Roger Severino

REFLECTIONS ON HUMILITY FROM WINSTON CHURCHILL, JIM COLLINS, C.S. LEWIS AND JOHN THE BAPTIST

September 11, 2017

Winston Churchill described political rival, Clement Attlee, as “a modest man, who has much to be modest about.” No one mistook that for a compliment. He also said Attlee was a “sheep in sheep’s clothing.” Again, “an empty taxi arrived at 10 Downing Street, and when the door was open, Attlee got out.” Is modesty proof of a weak leader? Is humility a virtue even to be desired? Do these qualities undermine the resolve, strength, and assertiveness needed for effective leadership?

Several years ago Jim Collins’ book “From Good to Great” shocked the business world when he claimed that his research...more

Ideas for a Personal Spiritual Retreat and Soul Care Day

August 25, 2017
One of the things I love about serving at our church is that there is an intentional emphasis on soul care and the need for ministers (and all believers) to care for their souls. In fact, one of the gifts the church gives our ministers is a monthly spiritual retreat day for prayer, study, and spiritual refreshment. Our pastor often reminds us that ministry should be out of overflow,...more

How Do I Read and Teach the Grand Story of Scripture?

August 18, 2017
Followers of Jesus cannot read the Bible without understanding that he is the climax of the Bible’s Story and that the Old Testament points to and anticipates him as the fulfillment of all the types and promises of Scripture. Jesus himself instructed us to read the Bible using a Christ-centered approach. Consider these passages: John 5:39: “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal...more

HOW TO READ AND TEACH THE PROPHETIC LITERATURE OF SCRIPTURE

August 14, 2017
There are prophets throughout the Old Testament, often found in the narrative accounts, such as Elijah and Elisha. The emphasis here, however, is in the prophetic books from Isaiah—Malachi, books at the end of the Old Testament. Prophecy is often understood as something that predicts the future. Though these elements can certainly be found in the prophetic books, it’s been said that there is more “forthtelling” in the prophets...more

HOW TO READ AND TEACH THE WISDOM LITERATURE OF SCRIPTURE

August 11, 2017
The wisdom genre of the Bible may best be seen in the books of Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes. Each of these teach a perspective on how to live life, and particularly in relationship to God. The beauty of these three books is that they complement one another and allow for the multi-faceted perspectives we need on wisdom. The Book of Proverbs contain many short, pithy statements that provide skills...more

HOW TO READ AND TEACH THE “POETRY” PARTS OF SCRIPTURE

August 7, 2017
Most of the Bible’s poetic books and passages are in the Old Testament. Hebrew poetry appears frequently in the Old Testament. The Book of Psalms may be the best example of this, though poetry is sprinkled throughout the Old Testament, at times thrown in among the books that are otherwise characterized by narrative or prophecy, for example. Perhaps the most obvious characteristic of poetry is its use of figurative...more

HOW TO READ AND TEACH THE NARRATIVE PARTS OF SCRIPTURE

August 4, 2017
PART 2 Last time we emphasized the importance of context when reading or teaching narrative. This includes the literary context, the historical context, the cultural context and the geographical context. Another important element in studying narrative is to distinguish between what is descriptive and prescriptive. Descriptive means the biblical author is merely describing what took place, with no value judgment one way or the other. When the author is...more

HOW TO READ AND TEACH THE NARRATIVE PARTS OF SCRIPTURE

July 31, 2017
PART 1 Everyone loves a good story, and the Bible is full of stories. In fact, over forty percent of the Old Testament would be classified as narrative, and the Gospels and Acts in the New Testament also generally fall into this category. One popular book on interpreting the Bible defines narrative this way: “Narratives are stories—purposeful stories retelling the historical events of the past that are intended to...more

6 GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR BIBLE STUDY

July 28, 2017
Here are 6 general principles that I think will help you in your study or reading of the Bible Pray: First, begin your study with prayer and ask for guidance and understanding from the Holy Spirit. Ask God to open the eyes of your heart to what He has to say to you. Come with a submissive spirit, submitting your own will to God’s will. Consider the Author’s Intent:...more

How Can An Understanding Of Literary Genres Help My Bible Study?

July 24, 2017
Literary Genre There are different types of literature in the Bible. Understanding the genre of a passage will help you to interpret it in the right way. An easy way to see the difference is to compare two types of genre that describe the same event. Exodus 14 is a narrative telling of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea and Pharaoh and his armies subsequently drowning in the waters....more
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