{"id":70673,"date":"2024-10-30T18:40:34","date_gmt":"2024-10-30T23:40:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=70673"},"modified":"2024-10-30T18:41:04","modified_gmt":"2024-10-30T23:41:04","slug":"listening-better-to-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/listening-better-to-god\/","title":{"rendered":"Listening Better to God"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

by Jon W. Quinn<\/p>\n

The Bible is the most widely read book of human history. It is God’s word and ought to be approached with deep respect. We are urged to handle it carefully and diligently. Understanding comes with effort. The Scriptures themselves urge us to be serious about it. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth<\/em>” (II Timothy 2:15). As we seek truth, we need to have the attitude that we are willing to apply it to our lives, thus making Bible study a meaningful, fulfilling, life-changing event. To make Bible study what it ought to be, there are several good rules to follow:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Take a positive approach. Allow what is learned to change one’s life and attitude, setting aside our opinions, prejudices, and ideas in favor of what we read in God’s book (James 4:10).<\/li>\n
  2. Realize that there are no contradictions in the Bible. When people ask about Bible contradictions, I ask them to show me one. Usually, they have no example, but if they do, upon examination, there has always been a reasonable explanation to show it was really no contradiction at all. For instance, one gospel says there were two angels at the tomb of Jesus, while another says there was one angel outside the tomb and another inside. That is not really a contradiction for anyone who can add one plus one unless they want it to be. God’s word is true. (John 17:17).<\/li>\n
  3. Pray for understanding. Ask God for wisdom in applying what you learn in everyday life (James 1:5-6).<\/li>\n
  4. Be willing to accept and correct. Loving God means saying “Yes” to His teaching (Jeremiah 10:23-24).<\/li>\n
  5. Consider the context. See who is speaking and who is being spoken to. Just because the Bible contains the command “Build an ark” does not mean you are the one to build it.<\/li>\n
  6. Consider all that the Bible says on a given subject. Don’t just pick and choose; get the complete picture.<\/li>\n
  7. Do not put vague passages first. Build your knowledge base on the easier-understood passages before proceeding to the more difficult ones.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    We hope that you have found these suggestions helpful.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    by Jon W. Quinn The Bible is the most widely read book of human history. It is God’s word and ought to be approached with deep respect. We are urged to handle it carefully and diligently. Understanding comes with effort. The Scriptures themselves urge us to be serious about it. “Be diligent to present yourself…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[522,761],"class_list":["post-70673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-listening","tag-understanding"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":17615,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/reading-the-bible-from-cover-to-cover\/","url_meta":{"origin":70673,"position":0},"title":"Reading the Bible from Cover to Cover","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 2, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Abraham Smith We should read the Bible from cover to cover. We should want to know what the Lord said. Many of us, while acknowledging that the Bible is the word of God, have not read it in its entirety. We have been hindered from reading the Bible completely\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/01\/Bible-Reading-4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":19586,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/understanding-the-will-of-the-lord\/","url_meta":{"origin":70673,"position":1},"title":"Understanding the Will of the Lord","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 4, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"by Charles L. Morton via\u00a0The Preceptor, Vol. 28, No. 5, March 1979 \"Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the Will of the Lord is\" (Ephesians 5:17). Some things are involved in this text that are basic. Your attention is invited to some of them. The admonition to understand\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/01\/Bible-Reading-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":58553,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/patience-in-seeking-truth-a-necessity\/","url_meta":{"origin":70673,"position":2},"title":"Patience in Seeking Truth,\u00a0a Necessity","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 28, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"by Garreth L. Clair \u00a0 John 8:32,\u00a0\"and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.\" ASV John 17:17,\u00a0\"Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.\" ASV II Timothy 3:16-17,\u00a0\"Every scripture inspired of God (is) also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":28518,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-your-own-thinking\/","url_meta":{"origin":70673,"position":3},"title":"Do Your Own Thinking","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 12, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"by Bob Buchanon via\u00a0The Eastside Edifier Not many of us think for ourselves when it comes to matters of religion. Most of us are what we are religiously because of the way our parents reared us and have never questioned whether we were right or wrong. We prefer to leave\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/thinking3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":55104,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/reasoning-includes-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":70673,"position":4},"title":"Reasoning Includes God","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer Reason has been granted to us by God as those made in His image. When we try to reason without acknowledging God, we become our own idols by assuming that we do not need God. This leads to futility in thinking (Romans 1:21; Ephesians 4:17). In doing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":68049,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-help-new-christians-start-their-journey\/","url_meta":{"origin":70673,"position":5},"title":"How do I help new Christians start their journey?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 14, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hello brother, Two of my friends were baptized less than two weeks ago. I want to help them along this journey.\u00a0Are there any tips you can give me about how to help these new Christians? Answer: \"By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70673"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70673\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}