Posted on Tuesday,

#20: Learning to Think in a Culture Ruled by Feelings

Learning to think in a culture ruled by feelings.

The words we use to talk about our faith shapes how the people around us approach Christianity.

Have you ever noticed how often people start talking about Jesus, the Bible, or God With “feeling” language?

“I just feel that Jesus would…”
“It doesn’t feel like God would…”
“I just feel that’s not what the Bible says…”

Feelings are great but they’re not the foundation of our faith

Now don’t get me wrong, feelings are great. But they’re not the foundation of our faith. And they certainly don’t determine what’s true.

Feelings come and go. They change.

Feelings are not wrong or right. They just are.

They’re a barometer of the soul. A snapshot of our internal life at a particular moment in time.

Thinking connects (more…)

Posted on Tuesday,

#19: Why Listening Matters When Sharing Your Faith

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Why listening matters when sharing your faith.

If you want to have more effective spiritual conversations, then learn to listen.

Francis Schaefer once said:

“‘If I have only an hour with someone, I will spend the first fifty-five minutes asking questions and finding out what is troubling their heart and mind, and then in the last five minutes I will share something of the truth.”

Our temptation is to unload all the facts we’ve ever learned in one conversation.

However, the (more…)

Posted on Tuesday,

#18: What is the Role of the Holy Spirit in Interpreting the Bible?

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What is the Role of the Holy Spirit in Interpreting the Bible?

Can a non-Christian grasp the content of the Bible? Yes and no.

Yes, if we mean the text can be understood by employing a sound approach to literature—to the basic grammar, context, and content of a passage.

But an unbeliever cannot fully appreciate and take to heart the truth of the Bible. God’s Spirit helps Christians discern the spiritual realities of the text and then apply them to their lives (see 1 Cor. 2:14).

Scott Duvall and Daniel Hays offer helpful insight here:

When it comes to biblical interpretation, having the Holy Spirit does not mean that the Spirit is all we need, since he will not make biblical interpretation automatic. He expects us to use our minds, valid interpretive methods, and good study helps. The Spirit does not create new meaning or provide new information, but he does enable us to accept the Bible as God’s Word and grasp its meaning. The Spirit will not change the Bible to suit our purposes or match our circumstances, but he will work in our lives as interpreters. He restores us to our senses and helps us grow up spiritually so we can hear his voice in the Scriptures more clearly.

(more…)