohesion

Spiritual Gifts

E3 ARTICLES

FRONT MATTER

Discipleship Methods

E3 Discipleship Training

ENGAGE

Engage Overview

Engage God First

Engage the Heart

Engage with the Gospel

Engage to Multiply

EQUIP

Equip Overview

Equip with Prayer

Equip with Scripture

Equip in Community

Equip with a Clear Plan

EMPOWER

Empower Overview

Empower by Modeling

Empower by Assisting

Empower by Watching

Empower by Launching

BACKMATTER

E3 Tools

Prayer Patterns

Heart Questions

Jesus Stories

Personal Testimonies

The FOUR

E3 Map

Persons of Peace

The CORE

Discovery Bible Study Training

Discovery Bible Study Method

Discovery Bible Study Sets

The Discipleship Filter

OTHER FEATURES

PASSAGES FOR FURTHER STUDY

Genesis 1:1–2:3

Genesis 3:1–24

Genesis 6:5–7:12

Genesis 18:16–33

Genesis 22:1–19

Genesis 32:22–32

Genesis 37:1–11

Genesis 45:1–28

Exodus 4:1–17

Exodus 6:28–7:24

Exodus 12:1–30

Exodus 14:5–31

Exodus 16:1–35

Exodus 19:10–20:21

Exodus 32:1–35

Numbers 12:1–15

Numbers 13:26–14:10,26–45

Deuteronomy 10:12–22

Joshua 3:14–4:24

Joshua 5:13–6:21

Judges 7:1–25

Judges 14:1–20

Judges 16:21–31

1 Samuel 3:1–14

1 Samuel 8:1–22

1 Samuel 13:1–15

1 Samuel 16:1–13

1 Samuel 17:20–50

1 Samuel 24:1–22

2 Samuel 11:1–27

2 Samuel 12:1–14

2 Samuel 13:23–39

1 Kings 3:16–28

1 Kings 10:23–11:13

1 Kings 12:1–24

1 Kings 18:16–40

2 Kings 4:1–7

2 Kings 5:1–16

2 Kings 6:8–23

Esther 2:1–18

Job 1:6–22

Proverbs 3:1–8

Psalm 17:1–15

Psalm 23:1–6

Psalm 46:1–11

Psalm 139:1–24

Song of Songs 1:1–2:7

Isaiah 40:25–31

Isaiah 52:13–53:12

Daniel 1:1–21

Daniel 3:1–12,19–27

Daniel 6:1–24

Jonah 1:1–17

Jonah 2:1–3:10

Jonah 4:1–11

Matthew 5:1–12

Matthew 7:24–29

Matthew 13:1–23

Matthew 14:22–33

Matthew 16:13–28

Matthew 20:20–28

Matthew 28:1–20

Mark 1:29–39

Mark 4:35–41

Mark 6:30–44

Mark 10:35–45

Mark 11:12–19

Mark 14:32–42

Luke 1:26–38

Luke 4:1–13

Luke 8:26–39

Luke 10:25–37

Luke 15:11–32

Luke 17:11–19

Luke 23:26–49

John 2:1–11

John 4:1–26

John 9:1–15,24–34

John 11:17–44

John 13:1–17

John 20:24–31

John 21:1–14

Acts 2:1–24,26–41

Acts 6:1–7

Acts 8:26–40

Acts 9:20–31

Acts 12:1–19

Acts 15:36–41

Acts 16:22–40

Romans 3:9–24

Romans 4:1–25

Romans 7:7–25

Romans 9:30–10:21

Romans 12:1–8

Romans 13:8–14

Romans 15:14–33

1 Corinthians 1:18–2:5

1 Corinthians 4:1–21

1 Corinthians 6:12–20

1 Corinthians 9:24–27

1 Corinthians 13:1–13

1 Corinthians 14:1–25

1 Corinthians 16:1–24

2 Corinthians 3:7–18

2 Corinthians 4:1–18

2 Corinthians 7:2–16

2 Corinthians 8:1–15

2 Corinthians 9:6–15

2 Corinthians 10:1–18

Galatians 1:11–24

Galatians 3:1–14

Galatians 5:16–26

Ephesians 2:11–22

Ephesians 4:17–32

Ephesians 6:10–20

Philippians 1:1–11

Philippians 3:12–21

Colossians 1:24–2:5

Colossians 2:6–23

Colossians 3:1–25

1 Thessalonians 1:1–10

1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:13

1 Thessalonians 4:1–12

1 Thessalonians 5:12–28

2 Thessalonians 1:1–12

2 Thessalonians 2:1–17

1 Timothy 1:12–20

1 Timothy 3:1–16

1 Timothy 6:3–21

2 Timothy 1:1–12

2 Timothy 2:14–26

2 Timothy 4:9–18

Titus 1:5–16

Titus 2:1–15

Titus 3:1–15

Philemon 1–25

Hebrews 1:1–14

Hebrews 4:1–13

Hebrews 7:1–28

Hebrews 9:11–28

Hebrews 11:1–16

James 1:2–18

James 3:1–18

James 5:7–20

1 Peter 1:3–12

1 Peter 3:8–22

1 Peter 4:1–11

2 Peter 1:12–21

2 Peter 2:1–22

2 Peter 3:1–18

1 John 2:28–3:10

1 John 4:7–21

2 John 13

3 John 1–14

Jude 1–25

Revelation 2:1–3:22

Revelation 4:1–5:14

Revelation 12:1–13:18

Revelation 14:1–15:8

Revelation 22:7–21

CHARACTER SPOTLIGHT

Adam

Eve

Noah

Abraham

Sarah

Isaac

Rebekah

Jacob

Joseph

Moses

Aaron

Joshua

Rahab

Deborah

Gideon

Samson

Ruth

Hannah

Samuel

David

Abigail

Solomon

Elijah

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Job

Jonah

Matthew

Joseph

Mark

Luke

Mary (Mother of Jesus)

Martha

Mary of Bethany

John

Nicodemus

Samaritan Woman

Mary Magdalene

Barnabas

Paul

Prisca

Timothy

Peter

99 VERSES FOR THE CHRISTIAN COMPETITOR

1. Genesis 1:27

2. Exodus 3:14

3. Exodus 20:8

4. Deuteronomy 4:2

5. Deuteronomy 6:5

6. Joshua 1:9

7. Ruth 1:16

8. 1 Samuel 2:30

9. 1 Samuel 16:7

10. 1 Kings 2:3

11. 1 Chronicles 17:20

12. 2 Chronicles 7:14

13. Esther 4:14

14. Job 19:25

15. Psalm 20:6

16. Psalm 119:105

17. Psalm 139:23-24

18. Proverbs 1:7

19. Proverbs 3:5-6

20. Proverbs 16:3

21. Ecclesiastes 3:1

22. Ecclesiastes 4:9

23. Isaiah 40:31

24. Isaiah 55:8

25. Jeremiah 29:11

26. Jeremiah 33:3

27. Lamentations 3:22

28. Ezekiel 36:26

29. Daniel 12:3

30. Micah 6:8

31. Zephaniah 3:17

32. Matthew 6:33

33. Matthew 23:11

34. Matthew 28:18-20

35. Mark 10:45

36. Mark 12:30

37. Mark 12:33

38. Luke 9:23

39. John 1:1

40. John 1:12-13

41. John 3:16

42. John 5:24

43. John 10:10

44. John 14:6

45. Acts 1:8

46. Acts 4:12

47. Acts 5:42

48. Acts 20:24

49. Romans 1:12

50. Romans 3:23

51. Romans 8:1–2

52. Romans 8:38–39

53. Romans 10:9

54. Romans 12:1-2

55. 1 Corinthians 6:19,20

56. 1 Corinthians 12:27

57. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

58. 1 Corinthians 16:13,14

59. 2 Corinthians 5:17

60. 2 Corinthians 5:20

61. 2 Corinthians 7:10

62. Galatians 2:20

63. Galatians 5:13

64. Galatians 6:8

65. Ephesians 1:3

66. Ephesians 5:1-2

67. Ephesians 6:13

68. Philippians 1:27

69. Philippians 3:12

70. Colossians 1:11

71. Colossians 3:17

72. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

73. 2 Thessalonians 2:3

74. 1 Timothy 2:5

75. 1 Timothy 4:8

76. 1 Timothy 6:11

77. 2 Timothy 1:7

78. 2 Timothy 4:2

79. 2 Timothy 4:7

80. Titus 2:7

81. Philemon 4

82. Hebrews 3:13

83. Hebrews 4:12

84. Hebrews 10:39

85. Hebrews 12:1

86. James 1:12

87. James 2:19

88. James 5:16

89. 1 Peter 1:13

90. 1 Peter 1:16

91. 1 Peter 2:21

92. 2 Peter 1:3

93. 1 John 1:9

94. 1 John 4:4

95. 1 John 5:13

96. 2 John 6

97. 3 John 4

98. Jude 24–25

99. Revelation 3:20

FEATURES OVERVIEW

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HOW TO READ AND STUDY THE BIBLE / George H. Guthrie

The Bible is unique among the books of the world. Its release date is centuries old, yet it still dominates the best-seller lists, confronting moderns with messages as fresh as today’s news headlines. At times the Bible is so crystal clear that a child can understand it, yet its difficulties can humble the most learned of scholars. Diverse in theme and literary genres, it conveys a unified story, a message that climaxes in the person and work of Jesus Christ. It was delivered through human writers, yet it truly is God’s Word. The Bible can seem as familiar as a walk next door, or as foreign as a distant country.

This article aims to help you hear from God through daily interaction with the Bible. Hearing God in the pages of the Bible takes time and effort; spiritual listening is a skill that we continue to develop all our lives. Hearing someone well can be challenging when we move across cultural lines, and, in fact, reading the Bible is very much a cross-cultural conversation, since God gave His Word in places, times, and circumstances very much removed from our own.

WHY SPEND TIME IN THE BIBLE?

Perhaps your past has been marked by starts and stops in reading the Bible, and you are wondering whether you have the discipline to engage the Bible consistently. Well, join the club. Most of us have struggled with the discipline of Bible reading and study. So is it worth giving consistent Bible reading and study another try, or a first try? Most believers know intuitively that it is.

This is God’s Word. The God who spoke the world into being has spoken His truth about life through the Bible, so that we might know what He intends for this world and how we might live for His fame. He calls us to be Word people, people who are countercultural in the ways we approach life. Thus the Bible serves as the foundation for understanding who we are and what we should be doing in this world.

In the next few pages I offer a number of suggestions that you can start applying daily in less time than it takes you to watch a sitcom on TV.

BEGIN WITH THE HEART

In the parable of the seeds and soils (Mk 4:3-20), Jesus used a word picture to describe the different levels of receptivity people have toward God’s Word. He tells of a farmer broadcasting seed along the edge of a field. Some seeds fall on the hardpacked path beside the field, some fall on rocky ground that has little topsoil, some fall in the weeds and some fall in fertile soil that offers a good environment for growth. The various places they fall provide images of the human heart as it is confronted with God’s Word.

Some people have hearts that are hardpacked, like a frequented footpath. God’s Word does not get through to these hearts. Others have shallow hearts that seem open to God’s Word. The Word comes and they respond, but the moment things get tough, the pressures of life override the principles of God’s Word, and the spiritual life withers. A third type of person engages God’s Word at a deeper level, but worries and desire for worldly things squeeze out the Word, choking it from the person’s life. Finally, there are those who receive the Word with a heart like a well-tilled field. This is the picture of a person fully receptive to God’s Word, and God’s Word brings exponential growth to their spiritual life.

Which pattern of response describes the condition of your heart today? Perhaps you have never committed to following Christ as Lord of your life. I encourage you to talk to a Christian or a minister whom you trust and ask them about following Christ as Lord. First Corinthians 2:14 tells us that a person who is not a Christ-follower cannot engage spiritual truth in a way that is life-changing, so this would be the beginning place for you. Turn to Christ, asking Him to bring His good news to life in you.

Or, perhaps you have committed your life to follow Christ but your heart is not very receptive to God’s Word at this time. You may be plagued by a heart that is consumed with worry or material things. Sin and self-absorption can eat the heart out of your Bible study. Begin your path back to healthy relationship with God by crying out to Him right now, asking Him to forgive you for your hardheartedness, expressing your desire to hear and live His Word.

MOTIVATIONS

Once our hearts are receptive to the Word, we can hear the motivations offered us in Scripture. Among other motives, we read the Bible . . .

to experience consistent joy (Ps 119:111)

to sort out our thoughts and motivations (Heb 4:12)

to guard ourselves from sin and error (Eph 6:11-17; 1Pt 2:1-2)

to know God in a personal relationship (1Co 1:21; Gl 4:8-9; 1Tm 4:16)

to know truth and think clearly about what God says is valuable (2Pt 1:21)

to be built up as a community with other believers (Ac 20:32; Eph 4:14-16)

to reject conformity to the world as we renew our minds (Rm 12:1-2; 1Pt 2:1-2)

to experience God’s freedom, grace, peace, and hope (Jn 8:32; Rm 15:4; 2Pt 1:2)

to live well for God, expressing our love for Him (Jn 14:23-24; Rm 12:2; 1Th 4:1-8)

to minister to Christ-followers and to those who have yet to respond to the gospel, experiencing God’s approval for work well done (Jos 1:8; 2Tm 2:15; 3:16-17)

12 PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR READING WELL

We want to approach our reading of the Bible in a way that will lead to a fulfilling, faithful, and fruitful pattern of life. Below are a dozen suggestions to make your Bible reading more effective and fulfilling.

Read the Bible prayerfully: Engaging the Bible regularly is a spiritual exercise, and you need spiritual power and discernment to do it well. As you begin your Bible reading, ask God for a receptive and disciplined heart, ask Him to speak to you through the Word, and use the passages you read as providing you with thoughts and words you can use as you pray to God.

Read expectantly and joyfully: As you pray over your Bible reading, also read it expecting to hear from God, being joyful and thankful for what you find in the Scriptures. Allow the music of the Word to give you joy in your walk with God.

Meditate on what you are reading: To meditate means to mentally chew on what we are reading, to think about what the passage means as well as its implications for belief and practice. Just as food chewed and swallowed too quickly gives indigestion, so we will not be able to digest our Bible readings unless we slow down and consider the meat we find there.

Read for transformation: The Bible is not meant merely to inform—it is meant to transform us in accordance with God’s truth (Rm 12:1-2). Therefore, read with expectation that you will hear from the Lord. Be thinking about ways to apply God’s truth to your life as you read.

Read with perseverance: Commit yourself to being consistent for the next 10 to 12 weeks, which is about how long it takes to form a long-term habit. As you are faithful with your Bible reading and begin to see it make a difference in your life, you will begin to hunger for your time in the Word.

Be realistic about the goals you set, and have a good plan: If you take just 20 to 30 minutes per day, you can read through the whole Bible in a year. In just 10 to 15 minutes per day, you can read through the whole Bible in two years. The key is not volume but consistency and a clear plan.

Set aside a consistent time and place to read and study the Bible: Make it a time and place that guards you from distractions and allows you to be consistent, missing no more than a handful of times per month. When you do miss a day, just pick back up the next day.

Read with a few good tools at hand: Along with this study Bible, have a good Bible dictionary on hand. These typically provide outlines and message summaries of each book of the Bible, plus quick entries on theological, historical, and cultural elements.

Read with a pen in hand: Underline key passages and make notes in the margins as you read. As the saying goes, the lightest ink is stronger than the strongest memory. If you prefer a keyboard to an ink pen, store your notes on your computer.

Read in light of the immediate context: Not only do we need the big picture of the Bible’s overarching story but we also need the little picture of the immediate context. So read with an awareness of where you are in the development of a particular book.

Do your Bible reading and study as part of a community: It helps if you have family or friends who also are reading the Bible, for they can encourage you and discuss the Bible with you. Become part of a community of Christians, a church, so you can have a place to celebrate what you are learning, to pose questions that come up in your study, and to use your spiritual gifts in ministering to others.

Read in light of the overarching story of the Bible: Reading the Bible is much more meaningful if you read it in light of its overarching story. As you read, notice great interwoven themes such as how creation in Genesis 1–2 relates to creation themes in Psalm 8, Isaiah 65:17-25, John 1, Romans 8:19-22, and Revelation 21. Read book introductions in your study Bible, noting where each book fits in the overall development of God’s story. That story can be outlined in three great Acts.

GOING DEEPER: THE BASICS OF SOUND BIBLE STUDY

Think for a moment about a trip you have taken. You left home, traveled to your destination, and had various memorable experiences. Perhaps you experienced a culture different from your own and found that the greater the cultural differences between home and destination, the greater the effort needed to communicate and to learn in your new environment. Yet you persevered, experienced new people and places, and were enriched by it all.

The Bible is God’s Word to us; we are not simply reading someone else’s mail. Yet, Bible study can be like taking a trip to another culture. The language at times seems foreign. You might have difficulty finding your way around the history or the literature. You see new things that are beautiful or even strange. You then gather up what you have gained from your study time and hopefully you grow by the experience.

Since reading the Bible is a cross-cultural experience, we need a vehicle that can take us to where we can hear what God is saying to us through those experiences, and I suggest that the right vehicle is a sound process of listening to the text of Scripture. Through a sound process of Bible reading, we see the sights God wants us to see. We learn to navigate the unfamiliar territories of biblical history and literature, read the road signs that mark the main points to which we must pay attention, and understand the language of the Bible.

After we have lived in the world of the biblical text for a while and become familiar with what is going on there, persevering through challenges and hearing what God wants us to hear, we then travel back home to our life contexts, bringing with us changed hearts and minds. The vehicle that can bring us home is discerning the principles and significance of what we have encountered in the Bible and then finding specific ways to apply God’s truth to our lives.

Using this word picture, let’s look at five main stages for doing a more thorough study of a Bible passage.

STAGE 1: PACK YOUR BAGS

One of the most important aspects of a trip is what happens before the trip. Preparation and packing can make all the difference.

Choose a Passage: Just as when traveling you need to start out with a destination in mind, when studying the Bible you must first decide what specific passage you will address. Be sure to choose a passage that you can cover well in your designated period of time. For instance, if you are doing a detailed study of a passage from one of Paul’s letters, four to seven verses (e.g., 2Co 2:14-17) are plenty to tackle in one session. If you have a longer passage you want to study (e.g., all of Romans 8), break it down into smaller segments and study the whole of the chapter over an extended period of time. Trying to study too large a section all at once will lead to frustration. However, if you are studying a section of biblical narrative, your passage can be longer since narratives do not depend on detailed argumentation.

As you attempt to do Bible study over the coming weeks, you will get a sense of how much ground you can cover in a week’s time. Over time you will become more familiar with your tools and processes, allowing you to study more efficiently. But remember, just as you would not want to hurry past important historical sites just to get to the end of a trip, the key in Bible study is not speed but rather an approach that takes you deeper into God’s Word and transforms you in the process.

ACT 1: GOD’S PLAN FOR ALL PEOPLE

(GENESIS 1—11)

Creation: The God of All Life

Fall: Rejecting God’s Vision for Life

Flood: God Judges and Makes a Covenant to Preserve Life

ACT 2: GOD’S COVENANT PEOPLE

(GENESIS 12—MALACHI 4) (2081—420? BC)

The People: God Calls a Covenant People (2081 BC)

Deliverance: God Rescues His People (1446 BC)

The Sinai Covenant & Law: God Embraces and Instructs His People (1446 BC)

The Land: God’s Place for His People (1406 BC)

Kings and Prophets: God Shapes a Kingdom People (1050 BC)

Kings and Prophets: God Divides the Kingdom People (931 BC)

Kings and Prophets: The Southern Kingdom as God’s People (931–586 BC)

Exile: God Disciplines His People (586–538 BC)

Return: God Delivers His People Again (538 BC)

ACT 3: GOD’S NEW COVENANT PEOPLE

(MATTHEW—REVELATION) (5 BC—?)

Christ’s Coming: God’s True King Arrives (5 BC–AD 33)

Christ’s Ministry: God’s True King Manifests His Kingdom (AD 29–33)

Christ’s Deliverance of His People: God’s Work Through Death, Resurrection, and Enthronement of His King (AD 33)

Christ’s Church: God’s People Advance the Kingdom (AD 33–?)

Christ’s Second Coming and Reign: God’s Future for the Kingdom

Gather Your Tools: In addition to this study Bible, which includes a variety of features to take you deeper into the Word, it helps to have several types of translations on hand. Some translations are more formal, following the patterns of the original words as closely as possible, even if the results are not always readily understandable to modern readers. Others are more functional, trying to communicate the author’s meaning even if that means departing from the exact pattern of words in the passage. Still other translations attempt to strike a balance between these two approaches, which is the tactic taken in the CSB.

A strong Bible dictionary has much to offer, including an outline and introduction to each book of the Bible, plus entries on people, places, culture, theological issues, and key events mentioned in the Bible. It is also helpful to have dictionaries specifically covering the original languages of the Old and New Testaments. These show you the range of possible meanings a given word can have. There are many Bible study software programs available. Some may be had for free on the internet. While the internet can be an amazing resource for Bible study, not all web sites are created equal. Therefore, do your best to assess the quality of the site. You might ask a minister or mature Christian to help you discern a site’s trustworthiness. Also, while free internet sites can be helpful, they often use outdated tools that are public domain. These tools still have value but need to be used in conjunction with tools based on recent study by evangelical scholars.

The best Bible commentaries provide a treasure trove of information, including an introduction to the book, an outline of the book, theological reflection, deep word studies, thoughtful interpretive insights, and application. Ask a trusted Christian or minister to help you evaluate the usefulness, trustworthiness, and accessibility of the commentaries that are available.

Pray: Once you have chosen your passage and gathered your tools, begin your time of study with prayer. You might begin by praying something like this:

Lord, thank you for your Word. I pray that you will give me the discipline to study this passage carefully. Please also give me the discernment to understand the details. Lord, please guide me by your Spirit and lead me into your truth. I am committed to applying what I find here, and I pray that you will change me by your Word, bringing my life in line with your will and ways of thinking. Thank you for this time.

STAGE 2: READ THE MAPS

Maps are vital to navigation—you must know where you are to understand how to get to where you want to go. In Bible study, knowledge of the historical and literary contexts provides orientation. Like maps, they give us the layout of the biblical neighborhood. The historical context can give us a clearer backdrop in terms of historical events or cultural dynamics of the time, and the literary context can help us understand how these words function, given where the author placed them in the book.

The Broad Historical Context of the Book: In studying the historical context of a book, you want to understand the following facts:

Who authored the book?

Who were the original recipients?

Where were the author and the recipients located?

When was the book written?

What is the purpose of the book?

FIVE STAGES OF THOROUGH BIBLE STUDY

You can find this kind of information in the book introductions in this study Bible. You can also find it in Bible dictionaries, commentaries, and Bible handbooks. The Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook, for instance, gives general background information on the city of Philippi and the church there, including the following:

Philippi was an important city in the province of Macedonia. . . . The city had a privileged status as a colony of Rome, so its citizens were considered citizens of Rome. . . . According to Acts there were not enough Jews in the city to support a synagogue, so the city and the church were primarily Gentile.

The Literary Genre: Another aspect of the context of a passage has to do with genre, or the kind of literature with which we are dealing. The kind of literature of a given passage will determine how we approach the text and what kind of questions we might ask of it. If I pick up a novel, I understand that its purpose is not primarily to communicate historical facts. If, however, I read a book detailing the history of America, the purpose is to communicate and interpret historical facts.

Different parts of the Bible reflect different literary genres and, therefore, are intended to accomplish different purposes and must be interpreted by different rules. Our goal with each is to understand what God intends to communicate through the human author, but to do so we must understand how the author intended his writing to communicate with his original audience.

This brings us to vital questions we must ask of the text. For narrative literature, for instance, we want to ask, What is the significance of this part of the story? How does it fit into the grand story of God in the Scriptures? The biblical authors had much material from which to choose, and they chose to include the stories they did for a reason.

Psalms and other poetic literature, on the other hand, often communicate emotions expressed in worship. These might include celebration, thanksgiving, sadness, reflection, or anger. Therefore, an important interpretive key when studying a psalm is to ask, What is the emotion expressed? and How is the emotion being expressed? The Psalms often use figurative language, for instance.

Finally, proverbs are meant to communicate general guidelines for living. Consider the following passage from Proverbs 4:10-12:

Listen, my son. Accept my words, and you will live many years. I am teaching you the way of wisdom; I am guiding you on straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered; when you run, you will not stumble.

Some mistakenly take this passage as a promise that an obedient child will be guaranteed a long life free of impediments. There are many wonderful promises in Scripture that are intended to give comfort and hope to God’s people, but neither the human author nor the Divine Author intended for proverbs to be promises. This proverb is saying, in effect, that the best way for a child to live is by seeking out wisdom; this is the path of success in life, and, generally speaking, will lead to a long and effective life.

The Immediate Literary Context of the Passage: By the immediate literary context we mean how the passage under consideration fits into the overall development of the book. Words need a context to have a specific meaning. Think about the English word hand. It has more than a dozen possible meanings. It can be used for your physical hand, give him a hand (meaning either applause or help), the hand of a clock, etc. Yet, you normally have no trouble following the meaning of the word in specific contexts. Someone might say, I cut my hand with a knife, and you know they are not talking about the hand on a wall clock.

In the same way, the words of the Bible often could be understood to mean different things, but the authors used their words to communicate in specific contexts. So reading a Bible passage in its correct context is foundational for understanding what a given word means. One way to identify the context is to track the themes in a section of Scripture. Write in the margins the main topics covered, and constantly reflect on these as you progress through the passage.

When we consider the immediate context in a narrative passage, we are looking for any aspect of a historical situation indicated by the passage itself. What do we mean by the immediate historical situation? In studying the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:1-46, for example, the immediate historical situation has to do with Ahab as king of Israel, a time of punishing drought, Elijah the prophet, and the location of Mount Carmel. The historical situation of the book as a whole, on the other hand, would have to do with when and why 1 Kings was written and the fact that the book spans from the reign of Solomon down through the death of the wicked king Ahab.

STAGE 3: READ THE ROAD SIGNS CAREFULLY

When you travel, it is critical that you read the road signs well. As we study the Bible, there are many clues to the author’s intentions built right into any given passage. So, one important aspect of Bible study is slowing down and reading the passage carefully.

When you are driving down a road at 65 miles per hour, how many roadside details do you catch? Not many. You might be able to see interesting objects on the roadside, but they blur and then fade quickly as you speed by.

Many of us are drive-by readers of Scripture, never slowing down to explore and enjoy the details of God’s Word; consequently there is much that we miss in the process. Choose to slow down and read with care. Read a passage repeatedly if you sense you’ve yet to catch all the elements. One way to ensure that you are reading slowly enough to catch the details is to underline key phrases or words, or write notes in the margin.

Read the Passage in Several Translations: Doing a comparison of modern English Bible translations can be a helpful way to highlight key interpretive issues in a passage. Why? Because translation, by its nature, requires interpretation. With almost any verse of Scripture, translators have to choose, given the context and grammatical constructions, between various possible word meanings. Therefore, the differences reflected in the various translations represent various interpretations of the passage.

Look for Key Dynamics in the Passage: Now read through your chosen passage again in your main translation. Look for the features listed below and circle, underline, or highlight them, perhaps using different color pens. This exercise will give you a much clearer picture of the passage. Common features to look for include:

Subject—who or what is the passage focusing on?

Verb—is it a statement, an exhortation, a question or answer, an action, explanation, or illustration?

Conjunctions—and, but, or, so, for, both . . . and, neither . . . nor, either . . . or, not only . . . but also

Time—after, before, when, while, since, until

Cause—because, since, in order that, so that

Condition—if, in case, even if, unless

Concession—although, even though, whereas

Means—how is the action accomplished?

Agent—who does the action?

Result—what is accomplished?

Purpose—why was the action done?

When reading narrative material, identify the following:

Introduction andConclusion—the author often tips off the intended impact of a narrative in his introduction and conclusion

Setting—details on place, time (historical era and duration of the event), and social situation (who is involved?)

Character Information—identify the protagonist and antagonist, note prevailing emotions and actions, and pay close attention to dialogue and character descriptions

Narrative Dynamics—identify the conflict, its escalation, and eventual resolution

Teaching Forms and Figures of Speech—look for the presence of allusions to or quotations of the Old Testament, plus figures of speech such as hyperbole, simile, metaphor, riddle, pun, parable, object lesson, illustration, parabolic act, paradox, irony, amen formula, and prophecy

Don’t get overwhelmed with searching for these dynamics. Take a few at a time, reading the passage with those dynamics in mind. Then read again, looking for a few more of the dynamics listed above. Filtering the passage in this way will give you great insight into the passage. If when reading the passage you see just two or three features that you had not seen before, you are making progress!

Make a Provisional Outline of the Passage: The outline is provisional since you still have a good bit of study to do on the passage. However, it is helpful to make a tentative outline at this point to begin to assess the general structure of the passage.

STAGE 4: LEARN TO SPEAK LIKE A LOCAL

One of the most interesting aspects of traveling has to do with learning how people in different places use words. For instance, the German phrase Guten Tag literally means good day, yet it is normally used as a greeting only in the afternoon, and thus is equivalent to an English speaker saying, good afternoon.

To understand the biblical text, we need to have an accurate understanding of how words are used. Word meanings are determined by the contexts in which they are used. When studying a word in the biblical text we want to (a) know the possible meanings for that word in the ancient world, (b) determine, based on the context, which meaning the author most likely intended, and (c) see whether insight on an author’s use can be gained by noting how the same word is used elsewhere in the Bible.

Choose Key Words to Study: Identify key words in the passage. These may be terms that are repeated, terms that are unclear or puzzling, or terms that seem to be theologically important.

Consult Word Study Tools: Get at the Hebrew or Greek words behind our English translations by using an exhaustive concordance, Bible software programs, or various types of expository dictionaries. Once you have accessed the range of possible meanings for the Hebrew or Greek word, consider those possible meanings in the context of the passage you are studying. This gives you a look at the various nuances of the Greek or Hebrew word behind the translation you are using, deepening your understanding of what the biblical author might have been trying to say.

This is also an excellent point in your Bible study to consult good commentaries. They will discuss the key words of the passage against the backdrop of literary context, background issues, the author’s theology, and other factors.

Consult a Concordance: You can use a concordance to look for other uses of the same Hebrew or Greek term you are studying. Identify places where the word is used similarly to the way it is used in the passage you are studying. Such cross references can provide you with greater understanding of the passage on which you are doing your word studies.

Word studies can be very helpful, but they can also be abused, and there are word study fallacies we want to avoid. A few of the most common fallacies include:

Cross reference fallacy—Insisting that a word as used in one passage must be used the same way in another passage, simply because the same word is being used.

Root fallacy—Insisting that a word’s true meaning is tied to its root meanings, or the parts of the word. But this is not always how language works.

Multiple meanings fallacy—Insisting that all the possible meanings of a word occur in a given use in a particular passage. Most of the time, an author had a particular meaning in mind.

STAGE 5: HEAD HOME

As with any trip, there comes a time to travel home. Bible study is analogous in that applying the Bible to our lives is bringing it home. We were never meant to read and study the Bible simply to learn a list of facts. Rather, we were meant to experience transformation by the Word (Rm 12:1-2), and transformation takes place as we embrace the Word, applying it to our everyday lives. Commenting on the command to love one’s neighbor, James says:

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed, but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself (Jms 2:14-17).

Faith without deeds, without application, is dead. James was addressing those who had disconnected belief in the Christian life from active obedience.

At times the application may be a right belief, the adjusting of one’s understanding to fit what God says is true. At other times, application might be to worship God. Often application will involve active obedience that puts into practice what has been learned. But the movement from understanding the Word to its application in obedience is nonnegotiable from the Bible’s standpoint.

How then can we apply the things we learn in the Bible to our lives in responsible ways?

Identify the main points and principles of the passage: What truth claims is the Scripture passage making? Identify them. Search for the principles as well. A principle is a universal truth that applies in all places at all times.

Identify how these address original and modern contexts: Notice how the principle is applied to the situation dealt with in your passage and think through parallel situations in your life.

Make specific applications to your life: Work at moving beyond vague generalities like, I need to love people more! Write down who you need to love and how you need to express love to them. As noted above, applications might be an action to do (e.g., wash the dishes). Yet, they could also involve the change of a belief, or even to respond to God’s Word by worshiping Him.

A SIMPLE PLAN

I hope you have enjoyed the trip as we have discussed how to read and study the Bible more effectively. Begin your new commitment with a definite reading plan. Commit to taking 15-30 minutes per day, and read through the Bible over the next year or two. Take one or two longer blocks of time per week to study the Bible in greater depth.

Bible reading and study can give us great joy and fulfillment as we open our lives to God’s Word. May you be blessed as you pursue being a Word person led by the Spirit, transformed by the Scriptures, and effective in advancing God’s agendas in the world.

BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

FCA is committed to a biblical foundation for everything we do. Before we dive into the principles of disciple-making, we want to make sure you understand the biblical framework that holds The E3 methods together. A biblical foundation is crucial to understand three things: God’s purposes; the mission of the Church; and our mission to all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages. The Bible is God’s great story in which we all play a part. The biblical narrative includes the following four key parts:

CREATION

The story begins with creation. God creates everything and it is good. He creates mankind in Adam and Eve, and they enjoy a perfect relationship together.

FALL

Sadly, this relationship is broken. Adam and Eve sinned against God. All of creation falls under the destruction and condemnation of sin.

REDEMPTION

But God makes a way to redeem His creation from the condemnation of sin. He sends His Son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfect, sinless life. On the cross, Jesus takes on all the condemnation of sin so that we can be forgiven. He dies but rises again to claim victory over sin and death forever.

RESTORATION

Through faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, we are forgiven of our sin and our relationship with God is restored. Eventually He will restore all things. Until then, God is working in the world through His Church to proclaim the saving message of Jesus Christ to all people and all nations. God invites us to participate in the unfolding of His great story of redemption and restoration.

HISTORY OF FCA

More than 65 years ago, God put a vision into the heart of Don McClanen. As a young athlete and coach, he wondered why professional athletes endorsed products like shaving cream and cigarettes but not a Christian lifestyle. His vision became the backbone for FCA, all while bringing glory to Jesus Christ.

From the beginning, FCA has been committed to relationships, transformation, and multiplication. This approach shares the Gospel to millions of coaches and athletes through programs, such as Conferences, Camps, Huddles, and many more. By God’s grace, this resulted in hundreds of thousands of decisions to follow Christ. FCA has been relentlessly pursuing the Great Commission for nearly seven decades.

To see the vision of FCA become a reality, there’s now a greater focus and commitment to help coaches and athletes make disciples who make disciples. FCA is taking relationships, transformation, and multiplication and turning it into a simple, repeatable process. We call this Engage, Equip, and Empower, and this is the foundation for The E3 methods.

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Archives

PHOTO: FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES ARCHIVES

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INTRODUCTION TO DISCIPLESHIP

In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus says, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Jesus gives a clear command: His disciples are to make more disciples. The command gives direction along with the authority necessary to fulfill the task. We call this discipleship multiplication. We define discipleship in two parts: personal transformation and public multiplication. The E3 journey will Engage, Equip, and Empower you with principles for both personal transformation and public multiplication. You weren’t created just to sit and receive. You were created to go and make!

Introduction to Discipleship

DISCIPLESHIP METHODS: E3

FCA has a big vision to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ and a clear and compelling mission to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. FCA’s approach to pursue that mission is through our Methods to help Coaches and Athletes become disciples of Jesus Christ who make disciples. Engage, Equip, and Empower is our discipleship process.

ENGAGE

SCRIPTURE

We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us(1 Thessalonians 2:8).

DEFINITION

We Engage coaches and athletes through genuine relationships by sharing our lives and the Gospel.

DISCIPLESHIP PRINCIPLES

Engage God First

Engage the Heart

Engage with the Gospel

Engage to Multiply

EQUIP

SCRIPTURE

And he himself gave some . . . to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11–12).

DEFINITION

We Equip coaches and athletes to grow in Christ through God’s Word.

DISCIPLESHIP PRINCIPLES

Equip with Prayer

Equip with Scripture

Equip in Community

Equip with a Clear Plan

EMPOWER

SCRIPTURE

What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2).

DEFINITION

We Empower coaches and athletes to Engage, Equip, and Empower others to know and grow in Christ.

DISCIPLESHIP PRINCIPLES

Empower by Modeling

Empower by Assisting

Empower by Watching

Empower by Launching

E3 DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING

WILL YOU MAKE DISCIPLES?

As believers in Jesus Christ, we are all called to go into the world and make disciples. When we launch into something new, sometimes it’s most difficult to just get started. Whether it’s a new technique in your sport or a new skill you want to develop, overcoming inertia can be the hardest part.

Beginning with a plan and taking small steps toward your goal every day is how you take an aspiration and make it a habit.

WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO MAKE DISCIPLES

As followers of Jesus, we have been called to be disciples who make disciples: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations . . . (Mt 28:19a). As we follow Him, becoming more like Him every day, we also lead others toward Him. Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ (1Co 11:1). But how do we start this discipleship journey? Simple, we need a great game plan.

For over 65 years, FCA has been engaging coaches and athletes with the Gospel through sports, then equipping them to go out and make disciples of those they influence. It’s right there in our Vision statement; To see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. We have a game plan for coaches and athletes who want to get started discipling others called E3.

BEGIN YOUR DISCIPLESHIP JOURNEY TODAY

So, how do we begin the discipleship journey? We engage, we equip and we empower, in that order.

Whether you’ve led others before and you’re looking for some additional training, or you’re just getting started, the E3 training gives you tangible steps you can take to start discipling others.

We challenge you to start your journey of discipleship today. We’re here to help.

https://www.bhpublishinggroup.com/qr/fca/69

INTRODUCTION TO THE CHRISTIAN STANDARD BIBLE®

The Bible is God’s revelation to humanity. It is our only source for completely reliable information about God, what happens when we die, and where history is headed. The Bible reveals these things because it is God’s inspired Word, inerrant in the original manuscripts. Bible translation brings God’s Word from the ancient languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic) into today’s world. In dependence on God’s Spirit to accomplish this sacred task, the CSB Translation Oversight Committee and Holman Bible Publishers present the Christian Standard Bible.

TEXTUAL BASE OF THE CSB

The textual base for the New Testament (NT) is the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece, 28th edition, and the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament, 5th corrected edition. The text for the Old Testament (OT) is the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4th edition.

Where there are significant differences among Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek manuscripts, the translators follow what they believe is the original reading and indicate the main alternative(s) in footnotes. The CSB uses the traditional verse divisions found in most Protestant Bibles.

GOALS OF THIS TRANSLATION

Provide English-speaking people worldwide with an accurate translation in contemporary English.

Provide an accurate translation for personal study, sermon preparation, private devotions, and memorization.

Provide a text that is clear and understandable, suitable for public reading, and shareable so that all may access its life-giving message.

Affirm the authority of Scripture and champion its absolute truth against skeptical viewpoints.

TRANSLATION PHILOSOPHY OF THE CHRISTIAN STANDARD BIBLE

Most discussions of Bible translations speak of two opposite approaches: formal equivalence and dynamic equivalence. This terminology is meaningful, but Bible translations cannot be neatly sorted into these two categories. There is room for another category of translation philosophy that capitalizes on the strengths of the other two.

1. FORMAL EQUIVALENCE:

Often called word-for-word (or literal) translation, the principle of formal equivalence seeks as nearly as possible to preserve the structure of the original language. It seeks to represent each word of the original text with an exact equivalent word in the translation so